ABSTRACT
Herman Eisen and Sondra Schlesinger spent several days together in September 2007 in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, talking about immunology, focusing on his remembrances of the field over the more than 60 years of his involvement. This article is an abridged version of those discussions (the full version is available on the Annual Reviews website). It is both an oral history and a written memory of some important but selected areas of immunology.
Subject(s)
Allergy and Immunology , Allergy and Immunology/history , Allergy and Immunology/organization & administration , Allergy and Immunology/trends , Animals , Antibodies , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Humans , Immune System , T-LymphocytesABSTRACT
An exemplar outcome of an immunology-based intervention is vaccine development; the current COVID-19 pandemic is a case in point. Can we build an immunology research ecosystem in Africa that nurtures discovery and enables translation? We see African immunologists as key agents of change and discuss obstacles and opportunities.
Subject(s)
Allergy and Immunology , Developing Countries , Africa , Allergy and Immunology/education , Allergy and Immunology/organization & administration , Allergy and Immunology/trends , COVID-19 Vaccines , Humans , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the esophagus. Many new studies have been reported recently that describe EoE management. An expert panel was convened by the American Gastroenterological Association Institute and the Joint Task Force on Allergy-Immunology Practice Parameters to provide a technical review to be used as the basis for an updated clinical guideline. This technical review was developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Eighteen focused EoE management questions were considered, with 15 answered using the GRADE framework and 3 with a narrative summary. There is moderate certainty in the evidence that topical glucocorticosteroids effectively reduce esophageal eosinophil counts to <15 per high-power field over a short-term treatment period of 4-12 weeks, but very low certainty about the effects of using topical glucocorticosteroids as maintenance therapy. Multiple dietary strategies may be effective in reducing esophageal eosinophil counts to <15 per high-power field over a short-term treatment period, with moderate certainty for elemental diets, low certainty for empiric 2-, 4-, and 6-food elimination diets, and very low certainty that allergy-based testing dietary eliminations have a higher failure rate compared to empiric diet elimination. There is very low certainty for the effect of proton pump inhibitors in patients with esophageal eosinophilia. Although esophageal dilation appears to be relatively safe, there is no evidence that it reduces esophageal eosinophil counts. There is very low certainty in the effects of multiple other medical treatments for EoE: anti-interleukin-5 therapy, anti-interleukin-13 therapy, anti-IgE therapy, montelukast, cromolyn, and anti-TNF therapy.
Subject(s)
Eosinophilic Esophagitis/therapy , Evidence-Based Medicine/standards , Food Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Administration, Topical , Adult , Advisory Committees/standards , Age Factors , Allergy and Immunology/organization & administration , Allergy and Immunology/standards , Child , Dilatation/adverse effects , Dilatation/standards , Eosinophilic Esophagitis/diagnosis , Eosinophilic Esophagitis/immunology , Eosinophils/drug effects , Eosinophils/immunology , Esophagoscopy/adverse effects , Esophagoscopy/standards , Evidence-Based Medicine/methods , Food Hypersensitivity/complications , Food Hypersensitivity/diet therapy , Food Hypersensitivity/immunology , Food, Formulated , Gastroenterology/methods , Gastroenterology/organization & administration , Gastroenterology/standards , Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage , Humans , Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Societies, Medical/organization & administration , Societies, Medical/standards , Treatment Outcome , United StatesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To understand parent preferences for NHS paediatric allergy services. DESIGN: A stated preference study (discrete choice experiment). SETTING: West Midlands, UK. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of parents of children aged 16 years or younger recruited from the general population through a third party company approved by the University of Birmingham. INTERVENTION: An online questionnaire with 18 choice questions describing two hypothetical paediatric allergy specialist clinics described in terms of the clinician, information provision, additional facilities, waiting times and out of pocket expenses. Main outcome measures Preference and willingness to pay estimates for each of the specified attributes. RESULTS: Parents strongly preferred that their children be reviewed by consultants or specialist nurses formally trained in allergy compared with consultants with no formal allergy training [Willingness to pay (WTP) estimates for nurse specialist £150.9 (138.8-163.2), trained allergy consultants £218.7 (205.7-231.9), compared with consultants without formal training]. They were willing to wait longer to see trained practitioners. Parents also expressed a strong preference for improving online information regarding allergies [WTP for written information £18.4 (6.1-30.6) and £72.6 for improved online information (59.9-85.3), compared with verbal information]. Specialist clinics with additional dietician and eczema support were also preferred [WTP £29.9 (19.8-40.1), compared with no additional support]. CONCLUSIONS: Parents showed strong preference for formally trained practitioners in specialist allergy clinics. Access to improved online allergy information and additional facilities within allergy clinics were also preferred. These findings have implications for future commissioning of paediatric allergy services in the UK.
Subject(s)
Allergy and Immunology , Choice Behavior , Delivery of Health Care, Integrated , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Hypersensitivity/therapy , Parents/psychology , State Medicine , Access to Information , Adolescent , Adult , Allergy and Immunology/economics , Allergy and Immunology/organization & administration , Child , Child, Preschool , Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/economics , Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/organization & administration , England , Female , Health Care Costs , Health Care Surveys , Health Expenditures , Humans , Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Hypersensitivity/immunology , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Referral and Consultation , Specialization , State Medicine/economics , State Medicine/organization & administration , Time Factors , Waiting Lists , Young AdultABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand, develops and provides information on a wide range of immune-mediated disorders, including advice about infant feeding and allergy prevention for health professionals and families. Guidelines for infant feeding and early onset allergy prevention were published in 2016, with additional guidance published in 2017 and 2018, based on emerging evidence. MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS: When the infant is ready, at around 6 months, but not before 4 months, start to introduce a variety of solid foods. (This is not a strict window of introduction but rather a recommendation not to delay the introduction of solid foods beyond 12 months.) Introduce peanut and egg in the first year of life in all infants, regardless of their allergy risk factors. Hydrolysed (partially and extensively) formula is no longer recommended for the prevention of allergic disease. CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT A RESULT OF THE GUIDELINES: The guidelines specifically recommend introducing solid foods at around 6 months of age and introducing peanut and egg in the first year of life in all infants to prevent allergy development. Hydrolysed formula is no longer recommended for prevention of allergic disease. A new document outlining the reasons for and the method of peanut introduction to high risk infants is available for health professionals.
Subject(s)
Food Hypersensitivity , Allergy and Immunology/organization & administration , Australasia , Child, Preschool , Diet , Female , Food Hypersensitivity/prevention & control , Food Hypersensitivity/therapy , Humans , Infant , Infant Food , Infant, Newborn , Practice Guidelines as Topic , PregnancyABSTRACT
This special issue of the journal is dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University and describes some of the results of its work. Most of the materials were prepared by young graduates and post-graduate students of the department.
Subject(s)
Allergy and Immunology/history , Allergy and Immunology/organization & administration , Universities/organization & administration , Anniversaries and Special Events , Biological Science Disciplines/history , Biological Science Disciplines/organization & administration , History, 21st Century , Moscow , Universities/historySubject(s)
Allergy and Immunology/organization & administration , Latent Tuberculosis/immunology , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/immunology , Societies, Medical/organization & administration , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/immunology , Allergy and Immunology/history , Animals , Congresses as Topic , Disease Models, Animal , Female , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Humans , Latent Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Latent Tuberculosis/drug therapy , Latent Tuberculosis/microbiology , Lung/diagnostic imaging , Lung/immunology , Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography , Societies, Medical/history , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/microbiologySubject(s)
Allergy and Immunology/standards , Eosinophilic Esophagitis/therapy , Gastroenterology/standards , Advisory Committees/standards , Allergy and Immunology/organization & administration , Eosinophilic Esophagitis/immunology , Gastroenterology/methods , Gastroenterology/organization & administration , Humans , Societies, Medical/organization & administration , Societies, Medical/standards , United StatesSubject(s)
Clinical Decision-Making/methods , Eosinophilic Esophagitis/therapy , Evidence-Based Medicine/standards , Food Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Administration, Topical , Advisory Committees/standards , Allergy and Immunology/organization & administration , Allergy and Immunology/standards , Dilatation/standards , Eosinophilic Esophagitis/diagnosis , Eosinophilic Esophagitis/immunology , Evidence-Based Medicine/methods , Food Hypersensitivity/complications , Food Hypersensitivity/diet therapy , Food Hypersensitivity/immunology , Food, Formulated , Gastroenterology/methods , Gastroenterology/organization & administration , Gastroenterology/standards , Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage , Humans , Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Societies, Medical/organization & administration , Societies, Medical/standards , Treatment Outcome , United StatesSubject(s)
Clinical Decision-Making/methods , Eosinophilic Esophagitis/therapy , Food Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Administration, Topical , Advisory Committees/standards , Allergy and Immunology/organization & administration , Allergy and Immunology/standards , Dilatation/standards , Eosinophilic Esophagitis/diagnosis , Eosinophilic Esophagitis/immunology , Esophagoscopy/standards , Food Hypersensitivity/complications , Food Hypersensitivity/diet therapy , Food Hypersensitivity/immunology , Food, Formulated , Gastroenterology/methods , Gastroenterology/organization & administration , Gastroenterology/standards , Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage , Humans , Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use , Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Societies, Medical/organization & administration , Societies, Medical/standards , Treatment Outcome , United StatesABSTRACT
Our immune system protects us from various pathogens, autoimmune processes and malignancy. Primary immunodeficiency disorders are rare, however in contrast to the conventional perception, primary immunodeficiency diseases are more common than expected and may occur at any age. An insult to the immune system, primary or secondary, may lead to an increased incidence of infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases and malignancies. Primary care physicians, frequently encounter children and adults who suffer from recurrent infections, emphasizing the need for a structured approach for the evaluation of patients with suspected immunodeficiency. The growing knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms and function of the immune system together with recent developments in the field of clinical immunodeficiency enables us to use advanced diagnostic tools for the early diagnosis and treatment of these patients. In this review, we summarize the main aspects and updates of primary and secondary immune deficiency diseases, outline the "red flags" of immunodeficiency states and offer a stepwise workup approach for primary physicians and clinical immunology specialists. Some of the immunodeficiency "red flags" include recurrent infections, invasive infections, atypical pathogens, partial response to antibiotic treatment and frequent use of antibiotics, failure to thrive, chronic diarrhea and fungal infections, unexplained skin rash and a family history.