Search

Alessandro Fiocchi,1 R Sharon Chinthrajah,2 Ignacio J Ansotegui,3 Panida Sriaroon,4 S Shahzad Mustafa,5 Pranil Raut,6 Briana Cameron,6 Sachin Gupta,1 David M Fleischer7 1Bambino Gesù Childrens’ Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy; 2Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; 3Hospital Quironsalud Bizkaia, Bilbao, Spain; 4University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; 5Rochester Regional Health & University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA; 6Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA; 7Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USACorrespondence: David M Fleischer, Section Head, Allergy & Immunology, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado, 13123 East 16th Avenue, B518, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA, Tel +1-720-777-4393, Email David.Fleischer@childrenscolorado.orgBackground: The intrinsic link between food allergy and asthma is well-established, and comorbidity can exacerbate both conditions. Omalizumab, an anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody, has the biological plausibility to manage both conditions, but only a few small studies have assessed omalizumab in patients with comorbid asthma and food allergy.Patients and Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials (IA05 in children and 008/009 in adolescents/adults) and real-world observational studies (EXCELS and PROSPERO). For each study, patients with asthma were stratified by whether they had physician-reported food allergy, as per baseline characteristics data.Results: For patients with comorbid food allergy, there was evidence for increased atopy at baseline (numerically higher total IgE levels and atopic comorbidities). The collective body of evidence found that omalizumab consistently improved general and asthma-specific patient-centered outcomes (food allergy-specific outcomes were not available). For patients with asthma, omalizumab improved healthcare resource use (emergency room visits, hospitalizations, unscheduled doctor visits), quality of life (asthma-specific Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire), productivity (missed work/school days and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: Asthma), and asthma outcomes (asthma exacerbations and Asthma Control Test score) regardless of comorbid food allergy.Conclusion: There was no loss of omalizumab efficacy even though patients with both asthma and food allergy appeared to be generally more atopic. Omalizumab may be a viable management option for patients with these comorbidities.Clinical trial registration: NCT00079937; NCT01922037; NCT00252135.Plain Language Summary: Food allergy and asthma are linked and if you have both conditions then you can feel worse. There is a treatment available, called omalizumab, that helps people with asthma and helps people with food allergy, but it’s not clear if it can help people with both conditions. Here, we look at whether omalizumab can help people with bad to very bad asthma (also called moderate to severe asthma) who also have food allergy. We found that omalizumab improved many aspects of a person’s life, including whether they visited the emergency room, were admitted to hospital, their quality of life, whether they missed school or work, and whether their asthma improved. These improvements occurred in all people with moderate to severe asthma, whether they had food allergy or did not have food allergy. This suggests that omalizumab can help people with both conditions.Keywords: asthma, food allergy, food hypersensitivity, healthcare resource use, omalizumab, productivity, quality of life

Abstract Total protein levels in fish are widely used in health and welfare studies, providing a simple and accessible measure. However, the multifaceted role of blood proteins makes it sometimes challenging to link total protein content to specific health issues, while specific protein fractions may offer more precise insights into fish biology and health, particularly in farmed fish species where such data is often lacking. Data were gathered from two experiments involving Dicentrarchus labrax and Sparus aurata, key species in European marine aquaculture. The aim was (1) to assess how different globulin fractions contribute to total protein content in blood and (2) how these contributions vary across different sampling times in healthy animals. In D. labrax, the beta1 globulin fraction emerged as the major contributor (34.16%), followed by albumin and alpha2 globulins (18.24% and 16.41%, respectively). In contrast, pre-albumins and alpha1 fractions had the least contribution (5.49% and 7.71%). S. aurata exhibited albumin as the primary contributor (23.39%), followed by beta1 and alpha2 globulins (19.71% and 19.15%, respectively), with gamma and alpha1 fractions contributing the least (5.34% and 8.63%). Notably, the study revealed relatively stable contributions of globulin fractions to total proteins within both species, albeit with minor variations over time, potentially linked to environmental and individual factors. Furthermore, larger fish displayed higher total protein levels. This research underscores the need for further investigation into the diverse factors influencing globulin contributions to total proteins, ultimately enhancing health and welfare monitoring for farmed fish species.

Background: Precautionary Allergen (“may contain”) Labelling (PAL) is used by industry to communicate potential risk to food-allergic individuals posed by unintended allergen presence (UAP). In 2014, the World Allergy Organization (WAO) highlighted that PAL use was increasing, but often applied inconsistently and without regulation — which reduces its usefulness to consumers with food allergy and those purchasing food for them. WAO proposed the need for a regulated, international framework to underpin application of PAL. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations convened an expert consultation to address the issue of PAL, the outputs of which are now being considered by the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL). Objectives: To summarise the latest data to inform the application of PAL in a more systematic way, for implementation into global food standards. Methods: A non-systematic review of issues surrounding precautionary labelling and food allergens in pre-packaged products. Results: Approximately, 100 countries around the world have legislation on the declaration of allergenic ingredients. Just a few have legislation on UAP. Given the risks that UAP entails, non-regulated PAL creates inconvenience in real life due to its unequal, difficult interpretation by patients. The attempts made so far to rationalize PAL present lights and shadows. Conclusions: At a time when CCFL is considering the results of the FAO/WHO Expert Consultation 2020–2023, we summarise the prospects to develop an effective and homogeneous legislation at a global level, and the areas of uncertainty that might hinder international agreement on a regulated framework for PAL of food allergens.

Abstract Patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) are used to assess a patient's health status at a particular point in time. They are essential in the development of person‐centred care. This paper reviews studies performed on PROMs for assessing AR and asthma control, in particular VAS scales that are included in the app MASK‐air® (Mobile Airways Sentinel networK) for asthma and rhinitis. VASs were initially developed on paper and pencil and tested for their criterion validity, cut‐offs and responsiveness. Then, a multicentric, multinational, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomised control trial (DB‐PC‐RCT) using an electronic VAS form was carried out. Finally, with the development of MASK‐air® in 2015, previously validated VAS questions were adapted to the digital format and further methodologic evaluations were performed. VAS for asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, work and EQ‐5D are included in the app. Additionally, two control‐medication scores for allergic symptoms of asthma (e‐DASTHMA) were validated for their criterion validity, cut‐offs and responsiveness.

Abstract Objective We present the cases of two sisters, both harboring the same ALDH18A1 gene mutations, who presented with a complex clinical phenotype characterized by spastic paraparesis with ataxia, epileptic encephalopathy, severe psychomotor deficits, and behavioral abnormalities. Methods Case description of two sisters with ALDH18A1 gene mutations. Results The older patient, a 12‐year‐old girl, exhibited spastic paraparesis with ataxia, microcephaly, facial dysmorphisms, and severe intellectual disability, with an absence of verbal language. An electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed marked spike‐and‐wave activation during sleep (SWAS), although no clinically documented seizures were observed. The younger sister, who was 9 years old, displayed a similar clinical presentation, including spastic paraparesis with ataxia, microcephaly, dysmorphisms, however, she displayed slightly more severe intellectual deficits and polymorphic seizures. EEG revealed a SWAS pattern in this case. Magnetic resonance imaging scans in both cases showed only a thin corpus callosum. Whole exome sequencing unveiled the presence of two likely pathogenic variants in compound heterozygosity within the ALDH18A1 gene. Specifically, these variants included the splice site variant c.88 + 1c.88+1G>A of paternal origin and the variant c.1364c.1364T>C (p.Leu455Ser) of maternal origin. Both sisters displayed normal blood levels of ammonia, ornithine, citrulline, arginine, and other amino acids. Interpretation These findings were compatible with ALDH18A1‐related HSP complicated with a clinical and EEG pattern reminiscent of DEE‐SWAS. We present the first report of DEE‐SWAS in ALDH18A1‐related HSP, expanding the clinical manifestations of this complex neurodevelopmental condition.

Theresa W Guilbert,1 Alberto Tolcachier,2 Alessandro G Fiocchi,3 Constance H Katelaris,4,5 Wanda Phipatanakul,6,7 Philippe Begin,8 Inés de Mir,9 Arman Altincatal,10 Rebecca Gall,11 Olivier Ledanois,12 Amr Radwan,11 Juby A Jacob-Nara,13 Yamo Deniz,11 Paul J Rowe13 1Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; 2Center for Allergy and Respiratory Diseases, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 3Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy; 4Department of Medicine, Campbelltown Hospital, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia; 5Immunology & Allergy Unit, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 6Department of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; 7Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; 8Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada; 9Pediatric Pulmonary Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; 10Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, USA; 11Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA; 12Sanofi, Paris, France; 13Sanofi, Bridgewater, NJ, USACorrespondence: Theresa W Guilbert, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and University of Cincinnati, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA, Tel +1 513-636-6771, Email theresa.guilbert@cchmc.orgPurpose: Dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody, blocks the shared receptor component for interleukins-4/-13, key and central drivers of type 2 inflammation in multiple diseases. This post hoc analysis of the Phase 3 LIBERTY ASTHMA VOYAGE study (NCT02948959) evaluated the efficacy of dupilumab in children aged 6 to 11 years with moderate-to-severe asthma with a type 2 inflammatory phenotype (blood eosinophil count ≥ 150 cells/μL or fractional exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO] ≥ 20 ppb) and a history of 1, 2, or ≥ 3 prior exacerbations. The impact of baseline type 2 biomarker levels on the efficacy of dupilumab in this population was also investigated.Patients and Methods: Patients were stratified by the number of exacerbations in the prior year (1, 2, or ≥ 3) and level of FeNO or blood eosinophil count at baseline. Endpoints included rate of severe exacerbations, percentage of non-exacerbators, and change from baseline in both lung function parameters (pre- and post-bronchodilator [BD] percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (ppFEV1) and ppFEV1/forced vital capacity [FVC] ratio) and Asthma Control Questionnaire 7 Interviewer-Administered (ACQ-7-IA) score.Results: A total of 350 patients were included in this analysis. Across patients with 1, 2, or ≥ 3 prior exacerbations and different levels of type 2 biomarkers, dupilumab reduced the risk of severe asthma exacerbations vs placebo by 53.0– 96.0% and improved both pre-BD ppFEV1 and pre-BD FEV1/FVC ratio at Week 52. Dupilumab led to significant reductions in ACQ-7-IA scores in all groups of patients by Week 52.Conclusion: In children with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma with a type 2 phenotype, dupilumab consistently reduced the risk of asthma exacerbations, improved lung function, and reduced ACQ-7-IA scores, regardless of exacerbation history. Keywords: pediatric asthma, type 2 asthma, lung function, asthma control, biologics, anti-interleukin-4 and -13

Additive manufacturing of architected materials, particularly lattice or porous structures, has garnered significant interest in recent years due to its ability to enhance weight-to-strength performance, load-bearing capabilities, and superior energy absorption. Integrating these structures with shape memory alloys (SMAs) introduces unique functionality, enabling them to revert to their original shape after unloading. This paper offers a comprehensive review of the capabilities and challenges associated with additively manufactured architected SMAs. Several examples are presented to illustrate the functional and thermomechanical performance of these structures. Additionally, potential applications are examined, and future trends in this innovative field are explored.

The delicate balance between discrimination and generalization of responses is crucial for survival in our ever-changing environment. In particular, it is important to understand how stimulus discrimination affects the level of stimulus generalization. For example, when we use non-differential training for Pavlovian eyeblink conditioning to investigate generalization of cerebellar-related eyelid motor responses, we find generalization effects on amount, amplitude and timing of the conditioned responses. However, it is unknown what the generalization effects are following differential training. We trained mice to close their eyelids to a 10 kHz tone with an air-puff as the reinforcing stimulus (CS+), while alternatingly exposing them to a tone frequency of either 4 kHz, 9 kHz or 9.5 kHz without the air-puff (CS−) during the training blocks. We tested the generalization effects during the expression of the responses after the training period with tones ranging from 2 kHz to 20 kHz. Our results show that the level of generalization tended to positively correlate with the difference between the CS+ and the CS− training stimuli. These effects of generalization were found for the probability, amplitude but not for the timing of the conditioned eyelid responses. These data indicate the specificity of the generalization effects following differential versus non-differential training, highlighting the relevance of discrimination learning for stimulus generalization.

Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most common presentations of food allergy in early childhood. Management of CMA involves individualized avoidance of cow's milk and other mammalian milk and foods containing these. Optimal elimination of cow's milk avoidance includes: label reading; information about safe and nutritious substitute foods; appropriate choice of infant formula or a plant-based food; establishing tolerance to baked milk and monitoring nutritional intake and growth. Substitute formulas are divided into soy formula (not hydrolyzed), milk-based extensively hydrolyzed formulas, rice based extensive, and partially hydrolyzed formulas and amino acid-based formulas. The use of other mammalian milks is not recommended for the management of cow's milk allergy due to a high level of cross-reactivity and nutritional concerns. For toddlers who are eating well, children, and adults, a suitable plant-based beverage may be a suitable alternative to a specialized formula, following careful nutritional considerations. Families need to be instructed on finding suitable nutritious foods and how to prepare suitable meals at home. Individuals with CMA also need to know how to identify and treat acute severe reactions.

Background: Type 2 inflammation is the principal determinant of asthma in children, and it leads to the downstream activation of eosinophils (EOS), the production of immunoglobulin-E (IgE), and increased levels of fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Dupilumab received the approval for the treatment of uncontrolled severe Type 2 asthma in children. Objective: The aim of this analysis was to calculate the Type 2 severe asthma paediatric population who would be eligible for treatment with dupilumab in Italy and characterize them by expected biomarker status. Methods: The calculation of the dupilumab-eligible population employed a two-phase approach: 1) estimating the total number of children aged 6–11 years with uncontrolled severe asthma; and 2) stratifying the severe uncontrolled asthma population, based on appropriate biomarker levels, thus identifying patients eligible for treatment with dupilumab. The VOYAGE study provided the data for this analysis. Results: The two-phase approach utilizing VOYAGE data revealed that the average number of paediatric patients with uncontrolled severe asthma was N = 1007. Stratification of these patients, as per VOYAGE data, indicated that the majority (N = 740; 73.5%) would have ≥2 elevated biomarkers, and over one-third patients (N = 434, 43.1%) would exhibit simultaneously elevated levels of EOS, FeNO and IgE. Of the paediatric patients, N = 864 were identified as eligible to dupilumab treatment, constituting 85.8% of the target population. Notably, nearly half eligible patients (N = 454) displayed elevated levels of both EOS and FeNO biomarkers, while the substantial majority (81.1%) exhibited at least an increase of EOS levels (N = 817). Patients with increased FeNO levels without a concurrent increase in EOS were less frequent (N = 47; 5.4% of the eligible population). Conclusion: The simultaneous testing of multiple biomarkers during baseline patient assessment and disease follow-up is highly recommended. Utilizing cost-effective tests, physicians can estimate the prevalence of severe Type 2 asthma, categorize patients into distinct phenotypes (eosinophilic, allergic, or mixed), and consequently identify and prescribe the most suitable therapeutic interventions. This approach also facilitates the ongoing evaluation and adjustment of the treatment strategies based on individual patient responses.

Additive manufacturing has revolutionized the creation of complex and intrinsic structures, offering tailored designs for enhanced product performance across various applications. Architected cellular or lattice structures exemplify this innovation, customizable for specific mechanical or functional requirements, boasting advantages such as reduced mass, heightened load-bearing capabilities, and superior energy absorption. Nonetheless, their single-use limitation arises from plastic deformation resulting from localized yield damage or plastic buckling. Incorporating NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) presents a solution, enabling structures to recover their original shape post-unloading. In this study, an NiTi architected metastructure, featuring auxetic behavior and a negative Poisson's ratio, was designed and fabricated via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The samples exhibit promising superelastic performance with recoverable deformation strains at room temperature. Comprehensive characterization processes evaluated the functional performance of the fabricated metastructures. The metastructure geometry promoted microstructure formation primarily along the wall thickness. Cycling compression tests, conducted at three applied force levels, demonstrated stable cyclic behavior with up to 3.8 % reversible deformation strain, devoid of plastic buckling or yielding damage. Furthermore, the NiTi metastructures displayed robust energy absorption capacity and damping behavior, underscoring their potential for reusable energy dissipators in various industries including aerospace, automotive, construction, and etc.

Theresa W Guilbert,1 Kevin R Murphy,2 Eckard Hamelmann,3 Kristie R Ross,4 Atul Gupta,5 Alessandro Fiocchi,6 Changming Xia,7 Rebecca Gall,7 Olivier Ledanois,8 Amr Radwan,7 Juby A Jacob-Nara,9 Paul J Rowe,9 Yamo Deniz7 1Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; 2Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA; 3Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Center Bethel, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany; 4UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH, USA; 5King’s College Hospital, London, UK; 6Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy; 7Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA; 8Sanofi, Paris, France; 9Sanofi, Bridgewater, NJ, USACorrespondence: Theresa W Guilbert, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA, Tel +1 513-636-6771, Email theresa.guilbert@cchmc.orgBackground: Severe, uncontrolled asthma and asthma exacerbations in children are associated with abnormal lung function and airway development, and increased risk of chronic obstructive lung disease in adulthood. The rationale for this post hoc analysis was to explore the relationship between changes in asthma exacerbation rates and lung function in children treated with dupilumab.Methods: This post hoc analysis included children aged 6 to 11 years with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe type 2 asthma (blood eosinophils ≥ 150 cells/μL or fractional exhaled nitric oxide ≥ 20 ppb) who received dupilumab or placebo in the phase 3 LIBERTY ASTHMA VOYAGE study (NCT02948959). Endpoints were the proportion of patients achieving clinically meaningful improvements (≥ 5% or ≥ 10%) in pre-bronchodilator percent-predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (ppFEV1) by Week 12, annualized severe asthma exacerbation rates from Week 12– 52, and mean change from baseline in ppFEV1 to Week 12.Results: At Week 12 of VOYAGE, 141/236 (60%) of children treated with dupilumab and 57/114 (50%) of children receiving placebo showed improvements of ≥ 5% in ppFEV1; 106/236 (45%) children receiving dupilumab and 36/114 (32%) receiving placebo achieved improvements in ppFEV1 ≥ 10%. During the Week 12– 52 treatment period, dupilumab vs placebo significantly reduced severe exacerbation rates in all subgroups by 52– 60% (all P< 0.05). Dupilumab treatment resulted in rapid and sustained improvements in ppFEV1 (Week 12 least squares mean difference [95% CI] vs placebo: 3.54 [0.30, 6.78] percentage points; P=0.03) in children who achieved improvements of ≥ 5%.Conclusion: Dupilumab vs placebo significantly improved pre-bronchodilator ppFEV1, with a higher proportion of patients achieving a clinically meaningful response at Week 12. Dupilumab also significantly reduced severe exacerbation rates, independent of pre-bronchodilator ppFEV1 response at Week 12.Trial Registration: NCT02948959.Keywords: asthma, children, dupilumab, exacerbations, lung function, moderate-to-severe asthma, percent-predicted FEV1, uncontrolled asthma

Millimeter-wave communications (mmWave) are gaining significant attention for their diverse applications across various domains, being key for the development of ultra-fast, low-latency wireless systems. This paper surveys the main application use cases where mmWave technologies can be adopted, focusing not only on scenarios where they are used for communication purposes, but also on other applications such as imaging and sensing. Each use case is described and characterized in order to provide a general overview of the foreseen mmWave application scenarios. The document also surveys existing standardization activities regarding mmWave frequencies across several application areas and discusses recent works regarding mmWave propagation, including both channel modeling as well as electromagnetic field exposure assessment and dosimetry, in different application domains. The document serves as a reference for a quick overview of all use cases where mmWave will have a practical impact.

Abstract Background Multiple Breath washout (MBW) represents an important tool to detect early a possible pulmonary exacerbation especially in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) disease. Lung clearance index (LCI) is the most commonly reported multiple breath washout (MBW) index and in the last years was used as management measure for evaluation. Our aim was to analyze clinical utility of LCI index variability in pulmonary exacerbation in CF after intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy. Methods A single-center study was conducted at CF Unit of Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital among hospitalized > 3 years patients for pulmonary exacerbations and treated with antibiotic IV treatment for 14 days. MBW and spirometry were evaluated within 72 h of admission to hospital and at the end of hospitalization. Descriptive analysis was conducted and correlations between quantitative variables were investigated. Results Fifty-seven patients (M22/F35) with an average age 18.56 (± 8.54) years were enrolled. LCI2.5 was significantly reduced at the end of antibiotic treatment in both pediatric and adult populations with an average reduction of -6,99%; 37/57 patients denoted an improvement, 20/57 are stable or worsened in LCI2.5 values and 4/57 (7.02%) had a significant deterioration (> 15%) at end of treatment. On the contrary a significative elevation of FEV1 and FVC were found, respectively of + 7,30% and of + 5,46%. A positive good correlection among LCI 2.5 and Scond (rho = + 0,615, p = 0.000) and LCI 2.5 and Sacin (rho = + 0,649, p = 0.000) and a negative strong correlation between FEV1 and LCI 2.5 were found in post treatment period. A similar modification of LCI 2.5 and FEV1 was noticed in both adult and pediatric population. Conclusions LCI may have a role in the routine clinical care of both adult and pediatric CF patients as a good tool to assess response to IV antibiotic end-therapy in the same way as FEV1.

Abstract The large use of fish meal/fish oil in carnivorous fish feeds is the main concern regarding environmental sustainability of aquaculture. Here, we evaluated the effects of an innovative diet, designed to be (1) environmentally sustainable by lowering the marine protein content while being (2) cost effective by using sustainable alternative raw materials with acceptable cost and produced on an industrial scale, on growth performance, gut microbiota composition, health and welfare of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a key species of the Mediterranean marine aquaculture, reared in sea cages. Results show that the specific growth rate of fish fed the low marine protein diet was significantly lower than those fed conventional diet (0.67% vs 0.69%). Fatty acid profile of fillets from fish fed a low marine protein diet presented significant lower n-6 and higher n-3 content when compared to conventional ones. Then, a significant increase in the abundance of Vibrio and reduction of Photobacterium were found in the gut of fish fed with the low marine protein diet but effects on sea bass health needs further investigation. Finally, no major health and welfare alterations for fish fed the low marine protein diet were observed, combined with a potential slight benefit related to humoral immunity. Overall, these results suggest that despite the low marine protein diet moderately affects growth performance, it nevertheless may enhance environmental and economic sustainability of the sea bass aquaculture.