Increase In Eosinophil Count Research Articles

Silicone allergy manifestation in pediatric ventriculoperitoneal shunting: navigating diagnostic challenges and customizing therapeutic approaches. Illustrative case.

A silicone allergy can significantly impact the efficacy of ventriculoperitoneal shunt devices used in hydrocephalus treatment. Its clinical presentation often resembles infectious ventriculitis, characterized by altered cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters, including low glucose levels, elevated protein concentrations, and increased white blood cell counts predominantly comprising eosinophils. The authors report the case of an 18-month-old male who experienced recurrent shunt malfunction linked to CSF changes indicative of infectious ventriculitis. The patient underwent surgeries for suspected infection management. Notably, he exhibited increased eosinophil counts in both blood and CSF, as well as the development of neoformation tissue. This, along with the absence of microbial infection, indicated silicone hypersensitivity. While navigating medical device scarcity, innovative methods were employed to secure a silicone-free valve, markedly improving the patient's clinical outcome. Clinicians must be vigilant for silicone allergy in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts, particularly when elevated serum eosinophil counts and negative microbiological tests are present. This rare condition demands a multidisciplinary approach for timely diagnosis and management to reduce morbidity, unnecessary surgeries, and healthcare costs. The limited availability of non-silicone-based shunts further complicates management. This case emphasizes the need for considering silicone allergy in differential diagnoses, especially in pediatric patients. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE2474.

Amiodarone-Induced Anaphylaxis.

Background: Amiodarone-induced anaphylaxis is seldom reported. The mechanism of this anaphylaxis is unknown. Methods: A literature search was carried out with keywords "Amiodarone" and "Anaphylaxis" and "polysorbate 80" or "hypotension." A search using "amiodarone" in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from 1969 to 2024 was also conducted. Results: There are a total of 10 cases of amiodarone-induced anaphylaxis in the literature. Six patients were male. Ages ranged from 15 to 86years old. Nine cases were triggered by intravenous injection (IV) and one by oral administration. Eight patients did not have previous exposure to amiodarone. The trigger times for IV amiodarone were immediate to 90 minutes. All nine cases of IV amiodarone resulted in hypotension (90%), with an immeasurable blood pressure (70%). Presentations included bronchospasm or a skin rash (60%), angioedema (40%), and unconsciousness (20%). Only one patient had a history of allergy to penicillin and sulfonamide. An amiodarone skin test was positive on one patient. Increased blood tryptase (4 cases), positive basophil activation test to amiodarone (2 cases), increased eosinophil count (1 case), and increased serum IgE (1 case) were reported. Amiodarone was terminated in 80% of the patients. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, antihistamine-1, or steroids were used to rescue patients. Four patients were intubated. All patients fully recovered. In the FAERS database, 89 cases of amiodarone-associated anaphylaxis were reported, resulting in 14 deaths. Conclusions: Solvent polysorbate 80, amiodarone, and iodide may contribute to amiodarone-induced anaphylaxis. Prompt treatment is the key to saving patients.

Relationship between circulating white blood cell count and inflammatory skin disease: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study.

Observational studies have shown a strong association between circulating white blood cell counts (WBC) and inflammatory skin diseases such as acne and psoriasis. However, the causal nature of this relationship is unclear. We performed a two-way two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate potential causal relationships between leukocytes and inflammatory skin diseases. The circulating white blood cell count, basophil cell count, leukocyte cell count, lymphocyte cell count, eosinophil cell count, and neutrophil cell count data were obtained from the Blood Cell Consortium (BCX). The data for inflammatory skin disorders, including acne, atopic dermatitis (AD), hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis (SD), were obtained from the FinnGen Consortium R10. The primary analysis utilized inverse variance weighting (IVW) along with additional methods such as MR-Egger, weighted mode, and weighted median estimator. To assess heterogeneity among instrument variables, Cochran's Q test was employed, while MR-Egger intercept and MR-PRESSO were used to test for horizontal pleiotropy. IVW demonstrated that an elevated monocyte count was significantly associated with a decreased risk of psoriasis (OR = 0.897, 95% CI: 0.841-0.957, P = 0.001, FDR = 0.016). Additionally, an increased eosinophil count was causally associated with a higher risk of AD (OR = 1.188, 95% CI: 1.093-1.293, P = 0.000, FDR = 0.002). No inverse causal relationship between inflammatory skin disease and circulating white blood cell count was found. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that increased monocyte count is associated with a reduced risk of psoriasis and that there is a causal relationship between increased eosinophil counts and an increased risk of AD. These findings help us understand the potential causal role of specific white blood cell counts in the development of inflammatory skin diseases.

Dupilumab-associated (hyper)eosinophilia in patients with atopic dermatitis: a single-center cohort study of the TREAT NL (TREatment of ATopic eczema, the Netherlands) registry.

This study investigated the incidence and progression of (hyper)eosinophilia in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) treated with dupilumab, using data from the TREAT NL registry cohort. In total, 38.5% of patients had (hyper)eosinophilia at baseline and/or during dupilumab treatment. (Hyper)eosinophilia was present at baseline in 43 (55.8%) patients and developed in 34 (44.2%) patients during treatment. Eosinophilia was transient, peaking at 6 months and normalizing by 18–24 months. One patient discontinued dupilumab due to persistent hypereosinophilia, but generally, eosinophilia did not affect treatment outcomes. In conclusion, dupilumab is found viable for patients with AD regardless of baseline eosinophilia, with temporary increases in eosinophil counts that are often not clinically significant.

CCL11/CCR3-dependent eosinophilia alleviates malignant pleural effusions and improves prognosis

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a common occurrence in advanced cancer and is often linked with a poor prognosis. Eosinophils were reported to involve in the development of MPE. However, the role of eosinophils in MPE remains unclear. To investigate this, we conducted studies using both human samples and mouse models. Increased eosinophil counts were observed in patients with MPE, indicating that the higher the number of eosinophils is, the lower the LENT score is. In our animal models, eosinophils were found to migrate to pleural cavity actively upon exposure to tumor cells. Intriguingly, we discovered that a deficiency in eosinophils exacerbated MPE, possibly due to their anti-tumor effects generated by modifying the microenvironment of MPE. Furthermore, our experiments explored the role of the C-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CCL11) and its receptor C-C motif chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3) in MPE pathology. As a conclusion, our study underscores the protective potential of eosinophils against the development of MPE, and that an increase in eosinophils through adoptive transfer of eosinophils or increasing their numbers improved MPE.

Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis of the causal relationship between blood eosinophils and allergic rhinitis.

Previous studies have revealed a correlation between eosinophils and allergic rhinitis, but the causal relationship has not been fully confirmed. This study aims to evaluate the causal link between blood eosinophils and allergic rhinitis using the Mendelian randomization (MR) method. Summary data from the Genome-Wide Association Study Catalog (GWAS) for eosinophil count (exposure variable) and allergic rhinitis (outcome variable) were collected. GWAS data for the exposure variable were obtained from the IEU Open GWAS Project developed by the Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, while data for the outcome variable were sourced from the FinnGen Biobank (Finland) database. The causal relationship between eosinophils and allergic rhinitis was analyzed using the two-sample MR method with inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using the weighted median method, MR-Egger regression, leave-one-out analysis, and funnel plots. An increase in blood eosinophil count showed a potential causal relationship with an increased risk of allergic rhinitis (OR=1.187, 95% CI 1.051 to 1.341, P=0.006). This finding was consistent across the weighted median method and MR-Egger regression. Leave-one-out analysis indicated that no single nucleotide polymorphism significantly influenced the causal inference. There is a causal association between increased eosinophil count and a higher risk or worsening of allergic rhinitis.

Clinical biomarkers for thyroid immune-related adverse events in patients with stage III and IV gastrointestinal tumors.

Thyroid immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment appear to correlate with a better prognosis. We aimed to investigate clinical biomarkers associated with thyroid irAEs. We retrospectively analyzed data from 129 patients receiving programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors for stage III and IV gastrointestinal tumors. Patients were divided into two groups: "thyroid irAEs" group and "no thyroid irAEs" group. We compared continuous variables using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests and categorical variables using Pearson's chi-square test. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and associations between clinical features and thyroid irAEs were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Associations for thyroid irAEs and outcomes [progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS)] of the patients were performed with a Cox proportional hazard model. A total of 129 patients, including 66 gastric cancer, 30 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and 33 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), were involved in this analysis with 47 cases of thyroid irAEs occurrence. The Cox proportional hazard model analysis confirmed the extended PFS [hazard rate (HR) = 0.447, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.215 to 0.931, p = 0.031] and OS (HR = 0.424, 95% CI: 0.201 to 0.893, p = 0.024) for thyroid irAEs group when compared with those of the no thyroid irAEs group. Association between thyroid irAEs and clinical characteristics at baseline was analyzed subsequently by univariate analysis. Higher body mass index (p = 0.005), increased eosinophil count (p = 0.014), increased lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.008), higher baseline thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (p = 0.001), HCC (p = 0.001) and increased adenosine deaminase (ADA) (p = 0.001) were linked with thyroid irAEs occurrence. The multivariable logistic regression model indicated that ADA [odds rate (OR) = 4.756, 95% CI: 1.147 to 19.729, p = 0.032] was independently associated with thyroid irAEs occurrence. Increased baseline level of ADA was associated with thyroid irAEs occurrence in patients with advanced gastrointestinal tumors who received ICI treatment. In the case of abnormal ADA, attention should be paid to the risk of thyroid irAEs.

A Rare Case of Dress Syndrome from an Ayurvedic Medication which is Considered to have no Side Effects

Dress Syndrome1 is a Potentionally Life threatening Adverse Drug reaction characterised by abnormally increased eosinophil counts. We present to you a case of a 51 year old female who presented to emergency in anaphylactic shock after consuming an unknown drug (Aruyvedic Medication). The patient was resustitated in emergency and after a 6 days course in the Hospital, Patient was discharged.

Effects of increasing sensitizing doses of ovalbumin on airway hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic mice.

The dosage of ovalbumin (OVA) during the sensitization stage is considered a crucial factor in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). However, the inconsistent dosages of sensitizing OVA used in current studies and the lack of research on their impact on AHR are notable limitations. We examined the impact of increasing sensitizing doses of OVA in a murine asthma model, which entailed initial sensitization with OVA followed by repeated exposure to OVA aerosols. BALB/c mice were primed with doses of OVA (0, 10, 20, 50, and 100 μg) plus 1 mg Alum on Days 0 and 7, and were challenged with OVA aerosols (10 mg/mL for 30 min) between Days 14 and 17. Antigen-induced AHR to methacholine (MCh), as well as histological changes, eosinophilic infiltration, and epithelial injury were assessed. The result indicated that there are striking OVA dose-related differences in antigen-induced AHR to MCh. The most intense antigen-induced AHR to MCh was observed with sensitization at 50 μg, while weaker responses were seen at 10, 20, and 100 μg. Meanwhile, there was a significant increase in eosinophil count with sensitization at 50 μg. The changes of AHR were correlated with total cells count, lymphocytes count, eosinophils count, and basophils count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; however, it did not correlate with histological changes such as cellular infiltration into bronchovascular bundles and goblet cell hyperplasia of the bronchial epithelium. Overall, this study demonstrated that sensitization with 50 μg of OVA resulted in the most significant AHR compared to other dosages. These findings may offer valuable insights for future research on mouse asthma modeling protocols.

Different Impacts of Traffic-Related Air Pollution on Early-Onset and Late-Onset Asthma.

Early-onset asthma (EOA) and late-onset asthma (LOA) are two distinct phenotypes. Air pollution has been associated with an increase in poorer asthma outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on asthma outcomes in EOA and LOA patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 675 asthma patients (LOA: 415) recruited from a major medical center in Taiwan. The land-use regression (LUR) model was used to estimate the level of exposure to PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and O3 on an individual level. We investigated the association between TRAP and asthma outcomes in EOA and LOA patients, stratified by allergic sensitization status, using a regression approach. An increase in PM10 was associated with younger age of onset, increased asthma duration, and decreased lung function in EOA patients (p<0.05). An increase in PM10 was associated with older age of onset, and decreased asthma duration, eosinophil count, and Asthma Control Test (ACT) score in LOA patients. An increase in PM2.5 was associated with younger age of onset, increased asthma duration, decreased eosinophil count, and lung function in EOA patients (p<0.05). An increase in PM2.5 was associated with decreased lung function and ACT score in LOA patients. An increase in NO2 was associated with increased eosinophil count and decreased lung function in EOA patients (p<0.05). An increase in O3 was associated with decreased lung function in LOA patients (p<0.05). In addition, associations of TRAP with age of onset and eosinophil counts were mainly observed in both EOA and LOA patients with allergic sensitization, and an association with ACT was mainly observed in LOA patients without allergic sensitization. The impact of TRAP on age of onset, eosinophil count, and lung function in EOA patients, and ACT in LOA patients, was affected by the status of allergic sensitization.

Esophageal Remodeling Correlates With Eating Behaviors in Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

There are limited data characterizing eating habits among pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We compared eating behaviors in pediatric patients with EoE with healthy controls and assessed the degree of correlation with symptomatology, endoscopic and histologic findings, and esophageal distensibility. We conducted a prospective, observational study where subjects consumed 4 food textures (puree, soft solid, chewable, and hard solid) and were scored for eating behaviors including number of chews per bite, sips of fluid per food, and consumption time. Symptomatic, endoscopic, histologic, and esophageal distensibility data were collected for case subjects. Twenty-seven case subjects and 25 healthy controls were enrolled in our study (mean age 11.0 years, 63.5% male). Compared with healthy controls, pediatric patients with EoE demonstrated more chews per bite with soft solid (13.6 vs 9.1, P = 0.031), chewable (14.7 vs 10.7, P = 0.047), and hard solid foods (19.0 vs 12.8, P = 0.037). Patients with EoE also demonstrated increased consumption time with soft solid (94.7 vs 58.3 seconds, P = 0.002), chewable (90.0 vs 65.1 seconds, P = 0.005), and hard solid foods (114.1 vs 76.4 seconds, P = 0.034) when compared with healthy controls. Subgroup analysis based on disease status showed no statistically significant differences in eating behaviors between active and inactive EoE. Total endoscopic reference score positively correlated with consumption time ( r = 0.53, P = 0.008) and number of chews ( r = 0.45, P = 0.027) for chewable foods and with number of chews ( r = 0.44, P = 0.043) for hard solid foods. Increased consumption time correlated with increased eosinophil count ( r = 0.42, P = 0.050) and decreased esophageal distensibility ( r = -0.82, P < 0.0001). Altered eating behaviors including increased chewing and increased consumption time can be seen in pediatric patients with EoE, can persist despite histologic remission, and may be driven by changes in esophageal distensibility.

Assessment of tolerance of a new product (gluten-free grain snack) in children with food allergy to gluten

The development of a technological scheme for the production of cereal snacks based on the extrusion process with preliminary enzymatic treatment of wheat flour and the use of hydrolysate as a partial replacement for gluten-free raw materials is an urgent task. The use of gluten-free cereal snacks in the diet opens up new possibilities for dietary therapy in patients suffering from various manifestations of food allergy to gluten, making their diet more diverse and meeting their individual needs. The purpose of the research was to clinically evaluate the tolerance of gluten-free cereal snacks in children with PA to gluten. Material and methods. The study included 21 patients (male and female) aged 3 to 17 years with a diagnosed food allergy, including gluten. All children received gluten-free cereal snacks according to their age: children from 3 to 7 years old (n=11) received 50 g (176 kcal) daily, and children aged 8 to 17 years old (n=10) received 100 g (352 kcal) daily for 14 days, in addition to a non-specific hypoallergenic diet excluding highly allergenic foods. On the first day of the study, the patients or one of their parents evaluated the organoleptic properties of the presented product (taste, color, smell) using a 5-point scale (1 - very bad, 5 - excellent), according to a specially designed questionnaire. The assessment of clinical symptoms over time related to skin, gastrointestinal tract, and nervous system was conducted using a second questionnaire, where parents kept a daily «observation log» reflecting the child's well-being and condition, as well as adverse events associated with taking the product. Clinical safety parameters were assessed based on the dynamics of complete blood count and blood immunological parameters (total IgE, specific IgE, and IgG4 antibodies to the studied allergens) at the beginning and end of the consumption period. Results. Daily examinations and patient questionnaires revealed no adverse reactions to the product. No significant differences in body weight were observed at the end of the study (p>0.05). In the results of clinical and immunological blood analysis before and after consuming gluten-free cereal snacks, no significant deviations were observed in the form of an increase in eosinophil count, total IgE, allergen-specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies in peripheral blood. This suggests a favorable clinical safety profile of the proposed product. Conclusion. The study found that consumption of the new product (gluten-free cereal snacks) was well-tolerated by children aged 3 to 17 years with various manifestations of food allergy: no adverse effects of the product or exacerbations of the underlying disease were observed during the 14-day period of gluten-free cereal snack consumption. Therefore, the studied gluten-free cereal snacks can be recommended for children aged 3 to 17 years with various manifestations of gluten FA, in combination with a gluten free diet.

Differentiating COVID-19 and influenza in children: hemogram parameters as diagnostic tools.

It is not always possible to differentiate between influenza and COVID-19 based on symptoms alone. This is a topic of significant importance as it aims to determine whether there are specific hematological parameters that can be used to distinguish between influenza and COVID-19 in children. Two hundred thirty-one children between the ages of 1 month and 18 years who presented to the children's outpatient clinic between June 2021 and June 2022 with similar symptoms and were tested with an influenza test and a COVID-19 PCR test were included in the study. Of the patients included in the study, 130 tested positive for COVID-19 and 101 positive for influenza. The patients were evaluated for hematological parameters. Age, eosinophils and monocyte factors were shown to be statistically significantly effective in COVID-19. The risk of COVID-19 increased 1,484-fold with age, 10,708-fold with increasing eosinophil count, and 1,591-fold with increasing monocyte count. The performance of the monocyte count and eosinophil count was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. According to the performed ROC analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) value was observed to be 0.990 for monocytes. According to the cutoff point >1.50, the sensitivity value was determined as 98.4% and the specificity value as 97.0%. AUC significance for eosinophils was found to be 0.989. According to the cutoff point >0.02, the sensitivity value was determined as 99.2% and the specificity value as 93.1%. In the diagnosis of COVID-19, the eosinophil count and monocyte count are easily accessible, inexpensive, and important parameters in terms of differential diagnosis and can help in the differentiation of COVID-19 from influenza during seasonal outbreaks of the latter. Developing parameters for clinicians to use in diagnosing COVID-19 and influenza can facilitate their work in practice.

A case-control study for comorbidity and laboratory factors associated with food-induced anaphylaxis.

Background: Food-induced anaphylaxis (FIA) is a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction triggered by food allergens. Objective: This case-control study aimed to investigate comorbidities and laboratory factors associated with FIA in the pediatric population of Israel. Methods: Retrospective data from the electronic health records of Leumit Health Care Services were used to identify 711 pediatric patients with FIA and 2560 subjects with food allergy and without anaphylaxis matched for age, gender, and ethnicity. Comorbidities were identified based on medical billing diagnosis codes, and laboratory characteristics were compared between the two groups. Results: The mean ± standard deviation age of patients with FIA was 4.1 ± 4.1 years, and 37.3% were girls. Laboratory analysis revealed increased eosinophil counts (p < 0.001), elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) (p < 0.001), and IgA levels (p = 0.001) in the FIA group compared with the controls. With regard to comorbidities, the FIA group had higher prevalence rates of allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis (odds ratio [OR] 1.72; p < 0.001), allergic conjunctivitis (OR 1.84; p = 0.001), asthma (OR 1.36; p < 0.001), angioedema (OR 6.37; p < 0.001), atopic dermatitis (OR 1.77; p < 0.001), and contact dermatitis (OR 1.42; p = 0.001). There was a trend toward significance for chronic spontaneous urticaria (p = 0.051). There was a significant negative association between helminthiases, particularly enterobiasis, and FIA (OR 0.76 [95% confidence interval, 0.59-0.98]; p = 0.029). Conclusion: This study provides valuable epidemiologic evidence on the associations among FIA, comorbidities, and laboratory factors in the pediatric population.

Eosinophils at diagnosis are elevated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare, devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects upper and lower motor neurons. To date, no effective treatment or reliable biomarker for ALS has been developed. In recent years, many factors have been proposed as possible biomarkers of ALS; however, no consensus has been reached. Therefore, a reliable biomarker is urgently needed. Eosinophils may play a crucial role in healthy humans and diseases, and serve as a biomarker for many chronic diseases. Routine blood test results were collected from 66 healthy controls and 59 patients with ALS. The percentages and total numbers of each cell population were analyzed, and the correlation between these indicators and patient ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) score or disease progression rate (ΔFS score) was analyzed. Compared to healthy controls, the number of blood leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, and basophils was significantly decreased in patients with ALS (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, p = 0.049, and p < 0.0001, respectively). There was an increase in the number of eosinophils (p < 0.0001), but no difference in the number of lymphocytes between patients with ALS and healthy controls was found (p = 0.563). Compared to healthy controls, the percentage of neutrophils was decreased and the percentage of lymphocytes and eosinophils was increased in patients with ALS (p = 0.01, p = 0.012, and p = 0.001, respectively). There was no difference between patients with ALS and healthy controls in the percentage of monocytes and basophils (p = 0.622 and p = 0.09, respectively). However, only the percentage and number of eosinophils had a correlation with the ΔFS score. Further multivariate analysis revealed a significant correlation between the disease duration, eosinophil count and percentage, and the disease progression rate (p < 0.0001, p = 0.048, and p = 0.023, respectively). The neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio (NER), lymphocyte-to-eosinophil ratio (LER), and monocyte-to-eosinophil ratio (MER) were significantly lower in patients with ALS than in healthy controls. However, only the LER was significantly correlated with the ΔFS score. These observations implicate neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils as important factors, and increasing eosinophil counts were negatively correlated with the ΔFS score in patients with ALS.

Prediction of Hemoglobin Levels and Eosinophil Counts Due to Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) Infection in Elementary School Students in the River Banks Area, South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Introduction: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections in School-Age Children still exist as a public health problem in the River Banks Area. Elementary school students are one of the vulnerable populations to STH infection. This research purposed to determine the prediction of hemoglobin levels and eosinophil counts due to STH infection in elementary school students in the River Banks Area, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Methods: One hundred thirty-three kato katz stool preparation of three elementary school students in the river banks area, 68 were male and 65 were female, aged between 7 and 12 years old, were conducted for egg per gram (EPG) STHs eggs count Kato Katz method microscopic examination, and hematology analyzer blood examination to determine hemoglobin levels and eosinophil counts. Result: Linear regression analysis revealed that EPG of STHs was associated with a hemoglobin level of 13.937 with a -0.031 fold decrease in risk and with an eosinophil count of 140.204 with a 4.156 fold increase in risk, (95% confidence interval; p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Although EPG of STHs can be used to predict the risk of decreased hemoglobin levels and increased eosinophil counts, EPG is not the only factor to predict both of them in elementary school children.

EFFECT OF AFLATOXIN B1 ON THE HAEMATOLOGY, TESTES, AND LUNGS OF ADULT MALE RATS: A PHYSIOLOGICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL STUDY

Background: Aflatoxins are food-contaminating metabolites that can intoxicate and damage multiple organs. This study compared the effects of aflatoxin powder (AFB) and aflatoxin liquid (AFS) administrations on the testes and lungs of rats and elaborated their potential activity mechanisms.Methods: Fifteen rats were equally divided into 3 groups. The AFB and AFS groups were orally administered with aflatoxin B1 powder (0.5 mg/kg) and aflatoxin B1 liquid (0.5 mg/kg) for 21 days. The control group was fed on a basal pellet diet and water. The body weights of the rats were measured at the beginning of the trial and on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days. Blood samples were withdrawn at the end of the experiments and examined for complete blood count (CBC) [red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin content, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelet, neutrophil, monocyte, lymphocyte, basophil, and eosinophil counts]. The levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, e.g. malonaldehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), and serum testosterone were determined. Testes and lungs were examined under a light microscope to assess the aflatoxin B1-induced histopathological changes.Results: The weight gain and its percentages were significantly high in the AFS group than AFB group (P &lt;0.050). Neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and basophil counts were also significantly increased in AFB and AFS groups in comparison to the controls. A significant increase in eosinophil count was noted in the AFB group as compared to controls whereas lymphocyte count remained significantly high in the AFS group than AFB group. Testosterone serum levels significantly decreased in both groups (AFB and AFS) as compared to the control group. MDA and NO serum levels were also significantly high in the AFS group than the AFB group whereas the levels of both groups (AFB and AFS) were higher than in controls. Histological examinations of the testes revealed severe testicular damage, loss of the spermatogenesis process, necrosis, degeneration, shrinkage, and atrophy of seminiferous tubules in both AFB and AFS groups. Histological observations of the lungs depicted large numbers of inflammatory cells, mast cell infiltration, dilated alveolar sacs with exudates, and marked hemorrhages in both groups (AFB and AFS). The histological damages of the testes and lungs were more prominent in the AFS group than AFB group.Conclusion: The results demonstrated elevated oxidative stress markers and reduced serum testosterone levels in AFB and AFS-treated rats. Both studied organs (testes and lung) were severely damaged with more obvious changes in AFS treated group than in AFB treated group.

The Relationship between Serum Vitamin D Levels with Allergic Rhinitis Incidence and Total Nasal Symptom Score in Allergic Rhinitis Patients

Background: There is a correlation between allergies and insufficiency in 25-Hydroxyvitamin D. However, there exists a scarcity of studies that have investigated the measurement of Vitamin D levels association with allergic rhinitis. Objective: To assess the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and the occurrence of allergic rhinitis, as well as the overall nasal symptom score in individuals with allergic rhinitis. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Settings: Department of ENT, Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences, Muzaffarabad Pakistan. Duration: January 2022 to June 2022. Methods: The study included all individuals diagnosed with AR, who received treatment and were monitored. The exclusion criteria employed in this study encompassed several categories. Firstly, pediatric patients were excluded from the analysis. Secondly, patients with insufficient follow-up data were also excluded. Results: There were 34.67% male and 65.33% were female. In age groups, 54.67% were aged 19-39, 25.33% were aged 40-59, 12% were aged 60-70, and 6.67% were over 70. Almost 74.67% had low Vitamin D levels, 20% had normal levels, and 5.33% had high levels. About 17.33% had intermittent symptoms, while the majority (82.67%) had persistent symptoms. In terms of TNSS, 44% had mild symptoms, while 56% had moderate to severe symptoms. Results showed a strong relationship between Vitamin D levels and the severity of nasal symptoms in individuals with allergic rhinitis. The P-value of &lt;0.001 indicates a highly significant difference. Specifically, those with mild allergic rhinitis had notably higher Vitamin D levels (22.42±3.87 ng/ml) compared to those with moderate to severe symptoms (15.31±2.64 ng/ml). Conclusion: In this research, we investigated the connection between vitamin D insufficiency and allergic rhinitis (AR). We detected a meaningful association between vitamin D insufficiency and increased eosinophil counts, while there was no significant correlation with serum IgE levels.

Evaluation of the Impact of Serum Vitamin D Levels on the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis Index in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin condition characterized by itching, eczematous plaques, and dry skin. Despite ongoing research, its exact cause remains elusive. In this study, we aimed to explore the factors that influence the severity of AD in children and assess the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the disease's severity. We enrolled 96 AD patients in our investigation, evaluated their clinical condition using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, and compared them to a group of 90 healthy controls. Our analysis revealed that serum vitamin D levels and eosinophil counts significantly impacted the SCORAD index (p < 0.001). According to standardized regression coefficients, for each incremental unit in serum vitamin D levels, the SCORAD index exhibited a decrease of 0.449 units. Similarly, a one-unit increase in eosinophil count resulted in a 0.009 unit increase in the SCORAD index. It is worth noting that the influence of serum vitamin D levels on disease severity surpasses that of eosinophil counts and atopic conditions. In our patient cohort, we uncovered a negative correlation (r = -0.419, p < 0.001) between serum vitamin D levels and the SCORAD index. Our findings suggest that low serum vitamin D levels may have a more substantial impact on AD severity than atopic conditions and eosinophilia. Furthermore, we observed a negative association between the severity of AD and serum 25(OH)D3 levels.

Eosinophils as potential biomarkers in respiratory viral infections.

Eosinophils are bone marrow-derived granulocytes that, under homeostatic conditions, account for as much as 1-3% of peripheral blood leukocytes. During inflammation, eosinophils can rapidly expand and infiltrate inflamed tissues, guided by cytokines and alarmins (such as IL-33), adhesion molecules and chemokines. Eosinophils play a prominent role in allergic asthma and parasitic infections. Nonetheless, they participate in the immune response against respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus and influenza. Notably, respiratory viruses are associated with asthma exacerbation. Eosinophils release several molecules endowed with antiviral activity, including cationic proteins, RNases and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. On the other hand, eosinophils release several cytokines involved in homeostasis maintenance and Th2-related inflammation. In the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection, emerging evidence indicates that eosinophils can represent possible blood-based biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and severity prediction of disease. In particular, eosinopenia seems to be an indicator of severity among patients with COVID-19, whereas an increased eosinophil count is associated with a better prognosis, including a lower incidence of complications and mortality. In the present review, we provide an overview of the role and plasticity of eosinophils focusing on various respiratory viral infections and in the context of viral and allergic disease comorbidities. We will discuss the potential utility of eosinophils as prognostic/predictive immune biomarkers in emerging respiratory viral diseases, particularly COVID-19. Finally, we will revisit some of the relevant methods and tools that have contributed to the advances in the dissection of various eosinophil subsets in different pathological settings for future biomarker definition.