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Introduction: Asthma is associated with upper airway diseases and allergic diseases; however, the causal effects need to be investigated further. Thus, we performed this two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore and measure the causal effects of asthma on allergic rhinitis (AR), vasomotor rhinitis (VMR), allergic conjunctivitis (AC), atopic dermatitis (AD), and allergic urticaria (AU). Methods: The data for asthma, AR, VMR, AC, AD, and AU were obtained from large-scale genome-wide association studies summarized recently. We defined single-nucleotide polymorphisms satisfying the MR assumptions as instrumental variables. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) approach under random-effects was applied as the dominant method for causal estimation. The weighted median approach, MR-Egger regression analysis, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier test, and leave-one-out sensitivity analysis were performed as sensitivity analysis. Horizontal pleiotropy was measured using MR-Egger regression analysis. Significant causal effects were attempted for replication and meta-analysis. Results: We revealed that asthma had causal effects on AR (IVW, odds ratio [OR] = 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.74−2.14; p < 0.001), VMR (IVW, OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.15−1.71; p < 0.001), AC (IVW, OR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.49−1.82; p < 0.001), and AD (IVW, OR = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.82−2.49; p < 0.001). No causal effect of asthma on AU was observed. Sensitivity analysis further assured the robustness of these results. The evaluation of the replication stage and meta-analysis further confirmed the causal effect of asthma on AR (IVW OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.62–2.02, p < 0.001), AC (IVW OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.11–1.87, p < 0.001), and AD (IVW OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.42–2.41, p < 0.001). Conclusions: We revealed and quantified the causal effects of asthma on AR, VMR, AC, and AD. These findings can provide powerful causal evidence of asthma on upper airway diseases and allergic diseases, suggesting that the treatment of asthma should be a preventive and therapeutic strategy for AR, VMR, AC, and AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Atopic dermatitis (AD) presents significant therapeutic challenges due to its poorly understood etiology. Eosinophilia, a hallmark of allergic inflammation, is implicated in AD pathogenesis. Interleukin-10 (IL-10)-producing regulatory B (Breg) cells exhibit potent anti-inflammatory effects. However, their role in controlling AD-related eosinophilia is not well understood. To investigate the impact of eosinophils on AD, we employed IL-5Rα-deficient (Il5ra −/− ) mice, which lack functional eosinophils. Induction of AD in these mice resulted in attenuated disease symptoms, underscoring the critical role of eosinophils in AD development. Additionally, the adoptive transfer of purified Breg cells into mice with AD significantly alleviated disease severity. Mechanistic studies revealed that IL-10 produced by Breg cells directly inhibits eosinophil activation and infiltration into the skin. In vitro experiments further confirmed that Breg cells inhibited eosinophil peroxidase secretion in an IL-10-dependent manner. Our collective findings demonstrate that IL-10 from Breg cells alleviates AD by suppressing eosinophil activation and tissue infiltration. This study elucidates a novel regulatory mechanism of Breg cells, providing a foundation for future Breg-mediated therapeutic strategies for AD.

AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionThe daily lives of adolescents have changed significantly because of COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the effects of changes in daily life attributed to COVID-19 on allergic diseases among Korean adolescents.Data from the 2021 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey were used. In total, 54,848 survey participants were included in the analysis. Allergic diseases included allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. Changes attributed to COVID-19 included family economic difficulties, physical activity, breakfast skipping frequency, alcohol consumption, smoking, and depressive moods. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the impact of changes in daily life attributed to COVID-19 on allergic diseases.Among the Korean adolescents surveyed, 29.8% experienced a deterioration in their economic status due to COVID-19, 49.1% reported decreased physical activity, 2.8% reported increased alcohol consumption, 1.0% reported an increase in their smoking behavior, and 36.9% reported an increase in depressive moods. Those diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, or asthma within the previous 12 months accounted for 17.1%, 6.2%, and 1.0% of the population, respectively. Adolescents who were significantly affected by COVID-19 in their daily lives were frequently diagnosed with allergic diseases within the last 12 months.Changes in daily life due to COVID-19, including decreased physical activity and increased depressive mood, were common in adolescents and were associated with an increased prevalence of allergic diseases. Since changes in daily life due to the pandemic may increase the burden of allergic disease, additional interventions for disease management should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sometimes are being connected since both of these diseases are affected by gene-environment processes. SLE can appear coexisting with other autoimmune diseases as an overlapping syndrome. This research was done to investigate the relation of allergic diseases and SLE as a single SLE or overlapping syndrome compared to control. We collected datas from 39 SLE only, 22 overlapping syndrome SLE, and 39 non SLE subjects who had filled an online Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) questionnaire. There are significant outcomes of the existance of allergic disease (p=.007), atopic dermatitis (p=.000) and total number of allergies (p=.016) in SLE patients. There is a correlation of the appearance of allergy in SLE as a single or coexisting with other autoimmune disease compared to control group. Atopic dermatitis and the more number of allergic diseases that the one have, play role in appearing SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Based on the health big data platform of Yichang city, to analyze the characteristics of allergic diseases of children born in medical institutions from 2017 to 2022 in Yichang city, and to clarify the distribution of allergic diseases among children in Yichang city. Methods Statistical analysis was conducted based on the records of born children with allergic diseases in the outpatient clinic of urban comprehensive medical institutions from 2017 to 2022 in the big data cloud platform of Yichang city. Results The number of visits of male children was 68 707, more than that of female children, and the number of visits had been increasing since 2017. The highest number of hospital visits was 46 190 (37.86%) among children of 0-1 year old, of which the highest number of visits was 3 331 (13.74%) among children of two months. Atopic dermatitis/eczema and allergic rhinitis had a higher number of visits with 46 156 and 14 388 visits, respectively. The age of onset of atopic dermatitis was earlier, with the age of first consultation being 0.42 years, and the age of onset was earlier in males than in females. Atopic dermatitis/eczema and allergic rhinitis were the most common multimorbidities. Conclusion For children with atopic dermatitis/eczema and/or allergic rhinitis, the focus is on the development of concomitant diseases to further interrupt the allergic process and promote early detection, prevention and treatment of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis with Parkinson's disease (PD) risk is yet unclear. In the few preceding studies, a short follow-up duration was followed for a relatively small study population, and lifestyle behaviors were not adjusted for. Therefore, there is a need for large-scale observation studies on the association of allergic disease with PD risk after considering lifestyle behaviors. Methods: The study population consisted of 398,936 participants aged 40 years or older who underwent health screening before 1 January 2005 from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Starting from 1 January 2005, all participants were followed up until the date of PD event, death, or 31 December 2019. The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of PD were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: Compared to non-allergic disease participants, allergic disease patients had a higher risk for PD (aHR 1.18, 95% CI 1.07–1.30) and especially, allergic rhinitis patients had a higher risk for PD (aHR 1.14, 95% CI 1.00–1.29). Allergic disease was associated with a higher risk for PD (aHR 1.24, 95% CI 1.01–1.52) among participants who were never smokers, did not consume alcohol, and exercised regularly. Conclusions: Allergic rhinitis was associated with a higher risk for PD compared to participants without allergic rhinitis. This risk-increasing association of allergic rhinitis with PD was preserved even among people with healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Background/aim: Data on the prevalence of allergic diseases in children with proven drug allergies are limited. We aim to evaluate the frequency of allergic comorbidity in children with proven common drug allergies. Materials and methods: Children with drug hypersensitivity confirmed by diagnostic allergy tests at our center between January 2010 and December 2020 were screened retrospectively. Patients with the most common drug allergies (due to antibiotics, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], and antiepileptic drugs) were selected for analysis. Age, sex, the culprit drug, initial reaction characteristics, diagnostic test results, and the study physician who diagnosed concomitant allergic diseases were noted. Results: A total of 168 patients (boys, 51.2%) with a median age of 12 years (IQR = 8-16.3) were included in the study. The culprit drug was an antibiotic in 63% (n = 106), NSAID in 25% (n = 42) and anticonvulsant in 11.9 % (n = 20) of the patients. Drug hypersensitivity reactions were immediate in 74.4 % (n = 125) and delayed in 25.6 % (n = 43) of the patients. Seventy-five patients (44.6 %) had at least one allergic disease, most commonly rhinitis (27.3 %, n = 46) or asthma (25 %, n = 42). Fifty-five patients underwent skin prick tests with aeroallergens, producing a positive result in 60% (n = 31). The prevalence of allergic disease was not differing according to the culprit drug. The frequency of developing at least one concomitant allergic disease was 47.2% (n = 50/106) for antibiotic hypersensitivity, 52.4% (n = 22/42) for NSAID hypersensitivity, and 15% (n = 3/20) for anticonvulsant hypersensitivity (p < 0.00). Immediate drug hypersensitivity reactions were more frequent in children who had allergic diseases (80 % vs. 64.5 %; p = 0.027). Conclusion: Nearly half (44.6%) of the children with proven drug hypersensitivity had concomitant allergic diseases and immediate reactions were more common in this group. Children evaluated for drug hypersensitivity should be assessed for other allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis with Parkinson's disease (PD) risk is yet unclear. In the few preceding studies, a short follow-up duration was followed for a relatively small study population, and lifestyle behaviors were not adjusted for. Therefore, there is a need for large-scale observation studies on the association of allergic disease with PD risk after considering lifestyle behaviors. The study population consisted of 398,936 participants aged 40 years or older who underwent health screening before 1 January 2005 from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Starting from 1 January 2005, all participants were followed up until the date of PD event, death, or 31 December 2019. The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of PD were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Compared to non-allergic disease participants, allergic disease patients had a higher risk for PD (aHR 1.18, 95% CI 1.07–1.30) and especially, allergic rhinitis patients had a higher risk for PD (aHR 1.14, 95% CI 1.00–1.29). Allergic disease was associated with a higher risk for PD (aHR 1.24, 95% CI 1.01–1.52) among participants who were never smokers, did not consume alcohol, and exercised regularly. Allergic rhinitis was associated with a higher risk for PD compared to participants without allergic rhinitis. This risk-increasing association of allergic rhinitis with PD was preserved even among people with healthy lifestyle behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulatory T (Treg) cells constitute a functionally defined subpopulation of T cells that modulate the immune system and maintain immune tolerance through suppression of the development of autoimmune responses to self-antigens and allergic reactions to external antigens. Reduction in the number or function of Treg cells has been suggested as a key immune abnormality underlying the development of autoimmune and allergic diseases. In vitro studies have demonstrated that purified polyvalent immunoglobulin G (IgG) from multiple healthy blood donors can exert immunomodulatory effects on Treg cells. Incubation of polyvalent human IgG with purified CD4+CD25high T cells increased the intracellular expression of interleukin (IL)-10. Intravenous administration of polyvalent human IgG induced significant expansions of CD4+ Foxp3+ Treg cells and clinical improvements in patients with autoimmune diseases. In human clinical trials, intramuscular administration of autologous total IgG significantly increased the percentage of IL-10-producing CD4+ Treg cells in the peripheral blood of healthy subjects and provided significant clinical improvements in patients with atopic dermatitis. These results suggest a clinical usefulness of polyvalent IgG-induced activation of Treg cells in human subjects. This review proposes a new hypothesis for immune tolerance mechanism by integrating the pre-existing “idiotypic network theory” and “Treg cell theory” into an “anti-idiotypic Treg cell theory.” Based on this hypothesis, an “active anti-idiotypic therapy” for allergic and autoimmune diseases using autologous polyvalent IgG (as immunizing antigens) is suggested as follows: (1) Intramuscular or subcutaneous administration of autologous polyvalent IgG produces numerous immunogenic peptides derived from idiotypes of autologous IgG through processing of dendritic cells, and these peptides activate anti-idiotypic Treg cells in the same subject. (2) Activated anti-idiotypic Treg cells secrete IL-10 and suppress Th2 cell response to allergens and autoimmune T cell response to selfantigens. (3) These events can induce a long-term clinical improvements in patients with allergic and autoimmune diseases. Further studies are needed to evaluate the detailed molecular mechanism underlying polyvalent IgG-induced Treg cell activation and the clinical usefulness of this immunomodulatory therapy for autoimmune and allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Allergic diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sometimes are being connected since both of these diseases are affected by gene-environment processes. SLE can appear coexisting with other autoimmune diseases as an overlapping syndrome. Objectives: This research was done to investigate the relation of allergic diseases and SLE as a single SLE or overlapping syndrome compared to control. Method: We collected data from 39 SLE only, 22 overlapping syndrome SLE, and 39 non SLE subjects who had filled an online Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) questionnaire. Results: There are significant outcomes of the existence of allergic disease (p=.007), atopic dermatitis (p=.000) and total number of allergies (p=.016) in SLE patients. There is a correlation of the appearance of allergy in SLE as a single or coexisting with other autoimmune disease compared to control group. Conclusion: Atopic dermatitis and the more number of allergic diseases that the one have, play role in appearing SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundWhile numerous genetic loci associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) have been discovered, to date, work leveraging the combined burden of AD risk variants across the genome to predict disease risk has been limited.ObjectivesThis study aims to determine whether polygenic risk scores (PRSs) relying on genetic determinants for AD provide useful predictions for disease occurrence and severity. It also explicitly tests the value of including genome-wide association studies of related allergic phenotypes and known FLG loss-of-function (LOF) variants.MethodsAD PRSs were constructed for 1619 European American individuals from the Atopic Dermatitis Research Network using an AD training dataset and an atopic training dataset including AD, childhood onset asthma, and general allergy. Additionally, whole genome sequencing data were used to explore genetic scoring specific to FLG LOF mutations.ResultsGenetic scores derived from the AD-only genome-wide association studies were predictive of AD cases (PRSAD: odds ratio [OR], 1.70; 95% CI, 1.49-1.93). Accuracy was first improved when PRSs were built off the larger atopy genome-wide association studies (PRSAD+: OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.89-2.47) and further improved when including FLG LOF mutations (PRSAD++: OR, 3.23; 95% CI, 2.57-4.07). Importantly, while all 3 PRSs correlated with AD severity, the best prediction was from PRSAD++, which distinguished individuals with severe AD from control subjects with OR of 3.86 (95% CI, 2.77-5.36).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates how PRSs for AD that include genetic determinants across atopic phenotypes and FLG LOF variants may be a promising tool for identifying individuals at high risk for developing disease and specifically severe disease.

Abstract Background Numerous studies suggest that sex steroids might play a role in sex disparity observed in allergic diseases in adults. However, whether sex hormones influence allergic diseases in children remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the association of sex steroid hormones with allergic disease in Japanese children. Methods The present cross-sectional study included 145 6-year-old children participating in a pilot birth cohort study in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. Data on allergic diseases were obtained from questionnaires, and serum levels of sex steroid hormones and allergen-specific IgE were measured. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association of sex hormones with allergic diseases. Results After adjusted sex, amount of body fat at 6 years, parental history of allergic disease, and exposure to tobacco smoke, serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level was significantly associated with reduced odds of any allergic disease (adjusted odds ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.36–0.93; P = 0.024) and serum follicle-stimulating hormone level was significantly associated with increased odds of any allergic disease (adjusted odds ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–4.11, P = 0.046). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level showed a significant association with number of allergic diseases. Conclusions The current study findings suggest that sex hormones may play an important role in the development of allergic diseases in prepubertal children.

Background: Numerous studies suggest that sex steroids might play a role in sex disparity observed in allergic diseases in adults. However, whether sex hormones influence allergic diseases in children remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the association of sex steroid hormones with allergic disease in Japanese children. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 145 6-year-old children participating in a pilot birth cohort study in the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Data on allergic diseases were obtained from questionnaires, and serum levels of sex steroid hormones and allergen-specific IgE were measured. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association of sex hormones with allergic diseases. Results: After adjusted sex, amount of body fat at 6 years, parental history of allergic disease, and exposure to tobacco smoke, serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level was significantly associated with reduced odds of any allergic disease (adjusted odds ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.36–0.93; P = 0.024) and serum follicle-stimulating hormone level was significantly associated with increased odds of any allergic disease (adjusted odds ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–4.11, P = 0.046). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level showed a significant association with number of allergic diseases. Conclusions: The current study findings suggest that sex hormones may play an important role in the development of allergic diseases in prepubertal children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The causal relationship between obesity and different allergic diseases remains controversial. Methods: The Two Sample MR package and Phenoscanner database were used to obtain and filter Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data from the Open GWAS database. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to study the causal relationship between different levels of obesity and different allergic diseases. The data sets related to obesity and asthma were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by the limma package. Cluster Profiler and GO plot packages were used for enrichment analysis to verify the results of MR analysis. Results: Two-sample MR analysis showed a causal relationship between obesity and childhood allergy (age < 16), allergic asthma and atopic dermatitis (P < 0.05). In addition, there was also a causal relationship between allergic asthma and obesity (P < 0.05), while there was no genetic causal relationship between obesity and allergic rhinitis, eczema, lactose intolerance and so on (P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed a causal relationship between both class 1 and class 2 obesity and childhood allergy (age < 16) (P < 0.05). Obesity class 1 was associated with allergic asthma, while obesity class 3 was associated with atopic dermatitis (P < 0.05). Bioinformatics analysis shows that there were common DEGs between obesity and allergic asthma. Conclusion: Obesity is a risk factor for childhood allergy (age < 16), allergic asthma and atopic dermatitis, while allergic asthma is also a risk factor for obesity. Class 1 and class 2 obesity are both causally associated with childhood allergy (age < 16). In addition, there is a causal relationship between milder obesity and allergic asthma, while heavier obesity is causally related to atopic dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic diseases affect many people across the globe. They significantly impact on the quality of life of the people who are affected, creating personal and economic predicaments. Some of the most commonly diagnosed allergic diseases include atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and sinusitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is an allergic disease characterised by the inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by airborne allergens; it presents as itching, excessive lacrimation, discharge and pink eye. Usually it is associated with other allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Allergic conjunctivitis is further divided into acute, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC), and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC). Other conditions, such as eosinophilic oesophagitis, are on the rise and are being diagnosed across all continents except Africa. The diagnosis is primarily clinical. Antihistamines have been the mainstay of therapy for most allergic conditions, except for other conditions that require corticosteroids, or in severe allergic conditions such as anaphylaxis where antihistamines are ineffective as main therapy. It is important to consider first- versus second-generation options when treating allergic diseases, also bearing in mind the duration of therapy and any comorbid conditions that a patient might have. This article provides an overview of these conditions and their current management options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Early-life animal exposure has been associated with both protective and harmful effects on asthma and allergic disease. We aimed to explore factors that may modify associations of early-life animal exposure with asthma and allergic disease, so as to better understand these differences in findings. Methods We used data from ≤84 478 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort recruited during pregnancy between 1996 and 2002, and linked registry data up to the child's 13th birthday. Adjusted Cox models were used to examine associations of early-life cat, dog, rabbit, rodent, bird and livestock exposure with atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis overall, and by source of exposure (domestic or occupation), parental history of asthma or allergy, maternal education level and timing of exposure. Results Overall, associations between animal exposure and the three outcomes of interest were weak. However, dog exposure was associated with marginally lower risk of atopic dermatitis and asthma [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.70–0.94 and 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82–0.94, respectively], whereas prenatal domestic bird exposure was associated with slightly increased risk of asthma (aHR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.05–1.32). Source of exposure, parental history of asthma or allergy and timing of exposure modified associations. Early-life animal exposure did not appear to increase the risk of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (aHR range = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81–0.95 to 1.00, 95% CI: 0.91–1.10). Conclusions The overall weak associations observed between animal exposure and atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis were modified by type of animal, source of exposure, parental history of asthma or allergy and timing of exposure, suggesting that these factors should be considered when assessing the risks associated with early-life animal exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of allergic diseases. However, there is limited information on these factors in the Korean population. This study investigated the importance of genetic and environmental factors in allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, allergic conjunctivitis, or atopic dermatitis, by comparing the disease incidence in Korean adult monozygotic and dizygotic twins. This cross-sectional study utilized data from 1296 twin pairs, including 1052 monozygotic and 244 dizygotic twins, aged over 20 years, from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (2005–2014). The study utilized binomial and multinomial logistic regression models to compute odds ratios of disease concordance. The concordance rate (92%) of the presence or absence of atopic dermatitis in monozygotic twins was slightly higher than that in dizygotic twins (90.2%), which only had a borderline significance (p = 0.090). The concordance rates of other allergic diseases within monozygotic twins were lower compared to dizygotic twins (asthma, 94.3% vs. 95.1%; allergic rhinitis, 77.5% vs. 78.7%; allergic conjunctivitis, 90.6% vs. 91.8%), of which the differences were not statistically significant. Monozygotic twins had a higher proportion of cases in which both siblings had allergic diseases than dizygotic twins (asthma, 1.1% vs. 0.0%; allergic rhinitis, 6.7% vs. 3.3%; atopic dermatitis, 2.9% vs. 0.0%; allergic conjunctivitis, 1.5% vs. 0.0%), of which the differences were also not statistically significant. In conclusion, our results appear to indicate the relative importance of environmental factors over genetic factor in the development of allergic diseases in Korean adult monozygotic twins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caspase recruitment domain family member 14 (CARD14) and its variants are associated with both atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis, but their mechanistic impact on skin barrier homeostasis is largely unknown. CARD14 is known to signal via NF-κB; however, CARD14-NF-κB signaling does not fully explain the heterogeneity of CARD14-driven disease. Here, we describe a direct interaction between CARD14 and MYC and show that CARD14 signals through MYC in keratinocytes to coordinate skin barrier homeostasis. CARD14 directly binds MYC and influences barrier formation in an MYC-dependent fashion, and this mechanism is undermined by disease-associated CARD14 variants. These studies establish a paradigm that CARD14 activation regulates skin barrier function by two distinct mechanisms, including activating NF-κB to bolster the antimicrobial (chemical) barrier and stimulating MYC to bolster the physical barrier. Finally, we show that CARD14-dependent MYC signaling occurs in other epithelia, expanding the impact of our findings beyond the skin. [Display omitted] • CARD14 signaling directly regulates MYC in keratinocytes to promote barrier homeostasis • Pathogenic genetic variants dysregulate CARD14-MYC signaling, promoting barrier dysfunction • Skin barrier function remains intact in the context of complete CARD14 deficiency • The CARD14-MYC mechanism may contribute to diseases beyond the epidermis The epithelial protein CARD14 canonically regulates NF-κB and is associated with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. DeVore et al. report that CARD14 also regulates MYC signaling to influence barrier homeostasis—a mechanism altered by disease-associated genetic variants. This pathway may represent a potential therapeutic target in diseases of dysregulated barrier function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proallergic type 2 helper T (Th2A) cells are a subset of memory Th2 cells confined to atopic individuals, and they include all the allergen-specific Th2 cells. Recently, many studies have shown that Th2A cells characterized by CD3+ CD4+ HPGDS+ CRTH2+ CD161high ST2high CD49dhigh CD27low play a crucial role in allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD), food allergy (FA), allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). In this review, we summarize the discovery, biomarkers, and biological properties of Th2A cells to gain new insights into the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of allergic diseases. However, there is limited information on these factors in the Korean population. This study investigated the importance of genetic and environmental factors in allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, allergic conjunctivitis, or atopic dermatitis, by comparing the disease incidence in Korean adult monozygotic and dizygotic twins. This cross-sectional study utilized data from 1296 twin pairs, including 1052 monozygotic and 244 dizygotic twins, aged over 20 years, from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (2005–2014). The study utilized binomial and multinomial logistic regression models to compute odds ratios of disease concordance. The concordance rate (92%) of the presence or absence of atopic dermatitis in monozygotic twins was slightly higher than that in dizygotic twins (90.2%), which only had a borderline significance (p = 0.090). The concordance rates of other allergic diseases within monozygotic twins were lower compared to dizygotic twins (asthma, 94.3% vs. 95.1%; allergic rhinitis, 77.5% vs. 78.7%; allergic conjunctivitis, 90.6% vs. 91.8%), of which the differences were not statistically significant. Monozygotic twins had a higher proportion of cases in which both siblings had allergic diseases than dizygotic twins (asthma, 1.1% vs. 0.0%; allergic rhinitis, 6.7% vs. 3.3%; atopic dermatitis, 2.9% vs. 0.0%; allergic conjunctivitis, 1.5% vs. 0.0%), of which the differences were also not statistically significant. In conclusion, our results appear to indicate the relative importance of environmental factors over genetic factor in the development of allergic diseases in Korean adult monozygotic twins.

The purpose of the study is to identify the relationships between allergic disease, suicidal ideation, and plans among Korean adolescents. Additionally, we examined the mediating role of short sleep duration. We analyzed nationally representative cross-sectional data from the 12th to 14th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey; the final sample included 164,725 middle school–aged and high school–aged adolescents (mean age = 15.17 years, standard deviation =.13; 51.1% male). Allergic disease was a statistically significant risk factor for suicidal ideation (crude odds ratio [COR] = 1.284, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.246, 1.323]) and suicide plans (COR = 1.165, 95% CI = [1.108, 1.224]). Short sleep duration was a statistically significant mediator (p <.001). We advised school nurses to assess warning signs of poor sleep—including irritability, depression, sleep problems, poor concentration, and poor academic achievement—and that programs be created to improve sleep and mental health in adolescents with allergic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anhidrotic/hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (A/HED) is a congenital disorder characterized by anhidrosis/hypohidrosis and inadequate hair and dental dysplasia. Large‐scale case studies of patients with A/HED have already been conducted overseas, while there has been no large‐scale study, but only a few case reports in Japan. Furthermore, an epidemiological study of this disease has not been conducted in Japan to date. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of A/HED patients, the status of genetic aberrations and complications of A/HED in Japan. Initially, we conducted a physician‐initiated questionnaire survey of A/HED patients who visited medical institutions across Japan to investigate their backgrounds, clinical symptoms, genotypes, diagnostic methods and complications of A/HED. We also investigated the presence or absence of various allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis‐like skin manifestations, bronchial asthma and food allergies). Questionnaires were also obtained from 26 patients with ectodermal dysplasia (ED) who visited four medical institutions. We compared the incidence of allergic diseases in healthy controls in a similar study to that of patients. Twenty‐four of those patients were considered to have A/HED, of which 18 had a confirmed genetic diagnosis and were genotyped. All patients had anhidrosis or hypohidrosis, hair and dental dysplasia, and unique facial appearance; 23 patients had several cutaneous manifestations and seven patients had periorbital pigmentation. In addition, there was a significantly higher incidence of atopic dermatitis‐like cutaneous manifestations, bronchial asthma and food allergies in the A/HED patients than in healthy controls. We report the results from a questionnaire survey of 24 patients with A/HED. This is the first report of a large number of A/HED patients in Japan. This study clarifies the status of clinical diagnosis and genetic testing of A/HED patients in Japan, as well as the characteristics of their skin symptoms and allergic complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Observational studies have reported an association between allergic disease and mental health, but a causal relationship has not been established. Here, we use Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate a possible causal relationship between atopic disease and mental health phenotypes. Methods: The observational relationship between allergic disease and mental health was investigated in UK Biobank. The direction of causality was investigated with bidirectional two‐sample MR using summary‐level data from published genome‐wide association studies. A genetic instrument was derived from associated variants for a broad allergic disease phenotype to test for causal relationships with various mental health outcomes. We also investigated whether these relationships were specific to atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma or hayfever. Given the multiple testing burden, we applied a Bonferroni correction to use an individual test p‐value threshold of.0016 (32 tests). Results: We found strong evidence of an observational association between the broad allergic disease phenotype and depression (ORself‐report=1.45, 95% CI: 1.41–1.50, p = 3.6 × 10−130), anxiety (OR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.18–1.33, p = 6.5 × 10−13), bipolar disorder (ORself‐report=1.29, 95% CI: 1.12–1.47, p = 2.8 × 10−4) and neuroticism (β = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.36–0.41, p = 6.8 × 10−166). Similar associations were found between asthma, AD, hayfever individually with the mental health phenotypes, although the associations between AD and hayfever with bipolar disorder were weaker. There was little evidence of causality in either direction (all p‐values>.02). Conclusion: Using MR, we were unable to replicate most of the phenotypic associations between allergic disease and mental health. Any causal effects we detected were considerably attenuated compared with the phenotypic association. This suggests that most comorbidity observed clinically is unlikely to be causal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allergic diseases are frequently observed in children with Kawasaki disease (KD). However, the evidence supporting the association between KD and allergies has been conflicting. The objective of the current study is to examine the association between KD and allergic diseases.Methods: We conducted an electronic search using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane through 24 July 2021. The inclusion criteria consisted of studies that examined the prevalence of allergic diseases in children with a previous diagnosis of KD and in a comparison group. We pooled studies by using a random effects model. The effects of KD on the subsequent risk of allergic diseases were expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results: We included a total of four studies that assessed the effect of KD on asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis vs. non-KD children (KD individuals for asthma, four studies, n = 8,474; allergic rhinitis, four studies, n = 8,474; atopic dermatitis, three studies, n = 8,330). The overall prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis was 9.12, 27.63, and 6.55% among patients with previous KD. The meta-analysis showed a significantly increased risk of asthma (OR:1.437, CI: 1.067–1.937) and allergic rhinitis (OR: 1.726, CI: 1.291–2.307) in patients with KD, compared with the control groups. However, patients with KD did not have a significantly different level of risk of atopic dermatitis (OR: 1.243, 95% CI: 0.857–1.802).Conclusion: This meta-analysis supports that individuals with KD are more likely to have asthma and allergic rhinitis compared to controls.

Allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis, food allergy, eosinophilic esophagitis, asthma and allergic rhinitis), perhaps more than many other traditionally grouped disorders, share several overlapping inflammatory pathways and risk factors, though we are still beginning to understand how the relevant patient and environmental factors uniquely shape each disease. Precision medicine is the concept of applying multiple levels of patient-specific data to tailor diagnoses and available treatments to the individual; ideally, a patient receives the right intervention at the right time, in order to maximize effectiveness but minimize morbidity, mortality and cost. While precision medicine in allergy is in its infancy, the recent success of biologics, development of tools focused on large data set integration and improved sampling methods are encouraging and demonstrates the utility of refining our understanding of allergic endotypes to improve therapies. Some of the biggest challenges to achieving precision medicine in allergy are characterizing allergic endotypes, understanding allergic multimorbidity relationships, contextualizing the impact of environmental exposures (the "exposome") and ancestry/genetic risks, achieving actionable multi-omics integration, and using this information to develop adequately powered patient cohorts and refined clinical trials. In this paper, we highlight several recently developed tools and methods showing promise to realize the aspirational potential of precision medicine in allergic disease. We also outline current challenges, including exposome sampling and building the "knowledge network" with multi-omics integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In past 10 years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have gained scientific attention due to their importance in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases and their potential as biomarkers in liquid biopsies. They act as master post‐transcriptional regulators that control most cellular processes. As one miRNA can target several mRNAs, often within the same pathway, dysregulated expression of miRNAs may alter particular cellular responses and contribute, or lead, to the development of various diseases. In this review, we give an overview of the current research on miRNAs in allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. Specifically, we discuss how individual miRNAs function in the regulation of immune responses in epithelial cells and specialized immune cells in response to different environmental factors and respiratory viruses. In addition, we review insights obtained from experiments with murine models of allergic airway and skin inflammation and offer an overview of studies focusing on miRNA discovery using profiling techniques and bioinformatic modeling of the network effect of multiple miRNAs. In conclusion, we highlight the importance of research into miRNA function in allergy and asthma to improve our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of this heterogeneous group of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increase in childhood allergic disease in recent decades has coincided with increased folic acid intakes during pregnancy. Circulating unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) has been proposed as a biomarker of excessive folic acid intake.Objective: We aimed to determine if late-pregnancy serum UMFA and total folate concentrations were associated with allergic disease risk in the offspring at 1 y of age in a population at high risk of allergy.Methods: The cohort consisted of 561 mother-infant pairs from Western Australia. To be eligible the infant had to have a first-degree relative (mother, father, or sibling) with a history of medically diagnosed allergic disease. Maternal venous blood was collected between 36 and 40 wk of gestation. Serum UMFA was measured by LC-tandem MS. Serum total folate was determined using a microbiological method with chloramphenicol-resistant Lactobacillus rhamnosus as the test organism, and was collected between 36 and 40 wk of gestation. UMFA concentrations were measured by tandem MS using stable isotope dilution; folate concentrations were determined using the microbiological method with standardized kits. Infant allergic disease outcomes of medically diagnosed eczema, steroid-treated eczema, atopic eczema, IgE-mediated food allergy, allergen sensitization, and medically diagnosed wheeze were assessed at 1 y of age.Results: Median (IQR) concentrations for UMFA and serum folate were 1.6 (0.6-4.7) and 53.2 (32.6-74.5) nmol/L, respectively. Of the infants, 34.6% had medically diagnosed eczema, 26.4% allergen sensitization, and 14.9% had an IgE-mediated food allergy. In both adjusted and unadjusted models there was little evidence of association between UMFA or serum folate and any of the infant allergy outcomes.Conclusions: In this cohort of children at high risk of allergic disease there was no association between maternal UMFA or serum folate concentrations measured in late pregnancy and allergic disease outcomes at 1 y of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic diseases affect many people across the globe. They significantly impact on the quality of life of the people who are affected, creating personal and economic predicaments. Some of the most commonly diagnosed allergic diseases include atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and sinusitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is an allergic disease characterised by the inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by airborne allergens; it presents as itching, excessive lacrimation, discharge and pink eye. Usually it is associated with other allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Allergic conjunctivitis is further divided into acute, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC), and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC). Other conditions, such as eosinophilic oesophagitis, are on the rise and are being diagnosed across all continents except Africa. The diagnosis is primarily clinical. Antihistamines have been the mainstay of therapy for most allergic conditions, except for other conditions that require corticosteroids, or in severe allergic conditions such as anaphylaxis where antihistamines are ineffective as main therapy. It is important to consider first-versus secondgeneration options when treating allergic diseases, also bearing in mind the duration of therapy and any comorbid conditions that a patient might have. This article provides an overview of these conditions and their current management options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: International guidelines in asthma and allergy has been updated for COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic has caused dramatic changes in allergy and immunology services. However, it is not known whether specialty-specific recommendations for COVID-19 are followed by allergists. Objectives: By conducting this study, we aimed to determine the attitudes and experiences of adult/pediatric allergists on allergy management during COVID-19. Method: We used a 20-question survey to elicit data from allergists (residents and pediatric and adult allergists registered to the Turkish National Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology) across Turkey via e-mail. We analyzed the data statistically for frequency distributions and descriptive analysis. Results: A total of 183 allergists participated in the survey. Telemedicine was used for management of asthma (73%), allergic rhinitis (53%), atopic dermatitis (51%), chronic urticaria/angioedema (59%), drug hypersensitivity (45%), food allergy (48%), venom allergy (30%), anaphylaxis (22%), and hereditary angioedema (28%). Thirty-one percent of the respondents discontinued subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty-four percent of the physicians reported interruption of systemic steroid use in asthma patients, and 25% of the respondents discontinued biological therapy. Conclusions: Allergists in Turkey have been using telemedicine at a high rate during the COVID-19 pandemic for asthma and rhinitis. The continuation rate of SCIT was low while the discontinuation rate of biologicals and systemic steroid use in asthma was high in Turkey.Our study results and learning from the experiences of other countries and specialties may help to optimize allergy practice and compatibility with international guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innate lymphocytes (ILCs) are a unique class of immune effector cells, which has been widely concerned in the past decade, especially the role of type 2 innate lymphocyte (ILC2) in allergic diseases and autoimmune diseases. ILC2 is involved in the formation of mucosal immunity, repairing and remodeling of tissue damage, and plays an important role in fighting infection, regulating inflammation and maintaining immune homeostasis. ILC2 is involved in the inflammatory response of allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy and eosinophil esophagitis, which cannot be ignored. This paper reviews the research progress of ILC2 in allergic diseases [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy are characterized by epithelial barrier dysfunction and deregulated immune responses. Components of the circadian clock interact with critical elements of epithelial barrier function and immune responses, and regulate the biological processes on a 24-h cycle at steady state. This may represent an anticipatory defense response to day–night fluctuation of attack by noxious stimuli such as pathogens in the environment. This review will summarize clock control of epithelial barrier function and immune responses associated with allergic disease and offer novel insights and opportunities into how clock dysfunction impacts allergic disease. Importantly, perturbation of normal clock activity by genetic and environmental disturbances, such as chronic light cycle perturbations or irregular eating habits, deregulates epithelial barrier function and immune responses. This implies that the circadian clock is strongly linked to the fundamental biology of allergic disease, and that clock disruption can precipitate allergic disease by altering the epithelial barrier and immune functions. Given that contemporary lifestyles often involve chronic circadian disruptions such as shift work, we propose that lifestyle or therapeutic interventions that align the endogenous circadian clock with environmental cycles should be a part of the efforts to prevent or treat allergic disease in modern society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food allergies are common and estimated to affect 8% of children and 11% of adults in the United States. They pose a significant burden--physical, economic and social--to those affected. There is currently no available cure for food allergies. Emerging evidence suggests that the microbiome contributes to the development and manifestations of atopic disease. According to the hygiene hypothesis, children growing up with older siblings have a lower incidence of allergic disease compared with children from smaller families, due to their early exposure to microbes in the home. Research has also demonstrated that certain environmental exposures, such as a farming environment, during early life are associated with a diverse bacterial experience and reduced risk of allergic sensitization. Dysregulation in the homeostatic interaction between the host and the microbiome or gut dysbiosis appears to precede the development of food allergy, and the timing of such dysbiosis is critical. The microbiome affects food tolerance via the secretion of microbial metabolites (e.g., short chain fatty acids) and the expression of microbial cellular components. Understanding the biology of the microbiome and how it interacts with the host to maintain gut homeostasis is helpful in developing smarter therapeutic approaches. There are ongoing trials evaluating the benefits of probiotics and prebiotics, for the prevention and treatment of atopic diseases to correct the dysbiosis. However, for routine use of probiotics as an intervention for preventing allergic disease is not currently recommended. A new approach in microbial intervention is to attempt a more general modification of the gut microbiome, such as with fecal microbiota transplantation. Developing targeted bacterial therapies for food allergy may be promising for both the treatment and prevention of food allergy. Similarly, fecal microbiota transplantation is being explored as a potentially beneficial interventional approach. Overall, targeted bacterial therapies for food allergy may be promising for both the treatment and prevention of food allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunodeficiency syndromes (acquired/congenital/iatrogenic) are known to increase Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) risk, but the effects of allergic immune dysregulation and corticosteroids are poorly understood. We sought to assess the risk of HL associated with allergic disease (asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis) and corticosteroid use. We conducted a case-control study using the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) linked to hospital data. Multivariable logistic regression investigated associations between allergic diseases and HL after adjusting for established risk factors. Potential confounding or effect modification by steroid treatment were examined. One thousand two hundred thirty-six patients with HL were matched to 7416 control subjects. Immunosuppression was associated with 6-fold greater odds of HL (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 6.18; 95% CI, 3.04-12.57), with minimal change after adjusting for steroids. Any prior allergic disease or eczema alone was associated with 1.4-fold increased odds of HL (aOR, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.24-1.60] and 1.41 [95% CI, 1.20-1.65], respectively). These associations decreased but remained significant after adjustment for steroids (aOR, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.09-1.43] and 1.27 [95% CI, 1.08-1.49], respectively). There was no effect modification by steroid use. Previous steroid treatment was associated with 1.4-fold greater HL odds (aOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.20-1.59). In addition to established risk factors (immunosuppression and infectious mononucleosis), allergic disease and eczema are risk factors for HL. This association is only partially explained by steroids, which are associated with increased HL risk. These findings add to the growing evidence that immune system malfunction after allergic disease or immunosuppression is central to HL development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise is defined as unwanted sound. It may induce negative emotions and mental health problems and may even lead to increased suicide risk. However, the impact of noise exposure on environmental diseases and disease severity is not well understood. This study aimed to elucidate the association between night-time noise exposure and the prevalence of environmental diseases in South Korea. We conducted an analysis of the Environmental Disease Database provide by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) from 2013 to 2017. After spatially interpolating the noise data provided by the National Noise Information System (NNIS), night-time noise values in the district level were obtained by calculating the mean noise values at the administrative district level. The linear regression analyses were performed to test the association between the age-standardized prevalence ratio (SPR) and the night-time noise exposure in the district level. In areas with high night-time noise exposure (≥55 dB), the SPR for atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis were 1.0515 (95 % confidence interval [CI]:1.0508–1.0521) and 1.0202 (95 % CI:1.0201–1.0204), respectively, which were higher than those in the general population. The SPR for environmental diseases, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis, was 1.0104 (95 % CI:1.0103–1.0105). Additionally, a significant linear association was observed between the level of nocturnal noise exposure and the total hospitalization period for atopic dermatitis (β = 399.3, p < 0.01). We provide evidence of a significant association between night-time environmental noise and environmental diseases, particularly atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis. Furthermore, we observed a significant linear association between night-time noise exposure and the severity of atopic dermatitis. • Noise exposure can have negative health effects other than hearing loss. • We examined the potential association between night-time noise and allergic diseases. • Night-time noise has some impact on the occurrence and severity of allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergy is a growing global public health problem with a high socio-economic impact. The incidence of allergic diseases is increasing year by year, which has attracted more and more attention. In recent years, a number of epidemiological investigations and gut microbiota studies have shown that gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with an increased prevalence of various allergic diseases, such as food allergy, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. However, the underlying mechanisms are complex and have not been fully clarified. Metabolites are one of the main ways in which the gut microbiota functions. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the main metabolites of intestinal flora fermentation and are beneficial to human health. Studies have shown that SCFAs play an important role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and regulating immune responses by recognizing receptors and inhibiting histone deacetylases, and are key molecules involved in the occurrence and development of allergic diseases. In addition, research on the regulation of gut microbiota and the application of SCFAs in the treatment of allergic diseases is also emerging. This article reviews the clinical and experimental evidence on the correlation between SCFAs and allergic diseases and the potential mechanisms by which SCFAs regulate allergic diseases. Furthermore, SCFAs as therapeutic targets for allergic diseases are also summarized and prospected. • SCFAs are strongly associated with allergic diseases. • SCFAs are involved in immune regulation and allergic diseases through their receptors and inhibitory effects of HDACs. • Approaches targeting SCFAs and gut microbiota regulation may be valuable in allergic diseases prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergies are an increasing global public health concern, especially for children and people living in urban environments. Allergies impair the quality of life of those who suffer from them, and for this reason, alternatives for the treatment of allergic diseases or reduction in their symptoms are being sought. The main objective of this study was to compile the studies carried out on probiotics as a possible therapy for allergies. The most studied allergies on which probiotics have been shown to have a beneficial effect are rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. Most studies have studied the administration of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. in children and have shown beneficial effects, such as a reduction in hyperreactivity and inflammation caused by allergens and a decrease in cytokine release, among other beneficial effects. In the case of children, no clear beneficial effects were found in several studies, and the potential risk from the use of some opportunistic bacteria, such as probiotics, seems controversial. In the studies that reported beneficial results, these effects were found to make allergy symptoms less aggressive, thus reducing morbidity in allergy sufferers. The different effects of the same probiotic bacteria on different patients seem to reinforce the idea that the efficacy of probiotics is dependent on the microbial species or strain, its derived metabolites and byproducts, and the gut microbiota eubiosis of the patient. This study is relevant in the context of allergic diseases, as it provides a broader understanding of new alternatives for the treatment of allergies, both in children, who are the main sufferers, and adults, showing that probiotics, in some cases, reduce the symptoms and severity of such diseases.

Allergic diseases affect many people across the globe. They significantly impact on the quality of life of the people who are affected, creating personal and economic predicaments. Some of the most commonly diagnosed allergic diseases include atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and sinusitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is an allergic disease characterised by the inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by airborne allergens; it presents as itching, excessive lacrimation, discharge and pink eye. Usually it is associated with other allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Allergic conjunctivitis is further divided into acute, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC), and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effect of exposure to microorganisms on allergic diseases has been well studied. The protective effect of early food diversity against allergic diseases was previously shown in the PASTURE cohort study. The consumption of cheese, a food potentially rich in microbial diversity, deserves further examination. We aimed to evaluate whether cheese consumption is associated with allergic diseases. Methods: In the PASTURE study (birth cohort in 5 European countries), data on feeding practices, environmental factors, and allergic diseases were collected by questionnaires from birth to 6 years (N = 931). Cheese consumption at 18 months of age was quantified in terms of frequency and diversity (ie, number of consumed types among 6 types: hard pressed, semipressed, soft, blue, fresh cheese, and cheese from the farm). Multiple logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the effect of cheese consumption on atopic dermatitis (AD), food allergy (FA), allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic sensitization at 6 years after adjustment for confounders of atopy. Results: Cheese consumption (vs. nonconsumption) had a significant protective effect on AD (OR = 0.51 [0.29‐0.90], P = 0.02) and FA (OR = 0.32, [0.15‐0.71], P = 0.004), but no effect on atopic sensitization, allergic rhinitis, and asthma at 6 years. This effect on AD and FA may be related to the diversity of consumed cheeses (OR = 0.64 [0.48‐0.85] per cheese type, P = 0.002; OR = 0.55 [0.33‐0.92], P = 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: Although reverse causality cannot totally be ruled out, cheese diversity at 18 months had a protective effect against AD and FA at 6 years in addition to the protective effect of diversity of other foods. Data from the PASTURE cohort were used to evaluate the effect of cheese consumption at 18 months of age against allergic diseases up to 6 years of age Multivariate analyses adjusted for major confounders showed a protective effect of cheese consumption and variety against atopic dermatitis and food allergy, but not on allergic rhinitis, asthma, and sensitization to allergens. Reverse causality cannot be totally ruled out but is unlikely. Hypothesis: The variety of cheese consumed in early life could influence the immune system, through microbial components and by anti‐inflammatory compounds (short‐chain fatty acids) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To create an allergic disease risk factors scale score that would screen for the risk assessment of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis (AD) in children from 3 to 17 years.Methods: This case-control study, conducted between December 2015 and April 2016, enrolled 1,274 children. The allergic disease risk factors scale was created by combining environmental, exposure to toxics during pregnancy and breastfeeding and parental history of allergic diseases.Results: Playing on carpets, male gender, child's respiratory problems or history of eczema before the  age of 2 years, and humidity significantly increased the odds of allergies in the child. Maternal waterpipe smoking, maternal history of rhinitis, history of asthma in the mother or the father, along with the maternal drug intake or alcohol consumption during pregnancy significantly increased the odds of allergies in the child. There was a significant increase in allergy diseases per category of the allergic disease risk factors scale (p < 0.001 for trend). Scores ≤2.60 best represented control individuals, while scores > 5.31 best represented children with allergic diseases.Conclusion: Allergic diseases seem to be linked to several risk factors in our population of school children. Many environmental factors might be incriminated in these allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]