Comparison of Cytokine Responses (IL-21, IL-12, IL-13) in Chlamydia pneumoniae-Stimulated PBMC in Asthma and Non-Asthma.

OBJECTIVE: Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is a gram-negative intracellular bacterium that causes respiratory infections in humans. C. pneumoniae is responsible for cell activation and production of cytokines that may contribute to inflammatory responses in asthma. Cell-mediated immune responses are important for protective immunity; however, these responses may be impaired in asthma. In this study, we examined cytokine responses (IL-21, IL-12, IL-13) responsible for T helper (Th)1 versus Th2 responses in C. pneumoniae-stimulated PBMC from subjects with or without asthma. These cytokines could be potential biomarkers in the evaluation of past C. pneumoniae infection. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) (1×106/mL) from stable adult asthmatic (N=6) and non-asthmatic subjects (N=6) were infected +/- C. pneumoniae TW-183 at a multiplicity of infection (MOI)=0.1, using dose responses (1:10, 1:100), and cultured 48 hrs. Cytokine responses (Interleukin (IL)-21, IL-12, IL-13) were measured in supernatants (ELISA). RESULTS: Cytokine responses (mean differences: unstimulated-stimulated cells) were significant for IL-12 (1:10, 1:100) (P=0.0005, 0.0005) but not for IL-21 or IL-13 (Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Cytokine levels were higher in asthmatic subjects for IL-13 (mean differences: non-asthma-asthma) (unstimulated, 1:10, 1:100) (-210±167, -140±113, -89±59, respectively) (P=0.05, 0.05, 0.05, respectively) compared with non-asthma. However, IL-21 and IL-12 responses were similar in both groups. When subjects were stratified according to C. pneumoniae IgG antibody status, no significant differences in cytokine responses were observed. CONCLUSION: Differential cytokine patterns in subjects with or without asthma may suggest a mechanism for the development of persistent infection with C. pneumoniae.

A cross-sectional study examining the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Cutibacterium acnes isolated from patients with acne in Bangkok, Thailand.

Cutibacterium acnes is associated with the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris (AV). The relationship between antibiotic-resistant C. acnes and AV remains unclear. The authors aimed to determine the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant C. acnes and investigate the association of acne severity with topical and systemic treatments in patients with acne. Samples were collected of inflammatory and noninflammatory acne, including closed and open comedones and erythematous papules/pustules from the face of patients with mild to severe acne. The samples were cultured under anaerobic conditions for the isolation of C. acnes. Antibiotic susceptibility tests for erythromycin, tetracycline, doxycycline, clindamycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were performed using the agar dilution method. From 153 patients, 143 viable C. acnes samples were isolated (93.5%). They were found resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (143/143, 100%), clindamycin (108/143, 75.5%), erythromycin (105/143, 73.4%), tetracycline (74/143, 51.7%), and doxycycline (73/143, 51.1%). There was no significant correlation between the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and acne severity. High-level resistant C. acnes correlated with higher clinical severity of acne in patients taking doxycycline (τb = 0.3). The present prevalence of antibiotic-resistant C. acnes was high in Thailand. Antibiotic stewardship in AV treatment should be encouraged to prevent further antibiotic resistance crises.

The immediate patch test reaction to fragrance in patients with allergic contact dermatitis to fragrance: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Fragrance is one of the common causes of immediate contact reaction. Knowing the prevalence of a reaction in a given population enables prioritization of allergy screening. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of an immediate patch test reaction to fragrance in patients with fragrance allergic contact dermatitis. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 291 patients who were given standard patch tests for allergic contact dermatitis. Those with positive reactions were then asked to undergo additional patch tests to assess both immediate and delayed reactions to 28 different fragrance substances. RESULTS: Cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamic alcohol were the most frequently encountered substances in positive immediate reactions and standard (delayed) patch test reactions. Immediate patch reactions to benzyl alcohol, sorbic acid, and coumarin were more frequently observed than standard patch test reactions. LIMITATIONS: Because of the small sample size of patients who agreed to continue further patch testing evaluation, a statistical association between patient characteristics and fragrance-positive patch test reactions was difficult to establish. CONCLUSIONS: In this population, cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamic alcohol were the most common fragrance allergens causing both immediate and delayed reactions, whereas reactions to benzyl alcohol, sorbic acid, and coumarin were frequently observed in immediate patch tests.