331. |
332. |
333. |
334. Worldwide perspectives on venom allergyPeter Korošec, Thilo Jakob, Harfi Harb, Robert Heddle, Sarah Karabus, Ricardo de Lima Zollner, Julij Šelb, Bernard Yu-Hor Thong, Fares Zaitoun, David B. K. Golden, Michael Levin, 2019, review article Abstract: Venom immunotherapy is the standard of care for people with severe reactions and has been proven to reduce risk of future anaphylactic events. There is a moral imperative to ensure production, supply and worldwide availability of locally relevant, registered, standardized commercial venom extracts for diagnosis and treatment. Insects causing severe immediate allergic reactions vary by region worldwide. The most common culprits include honeybees (Apis mellifera), social wasps including yellow jackets (Vespula and Dolichovespula), paper wasps (Polistes) and hornets (Vespa), stinging ants (Solenopsis, Myrmecia, Pachycondyla, and Pogonomyrmex), and bumblebees (Bombus). Insects with importance in specific areas of the world include the Australian tick (Ixodes holocyclus), the kissing bug (Triatoma spp), horseflies (Tabanus spp), and mosquitoes (Aedes, Culex, Anopheles). Reliable access to high quality venom immunotherapy to locally relevant allergens is not available throughout the world. Many current commercially available therapeutic vaccines have deficiencies, are not suitable for, or are unavailable in vast areas of the globe. New products are required to replace products that are unstandardized or inadequate, particularly whole-body extract products. New products are required for insects in which no current treatment options exist. Venom immunotherapy should be promoted throughout the world and the provision thereof be supported by health authorities, regulatory authorities and all sectors of the health care service.
Keywords: allergy and immunology, venoms, Hymenoptera, bee venoms, wasp venoms, insecta, ants hornet, bumblebee, mosquitoes, venom immunotherapy, immunologic desensitization
Published in DiRROS: 23.09.2020; Views: 1803; Downloads: 1071
 Full text (313,42 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
335. Absence of adverse effects of tiotropium/ olodaterol compared with the monocomponents on long-term heart rate and blood pressure in patients with moderate-to-very-severe COPDStefan Andreas, Lorcan Mcgarvey, Ulrich Bothner, Matthias Trampisch, Alberto De La Hoz, Matjaž Fležar, Roland Buhl, Peter Alter, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction: Long-acting [beta]2-agonists (LABAs) and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) are established maintenance bronchodilator treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with the potential to increase heart rate (HR) and impact blood pressure (BP). While previous studies indicate that HR and BP are not negatively influenced by tiotropium or olodaterol monotherapy, the effect of tiotropium/olodaterol has not been evaluated. We report a post hoc analysis of the effect of dual bronchodilation with tiotropium/olodaterol versus monocomponents on HR and BP in patients with moderate-to-very-severe COPD included in the large TONADO© study. Methods: The TONADO© trials (1237.5 [NCT01431274] and 1237.6 [NCT01431287]) were two replicate, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, 52-week, Phase III trials that compared tiotropium/olodaterol (5/5 [micro]g and 2.5/5 [micro]g) with tiotropium (5 [micro]g and 2.5 [micro]g) and olodaterol (5 [micro]g) in patients with moderate-to-very-severe COPD. Patients with cardiovascular comorbidities were included. Changes in HR and systolic/diastolic BP were measured before and after dosing with the study medication at each visit (baseline, Week 12, Week 24 and Week 52). Results: Overall, 3,100 patients were included in this analysis. Over 52 weeks, small changes from baseline in mean HR (<2 beats per minute [bpm]) and small changes from pre- to post-dose (<1 bpm) were evident at different time points. There was a non-significant increase from baseline in mean diastolic and systolic BP (<2 mmHg) observed over 52 weeks of treatment. The short-term (1 hour pre- to 1 hour post-dose) mean changes in systolic and diastolic BP over 52 weeks in the tiotropium/olodaterol 5/5 [micro]g group were comparable with those observed for the monocomponents at all time points. Conclusion: There were no differences in HR or BP among patients on tiotropium/olodaterol when compared with monocomponents. This supports the already demonstrated cardiovascular safety profile of tiotropium/olodaterol as long-acting maintenance bronchodilator treatment for COPD, including patients with cardiovascular comorbidities.
Keywords: pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive -- drug therapy, heart rate, blood pressure, tiotropium, olodaterol
Published in DiRROS: 21.09.2020; Views: 1496; Downloads: 969
Full text (2,84 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
336. Heritable risk for severe anaphylaxis associated with increased [alpha]-tryptase-encoding germline copy number at TPSAB1Jonathan J. Lyons, Jack Chovanec, Michael P. O'Connell, Yihui Liu, Julij Šelb, Roberta Zanotti, Yun Bai, Jiwon Kim, Quang T. Le, Tom DiMaggio, Matija Rijavec, Peter Korošec, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Background: An elevated basal serum tryptase level is associated with severe systemic anaphylaxis, most notably caused by Hymenoptera envenomation. Although clonal mast cell disease is the culprit in some individuals, it does not fully explain this clinical association. Objective: Our aim was to determine the prevalence and associated impact of tryptase genotypes on anaphylaxis in humans. Methods: Cohorts with systemic mastocytosis (SM) and venom as well as idiopathic anaphylaxis from referral centers in Italy, Slovenia, and the United States, underwent tryptase genotyping by droplet digital PCR. Associated anaphylaxis severity (Mueller scale) was subsequently examined. Healthy volunteers and controls with nonatopic disease were recruited and tryptase was genotyped by droplet digital PCR and in silico analysis of genome sequence, respectively. The effects of pooled and recombinant human tryptases, protease activated receptor 2 agonist and antagonist peptides, and a tryptase-neutralizing mAb on human umbilical vein endothelial cell permeability were assayed using a Transwell system. Results: Hereditary [alpha]-tryptasemia (H[alpha]T)--a genetic trait caused by increased [alpha]-tryptase-encoding Tryptase-[alpha]/[beta]1 (TPSAB1) copy number resulting in elevated BST level--was common in healthy individuals (5.6% [n = 7 of 125]) and controls with nonatopic disease (5.3% [n = 21 of 398]). H[alpha]T was associated with grade IV venom anaphylaxis (relative risk = 2.0; P < .05) and more prevalent in both idiopathic anaphylaxis (n = 8 of 47; [17%; P = .006]) and SM (n = 10 of 82 [12.2%; P = .03]) relative to the controls. Among patients with SM, concomitant H[alpha]T was associated with increased risk for systemic anaphylaxis (relative risk = 9.5; P = .007). In vitro, protease-activated receptor-2-dependent vascular permeability was induced by pooled mature tryptases but not [alpha]- or [beta]-tryptase homotetramers. Conclusions: Risk for severe anaphylaxis in humans is associated with inherited differences in [alpha]-tryptase-encoding copies at TPSAB1.
Keywords: mastocytosis, venoms, hypersensitivity, anaphylaxis - diagnosis, mast cells, idiopathic anaphylaxis, mast cell activation, hereditary alpha-tryptasemia
Published in DiRROS: 11.09.2020; Views: 2053; Downloads: 380
 Link to file |
337. Is diet partly responsible for differences in COVID-19 death rates between and within countries? : protocol for a systematic reviewJean Bousquet, Josep M. Antò i Boquè, Guido Laccarino, Wienczyslawa Czarlewski, Tari Haahtela, Aram Anto, Cezmi A. Akdis, Hubert Blain, Giorgio Walter Canonica, Karmen Kramer Vrščaj, Tari Haahtela, Mitja Košnik, Anja Koren, Peter Kopač, Maja Jošt, Samo Kreft, Klemen Jenko, Bojan Madjar, Davor Plavec, Tanja Soklič, Jure Urbančič, Mihaela Zidarn, 2020, review article Abstract: Reported COVID-19 deaths in Germany are relatively low as compared to many European countries. Among the several explanations proposed, an early and large testing of the population was put forward. Most current debates on COVID-19 focus on the differences among countries, but little attention has been given to regional differences and diet. The low-death rate European countries (e.g. Austria, Baltic States, Czech Republic, Finland, Norway, Poland, Slovakia) have used different quarantine and/or confinement times and methods and none have performed as many early tests as Germany. Among other factors that may be significant are the dietary habits. It seems that some foods largely used in these countries may reduce angiotensin-converting enzyme activity or are anti-oxidants. Among the many possible areas of research, it might be important to understand diet and angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) levels in populations with different COVID-19 death rates since dietary interventions may be of great benefit.
Keywords: coronavirus, diet, angiotensin-converting enzyme, antioxidant, food
Published in DiRROS: 09.09.2020; Views: 1548; Downloads: 1205
Full text (1,12 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
338. Correlations between vitreous cytokine levels and inflammatory cells in fibrovascular membranes of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathyMojca Urbančič, Danijel Petrovič, Aleksandra Milutinović Živin, Peter Korošec, Matjaž Fležar, Mojca Globočnik Petrovič, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of cytokines in the vitreous, and their correlation with the density of inflammatory cells in fibrovascular membranes (FVMs) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) to evaluate intraocular inflammatory conditions with regard to disease activity.Methods: Thirty-three patients (33 eyes) with PDR requiring vitreoretinal surgery because of FVMs and tractional detachment were enrolled in the study, and compared with 20 patients (20 eyes) with macular hole (MH; control group). All patients underwent complete ophthalmological examinations before surgery. The activity of the disease was noted in patients with PDR. Samples of vitreous and blood were taken, and cytokine (MCP-1, IL-8, IL-6, VEGF, IL-1%, TNF-%, MIP-1%, MIP-1%, IL-10, and IL-12) levels were measured using cytometric bead array (CBA). Samples of FVMs were analyzed with immunohistochemical methods for the presence of inflammatory cells (CD45+, CD14+, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells), and the numerical areal density was calculated (NA). Spearman%s correlation was used to as-sess the association between variables. The Mann%Whitney test was used to assess the differences between independent groups. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for assessing differences between two related groups. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Patients with active PDR had statistically significantly higher levels of MCP-1 (p = 0.003), VEGF (p = 0.009), and IL-8 (p = 0.02) in the vitreous in comparison with those with inactive PDR. CD45+, CD14+, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells were identified in FVMs for patients with PDR. Statistically significantly higher numerical areal density of T lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+) was demonstrated in patients with active PDR in comparison with patients with inactive PDR. Moderate to strong correlations were found between either MCP-1 or IL-8 in the vitreous, and the numerical areal density of cells (CD45+, CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+) in the FVMs, and weaker between either MCP-1 or IL-8 in the vitreous and the numerical areal density of CD14+ cells in the FVMs.Conclusions: The correlation of cytokine (MCP-1 and IL-8) vitreous levels with the density of inflammatory cells in FVMs, and differences in cytokine levels in the vitreous between patients with active and inactive PDR, and between the vitreous and serum in PDR indicate the importance of local intraocular inflammation in patients with PDR.
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy, fibrovascular membranes, inflammatory cells
Published in DiRROS: 09.09.2020; Views: 1486; Downloads: 709
Full text (784,61 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
339. |
340. |
