Sex differences in sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory variables in childhood asthma: A birth cohort study.

Background: There are marked sex differences in the prevalence and severity of asthma, both during childhood and adulthood. There is a relative lack of comprehensive studies exploring sexdifferences in pediatric asthma cohorts.

Objective: To identify the most relevant sex differences in sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory variables in a well-characterized large pediatric asthma cohort.

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease is associated with variants in filaggrin, epithelial integrity, and cellular interactions.

Background: Previous studies have determined that up to 6% of patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) have family history of AERD, indicating a possible link with genetic polymorphisms. However, whole exome sequencing (WES) studies of such associations are currently lacking.

Objectives: We sought to examine whether WES can identify pathogenic variants associated with AERD.

Sex differences in a murine model of asthma are time and tissue compartment dependent.

Sexual dimorphism in lung inflammation is both time and tissue compartment dependent. Spatiotemporal variability in sex differences in a murine model of asthma must be accounted for when planning experiments to model the sex bias in allergic inflammation.

Endogenous inhibitory mechanisms in asthma.

Endogenous inhibitory mechanisms promote resolution of inflammation, enhance tissue repair and integrity, and promote homeostasis in the lung. These mechanisms include steroid hormones, regulatory T cells, IL-10, prostaglandin E, prostaglandin I, lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, maresins, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, adrenomedullin, nitric oxide, and carbon monoxide. Here we review the most recent literature regarding these endogenous inhibitory mechanisms in asthma, which remain a promising target for the prevention and treatment of asthma.

Hypersensitivity reactions to biologics used in the treatment of allergic diseases: clinical features, diagnosis and management.

Several monoclonal antibodies have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat allergic disorders, including omalizumab, dupilumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, tralokinumab and tezepelumab, and their indications continue to expand. Although the risks associated with these agents are overall low, hypersensitivity reactions have been described and are reported more frequently with increased use. We provide a comprehensive review of clinical features, diagnosis and management of hypersensitivity reactions attributed to these agents.

Progestogen Hypersensitivity.

Progestogen hypersensitivity (PH) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by diverse cutaneous manifestations, bronchospasm, and/or anaphylaxis. Possible triggers include ovarian progesterone and exogenous progestogens. The timing of symptoms is critical to diagnose PH: during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle for the endogenous form and after exposure to progestins for exogenous PH.

Sex, Ethnicity, Body Mass Index, and Environmental Exposures Associated With NSAID-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease Symptom Sequence.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD) has a triad of symptoms: nasal polyposis, asthma, and NSAID hypersensitivity. Little is known about symptom timing and disease progression.

Objective: The aim of this study is to characterize disease progression in N-ERD.

Paired Indoor and Outdoor Nitrogen Dioxide Associated With Childhood Asthma Outcomes in a Mixed Rural-Urban Setting: A Feasibility Study.

Introduction: Nitrogen dioxide (NO) is known to be a trigger for asthma exacerbation. However, little is known about the role of seasonal variation in indoor and outdoor NO levels in childhood asthma in a mixed rural-urban setting of North America.

Methods: This prospective cohort study, as a feasibility study, included 62 families with children (5-17 years) that had diagnosed persistent asthma residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

Biomarkers of cellular senescence in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Cellular senescence is a cell fate in response to diverse forms of age-related damage and stress that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The associations between circulating levels of candidate senescence biomarkers and disease outcomes have not been specifically studied in IPF. In this study we assessed the circulating levels of candidate senescence biomarkers in individuals affected by IPF and controls and evaluated their ability to predict disease outcomes.

Asthma in pregnancy.

Asthma is a frequent and potentially life-threatening disease that complicates many pregnancies. There are extensive data with regard to the diagnosis and treatment of asthma during pregnancy. Medical providers require an up-to-date summary of the critical aspects of asthma management during pregnancy.

Alpha-T-catenin is expressed in peripheral nerves as a constituent of Schwann cell adherens junctions.

The adherens junction component, alpha-T-catenin (αTcat) is an established contributor to cardiomyocyte junction structure and function, but recent genomic studies link CTNNA3 polymorphisms to diseases with no clear cardiac underpinning, including asthma, autism and multiple sclerosis, suggesting causal contributions from a different cell-type. We show Ctnna3 mRNA is highly expressed in peripheral nerves (e.g.

Safety of Biologics for Atopic Diseases During Pregnancy.

The high prevalence of atopic diseases in women of childbearing age reveals the need to determine the safety of biologics during pregnancy. This review summarizes the effects of 7 Food and Drug Administration-approved biologics (omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab, tezepelumab, and tralokinumab) on maternal and fetal outcomes. For this purpose, we reviewed English-language publications to investigate whether the use of biologics for atopic diseases during pregnancy increased the risk of preterm delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, or congenital malformations.

Predictors of seroconversion after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination.

Background: Vaccine nonresponse during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has considerable individual and societal risks.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with lack of seroconversion after vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: Demographic and clinical data were collected from 805 patients who had validated antibody assays against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at least 14 days after completion of their COVID-19 vaccination.

Hormonal Effects on Asthma, Rhinitis, and Eczema.

Hormones significantly influence the pathogenesis of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema. This review aims to summarize relevant clinical considerations for practicing allergists and immunologists. The first section reviews the effects of sex hormones: estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Delayed systemic urticarial reactions following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

As the vaccination campaign in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, concerns with regard to adverse reactions to the vaccine remain. Although immediate hypersensitivity reactions have received much attention, delayed systemic urticarial reactions after vaccination can occur. To describe the clinical presentation, vaccine excipient skin testing results, and outcomes of subsequent COVID-19 vaccination in patients who experienced delayed systemic urticarial reactions after messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccination.

Utility and futility of skin testing to address concerns surrounding messenger RNA coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine reactions.

Background: The mechanism of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hypersensitivity reactions is unknown. COVID-19 vaccine excipient skin testing has been used in evaluation of these reactions, but its utility in predicting subsequent COVID-19 vaccine tolerance is also unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine excipient skin testing in both patients with an allergic reaction to their first messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine dose and patients with a history of polyethylene glycol allergy who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine dose.

State-of-the-art beta-adrenoreceptor agonists for the treatment of asthma.

Introduction: Asthma, a heterogeneous disease, is characterized by chronic airway inflammation and hyperreactivity. β-adrenoreceptor agonists (β-agonists) remain pivotal for asthma management. Short-acting β-agonists (SABAs) result in rapid symptomatic alleviation and bronchospasm prevention.