Article
Allergy
Philip J. Cooper, Irina Chis Ster, Martha E. Chico, Maritza Vaca, Yisela Oviedo, Augusto Maldonado, Mauricio L. Barreto, Thomas A. E. Platts-Mills, David P. Strachan
Summary: Early-life exposure to geohelminths may have a protective effect against wheeze/asthma and atopy. However, the relationship between geohelminths and airways is complex, with maternal geohelminths and childhood infections showing different effects on respiratory outcomes. Parasite-specific effects were observed in non-atopic children in terms of wheeze/asthma and airways reactivity/inflammation.
Article
Immunology
Yasmeen S. El Ansari, Cynthia Kanagaratham, Oliver T. Burton, Jenna V. Santos, Brianna-Marie A. Hollister, Owen L. Lewis, Harald Renz, Hans C. Oettgen
Summary: Mast cells and basophils play important roles in IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions. IgG and IgA antibodies can regulate the activation of these cells by activating or inhibiting receptors. This study found that IgA antibodies can bind to mast cells and basophils, and inhibit their activation to maintain immune homeostasis at mucosal sites.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daria Trifonova, Mirela Curin, Ksenja Riabova, Antonina Karsonova, Walter Keller, Hans Groenlund, Ulrika Kaeck, Jon R. Konradsen, Marianne van Hage, Alexander Karaulov, Rudolf Valenta, Kurt A. Jellinger
Summary: More than 10% of the world's population suffers from an IgE-mediated allergy to cats, which mainly manifests as respiratory symptoms. Several cat allergens have been identified, and Fel d 1, Fel d 4, and Fel d 7 show high allergenic activity in patients with respiratory allergies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Gyaviira Nkurunungi, Jacent Nassuuna, Harriet Mpairwe, Joyce Kabagenyi, Margaret Nampijja, Richard E. Sanya, Emily L. Webb, Alison M. Elliott
Summary: Our study suggests that the balance between IgG4 and IgE, as well as the balance between total IgE and allergen-specific IgE, are more important than the absolute levels of total, helminth- or allergen-specific antibodies in inhibiting allergies in tropical regions. High IgG4/IgE ratios were associated with beneficial responses in allergen immunotherapy, while helminth infections were positively correlated with total IgE and allergen-specific IgE responses. Additionally, asthmatic schoolchildren had higher levels of total and allergen-specific IgE, but lower ratios of allergen-specific IgG4/IgE and total IgE/allergen-specific IgE compared to non-asthmatic controls.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ksenja Riabova, Antonina Karsonova, Marianne van Hage, Ulrika Kack, Jon R. Konradsen, Hans Gronlund, Daria Fomina, Evgeny Beltyukov, Polina A. Glazkova, Dmitry Yu Semenov, Rudolf Valenta, Alexander Karaulov, Mirela Curin
Summary: Cat allergies are triggered by immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization and can result in respiratory reactions. This study investigated the associations between different cat allergen molecules and various phenotypes of cat allergy. The findings showed that in addition to the main cat allergen, rFel d 1, other allergen molecules such as rFel d 3, rFel d 4, and rFel d 7 are also important. Cumulative IgE levels specific to cat allergen molecules can serve as a biomarker for identifying patients with complex phenotypes of cat allergy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Nishelle D'souza, Milena Weber, Eszter Sarzsinszky, Susanne Vrtala, Mirela Curin, Mirjam Schaar, Victoria Garib, Margarete Focke-Tejkl, Yanqiu Li, Richard Jones, Hao Chen, Rudolf Valenta, Baoqing Sun
Summary: Approximately 30% of the global population suffers from IgE-mediated allergy, with China having the largest population and over 400 million allergic patients. Allergy prevention and treatment strategies include allergen avoidance, vaccination, and tolerance induction, requiring a detailed understanding of relevant allergen molecules affecting specific populations.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Lisa Tuppo, Ivana Giangrieco, Maurizio Tamburrini, Claudia Alessandri, Adriano Mari, Maria Antonietta Ciardiello
Summary: Several factors can impact the allergen content and profile of a specific food, with processing procedures playing a role in decreasing or increasing allergenicity. Different methods can be used to identify allergenic proteins depending on the specific purposes. This review focuses on the advantages of the multiplex allergen microarray-based immunoassay, particularly the exploitation of an IgE-binding inhibition assay on multiplex allergen biochips. This innovative method allows the identification of many allergenic proteins recognized by IgE from allergic patients in a single test.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Severina Terlouw, Frank E. van Boven, Monika Borsboom-van Zonneveld, Catharina de Graaf-in 't Veld, Marloes E. van Splunter, Paul L. A. van Daele, Maurits S. van Maaren, Marco W. J. Schreurs, Nicolette W. de Jong
Summary: The study compared the SPT results of homemade food allergen extracts with commercially available extracts, finding that homemade hazelnut and walnut extracts can be good alternatives in the absence of commercial extracts. The agreement between SPT results and food allergen-specific symptoms were comparable for homemade and commercial extracts, except for peach.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lauriana-Eunice Zbircea, Maria-Roxana Buzan, Manuela Grijincu, Elijahu Babaev, Frank Stolz, Rudolf Valenta, Virgil Paunescu, Carmen Panaitescu, Kuan-Wei Chen
Summary: This study found that Amb a 1 is the major allergen responsible for IgE-sensitized allergic reactions in the majority of patients, accounting for over 50% of ragweed pollen-specific IgE. Additionally, approximately 20% of patients were sensitized to profilin and calcium-binding allergens Amb a 9 and Amb a 10. Molecular diagnosis through the quantification of specific IgE to Amb a 1, Amb a 8, Amb a 9, and Amb a 10 is useful for identifying genuine sensitization to ragweed pollen and highly cross-reactive allergens from unrelated plants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Lin Yang, Yaqi Yang, Qingxiu Xu, Wei Zhang, Qing Jiang, Wenjing Li, Yin Wang, Dongxia Ma, Xiaomin Lin, Baoqing Sun, Rongfei Zhu
Summary: Allergen immunotherapy can induce the production of sIgG4 to house dust mite components, but the increased sIgG4 levels do not correlate with the corresponding sIgE levels or AIT response, thus sIgG4 is not a useful biomarker for evaluating the efficacy of AIT.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Xue'an Wang, Long Zhou, Guixi Wei, Hui Zhang, Bin Yang
Summary: Identifying allergen distribution is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases. This study examined allergen sensitivity in four southern China cities, finding a decrease in sensitivity with age and higher rates in males. Aeroallergens showed significant seasonal variations, while Liuzhou had the highest rates of food and aeroallergen sensitivities.
Article
Allergy
Xinyue Chang, Lisha Zha, Alexandra Wallimann, Mona O. Mohsen, Pascal Krenger, Xuelan Liu, Monique Vogel, Martin F. Bachmann
Summary: This study found that even IgE antibodies with low affinity can activate mast cells in vitro and in vivo, triggering allergic reactions. This is because these low-affinity IgE antibodies bind allergens bivalently on the surface of mast cells, leading to high-avidity interactions.
Article
Allergy
Maria Mikus, Arash Zandian, Ronald Sjoberg, Carl Hamsten, Bjorn Forsstrom, Morgan Andersson, Lennart Greiff, Mathias Uhlen, Mattias Levin, Peter Nilsson, Marianne van Hage, Mats Ohlin
Summary: The study utilized an allergome-wide microarray to examine IgE, IgG4, and IgG recognition of 731 allergens in subjects undergoing allergen-specific immunotherapy. Results showed significant induction of linear peptide-specific humoral immunity in individuals undergoing a 3-year-long immunotherapy, with differences in epitope profiles between subjects. The findings highlight the complexity and subject-specific nature of allergen epitopes recognized following allergen-specific immunotherapy.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Katarzyna Niespodziana, Katarina Stenberg-Hammar, Nikolaos G. Papadopoulos, Margarete Focke-Tejkl, Peter Errhalt, Jon R. Konradsen, Cilla Soderhall, Marianne van Hage, Gunilla Hedlin, Rudolf Valenta
Summary: Allergen exposure and rhinovirus (RV) infections are common triggers of acute wheezing exacerbations in early childhood. Increases in VP1-specific IgG and in allergen-specific IgE may serve as biomarkers for RV infections or allergen exposure. Our results suggest that, in the majority of preschool children, RV infections trigger wheezing attacks, but, in addition, allergen exposure seems to play a role as a trigger factor.
Article
Allergy
Sima K. Ramratnam, Alexandre Lockhart, Cynthia M. Visness, Agustin Calatroni, Daniel J. Jackson, Peter J. Gergen, Leonard B. Bacharier, George T. O'Connor, Megan T. Sandel, Meyer Kattan, Robert A. Wood, James E. Gern
Summary: Maternal stress and depression in early life are positively associated with respiratory illnesses and a moderate-wheeze-low-atopy phenotype in urban children, indicating the importance of addressing these factors to reduce viral respiratory illnesses and recurrent wheeze during early childhood.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Gabriela S. Jesus, Julia M. Pescarini, Andrea F. Silva, Ana Torrens, Wellington M. Carvalho, P. P. Elzo, Maria Y. Ichihara, Mauricio L. Barreto, Poliana Reboucas, James Macinko, Mauro Sanchez, Davide Rasella
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of the Brazilian Family Health Strategy (FHS) on tuberculosis morbidity and mortality. The results showed that FHS was associated with lower tuberculosis incidence and mortality, and higher cure rates, especially among the poorest individuals.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Enny S. Paixao, Laura C. Rodrigues, Maria da Conceicao N. Costa, Rita de Cassia Oliveira de Carvalho-Sauer, Wanderson K. Oliveira, Luciana L. Cardim, Lavinia Schuler-Faccini, Roberto F. S. Andrade, Moreno S. Rodrigues, Elizabeth B. Brickley, Rafael V. Veiga, Larissa C. Costa, Eduardo H. Carmo, Liam Smeeth, Mauricio L. Barreto, Maria Gloria Teixeira
Summary: This study examines the clinical findings and medium-term survival of suspected cases of congenital zika syndrome (CZS). Abnormal imaging and head circumference are identified as main factors contributing to increased mortality. Early identification and targeted interventions are recommended for high-risk children to optimize resource allocation.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lucy Pembrey, Collin Brooks, Harriet Mpairwe, Camila A. Figueiredo, Aida Y. Oviedo, Martha Chico, Hajar Ali, Irene Nambuya, Pius Tumwesige, Steven Robertson, Charlotte E. Rutter, Karin van Veldhoven, Susan Ring, Mauricio L. Barreto, Philip J. Cooper, John Henderson, Alvaro A. Cruz, Jeroen Douwes, Neil Pearce
Summary: This study compared asthma inflammatory phenotypes between low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs), and found a lower prevalence of eosinophilic asthma in LMICs. This has significant implications for global asthma prevention and management.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Elzo Pereira Pinto, Priscilla Normando, Renzo Flores-Ortiz, Muhammad Usman Afzal, Muhammad Asaad Jamil, Sergio Fernandez Bertolin, Vinicius de Araujo Oliveira, Valentina Martufi, Fernanda de Sousa, Amir Bashir, Edward Burn, Maria Yury Ichihara, Mauricio L. Barreto, Talita Duarte Salles, Daniel Prieto-Alhambra, Haroon Hafeez, Sara Khalid
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of a standardized health informatics framework to generate reliable real-world evidence from Latin America and South Asia for characterizing COVID-19 in the Global South. The analysis of COVID-19 databases from Pakistan and Brazil reveals that the disease outcomes are more severe in men, elderly individuals, and those with underlying health conditions, which aligns with international findings. The study showcases a potential open science framework for global knowledge mobilization and clinical translation in responding to healthcare needs during pandemics and beyond.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL INFORMATICS ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Rafael Guimaraes, Flavia Cristina Drumond Andrade, Gustavo N. O. Costa, Aline dos Santos Rocha, Mauricio L. Barreto, Cristina Salles
Summary: The study evaluated the recommendation for magnesium intake in children based on their energy expenditure, considering the differences in basal metabolic rate among age and sex groups. The findings suggest that the daily intake of magnesium in children should be determined based on their energy expenditure to prevent deficiencies and poor intake.
Article
Pediatrics
Alana Alcantara Galvao, Emilia M. M. de Andrade Belitardo, Flavia de Araujo Sena, Juliana M. Santos, Gustavo N. de Oliveira Costa, Caroline A. Feitosa, Rosemeire L. Fiaccone, Alvaro A. Cruz, Mauricio L. Barreto, Camila A. Figueiredo, Neuza M. Alcantara-Neves
Summary: There is a correlation between vitamin D levels and atopy, asthma, asthma severity, and asthma phenotypes in Brazilian teenagers. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of atopy in both sexes, and insufficient vitamin D levels are associated with asthma only in women.
PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Audencio Victor, Rita de Cassia Ribeiro Silva, Natanael de Jesus Silva, Andrea Ferreira, Mauricio L. Barreto, Tereza Campello
Summary: This study aims to explore the association between unhealthy food environments and premature cardiovascular disease mortality in the Brazilian population. The findings show that municipalities with a greater offer of ultraprocessed foods have a higher risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and ischemic heart disease. Thus, initiatives to minimize the effects of these food environments are urgently needed in Brazil.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lorena Suarez-Idueta, Hannah Blencowe, Yemisrach B. Okwaraji, Judith Yargawa, Ellen Bradley, Adrienne Gordon, Vicki S. Flenady, Enny L. Paixao, Mauricio Barreto, Sarka Lisonkova, Qi Wen, Petr Velebil, Jitka Jirova, Erzsebet Horvath-Puho, Henrik Toft Sorensen, Luule Sakkeus, Liili A. Abuladze, Khalid Yunis, Ayah Al Bizri, Arturo Barranco, Lisa Broeders, Aimee E. van Dijk, Fawziya O. Alyafei, Tawa Olukade, Neda Razaz, Jonas K. Soderling, Lucy S. Smith, Elizabeth Draper, Estelle Lowry, Neil Rowland, Rachael Wood, Kirsten Monteath, Isabel Pereyra, Gabriella O. Pravia, Eric E. Ohuma, Joy Lawn
Summary: A study compared neonatal mortality rates in 125.5 million live births across 15 countries from 2000 to 2020. The findings showed that preterm newborns with small size for gestational age had the highest mortality rates. At the population level, preterm newborns with appropriate size for gestational age contributed the most to neonatal deaths.
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lorena Suarez-Idueta, Robespierre Pita, Hannah Blencowe, Arturo Barranco, Jesus F. Gonzalez, Enny S. Paixao, Mauricio L. Barreto, Joy E. Lawn, Eric O. Ohuma
Summary: This study linked administrative databases of live births and under-five child deaths in Mexico to explore mortality and trends for preterm, SGA, and LGA children. The results showed that neonatal mortality rate was higher in preterm infants compared to term infants, SGA children had a higher mortality rate compared to AGA children, infants born at <28 weeks had the highest mortality rate, and LGA children had no additional risk compared to AGA children. This study demonstrated the importance of linked data in understanding neonatal vulnerability and child mortality, and provided a valuable resource for future population-based research.
PAEDIATRIC AND PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Maria da Conceicao N. Costa, Luciana Lobato L. Cardim, Cynthia C. Moore, Eliene dos Santos de Jesus, Rita Carvalho-Sauer, Mauricio B. Barreto, Laura K. Rodrigues, Liam Smeeth, Lavinia Schuler-Faccini, Elizabeth Brickley, Wanderson Oliveira, Eduardo Hage V. Carmo, Julia Moreira C. Pescarini, Roberto F. S. Andrade, Moreno M. S. Rodrigues, Rafael S. Veiga, Larissa Costa, Giovanny V. A. Franca, Maria Gloria Teixeira, Enny Paixao
Summary: This study aimed to describe the sequence of events leading to death of children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) up to 36 months of age and their probability of dying from a given cause, 2015 to 2018. The study found that CZS children's deaths were mainly due to multiple congenital malformations not classified elsewhere and unspecified septicemia, indicating their greater vulnerability to infectious and respiratory conditions compared to children with non-Zika-related CNS congenital anomalies.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Enny C. Paixao, Andrea J. F. Ferreira, Idalia Oliveira dos Santos, Laura Rodrigues, Rosemeire Fiaccone, Leonardo Salvi, Guilherme Lopes de Oliveira, Jose Guilherme Santana, Andrey Moreira Cardoso, Carlos Antonio de S. S. Teles, Maria Auxiliadora L. Soares, Eliana Amaral, Liam Smeeth, Mauricio Barreto, Maria Yury Ichihara, Philippa Dodd
Summary: This study aimed to estimate excess all-cause mortality in children under 5 years with congenital syphilis (CS) compared to those without CS. The findings showed that children with CS had a significantly higher mortality rate than those without CS. Therefore, timely detection and treatment of pregnant women with CS can reduce vertical transmission and mitigate child mortality.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Gervasio F. dos Santos, Alejandra Vives Vergara, Mauricio Fuentes-Alburquenque, Jose Firmino de Sousa Filho, Aureliano Sancho Paiva, Andres Felipe Useche, Goro Yamada, Tania Alfaro, Amelia A. Lima Friche, Roberto F. S. Andrade, Mauricio L. Barreto, Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa, Ana V. Diez-Roux
Summary: This study aims to identify typologies of Latin American cities based on socioeconomic urban environment patterns. Census data from 371 urban agglomerations in 11 countries were used to identify socioeconomic typologies of cities in Latin America. Five socioeconomic regional typology patterns were identified, including low-education cities in Northeast Brazil, low-unemployment cities in Peru and Panama, high-education cities in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico, high female labor participation with high primary education in Argentina and low primary education in Brazil, and low female labor participation and low education in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Review
Allergy
Philip J. Cooper, Camila A. Figueiredo, Alejandro Rodriguez, Leticia Marques dos Santos, Rita C. Ribeiro-Silva, Valdirene Leao Carneiro, Gustavo Costa, Thiago Magalhaes, Talita dos Santos de Jesus, Raimon Rios, Hugo Bernardino F. da Silva, Ryan Costa, Martha E. Chico, Maritza Vaca, Neuza Alcantara-Neves, Laura C. Rodrigues, Alvaro A. Cruz, Mauricio L. Barreto
Summary: Asthma in Latin America (LA) shows variable prevalence and disease burden between countries, with high prevalence and morbidity in marginalized urban populations. Research has shown that childhood asthma in LA is primarily non-atopic and is associated with environmental and lifestyle factors, such as poor living conditions and respiratory infections. Genetic factors, particularly African ancestry, increase asthma risk in LA settings. Access to healthcare and medication is crucial for controlling asthma in LA. Future research should focus on identifying relevant endotypes and underlying causes, with a particular emphasis on implementing strategies in resource-poor settings.
CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL ALLERGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Raimon Rios, Thiago Magalhaes da Silva, Agostino Strina, Erick Forno, Ryan Costa, Juan C. Celedon, Mauricio L. Barreto, Camila Alexandrina Figueiredo
Summary: Genetic variants in filaggrin (FLG) are associated with eczema, and the association is modified by African ancestry. The T allele of SNP rs6587666 in FLG is negatively associated with eczema, and this association is influenced by the degree of African ancestry.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Qeren Hapuk R. Ferreira Fernandes, Enny S. Paixao, Maria da Conceicao N. Costa, Maria Gloria Teixeira, Juliana Darbra Cruz Rios, Keila da Silva Goes Di Santo, Mauricio L. Barreto, Angelina Xavier Acosta
Summary: Congenital anomalies are a significant issue for global public health, affecting approximately 3% to 6% of newborns worldwide. In Brazil, they are the second leading cause of infant mortality. This study examines the prevalence and infant mortality trends of congenital anomalies in Brazil and regions from 2001 to 2018, using data from the Live Birth Information System and the Mortality Information System. The study finds an increasing prevalence and infant mortality rate of congenital anomalies in Brazil, particularly in the Northeast and North regions.
CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA
(2023)
