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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Allergenicity assessment of osmotin, a pathogenesis-related protein, used for transgenic crops.

Genetic engineering can enhance abiotic stress tolerance of plants, thereby increasing productivity. The present study investigates allergenicity of osmotin protein used for developing transgenic crops. Bioinformatic analysis of osmotin was performed using SDAP and Farrp allergen databases.

Clinico-immunological changes post-immunotherapy with Periplaneta americana.

Background: Cockroach proteins induce allergies including asthma in predisposed individuals. Well-designed controlled studies are required to show the effect of cockroach immunotherapy (IT). This study is aimed to assess changes in clinical and immunological parameters post-IT with Periplaneta americana extract.

Clinico-immunologic study on immunotherapy with mixed and single insect allergens.

Background: Immunotherapy (IT) is practiced mainly with mixed and single allergen vaccines. But studies are rare with mixed allergen preparations.

Objective: The objective of this study is to study mix and single insect allergen IT in patients of allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Purification and immunological characterization of a 12-kDa allergen from Epicoccum purpurascens.

Exposure to Epicoccum purpurascens is implicated in respiratory allergies and asthma. Several allergens of clinical importance were identified in Epicoccum extract (EE), but only one allergen has been isolated and characterized. In the present study, a 12-kDa allergen was isolated from an Epicoccum spore-mycelial extract by concanavalin-A sepharose, reverse-phase hydrophobic and gel filtration chromatography.

Stability of protease-rich periplaneta Americana allergen extract during storage: formulating preservatives to enhance shelf life.

Allergenic proteins in extracts degrade rapidly and lose potency on storage. Hence, formulation of optimum conditions is required to enhance shelf life of extracts for proper allergy diagnosis and immunotherapy. In the present study, allergenic potency of P.

Cloning, recombinant expression and activity studies of a major allergen "enolase" from the fungus Curvularia lunata.

Recombinant allergens are required to study allergy at the molecular level and are helpful tools for the improvement of diagnosis and therapy. In the present study, enolase was expressed from Curvularia lunata and analyzed for its immunological reactivity as an allergen. cDNA library was synthesized in lambda zap vector and screened with sera obtained from C.

Epi p 1, an allergenic glycoprotein of Epicoccum purpurascens is a serine protease.

Epicoccum purpurascens (EP) is a ubiquitous saprophytic mould, the inhalant spores and mycelia of which are responsible for respiratory allergic disorders in 5-7% of population worldwide. The diagnosis/therapy of these disorders caused by fungi involves the use of standardized and purified fungal extracts. A 33.