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Most chronic diseases, caused by lifestyle factors, appear to be linked to inflammation. Inflammation is activated mechanistically, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a significant mediator. NF-κB, one of the most studied transcription factors, was first identified in the nucleus of B lymphocytes almost three decades ago. This protein has a key function in regulating the human immune system, and its dysregulation has been linked to many chronic diseases including asthma, cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, and neurological disorders. Physiologically, many cytokines have been discovered that activate NF-κB. Pathologically, environmental carcinogens such as cigarette smoke, radiation, bacteria, and viruses can also activate this transcription factor. NF-κB activation controls expression of more than 500 genes, and most are deleterious to the human body when dysregulated. More than 70,000 articles have been published regarding NF-κB. This review emphasizes the upside and downside of NF-κB in normal and disease conditions and the ways in which we can control this critical transcription factor in patients.

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, usually represented by chronic airway inflammation leading to variable respiratory symptoms and variable expiratory airflow limitation. Vitamin D has been shown to have several effects on the innate and adaptive immune systems that might modulate the severity of asthma exacerbations. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is common in asthma patient, which causes frequent asthma attacks, respiratory tract infections, reduced lung function, poor asthma control, poor steroid responsiveness and severe asthma exacerbations. Objective: To determine serum vitamin D levels among asthmatic patients and to correlate them with the severity of bronchial asthma. Methods: A total of 50 patients with stable bronchial asthma between 18 to 60 years ages groups were included in the study. This Observational Study was conducted from April 2022 to December 2022 in Department of Respiratory medicine, Kamla Nehru Chest Hospital, Jodhpur. After taking proper clinical history and system examination, spirometry was done in each patient to obtain forced expiratory volume (FEV1), FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio for determination of the severity of asthma. Asthma control was assessed by using of asthma control questionnaire. Serum vitamin D level and absolute eosinophils count were measured in all participants. Results: In our study out of 50 cases, male patients (n=24) and female (n=26) which Association of Allergic history in Group with Severity of asthma was statistically significant (p=0.0240) and mean Vitamin-D Levels (ng/ml) was significantly higher in Mild [29.2182± 6.0880] compared to Moderate [23.3583± 5.2467] and Severe [14.9067± 5.1568] (p<0.0001). The mean Vitamin D Levels was significantly higher in "well controlled" [27.9071 ± 6.3191] compared to "partly controlled" [22.8706 ± 6.8941] and "uncontrolled" [17.2158 ± 7.0243] (p=0.0002). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are highly prevalent in asthma patients in which prolonged duration of illness, frequently asthma exacerbation and poor asthma control. Hence, vitamin D is a useful for prevention and treatment of bronchial asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Role of Lung Volumes, Airway Resistance and Diffusion in Differentiating Asthma With Incomplete Reversibility (AIR) From COPD" by Isha Garg, K. C. Agarwal and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Association of Asthma With OSA: Alternate Overlap Syndrome" by Narendra Umashankar and colleagues is presented.