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Tobacco Induced Diseases 2024Maternal smoking during pregnancy disturbs fetal lung development, and induces in their offspring childhood respiratory diseases. Whether it has a continued impact on...
INTRODUCTION
Maternal smoking during pregnancy disturbs fetal lung development, and induces in their offspring childhood respiratory diseases. Whether it has a continued impact on offspring adult lung health and exerts a casual effect of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), remains uncertain. We seek to determine the causal relationships between maternal smoking around birth and offspring adult CRDs, using summary data from previously described cohorts.
METHODS
Mendelian randomization (MR) study was used to analyze the genome-wide associations of maternal smoking around birth and offspring adult CRDs, including respiratory insufficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), related respiratory insufficiency, emphysema, COPD, COPD hospital admissions, early onset of COPD, later onset of COPD, asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), lung cancer (LC), small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC).
RESULTS
After removing single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with smoking by the offspring, maternal smoking around birth was associated with increased risk of offspring adult respiratory diseases (OR=1.14; 95% CI: 1.013-1.284; p=0.030), respiratory insufficiency (OR=2.413; 95% CI: 1.039-5.603; p=0.040), COPD (OR=1.14; 95% CI: 1.013-1.284; p=0.003), and asthma (OR=1.336; 95% CI: 1.161-1.538; p<0.001). Besides, maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with a greater risk of LUSC (OR=1.229; 95% CI: 0.992-1.523; p=0.059) than the risk of IPF (OR=1.001; 95% CI: 0.999-1.003; p=0.224), LC (OR=1.203; 95% CI: 0.964-1.501; p=0.103), or SCLC (OR=1.11; 95% CI: 0.77-1.601; p=0.577).
CONCLUSIONS
In this MR analysis, maternal smoking around birth caused a strong risk factor for the offspring to develop lung problems and CRDs in adulthood. The policy related to smoking cessation for mothers during pregnancy should be encouraged.
PubMed: 38938749
DOI: 10.18332/tid/189394 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024The increase in the prevalence of food allergy has been considered as the second wave in the allergy epidemic following the first wave of increase in asthma and allergic... (Review)
Review
The increase in the prevalence of food allergy has been considered as the second wave in the allergy epidemic following the first wave of increase in asthma and allergic rhinitis. It is well known that the prevalence of allergic conditions would follow economic development and urbanization in many countries or regions. In developed countries, one in three children suffered from at least one allergic disorder and these conditions include food allergy, eczema, allergic rhinitis and asthma. Food allergy is very often the first allergic manifestation affecting infants and young children. The exact etiologies are not known. The clinical manifestations ranged from a simple rash or an itch around the mouth, to the more severe manifestations of angioedema and potentially fatal anaphylaxis. Among all cases of childhood anaphylaxis, food is the most common cause. The common allergens resulting in food allergies in developed countries include egg, milk, fish, wheat, peanuts and tree nuts. However, there are marked variations in the patterns of food allergens in developing countries. In line with the epidemiology of asthma, food allergy is also much less common in rural areas. Clear understanding of reasons explaining the disparity of food allergies between urban and rural population would pave the way to the development of effective primary prevention for food allergy.
PubMed: 38938666
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1373110 -
MedComm Jul 2024Acute asthma exacerbation refers to the progressive deterioration of asthma symptoms that is always triggered by virus infection represented by respiratory syncytial...
Acute asthma exacerbation refers to the progressive deterioration of asthma symptoms that is always triggered by virus infection represented by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). After RSV infection, exaggerated Th2-mediated pulmonary inflammation is the critical pathological response of asthmatic patients with acute exacerbation. Significantly, airway epithelial cells, being the primary targets of RSV infection, play a crucial role in controlling the pulmonary inflammatory response by releasing airway epithelial cell-derived exosomes (AEC-Exos), which potentially influence the development of asthma. However, the specific role of AEC-Exos in acute asthma exacerbation after RSV infection remains obscure. The purpose of this study was to determine the distinct function of AEC-Exos in exacerbating acute asthma following RSV infection. Blockade of exosomes by GW reduce the enhanced pulmonary inflammation significantly. Specifically, the enhanced Th2 inflammation was induced by AEC-Exos thorough transportation of hsa-miR-155-5p-Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) pathway during acute asthma exacerbation. Targeted inhibition of hsa-miR-155-5p blocks the exaggerated Th2 inflammation effectively in mice with acute asthma exacerbation. In summary, our study showed that during acute asthma exacerbation after RSV infection, AEC-Exos promote the enhanced Th2 inflammation through transportation of increased hsa-miR-155-5p, which was mediated partly through SIRT1-mediated pathway. hsa-miR-155-5p is a potential biomarker for early prediction of acute asthma exacerbation.
PubMed: 38938285
DOI: 10.1002/mco2.621 -
Clinical and Experimental Allergy :... Jun 2024Asthma is a common and burdensome chronic inflammatory airway disease that affects both children and adults. One of the main concerns with asthma is the manifestation of... (Review)
Review
Asthma is a common and burdensome chronic inflammatory airway disease that affects both children and adults. One of the main concerns with asthma is the manifestation of irreversible tissue remodelling of the airways due to the chronic inflammatory environment that eventually disrupts the whole structure of the airways. Most people with troublesome asthma are treated with inhaled corticosteroids. However, the development of steroid resistance is a commonly encountered issue, necessitating other treatment options for these patients. Biological therapies are a promising therapeutic approach for people with steroid-resistant asthma. Interleukin 5 is recently gaining a lot of attention as a biological target relevant to the tissue remodelling process. Since IL-5-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mepolizumab, reslizumab and benralizumab) are currently available for clinical use, this review aims to revisit the role of IL-5 in asthma pathogenesis at large and airway remodelling in particular, in addition to exploring its role as a target for biological treatments.
PubMed: 38938056
DOI: 10.1111/cea.14489 -
Clinical and Experimental Allergy :... Jun 2024Persistent and unresolved inflammation is a common underlying factor observed in several and seemingly unrelated human diseases, including cardiovascular and... (Review)
Review
Persistent and unresolved inflammation is a common underlying factor observed in several and seemingly unrelated human diseases, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Particularly, in atopic conditions, acute inflammatory responses such as those triggered by insect venom, food or drug allergies possess also a life-threatening potential. However, respiratory allergies predominantly exhibit late immune responses associated with chronic inflammation, that can eventually progress into a severe phenotype displaying similar features as those observed in other chronic inflammatory diseases, as is the case of uncontrolled severe asthma. This review aims to explore the different facets and systems involved in chronic allergic inflammation, including processes such as tissue remodelling and immune cell dysregulation, as well as genetic, metabolic and microbiota alterations, which are common to other inflammatory conditions. Our goal here was to deepen on the understanding of an entangled disease as is chronic allergic inflammation and expose potential avenues for the development of better diagnostic and intervention strategies.
PubMed: 38938054
DOI: 10.1111/cea.14517 -
Clinical and Experimental Allergy :... Jun 2024Recognition of obesity as a treatable trait of asthma, impacting its development, clinical presentation and management, is gaining widespread acceptance. Obesity is a... (Review)
Review
Recognition of obesity as a treatable trait of asthma, impacting its development, clinical presentation and management, is gaining widespread acceptance. Obesity is a significant risk factor and disease modifier for asthma, complicating treatment. Epidemiological evidence highlights that obese asthma correlates with poorer disease control, increased severity and persistence, compromised lung function and reduced quality of life. Various mechanisms contribute to the physiological and clinical complexities observed in individuals with obesity and asthma. These encompass different immune responses, including Type IVb, where T helper 2 cells are pivotal and driven by cytokines like interleukins 4, 5, 9 and 13, and Type IVc, characterised by T helper 17 cells and Type 3 innate lymphoid cells producing interleukin 17, which recruits neutrophils. Additionally, Type V involves immune response dysregulation with significant activation of T helper 1, 2 and 17 responses. Finally, Type VI is recognised as metabolic-induced immune dysregulation associated with obesity. Body mass index (BMI) stands out as a biomarker of a treatable trait in asthma, readily identifiable and targetable, with significant implications for disease management. There exists a notable gap in treatment options for individuals with obese asthma, where asthma management guidelines lack specificity. For example, there is currently no evidence supporting the use of incretin mimetics to improve asthma outcomes in asthmatic individuals without Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this review, we advocate for integrating BMI into asthma care models by establishing clear target BMI goals, promoting sustainable weight loss via healthy dietary choices and physical activity and implementing regular reassessment and referral as necessary.
PubMed: 38938020
DOI: 10.1111/cea.14520 -
BMC Nutrition Jun 2024The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which has a lot of emphasis on the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and on the other hand,...
BACKGROUND
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which has a lot of emphasis on the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and on the other hand, the consumption of red meat and sodium is limited, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, which can be related to reducing the risk of asthma.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the DASH diet and asthma symptoms among children and adolescents.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted among7667 children (3414 boys and 4253 girls) aged 6-7 and 13-14 years living in central Iran. Dietary food consumption was assessed using a multiple-choice questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios for the association between the DASH-like diet with current asthma and asthma symptoms.
RESULTS
Our findings revealed that higher adherence to a DASH-like diet resulted in lower odds of asthma confirmed by a doctor among the whole population (OR = 0.53; 95%CI: 0.36-0.76) and also in females (OR = 0.47; 95%CI: 0.29-0.78). Moreover, the higher adherence to the DASH-like diet was inversely associated with the chance of wheezing in the past 12 months in all subjects (OR = 0.67; 95%CI: 0.51-0.86) and in boys (OR = 0.57; 95%CI: 0.38-0.85).
CONCLUSION
The findings of the present study showed that following the DASH diet can be associated with the improvement of asthma symptoms in children and adolescents. However, more research is needed to improve dietary recommendations for asthma prevention.
PubMed: 38937858
DOI: 10.1186/s40795-024-00884-4 -
Pediatric Research Jun 2024The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted investigations into the association between this novel virus and allergic diseases, particularly asthma in children. However, the...
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted investigations into the association between this novel virus and allergic diseases, particularly asthma in children. However, the nature of this relationship remains poorly established.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to determine the clinical characteristics of children with allergic diseases who have contracted COVID-19.
METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January to March 2023. A total of 568 children aged 0-17 years diagnosed with asthma and COVID-19 infection were included. A comparative analysis of clinical characteristics was conducted between asthma and non-asthma groups.
RESULTS
Asthmatic children with COVID-19 infection showed significantly higher frequencies of cough, wheezing, expectoration, and long-term symptoms compared to those without asthma (P < 0.05). Subgroups with poor therapy compliance exhibited elevated proportions of cough, chest tightness, and wheezing compared to good therapy compliance (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression identified poor therapy compliance as a risk factor for long COVID in asthmatic children.
CONCLUSION
Children with asthma secondary to COVID-19 infection were more prone to developing coughs, expectoration, and wheezing. Poor therapy compliance emerged as a significant risk factor for long COVID-19 in these individuals.
IMPACT
Asthmatic children with COVID-19 infection showed significantly higher frequencies of cough, wheezing, expectoration. Poor therapy compliance was the risk factor for long COVID in asthmatic children. This article supplements the effects of different therapeutic drugs on the condition of children with asthma after infection with COVID-19 as well as the possible risk factors for the long COVID. The results of our study have important implications for public health policy makers and healthcare professionals. To understand the impact of COVID-19 on children with asthma will help guide appropriate management strategies and ensure access to necessary healthcare resources.
PubMed: 38937639
DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03365-3 -
NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine Jun 2024The British Thoracic Society (BTS) and Scottish Intercollege Guidelines Network (SIGN), as well as National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), have... (Review)
Review
The British Thoracic Society (BTS) and Scottish Intercollege Guidelines Network (SIGN), as well as National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), have previously produced separate asthma guidance differing in some key aspects in diagnosis and management leading to confusion, potentially hampering guideline dissemination and uptake. While there are inherent challenges, the upcoming release of new joint BTS/SIGN/NICE asthma guidance presents an opportunity to assess guideline adoption and its impact on clinical practice. The use of prescription data via databases such as OpenPrescribing can be used as a surrogate for guideline adoption and potentially linked to clinical outcomes such as hospital episode statistics (HES). The potential recommendation for anti-inflammatory reliever therapy (AIR) and maintenance and reliever therapy (MART) with inhaled corticosteroid/formoterol combination therapy in the next iteration of UK asthma guidance will require the accurate coding for the respective therapeutic approaches on prescribing platforms in order to assess their impact in real-life clinical practice. This could then direct targeted measures to improve wider guidance adoption leading to better clinical care in asthma based on up to date evidence.
Topics: Humans; Asthma; Practice Guidelines as Topic; United Kingdom; Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Guideline Adherence; Adrenal Cortex Hormones
PubMed: 38937520
DOI: 10.1038/s41533-024-00379-6 -
Scientific Data Jun 2024The UK COVID-19 Vocal Audio Dataset is designed for the training and evaluation of machine learning models that classify SARS-CoV-2 infection status or associated...
The UK COVID-19 Vocal Audio Dataset is designed for the training and evaluation of machine learning models that classify SARS-CoV-2 infection status or associated respiratory symptoms using vocal audio. The UK Health Security Agency recruited voluntary participants through the national Test and Trace programme and the REACT-1 survey in England from March 2021 to March 2022, during dominant transmission of the Alpha and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants and some Omicron variant sublineages. Audio recordings of volitional coughs, exhalations, and speech were collected in the 'Speak up and help beat coronavirus' digital survey alongside demographic, symptom and self-reported respiratory condition data. Digital survey submissions were linked to SARS-CoV-2 test results. The UK COVID-19 Vocal Audio Dataset represents the largest collection of SARS-CoV-2 PCR-referenced audio recordings to date. PCR results were linked to 70,565 of 72,999 participants and 24,105 of 25,706 positive cases. Respiratory symptoms were reported by 45.6% of participants. This dataset has additional potential uses for bioacoustics research, with 11.3% participants self-reporting asthma, and 27.2% with linked influenza PCR test results.
Topics: Humans; Cough; COVID-19; Exhalation; Machine Learning; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Speech; United Kingdom
PubMed: 38937483
DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03492-w