Predictors of excessive short-acting β-agonist use and asthma exacerbations: a retrospective analysis of a Polish prescription database.

Introduction: Despite being linked to unfavourable outcomes, short-acting β-agonists (SABAs) are still overused by a substantial proportion of patients with asthma.

Aim: To analyse the prevalence and predictors of SABA overuse and exacerbations in patients with asthma in a nationwide database of prescription purchase records.

Material And Methods: The prevalence of excessive SABA use (≥ 12 canisters) and overuse (≥ 3 canisters) was analysed among patients aged 18-64 years who purchased asthma medications in 2018.

Impact of Alteplase on Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19 and Pulmonary Embolism.

COVID-19 is an independent risk factor for pulmonary embolism (PE). Little is known about alteplase therapy in this patient group. A retrospective study analyzed 74 patients with PE and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19 who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit in 2021.

Efficacy of Sildenafil in Patients with Severe COVID-19 and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is common in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and worsens the prognosis. Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, is approved for PAH treatment but little is known about its efficacy in cases of severe COVID-19 with PAH. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of sildenafil in patients with severe COVID-19 and PAH.

The role of the novel adipokines vaspin and omentin in chronic inflammatory diseases.

Obesity is a disease of epidemic proportions in many countries around the world. White adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ; therefore, its excess results in chronic and systemic inflammation. This inflammation is caused and maintained mostly by adipokines secreted by adipose tissue cells, mainly adipocytes and macrophages.

Lack of Difference in Tocilizumab Efficacy in the Treatment of Severe COVID-19 Caused by Different SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

Tocilizumab (TOC) is presumed to be an effective and safe treatment for severe COVID-19, but its usefulness has not been yet investigated for different SARS-CoV-2 variants. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of TOC on mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 caused by Delta and non-Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants. In a retrospective analysis, we compared the medical records of 78 and 224 patients with severe COVID-19 due to Delta and non-Delta variants, respectively.

Comparison of the Effect of Unfractionated Heparin and Enoxaparin Sodium at Different Doses on the Course of COVID-19-Associated Coagulopathy.

Background: COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC) exacerbates the course of coronavirus infection and contributes to increased mortality. Current recommendations for CAC treatment include the use of low-molecular weight heparins (LMWH) at prophylactic or therapeutic doses, as well as the use of unfractionated heparin (UFH).

Methods: A randomised, controlled trial enrolled 126 patients hospitalised in the intensive care unit with severe COVID-19 complicated by CAC.

Efficacy of Tocilizumab Therapy in Different Subtypes of COVID-19 Cytokine Storm Syndrome.

Background: Cytokine storm in COVID-19 is heterogenous. There are at least three subtypes: cytokine release syndrome (CRS), macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), and sepsis.

Methods: A retrospective study comprising 276 patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

Oxygen metabolism markers as predictors of mortality in severe COVID-19.

Objective: To investigate the use of oxygen metabolism markers as predictors of mortality in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was undertaken to compare the medical records of patients with severe COVID-19 (53 deceased patients and 50 survivors). The survivors were selected from 222 records using a random number generator.

The diagnostic usefulness of the basophil activation test (BAT) with annexin V in an allergy to Alternaria alternata.

Background: The basophil activation test (BAT) is an effective diagnostic tool in mold allergy, which is still not sufficiently known.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess the degree of annexin V binding to the surface of the basophil cell membrane after stimulation with anti-immunoglobulin E (anti-IgE) and Alternaria alternata allergenic extract.

Material And Methods: Alternaria alternata allergic patients (n = 32) and healthy volunteers (n = 33) were evaluated using skin prick tests (SPT), quantification of specific IgE (sIgE) and the BAT.

Fusion of the H NMR data of serum, urine and exhaled breath condensate in order to discriminate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, affects the condition of the entire human organism and causes multiple comorbidities. Pathological lung changes lead to quantitative changes in the composition of the metabolites in different body fluids. The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, OSAS, occurs in conjunction with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in about 10-20 % of individuals who have COPD.

[Application of metabolomic in COPD diagnosing].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is very heterogeneous, with multiple phenotypes and hardly predictable clinical course. There are no clearly defined biomarkers measuring its progress and advancement. In the recent years, development of modem measurement techniques, first of all the nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry, allowed their widespread use in biological research.

Airway inflammation in patients with chronic non-asthmatic cough.

Introduction: Chronic non-asthmatic cough (CC) is a clinical challenge and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain still not completely understood. One of the most common comorbidities in CC is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Airway epithelium damage can contribute to airway inflammation in CC.

CD164 as a Basophil Activation Marker.

Introduction of flow cytometric technique to the research on basophil activation has led to significant achievements in allergy diagnosis in vitro. Most of the studies employing the flow cytometry used CD63 as a marker of basophil activation and only some of them used CD203c. Recently discovered basophil activation markers, including CD164, opened new possibilities for solving majority of current diagnostic needs.

[Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis--current concepts in pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment].

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is a rare syndrome, with symptoms caused by both ingestion of food allergen and physical exercise. The main purpose of this paper is to present current knowledge about FDEIA, focus on therapeutic possibilities, as well as to call attention to this uncommon and potentially life-threatening disease. The authors critically reviewed the data from available publications, including recent observations regarding pathomechanism, clinical history, severity-based classification of anaphylaxis symptoms, diagnostics and treatment options, including pharmacological prophylaxis.

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis-sequence of causative factors might be reversed.

We present a case of a 27-years-old female who experienced several episodes of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA). Besides two typical episodes of FDEIA triggered by a postprandial physical exercise, she also experienced atypical episodes in which the sequence of the causative stimuli was clearly reversed-clinical symptoms which appeared after a prolonged exercise, followed by ingestion of the sensitizing food. This unusual clinical picture entitled us to extend the routine recommendations- avoidance of the coincidence of food allergens intake and exercise accordingly to her history.

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis: an update on diagnosis and treatment.

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA) and food-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) are rare but potentially life-threatening clinical syndromes in which association with exercise is crucial. The range of triggering physical activities is broad, including as mild an effort as a stroll. EIA is not fully repeatable (ie, the same exercise may not always result in anaphylaxis in a given patient).

Validation of basophil CD164 upregulation for pollen allergy diagnosis.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by allergy to grass pollens. This study was performed in 24 patients with allergy to grass pollens, and in 25 healthy controls. The protocol for allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation consisted of whole blood samples processing and staining with anti-CCR3/anti-CD164 antibodies added to a buffer at the beginning of stimulation.

Influence of hyperosmotic conditions on basophil CD203c upregulation in patients with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

Increased in vitro basophil activation in buffers of slightly elevated osmolarity in 2 cases of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis is presented. These data may suggest the importance of basophil activation degree in pathogenesis of this life threatening syndrome.

The G/G genotype of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) single nucleotide (+915G/C) polymorphism coincident with other host and environmental factors is associated with irreversible bronchoconstriction in asthmatics.

Irreversible airflow obstruction may develop in some cases of asthma even in absence of known risk factors such as smoking and environmental insults and despite implementing apparently appropriate therapy. This implies that genetic factors may significantly contribute to determining the severity in the course of the disease. The published reports on genetic predisposition to irreversible bronchoconstriction in asthma, however, are relatively scarce, and disregard its potential association with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 gene polymorphism despite established role that TGF-beta1 plays in airway remodelling.

[The variability of peak inspiratory flow (PIF) on valves imitating dry powder inhalers resistance during asthma and COPD exacerbations].

Introduction: Drugs used in asthma or COPD exacerbation are delivered to the lungs by inhalation. This is facilitated, among other factors, by the use of dry powder inhalers (DPIs). Lung deposition from DPI depends predominantly on peak inspiratory flow (PIF).

The use of magnesium in bronchial asthma: a new approach to an old problem.

Magnesium deficiency is a common electrolyte disorder in patients with acute severe asthma, but intracellular magnesium content better reflects its homeostasis than does its serum concentration. Magnesium takes part in many metabolic processes in the organism, including energy metabolism, protein and nucleic acid synthesis, cell cycle, the binding of substances to the plasma membrane, and maintenance of cytoskeletal and mitochondrial integrity. It also modulates ion transport and influences intracellular calcium concentration.

[TGF-beta1 gene polymorphism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Gene polymorphism is often responsible for occurrence of some chronic diseases. It has not been clarified, why only 15-20% of smokers suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). TGF-beta1 gene polymorphism has been postulated as one of possible genetic risk factors.

[Transient pancytopenia due to ticlopidine--a case report].

Transient pancytopenia as an adverse hematologic reaction due to ticlopidine. We present a case of transient pancytopenia due to ticlopidine in 66-year-old woman who was administrated with ticlopidine as a primary prevention of heart failure. The first sign was a skin rush which was followed by ticlopidine cessation.