Negative Pressure Level and Effects on Bacterial Growth Kinetics in an in vitro Wound Model.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) has been widely adopted in wound healing strategies due to its multimodal mechanism of action. While NPWT's positive impression on wound healing is well-established, its effect on bacterial load reduction remains equivocal. This study investigates NPWT's efficacy in reducing bioburden using an in vitro porcine skin model, focusing on the impact of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Custom-made negative pressure chambers were employed to apply varying negative pressures. Porcine skin was cut into 5 × 5 cm squares and three standardized wounds of 6 mm each were created using a biopsy punch. Then, wounds were infected with S. aureus and S. epidermidis bacterial suspensions diluted 1:10,000 to obtain a final concentration of 1.5 × 104 CFU/ml and were placed in negative pressure chambers. After incubation, bacterial counts were expressed as colony-forming units (CFU) per ml. For S. aureus at 120 hours, the median CFU, mean area per colony, and total growth area were notably lower at -80 mmHg when compared to -250 mmHg and -50 mmHg, suggesting an optimal negative pressure for the pressure-dependent inhibition of the bacterial proliferation. While analyzing S. epidermidis at 120 hours, the response to the negative pressure was similar but less clear, with the minor CFU at -100 mmHg. The influence of intermittent negative pressure on the S. epidermidis growth showed notably lower median CFU with the interval therapy every hour compared to the S. aureus control group. This study contributes valuable insights into NPWT's influence on the bacterial load, emphasizing the need for further research to reformulate its role in managing contaminated wounds.

Fatal and Near-Fatal Anaphylaxis: Data From the European Anaphylaxis Registry and National Health Statistics.

BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis is a serious systemic reaction-data on fatal and near-fatal reactions are limited. OBJECTIVE: To better understand clinical patterns and risks factors of severe anaphylaxis by a deep analysis of data from fatal and near-fatal anaphylaxis. METHODS: Data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry on fatal/near-fatal anaphylactic reactions and national data on anaphylaxis fatalities were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 305 fatal/near-fatal reactions among children and adults including 35 fatalities from the European Anaphylaxis Registry were identified. The most frequent elicitors were drugs, insects, and food. Male patients (66%/60%) were more frequently affected. Male sex, higher age, concomitant mastocytosis, and cardiovascular disease were associated with a more severe outcome. With increasing reaction severity, skin symptoms were less frequently observed (45% of fatal reactions). In parallel, anaphylaxis mortality rates were studied. The data show that anaphylaxis mortality rates increased in Germany from 0.48 (2009) to 0.59 per 1,000,000 population per year (2020). This increase was apparent only in the female population. In this data set, drugs were the most frequent elicitor of anaphylaxis fatalities, and the rate for this increased over time. CONCLUSIONS: We identified not only elicitors but also individual factors to be associated with an increased risk of fatal anaphylaxis. Such patients should be recognized and managed with great caution. The increase in drug-induced fatalities points to the need for a better allergological care of patients suffering from drug hypersensitivity.

A concept for integrated care pathways for atopic dermatitis-A GA2 LEN ADCARE initiative.

INTRODUCTION: The integrated care pathways for atopic dermatitis (AD-ICPs) aim to bridge the gap between existing AD treatment evidence-based guidelines and expert opinion based on daily practice by offering a structured multidisciplinary plan for patient management of AD. ICPs have the potential to enhance guideline recommendations by combining interventions and aspects from different guidelines, integrating quality assurance, and describing co-ordination of care. Most importantly, patients can enter the ICPs at any level depending on AD severity, resources available in their country, and economic factors such as differences in insurance reimbursement systems. METHODS: The GA2 LEN ADCARE network and partners as well as all stakeholders, abbreviated as the AD-ICPs working group, were involved in the discussion and preparation of the AD ICPs during a series of subgroup workshops and meetings in years 2020 and 2021, after which the document was circulated within all GAL2 EN ADCARE centres. RESULTS: The AD-ICPs outline the diagnostic procedures, possible co-morbidities, different available treatment options including differential approaches for the pediatric population, and the role of the pharmacists and other stakeholders, as well as remaining unmet needs in the management of AD. CONCLUSION: The AD-ICPs provide a multidisciplinary plan for improved diagnosis, treatment, and patient feedback in AD management, as well as addressing critical unmet needs, including improved access to care, training specialists, implementation of educational programs, assessment on the impact of climate change, and fostering a personalised treatment approach. By focusing on these key areas, the initiative aims to pave the way for a brighter future in the management of AD.

Food-Induced Anaphylaxis: Data From the European Anaphylaxis Registry.

BACKGROUND: Food is one of the most common elicitors of anaphylaxis, with an increasing incidence over recent years. OBJECTIVES: To characterize elicitor-specific phenotypes and identify factors enhancing the risk or severity of food-induced anaphylaxis (FIA). METHODS: We analyzed data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry applying an age- and sex-matched analysis of associations (Cramer's V) for single food triggers and calculated odds ratios (ORs) for severe FIA. RESULTS: We identified 3,427 cases of confirmed FIA showing an age-dependent elicitor ranking (for children: peanut, cow's milk, cashew, and hen's egg; and for adults: wheat flour, shellfish, hazelnut, and soy). The age- and sex-matched analysis revealed defined symptom patterns for wheat and cashew. Wheat-induced anaphylaxis was more frequently associated with cardiovascular symptoms (75.7%; Cramer's V = 0.28) and cashew-induced anaphylaxis with gastrointestinal symptoms (73.9%; Cramer's V = 0.20). Furthermore, concomitant atopic dermatitis was slightly associated with anaphylaxis to hen's egg (Cramer's V = 0.19) and exercise was strongly associated with anaphylaxis to wheat (Cramer's V = 0.56). Additional factors influencing the severity were alcohol intake in wheat anaphylaxis (OR = 3.23; CI, 1.31-8.83) and exercise in peanut anaphylaxis (OR = 1.78; CI, 1.09-2.95). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that FIA is age-dependent. In adults, the range of elicitors inducing FIA is broader. For some elicitors, the severity of FIA seems to be related to the elicitor. These data require confirmation in future studies considering a clear differentiation between augmentation and risk factors in FIA.

Different phenotypes of drug-induced anaphylaxis-Data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry.

BACKGROUND: Drugs are a frequent cause of severe anaphylactic reactions. Here, we analyze a large dataset on drug induced anaphylaxis regarding elicitors, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment. METHODS: Data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry (2007-2019) with 1815 reported cases of drug-induced anaphylaxis were studied accordingly. RESULTS: Drugs are the third most frequent cause of anaphylaxis reported in the Anaphylaxis Registry. Among the eliciting groups of drugs analgesics and antibiotics were far most often reported. Female and senior patients were more frequently affected, while the number of children with DIA was low. DIA patients had symptoms affecting the skin and mucous membranes (n = 1525, 84.02%), the respiratory (n = 1300, 71.63%), the cardiovascular (n = 1251, 68.93%) and the gastrointestinal system (n = 549, 30.25%). Drugs caused significant more severe reactions, occurred more often in medical facilities and led to increased hospitalization rates in comparison to food and insect venom induced anaphylaxis. Adrenaline was used more often in patients with DIA than in anaphylaxis due to other causes. Patients with skin symptoms received more antihistamines and corticosteroids in the acute treatment, while gastrointestinal symptoms led to less adrenaline use. CONCLUSION: The study contributes to a better understanding of DIA, with a large number of cases from Europe supporting previous data, e.g., analgesics and antibiotics being the most frequent culprits for DIA. Female gender and higher age are relevant risk factors and despite clear recommendations, the emergency treatment of DIA is not administered according to the guidelines.

An interdisciplinary approach to characterize peanut-allergic patients-First data from the FOOD@ consortium.

Background: Peanut allergy is a frequent cause of food allergy and potentially life-threatening. Within this interdisciplinary research approach, we aim to unravel the complex mechanisms of peanut allergy. As a first step were applied in an exploratory manner the analysis of peanut allergic versus non-allergic controls. Methods: Biosamples were studied regarding DNA methylation signatures, gut microbiome, adaptive and innate immune cell populations, soluble signaling molecules and allergen-reactive antibody specificities. We applied a scalable systems medicine computational workflow to the assembled data. Results: We identified combined cellular and soluble biomarker signatures that stratify donors into peanut-allergic and non-allergic with high specificity. DNA methylation profiling revealed various genes of interest and stool microbiota differences in bacteria abundances. Conclusion: By extending our findings to a larger set of patients (e.g., children vs. adults), we will establish predictors for food allergy and tolerance and translate these as for example, indicators for interventional studies.

Serological profiling reveals hsa-miR-451a as a possible biomarker of anaphylaxis.

BackgroundThere is a need to support the diagnosis of anaphylaxis by objective markers. miRNAs are promising noncoding RNA species that may serve as serological biomarkers, but their use in diagnosing anaphylaxis has not been systematically studied to our knowledge. We aimed to comprehensively investigate serum biomarker profiles (proteins, lipids, and miRNAs) to support the diagnosis of anaphylaxis.MethodsAdult patients admitted to the emergency room with a diagnosis of anaphylaxis (<3 hours) were included. Blood samples were taken upon emergency room arrival and 1 month later.ResultsNext-generation sequencing of 18 samples (6 patients with anaphylaxis in both acute and nonacute condition, for 12 total samples, and 6 healthy controls) identified hsa-miR-451a to be elevated during anaphylaxis, which was verified by quantitative real-time PCR in the remaining cohort. The random forest classifier enabled us to classify anaphylaxis with high accuracy using a composite model. We identified tryptase, 9α,11ß-PGF2, apolipoprotein A1, and hsa-miR-451a as serological biomarkers of anaphylaxis. These predictors qualified as serological biomarkers individually but performed better in combination.ConclusionUnexpectedly, hsa-miR-451a was identified as the most relevant biomarker in our data set. We were also able to distinguish between patients with a history of anaphylaxis and healthy individuals with higher accuracy than any other available model. Future studies will need to verify miRNA biomarker utility in real-life clinical settings.FundingThis work is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) as part of the clinical research unit (CRU339): Food Allergy and Tolerance (FOOD@) (project number 409525714) and a grant to MW (Wo541-16-2, project number 264921598), as well as by FOOD@ project numbers 428094283 and 428447634.

Effect of closed incision negative pressure wound therapy on incidence rate of surgical site infection after stoma reversal: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: The stoma reversal (SR) procedure is associated with a relatively high risk of perioperative complications with surgical site infection (SSI) as the most common. Recently closed incision negative pressure wound therapy (ciNPWT) was applied widely to prevent SSI. AIM: To investigate the efficiency of ciNPWT in terms of the incidence rate of SSI after SR surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: As an exploratory observational cohort study patients were treated either with ciNPWT (n = 15) or standard sterile dressing (SSD) (n = 15). CiNPWT was applied every 3 days whereas SSD was changed every day. Clinical evaluation for SSI signs, C-reactive protein level and pain assessment using the visual analogue scale (VAS) were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence rate of SSI was in 13% (2/15) in the ciNPWT group and 26% (4/15) in the SSD group (p = 0.651, OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.03-3.73). All patients in the SSD group who developed SSI presented both local and generalized signs of infection. Pain-VAS levels assessed on the 1st (MdnciNPWT = 4, MdnSSD = 5, p = 0.027, W = 51.5) and 3rd postoperative day (MdnciNPWT = 2, MdnSSD = 4, p = 0.014, W = 45.5) were significantly lower in the ciNPWT group than in the SSD group. CONCLUSIONS: CiNPWT seems not to have a benefit to reduce SSI after the SR procedure. Further investigation is needed to establish firmly the benefit of using ciNPWT in this group of patients.

Safety of dupilumab in patients with atopic dermatitis: expert opinion.

Introduction: Dupilumab, the first biologic drug to be approved for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adolescents and adults, has shown efficacy and safety in clinical trials. Data on long-term safety is limited but crucial for pharmacovigilance. Therefore, we performed this review to evaluate available real-world data on the long-term safety of dupilumab in atopic dermatitis.Areas covered: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs), observational studies, case series, and case reports regarding the use of dupilumab for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Adverse events were summarized and critically evaluated.Expert opinion: Atopic dermatitis patients receiving dupilumab reported ocular surface disease more often than patients receiving placebo. Real-world data show previously unreported adverse events (blood eosinophilia, rosacea-like skin lesions, weight gain), but their mechanistic association to dupilumab treatment still requires clarification. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas occurring under the therapy with dupilumab might be unrelated to the drug use itself but long-term follow-up data of large patient cohorts is necessary to rule out such possibility. Real-world data show that dupilumab is well tolerated in atopic dermatitis; however, ocular adverse events are not rare. Registries are needed to monitor future adverse events.

Anaphylaxis in middle-aged patients.

Age is one of the most important factors influencing the course of anaphylaxis: moreover, the frequency of elicitors of anaphylaxis is age-associated. We analyzed 8,465 anaphylactic episodes in adult patients in three age groups with a focus on patients in the middle-age group (35 - 65 years old). Insect venom was the most frequent trigger in this age group (51.2%) followed by drugs (22.8%) and food (17.3%). Severe reactions were observed in 40.1% of middle-aged patients and occurred more frequently in this age group than in patients below 35 years (27.6%) and less frequently than in patients over 65 years (55.6%). The symptoms and comorbidity profile also changed with age, most significantly regarding the increase in rates of concomitant cardiologic diseases and (severe) cardiovascular symptoms.

Use of biologics in food allergy management.

Food allergies are a common medical problem, with children being the most affected patient group. The standard of care of food allergy consists of the acute treatment in case of a reaction and food avoidance in the long term, which influences the quality of life of patients. In this article, current developments for the causal treatment of food allergy including specific immunotherapy and biologics will be discussed. Epicutaneous and oral immunotherapy are currently in clinical development for the treatment of food allergy, and the results demonstrate good tolerability and efficacy with an increase in the oral threshold level. Biologics and, in particular, anti-IgE are currently investigated for their therapeutic use in food allergies. The results are promising, suggesting efficacy and tolerability.

Phenotype and risk factors of venom-induced anaphylaxis: A case-control study of the European Anaphylaxis Registry.

BACKGROUND: Venom-induced anaphylaxis (VIA) is a common, potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction associated with (1) a specific symptom profile, 2) specific cofactors, and 3) specific management. Identifying the differences in phenotypes of anaphylaxis is crucial for future management guidelines and development of a personalized medicine approach. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the phenotype and risk factors of VIA. METHODS: Using data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry (12,874 cases), we identified 3,612 patients with VIA and analyzed their cases in comparison with sex- and age-matched anaphylaxis cases triggered by other elicitors (non-VIA cases [n = 3,605]). RESULTS: VIA more frequently involved more than 3 organ systems and was associated with cardiovascular symptoms. The absence of skin symptoms during anaphylaxis was correlated with baseline serum tryptase level and was associated with an increased risk of a severe reaction. Intramuscular or intravenous epinephrine was administered significantly less often in VIA, in particular, in patients without a history of anaphylaxis. A baseline serum tryptase level within the upper normal range (8-11.5 ng/mL) was more frequently associated with severe anaphylaxis. CONCLUSION: Using a large cohort of VIA cases, we have validated that patients with intermediate baseline serum tryptase levels (8-11 ng/mL) and without skin involvement have a higher risk of severe VIA. Patients receiving ß-blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors had a higher risk of developing severe cardiovascular symptoms (including cardiac arrest) in VIA and non-VIA cases. Patients experiencing VIA received epinephrine less frequently than did cases with non-VIA.

Therapy Changes During Pemphigus Management: A Retrospective Analysis.

Pemphigus diseases are rare, and the treatment response differs between patients. Several therapy changes are often required to achieve disease control and avoid unwanted side effects. We aimed to analyze the treatment courses of pemphigus patients and the clinical responses regarding therapy changes. Pemphigus patients in our center were retrospectively examined according to the medication and dosage, disease activity, reason for treatment changes, and autoantibody concentrations. Therapy changes due to insufficient therapeutic effects or side effects were analyzed. Seventy-seven pemphigus patients with repeated consultations were identified (81% pemphigus vulgaris, 19% pemphigus foliaceus). Disease control was achieved in 66 patients (86%; score "almost clear" or "clear"), with an average of 4 different therapy regimens (range 1-18 changes), after an average of 2 years of treatment (range 0-11 years). Twenty-two patients (29%) with refractory disease received rituximab, of which 19 (86%) subsequently achieved remission. Anti-desmoglein-1 and-3 concentrations correlated with disease severity, but not with the number of treatment changes. The identification of an effective and safe therapy for the individual pemphigus patient is a challenge and often requires time, which is reflected by a high number of therapy changes. Predictive parameters are warranted to directly identify the safest and most efficient treatment regimen for an individual patient.

Modern therapies in atopic dermatitis: biologics and small molecule drugs.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a frequent, chronic remittent skin disease. The pathophysiology of AD has been increasingly understood within the last years, which may help to identify different endotypes suitable for defined therapies in the future. A patient-oriented therapy considers phenotypical features in addition to genetic and biological markers. The most recent developments in biologics and small-molecule drugs for AD treatment are presented in this article. These molecules, if approved, could change the perspectives for future therapies. Dupilumab is the first approved biologic for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adolescence and adulthood and has led to a significant improvement in the treatment of this chronic disease. In the present article we present real-life data on the efficacy of dupilumab in adult dermatitis patients. We also discuss other data relevant to the use of dupilumab, and address open questions important for the standard care of atopic dermatitis patients.

Refractory Anaphylaxis: Data From the European Anaphylaxis Registry.

Refractory anaphylaxis (unresponsive to treatment with at least two doses of minimum 300 µg adrenaline) is a rare and often fatal hypersensitivity reaction. Comprehensive data on its definition, prevalence, and risk factors are missing. Using the data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry (11,596 cases in total) we identified refractory anaphylaxis cases (n = 42) and analyzed these in comparison to a control group of severe anaphylaxis cases (n = 4,820). The data show that drugs more frequently elicited refractory anaphylaxis (50% of cases, p < 0.0001) compared to other severe anaphylaxis cases (19.7%). Cases elicited by insects (n = 8) were more often due to bees than wasps in refractory cases (62.5 vs. 19.4%, p = 0.009). The refractory cases occurred mostly in a perioperative setting (45.2 vs. 9.05, p < 0.0001). Intramuscular adrenaline (as a first line therapy) was administered in 16.7% of refractory cases, whereas in 83.3% of cases it was applied intravenously (significantly more often than in severe anaphylaxis cases: 12.3%, p < 0.0001). Second line treatment options (e.g., vasopression with dopamine, methylene blue, glucagon) were not used at all for the treatment of refractory cases. The mortality rate in refractory anaphylaxis was significantly higher (26.2%) than in severe cases (0.353%, p < 0.0001). Refractory anaphylaxis is associated with drug-induced anaphylaxis in particular if allergens are given intravenously. Although physicians frequently use adrenaline in cases of perioperative anaphylaxis, not all patients are responding to treatment. Whether a delay in recognition of anaphylaxis is responsible for the refractory case or whether these cases are due to an overflow with mast cell activating substances-requires further studies. Reasons for the low use of second-line medication (i.e., methylene blue or dopamine) in refractory cases are unknown, but their use might improve the outcome of severe refractory anaphylaxis cases.

Efficacy of combined prophylactic therapy (rifaximine alpha + prebiotic arabinogalactan with lactofferin) on GUT function in patients with diagnosed symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease.

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Anaphylaxis in Elderly Patients-Data From the European Anaphylaxis Registry.

Background: Elicitors and symptoms of anaphylaxis are age dependent. However, little is known about typical features of anaphylaxis in patients aged 65 years or more. Methods: The data from the Network for Online Registration of Anaphylaxis (NORA) considering patients aged ≥65 (elderly) in comparison to data from adults (18-64 years) regarding elicitors, symptoms, comorbidities, and treatment measures were analyzed. Results: We identified 1,123 elderly anaphylactic patients. Insect venoms were the most frequent elicitor in this group (p < 0.001), followed by drugs like analgesics and antibiotics. Food allergens elicited less frequently anaphylaxis (p < 0.001). Skin symptoms occurred less frequently in elderly patients (77%, p < 0.001). The clinical symptoms were more severe in the elderly (51% experiencing grade III/IV reactions), in particular when skin symptoms (p < 0.001) were absent. Most strikingly, a loss of consciousness (33%, p < 0.001) and preexisting cardiovascular comorbidity (59%, p < 0.001) were more prevalent in the elderly. Finally, adrenaline was used in 30% of the elderly (vs. 26% in the comparator group, p < 0.001) and hospitalization was more often required (60 vs. 50%, p < 0.001). Discussion and Conclusion: Anaphylaxis in the elderly is often caused by insect venoms and drugs. These patients suffer more often from cardiovascular symptoms, receive more frequently adrenaline and require more often hospitalization. The data indicate that anaphylaxis in the elderly tends to be more frequently life threatening and patients require intensified medical intervention. The data support the need to recognize anaphylaxis in this patient group, which is prone to be at a higher risk for a fatal outcome.