Tablet-based sublingual immunotherapy for respiratory allergy.

Allergic respiratory disease represents a significant and expanding health problem worldwide. The gold standard of therapeutic intervention is still grucocorticosteroids, although they are not effective in all patients and may cause side effects. Allergen Immunotherapy has been administrated as subcutaneous injections for treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma and has been practiced for the past century.

Antibiotic resistance and population structure of cystic fibrosis Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from a Spanish multi-centre study.

The first Spanish multi-centre study on the microbiology of cystic fibrosis (CF) was conducted from 2013 to 2014. The study involved 24 CF units from 17 hospitals, and recruited 341 patients. The aim of this study was to characterise Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, 79 of which were recovered from 75 (22%) patients.

Specific allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of allergic asthma: a review of current evidence.

Asthma is frequently associated with atopy, characterized by the production of specific immunoglobulin E in response to environmental allergens. Currently, two types of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) are used in clinical practice: subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy, both accepted as key components of the therapeutic repertoire for allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. However, their role in asthma remains controversial.

Fluorescence Microscopy as a Diagnostic Tool for Dermatophytosis.

Dermatophytosis is a superficial fungal infection of keratinized tissues. Dermatophytes can cause discomfort but are not usually life threatening. However, the infection can spread and may lead to systemic fungal infections in immunocompromised patients.

[Lyme borreliosis].

Lyme borreliosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks and caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. There are cases of the infection reported at least since the beginning of last century, although a complete description of the disease is available only since 1982. Clinical presentation consists generally of a characteristic skin rash, known as erythema migrans, and a variety of systemic manifestations, which evolve in stages, along months to years.

Airway responsiveness to adenosine 5'-monophosphate and exhaled nitric oxide measurements: predictive value as markers for reducing the dose of inhaled corticosteroids in asthmatic subjects.

Objectives: To investigate the utility of the determination of airway responsiveness to inhaled adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) and exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) levels as markers for safely reducing the dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in patients with asthma well controlled with a moderately high ICS dose.

Methods: A total of 37 patients with asthma well controlled for at least 3 months by treatment with a moderately high ICS dose (beclomethasone dipropionate, 500 to 1,000 microg or equivalent daily) were included in the study. Patients were treated for a 2-week run-in (baseline) period with their usual dose of ICS.

Modifications of airway responsiveness to adenosine 5'-monophosphate and exhaled nitric oxide concentrations after the pollen season in subjects with pollen-induced rhinitis.

Study Objective: s: To determine the effect of cessation of exposure to pollen on airway responsiveness to adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) in subjects with pollen-induced rhinitis, and to explore the relationship between changes in airway responsiveness and changes in exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) levels.

Study Design: Subjects were studied during the pollen season and out of season.

Setting: Specialist allergy unit in a university hospital.