Category: U.S. National Library of Medicine (NIH)

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Effect of compound Maqin decoction on TGF-?1/Smad proteins and IL-10 and IL-17 content in lung tissue of asthmatic rats.

Effect of compound Maqin decoction on TGF-?1/Smad proteins and IL-10 and IL-17 content in lung tissue of asthmatic rats.

Genet Mol Res. 2016 Sep 2;15(3):

Authors: Xie YH, Li XP, Xu ZX, Qian P, Li XL, Wang YQ

Abstract
In this research, compound Maqin decoction (CMD) has been shown to positively affect in airway inflammation of asthma models. We evaluated the effects of CMD on the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-?1/Smad proteins, interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-10 in lung tissue of asthmatic rats. Asthma was induced in a rat model using ovalbumin. After a 4-week treatment with CMD, rats were killed to evaluate the expression of TGF-?1 and Smad proteins in lung tissue. IL-10 and IL-17 levels in lung tissue homogenates were determined by ELISA. The expression of TGF-?1 and Smad3 protein increased, whereas expression of Smad7 protein decreased upon high-dose or low-dose treatment with CMD or by intervention with dexamethasone, compared to the control. There was a significant difference between treatment with a high dose CMD and the control treatment, but no significant difference was found between high-dose CMD treatment and dexamethasone intervention. The expression of TGF-?1 and Smad7 protein increased, whereas the expression of Smad3 protein decreased in the model group compared to other groups. In the CMD high-dose group, low-dose group, and dexamethasone intervention group, the IL-17 concentrations in lung tissue homogenates were decreased, while IL-10 levels were increased. Again, there was a significant difference between CMD high-dose and control treatment, but not between CMD high-dose treatment and dexamethasone intervention. Thus, positive effects of CMD against asthmatic airway remodeling may be due to its regulatory effect on TGF-?1, Smad3, and Smad7 protein levels and on cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-17.

PMID: 27706676 [PubMed – in process]

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Relationship between Pesticide Metabolites, Cytokine Patterns, and Asthma-Related Outcomes in Rural Women Workers.

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Relationship between Pesticide Metabolites, Cytokine Patterns, and Asthma-Related Outcomes in Rural Women Workers.

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016;13(10)

Authors: Mwanga HH, Dalvie MA, Singh TS, Channa K, Jeebhay MF

Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between exposure to organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid (PYR) pesticides with serum cytokine patterns and asthma-related outcomes among rural women workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among rural women (n = 211), including those working and living on farms and nearby town dwellers. Pesticide exposure was assessed using urinary metabolite concentrations of OP and PYR pesticides. Health outcome assessment was ascertained through the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and serum cytokines associated with asthma. The prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma was 11%, adult-onset asthma 9%, and current asthma 6%. In this population, the proportion of T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines (interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13) detectable in subjects was between 18% and 40%, while the proportion of non-Th2 cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, and interferon gamma) was between 35% and 71%. Most Th2 and non-Th2 cytokines were positively associated with either OP or PYR metabolites. Non-Th2 cytokines showed much stronger associations with OP metabolites (Dimethyl phosphate OR = 4.23; 95% CI: 1.54-11.65) than Th2 cytokines (Dimethyl phosphate OR = 1.69; 95% CI: 0.83-3.46). This study suggests that exposure to most OP and some PYR pesticides may be associated with asthma-related cytokines, with non-Th2 cytokines demonstrating consistently stronger relationships.

PMID: 27690066 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Determinants of longitudinal health-related quality of life change in children with asthma from low-income families: a report from the PROMIS(®) Pediatric Asthma Study.

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Determinants of longitudinal health-related quality of life change in children with asthma from low-income families: a report from the PROMIS(®) Pediatric Asthma Study.

Clin Exp Allergy. 2016 Sep 24;

Authors: Li Z, Leite W, Thompson L, Gross HE, Shenkman E, Reeve BB, DeWalt DA, Huang IC

Abstract
BACKGROUND: How the longitudinal asthma control status and other socio-demographic factors influence the changes of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among asthmatic children, especially from low-income families, has not been fully investigated.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the trajectories of asthma-specific HRQOL over 15 months, and examine the effect of asthma control status on HRQOL by taking socio-demographic factors into consideration.
METHODS: 229 dyads of asthmatic children and their parents enrolled in public insurance programs were recruited for assessing asthma control status and HRQOL over 4 time points of assessment. Asthma control status was measured using the Asthma Control and Communication Instrument and asthma-specific HRQOL was assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System’s Pediatric Asthma Impact Scale. Latent growth models (LGMs) were applied to examine the trajectory of HRQOL and the factors contributing to the changes of HRQOL.
RESULTS: Unconditional LGM revealed that HRQOL was improved over time. Conditional LGM suggested that accounting for asthma control and participants’ socio-demographic factors, the variation in the initial level of HRQOL was significant, yet the rate of change was not. Conditional LGM also revealed that poorly-controlled asthma status was associated with poor HRQOL at each time point (p’s<0.05). Lower parental education was associated with lower baseline HRQOL (p<0.05). Hispanic children had a larger increase in HRQOL over time (p<0.01) than non-Hispanic White children.
CONCLUSIONS: Vulnerable socio-demographic characteristics and poorly controlled asthma status affect HRQOL in children. This finding encourages interventions to improve asthma control status and HRQOL in minority children. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID: 27664979 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Step 4: stick or twist? A review of asthma therapy.

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Step 4: stick or twist? A review of asthma therapy.

BMJ Open Respir Res. 2016;3(1):e000143

Authors: Slater MG, Pavord ID, Shaw DE

Abstract
Many people with asthma do not achieve disease control, despite bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid therapy. People with uncontrolled asthma are at higher risk of an asthma attack and death, with mortality rates estimated at 1000 deaths/year in England and Wales. The recent National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD) report, ‘Why asthma still kills’, recommended that patients at step 4 or 5 of the British Thoracic Society/Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (BTS/SIGN) guidance must be referred to a specialist asthma service. This article reviews the 2014 evidence base for therapy of asthma patients at BTS/SIGN step 4 of the treatment cascade, in response to key findings of the NRAD report and lack of preferred treatment option at this step.

PMID: 27651907 [PubMed]

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Multiple health benefits of urban tree canopy: The mounting evidence for a green prescription.

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Multiple health benefits of urban tree canopy: The mounting evidence for a green prescription.

Health Place. 2016 Sep 14;42:54-62

Authors: Ulmer JM, Wolf KL, Backman DR, Tretheway RL, Blain CJ, O’Neil-Dunne JP, Frank LD

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to enhance the understanding of the health-promoting potential of trees in an urbanized region of the United States. This was done using high-resolution LiDAR and imagery data to quantify tree cover within 250m of the residence of 7910 adult participants in the California Health Interview Survey, then testing for main and mediating associations between tree cover and multiple health measures. The results indicated that more neighborhood tree cover, independent from green space access, was related to better overall health, primarily mediated by lower overweight/obesity and better social cohesion, and to a lesser extent by less type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma. These findings suggest an important role for trees and nature in improving holistic population health in urban areas.

PMID: 27639106 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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[Specific antibody deficiency: Primary immunodeficiency associated to respiratory allergy].

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[Specific antibody deficiency: Primary immunodeficiency associated to respiratory allergy].

Rev Chil Pediatr. 2016 Sep 7;

Authors: Fernández F, Campillay R, Palma V, Norambuena X, Quezada A

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Specific antibody deficiency (SAD) with normal immunoglobulin and normal B cells is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by reduced ability to produce antibodies to specific antigens especially polysaccharides.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of patients diagnosed with SAD emphasizing the association between primary immunodeficiency and allergic diseases.
PATIENTS AND METHOD: Descriptive study showing patients with SAD treated at a public hospital between August 2007 and July 2015. Other secondary or primary immunodeficiency was discarded. The diagnosis of SAD was based on recurrent infections and abnormal response to pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine assessed by specific IgG to 10 pneumococcal serotypes.
RESULTS: Twelve patients were included, 4 males, mean age 6 years, recurrent pneumonia predominated (91.7%) as well as other respiratory and invasive infections. All patients with SAD had associated asthma, 11 had allergic rhinitis, and other allergies. Three patients did not respond to any of the 10 serotypes contained in pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, and those who responded were with low titers. Treatment with conjugate pneumococcal vaccine was favorable in 11/12 patients.
CONCLUSION: In children older than 2 years with recurrent respiratory infections or invasive S. pneumoniae infections with normal immunoglobulin we recommend to investigate SAD, especially if they have a concurrent allergic disease.

PMID: 27614984 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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