Glucose metabolism is critical for the African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, as an essential metabolic process and regulator of parasite development. Little is known about the cellular responses generated when environmental glucose levels change. In both bloodstream and procyclic form (insect stage) parasites, glycosomes house most of glycolysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To compare physical activity and length and quality of sleep between brachycephalic dogs and a control population.
Methods: Brachycephalic and control dogs were prospectively enrolled. Length of activity and sleep were determined via accelerometer use.
Respirable aerosols (< 5 µm in diameter) present a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Guidelines recommend using aerosol precautions during aerosol-generating procedures, and droplet (> 5 µm) precautions at other times. However, emerging evidence indicates respiratory activities may be a more important source of aerosols than clinical procedures such as tracheal intubation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Studies of potential adverse effects of traffic related air pollution (TRAP) on allergic disease have had mixed findings. Nutritional studies to examine whether fish oil supplementation may protect against development of allergic disease through their anti-inflammatory actions have also had mixed findings. Extremely few studies to date have considered whether air pollution and dietary factors such as fish oil intake may interact, which was the rationale for this study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElephant-mediated transmission of tuberculosis is assumed to be similar to human models, which state close and prolonged contact with an infected individual is required for transmission. Although considered a risk factor for infection, several case studies have reported that close contact with an elephant is not always necessary for transmission, and the role of aerosolized bacteria remains unclear. To investigate aerosol-mediated transmission of pathogenic bacteria from elephants, a method for the detection of aerosols using an adapted sampling system was developed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe clinical importance of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) allergies demands standardized allergen extraction protocols. We determined the effectiveness of common extraction conditions (20 buffers, defatting reagents, extraction time/temperatures, processing, extraction repeats) on crude protein and Ara h 1 and 2 yields. Despite similar 1D-gel profiles, defatting with n-hexane resulted in significantly higher yields of crude protein, Ara h 1, and Ara h 2 than with diethyl ether.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRespiratory viruses are very common in the community and contribute to the burden of illness for patients with chronic respiratory diseases, including acute exacerbations. Traditional sampling methods are invasive and problematic to repeat. Accordingly, we explored whether respiratory viruses could be isolated from disposable spirometry filters and whether detection of viruses in this context represented presence in the upper or lower respiratory tract.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAllergic diseases such as asthma and rhinitis are common in many countries. Globally the most common allergen associated with symptoms is produced by house dust mites. Although the bed has often been cited as the main site of exposure to mite allergens, surprisingly this has not yet been directly established by measurement due to a lack of suitable methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMuch of what is known about the seasonality of human rhinovirus (hRV) infections has been learned from the study of acute asthma exacerbations presenting to emergency care, including those among children at the start of the school term. Much less is known about the patterns of hRVs in the community. In this study, viruses and day-to-day symptoms of asthma and colds were monitored twice weekly in 67 children with asthma aged 5-12 years, over a 15 month period in Sydney, Australia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Viruses are frequently associated with acute exacerbations of asthma, but the extent to which they contribute to the level of day-to-day symptom control is less clear.
Objective: We sought to explore the relationship between viral infections, host and environmental factors, and respiratory symptoms in children.
Methods: Sixty-seven asthmatic children collected samples twice weekly for an average of 10 weeks.
Expert Rev Clin Immunol
September 2014
More than 300 million individuals in industrialized countries suffer from allergic rhinitis. Rhinitis is a disease characterized by stuffy or runny nose, followed by red, itchy watering eyes and repeated sneezing. But more common problems for rhinitis patients are the overlooked social difficulties, with the majority reporting tiredness, feeling miserable or irritable.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Studies that estimate indoor aeroallergen exposure typically measure a pre-selected limited range of allergens. In this study, inhalable aeroallergen particles were quantified using the halogen immunoassay (HIA) to determine the contribution of fungal and non-fungal aeroallergens to total allergen exposure. Bioaerosols from 39 homes of fungal-allergic subjects were sampled using inhalable fraction samplers and immunostained by HIA using resident subject's immunoglobulin E (IgE) to detect allergen-laden particles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAerosol transmission routes of respiratory viruses have been classified by the WHO on the basis of equilibrium particle size. Droplet transmission is associated with particles sized >5 µm in diameter and airborne transmission is associated with particles sized ≤5 µm in diameter. Current infection control measures for respiratory viruses are directed at preventing droplet transmission, although epidemiological evidence suggests concurrent airborne transmission also occurs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The bed is commonly regarded as the main site of house dust mite exposure; however this has not been directly established by continuous measurements. The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of personal exposure to mite aeroallergen over 24 hours.
Methods: 12 adults each collected 9 sequential samples (8 during the day, mean 115 mins, and one overnight, mean 514 mins) over 24 hours using a portable air-pump (2L/min) connected to an IOM filter located on the shoulder during the day and on the bed head overnight.
The effects of plant growth conditions on concentrations of proteins, including allergens, in peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) kernels are largely unknown. Peanuts (cv.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe presence of viral respiratory infections is associated closely with exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis. Viral and bacterial multiplex PCRs were developed and applied to nasal swab samples from children with cystic fibrosis. This showed a large number of individuals with cystic fibrosis were infected with rhinoviruses, and more were infected with viral than bacterial pathogens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Allergy Asthma Rep
October 2012
Asthma is a common disease in which environmental exposures and lifestyle factors play critical roles in expression and symptoms. Recommended methods for reducing exposure to domestic allergens as a component of asthma and rhinitis management have changed little over the last 30 years. The data that implementation of these provides clinical benefit are inconsistent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Allergy Asthma Immunol
December 2011
Background: Exposure to London Plane Tree (Platanus) bioaerosols in Sydney, Australia has been anecdotally linked to respiratory irritation, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis.
Objective: To determine the relationships between Platanus bioaerosol exposure, allergic sensitization, and symptoms.
Methods: Sixty-four subjects with self-reported Platanus symptoms were recruited from inner-urban Sydney.
The role of allergen exposure in the etiology of allergic sensitization and asthma is complex. Advice on strategies to avoid domestic allergens remains contentious because trials of interventions aimed to prevent asthma or reduce symptoms have often failed to demonstrate benefits. Asthma management guidelines differ widely in their recommendations, while Web-based information often claims benefits associated with products.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Observational studies report inverse associations between the use of feather upper bedding (pillow and/or quilt) and asthma symptoms but there is no randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence assessing the role of feather upper bedding as a secondary prevention measure.
Objective: To determine whether, among children not using feather upper bedding, a new feather pillow and feather quilt reduces asthma severity among house dust mite (HDM) sensitised children with asthma over a 1-year period compared with standard dust mite avoidance advice, and giving children a new mite-occlusive mattress cover.
Design: RCT.
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