Transfer of innovation on allergic rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity in the elderly (MACVIA-ARIA) - EIP on AHA Twinning Reference Site (GARD research demonstration project).

The overarching goals of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) are to enable European citizens to lead healthy, active and independent lives whilst ageing. The EIP on AHA includes 74 Reference Sites. The aim of this study was to transfer innovation from an app developed by the MACVIA-France EIP on AHA reference site (Allergy Diary) to other reference sites. The phenotypic characteristics of rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity in adults and the elderly will be compared using validated information and communication technology (ICT) tools (i.e. the Allergy Diary and CARAT: Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test) in 22 Reference Sites or regions across Europe. This will improve the understanding, assessment of burden, diagnosis and management of rhinitis in the elderly by comparison with an adult population. Specific objectives will be: (i) to assess the percentage of adults and elderly who are able to use the Allergy Diary, (ii) to study the phenotypic characteristics and treatment over a 1-year period of rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity at baseline (cross-sectional study) and (iii) to follow-up using visual analogue scale (VAS). This part of the study may provide some insight into the differences between the elderly and adults in terms of response to treatment and practice. Finally (iv) work productivity will be examined in adults.

Effect of inhibiting cholesteryl ester transfer protein on the kinetics of high-density lipoprotein cholesteryl ester transport in plasma: in vivo studies in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: Inhibitors of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) have been developed as potential anti-atherogenic agents. Theoretically, however, they may be pro-atherogenic by blocking one of the pathways for removing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesteryl esters (CE) from plasma in the final step of reverse cholesterol transport. Here we describe how CETP inhibition in rabbits impacts on the kinetics of HDL CE transport in plasma. METHODS AND RESULTS: Administration of a CETP inhibitor reduced CETP activity by 80% to 90% and doubled the HDL cholesteryl ester concentration. Multi-compartmental analysis was used to determine HDL CE kinetics in CETP-inhibited and control rabbits after injection of tracer amounts of both native and reconstituted HDL labeled with 3H in the CE moiety. In control rabbits, HDL CE was removed from plasma by both a direct pathway and an indirect pathway after transfer of HDL CE to the very-low-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein fraction. In CETP-inhibited rabbits there was an almost complete block in removal via the indirect pathway. This did not compromise the overall removal of HDL CE from plasma, which was not different in control and inhibited animals. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibiting CETP in rabbits does not compromise the removal of HDL CE from plasma.