Search

This article discusses the use of mobile health (mHealth) apps in monitoring chronic allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. It highlights the potential benefits of mHealth technology, including tracking symptoms, monitoring treatment compliance, and providing real-time information on environmental allergens. The article also mentions the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, which could provide new insights and facilitate clinical decision-making. The authors recommend the integration of mHealth app data into electronic medical records, the incorporation of digital biomarkers into clinical practice guidelines, and the combination of digital and physiological biomarkers for a more comprehensive patient profile. They also emphasize the importance of data security and ethical considerations in the practice of digital health. Overall, the article suggests that mHealth apps have the potential to personalize the care of allergic diseases. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: As a critical component of the epithelial barrier, tight junctions (TJs) are essential in nasal mucosa against pathogen invasion. However, the function of TJs has rarely been reported in nasal inverted papilloma (NIP). This study aims to investigate the potential factors of TJs' abnormality in NIP. Methods: We assessed the expression of ZO‐1, occludin, claudin‐1, claudin‐3, and claudin‐7 in healthy controls and NIP by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescent staining. The correlation between TJs expression and neutrophil count, TH1/TH2/TH17 and regulatory T cell biomarkers, and the proportion of nasal epithelial cells was investigated. Results: Upregulation of ZO‐1, occludin, claudin‐1, and claudin‐7, along with downregulation of claudin‐3, was found in NIP compared to control (all p < 0.05). An abnormal proportion with a lower number of ciliated cells (control vs. NIP: 37.60 vs. 8.67) and goblet cells (12.52 vs. 0.33) together with a higher number of basal cells (45.58 vs. 124.00) in NIP. Meanwhile, claudin‐3 was positively correlated with ciliated and goblet cells (all p < 0.01). Additionally, neutrophils were excessively infiltrated in NIP, negatively correlated with ZO‐1, but positively with claudin‐3 (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, FOXP3, IL‐10, TGF‐β1, IL‐5, IL‐13, and IL‐22 levels were induced in NIP (all p < 0.01). Occludin level was negatively correlated with IL‐10, IL‐5, IL‐13, and IL‐22, whereas ZO‐1 was positively with TGF‐β1 (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Nasal epithelial barrier dysfunction with TJs anomalies is commonly associated with abnormal proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells and imbalance of immune and inflammatory patterns in NIP. Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 134:552–561, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the efficacy of one‐step acellular dermis combined with autologous split thickness skin grafting in the treatment of burn or trauma wounds by a multicenter controlled study. In patients with extensive burns, it is even difficult to repair the wounds due to the shortage of autologous skin. The traditional skin grafting method has the disadvantages of large damage to the donor site, insufficient skin source and unsatisfactory appearance, wear resistance and elasticity of the wound tissue after skin grafting. One‐step acellular dermis combined with autologous ultra‐thin split thickness skin graft can achieve better healing effect in the treatment of burn and trauma wounds. A total of 1208 patients who underwent single‐layer skin grafting and one‐step composite skin grafting in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhan Third People's Hospital and Lu 'an People's Hospital from 2019 to 2022 were retrospectively analysed. The total hospitalization cost, total operation cost, hospitalization days after surgery, wound healing rate after 1 week of skin grafting and scar follow‐up at 6 months after discharge were compared and studied. The total cost of hospitalization and operation in the composite skin grafting group was significantly higher than those in the single‐layer autologous skin grafting group. The wound healing rate after 1 week of skin grafting and the VSS score of scar in the follow‐up of 6 months after discharge were better than those in the single‐layer skin grafting group. One‐step acellular dermis combined with autologous ultra‐thin split thickness skin graft has high wound healing rate, less scar, smooth appearance and good elasticity in repairing burn and trauma wounds, which can provide an ideal repair method for wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of many chronic noncommunicable diseases has been steadily rising over the past six decades. During this time, over 350,000 new chemical substances have been introduced to the lives of humans. In recent years, the epithelial barrier theory came to light explaining the growing prevalence and exacerbations of these diseases worldwide. It attributes their onset to a functionally impaired epithelial barrier triggered by the toxicity of the exposed substances, associated with microbial dysbiosis, immune system activation, and inflammation. Diseases encompassed by the epithelial barrier theory share common features such as an increased prevalence after the 1960s or 2000s that cannot (solely) be accounted for by the emergence of improved diagnostic methods. Other common traits include epithelial barrier defects, microbial dysbiosis with loss of commensals and colonization of opportunistic pathogens, and circulating inflammatory cells and cytokines. In addition, practically unrelated diseases that fulfill these criteria have started to emerge as multimorbidities during the last decades. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of diseases encompassed by the epithelial barrier theory and discuss evidence and similarities for their epidemiology, genetic susceptibility, epithelial barrier dysfunction, microbial dysbiosis, and tissue inflammation., (© 2024 The Author(s). Allergy published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)