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Chronic rhinosinusitis is divided into two groups, which are Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). The rate of post-surgical recurrence in the CRSwNP is high, and predicting factors are unknown. This study aims to identify and evaluate risk factors associated with treatment-resistant and recurrent CRSwNP. This cross-sectional study evaluates demographic data and atopic risk factors in patients with CRSwNP, including a high IgE level (≥100 U/mL), skin prick test (SPT) for aeroallergens, aspirinexacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), and asthma prevalence. An oral aspirin challenge was performed to diagnose AERD. 191 patients with CRSwNP were enrolled, with 73 patients in the recurrent, and 118 patients in the non-recurrent group. The mean age of the patients in the recurrent group was 45.08±12.05. The mean age of the patients in the non-recurrent group was 42.89±11.73. 49. Asthma prevalence in recurrent- CRSwNP is significantly higher than non-recurrent CRSwNP Asthma severity in recurrent CRSwNP and AERD patients was significantly higher than in nonrecurrent CRSwNP and non-AERD patients. The level of IgE in the recurrent- CRSwNP is higher than non-recurrent CRSwNP. Positive SPT results for tree, weed, and mite allergens were higher in the non-recurrent- CRSwNP group compared to the recurrent CRSwNPgroup. Asthma had a significantly higher difference in AERD compared to non-AERD. The level of IgE in AERD is higher than non-AERD. Recurrent CRSwNP patients and AERD patients had Higher IgE levels. Asthma is more prevalent and more severe in both AERD and recurrent CRSwNP. However, a positive SPT result has been seen higher in non-recurrent CRSwNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory pulmonary disease which affects 10%–20% of children and adolescents. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is one of its most effective therapies. The effect of systemic corticosteroids on decreasing bone mineral density (BMD) was investigated and proved in children; however, the influence of ICSs on bone density has still remained unclear. This study evaluates the bone mineral density of children and adolescents with asthma in southern Iran and the associated factors, for example, amount of used inhaled steroid. Method: This case‐control study enrolled 41 children and adolescents (aged 8–18 years) with asthma and their age and gender‐matched controls in 2019–2020. Serum Calcium, phosphate, vitamin D, and bone mineral density were measured. Their physical activity, sun exposure, and fracture history were evaluated subjectively. Results: Lumbar BMD and BMD Z‐score in patients showed no significant difference with controls (p = 0.23, p = 0.73). Also, it showed that there was no significant difference in biochemical studies, growth, and bone densitometry parameters between patients who used ICSs for less than 3 months/year corticosteroid therapy compared to those with equal or more than 3 months/year usage. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 28% and 8% in the controls and patients, respectively (p = 0.005). Conclusion: The present study showed that 9.46% of children and adolescents with asthma had low bone mass for chronological age, and it is not significantly higher than normal population. Dosage of inhaled steroid did not associate with osteoporosis in these patients. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients was lower than normal population, probably due to receiving vitamin D in their routine follow‐ups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bronchiectasis is a clinical syndrome characterized by chronic cough, sputum production, recurrent respiratory infections, and permanent bronchial dilation. The association between the level of alpha- 1 antitrypsin (AAT) and bronchiectasis is controversial. In this study, we aimed to investigate this association in children with idiopathic bronchiectasis. The study was conducted on 20 patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis as the case group (mean age 15.9±2.1) and 20 healthy individuals as the control group (mean age 14.9±2.6). Serum AAT level was measured using nephelometric analysis (g/L). Other criteria including sex, parent consanguinity, number of hospitalizations, age of the first symptom were evaluated in both groups related to AAT level. The mean serum level of AAT in the case and control groups were 1.3±0.29; 1.5±0.59, respectively, with statistical significance (P=0.001). There was a significant difference between the two groups in the AAT level distribution, according to AAT normal range (P=0.01). The case group had a more positive attitude toward consanguinity than the control group (66.7% versus 33.3%; P<0.001). The results showed that 80% of patients had the first symptom of disease under one year of age, 6.6% 1-5 years, 6.6% 5- 10 years, and 6.6% in more than ten years old. In the case group, 53.3% had a history of medical hospitalization for one time, 26.7% two times, while 20% of the patients had no medical hospitalization. Decreased AAT serum level and high consanguinity rates may be considered as two risk factors for idiopathic bronchiectasis occurrence in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic urticaria is in some cases very difficult to treat, we aimed to evaluate the effect of colchicine on chronic urticaria management. Fifty‐five euthyroid patients with chronic urticaria were examined based on UQL and UAS7 questionnaires. The overall UQL‐Q score after 3 months has not any statistical difference between groups. The overall UQL‐Q score changes between groups was not statistically different. However, the UQL‐Q score significantly reduces during study period in each group. In conclusion, colchicine can manage the sign and symptoms of chronic urticaria, which improve the patients' quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both adaptive and innate immune responses are essential for an effective defense against the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We aimed to investigate the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) pandemic on patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID). This study was performed on patients who were diagnosed with PID by immunologist specialists and referred to Imam Reza Clinic of Asthma and Allergy, affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, (Shiraz, Iran) for regular check-ups. The patients were enrolled in this cohort study and followed for any sign of COVID-19 from March 2020 to May 2021. COVID-19 infection was confirmed using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay of nasal and pharyngeal swabs. Among the 90 PID patients under study, nine patients (10%) were diagnosed positive for COVID-19 infection. Five out of these nine patients belonged to the combined immunodeficiency (CID) category, while four patients were categorized as having primary antibody deficiencies (PADs). Eight patients with COVID-19 were required to be admitted to the hospital, and three patients died after hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection. It seems that patients with CID are at a higher risk of mortality, due to COVID-19 infection, that other types of PID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common skin allergic reaction with an unknown mechanism. There is inadequate evidence to support the role of aeroallergen sensitization in CSU., Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate the association between the aeroallergen sensitivity and CSU., Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 91 patients with CSU were recruited. Information on demographic characteristics was collected. The skin prick test (SPT) for most prevalent aeroallergens and pulmonary function test (PFT) were performed and the results were clinically matched to investigate the allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. Total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration was analysed in the subjects for the presence of atopy., Results: Ninety one patients (75 of them were females) were enrolled in the study (with a mean age of 36.90 ±12.93 years). SPT result was positive in 75 (82.4%) subjects. Weeds (67 cases, 73.6%), trees (61 cases, 67%), and dust mites (55 cases, 60.4%) were the most common pollens in the positive SPT samples. Thirty-seven (40.7%) of the patients had allergic rhinitis. There was a statistically significant association between the presence of AR and positive SPT result ( p = 0.002). Eight patients had allergic asthma and 45 (49.4%) of the patients had a total serum IgE level of more than 100 IU/ml., Conclusions: Our results indicated a clear association between the presence of aeroallergen sensitivity and development of CSU. AR exists as a co-morbidity of CSU., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Termedia.)