Work-related Asthma

The precise and reversible detection of hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) at high humidity condition, a malodorous and harmful volatile sulfur compound, is essential for the self-assessment of oral diseases, halitosis, and asthma. However, the selective and reversible detection of trace concentrations of H2 S (≈0.1 ppm) in high humidity conditions (exhaled breath) is challenging because of irreversible H2 S adsorption/desorption at the surface of chemiresistors. The study reports the synthesis of Fe-doped CuO hollow spheres as H2 S gas-sensing materials via spray pyrolysis...

Introduction According to disability-adjusted life years (DALY), bronchial asthma (BA) is rated 28th among the top causes of disease burden globally and among the most significant reasons for years lived with disability. Internationally, 300 million people have asthma, and another 100 million individuals may develop it by 2025. In Al-Baha City, where environmental factors such as dust and pollen levels can exacerbate asthma symptoms, understanding and addressing the health-related quality of life of asthmatic patients is crucial...

Asthma impacts over 300 million patients globally, with significant health implications, especially in cases of its allergic subtype. The disease is characterized by a complex interplay of airway inflammation and immune responses, often mediated by TH 2 cell-related cytokines. In this study, we engineered lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to specifically deliver therapeutic siRNA via the transferrin receptor to T cells. Strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) was employed for the conjugation of transferrin ligands to PEGylated lipids in the LNPs, with the goal of enhancing cellular uptake and gene knockdown...

Exposure to disinfectants and cleaning products (DCP) is now a well-established risk factor for work-related asthma (WRA). However, questions remain on the specific causal agents and pathophysiological mechanisms. Few studies have also reported an association between DCP and rhinitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This review discusses the recent evidence pertaining to airway diseases attributable to occupational exposure to DCP. In contrast to other agents, the incidence of WRA due to DCP has increased over time...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The intersection of food insecurity among those with food allergy is a growing public health concern. Both food allergy and food insecurity have profound implications on health, social, and economic outcomes. The interaction of social determinants of health, poverty, racism, housing insecurity, and access to care has direct impact on individuals with food allergy. RECENT FINDINGS: There is increasing evidence that universal screening for food insecurity is vital in the routine care of patients with food allergy...

Rationale: Bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) are abundantly expressed in airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), which have been recognized as promising targets for bitter agonists to initiate relaxation and thereby prevent excessive airway constriction as the main characteristic of asthma. However, due to the current lack of tested safe and potent agonists functioning at low effective concentrations, there has been no clinically approved TAS2R-based drug for bronchodilation in asthma therapy. This study thus aimed at exploring TAS2R agonists with bronchodilator potential by BitterDB database analysis and cell stiffness screening...

In this edition of Rhinology we feature the work of Connell and colleagues from Australia on chronic rhinosinusitis that describes an interesting new pipeline to characterize the bacterial composition of microbiota. We are constantly exposed to a multitude of micro-organisms in the environment and our immune system has the important task discerning and fighting off potential threats. In most people the immune system is doing its job properly and prevents anything untoward from happening. On occasion, a microbe slips by the first (innate) level of defense and we might suffer from an infection...

Background: Pogostemon heyneanus leaves infusions are relevant in ethnopharmacology for treating colds, coughs, headaches, and asthma. Purpose: The essential oil chemical composition of a Pogostemon heyneanus specimen was monthly monitored from October 2021 to July 2022 to evaluate the climatic influences on its yield and chemical composition and antinociceptive, andanti-inflammatory properties. Methods: The leaves, collected monthly over a 10-month period, were submitted to hydrodistillation. The oils obtained were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer and gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector...

Occupational asthma covers a group of work-related diseases whose clinical manifestations include airway hyperresponsiveness and airflow limitation. Although the chemical respiratory allergy (CRA) induced by Low Molecular Weight (LMW) sensitizers is a major concern, especially in terms of the regulatory framework, to date there are no methods available for preclinically addressing this toxicological outcome, as its mechanistic background is not fully understood at molecular or cellular levels. This paper proposes a mechanistic study applying New Approach Methodologies (NAM) of the pro-inflammatory and functional effects triggered by LMW respiratory allergens in different respiratory tract cell lines, including bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B), lung fibroblast (MRC-5), and endothelial cells (EA...

OBJECTIVE: Sex workers can be disadvantaged in terms of overall health due to challenging living and working conditions. This research aimed to evaluate the health status and experiences related to sexually transmitted infections (STDs) of unregistered transgender sex workers in Turkey. DESIGN: It employed a phenomenological qualitative research design. SITE: Data were collected in Istanbul between March 2021 and November 2021. PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected through in-depth interviews involving 24 people (19 sex workers and 5 physicians)...

BACKGROUND: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in intestinal contents may influence immune function, while less is known about SCFAs in blood plasma. The aims were to investigate the relation between infants' and maternal plasma SCFAs, as well as SCFAs in mother's milk, and relate SCFA concentrations in infant plasma to subsequent sensitisation and atopic disease. METHODS: Infant plasma (N = 148) and corresponding mother's milk and plasma were collected four months postpartum...

PURPOSE: Severe asthma affects 5 to 10% of asthmatics and accounts for a large part of asthma-related morbidity and costs. The determinants of asthma severity are poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that asthma severity was associated with 1) atopy and allergy and 2) markers associated with environmental exposure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from the FASE-CPHG study, a cross-sectional, observational, multicenter investigation, were analyzed to identify markers associated with asthma severity...

The methacholine challenge test (MCT) is a standard evaluation method of assessing airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and its severity, and has significant clinical value in the diagnosis and treatment of bronchial asthma. A consensus working group consisting of experts from the Pulmonary Function and Clinical Respiratory Physiology Committee of the Chinese Association of Chest Physicians, the Task Force for Pulmonary Function of the Chinese Thoracic Society, and the Pulmonary Function Group of Respiratory Branch of the Chinese Geriatric Society jointly developed this consensus...

The findings of our clinic-based study substantiate historical sex difference trends in occupational asthma distribution and exposures and suggest increased disease severity and a trend to a longer time to diagnosis in men compared to women.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Physalis angulata L., a traditional Chinese medicine called "Kuzhi" in China, was used traditionally to treat liver diseases (eg. icterus, hepatitis) as well as malaria, asthma, and rheumatism. AIM OF THE STUDY: Our study aimed to investigate the withanolides with anti-hepatic fibrosis effect from P. angulate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Withanolides were obtained from the EtOH extract of P. angulate by bioassay-molecular networking analysis-guided isolation using column chromatography and normal/reversed-phase semipreparative HPLC...

OBJECTIVE: Schools are an important setting because students spend much of their time in school and engage in physical activity during the school day that could exacerbate asthma symptoms. Our objective is to understand the barriers and facilitators to implementing an experimental community health worker-delivered care coordination program for students with asthma within the context of the West Philadelphia Controls Asthma study. METHODS: Surveys (n = 256) and semi-structured interviews (n = 41) were completed with principals, teachers, nurses, and community health workers from 21 public and charter schools in West Philadelphia between January 2019 and September 2021...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To describe recent findings in endotyping occupational asthma by addressing the role of specific biomarkers. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies on occupational asthma endotypes have focused on immune and inflammatory patterns associated with different occupational exposures to sensitizers or irritants.Sputum neutrophilia has been found in 58.5% patients with occupational asthma caused by high molecular weight (HMW) agents, and work-related dysphonia in patients with occupational asthma was described as associated with sputum neutrophilia too...

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic ailment triggered by immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reactions to allergens. Generally, AR is accompanied by asthma and conjunctivitis. The risk factors of AR include both inhalant and occupational allergens and genetic factors. Although AR is not a life-threatening condition, it poses a significant risk of morbidity and hampers work-related performance. Currently, the diagnosis of AR is based on clinical history and physical examination of the patients. Furthermore, several laboratory tests such as skin pricking test (SPT), nasal allergen challenge (NAC), and computed tomography (CT) are also recommended in some cases...

BACKGROUND: Exposure to dust in textile mills adversely affects workers' health. We collected epidemiological data on textile workers suffering from respiratory diseases and assessed work absence associated with illnesses in Faisalabad, Pakistan. METHODS: We recruited 206 workers using multistage sampling from 11 spinning mills in Faisalabad, Pakistan. The data were collected using 2-week health diaries and face-to-face interviews. The data pertains to socio-demographics, occupational exposures, the state of the workers' health, and other attributes...

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients are considered to be at high risk for contracting latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of LTBI and its associated factors among diabetic patients attending primary care clinics in Terengganu state, Malaysia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among diabetic patients attending 11 health clinics in the Terengganu region from June 2017 to November 2018. The selected participants were administered a tuberculin skin test (TST)...