NCCP-ICS joint consensus-based clinical practice guidelines on medical thoracoscopy.

Medical Thoracoscopy (MT) is commonly performed by respiratory physicians for diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes. The aim of the study was to provide evidence-based information regarding all aspects of MT, both as a diagnostic tool and therapeutic aid for pulmonologists across India. The consensus-based guidelines were formulated based on a multistep process using a set of 31 questions.

The adverse effects of solid biomass fuel exposure on lung functions in non-smoking female population.

Background: Though, smoking is the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worldwide, the household air pollution due to use of solid biomass fuel is considered as a major risk factor for the development of obstructive lung disease. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of solid biomass fuel exposure on lung functions in non-smoking female population.

Methods: A hospital based, descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among 140 non-smoking female patients aged 40 or more and who had been exposed to solid biomass fuel.

In silico tools to assess the potential allergenicity of shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes).

Background: Computational tools may have an edge over conventional methods for the preliminary evaluation of food allergenicity. In this study, the allergenic potential of Lentinula edodes was evaluated and validated using in silico tools.

Results: The potential cross-reactivity of mushroom proteins with fungal allergens was determined using sequence alignment - the Fast Alignment (FASTA) and Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) algorithm.

Immuno-informatic Prediction of B and T cell Epitopes of Cysteine Protease Allergen from with Cross-reactive Potential and Population Coverage.

Background: In-silico mapping of epitopes by immune-informatics has simplified the efforts towards understanding antigen-antibody interactions. The knowledge of allergen epitopes may help in advancing the diagnosis and therapy of allergic diseases.

Objective: This study was intended to identify B and T cell epitopes of cysteine protease allergen of Phaseolus vulgaris.

Molecular and immunological characterization of cysteine protease from Phaseolus vulgaris and evolutionary cross-reactivity.

A commonly consumed legume in India, the kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is associated with allergy. We report molecular and immunological characterization of cysteine protease allergen and its cross-reactivity. In silico allergenicity assessment and phylogenetic analysis of kidney bean cysteine protease showed significant sequence homology (upto 67%) with allergens from kiwi, papaya, soybean, ragweed pollen and mites.

Comprehensive depiction of novel heavy metal tolerant and EPS producing bioluminescent Vibrio alginolyticus PBR1 and V. rotiferianus PBL1 confined from marine organisms.

The current study depicts the isolation of luminescent bacteria from fish and squid samples that were collected from Veraval fish harbour. From Indian mackerel, total 14 and from squid, total 23 bioluminescent bacteria were isolated using luminescence agar medium. Two bioluminescent bacteria with highest relative luminescence intensity PBR1 and PBL1 were selected.

Iron deficiency in non-anemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a predominantly male population: an ignored entity.

Non-anemic iron deficiency has been studied in heart failure, but studies are lacking in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The potential clinical implications of association of iron deficiency with the severity of COPD warrant research in this direction. This was an observational, cross-sectional study on patients with COPD to compare disease severity, functional status and quality of life in non-anemic patients with COPD between two groups - iron deficient and non-iron deficient.

Activities-specific balance confidence scale for predicting future falls in Indian older adults.

Background: Activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale is a subjective measure of confidence in performing various ambulatory activities without falling or experiencing a sense of unsteadiness.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the ability of the Hindi version of the ABC scale (ABC-H scale) to discriminate between fallers and non-fallers and to examine its predictive validity for prospective falls.

Design: This was a prospective cohort study.

Cockroach protease allergen induces allergic airway inflammation via epithelial cell activation.

Protease allergens are known to enhance allergic inflammation but their exact role in initiation of allergic reactions at mucosal surfaces still remains elusive. This study was aimed at deciphering the role of serine protease activity of Per a 10, a major cockroach allergen in initiation of allergic inflammation at mucosal surfaces. We demonstrate that Per a 10 increases epithelial permeability by disruption of tight junction proteins, ZO-1 and occludin, and enhances the migration of Monocyte derived dendritic cell precursors towards epithelial layer as exhibited by trans-well studies.

The role of fungal sensitisation in clinical presentation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Atopic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) demonstrate more severe symptoms than their non-atopic counterparts. Also, Aspergillus hypersensitivity is known in COPD. However, allergic sensitisation to non-Aspergillus fungi has never been studied in COPD patients.

Indoor air pollution and asthma in children at Delhi, India.

Introduction: Several studies in developed countries have shown association between indoor air pollution and asthma in children. The present research was undertaken to study this association at Delhi, India.

Material And Methods: This study took place at Delhi, capital of India.

Engineered hypoallergenic variants of osmotin demonstrate hypoallergenicity with in vitro and in vivo methods.

The molecular structure of protein and epitope mapping strategies are required to engineer the epitopes of a protein. In the present study, IgE binding regions of osmotin were identified and mutated to obtain hypoallergenic variant. The three dimensional (3-D) model of osmotin obtained by homology modeling comprised of a characteristic thaumatin-like fold.

Hypersensitivity to pollen of four different species of Brassica: a clinico-immunologic evaluation in patients of respiratory allergy in India.

Background: Rapeseed-mustard is the second most important source of edible oil in India. Several species of Brassica are grown in different parts of country for its oilseeds.

Objective: The objective was to investigate allergenicity to antigenic extracts of pollen of 4 species of Brassica.

Clinical significance and molecular characterization of nonsporulating molds isolated from the respiratory tracts of bronchopulmonary mycosis patients with special reference to basidiomycetes.

Nonsporulating molds (NSMs), especially basidiomycetes, have predominantly been reported as human pathogens responsible for allergic and invasive disease. Their conventional identification is problematic, as many isolates remain sterile in culture. Thus, inconclusive culture reports might adversely affect treatment decisions.

Molecular characterization and in vitro antifungal susceptibility profile of Schizophyllum commune, an emerging basidiomycete in bronchopulmonary mycoses.

Schizophyllum commune (n = 30) showed lowest geometric mean MICs of isavuconazole (0.19 μg/ml), itraconazole (0.2 μg/ml), voriconazole (0.

Medication use in Indian children with asthma: the user's perspective.

Background And Objective: Despite the high prevalence of asthma in children, there has been limited research into patient perception of medication use, particularly in the developing world. This study therefore aimed to carry out an in-depth exploration of the views of carers and children with asthma on asthma medication use.

Methods: Grounded theory approach was used to conduct semistructured qualitative interviews in a purposive convenience sample of parents and children with asthma.

Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis due to fungi other than Aspergillus: a global overview.

Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) is a hypersensitivity-mediated disease of worldwide distribution. We reviewed 143 reported global cases of ABPM due to fungi other than aspergilli. The commonest etiologic agent was Candida albicans, reported in 60% of the cases, followed by Bipolaris species (13%), Schizophyllum commune (11%), Curvularia species (8%), Pseudallescheria boydii species complex (3%) and rarely, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium vasinfectum, Penicillium species, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Stemphylium languinosum, Rhizopus oryzae, C.

In silico identification of IgE-binding epitopes of osmotin protein.

The identification of B-cell epitopes is an important step to study the antigen- antibody interactions for diagnosis and therapy. The present study aimed to identify B- cell epitopes of osmotin using bioinformatic tools and further modify these regions to study the allergenic property. B-cell epitopes were predicted based on amino acid physicochemical properties.

Clonal expansion and emergence of environmental multiple-triazole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus strains carrying the TR₃₄/L98H mutations in the cyp51A gene in India.

Azole resistance is an emerging problem in Aspergillus which impacts the management of aspergillosis. Here in we report the emergence and clonal spread of resistance to triazoles in environmental Aspergillus fumigatus isolates in India. A total of 44 (7%) A.

Characterization of recombinant per a 10 from Periplaneta americana.

Cockroach allergen is a major risk factor for IgE-mediated allergic response and asthma in sensitized individuals. Serine proteases have been identified from various sources and characterized as major allergens. The present study was aimed to express and characterize recombinant allergen Per a 10 (rPer a 10) from Periplaneta americana.

Intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in macrophages is modulated by phenotype of the pathogen and immune status of the host.

Emerging evidence indicates that the causative agent of tuberculosis is more genetically and functionally diverse than appreciated previously. The impact of this variation on the clinical manifestation of the disease remains largely unknown. In addition, there exists significant variability in the immune status of the host governing susceptibility to tuberculosis.

Association between indoor fungi in Delhi homes and sensitization in children with respiratory allergy.

Indoor fungi are potential sensitizing agents in children and their detection and quantification in indoor air are important in the diagnosis and environmental management of fungal allergies. The objective of this investigation was to assess the prevalence of fungal allergies in children in Delhi and to study the association between mold counts in the homes of children and their sensitization to respective fungal extracts. Fungal concentrations and seasonality were studied at two-week intervals for one year using Andersen Volumetric and Burkard Slide samplers.

Isolation of multiple-triazole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus strains carrying the TR/L98H mutations in the cyp51A gene in India.

Objectives: Azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus isolates impacts on the management of aspergillosis since azoles are primary agents used for prophylaxis and therapy. We report the emergence of resistance to triazoles in two A. fumigatus isolates from patients in Delhi, India.