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Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Mar 2019The infant gut microbiota has become a focus of multiple epidemiologic and cohort studies. This microbiome is derived from the mother (via the vaginal canal, maternal... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
The infant gut microbiota has become a focus of multiple epidemiologic and cohort studies. This microbiome is derived from the mother (via the vaginal canal, maternal skin contact, breastfeeding, and possibly in utero microbial transfer) and is likely influenced by multiple external factors. It is now believed by some experts that colonization and formation of the newborn and alterations of gut microbiota in children are dependent on earlier alterations of the microbiota of mothers during or perhaps even before pregnancy. This review will focus on specific factors (pet keeping, breastfeeding, antibiotic use, and mode of delivery) that influence the infant gut microbiome and atopy.
RECENT FINDINGS
This is a review of recent literature describing how pet keeping, breastfeeding, antibiotic use, and mode of delivery influences and changes the infant gut microbiome and atopy. General trends in gut microbiota differences have emerged in different birth cohorts when each external factor is analyzed, but consistency between studies is difficult to replicate. The aforementioned factors do not seem to confer an overwhelming risk for development of atopy alone. This review provides a comprehensive review of early life environmental factors and their influence on the infant gut microbiome and atopy.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Breast Feeding; Child; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Pets; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
PubMed: 30859338
DOI: 10.1007/s11882-019-0851-9 -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... Feb 2022
Topics: Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Asthma; COVID-19; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Nasopharynx; SARS-CoV-2; Severity of Illness Index; Survival Analysis
PubMed: 34942236
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.12.762 -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... Jan 2023In the past 2 years, there continue to be advances in our understanding of the genetic and epigenetic underpinnings of atopy pertaining to disease risk and disease... (Review)
Review
In the past 2 years, there continue to be advances in our understanding of the genetic and epigenetic underpinnings of atopy pertaining to disease risk and disease severity. The joint role of genetics and the environment has been emphasized in multiple studies. Combining genetics with family history, biomarkers, and comorbidities is further refining our ability to predict the development of individual atopic diseases as well as the advancement of the atopic march. Polygenic risk scores will be an important next step for the field moving toward clinical translation of the genetic findings thus far. A systems biology approach, as illustrated by studies of the microbiome and epigenome, will be necessary to fully understand disease development and to develop increasingly targeted therapeutics.
Topics: Humans; Food Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Risk Factors; Comorbidity; Epigenesis, Genetic
PubMed: 36608983
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.10.027 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea that results in progressive steepening and thinning of the cornea and subsequent vision loss. It nearly always presents as a... (Review)
Review
Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea that results in progressive steepening and thinning of the cornea and subsequent vision loss. It nearly always presents as a bilateral disease, suggesting that there is an underlying abnormality of the corneas that becomes manifest with time. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of keratoconus are largely unknown. Associations reported between keratoconus and systemic diseases are abundant in the literature, and the list of possible associations is very long. We found that atopy, Down syndrome, and various connective tissue diseases were the most frequently cited associations in our broad literature search. Additionally, Diabetes Mellitus has been increasingly studied as a possible protective factor against keratoconus. In this review, we have summarized the evidence for and against these particular systemic conditions and keratoconus and have discussed some of the implications of keratoconus patients having these conditions.
PubMed: 37374145
DOI: 10.3390/life13061363 -
The Pan African Medical Journal 2019Keratosis pilaris is characterized by small bumps around hair follicles. Keratosis pilaris simplex results in gray and keratotic papules mainly on the arms, thighs and...
Keratosis pilaris is characterized by small bumps around hair follicles. Keratosis pilaris simplex results in gray and keratotic papules mainly on the arms, thighs and buttocks. It mainly affects women. Keratosis pilaris rubra often results in keratosis pilaris atrophicans. Common variants of keratosis pilaris include: ulerythema ophryogenes, atrophoderma vermiculata, Siemens alopecia. Keratosis pilaris is a genetic disorder and can occur in association with other hereditary diseases such as Noonan syndrome or vitamin disorders. Treatment is mainly based on emollients and keratolytics, but they have only a suspensive effect. We report the case of a 30 year old woman with a personal and family history of atopy, presenting with diffuse keratotic papules on the trunk. The remainder of the physical examination revealed no genetic abnormality. Treatment was based on emollients and keratolytics with slight improvement.
PubMed: 31692799
DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2019.33.274.16158 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2017The hygiene hypothesis links environmental and microbial exposures in early life to the prevalence of atopy, allergy, and asthma. infection is typically acquired in... (Review)
Review
The hygiene hypothesis links environmental and microbial exposures in early life to the prevalence of atopy, allergy, and asthma. infection is typically acquired in childhood and acquisition of the infection is associated with poor household hygiene. Some population surveys have shown an inverse association between infection and atopy, allergy, and asthma leading to the suggestion that infection may be protective against disease; others consider it simply a biomarker for poor household hygiene. We review the relevant surveys, cohort studies, meta-analyses, and studies testing the protective hypothesis. Overall, the results of surveys and cohort studies are inconsistent, whereas meta-analyses show a significant but weak inverse correlation. In contrast, studies directly testing the protection hypothesis in relation to asthma in populations with poor hygiene and low prevalence failed to confirm a protective effect. is a major cause of human disease including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric malignancies. infections most likely serve as a biomarker for poor hygienic conditions in childhood. We conclude that while synergistic interactions between environmental factors in childhood are important determinants of the pathogenesis of atopy, allergy, and asthma; is inversely related to good hygiene and thus it's presence serves as a biomarker rather than for a specific prevention role for or antigens.
PubMed: 28642748
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01034 -
The World Allergy Organization Journal Apr 2023Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic multi-organic immune fibrosing disease. It affects preferentially men around middle age and almost any organs... (Review)
Review
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic multi-organic immune fibrosing disease. It affects preferentially men around middle age and almost any organs can be involved; however, lymph nodes, submandibular and lacrimal glands, pancreas, and retroperitoneum are the most affected. The mainstay treatment is corticosteroids, sometimes adjuncts with DMARDs or rituximab as steroid sparing agents. Th2 inflammation is implicated in the pathophysiology of the disease. Several reports indicate that allergy and/or atopy often affect patients with IgG4-RD. The frequency varies greatly between studies with allergies/allergic diseases reported in 18-76% while atopy is reported in 14-46%. In studies including both, they affect 42 and 62% of patients. Rhinitis and asthma are the most frequent allergic diseases. IgE and blood eosinophiles are often elevated and few studies report that basophils and mast cells could participate in the disease pathogenesis; however, the implication of allergy and atopy remain unclear. No common allergen has been identified and IgG4 production seems to be polyclonal. Although a direct causal effect is unlikely, they could potentially shape the clinical phenotype. Allergies/allergic diseases and/or atopy are reported to be more frequent in IgG4-RD patients presenting head, neck, and thoracic involvement, with higher IgE and eosinophils and less frequent in retroperitoneal fibrosis; however, studies regarding allergy and atopy in IgG4-RD are highly heterogenous. The aim of this article is to review what is currently known about the allergy and atopy in the context of Ig4-RD.
PubMed: 37179536
DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2023.100765 -
Scandinavian Journal of Work,... Dec 1984Atopy denotes the exceptional capacity to produce immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibody when exposed to common environmental allergens. The characteristic is frequently used for... (Review)
Review
Atopy denotes the exceptional capacity to produce immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibody when exposed to common environmental allergens. The characteristic is frequently used for preemployment screening purposes. Too little attention has, however, been paid to the rationale and the consequences of this practice. Atopy is very common, and so decisions made because of atopy probably affect about a third of the working population. Work-related hypersensitivity symptoms cannot be eradicated by the weeding out of atopics. The intensity of exposure and/or the sensitizing properties of causative agents are often extremely strong in occupational settings and trigger the production of specific IgE antibodies even in nonatopics. Atopy is probably not sufficiently discriminative for screening purposes even in environments where atopics are known to have a greater risk of developing asthma (eg, laboratories with animals). Moreover, weeding out atopics may be used instead of hygienic and technical measures to reduce exposure levels. Separate decisions on medical, as well as legal, grounds may be warranted when a person with atopic symptoms, ie, rhinitis, asthma, or dermatitis, enters a new occupational environment. There is an urgent need for prospective studies in various occupational environments.
Topics: Employment; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Immunoglobulin E; Occupational Diseases; Physical Examination; Prognosis; Risk
PubMed: 6398914
DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.2312 -
Frontiers in Allergy 2021Allergic mechanisms account for most cases of chronic rhinitis. This condition is associated with significant impairment of quality of life and high indirect costs. The... (Review)
Review
Allergic mechanisms account for most cases of chronic rhinitis. This condition is associated with significant impairment of quality of life and high indirect costs. The identification of the allergic triggers of rhinitis has been historically based on the performance of atopy test [skin prick test (SPT) and serum allergen-specific (s)IgE]. Nevertheless, these tests only denote sensitization, and atopy and allergy represent two different phenomena. It is now clear that allergic phenotypes of rhinitis can exist in both atopic (allergic rhinitis, AR) and non-atopic (local allergic rhinitis, LAR) individuals. Moreover, both allergic phenotypes can coexist in the same rhinitis patient (dual allergic rhinitis, DAR). Therefore, a diagnostic approach merely based on atopy tests is associated with a significant rate of misdiagnosis. The confirmation of the allergic etiology of rhinitis requires the performance of test like the nasal allergen challenge (NAC). NAC is mandatory for the diagnosis of LAR and DAR, and helps decide the best management approach in difficult cases of AR. Nevertheless, NAC is a laborious technique requiring human and technical resources. The basophil activation test (BAT) is a patient-friendly technique that has shown promising results for LAR and DAR diagnosis. In this review, the diagnostic usefulness for chronic rhinitis of SPT, NAC, olfactory tests, serum sIgE, BAT and the quantification of inflammatory mediators in nasal samples will be discussed. The accurate performance of an etiologic diagnosis of rhinitis patients will favor the prescription of specific therapies with disease-modifying potential like allergen immunotherapy.
PubMed: 35386974
DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.721851