Immunology and allergy clinics of North America
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Immunol Allergy Clin North Am · Nov 2010
ReviewEffects of atypical infections with Mycoplasma and Chlamydia on asthma.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae are atypical bacteria that are frequently found in patients with asthma. A definitive diagnosis of infection is often difficult to obtain because of limitations with sampling and detection. ⋯ In addition, there is mounting evidence from human studies suggesting that atypical bacterial infections contribute to asthma exacerbations, chronic asthma, and disease severity. The role of antimicrobials directed against atypical bacteria in asthma is still under investigation.
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Although allergic contact dermatitis (CD) was previously thought to occur less frequently in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), more recent studies show that it is at least as common in patients with AD as in the general population, if not more so. Thus, patients with AD should be considered for patch testing (PT). Although conflicting data exist, the severity of the AD may impact the PT results. ⋯ Hand eczema and compositae allergy are more common in atopic patients. Reassuringly, PT is positive for topical antiseptic and corticosteroids in only a small subset of patients. When personal products are patch tested, emollients should be included in the series.
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The interaction between upper and lower airway disease has been recognized for centuries, with recent studies showing a direct link between upper and airway inflammation in allergic patients. The mechanisms underlying the interaction between nasal and bronchial inflammation have primarily been studied in allergic disease, showing systemic immune activation after allergen inhalation, induction of inflammation at a distance, and a negative impact of nasal inflammation on bronchial homeostasis. Therefore, allergic rhinitis and asthma are considered part of the global airway allergy syndrome. ⋯ Chronic sinus disease with or without nasal polyps are frequently found in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with improvement of bronchial symptoms and respiratory function by adequate medical and surgical therapy for rhinosinusitis. The resolution of sinonasal inflammation and hence sinonasal functions by medical or surgical treatment is considered responsible for the beneficial effect of treatment on bronchial disease. This article aims at providing a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the interaction between common cold, acute and chronic rhinosinusitis, and lower airway biology.
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Anaphylactic reactions to neuromuscular blocking agents during general anesthesia constitute a major cause of concern and a great source of debate among anesthesiologists. The authors' recent investigations, taking the striking differences of incidence between Norway and Sweden as the point of departure, have provided valuable insights into the pathogenetic mechanisms and the highly uneven geographical distribution of these rare, but dramatic and notoriously unpredictable, events. ⋯ This new knowledge led to the withdrawal of the drug from the Norwegian market and to the examination of the role of pholcodine-containing drugs in other countries. The present article is a brief summary of the research behind this development.