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Hughes KM, Price D, Torriero AAJ, Symonds MRE, Suphioglu C. Impact of Fungal Spores on Asthma Prevalence and Hospitalization. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084313. [PMID: 35457129 PMCID: PMC9025873 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite making up a significant proportion of airborne allergens, the relationship between fungal spores and asthma is not fully explored. Only 80 taxa of fungi have so far been observed to exacerbate respiratory presentations, with Cladosporium spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Alternaria spp. found to comprise the predominant allergenic airborne spores. Fungal spores have been found in indoor environments, such as hospitals and housing due to poor ventilation. Meanwhile, outdoor fungal spores exhibit greater diversity, and higher abundance and have been associated with hospitalizations from acute asthma presentations. In addition, fungal spores may be the underlying, and perhaps the “missing link”, factor influencing the heightened rate of asthma presentations during epidemic thunderstorm asthma events. To improve our knowledge gap on fungal spores, airborne allergen monitoring must be improved to include not only dominant allergenic fungi but also provide real-time data to accurately and quickly warn the general public. Such data will help prevent future asthma exacerbations and thus save lives. In this review, we examine the health risks of prominent allergenic fungal taxa, the factors influencing spore dispersal and distribution, and why improvements should be made to current sampling methods for public health and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira M. Hughes
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia; (K.M.H.); (D.P.)
- Deakin AIRwatch Pollen and Spore Counting and Forecasting Facility, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Dwan Price
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia; (K.M.H.); (D.P.)
- Deakin AIRwatch Pollen and Spore Counting and Forecasting Facility, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
- COVID-19 Response, Department of Health, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Angel A. J. Torriero
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia;
| | - Matthew R. E. Symonds
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia;
| | - Cenk Suphioglu
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia; (K.M.H.); (D.P.)
- Deakin AIRwatch Pollen and Spore Counting and Forecasting Facility, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-3-5227-2886
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Ali AH. Food and Aeroallergen Sensitization in IgE -Mediated Asthma in Egypt. Open Respir Med J 2021; 15:52-58. [PMID: 35265222 PMCID: PMC8822223 DOI: 10.2174/1874306402115010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose:
Identifying the distribution of allergens is valuable to the effective diagnosis and treatment of allergic disease. So, our aim is to explore the sensitization of food and aeroallergens in Egyptian patients with atopic asthma.
Methods:
Cross-sectional study recruited 268 Egyptian patients with atopic asthma. Asthmatic patients were assessed by the enzyme allegro sorbent test (EAST) method for specific IgE to a panel of 19 common regional inhaled allergens and 15 food allergens.
Results and Discussion:
One hundred percent of the patients were sensitive to at least one allergen. Allergy to food allergens only was 2.9%; inhaled allergens only were 26.2% and both were70.9%. Fungi (62%) were the most frequent sensitizing aeroallergen amongst our asthmatic patients, followed by the pollen allergens (42.5%) and house dust mites (HDMs) (26%). Cows’ milk (30.5%) was the most frequent sensitizing food amongst our asthmatic patients, followed by eggs (22.4%) and fish (21.6%). Mono-sensitized patients accounted for 6.7% of all cases, while polysensitized was 93.3%. Moderate and severe asthma showed a significantly higher frequency of polysensitization compared to mild asthma.
Conclusion:
Fungi and cow's milk are the chief sensitizing allergens in Egyptian patients with atopic asthma. This study represents the first report of sensitization in atopic adult asthma using a large extract panel in Upper Egypt.
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Masoumi K, Haddadzadeh Shoushtari M, Forouzan A, Asgari Darian A, Dastoorpoor M, Ebrahimzadeh P, Aghababaeian H. Rainfall-Associated Bronchospasm Epidemics: The Epidemiological Effects of Air Pollutants and Weather Variables. Can Respir J 2017; 2017:9252069. [PMID: 29089817 PMCID: PMC5635285 DOI: 10.1155/2017/9252069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study compares different risk factors in patients visiting a hospital during five rainfall-associated bronchospasm epidemics in Ahvaz and those visiting on other occasions. METHODS This case-control study was conducted on 5307 patients with bronchospasm admitted to the Emergency Department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz (Iran) from late October to December (as the epidemic) and 916 patients admitted from late January to March (as the nonepidemic) in 2011 to 2015. RESULTS A total of the 41.7% of the cases and 48.8% of the controls had episodes of bronchospasm, suggesting a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). The mean concentrations of PM10, NO, NO2, and NO x pollutants (except O3) were significantly higher in the nonepidemic periods (P < 0.05). The adjusted analysis showed a direct significant relationship between emergency respiratory admissions and each unit of increase in NO and SO2 concentration during the epidemic periods and NO2 concentration during the nonepidemic periods. During the epidemic periods, a direct and significant relationship was also observed between respiratory admissions and each unit of increase in relative humidity and evaporation. CONCLUSION The results suggest that certain pollutants and weather variables are associated with the risk of emergency respiratory admissions during epidemic periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kambiz Masoumi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Imam Khomeini General Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Maryam Haddadzadeh Shoushtari
- Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Arash Forouzan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Imam Khomeini General Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Ali Asgari Darian
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Imam Khomeini General Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Maryam Dastoorpoor
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Pegah Ebrahimzadeh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Imam Khomeini General Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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