Background: The Hygiene Hypothesis proposes that infection exposure protects against inflammatory conditions. Helminths possess allergen-like molecules and may specifically modulate allergy-related immunological pathways to inhibit responses which protect against them. Mass drug administration is recommended for helminth-endemic communities to control helminth-induced pathology, but may also result in increased rates of inflammation-mediated diseases in resource-poor settings. Immunological studies integrated with implementation of helminth control measures may elucidate how helminth elimination contributes to ongoing epidemics of inflammatory diseases. We present the design of the Lake Victoria Island Intervention Study on Worms and Allergy-related diseases (LaVIISWA), a cluster-randomised trial evaluating the risks and benefits of intensive versus standard anthelminthic treatment for allergy-related diseases and other health outcomes.
Methods/design: The setting is comprised of island fishing communities in Mukono district, Uganda. Twenty-six communities have been randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive standard or intensive anthelminthic intervention for a three-year period. Baseline characteristics were collected immediately prior to intervention rollout, commenced in February 2013. Primary outcomes are reported wheeze in the past 12 months and atopy (skin prick test response and allergen-specific immunoglobulin (asIg) E concentration). Secondary outcomes are visible flexural dermatitis, helminth infections, haemoglobin, growth parameters, hepatosplenomegaly, and responses to vaccine antigens. The trial provides a platform for in-depth analysis of clinical and immunological consequences of the contrasting interventions.
Discussion: The baseline survey has been completed successfully in a challenging environment. Baseline characteristics were balanced between trial arms. Prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni, hookworm, Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura was 52%, 23%, 13%, and 12%, respectively; 31% of Schistosoma mansoni infections were heavy (>400 eggs/gram). The prevalence of reported wheeze and positive skin prick test to any allergen was 5% and 20%, respectively. Respectively, 77% and 87% of participants had Dermatophagoides- and German cockroach-specific IgE above 0.35 kUA/L. These characteristics suggest that the LaVIISWA study will provide an excellent framework for investigating beneficial and detrimental effects of worms and their treatment, and the mechanisms of such effects.
Trial Registration: This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials (identifier: ISRCTN47196031) on 7 September 2012.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4413531 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13063-015-0702-5 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Characterization of the oral mycobiome of Portuguese with allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Curr Res Microb Sci
October 2024
Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, Avenida Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal.
Article Synopsis
- Allergic rhinitis and asthma are significant chronic airway diseases, and while previous studies examined the role of bacteria in these conditions, the oral mycobiome (fungal community) had not been thoroughly investigated until this research.
- This study analyzed the oral mycobiome of 349 Portuguese participants, revealing significant differences in the abundance and diversity of fungal taxa between allergic rhinitis patients, those with both asthma and allergic rhinitis, and healthy controls, but not among the disease groups themselves.
- Key findings included a higher microbial diversity in patients with respiratory issues and notable differences in metabolic pathways and fungal interactions, indicating that chronic allergic conditions may modify the oral fungal community in health and disease
Gynostemma pentaphyllum saponins shield mice from peanut allergy by modulation of gut microbiota: A novel approach for peanut allergy management.
Phytomedicine
December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China; Foshan Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, Foshan Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China. Electronic address:
Background: Food allergies, particularly peanut (PN) allergies, are a growing concern, with fatal anaphylaxis incidents often reported. While palforzia is the sole FDA-approved drug for managing PN allergies, it is not universally effective.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the potential of Gynostemma pentaphyllum saponins (GpS) as a novel therapeutic agent for PN allergy through modulation of gut microbiota, addressing the limitations of current treatments.
GALEN ANACARE consensus statement: Potential of omalizumab in food allergy management.
Clin Transl Allergy
November 2024
Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Allergy and Venerology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Article Synopsis
- IgE-mediated food allergies are the most common type, causing quick and serious reactions that affect patients' and caregivers' lives.
- Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to IgE, reducing allergic reactions, and has been approved by the FDA for treating these food allergies.
- The GALEN ANACARE Consensus Statement supports omalizumab's use based on a systematic review and expert agreement, noting it is currently the only drug that can significantly reduce IgE-mediated food allergic reactions, although more evidence is needed for stronger guideline recommendations.
Interpreting epidemiologic distribution of total and specific IgE levels for food allergy in Southern China from 2004 to 2023: understanding the mechanisms and focusing on prevention.
BMC Public Health
October 2024
Department of Clinical Laboratory of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
Background: The burgeoning prevalence of food allergy-related diseases is closely associated with geographical allergen distribution and societal lifestyle paradigms. This study aims to shed light on the distribution patterns of specific IgE (sIgE) and total IgE (tIgE) reactivity to common food allergens in the Southern Chinese populace.
Methods: Employing an analytical technique spanning two decades, we conducted specific IgE and total IgE on serum samples harvested from patients with food allergy-related pathologies at First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from 2004 to 2023.
Internet-based surveillance to track trends in seasonal allergies across the United States.
PNAS Nexus
October 2024
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
Over a quarter of adults in the United States suffer from seasonal allergies, yet the broader spatiotemporal patterns in seasonal allergy trends remain poorly resolved. This knowledge gap persists due to difficulties in quantifying allergies as symptoms are seldom severe enough to warrant hospital visits. We show that we can use machine learning to extract relevant data from Twitter posts and Google searches to examine population-level trends in seasonal allergies at high spatial and temporal resolution, validating the approach against hospital record data obtained from selected counties in California, United States.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!