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BACKGROUND Children with adenoid hypertrophy (AH) have impaired respiratory system defense mechanisms, such as mucociliary clearance. We hypothesized that AH negatively affects one of the most important aspects of mucociliary clearance-ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and that adenoidectomy could potentially restore this essential defence mechanism of the airways. This study evaluated the influence of AH and endoscopic adenoidectomy on the CBF of the nasal respiratory epithelium in children. METHODS This prospective study included 64 children with confirmed AH aged 3 to 18 years and 43 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Nasal CBF was analyzed using a digital high-speed video microscope and the software application Ciliary Analysis (NI LabVIEW). The preoperative adenoid size was assessed according to Cassano. Clinical symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis were evaluated using the SNOT-20 questionnaire. RESULTS Children with AH had a median CBF of 5.35 ± 1.06 Hz. Six months after surgery, the median CBF was significantly higher (6.48 ± 0.88 Hz; P

We report a 2-year-old patient with Netherton syndrome presenting with generalized exfoliative erythroderma, ichthyosiform dermatitis, trichorrhexis invaginata, hypernatremic dehydration, failure to thrive, and recurrent respiratory infections. Molecular analysis of SPINK5 identified a novel mutation (c.1530CA). Our case report also verifies and supports the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous immunoglobulin substitution in chronic generalized skin disorders associated with primary immunodeficiencies such as Netherton syndrome.

Currently, the world is facinga global pandemicwith a new coronavirus SARS-CoV- 2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus Type 2) causing infectious disease named COVID-19 (CoronaVirus Infectious Disease 2019). Comparing the clinical presentation and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 with previous coronavirus-associated respiratory diseases (SARS-CoV1 and MERS) revealedsome remarkable findings and differences. Moreover, the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection showed the complexity of COVID-19 profile with the variable clinical presentations.

Summary Objectives Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation. There is increasing evidence that neurotrophins play an important role in the development and maintenance of neurogenic airway inflammation in chronic allergic diseases. Working Hypothesis Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family and has several important functions in the airways. There are only a few reports on the association between genetic variations in the BDNF gene and various allergic diseases, and the results are generally conflicting. Therefore, we aimed to study the functional polymorphism Val66Met (also called rs6265 or G196A) in the BDNF gene in a group of asthmatic children and healthy controls. Study Design, Patient-Selection, and Methodology We studied 248 asthmatic patients (aged 12.28 ± 0.24 years) and 249 healthy children (aged 13.14 ± 0.48 years). Analysis of the Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR products were digested by PmlI. Results The prevalence of the Val66Met polymorphisms (Val/Val, Val/Met, and Met/Met) was 61.7%, 33.5%, and 4.8% in asthmatics, respectively, and 47.0%, 51.8%, and 1.2% in healthy subjects, respectively. We observed a significant association of the Met/Met variant genotype with asthmatics (OR = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.16–14.96, P = 0.018). The Val/Met genotype was protective against bronchial asthma (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.48–0.99, P = 0.045), especially in girls (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.20–0.59, P = 0.001). Conclusion Specific BDNF gene polymorphism may contribute to bronchial asthma susceptibility. Our study suggested the positive association between selected functional BDNF polymorphism (rs6265) and asthma in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2015; 50:631–637. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) present a very important problem in paediatric praxis. As true immunodeficiencies are rare, one of the most important factors assumed to contribute to increased respiratory morbidity is atopy. Several preparations of natural origin have been used for the prevention of RRTIs, and some of the most effective immunomodulators are biologically active polysaccharides – e.g. s-glucans. In our randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the prevalence of atopy in a group of children with RRTIs and the potential anti-allergic effect of pleuran (s-glucan isolated from Pleurotus ostreatus) on basic laboratory markers of allergic inflammation. We confirmed that atopy may be an important factor contributing to the increased respiratory morbidity in children with RRTIs. The active treatment with pleuran resulted in a significant reduction of peripheral blood eosinophilia and stabilised the levels of total IgE in serum. This was more evident in atopic subjects. Pleuran showed a potential anti-allergic effect. This previously non-described effect could expand the application of this natural immunomodulator also as a complementary adjuvant therapy in allergic patients. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is a rare X-linked primary immunodeficiency clinically characterized by the triad of microthrombocytopenia, immunodeficiency, and eczema. Juvenile xanthogranuloma is a well-recognized benign disorder of infancy and early childhood from the group of non-Langerhans cell histiocytoses, with a good prognosis and spontaneous involution. We report a boy with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome caused by a new, not previously described mutation associated with multifocal juvenile xanthogranuloma.