Eosinophil Values Research Articles

Association Of Eosinophil And Total Ige Values With Allergy Test Results In Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

AOBJECTIVES: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent, allergic inflammatory skin disease that may have a genetic predisposition. Eosinophilia is a common finding in patients with atopy. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between eosinophil and IgE levels and allergy test results in patients with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: In this descriptive study, the files of patients diagnosed with atopic dermatitis and followed up in our Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Clinic between January 2021 and December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Age, gender, eosinophil, total IgE and specific IgE (for food and inhaled allergens) values were analyzed in the study. Skin prick test (SPT) was also performed in patients who had negative results for allergen-specific IgE. RESULTS: The absolute eosinophil count, eosinophil (%) and total IgE values of patients sensitized to at least one of the food and aeroallergens were significantly higher than those without allergen sensitization. The cut-off point of total IgE in predicting allergen sensitization was found to be 91.5 by ROC analysis. The sensitivity and specificity values for the cut-off point of total IgE were 73.3% and 72.9%. CONCLUSION: In this study, allergen sensitization was detected in 3 out of every 4 AD patients with total IgE and eosinophil values above the cut-off point we analyzed. Accordingly, we think that total IgE and eosinophil values are successful in predicting allergen sensitization. In clinics where specific IgE or SPT cannot be performed, eosinophil and total IgE values in whole blood will be useful for preliminary diagnosis.

The relationship of hematologic parameters and lipid profile with acute ischemic stroke

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of routine laboratory parameters on clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Materials and Methods: Our study was designed as retrospective and cross-sectional. 94 patients with AIS who received inpatient treatment in our clinic with a diagnosis of AIS were included in the study. Laboratory data, demographic, and clinical characteristics were recorded at the time of admission. Neurological disabilities of the patients 3 months after treatment were evaluated with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Patients were divided into two groups (good prognosis (mRS 0-2) and poor prognosis (mRS 3-6)). Results:Of the 94 patients included in the study, 47 were men and 47 were women. The mean age was 71.18±11.92 years. Laboratory parameters hemoglobin, eosinophil, triglyceride, total-cholesterol, and ldl-cholesterol values were significantly lower in the group with mRS≥3. As a result of ROC analysis, the area under the curve of hemoglobin, eosinophil, total-cholesterol, ldl-cholesterol, and triglyceride was significantly higher[(AUC: 0.710 95%CI: 0.60-0.81); Sensitivity=67.6%, Specificity=67.9%, p=0.001]. In the multivariable logistic regression model, only the NIHSS score (National Institutes Of Health Stroke Scale Scores) was independently associated with the degree of disability (p=0.001). NIHSS is an independent factor in predicting stroke outcomes. Conclusion: It was determined that there was a significant inverse relationship between the routine laboratory parameters hemoglobin level, eosinophil level, LDL and total cholesterol levels, and infarct volume with the NIHSS scores of hemoglobin and LDL-cholesterol.

The role of CD24hiCD27+ regulatory B cells in human chronic rhinosinusitis with/without nasal polyps

BackgroundRegulatory B cells (Bregs) reduce allergic and autoimmune inflammation. However, their role in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remains unknown. This study investigated the frequency and function of Breg subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with CRS. MethodsThe demographic and clinical characteristics were compared among control, CRSsNP, neCRSwNP, and eCRSwNP groups. The expression of various Breg subtypes was evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with eosinophilic CRS with nasal polyps (eCRSwNP), non-eosinophilic CRS with nasal polyps (neCRSwNP), CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). CD19+CD24hiCD27+ B cells (B10 cells) were isolated by flow cytometry, followed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Finally, IL-10 secreted by B10 cells were evaluated through the intracellular stain. ResultsA higher number of eosinophils in peripheral blood and nasal polyps were found in eCRSwNP compared with neCRSwNP, CRSsNP, and control groups. The frequency of B10 in the peripheral blood B cells (B10%) of patients with eCRSwNP was significantly lower than that in the neCRSwNP and control groups. B10% was negatively correlated with the quantity of tissue eosinophils, and the percentage and absolute value of peripheral blood eosinophils. The eCRSwNP, neCRSwNP and control groups had 1403 differentially expressed genes, 35 of which were identified in four highly enriched pathways. Additionally, the frequency of IL-10+B10 cells in peripheral blood was lower in patients with eCRSwNP than in the neCRSwNP and control groups. ConclusionThis study is the first to reveal differences in both the quantity and IL-10 secretion of B10 cells in patients with eCRSwNP and neCRSwNP. These variations were strongly negatively associated with eosinophils in nasal polyps and peripheral blood. IL-10+B10 cells may play a key role in the pathological mechanisms of CRS, particularly the recurrence of eCRSwNP.

Biomarkers of COVID-19 short-term worsening: a multiparameter analysis within the prospective multicenter COVIDeF cohort.

During a pandemic like COVID-19, hospital resources are constrained and accurate severity triage of the patients is required. The objective of this study is to estimate the predictive performances of candidate biomarkers for short-term worsening (STW) of COVID-19. Prospective, multicenter (20 hospitals in Paris) cohort study of consecutive COVID-19 patients with systematic biobanking at admission, during the first waves of COVID-19 in France in 2020 (COVIDeF cohort). Consecutive COVID-19 patients were screened for inclusion. They were excluded in presence of severity criteria defined by either an ICU admission, mechanical ventilation (including noninvasive ventilation), acute respiratory distress, or in-hospital death before sampling. Routine blood tests measured during usual care and centralized systematic measurement of creatine kinase, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), high-sensitive troponin T (TnT-hs), N terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), calprotectin, platelet factor 4, mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), and proendothelin were performed. The primary outcome was STW, defined by a severity criteria within 7 days. A backward stepwise logistic regression model and a 'best subset' approach were used to identify independent association, and the area under the receiving operator characteristics (AUROC) was computed. Five hundred and eleven patients were analyzed, of whom 60 (11.7%) experienced STW. Median time to occurrence of a severity criteria was 3 days. At admission, lower values of eosinophils, lymphocytes, platelets, alanine aminotransferase, and higher values of neutrophils, creatinine, urea, CRP, TnT-hs, suPAR, NT-proBNP, calprotectin, procalcitonin, MR-proADM, and proendothelin were predictive of worsening. Stepwise logistic regression identified three biomarkers significantly associated with worsening: CRP [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.10, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.06-1.15 for a 10-unit increase, AUROC: 0.73 (0.66-0.79)], procalcitonin [aOR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.22-0.81, AUROC: 0.69 (0.64-0.88)], and MR-proADM [aOR: 2.85, 95% CI: 1.74-4.69, AUROC: 0.75 (0.69-0.81)]. These biomarkers outperformed clinical variables except diabetes and cancer comorbidities. In this multicenter prospective study that assessed a large panel of biomarkers for COVID-19 patients, CRP, procalcitonin, and MR-proADM were independently associated with the risk of STW. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04352348.

Quantification of eosinophils in the lower gastrointestinal tract of adults: a review of surgical specimens with normal histology from the Free State province, South Africa.

Eosinophils are normal residents of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). They are noted in small numbers with significant variation between anatomic locations. An idiopathic increase of eosinophils is known as eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID). EGIDs are a heterologous group of disorders that produce a range of enteric and colonic syndromes. Their incidence has been increasing worldwide. Our study aimed to quantify eosinophils in each segment of the GIT in surgical specimens with normal histology to facilitate the histological diagnosis of EGID. Similarly, we aimed to describe the effect of race and gender on gastrointestinal eosinophil numbers. A retrospective, quantitative comparative study was performed. We assessed 360 surgical specimens with normal histology from the lower gastrointestinal tract of African and Caucasian adults from the Free State Province, South Africa. The number of eosinophils per mm² was counted. Overall, comparable eosinophil values were noted for both males and females, and African and Caucasian South Africans. However, Caucasians recorded a higher concentration of eosinophils in the appendix and the left colon. Eosinophils were most numerous in the lamina propria, with only small numbers present in the epithelium. Our results show that the South African population has similar eosinophil distribution trends to international studies. However, South Africans had far fewer eosinophils than Japanese and North American adults in each segment. Specific eosinophil reference ranges were formulated to quantify reference ranges of eosinophils in the lower GIT, allowing for the accurate diagnosis of EGIDs in our population in future.

Quantification of eosinophil densities in the oesophagus, stomach and small bowel of adults: A review of endoscopic and surgical specimens with normal histology, Free State Province, South Africa.

Studies defining eosinophil densities in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are limited. To assess whether eosinophils are pathologically infiltrating the GIT, it is important to evaluate eosinophil densities for specific populations. A retrospective, quantitative, comparative study was conducted to determine the number of eosinophils in the oesophagus, stomach and small bowel of patients in central South Africa and to investigate whether a statistically significant difference occurred between ethnic and gender groups. In total, 309 histological sections from the oesophagus, gastric corpus, gastric antrum and small intestine were sampled from male and female, African and Caucasian patients. Histology reports and review of the slides confirmed the absence of histological abnormality. The number of eosinophils in the epithelium and lamina propria were manually quantified. The eosinophil values across gender, ethnicity and location were 0-2.0/mm² for the oesophagus, 0-53.0/mm² for the gastric corpus and 7.1-115.3/mm² for the small intestine. Regarding the gastric antrum, African and Caucasian females had eosinophil values of 1.0-35.7/mm² and 0-22.4/mm², respectively. Males had an eosinophil density of 0-31.6/mm² in the gastric antrum. The eosinophil values in the oesophagus, gastric corpus and small bowel were not significantly different between genders and ethnic groups. The only site where ethnicity influenced the number of eosinophils was the gastric antrum, a discrepancy that cannot be explained. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the eosinophil densities in the oesophagus, stomach and small bowel of adults in South Africa.

Does the frequency of hunting dogs’ activity influence their oxidative stress status subsequent to endurance?

Oxidative stress is implied in various pathological conditions in both humans and animals, and recent studies have suggested its role in performance, recovery, immunity, and health. This study’s objective was to investigate whether the higher frequency of activity by hunting dogs influences the oxidative stress indicators subsequent to endurance. The research involved forty-one hunting dogs, with equal representations of Alpine Brack Dachshund, Istrian Coarse-Haired Hound, and Posavina Hound. The dogs were categorized into higher frequency activity (n=22) and lower frequency activity (n=19) groups. Endurance was defined as a wild-boar hunt lasting for eight hours at an outside air temperature amounting to 10°C. Endurance had an impact on several parameters: an increased white blood cell count, neutrophils, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration values, but decreased values of eosinophils and lymphocytes. Non-enzymatic biochemical indicators revealed higher energy expenditure (decreased glucose, total protein, and albumin concentration), hemoconcentration (decreased iron concentration), and elevated enzyme activity (AST, ALT, ALP, and CK-MB) but lower catalase activity. In terms of activity frequency, enzyme biomarker activity showed significant differences. ALT activity in both low- and high-frequency activity canines was notably higher (P<0.05) post-endurance compared to pre-endurance levels. ALP activity was significantly higher (P<0.05) post intense physical activity in higher frequency activity canines, yet lower (P<0.05) in lower activity frequency canines compared to their pre-endurance status. In conclusion, both tested canine groups demonstrated notable signs of oxidative stress subsequent to endurance, without differences between activity frequencies.

Results of omalizumab treatment in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: Real-life data.

Recurrences occur when corticosteroid therapy is discontinued or reduced during the treatment of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP). The probability of recurrence is once in 50% of patients and twice or more in 25%. In such instances, new treatment options are deemed necessary. This study aims to assess the efficacy of omalizumab treatment as a steroid-sparing drug in patients with CEP. The clinical features of patients treated with omalizumab for recurrent CEP were evaluated retrospectively before and after treatment. All data from patients and diagnoses were reviewed. The effects of treatment on recurrence rate, oral corticosteroid (OCS) use and lung functions, peripheral eosinophil values, and symptom scores were evaluated. Radiological regression was also evaluated. In the final analysis, we included ten patients with a median follow-up of 22 months after initiation of omalizumab. During this follow-up period, the results were associated with a significant reduction in the number of asthma attacks per year, the number of CEP relapses, the rate of hospitalization, the amount of corticosteroids consumed daily, and the total corticosteroid dose. In addition, improvement was observed in the symptom scores and lung functions of the patients. Systemic steroids were completely discontinued in two patients receiving omalizumab treatment. In other patients, the mean steroid dose was reduced by 77.2 percent in the first year of omalizumab treatment and 82 percent in the second year, respectively. Nevertheless, there was no elevation in peripheral eosinophil count, and radiological regression was observed. Omalizumab can be an effective treatment for CEP and can be used as a steroid-sparing agent.

Real-world clinical remission of severe asthma with benralizumab in Spanish adults with severe asthma

Objective Patients with severe eosinophilic asthma experience high risk of exacerbations and reduced quality of life. Benralizumab, a monoclonal antibody binding to IL-5 receptor α subunit, is an approved drug for its treatment. The objective was to describe clinical remission after benralizumab prescription in routine clinical practice. Methods Retrospective multicenter study with data from four hospitals in Valencian Community (Spain) with asthma units between 2019 and 2020. Data was gathered at baseline and after 12 months. We considered clinical remission after 1 year if the patient remained without exacerbations and use of systemic corticosteroids and with good clinical control and normal lung function. Results Data from 139 patients was gathered. At the 12-month follow-up, 44.1% were in clinical remission, since 84.0%, 77.5%, 51.0% and 95.5% of patients did not experience exacerbations, had total asthma control test score of ≥20, prebronchodilator FEV1 of ≥80% and did not use systemic corticosteroids. A significant reduction of long-acting muscarinic antagonists (p = 0.0001), leukotriene receptor antagonists (p = 0.0326), oral corticosteroids (p < 0.0001) and short-acting beta agonists (p = 0.0499) was observed. Baseline factors with greatest individual influence on clinical remission were employment situation, tobacco use, comorbidity number, eosinophil value, number of exacerbations, FEV1, emergency visit number, and ACT, MiniAQLQ and TAI scores. Final analysis of multiple logistic regression indicated that having baseline FEV1 value below 80% increases remission chance 9.7 times a year compared to FEV1 >80%. Conclusion Clinical remission after treatment with benralizumab is achievable in a high percentage of patients with severe asthma eosinophilia not controlled in real life.

Study on the correlation between controlling nutritional status score and clinical biochemical indicators in patients with colorectal cancer

PurposeThe controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score is an important tool for predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, its effectiveness is relatively insufficient. This study aimed to screen for more effective clinical indicators as supplements to the CONUT scoring system and improve the predictive value of CRC prognosis. Patients and methodsBetween 2014 and 2020, the clinical information of all CRC patients in our unit was retrospectively collected, and the CONUT scores were calculated based on the levels of serum albumin (ALB), lymphocytes (LC), and total cholesterol. The included patients were divided into the following three groups: normal nutrition (0–1), mild malnutrition (2–4), and moderate-to-severe malnutrition (5–12). The correlations between the CONUT score and baseline characteristics and clinical indicators were evaluated. ResultsThis study ultimately included 5014 CRC patients. The nutritional status of patients with colon cancer (CC) was worse than that of rectal cancer (RC). The nutritional status was worse in men than in women. The older the patient, the poorer the nutritional status, and the poorer the nutritional status, the longer the hospital stay. In addition, poor nutritional status in patients is indicated by higher values of neutrophils (NE), monocytes (MC), eosinophils (EOS), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA), and lower values of white blood cells (WBC), basophils (BAS), haemoglobin (HB), total protein (TP), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate transaminase (AST), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Indicators that significantly correlated with the CONUT score reflected the immune nutritional status, including WBC (odds ratio [OR] = 0.036, P < 0.001), NE (OR = 30.815, P < 0.001), MC (OR = 41.388, P < 0.001), EOS (OR = 27.577, P < 0.001), BAS (OR = 0.006, P = 0.046), and LDL (OR = 0.319, P < 0.001). ConclusionAdditional variables such as WBC, NE, MC, EOS, BAS, and LDL may be used as supplementary indicators in the CONUT scoring system to more effectively predict the clinical prognosis of CRC patients.

Clinical evaluation of pulmonary quantitative computed tomography parameters for diagnosing eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Characteristics and diagnostic performance.

To investigate the characteristics and diagnostic performance of quantitativecomputed tomography (QCT) parameters in eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. High-resolution CT scans of COPD patients were retrospectively analyzed, and various emphysematous parenchyma measurements, including lung volume (LC), lung mean density (LMD), lung standard deviation (LSD), full-width half maximum (FWHM), and lung relative voxel number (LRVN) were performed. The QCT parameters were compared between eosinophilic and noneosinophilic COPD patients, using a definition of eosinophilic COPD as blood eosinophil values ≥ 300 cells·µL-1 on at least three times. Receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curve (ROC-AUC) and python were used to evaluate discriminative efficacy of QCT. Noneosinophilic COPD patients had a significantly lower TLMD (-846.3 ± 47.9 Hounsfield Unit[HU]) and TFWHM(162.5 ± 30.6 HU) compared to eosinophilic COPD patients (-817.8 ± 54.4, 177.3 ± 33.1 HU, respectively) (p = 0.018, 0.03, respectively). Moreover, the total LC (TLC) and TLSD were significantly lower in eosinophilic COPD group (3234.4 ± 1145.8, 183.8 ± 33.9 HU, respectively) than the noneosinophilic COPD group (5600.2 ± 1248.4, 203.5 ± 20.4 HU, respectively) (p = 0.009, 0.002, respectively). The ROC-AUC values for TLC, TLMD, TLSD, and TFWHM were 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.828-0.936), 0.66 (95% CI, 0.546-0.761), 0.64 (95% CI, 0.524-0.742), and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.511-0.731), respectively. When the TLC value was 4110 mL, the sensitivity was 90.7% (95% CI, 79.7-96.9), specificity was 77.8% (95% CI, 57.7-91.4) and accuracy was 86.4%. Notably, TLC demonstrated the highest discriminative efficiency with an F1 Score of 0.79, diagnostic Odds Ratio of 34.3 and Matthews Correlation Coefficient of 0.69, surpassing TLMD (0.55, 3.66, 0.25), TLSD (0.56, 3.95, 0.26), and TFWHM (0.56, 4.16, 0.33). Eosinophilic COPD patients exhibit lower levels of emphysema and a more uniform density distribution throughout the lungs compared to noneosinophilic COPD patients. Furthermore, TLC demonstrated the highest diagnostic efficiency and may serve as a valuable diagnostic marker for distinguishing between the two groups.

Analysis of the Construction of a Predictive Model for Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

This study aimed to determine indices to diagnose and predict eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS) during the initial clinic visit. We retrospectively analyzed 116 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and were classified according to the postoperative pathological diagnosis. General data and various clinical indicators were analyzed, and indicators with statistically significant differences between groups were further incorporated into a multivariate logistic regression to establish a comprehensive prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to compare the two significant valuable single factors from previous studies, the difference in CT scores between the ethmoid sinus and the sum difference of the maxillary sinus (EM difference) and the absolute value of peripheral blood eosinophil (bEOS), with a comprehensive prediction model. There were significant differences in history of allergic asthma (p < 0.001), visual analog scale (VAS) score (p=0.005), sino-nasal outcome test-22(SNOT-22) scale score (p=0.004), Lund-Mackay scale score (p=0.017), EM difference (p=0.002), percentage of bEOS (%)(p=0.001), and absolute value of bEOS (×109/L) (p=0.000) between the two groups (p< 0.05). The history of allergic disease, VAS and bEOS were screened out and included in the comprehensive prediction model. The area under the curve (AUC) of the comprehensive prediction model (0.804)> the AUC of the absolute value of the bEOS (0.764)>the AUC of the EM difference (0.655). The AUC of the EM difference and the comprehensive prediction model were statistically different (P=0.025). There was no statistical difference between the absolute value of bEOS and the AUC of the comprehensive prediction model. The comprehensive prediction model covering the three aspects of allergic asthma history, VAS score, and bEOS count had the highest AUC compared to the other predictors and had good predictive power for the diagnosis of ECRS.

Evaluation of Collagen Morphology and Eosinophils in Different Grades of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Hematoxylin and Eosin and Congo Red Stains – A Pilot Study

Abstract Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) exhibits dysplastic features in the epithelium and connective tissue which constitute tumor microenvironment. Eosinophils are granulocytic cells which impart inflammatory response and cell death, thereby producing a great role in the regulation and progression of tumors. The morphology of collagen fibers also varies on the progression of oral cancer. Aims: The present study aims at evaluating collagen morphology and amount of eosinophil in different grades of OSCC using hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) and Congo red stains. Settings and Design: The present study includes histopathologically proven cases of 15 OSCC subclassified into five cases per each group. Subjects and Methods: Both H and E and Congo red staining were done for five cases per grades of OSCC and viewed by two observers in zigzag pattern. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA test and interobserver variability by kappa statistics. Results: P &lt; 0.001 was obtained based on the ANOVA test and P value of eosinophils among different grades was statistically significant. Conclusions: The present study concludes that stroma will change from dense to loose and increase in number of eosinophils as carcinoma progresses.

A new predictor of coronary no-reflow phenomenon after percutaneous coronary intervention in saphenous vein grafts: Eisonophil

Introduction: Coronary no-reflow phenomenon is an important factor that causes increased mortality and morbidity in percutaneous coronary intervention procedures. How this happened is a subject that is still under investigation and has no clear answer. In this study, we examined the effect of eosinophil values in coronary no-reflow. Methods: The study was designed retrospectively. Four hundred four patients who underwent coronary bypass were included in the study; 153 in the no-reflow group and 251 in the regular coronary flow group. The relationship between eosinophil values and no-reflow was examined. Results: In the examination between no-reflow and eosinophil, there was a significant difference between the groups (p &lt;0.001), Multivariate analysis showed that presence of coronary stent (p = 0.001), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.001), neutrophils (P = 0.001), eosinophil (P = 0.001) were effective coronary no-reflow phenomena. Conclusions: Many factors play a role in developing no-reflow and eosinophil height among these factors. It should be kept in mind that no-reflow may develop if eosinophil elevation is present in coronary artery disease.

The Impact of the Pandemic on Cat and Dog Allergies.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on allergic patients is not clearly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in sensitivity to cat and dog allergens in patients with respiratory allergies in Istanbul during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic (March 2018 - March 2020) and during and after the pandemic (March 2020 - March 2022), a total of 5499 patients who underwent skin testing were retrospectively evaluated. The patients' age, gender, diagnosis, total IgE, and eosinophil values were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups: 2-6 years old and 7 years and older. The frequency of sensitization to cats and dogs was investigated in both groups before and after the pandemic. The median age of the 5499 children included in the study was 77 months, with a range of 2 to 221 months. Furthermore, 55.7% of the children were male. Of the children, 59.1% were examined before the pandemic, and 40.9% during and after the pandemic. During the examinations, allergic rhinitis was identified in 1628 children (29.6%), asthma in 1829 children (33.3%), and both asthma and allergic rhinitis in 2042 children (37.1%). Allergies to cats were found in 247 children (4.5%), and to dogs in 166 children (3.0%). When comparing the age groups, the frequency of cat allergy in the 7-years and older group was found to have decreased compared to the pre-pandemic period, and the statistical difference was close to significance (p=0.08). However, regarding dog allergy, in the 7 years and older group, the sensitivity to dogs, which was 5.6% before the pandemic, had decreased to 2.6% during the pandemic, and this decrease was found to be statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Environmental allergen exposure has a significant impact on the phenotype of allergic diseases. Changes in patients' lifestyles and increased time spent at home during the pandemic may have led to a decrease in contact with outdoor cat and dog allergens, resulting in a reduced frequency of cat and dog sensitivity. Additionally, the introduction of mask-distance-handwashing/disinfection rules during the pandemic is believed to have reduced contact with cat and dog allergens, potentially contributing to a decrease in allergy frequency.

The Impact of Blood Morphological Parameters on Treatment Outcomes in Tennis Elbow Patients Receiving Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: A Prospective Study.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy holds substantial promise for the treatment of tennis elbow, a complex and challenging musculoskeletal condition. The aim of the study was to assess whether there are correlations between the levels of individual morphotic elements determined in whole blood and the outcomes of tennis elbow treatment with PRP injection, as measured using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QDASH), and Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE). A prospective analysis was conducted on 107 patients (132 elbows) undergoing lateral epicondylitis treatment with (PRP) injections. Patients completed VAS, PRTEE, and QDASH questionnaires on the day of PRP administration and at established checkpoints (2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 52, and 104 weeks). Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was employed to assess the treatment effects. Then, correlations were measured within each PROM, and the impact of the concentration of individual blood parameters on the MCID outcomes was assessed. Analyzing the relationships between the MCID+ and MCID- groups, significant correlations for the VAS and QDASH scales were observed. The level of individual morphotic elements in the blood may have influenced the treatment outcome, as measured using specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Regarding the VAS scale, factors favoring a positive treatment outcome included higher values of eosinophils (EOS) and basophils (BASO). For the QDASH scale, these factors were a lower value of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and a higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). The levels of certain blood parameters, such as EOS and BASO, in the current study influenced the classification of patients into MCID+ or MCID- groups, based on the VAS and QDASH scales.

Circulating miRNAs act as potential biomarkers for asthma.

Identification of new clinical markers contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma. Considering the crucial role of LIGHT in asthma, it may become a potential target for asthma. The aim of current study was to determine if circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) targeting LIGHT may be used as diagnostic biomarkers to distinguish asthma. Blood serum from a cohort of 60 subjects, including 20 cases with mild asthma, 20 cases with moderate-to-severe asthma, and 20 healthy controls were included. Serum was analyzed for circulating miRNAs profiles through miRNAs microarray. Real Time PCR was conducted to verify the results of miRNA microarray. Correlations between circulating miRNAs targeting LIGHT and clinical characteristics were investigated. A total of 365 miRNAs were differentially expressed in asthma patients. Among them, miR-107 and miR-140-5p were found to target LIGHT, and varied in asthmatics. Additionally, miR-107 and miR-140-5p expressions were positively correlated with the absolute value of peripheral eosinophils. Finally, miR-140-5p and miR-107 were demonstrated to have good diagnostic efficacy for asthma (AUC= 0.8667 and 0.9400) with good sensitivity (0.8000 and 0.8667,respectively) and specificity (0.8667 and 0.867). Thus, circulating miRNAs expressed differentially between healthy control and asthma patients. Plasma miR-140-5p and miR-107 can be used as diagnostic biomarkers to distinguish patients with asthma from healthy control, and may take part in asthma pathogenesis by negatively regulating LIGHT. Further research was needed to evaluate their roles as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of asthma.

Research progress of serum eosinophil in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are common airway diseases, and there are similarities and differences between them. Serum eosinophil (EOS) has potential application value in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of COPD and asthma. However, the clinical application value of serum EOS in these two diseases is controversial. In this work, recent research progress on the application of serum EOS in COPD and asthma was analyzed, and the potential application of serum EOS in the two diseases was expounded from several aspects, including the correlation between the pathogenesis of COPD and asthma and EOS, as well as the correlation between the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the two diseases and serum EOS. The results revealed that serum EOS was important in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of COPD and asthma and exhibited a potential clinical application value. However, further study was needed to evaluate the threshold, which provided guidance for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of COPD and asthma.

Evaluation of Haemato-biochemical Effects of Tiletamine-zolazepam Alone and in Combination with Xylazine or Xylazine-ketamine in Atropinized Dogs

Background: Tiletamine-zolazepam is a good injectable anaesthetic widely used in veterinary patients and thus the present study was planned to evaluate the effect of tiletamine-zolazepam alone and in combination with xylazine and xylazine-ketamine in dogs. Methods: Eighteen dogs irrespective of age, breed, sex and body weight (requiring various surgical corrections) were randomly divided into three groups namely A, B and C. Atropine sulphate was administered in all the groups followed by tiletamine-zolazepam in group A, xylazine and tiletamine-zolazepam in group B and xylazine, ketamine and tiletamine-zolazepam in group C. The efficacy of the anaesthesia was evaluated at different time intervals upto recovery by observing clinical, physiological and haemato-biochemical parameters. Result: Induction dose of tiletamine-zolazepam observed in group A, B and C was 6.5, 5.5 and 4.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Induction time values were decreased and duration of anaesthesia was increased from group A to group C. All physiological parameters differs significantly (p less than 0.05) between the groups. Mean values of Hb, TEC, PCV, TLC, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and total proteins showed transient decrease whereas neutrophils, ALT, AST, total bilirubin, plasma glucose, BUN and serum creatinine showed transient increase in all the groups at 30 and 60 minutes. Haemato-biochemical parameters approached to baseline values upto 24 hours. Thus, it can be concluded that the various combinations of tiletamine-zolazepam with pre-medicants like xylazine and xylazine-ketamine was found to be safe with regard to their effects on haemato-biochemical parameters.

Diagnostic value of peripheral blood eosinophils for benign and malignant pulmonary nodule.

This retrospective study aims to assess the diagnostic utility of peripheral blood eosinophil counts in distinguishing between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules (PNs) prior to surgical intervention. We involved patients presenting with PNs measuring ≤30 mm as the primary CT imaging finding prior to surgical procedures at the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command in Shenyang, China, during the period spanning 2021 to 2022. Multivariable logistic regression analysis and receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, along with area under the curve (AUC) calculations, were used to determine the diagnostic value of eosinophil. A total of 361 patients with PN were included, consisting of 135 with benign PN and 226 with malignant PN. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that eosinophil percentage (OR = 1.909, 95% CI: 1.323-2.844, P < .001), absolute eosinophil value (OR = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.000-0.452, P = .033), tumor diameter (OR = 0.918, 95% CI: 0.877-0.959, P < .001), nodule type (OR = 0.227, 95% CI: 0.125-0.400, P < .001), sex (OR = 2.577, 95% CI: 1.554-4.329, P < .001), and age (OR = 0.967, 95% CI: 0.945-0.989, P = .004) were independently associated with malignant PN. The diagnostic value of regression model (AUC [95% CI]: 0.775 [0.725-0.825]; sensitivity: 74.3%; specificity: 71.1%) was superior to eosinophil percentage (AUC [95% CI]: 0.616 [0.556-0.677]; specificity: 66.8%; specificity: 51.1%) (Delong test: P < .001). Peripheral blood eosinophil percentage might be useful for early malignant PN diagnosis, and combining that with other characteristics might improve the diagnostic performance.