Impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma: effects on bronchodilation testing

A remarkable relationship exists between the upper and lower airways. Bronchial obstruction is a paramount feature of asthma, and its reversibility is considered a main step in asthma diagnosis

Relationship between rhinitis duration and worsening of nasal function

While it is well known that asthma is characterized by airway remodeling, few studies instead have investigated this issue in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR)

In vivo and in vitro studies of Th17 response to specific immunotherapy in house dust mite-induced allergic rhinitis patients

10.1371/journal.pone.0091950PLoS ONE93-POLN

Allergic Rhinitis and its Associated Co-Morbidities at Bugando Medical Centre in Northwestern Tanzania; A Prospective Review of 190 Cases.

Allergic rhinitis is one of the commonest atopic diseases which contribute to significant morbidity world wide while its epidemiology in Tanzania remains sparse. There was paucity of information regarding allergic rhinitis in our setting; therefore it was important to conduct this study to describe our experience on allergic rhinitis, associated co-morbidities and treatment outcome in patients attending Bugando Medical Centre. This was descriptive cross-sectional study involving all patients with a clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis at Bugando Medical Centre over a three-month period between June 2011 and August 2011. Data was collected using a pre-tested coded questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS statistical computer software version 17.0. A total of 190 patients were studied giving the prevalence of allergic rhinitis 14.7%. The median age of the patients was 8.5 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1. Adenoid hypertrophy, tonsillitis, hypertrophy of inferior turbinate, nasal polyps, otitis media and sinusitis were the most common co-morbidities affecting 92.6% of cases and were the major reason for attending hospital services. Sleep disturbance was common in children with adenoids hypertrophy (χ2 = 28.691, P = 0.000). Allergic conjunctivitis was found in 51.9%. The most common identified triggers were dust, strong perfume odors and cold weather (P < 0.05). Strong perfume odors affect female than males (χ2 = 4.583, P = 0.032). In this study family history of allergic rhinitis was not a significant risk factor (P =0.423). The majority of patients (68.8%) were treated surgically for allergic rhinitis co morbidities. Post operative complication and mortality rates were 2.9% and 1.6% respectively. The overall median duration of hospital stay of in-patients was 3 days (2 - 28 days). Most patients (98.4%) had satisfactory results at discharge. The study shows that allergic rhinitis is common in our settings representing 14.7% of all otorhinolaryngology and commonly affecting children and adolescent. Sufferers seek medical services due to co-morbidities of which combination of surgical and medical treatment was needed. High index of suspicions in diagnosing allergic rhinitis and early treatment is recommended

Allergen-specific immunotherapy: an update on immunological mechanisms of action

Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only treatment able to modify the natural history of the allergic subjects. Several aspects of the immunopathological response modified by SIT have been investigated; the first parameter historically studied was the production of allergen-specific antibodies. An increase of allergen-specific IgG4 and a decrease of IgE appear after SIT. A shift from Th2-polarized immune response toward Th1-oriented pattern has been reported after SIT. More recently, a crucial role for a subpopulation of T cells has been evidenced: T regulatory cells (Treg). Allergic patients have a defect of Tregs. SIT is able of inducing a specific Treg response. Sublingual immunotherapy is an alternative route of administration for SIT. Recent evidence shows that SLIT is also able of inducing a Treg response as detected by IL- 10 production

Neurotensin localization in adenomatoid cystic malformation versus normal lung: Preliminary report of six consecutive cases

Neuropeptides are considered a new class of neurotransmitters, several of which interact with the immune system as well as the macrophagic activity. Among these, neurotensin (NT) enhances the phagocitic response of macrophages and is the only neuropeptide that can enhance the cytolytic effects of activated macrophages. In this way, it may play a role as an inflammatory mediator. In order to investigate the possible relationship between NT and the defence mechanisms of the lung, we started to localize the presence of NT in pulmonary adenomatoid cystic malformation (CCAM). This series consists of 6 children affected by CCAM. In every case, at operation, we obtained specimens of both normal and pathological lung. Tissue sections from the pathological lung showed a significant increase of NT-like immunoreactivity in respect to sections of normal lung. NT influences and activates the macrophages, thus suggesting that it could represent a defence mechanism in children's lung activated in some malformative conditions. Finally, the increasing evidence of NT immunoreactivity in CCAM could explicate an in utero infectious pathogenesis of this malformation

Bronchial hyperreactivity and spirometric impairment in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Background: The Link between allergic rhinitis and asthma is well known. Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) may be present in rhinitics. The present study is aimed at evaluating a large group of subjects suffering from allergic rhinitis alone to investigate the presence of spirometric impairment and BHR both during and outside the pollen season. Methods: 360 rhinitics (subdivided in 3 groups: seasonal, SAR, perennial, PAR, and polysensitized, PolysR) were investigated by spirometry and methacholine challenge. Results: There was a significant seasonal difference concerning the number of rhinitics with impaired FEV1 (p&lt;0.01 for SAR, p&lt;0.02 for PAR, and p&lt;0.03 for PolysR) and FEF25-75 (p&lt;0.05 for SAR, p&lt;0.03 for PAR, and p&lt;0.05 for PolysR) as well as with BHR (p&lt;0.05 for SAR and p&lt;0.03 for PAR). Conclusions: This study evidences that an impairment of spirometric parameters and BHR may be observed in patients with allergic rhinitis alone. Thus, careful evaluation of lower airways should be performed in patients with allergic rhinitis alone

Resposta da cultura da soja a potassio e relações entre fatores da planta e do solo.

bitstream/item/133987/1/ID13111-1989-1990sojaresultados-p100-107.pdfTrabalho apresentado na XVIII Reunião de Pesquisa de Soja da Região Sul, Passo Fundo, 1990