Articles

Eligibility of monoclonal antibody-based therapy for patients with severe asthma: a Canadian cross-sectional perspective

Based on immunologic phenotypes underlying asthma, use of monoclonal antibody based therapies is becoming the new standard of care for severe, corticosteroid refractory clinical symptoms. Patients may qualify ...

Authors: Samira Jeimy, Michael William Tsoulis, Julie Hachey and Harold Kim

The diagnosis of hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency: a survey of Canadian physicians and laboratories

Hereditary angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) is an autosomal dominant disease resulting in random and unpredictable attacks of swelling. The swelling in C1-INH-HAE is a result of impaired ...

Authors: Xavier Charest-Morin, Stephen Betschel, Rozita Borici-Mazi, Amin Kanani, Gina Lacuesta, Georges-Étienne Rivard, Eric Wagner, Susan Wasserman, Bill Yang and Christian Drouet

Prevalence of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis in a rural area of northern China based on sensitization to specific aeroallergens

Most epidemiologic studies reporting prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) have assessed solely self-reported prevalence, without confirmation by objective measures. Furthermore, ...

Authors: Yanran Huang, Yuan Zhang and Luo Zhang

Characterization of tenascin-C as a novel biomarker for asthma: utility of tenascin-C in combination with periostin or immunoglobulin E

Extracellular matrix proteins tenascin-C (TNC) and periostin, which were identified as T-helper cell type 2 cytokine-induced genes in human bronchial epithelial cells, accumulate in the airway basement membran...

Authors: Mina Yasuda, Norihiro Harada, Sonoko Harada, Ayako Ishimori, Yoko Katsura, Yukinari Itoigawa, Kei Matsuno, Fumihiko Makino, Jun Ito, Junya Ono, Kazunori Tobino, Hisaya Akiba, Ryo Atsuta, Kenji Izuhara and Kazuhisa Takahashi

Fetal cord blood and tissue immune responses to chronic placental inflammation and chorioamnionitis

Chorioamnionitis is a risk factor for future asthma development. Animal models of chorioamnionitis demonstrate increased T_H17-to-T_reg ratios associated with proinflammatory cytokine elevations. The association of...

Authors: Anne Marie Singh, Michael G. Sherenian, Kwang-Youn Kim, Kristin A. Erickson, Amy Yang, Karen Mestan, Linda M. Ernst and Rajesh Kumar

The clinical burden of allergic rhinitis in five Middle Eastern countries: results of the SNAPSHOT program

The SNAPSHOT program provides current data on the allergic rhinitis burden in the adult general population of five Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, th...

Authors: Ahmed Al-Digheari, Bassam Mahboub, Hesham Tarraf, Taskin Yucel, Isabella Annesi-Maesano, Adam Doble, Aaicha Lahlou, Luqman Tariq, Fayaz Aziz and Abdelkader El Hasnaoui

Subcutaneous immunotherapy induces alterations in monocytes and dendritic cells homeostasis in allergic rhinitis patients

Specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) can achieve long-term remission in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) through complex and still unknown mechanisms. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect ...

Authors: Letícia Sousa, Carmen Martín-Sierra, Celso Pereira, Graça Loureiro, Beatriz Tavares, Susana Pedreiro, António Martinho and Artur Paiva

Hematopoietic cell transplantation for asymptomatic X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome type 1

X-linked lymphoproliferative disease type 1 (XLP1) is a rare primary immune deficiency, which is caused by SH2D1A gene mutations. XLP1 is commonly associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated hemophagocyti...

Authors: Akihiro Tamura, Suguru Uemura, Nobuyuki Yamamoto, Atsuro Saito, Aiko Kozaki, Kenji Kishimoto, Toshiaki Ishida, Daiichiro Hasegawa, Haruka Hiroki, Tsubasa Okano, Kohsuke Imai, Tomohiro Morio, Hirokazu Kanegane and Yoshiyuki Kosaka

Aberrant localization of FOXJ1 correlates with the disease severity and comorbidities in patients with nasal polyps

Upper airway inflammatory diseases are associated with abnormal expression of nasal epithelial forkhead-box J1 (FOXJ1) which regulates motile cilia formation. We sought to investigate whether aberrant FOXJ1 lo...

Authors: Yang Peng, Wei-jie Guan, Kai Sen Tan, Zhenchao Zhu, Zhuo Chen, Haiyu Hong, Zhaoni Wang, Tengfei Tian, Xiaoxue Zi, Yew Kwang Ong, Mark Thong, Li Shi, Qintai Yang, Qianhui Qiu and De-Yun Wang

Aetiology of anaphylaxis in patients referred to an immunology clinic in Colombo, Sri Lanka

The aetiology of anaphylaxis differs according to types of foods consumed, fauna and foliage and cultural practices. Although the aetiology of anaphylaxis in Western countries are well known, the causes in Sou...

Authors: Nilhan Rajiva de Silva, W. M. D. K. Dasanayake, Chandima Karunatilake, Geethani Devika Wickramasingha, B. D. De Silva and Gathsauri Neelika Malavige

Component resolved analysis of ash pollen allergy in Bavaria

Sensitization to ash pollen is underestimated in various regions. The prevalence in Germany is about 10%. However, allergy to ash pollen is widely overlooked by allergists, since the pollination period of ash ...

Authors: Katharina Eder, Donata Gellrich, Catalina Meßmer, Martin Canis and Moritz Gröger

Sweet syndrome: a rare feature of ANCA-associated vasculitis or unusual consequence of azathioprine-induced treatment

Sweet syndrome is a rare skin condition characterised by fever, neutrophilia, and tender erythematous skin lesions and has been reported to occur in association with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANC...

Authors: A. U. Arun Kumar, Mohamed E. Elsayed, Ahmed Alghali, Alaa A. Ali, Husham Mohamed, Wael Hussein, Catriona Hackett, Niamh Leonard and Austin G. Stack

Unraveling the enigma: elucidating the relationship between the physicochemical properties of aluminium-based adjuvants and their immunological mechanisms of action

Aluminium salts are by far the most commonly used adjuvants in vaccines. There are only two aluminium salts which are used in clinically-approved vaccines, Alhydrogel^® and AdjuPhos^®, while the novel aluminium adj...

Authors: Emma Shardlow, Matthew Mold and Christopher Exley

Rash induced by enteral vancomycin therapy in an older patient in a long-term care ventilator unit: case report and review of the literature

Oral vancomycin is a first-line treatment for severe Clostridium difficile colitis. Oral vancomycin is perceived to lack systemic absorption or systemic adverse effects; however, a few cases of hypersensitivity t...

Authors: Jeremy Barron, Adolfo Lattes and Esther-Lee Marcus

First-reported pediatric cases of American ginseng anaphylaxis and allergy

Ginseng is a perennial herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, which has become increasingly popular world-wide due to its proposed medicinal effects. There are two major species of ginseng, Panax ginseng (Kor...

Authors: Stephanie C. Erdle, Edmond S. Chan, Hyungjun Yang, Bruce A. Vallance, Christopher Mill and Tiffany Wong

Hyper IgE recurrent infection syndrome in South Asia: is there a different outcome?

Hyper IgE recurrent infection syndrome (HIES) is a rare immune deficiency, characterized by recurrent staphylococcal skin and lung abscesses, pneumonia and increased IgE levels. The majority of autosomal domin...

Authors: Rajiva de Silva, Dhanushka Dasanayake, Manouri Senanayake, Ramya Ediriweera, Savithri Dias, Chandima Karunatilleke, Karen Brocas, Fariba Tahami and Suranjith Seneviratne

Perinatal antibiotic exposure alters composition of murine gut microbiota and may influence later responses to peanut antigen

Accumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiota shapes developmental processes within the immune system. Early life antibiotic use is one factor which may contribute to immune dysfunction and the recent...

Authors: Rozlyn C. T. Boutin, Zach Dwyer, Kyle Farmer, Chris Rudyk, Mark R. Forbes and Shawn Hayley

Anaphylactic reaction in patient allergic to mango

An allergy to mango is extremely rare. The antigenic composition of the fruit is not fully known. Profilin from mango has a structure similar to birch tree profiling: it is responsible for cross-reactions betw...

Authors: Natalia Ukleja-Sokołowska, Ewa Gawrońska-Ukleja, Kinga Lis, Magdalena Żbikowska-Gotz, Łukasz Sokołowski and Zbigniew Bartuzi

Improvement of exertional dyspnea and breathing pattern of inspiration to expiration after bronchial thermoplasty

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic treatment that can ameliorate the symptoms of severe asthma. However, little is known about the mechanism by which BT improves exertional dyspnea without signific...

Authors: Keisuke Miki, Mari Miki, Kenji Yoshimura, Kazuyuki Tsujino, Hiroyuki Kagawa, Yohei Oshitani, Yuko Ohara, Yuki Hosono, Ryuya Edahiro, Hiroyuki Kurebe and Seigo Kitada

First reported case in Canada of anaphylaxis to lupine in a child with peanut allergy

Lupine is a member of the legume family and is often used in many food products in Europe (e.g. pasta, pizza, sauces, etc.) as a wheat or soy substitute. Lupine cross-reacts with peanut, and cases of allergic ...

Authors: Lianne Soller, Sebastien La Vieille and Edmond S. Chan

The physician and hereditary angioedema friend or foe: 62-year diagnostic delay and iatrogenic procedures

Hereditary angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by episodes of acute subcutaneous swelling, and/or recurrent severe abdominal pain. The dise...

Authors: Anna Valerieva, Marco Cicardi, James Baraniuk and Maria Staevska

Nine year follow-up of a rare case of angioedema due to acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency with late onset and good response to attenuated androgen

Angioedema due to acquired deficiency of C1-inhibitor (C1-INH-AAE) is a rare disease sharing some clinical and laboratory similarities with hereditary angioedema, but with late onset and no positive family his...

Authors: Polliana Mihaela Leru, Vlad Florin Anton and Horia Bumbea

Practicalities of a reduced volume formulation of a C1-INH concentrate for the treatment of hereditary angioedema: real-life experience

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) due to C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency is characterized by recurrent swelling attacks that can be life-threatening if left untreated. Prompt treatment is vital during acut...

Authors: John Dempster

The law of food allergy and accommodation in Canadian schools

There is ongoing controversy surrounding the appropriate standards and limits of accommodation of children with food allergies in schools. We identify and explain how relevant Canadian common law, legislation,...

Authors: Blake Murdoch, Eric M. Adams and Timothy Caulfield

Pitfalls of immunotherapy: lessons from a patient with CTLA-4 haploinsufficiency

Daclizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks CD25, the high affinity alpha subunit of the interleukin-2 receptor. Daclizumab therapy targets T regulatory cell and activated effector T cell prolife...

Authors: Leisa Rebecca Watson, Charlotte A. Slade, Samar Ojaimi, Sara Barnes, Pasquale Fedele, Prudence Smith, Justine Marum, Sebastian Lunke, Zornitza Stark, Matthew F. Hunter, Vanessa L. Bryant and Michael Sze Yuan Low

Oral immunotherapy with the ingestion of house dust mite extract in a murine model of allergic asthma

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) has the potential to modify allergic diseases, and it is also considered a potential therapy for allergic asthma. House dust mite (HDM) allergens, a common source of airb...

Authors: Yao-Tung Wang, Hsu-Chung Liu, Hui-Chen Chen, Yen-Ching Lee, Tung-Chou Tsai, Hsiao-Ling Chen, Hueng-Chuen Fan and Chuan-Mu Chen

Rhinosectan^® spray (containing xyloglucan) on the ciliary function of the nasal respiratory epithelium; results of an in vitro study

To assess the effects of Rhinosectan^® spray, a medical device containing xyloglucan, on nasal ciliary function (in MucilAir™Nasal cells).

Authors: Núria Piqué and Barbara De Servi

Correction to: Passive blood anaphylaxis: subcutaneous immunoglobulins are a cause of ongoing passive anaphylactic reaction

Upon publication of the original article [1], the authors reported the following funding information was omitted: Publication supported by Wroclaw Centre of Biotechnology, programme The Leading National Resear...

Authors: Przemyslaw Zdziarski, Andrzej Gamian, Jacek Majda and Agnieszka Korzeniowska‑Kowal

A bronchoprotective role for Rgs2 in a murine model of lipopolysaccharide-induced airways inflammation

Asthma exacerbations are associated with the recruitment of neutrophils to the lungs. These cells release proteases and mediators, many of which act at G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that couple via Gq to...

Authors: Tresa George, Mainak Chakraborty, Mark A. Giembycz and Robert Newton

An observational cohort study of the use of five-grass-pollen extract sublingual immunotherapy during the 2015 pollen season in France

Allergic rhinitis affects around one quarter of the Western European population. Prophylactic allergen immunotherapy may be useful to reduce the risk of acute symptomatic attacks (hayfever). A five-grass polle...

Authors: Patrick Blin, Pascal Demoly, Martine Drouet, Bruno Falissard, Séverine Lignot-Maleyran, Hélène Maizi, Simon Lorrain, Régis Lassalle, Cécile Droz-Perroteau, Nicholas Moore and Mathieu Molimard

Preliminary study on chronic granulomatous disease in Sri Lanka

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare primary immunodeficiency of the phagocytic cells, which results in absent or diminished levels of microbicidal reactive oxygen species. The disease occurs due to g...

Authors: Shalinda Jude Arjuna Fernando, Noorul Mifra Faiz, Shiroma Mangaika Handunnetti, Aruna Dharshan De Silva, Wasala Mudiyanselage Dhanushka Kumari Dasanayake, Geethani Devika Wickramasinghe, Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Chandima Hasanthi Karunatilake and Nilhan Rajiva de Silva

Primary immunodeficiency

Primary immunodeficiency disorder (PID) refers to a large heterogeneous group of disorders that result from defects in immune system development and/or function. PIDs are broadly classified as disorders of ada...

Authors: Christine McCusker, Julia Upton and Richard Warrington

Drug allergy

Drug allergy encompasses a spectrum of immunologically-mediated hypersensitivity reactions with varying mechanisms and clinical presentations. This type of adverse drug reaction not only affects patient qualit...

Authors: Richard Warrington, Fanny Silviu-Dan and Tiffany Wong

Urticaria and angioedema

Urticaria (hives) is a common disorder that often presents with angioedema (swelling that occurs beneath the skin). It is generally classified as acute or chronic. Second-generation, non-sedating, non-impairin...

Authors: Amin Kanani, Stephen D. Betschel and Richard Warrington

Eosinophilic esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an atopic condition of the esophagus that has become increasingly recognized over the last 15 years. Diagnosis of the disorder is dependent on the patient’s clinical manifesta...

Authors: Stuart Carr, Edmond S. Chan and Wade Watson

Early introduction of foods to prevent food allergy

Food allergy is a growing public health problem, and in many affected individuals, the food allergy begins early in life and persists as a lifelong condition (e.g., peanut allergy). Although early clinical pra...

Authors: Edmond S. Chan, Elissa M. Abrams, Kyla J. Hildebrand and Wade Watson

Non-IgE-mediated food hypersensitivity

Non-immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food hypersensitivity includes a spectrum of disorders that predominantly affect the gastrointestinal tract. This review will focus on the following more common non-IgE-medi...

Authors: Lori Connors, Andrew O’Keefe, Lana Rosenfield and Harold Kim

IgE-mediated food allergy

Food allergy is defined as an adverse immunologic response to a food protein. Food-related reactions are associated with a broad range of signs and symptoms that may involve any body system, including the skin...

Authors: Susan Waserman, Philippe Bégin and Wade Watson

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is an acute, potentially fatal systemic allergic reaction with varied mechanisms and clinical presentations. Although prompt recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis are imperative, both patients a...

Authors: David Fischer, Timothy K. Vander Leek, Anne K. Ellis and Harold Kim

Allergen-specific immunotherapy

Allergen-specific immunotherapy is a potentially disease-modifying therapy that is effective for the treatment of allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis, allergic asthma and stinging insect hypersensitivity. However...

Authors: William Moote, Harold Kim and Anne K. Ellis

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic skin disorder that can significantly impact the quality of life of affected individuals as well as their families. Although the pathogenesis of the disorder is not c...

Authors: Sandeep Kapur, Wade Watson and Stuart Carr

Allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a common disorder that is strongly linked to asthma and conjunctivitis. It is usually a long-standing condition that often goes undetected in the primary-care setting. The classic symptoms...

Authors: Peter Small, Paul K. Keith and Harold Kim

Asthma

Asthma is the most common respiratory disorder in Canada. Despite significant improvement in the diagnosis and management of this disorder, the majority of Canadians with asthma remain poorly controlled. In mo...

Authors: Jaclyn Quirt, Kyla J. Hildebrand, Jorge Mazza, Francisco Noya and Harold Kim

An introduction to immunology and immunopathology

Beyond structural and chemical barriers to pathogens, the immune system has two fundamental lines of defense: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is the first immunological mechanism for fig...

Authors: Jean S. Marshall, Richard Warrington, Wade Watson and Harold L. Kim

Introduction from the Editors

Authors: Harold Kim, Richard Warrington and Wade Watson

A multi-stakeholder perspective on asthma care in Canada: findings from a mixed methods needs assessment in the treatment and management of asthma in adults

Although several aspects of asthma care have been identified as being sub-optimal in Canada, such as patient education, practice guideline adoption, and access to care, there remains a need to determine the ex...

Authors: Suzanne Murray, Sara Labbé, Alan Kaplan, Kristine Petrasko and Susan Waserman

Common allergies in urban adolescents and their relationships with asthma control and healthcare utilization

Urban adolescents suffer a disproportionate burden of asthma morbidity, often in association with allergies. Literature is limited on comparing various types of allergies regarding prevalence and associations ...

Authors: Hyekyun Rhee, Tanzy Love, Donald Harrington and Annette Grape

Effects of nasal dilator strips on subjective measures of sleep in subjects with chronic nocturnal nasal congestion: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

This exploratory study investigated effects of a new asymmetric butterfly-shaped prototype nasal dilator strip and the currently marketed clear Breathe Right Nasal Strip (BRNS) on subjective measures of nasal ...

Authors: Eric J. Schenkel, Renee Ciesla and Gilbert Marava Shanga

Unintentional injection to the bone with a pediatric epinephrine auto-injector

Skin-to-bone distance (STBD) in children prescribed a pediatric epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) for anaphylaxis is not commonly measured in practice. Recent evidence suggests that children with STBD less than ...

Authors: Mariam Ibrahim and Harold Kim

Timing of infections in patients with primary immunodeficiencies treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg)

Patients with common variable immune deficiency and X-linked agammaglobulinemia are unable to produce their own antibodies thus leading to a higher incidence of recurrent infections, particularly those involvi...

Authors: Parwinder K. Gill and Stephen D. Betschel