1
|
Dorfan Y, Nahami A, Morris Y, Shohat B, Kolodkin-Gal I. The Utilization of Bacillus subtilis to Design Environmentally Friendly Living Paints with Anti-Mold Properties. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1226. [PMID: 38930607 PMCID: PMC11205451 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The anti-fungal properties of the probiotic bacterium Bacillus subtilis have been studied extensively in agriculture and ecology, but their applications in the built environment remain to be determined. Our work aims to utilize this biological component to introduce new diverse anti-mold properties into paint. "Mold" refers to the ubiquitous fungal species that generate visible multicellular filaments commonly found in household dust. The development of mold leads to severe health problems for occupants, including allergic response, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and asthma, which have significant economic and clinical outcomes. We here demonstrate the robust effect of a commercial paint enhanced with Bacillus subtilis cells against the common mold agent, Aspergillus niger, and identify three biosynthetic clusters essential for this effect. Our results lay the foundation for bio-convergence and synthetic biology approaches to introduce renewable and environmentally friendly bio-anti-fungal agents into the built environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Dorfan
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon 5810201, Israel; (A.N.); (B.S.)
| | - Avichay Nahami
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon 5810201, Israel; (A.N.); (B.S.)
- The Scojen Institute for Synthetic Biology, Reichman University, Herzliya 4610101, Israel
| | - Yael Morris
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon 5810201, Israel; (A.N.); (B.S.)
| | - Benny Shohat
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon 5810201, Israel; (A.N.); (B.S.)
| | - Ilana Kolodkin-Gal
- The Scojen Institute for Synthetic Biology, Reichman University, Herzliya 4610101, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Arigela R, Gopalakrishnan S, Raghunathan R. Passive fungal spore release from fruit and vegetable solid waste. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 458:131938. [PMID: 37418968 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Food substrates in municipal solid wastes processing facilities and open dumpsites are a source for the release of fungal spores into air and can cause potential health and climate effects. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory scale flux chamber to measure the fungal growth and spore release from representative exposed cut fruit and vegetable substrates. The aerosolised spores were measured using an optical particle sizer. The results were compared to experiments conducted previously with a test species (Penicillium chrysogenum) on a synthetic media (czapek yeast extract agar). Significantly higher surface spore densities were observed for the fungi on the food substrates as compared to that on the synthetic media. The spore flux was high initially and then decreased on continued exposure to air. The spore emission flux normalised to the surface spore densities indicated that the emission from the food substrates was lower than the emissions from the synthetic media. A mathematical model was applied to the experimental data and the observed flux trends were explained in terms of the model parameters. A simple application of the data and the model to release from a municipal solid waste dumpsite was shown.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ravinder Arigela
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Saranya Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, Chennai, India
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gu KD, Faulkner KC, Thorndike AN. Housing instability and cardiometabolic health in the United States: a narrative review of the literature. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:931. [PMID: 37221492 PMCID: PMC10203673 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15875-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Housing instability is variably defined but generally encompasses difficulty paying rent, living in poor or overcrowded conditions, moving frequently, or spending the majority of household income on housing costs. While there is strong evidence that people experiencing homelessness (i.e., lack of regular housing) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes, less is known about housing instability and health. We synthesized evidence from 42 original research studies conducted in the United States examining the association of housing instability and cardiometabolic health conditions of overweight/obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The included studies varied widely in their definitions and methods of measuring housing instability, but all exposure variables were related to housing cost burden, frequency of moves, living in poor or overcrowded conditions, or experiencing eviction or foreclosure, measured at either the individual household level or at a population level. We also included studies examining the impact of receipt of government rental assistance, which serves as a marker of housing instability given that its purpose is to provide affordable housing for low-income households. Overall, we found mixed but generally adverse associations between housing instability and cardiometabolic health, including higher prevalence of overweight/obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease; worse hypertension and diabetes control; and higher acute health care utilization among those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We propose a conceptual framework for pathways linking housing instability and cardiometabolic disease that could be targeted in future research and housing policies or programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristine D. Gu
- Division of Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford Street, Suite 340, Boston, MA 02114 USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Katherine C. Faulkner
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| | - Anne N. Thorndike
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sun C, Du A, Deng G, Zhao X, Pan J, Fu X, Liu J, Cui L, Wang Q. Naturally nitrogen-doped self-encapsulated biochar materials based on mouldy wheat flour for silicon anode in lithium-ion batteries. Electrochim Acta 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2023.142269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
|
5
|
Harding CF, Liao D, Persaud R, DeStefano RA, Page KG, Stalbow LL, Roa T, Ford JC, Goman KD, Pytte CL. Differential effects of exposure to toxic or nontoxic mold spores on brain inflammation and Morris water maze performance. Behav Brain Res 2023; 442:114294. [PMID: 36638914 PMCID: PMC10460635 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
People who live or work in moldy buildings often complain of "brain fog" that interferes with cognitive performance. Until recently, there was no published research on the effects of controlled exposure to mold stimuli on cognitive function or an obvious mechanism of action, fueling controversy over these claims. The constellation of health problems reported by mold-exposed individuals (respiratory issues, fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression, and cognitive deficits) correspond to those caused by innate immune activation following exposure to bacterial or viral stimuli. To determine if mold-induced innate immune activation might cause cognitive issues, we quantified the effects of both toxic and nontoxic mold on brain immune activation and spatial memory in the Morris water maze. We intranasally administered either 1) intact, toxic Stachybotrys chartarum spores; 2) ethanol-extracted, nontoxic Stachybotrys chartarum spores; or 3) control saline vehicle to mice. Inhalation of nontoxic spores caused significant deficits in the test of long-term memory of platform location, while not affecting short-term memory. Inhalation of toxic spores increased motivation to reach the platform. Interestingly, in both groups of mold-exposed males, numbers of interleukin-1β-immunoreactive cells in many areas of the hippocampus significantly correlated with latency to find the platform, path length, and swimming speed during training, but not during testing for long-term memory. These data add to our prior evidence that mold inhalation can interfere with cognitive processing in different ways depending on the task, and that brain inflammation is significantly correlated with changes in behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl F Harding
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Doctoral Program, The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - David Liao
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Macaulay Honors College, CUNY, 35 West 67th Street, New York, NY 10023, USA
| | - Ramona Persaud
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Macaulay Honors College, CUNY, 35 West 67th Street, New York, NY 10023, USA; Chemistry Department, Hunter College, CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Richard A DeStefano
- Macaulay Honors College, CUNY, 35 West 67th Street, New York, NY 10023, USA; Chemistry Department, Hunter College, CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kimberly G Page
- Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Doctoral Program, The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Lauren L Stalbow
- Macaulay Honors College, CUNY, 35 West 67th Street, New York, NY 10023, USA; Psychology Department, Queens College, CUNY, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing 11367, NY, USA
| | - Tina Roa
- Biological Sciences, Hunter College, CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jordan C Ford
- Biological Sciences, Hunter College, CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ksenia D Goman
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Carolyn L Pytte
- Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Doctoral Program, The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Psychology Department, Queens College, CUNY, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing 11367, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Preliminary Studies on Fungal Contamination of Two Rupestrian Churches from Matera (Southern Italy). SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12176988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Sassi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its rupestrian churches, are richly decorated and visited by thousands of visitors every year. It is important to preserve this heritage which shows signs of deterioration due to abiotic and/or biotic factors. Aiming to carry out in the future an environmental-friendly restoration, a screening of the fungi present on walls and frescoes of two rupestrian churches “Santa Lucia alle Malve” and “La Madonna dei derelitti” located, respectively, in the “Sasso Caveoso” and in the “Sasso Barisano” was performed. Isolation and characterization of fungal species from investigated sites was carried out. Total genomic DNA (gDNA) was extracted from pure fungal cultures and subsequently utilized in PCRs using primers that amplify a portion of the ribosomal DNA (ITS5/ITS4) or the β-tubulin gene (Bt2a/Bt2b). The amplicons were directly sequenced. Obtained nucleotide sequences were compared to those present in the GenBank (NCBI) showing a very high similarity (99–100%) with the following species: Parengyodontium album, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Lecanicillium psalliotae, Meyerozyma guilliermondii and Botryotrichum atrogriseum. All sequences from this study were deposited in the EMBL database. Detailed knowledge about fungi isolated from stone is indispensable not only to counter/reduce the structural and aesthetic damage but also to protect the health of both guardians and visitors who may develop different pathologies due to the spores diffused in the environment.
Collapse
|
7
|
Mold inhalation causes innate immune activation, neural, cognitive and emotional dysfunction. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 87:218-228. [PMID: 31751617 PMCID: PMC7231651 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals living or working in moldy buildings complain of a variety of health problems including pain, fatigue, increased anxiety, depression, and cognitive deficits. The ability of mold to cause such symptoms is controversial since no published research has examined the effects of controlled mold exposure on brain function or proposed a plausible mechanism of action. Patient symptoms following mold exposure are indistinguishable from those caused by innate immune activation following bacterial or viral exposure. We tested the hypothesis that repeated, quantified doses of both toxic and nontoxic mold stimuli would cause innate immune activation with concomitant neural effects and cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. We intranasally administered either 1) intact, toxic Stachybotrys spores; 2) extracted, nontoxic Stachybotrys spores; or 3) saline vehicle to mice. As predicted, intact spores increased interleukin-1β immunoreactivity in the hippocampus. Both spore types decreased neurogenesis and caused striking contextual memory deficits in young mice, while decreasing pain thresholds and enhancing auditory-cued memory in older mice. Nontoxic spores also increased anxiety-like behavior. Levels of hippocampal immune activation correlated with decreased neurogenesis, contextual memory deficits, and/or enhanced auditory-cued fear memory. Innate-immune activation may explain how both toxic mold and nontoxic mold skeletal elements caused cognitive and emotional dysfunction.
Collapse
|
8
|
Cedeño-Laurent JG, Williams A, MacNaughton P, Cao X, Eitland E, Spengler J, Allen J. Building Evidence for Health: Green Buildings, Current Science, and Future Challenges. Annu Rev Public Health 2018; 39:291-308. [PMID: 29328864 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031816-044420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Civilizational challenges have questioned the status quo of energy and material consumption by humans. From the built environment perspective, a response to these challenges was the creation of green buildings. Although the revolutionary capacity of the green building movement has elevated the expectations of new commercial construction, its rate of implementation has secluded the majority of the population from its benefits. Beyond reductions in energy usage and increases in market value, the main strength of green buildings may be the procurement of healthier building environments. Further pursuing the right to healthy indoor environments could help the green building movement to attain its full potential as a transformational public health tool. On the basis of 40 years of research on indoor environmental quality, we present a summary of nine environment elements that are foundational to human health. We posit the role of green buildings as a critical research platform within a novel sustainability framework based on social-environmental capital assets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J G Cedeño-Laurent
- Environmental Health Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA;
| | - A Williams
- Environmental Health Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA;
| | - P MacNaughton
- Environmental Health Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA;
| | - X Cao
- Environmental Health Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA;
| | - E Eitland
- Environmental Health Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA;
| | - J Spengler
- Environmental Health Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA;
| | - J Allen
- Environmental Health Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hoseinzadeh E, Taha P, Sepahvand A, Sousa S. Indoor air fungus bioaerosols and comfort index in day care child centers. TOXIN REV 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/15569543.2016.1274329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edris Hoseinzadeh
- Young Researchers & Elite Club, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran,
| | - Parisa Taha
- Department of Nutrition, Health Center of Sabaroo, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
| | - Asghar Sepahvand
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran, and
| | - Sofia Sousa
- LEPABE – Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sanders M, McPartlin D, Moran K, Guo Y, Eeckhout M, O'Kennedy R, De Saeger S, Maragos C. Comparison of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Surface Plasmon Resonance and Biolayer Interferometry for Screening of Deoxynivalenol in Wheat and Wheat Dust. Toxins (Basel) 2016; 8:103. [PMID: 27077883 PMCID: PMC4848629 DOI: 10.3390/toxins8040103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A sample preparation method was developed for the screening of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat and wheat dust. Extraction was carried out with water and was successful due to the polar character of DON. For detection, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was compared to the sensor-based techniques of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and biolayer interferometry (BLI) in terms of sensitivity, affinity and matrix effect. The matrix effects from wheat and wheat dust using SPR were too high to further use this screenings method. The preferred ELISA and BLI methods were validated according to the criteria established in Commission Regulation 519/2014/EC and Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. A small survey was executed on 16 wheat lots and their corresponding dust samples using the validated ELISA method. A linear correlation (r = 0.889) was found for the DON concentration in dust versus the DON concentration in wheat (LOD wheat: 233 μg/kg, LOD wheat dust: 458 μg/kg).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Sanders
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service-National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (USDA-ARS-NCAUR), 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, USA.
| | - Daniel McPartlin
- School of Biotechnology, National Centre for Sensor Research and Biomedical Diagnostic Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.
| | - Kara Moran
- School of Biotechnology, National Centre for Sensor Research and Biomedical Diagnostic Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.
| | - Yirong Guo
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China.
| | - Mia Eeckhout
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Richard O'Kennedy
- School of Biotechnology, National Centre for Sensor Research and Biomedical Diagnostic Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.
| | - Sarah De Saeger
- Department of Bioanalysis, Laboratory of Food Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Chris Maragos
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service-National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (USDA-ARS-NCAUR), 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Baxi SN, Portnoy JM, Larenas-Linnemann D, Phipatanakul W. Exposure and Health Effects of Fungi on Humans. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE 2016; 4:396-404. [PMID: 26947460 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2016.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Revised: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Fungi are ubiquitous microorganisms that are present in outdoor and indoor environments. Previous research has found relationships between environmental fungal exposures and human health effects. We reviewed recent articles focused on fungal exposure and dampness as risk factors for respiratory disease development, symptoms, and hypersensitivity. In particular, we reviewed the evidence suggesting that early exposure to dampness or fungi is associated with the development of asthma and increased asthma morbidity. Although outdoor exposure to high concentrations of spores can cause health effects such as asthma attacks in association with thunderstorms, most people appear to be relatively unaffected unless they are sensitized to specific genera. Indoor exposure and dampness, however, appears to be associated with an increased risk of developing asthma in young children and asthma morbidity in individuals who have asthma. These are important issues because they provide a rationale for interventions that might be considered for homes and buildings in which there is increased fungal exposure. In addition to rhinitis and asthma, fungus exposure is associated with a number of other illnesses including allergic bronchopulmonary mycoses, allergic fungal sinusitis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Additional research is necessary to establish causality and evaluate interventions for fungal- and dampness-related health effects.
Collapse
|
12
|
Fernandes L, Estibeiro ASM, Mesquita AM. Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis in a Housewife Exposed to Aspergillus flavus in Poor Living Conditions: A Case Report. J Clin Diagn Res 2016; 10:OD16-7. [PMID: 26894116 DOI: 10.7860/jcdr/2016/16674.7133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP) or Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis (EAA) is a disease resulting from immunologically induced inflammation in response to inhalation of a wide variety of airborne allergens. The condition develops mainly in non atopic individuals sensitized to organic dust due to repeated exposures. It is a relatively rare disease constituting upto 2% of interstitial lung diseases. Knowledge of classical High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) of lung findings aid in early diagnosis. We report a case of subacute hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a housewife who despite being symptomatic remained undiagnosed for two years. She showed a good response to therapy, but soon relapsed. Visit to her home revealed that she lived in a damp house full of moldy walls.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Fernandes
- Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Goa Medical College , Goa, India
| | | | - Anthony Menezes Mesquita
- Professor and Head of Department, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Goa Medical College , Goa, India
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Chang C, Gershwin ME, Thompson GR. Fungal disease of the nose and sinuses: an updated overview. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2013; 13:152-61. [PMID: 23135919 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-012-0320-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fungal diseases of the nose and sinuses encompasses a diverse spectrum of disease. Clinical manifestations are largely dependent upon the immune status of the host, as, given the ubiquitous nature of these organisms, exposure is unavoidable. Asymptomatic colonization of the nasal passages by fungi warrants no treatment and is common, while allergic fungal rhinosinusitis is challenging and often requires a combined approach of surgical intervention, immunotherapy, and corticosteroid administration. A diagnosis requires a combination of IgE immune reactivity, eosinophilic infiltration, and fungi recovery. Similarly, invasive disease may present only after several months of slowly progressive disease, or in rapid and fulminant fashion in the appropriate host. A differentiation of these overlapping syndromes and the pathophysiologic processes at play, and recommended treatment algorithms, are the focus of this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Chang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Nemours/A.I. Dupont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University, 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
Asthma is a syndrome which is seen by physicians in nearly every specialty and affects millions of people throughout the world. Although the geoepidemiology with respect to prevalence and incidence of asthma does vary, even under the most mild of circumstance, asthma is among the leading causes of school absenteeism, work loss, and physician visits. In the past, it was considered primarily a disorder of childhood. Hence, the adage that children outgrow their asthma. We now realize that children really only outgrow their pediatrician and the genetic predisposition to asthma and bronchial hyperactivity persists throughout life. This issue is devoted to key papers that focus on important clinical problems in allergies and asthma. This issue is dedicated to helping the many sufferers of asthma with the hope that this topic will eventually become a medical anachronism.
Collapse
|
15
|
Schwindt CD, Bacchus H, Leu SY, Tjoa T, Klebanova Y, Delfino RJ. Characterization of the asthmatic population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines: asthma severity levels and atopic sensitization. J Asthma 2010; 47:871-7. [PMID: 20846086 DOI: 10.3109/02770903.2010.506682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The developing country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) reported a 4.5-fold increase in wheezing incidence between 1986 and 2002. It is unknown whether aeroallergens play a significant role in asthma in SVG. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study is to investigate the importance of aeroallergens and the association between age and persistence of asthma into adulthood. Methods. Subjects were recruited from the National Asthma Clinic. Asthma was diagnosed in 525 participants and severity levels assigned according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines. Participants were separated into three age groups [≤6 years (n=176), 7-18 years (n=164), and ≥19 years (n=185)]. Skin testing was performed on 171 participants to dust mite, cat, dog, cockroach, pollens, and mold. Age of asthma onset was obtained. RESULTS Persistent asthma was diagnosed in 235 participants (44.8%) and increased with increasing age group (p<.0001). Atopy was identified in 121/171 (70.8%) participants and was significantly higher in persistent asthma (p<.004). A significant positive association was seen between atopy and age group (p<.0004) in participants with intermittent asthma but not in participants with persistent asthma. The most common allergen among the atopic participants was house dust mite (93.4%), followed by cockroach (47.9%). Adult participants reporting asthma onset in adulthood were less atopic than those whose asthma developed ≤18 years of age (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS The predominance of asthma with atopy in SVG implicates a role for atopy in the sudden rise in asthma cases. This asthma characteristic and the increase in persistent asthma with age in SVG are similar to those reported in the developed countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina D Schwindt
- School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|