670 results match your criteria: "Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF)[Affiliation]"

An overview of climate changes and its effects on health - from mechanisms to One Health.

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract

December 2024

Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University Zurich, Davos, Switzerland.

Human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, widespread deforestation, soil erosion or machine-intensive farming methods, manufacturing, food processing, mining, and construction iron, cement, steel, and chemicals industry, have been the main drivers of the observed increase in Earth's average surface temperature and climate change. Rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, ecosystems disruption, agricultural impacts, water scarcity, problems in access to good quality water, food and housing, and profound environmental disruptions such as biodiversity loss and extreme pollution are expected to steeply increase the prevalence and severity of acute and chronic diseases. Its long-term effects cannot be adequately predicted or mitigated without a comprehensive understanding of the adaptive ecosystems.

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The Bronchodilator and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonists in Asthma: An EAACI Position Paper.

Allergy

December 2024

Allergy Unit, Hospital Regional Universitario de Malaga, IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND, RICORS Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine and Dermatology, Universidad de Malaga, Malaga, Spain.

As cholinergic innervation is a major contributor to increased vagal tone and mucus secretion, inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) are a pillar for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. By blocking the muscarinic receptors expressed in the lung, LAMA improve lung function and reduce exacerbations in asthma patients who remained poorly controlled despite treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2 agonists. Asthma guidelines recommend LAMA as a third controller to be added on before the initiation of biologicals.

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  • Rifampicin is an important antibiotic used to treat infections caused by staphylococci that form biofilms, especially in patients with orthopedic devices.
  • A pilot study showed that patients treated with rifampicin for these infections developed staphylococci strains resistant to rifampicin during treatment.
  • This antibiotic resistance persisted in patients for up to 2 months after they stopped taking rifampicin.
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  • Ascaris infection, a common soil-transmitted helminth, may exacerbate asthma and allergic reactions through its influence on immune responses, specifically group-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2).
  • * The study involved comparing non-infected and Ascaris-infected individuals, analyzing ILC subsets, their activation markers, and the presence of specific antibodies.
  • * Results showed that ILC2 activation markers were significantly higher in Ascaris-infected individuals, particularly those sensitized to a specific Ascaris antigen, suggesting a link between helminth infection and enhanced immune responses.
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Aging varies significantly among individuals of the same chronological age, indicating that biological age (BA), estimated from molecular and physiological biomarkers, may better reflect aging. Prior research has often ignored sex-specific differences in aging patterns and mainly focused on aging biomarkers from a single data modality. Here we analyze a deeply phenotyped longitudinal cohort (10K project, Israel) of 10,000 healthy individuals aged 40-70 years that includes clinical, physiological, behavioral, environmental and multiomic parameters.

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As the world still vividly recalls the previous monkeypox (mpox) outbreak that impacted over 120 countries worldwide with more than 99,000 cases in 2022, we are now facing a second wave of infections from the monkeypox virus (MPXV), characterized by an exponential increase in cases. The current 2024 outbreak has already recorded more than 20,000 cases in Africa, marking a dramatic escalation compared to previous outbreaks. The predominance of the newly identified clade Ib variant, first detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and now identified across multiple African nations and beyond, underscores its enhanced transmissibility and potential for international spread, evidenced by cases in Sweden and Thailand.

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Human skin is colonized with skin microbiota that includes commensal bacteria, fungi, arthropods, archaea and viruses. The composition of the microbiota varies at different anatomical locations according to changes in body temperature, pH, humidity/hydration or sebum content. A homeostatic skin microbiota is crucial to maintain epithelial barrier functions, to protect from invading pathogens and to interact with the immune system.

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This European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) guideline provides recommendations for the management of IgE-mediated food allergy and was developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Following the confirmation of IgE-mediated food allergy diagnosis, allergen avoidance and dietary advice (with support of a specialised dietitian, if possible) together with the provision of a written treatment plan, education on the recognition of allergic symptoms and prescription of medication including adrenaline using an auto-injector are essential. Patients with significant anxiety and requirement for coping strategies may benefit from support from a clinical psychologist.

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  • Researchers are investigating whether activating the STING pathway causes lung inflammation that resembles severe asthma, particularly by focusing on neutrophilic responses.
  • They developed models using house dust mites and STING agonists to study inflammation effects on mice and human cells, measuring various inflammatory markers and lung function.
  • The findings suggest that STING activation leads to increased airway hyperresponsiveness and cell death, resembling severe asthma features and indicating a mixed immune response involving type 1 neutrophils.
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Environmental exposures influence multigenerational epigenetic transmission.

Clin Epigenetics

October 2024

Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • - Epigenetic modifications play a crucial role in regulating gene expression, allowing cells to turn genes on and off, which is essential for maintaining different cell types.
  • - Environmental factors like diet and pollutants can alter these epigenetic modifications, meaning that an individual's surroundings can impact gene expression and health outcomes, potentially even affecting future generations.
  • - The review discusses how epigenetic changes can be passed down through generations, examines the mechanisms behind these changes, and emphasizes the importance of considering environmental health for both current and future populations.
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  • - Since the 1960s, over 350,000 new chemicals have been introduced, impacting both humans and animals, yet our understanding of their health risks is still limited.
  • - The "epithelial barrier theory" indicates that genetic factors and various exposures lead to damaged epithelial barriers, contributing to allergic and autoimmune diseases in both humans and pets.
  • - This review highlights the effects of impaired epithelial barriers on companion animals, discussing the rise of less regulated cosmetic and food products for pets, and aligns with the "One Health" concept, emphasizing the connection between human, animal, and environmental health.
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The epithelial barrier theory and its associated diseases.

Allergy

December 2024

Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich, Davos, Switzerland.

The prevalence of many chronic noncommunicable diseases has been steadily rising over the past six decades. During this time, over 350,000 new chemical substances have been introduced to the lives of humans. In recent years, the epithelial barrier theory came to light explaining the growing prevalence and exacerbations of these diseases worldwide.

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Epithelial barrier dysfunction, type 2 immune response, and the development of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Curr Opin Immunol

December 2024

Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich, Davos, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Chronic noncommunicable diseases have increased over the past 60 years, linked to various toxic substances we encounter daily due to industrialization and urbanization.
  • These substances can damage epithelial cells, leading to microbial imbalances and chronic inflammation through immune responses triggered by allergens and pathogens.
  • Research is crucial to identify the substances and mechanisms that cause damage to epithelial barriers, which could help in understanding the origins of chronic inflammatory diseases.
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Canine hip and elbow dysplasias, which are prevalent orthopedic conditions rooted in developmental and hereditary factors are yet to be comprehensively assessed. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring the prognostic significance of five markers linked to canine hip dysplasia using available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data. The influence of these markers on both hip and elbow dysplasia was examined in dogs exposed to standardized environmental conditions.

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  • A study investigates how the parasitic infection of Ascaris lumbricoides affects the immune system, particularly focusing on the role of B regulatory cells (Bregs) in infected individuals.
  • In a helminth-endemic area of Colombia, researchers compared 18 A. lumbricoides-infected subjects with 11 non-infected individuals, measuring Breg frequencies and specific antibodies in their blood.
  • Results showed that infected individuals had higher Breg levels and lower levels of certain antibodies, suggesting that A. lumbricoides infection leads to an immunosuppressive effect that varies based on infection intensity.
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Ultra-processed foods, allergy outcomes and underlying mechanisms in children: An EAACI task force report.

Pediatr Allergy Immunol

September 2024

Section of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, University of Colorado, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.

Background: Consumption of ultra-processed foods [UPFs] may be associated with negative health outcomes. Limited data exist regarding the potential role of UPFs in the occurrence of allergic diseases. The underlying mechanisms underpinning any such associations are also poorly elucidated.

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Background: Fatigue is a major concern for patients with severe asthma.

Objective: This observational study aims to assess fatigue severity and associated factors, to explore the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on fatigue, and to investigate which factors predict persistent severe fatigue.

Methods: Patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma referred for alpine altitude climate treatment (AACT) between 2007 and 2018 were systematically assessed before and after rehabilitation regarding clinical, inflammatory, functional, and psychological characteristics.

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Introduction: Equine asthma (EA) is a common disease of adult horses with chronic respiratory pathology and common neutrophilic airway inflammation. It presents with hyperreactivity to hay dust components such as molds, and underlying dysregulated T cell responses have been suggested. Thus far, T cells have been analysed in EA with conflicting results and the antigen reactivity of T cells has not been demonstrated.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study examined the differences in two subsets of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in patients with allergic rhinitis compared to healthy individuals, focusing on their clinical significance.
  • It involved collecting blood samples from 39 patients with allergic rhinitis and 42 healthy controls to analyze various immune markers and Treg cell proportions.
  • Results indicated a decrease in one Treg subset (CD44+CD62L-) and an increase in another (CD44-CD62L+) in allergic rhinitis patients, with significant correlations between Treg proportions and clinical indicators like VAS score and levels of specific cytokines.
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  • The study investigates how fatty acid metabolism genes affect milk production traits in Jersey cows, focusing on identifying effective genetic markers.
  • The researchers compiled data on milk traits from multiple lactations, genotyped key genes, and analyzed the relationship between genetics and milk output using statistical models.
  • Findings indicate significant impacts of specific genes on milk yield and fat production, along with novel interactions that highlight the GGAAGG haplotype as a potential marker for assessing milk fat content.
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Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) is the deepest component of the three-layered cutaneous integument. While mesenteric adipose tissue-based immune processes have gained recognition in the context of the metabolic syndrome, SAT has been traditionally considered primarily for energy storage, with less attention to its immune functions. SAT harbors a reservoir of immune and stromal cells that significantly impact metabolic and immunologic processes not only in the skin, but even on a systemic level.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Key discussions included the prevalence of AD, advancements in treatment and management, and the importance of considering environmental and lifestyle factors affecting patients.
  • * The forum emphasizes the need for increased awareness and collaboration among stakeholders to close the gap between research advancements and practical applications in patient care.
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