Publications by authors named "Walusiak-Skorupa J"
Background: Exposure-related changes in exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and sputum eosinophils have not been thoroughly compared in the investigation of occupational asthma.
Objective: This study aimed at comparing the accuracies of the changes in FeNO concentrations and sputum eosinophil counts in identifying asthmatic reactions induced by occupational agents during specific inhalation challenges (SICs).
Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included 321 subjects who completed an assessment of FeNO and sputum eosinophils before and 24 h after SICs with various occupational agents, of whom 156 showed a positive result.
Human well-being is affected by demographic, geographical, environmental and economic changes in the modern world. Advanced and rapid technological advances have left countries without an adequate structural framework. The One Health concept, rooted in the interconnectedness of human health, animal health and the environment, addresses today's global health challenges.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe set up of new healthcare models by taking into account diagnosis and health education of the viral infection, aims to achieve the goals of the World Health Organization Global Health Sector Strategy on viral diseases for 2022-2030. In comparison to Europe, Poland is ranked among countries with an moderate prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV), also human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). An additional challenge is the changing epidemiological situation due to the impact of immigrants, resulting mainly from the war in Ukraine.
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- - The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology analyzed systematic reviews using GRADE to assess the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and active smoking on asthma-related issues, focusing primarily on longitudinal studies.
- - Prenatal and postnatal ETS are linked to an increased risk of recurrent wheezing and new-onset asthma, with moderate to low certainty evidence indicating that combined ETS exposure heightens these risks.
- - Active smoking is associated with severe asthma exacerbations and poor asthma control, also backed by moderate certainty evidence, alongside potential impacts on quality of life and lung function.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the effectiveness of specific IgE (sIgE) testing for wheat and rye flour in diagnosing occupational asthma compared to a specific inhalation challenge (SIC), which is considered the gold standard.
- Results showed that sIgE levels of 0.35 kU/L or greater had similar diagnostic sensitivity and specificity to the SIC, but higher sIgE thresholds increased specificity significantly.
- The findings suggest that high sIgE levels can effectively indicate flour-induced occupational asthma, while low levels in patients with a positive SIC may correlate with lower T2 inflammatory biomarkers.
Article Synopsis
- The EAACI Guidelines explain how being outside in polluted air can make asthma worse and give tips for preventing problems and taking care of patients.
- They were made to help doctors, patients, and government officials make better choices about asthma management and outdoor air quality.
- The guidelines suggest that while short-term exposure to pollution can lead to more hospital visits for asthma, there's still a need for better evidence on how to reduce pollution and improve air quality.
Systematic review using GRADE of the impact of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), cleaning agents, mould/damp, pesticides on the risk of (i) new-onset asthma (incidence) and (ii) adverse asthma-related outcomes (impact). MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched for indoor pollutant exposure studies reporting on new-onset asthma and critical and important asthma-related outcomes. Ninety four studies were included: 11 for VOCs (7 for incidenceand 4 for impact), 25 for cleaning agents (7 for incidenceand 8 for impact), 48 for damp/mould (26 for incidence and 22 for impact) and 10 for pesticides (8 for incidence and 2 for impact).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAir pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats for asthma. Its impact is augmented by climate change. To inform the recommendations of the EAACI Guidelines on the environmental science for allergic diseases and asthma, a systematic review (SR) evaluated the impact on asthma-related outcomes of short-term exposure to outdoor air pollutants (PM2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA major challenge over the pandemic period was to establish the criteria for recognizing COVID-19 as an occupational disease. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has attempted to estimate the incidence of COVID-19 in individual occupational groups and economy sectors in the European Union and the United Kingdom, and to identify possible factors increasing the transmission of the virus at workplaces. Legal regulations of various countries in the world allow COVID-19 to be recognized as an accident at work and/or an occupational disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study aims to present an overview of the formal recognition of COVID-19 as occupational disease (OD) or injury (OI) across Europe.
Methods: A COVID-19 questionnaire was designed by a task group within COST-funded OMEGA-NET and sent to occupational health experts of 37 countries in WHO European region, with a last update in April 2022.
Results: The questionnaire was filled out by experts from 35 countries.
Background: The presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in many areas of social life is becoming widespread. The advantages of AI are being observed in medicine, commerce, automobiles, customer service, agriculture and production in factory settings, among others. Workers first encountered robots in the work environment in the 1960s.
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- A systematic review was conducted to assess the relationship between pollen exposure and asthma exacerbations, filling a gap in existing research on this topic.
- The review identified 73 studies, finding that outdoor pollen, especially grass pollen, is linked to increased asthma attacks and hospital admissions in children under 18, indicating specific pollen types have varying effects.
- The authors emphasize the need for more research on factors like pollen sensitization and climate change, advocating for better preventative measures in asthma management as pollen levels rise.
Background And Objectives: Background: Clinical heterogeneity in sensitizer-induced occupational asthma (OA) and its relationship to airway inflammatory profiles remain poorly elucidated. Objectives: To further characterize interactions between induced sputum inflammatory patterns, asthma-related outcomes, and the high- or low-molecular-weight category of causal agents in a large cohort of patients with OA.
Methods: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, cross-sectional study of 296 patients with OA confirmed by a positive specific inhalation challenge who completed induced sputum assessment before and 24 hours after challenge exposure.
Background: Anaphylaxis, which is rare, has been reported after COVID-19 vaccination, but its management is not standardized.
Method: Members of the European Network for Drug Allergy and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology interested in drug allergy participated in an online questionnaire on pre-vaccination screening and management of allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, and literature was analysed.
Results: No death due to anaphylaxis to COVID-19 vaccines has been confirmed in scientific literature.
Article Synopsis
- * It can cause allergic reactions, and different countries recognize various allergies related to cannabis.
- * Because cannabis is illegal in many places, studying it is tough, making it hard to diagnose allergies and find treatments.
Article Synopsis
- Allergic asthma (AA) is a type of asthma that requires proof of IgE-sensitization to allergens and its role in causing symptoms; bronchial allergen challenge (BAC) may help identify AA cases among atopic asthmatics.
- Current BAC methods are mainly used in research settings focused on mild asthma, which limits their application for moderate-to-severe cases in clinical practice.
- The EAACI Task Force suggests a new BAC methodology aimed at improving patient identification for effective treatments like immunotherapy, ultimately enhancing asthma management in real-world scenarios.
Introduction: Many people have CVD risk factors without realising it and it is important to recognise the risk factors as soon as possible. Periodic examinations are a mandatory form of control for all employes in Poland. They provide an excellent opportunity to screen for the most common civilization diseases in the population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Epidemiological data on cancer diseases are alarming. The workplace has become an increasingly important site for disseminating health information and implementing health promotion activities. Occupational medicine physicians (OMPs) have the opportunity to carry out primary and secondary preventive activities focused on civilization diseases, especially cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOccupational Asthma Caused by Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: A Multicenter Cohort Study.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract
September 2021
Article Synopsis
- Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are commonly used for cleaning and disinfection and have been linked to occupational asthma (OA), which was investigated through bronchoprovocation tests (BPTs).
- The study analyzed 22 cases of QAC-induced OA among 871 subjects, finding that those affected often worked in healthcare and exhibited significant increases in bronchial hyperresponsiveness and eosinophils in sputum compared to OA caused by other low-molecular weight agents.
- The findings suggest that QAC-induced OA has a distinct inflammatory profile, indicating its potential as a respiratory sensitizer and emphasizing the varied mechanisms behind OA triggered by different agents.
Older adults, especially men and/or those with diabetes, hypertension, and/or obesity, are prone to severe COVID-19. In some countries, older adults, particularly those residing in nursing homes, have been prioritized to receive COVID-19 vaccines due to high risk of death. In very rare instances, the COVID-19 vaccines can induce anaphylaxis, and the management of anaphylaxis in older people should be considered carefully.
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- Management of TBE symptoms includes standard procedures for neurological issues, with a focus on physical and psychological assessments, particularly for adults and children experiencing long-term effects.
- Vaccination is the best form of prevention, recommended for individuals in endemic areas, particularly those at high risk such as outdoor workers and travelers to affected regions.
Background: As in many fields of medical care, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in an increased uncertainty regarding the safety of allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Therefore, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) aimed to analyze the situation in different countries and to systematically collect all information available regarding tolerability and possible amendments in daily practice of sublingual AIT (SLIT), subcutaneous AIT (SCIT) for inhalant allergies and venom AIT.
Methods: Under the framework of the EAACI, a panel of experts in the field of AIT coordinated by the Immunotherapy Interest Group set-up a web-based retrospective survey (SurveyMonkey ) including 27 standardized questions on practical and safety aspects on AIT in worldwide clinical routine.
Objectives: Cardiovascular and metabolic disorders constitute major health problems in the working populations in Europe. The aim of this project was to evaluate the health condition of workers employed in a Polish research and medical institution, and then to establish the necessary preventive actions by creating a modern model of occupational healthcare integrated with civilization disease (CivD) prevention.
Material And Methods: Overall, 100 workers voluntarily participated in a health program for CivD prevention during mandatory prophylactic examinations.