Anaphylaxis to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in the Setting of a Nationwide Passive Epidemiological Surveillance Program.

BACKGROUND: Information on anaphylaxis among recipients of vaccines against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains scarce. OBJECTIVE: To identify the observed incidence of anaphylaxis in recipients of different anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. METHODS: A nationwide observational study among recipients of 61,414,803 doses of seven different anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, describing the incidence and characteristics of adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) who developed anaphylaxis as an adverse event following immunization (AEFI) against SARS-CoV-2 vaccines between December 24, 2020, and October 15, 2021, in Mexico. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients developed anaphylaxis as an AEFI, for an overall observed incidence of 1.07 cases per 1,000,000 (95% CI 0.84-1.37) administered doses. Eighty-six percent of the patients were female, consistent with previous reports of AEFI to COVID-19 vaccines. mRNA-based vaccine recipients had the highest frequency of anaphylaxis, followed by adenovirus-vectored vaccines and inactivated virus recipients, with an observed incidence of 2.5, 0.7, and 0.2 cases per 1,000,000 doses administered, respectively. Only 46% of the patients received correct treatment with epinephrine as the first-line treatment through the appropriate route and dose. We detected one case of anaphylactic reaction-related death occurring 5 min following immunization with ChAdOx1 nCov-19 for a mortality rate of 1.5% among those who developed this AEFI. CONCLUSIONS: In our population, anaphylactic reactions were infrequent. Our study provides further evidence supporting the security of these newly developed vaccines.

An admixture mapping meta-analysis implicates genetic variation at 18q21 with asthma susceptibility in Latinos.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a common but complex disease with racial/ethnic differences in prevalence, morbidity, and response to therapies. OBJECTIVE: We sought to perform an analysis of genetic ancestry to identify new loci that contribute to asthma susceptibility. METHODS: We leveraged the mixed ancestry of 3902 Latinos and performed an admixture mapping meta-analysis for asthma susceptibility. We replicated associations in an independent study of 3774 Latinos, performed targeted sequencing for fine mapping, and tested for disease correlations with gene expression in the whole blood of more than 500 subjects from 3 racial/ethnic groups. RESULTS: We identified a genome-wide significant admixture mapping peak at 18q21 in Latinos (P = 6.8 × 10-6), where Native American ancestry was associated with increased risk of asthma (odds ratio [OR], 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07-1.34; P = .002) and European ancestry was associated with protection (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.96; P = .008). Our findings were replicated in an independent childhood asthma study in Latinos (P = 5.3 × 10-3, combined P = 2.6 × 10-7). Fine mapping of 18q21 in 1978 Latinos identified a significant association with multiple variants 5' of SMAD family member 2 (SMAD2) in Mexicans, whereas a single rare variant in the same window was the top association in Puerto Ricans. Low versus high SMAD2 blood expression was correlated with case status (13.4% lower expression; OR, 3.93; 95% CI, 2.12-7.28; P < .001). In addition, lower expression of SMAD2 was associated with more frequent exacerbations among Puerto Ricans with asthma. CONCLUSION: Ancestry at 18q21 was significantly associated with asthma in Latinos and implicated multiple ancestry-informative noncoding variants upstream of SMAD2 with asthma susceptibility. Furthermore, decreased SMAD2 expression in blood was strongly associated with increased asthma risk and increased exacerbations.

Pediatric asthma treatment: What to do when international guideline recommendations do not agree.

BACKGROUND: There was a need for a solid asthma guideline in Mexico to update and unify asthma management. Because high-quality asthma guidelines exist worldwide, in which the latest evidence on asthma management is summarized, the ADAPTE approach allows for the development of a national asthma guideline based on evidence from already existing guidelines, adapted to national needs. OBJECTIVE: To fuse evidence from the best asthma guidelines and adapt it to local needs with the ADAPTE approach. METHODS: The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II asthma guidelines were evaluated by a core group to select 3 primary guidelines. For each step of asthma management, clinical questions were formulated and replied according to (1) evidence in the primary guidelines, (2) safety, (3) Cost, and (4) patient preference. The Guidelines Development Group, composed of a broad range of experts from medical specialties, primary care physicians, and methodologists, adjusted the draft questions and replies in several rounds of a Delphi process and 3 face-to-face meetings, taking into account the reality of the situation in Mexico. We present the results of the pediatric asthma treatment part. RESULTS: Selected primary guidelines are from the British Thoracic Society and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (BTS/SIGN), Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and Spanish Guidelines on the Management of Asthma (GEMA) 2015, with 2016 updates. Recommendations or suggestions were made for asthma treatment in Mexico. In this article, the detailed analysis of the evidence present in the BTS/SIGN, GINA, and GEMA sections on the (non) pharmacologic treatment of pediatric asthma, education, and devices are presented for 2 age groups: children 5 years or younger and children 6 to 11 years old with asthma. CONCLUSION: For the pediatric treatment and patient education sections, applying the AGREE II and Delphi methods is useful to develop a scientifically sustained document, adjusted to the Mexican situation, as is the Mexican Guideline on Asthma.

Adipokines, asymmetrical dimethylarginine, and pulmonary function in adolescents with asthma and obesity.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate whether the metabolic abnormalities of adipokines and asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) associate with pulmonary function deficits in adolescents with obesity and asthma. METHODS: This study enrolled 28 obese adolescents with asthma, 46 obese adolescents without asthma, 58 normal-weight adolescents with asthma, and 63 healthy control subjects. Serum levels of leptin, high-molecule-weight (HMW) adiponectin, retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), and pulmonary function were qualified. RESULTS: The obese subjects had higher levels of leptin and ADMA but lower levels of HMW adiponectin than the normal-weight subjects with or without asthma. The subjects with asthma had higher levels of RBP4 than those without asthma. The obese adolescents with asthma had lowest forced expiratory lung volume in the first second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio among the four study groups. In all the study subjects and in the subjects with asthma alone, the FEV1/FVC ratio associated negatively with leptin, however, such association was rendered non-significant when adjusted for BMI. The pulmonary function deficits associated inversely with BMI percentile in the subjects with asthma. However, the decreased FEV1/FVC ratio was not correlated with HMW adiponectin, RBP4 or ADMA. CONCLUSIONS: Our present study confirmed obstructive pattern of pulmonary function characterized by the reduced FEV1/FVC ratio in the obese adolescents with asthma. These pulmonary deficits were associated inversely with the increased BMI percentile.

Abnormality of adipokines and endothelial dysfunction in Mexican obese adolescents with insulin resistance.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship among insulin resistance (IR), endothelial dysfunction, and alteration of adipokines in Mexican obese adolescents and their association with metabolic syndrome (MetS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-seven adolescents were classified according to the body mass index (BMI) (control: N=104; obese: N=123) and homeostasis model of the assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) (obese with IR: N=65). The circulating concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and IR were determined by standard methods. RESULTS: The obese adolescents with IR presented increased presence of MetS and higher circulating concentrations in sICAM-1 in comparison with the obese subjects without IR. The lowest concentrations of adiponectin were observed in the obese with IR. In multivariate linear regression models, sICAM-1 along with triglycerides, total cholesterol, and waist circumference was strongly associated with HOMA-IR (R2=0.457, P=0.008). Similarly, after adjustment for age, BMI-SDS, lipids, and adipokines, HOMA-IR remained associated with sICAM-1 (R2=0.372, P=0.008). BMI-SDS was mildly associated with leptin (R2=0.176, P=0.002) and the waist circumference was mild and independent determinant of adiponectin (R2=0.136, P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that the obese adolescents, particularly the obese subjects with IR exhibited increased presence of MetS, abnormality of adipokines, and endothelial dysfunction. The significant interaction between IR and endothelial dysfunction may suggest a novel therapeutic approach to prevent or delay systemic IR and the genesis of cardiovascular diseases in obese patients.

CHRM2 but not CHRM1 or CHRM3 polymorphisms are associated with asthma susceptibility in Mexican patients.

Asthma is a complex disease for which genetic predisposition has been widely documented. Considerable evidence supports the hypothesis that polymorphisms in the muscarinic-cholinergic (CHRM) genes could be involved in asthma pathogenesis, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and mucus secretion. To determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or haplotypes in CHRM1, CHRM2, or CHRM3 are associated with asthma in Mexican pediatric population. We performed a case-control study including 398 pediatric cases with asthma and 450 healthy controls. We analyzed 19 SNPs distributed among these three genes. Two of the seven SNPs located in CHRM2, the 3' untranslated region rs8191992 and rs6962027, differed significantly in allele frequencies between patients with asthma and healthy controls [odds ratio (OR) 1.42, 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) 1.14-1.77, P = 0.001, and OR 1.50, 95 % CI 1.21-1.87, P = 0.0002, respectively]. Statistical significance remained after multiple comparison corrections (P = 0.003 and P = 0.005, respectively). The haplotypes AA and TT, containing both major and minor alleles from rs8191992 and rs6962027, also differed between cases and controls. The haplotype AA occurred at a lower frequency in cases (OR 0.67, 95 % CI 0.53-0.85, P = 0.001) whereas the haplotype TT was overrepresented in cases compared to controls (28 vs 21 %, respectively; OR 1.46, 95 % CI 1.15-1.85, P = 0.002). No association was observed between CHRM1 or CHRM3 SNPs or haplotypes and asthma. CHRM2 polymorphisms are implicated in the genetic etiology of asthma.

Effect of six-month lifestyle intervention on adiponectin, resistin and soluble tumor necrosis factor-α receptors in obese adolescents.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a six-month lifestyle intervention on adiponectin, resistin, and two soluble forms of tumor necrosis factor-α receptor (sTNFR) in obese adolescents. A total of 54 obese adolescents aged 10 to 16 years completed the program. Twenty-four adolescents with normal weight at baseline were used as a control group. Our results demonstrated that obese adolescents had abnormal lipid profile, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, adiponectin level (5.6 ± 2.7 vs. 7.6 ± 2.9 µg/mL, p = 0.005) as well as resistin level (31.0 ± 9.0 vs. 24.3 ± 8.5 ng/mL, p = 0.003), whereas levels of both sTNFRs were similar to those in normal weight subjects. After the six-month lifestyle intervention, obese adolescents had a slight but significant drop in standard deviation score-body mass index (SDS-BMI), a significant decrease in waist circumference, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HOMA index, as well as resistin, and a significant increase in adiponectin and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In adolescents without decreased SDS-BMI, no change was observed in adipokines. Changes in adiponectin correlated negatively with changes in waist circumference (r = -0.275, p = 0.044). Changes in resistin correlated positively with changes in triglycerides (r = 0.302, p = 0.027). The study demonstrated the increase of resistin and the decrease of adiponectin in obese adolescents. Lifestyle intervention improved adipokine abnormalities in obese subjects.

Genome-wide association study implicates chromosome 9q21.31 as a susceptibility locus for asthma in mexican children.

Many candidate genes have been studied for asthma, but replication has varied. Novel candidate genes have been identified for various complex diseases using genome-wide association studies (GWASs). We conducted a GWAS in 492 Mexican children with asthma, predominantly atopic by skin prick test, and their parents using the Illumina HumanHap 550 K BeadChip to identify novel genetic variation for childhood asthma. The 520,767 autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) passing quality control were tested for association with childhood asthma using log-linear regression with a log-additive risk model. Eleven of the most significantly associated GWAS SNPs were tested for replication in an independent study of 177 Mexican case-parent trios with childhood-onset asthma and atopy using log-linear analysis. The chromosome 9q21.31 SNP rs2378383 (p = 7.10x10(-6) in the GWAS), located upstream of transducin-like enhancer of split 4 (TLE4), gave a p-value of 0.03 and the same direction and magnitude of association in the replication study (combined p = 6.79x10(-7)). Ancestry analysis on chromosome 9q supported an inverse association between the rs2378383 minor allele (G) and childhood asthma. This work identifies chromosome 9q21.31 as a novel susceptibility locus for childhood asthma in Mexicans. Further, analysis of genome-wide expression data in 51 human tissues from the Novartis Research Foundation showed that median GWAS significance levels for SNPs in genes expressed in the lung differed most significantly from genes not expressed in the lung when compared to 50 other tissues, supporting the biological plausibility of our overall GWAS findings and the multigenic etiology of childhood asthma.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, fibrinogen, and lung function in adolescents with asthma and obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity promotes a low-grade systemic inflammatory state that may act on the lung to exacerbate asthma. There is little information on the relationship between systemic inflammation and lung function in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship among fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), lung function in adolescents with the presence of asthma, and/or obesity. METHODS: Totally 178 adolescents (boys and girls) were involved; four groups were divided according to their diagnosis: non-obese and non-asthmatic controls (n = 38), non-obese asthmatics (n = 31), obese non-asthmatics (n = 62), obese asthmatics (n = 47). The levels of PAI-1 and fibrinogen were determined in blood samples. The lung function was evaluated with spirometry by measuring forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory flows between 25 and75% (FEF(25-75%)). RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, obese adolescents with or without asthma show higher levels of fibrinogen (289.2 ± 61.5, 328.4 ± 54.9, and 324.9 ± 68.9 mg/dL, respectively), PAI-1 (36.0 ± 17.3, 53.2 ± 22.3, and 52.6 ± 24.7 ng/mL, respectively), and the reduced FEV1/FVC ratio (87.7 ± 7.7, 81.6 ± 8.6, and 81.7 ± 6.9, respectively). In the whole studied subjects, FEV1/FVC ratio shows significant inverse correlation with PAI-1 (r = -0.185), fibrinogen (r = -0.157), body mass index (BMI; r = -0.303), insulin(r = -0.198), and HOMA (r = -0.173). In the 78 asthmatic subjects, FVC correlates positively with BMI. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that the degree of systemic inflammation and the degree of obesity in the whole studied adolescents groups correlate negatively with lung function, suggesting an obstructive pulmonary pattern. Further studies are needed to identify the pathophysiological mechanism for such association.

[Anaphylaxis caused by vaccines]. / Anafilaxia causada por vacunas.

Even though the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic represents a historical challenge, science has had an exponential development, and the current vaccination campaigns are proof of this. Unfortunately, along came misinformation and myths regarding their production and their adverse effects. For this reason, we have considered of utter importance to review anaphylaxis, one of the most feared vaccine adverse events.Anaphylaxis can be defined as a life-threatening acute and systemic allergic reaction, with a wide clinical spectrum, which can be explained by many immunological mechanisms, and whose diagnostic complexity demands the fulfillment of strict criteria. Though infrequent, any vaccine has the potential to trigger anaphylaxis. In the United States, for the new SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, rates from 1:200 000 (Pfizer-BioNTech) to 1:360 000 doses (Moderna) have been estimated. Vaccine adverse events can be mediated by hypersensitivity reactions, either allergic or not. Unlike a typical drug allergy, rarely is the active ingredient responsible for the reaction. Therefore, excipients must be considered during the approach to this problem. Vaccine associated anaphylaxis has to be referred to an allergist so as to guarantee the maximum benefit for the patient and improve the vaccines' security profile.

A pesar de la difícil situación que se enfrenta con la actual pandemia de COVID-19, la ciencia ha tenido un desarrollo exponencial. Si bien la inmunización contra esa enfermedad ha sido posible gracias a ello, desafortunadamente se ha acompañado de desinformación y mitos en torno a su fabricación y reacciones adversas. Por tal razón, es importante revisar una de las reacciones adversas a vacunas más temidas para el personal de salud y la población general, la anafilaxia. La anafilaxia se define como una reacción alérgica aguda y sistémica que puede poner en riesgo la vida; se asocia con distintos mecanismos inmunológicos, factores desencadenantes y manifestaciones clínicas. Su diagnóstico puede ser confuso, por lo que se han establecido diferentes criterios. Todas las inmunizaciones tienen el potencial de desencadenar anafilaxia, aunque este evento es poco frecuente. Respecto de las vacunas contra el coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, en Estados Unidos se ha reportado una tasa de anafilaxia de 1:200 000 para la vacuna Pfizer-BioNTech, y de 1:360 000 para la vacuna de Moderna. Al igual que un fármaco, las vacunas pueden presentar efectos adversos mediados por mecanismos de hipersensibilidad, pero a diferencia de lo que sucede con los medicamentos, el principio activo rara vez es el responsable; es más frecuente que las reacciones indeseadas se deban a los excipientes. La sospecha de una anafilaxia secundaria a su aplicación obliga a una oportuna referencia y a un correcto diagnóstico, tanto para el beneficio del paciente como para mejorar el perfil de seguridad de la vacuna.

Immunostimulants for preventing respiratory tract infection in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Childhood acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, so, immunostimulants have been used as a preventative measure. Despite this, there is no updated evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of immunostimulant drugs for this purpose. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of immunostimulants in preventing ARTIs in children based on the most recent scientific evidence. Data sources such as PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched from 1965 to 10 January 2022 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing immunostimulants administered by any method, with placebo to prevent ARTIs on children under 18 years of age without immunodeficiencies, anatomical, genetic, or allergic conditions. In order to analyze data from the studies, we used Review Manager 5.4 (The Cochrane Collaboration, 2020), assessed the certainty of the evidence with Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE), and assessed the quality and risk of bias of the studies using the RoB tool 1.0. Further, outcomes were combined and analyzed using meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis. Throughout the review, we included 72 placebo-controlled clinical trials involving 12,229 children. The meta-analyses, however, included only 38 studies (52.8%) with 4643 children (38% of the total) with data on mean number of ARTIs. These studies demonstrated a reduction in the ARTIs (MD -1.12 [95%CI -1.39 to -0.85]) and ratio of means of ARTIs (0.61 [95%CI 0.54-0.69]), corresponding to a percentage reduction of 39% (95%CI, 46%-31%) with moderate-quality data. Nevertheless, since there was considerable to substantial heterogeneity and bias was unclear in all domains in 32 out of 72 trials, the quality of the evidence for efficacy was deemed low. Only 14 trials reported adverse events. The review indicates that immunostimulants reduce the incidence of ARTIs by 40% on average in susceptible children, despite low-quality evidence, heterogeneity, and the possibility of publication bias. However, further studies are needed to establish immunostimulants' safety and efficacy profiles. This review was conducted without the support of any funding and has no registered number.

Have the prevalence of eczema symptoms increased in the Mexican pediatric population? Prevalence and associated factors according to Global Asthma Network Phase I.

Background: In children, atopic dermatitis or eczema is the most common inflammatory disease of the skin. According to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase IIIB in Mexico, 5.8% of children and 4.9% of adolescents had eczema symptoms. In 2012, Global Asthma Network (GAN) was established to update the prevalence of eczema and estimate potential factors contributing to its development. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and associated factors for atopic eczema symptoms and diagnosis in children and adolescents according to GAN Phase I and compare the results with ISAAC Phase IIIB in Mexico. Methods: A cross-sectional, multicenter survey was conducted in 15 Mexican centers during the period of 2015-2017 using the GAN Phase I questionnaires in children (6-7-year-olds) and adolescents (13-14-year-olds). The prevalences obtained from the GAN Phase I study, were compared with ISAAC Phase IIIB results; a Spearman's correlation analysis was conducted between temperature, relative humidity, and altitude and eczema symptoms, and a logistic regression was performed to predict current eczema symptoms by age group. Results: A total of 35 777 children and 41 399 adolescents were included. Since ISAAC Phase IIIB, the prevalence of itchy rash in the past 12 months significantly increased in the children's group [6.6% (95% CI 5.7-7.4) vs 7.8 (95% CI 7.5-8.1), p = 0.000] and adolescents' group [5.8% (95% CI 5.0-6.7) vs 6.7% (95% CI 6.5-7.0), p = 0.000].In the adolescents' group, the prevalence of nocturnal awakenings caused by rash symptoms on more than one night per week had a negative correlation between altitude (Spearman's Rho = -0.558, p value = 0.031), and a positive correlation with the average annual temperature (Spearman's Rho = 0.604, p value = 0.017) and annual relative humidity (Spearman's Rho = 0.742, p value = 0.002). The most significant associations in children were the presence of sneezing or runny or blocked nose in the past 12 months [(OR 3.13, 95% CI 2.60-3.77), p = 0.000], the use of paracetamol in the first year of life ([OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.15-2.01), p = 0.003] and the use of antibiotics in the first year of life [(OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.08-1.55) p = 0.004]. Moreover, altitude at 100-1000 m above sea level was associated with current eczema symptoms in adolescents (p = 0.001). Conclusions: There has been a significant increase in eczema symptoms in both age groups since ISAAC Phase IIIB study. Additionally, eczema symptoms were associated with temperature, relative humidity, asthma, hay fever symptoms, the use of paracetamol and antibiotics.

Evaluation of candidate genes in a genome-wide association study of childhood asthma in Mexicans.

BACKGROUND: More than 200 asthma candidate genes have been examined in human association studies or identified with knockout mouse approaches. However, many have not been systematically replicated in human populations, especially those containing a large number of tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). OBJECTIVE: We comprehensively evaluated the association of previously implicated asthma candidate genes with childhood asthma in a Mexico City population. METHODS: From the literature, we identified candidate genes with at least 1 positive report of association with asthma phenotypes in human subjects or implicated in asthma pathogenesis using knockout mouse experiments. We performed a genome-wide association study in 492 asthmatic children aged 5 to 17 years and both parents using the Illumina HumanHap 550v3 BeadChip. Separate candidate gene analyses were performed for 2933 autosomal SNPs in the 237 selected genes by using the log-linear method with a log-additive risk model. RESULTS: Sixty-one of the 237 genes had at least 1 SNP with a P value of less than .05 for association with asthma. The 9 most significant results were observed for rs2241715 in the gene encoding TGF-beta1 (TGFB1; P = 3.3 x 10(-5)), rs13431828 and rs1041973 in the gene encoding IL-1 receptor-like 1 (IL1RL1; P = 2 x 10(-4) and 3.5 x 10(-4)), 5 SNPs in the gene encoding dipeptidyl-peptidase 10 (DPP10; P = 1.6 x 10(-4) to 4.5 x 10(-4)), and rs17599222 in the gene encoding cytoplasmic FMR1 interacting protein 2 (CYFIP2; P = 4.1 x 10(-4)). False discovery rates were less than 0.1 for all 9 SNPs. Multimarker analysis identified TGFB1, IL1RL1, the gene encoding IL-18 receptor 1 (IL18R1), and DPP10 as the genes most significantly associated with asthma. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive analysis of literature-based candidate genes suggests that SNPs in several candidate genes, including TGFB1, IL1RL1, IL18R1, and DPP10, might contribute to childhood asthma susceptibility in a Mexican population.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with allergic rhinitis in Mexican school children: Global Asthma Network Phase I.

BACKGROUND: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) showed a wide variability in prevalence and severity of allergic rhinitis (AR) and rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC), in addition to other atopic diseases (Asher et al, 2006).1 The Global Asthma Network (GAN) has continued to study these conditions. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of AR and ARC in children and adolescents in Mexico and to assess their association with different risk factors. METHODS: GAN Phase I is a cross-sectional, multicentre survey carried out in 15 centres corresponding to 14 Mexican cities throughout 2016-2019 using the validated Spanish language version of the GAN Phase I questionnaires. The questionnaires were completed by 35 780 parents of 6-7 year old primary school pupils (children) and by 41 399 adolescents, 13-14 years old. RESULTS: The current and cumulative prevalence of AR was higher in the adolescents (26.2-37.5%, respectively) in comparison to the children (17.9-24.9%, respectively), especially in female participants. This tendency was also observed in the current prevalence of ARC, where 15.1% of female adolescents reported nasal symptoms accompanied with itchy-watery eyes in the past year. The most important risk factors for AR and ARC were the presence of wheezing in the past 12 months, wheezing in the first year of life, the previous diagnosis of asthma and eczema symptoms. Furthermore, allergic symptoms had a negative tendency concerning altitude. CONCLUSION: This is the largest AR epidemiological study ever conducted in Mexico. It shows an increase in AR prevalence, as well as significant associations with modifiable risk factors, which could help to establish recommendations to reduce the burden of this condition.

Carboplatin hypersensitivity and desensitization in an infant.

Although the reported incidence of carboplatin hypersensitivity is low, it is important to describe it because of its potentially fatal consequences. A 1-year-old Mexican girl weighing 10 kg who had optic nerve glioma was initially scheduled to receive 12 cycles of 600 mg/m2 carboplatin (CBP) as two 300-mg/m2 intravenous infusions administered over 1 hour on 2 different days and a 1-hour intravenous infusion of 1.5 mg/m2 vincristine every 4 weeks. The patient had no history of drug allergies or any type of adverse drug reaction, but she developed itchiness, maculopapular rash, sweating, respiratory distress, and anxiety during the seventh cycle of CBP. According to the algorithm developed by Naranjo et al, the adverse drug reaction was classified as definite secondary to CBP and confirmed by positive skin tests indicating hypersensitivity to the drug. After evaluating the clinical course of the adverse drug reaction and considering the need to continue cancer treatment, a decision was made to desensitize the patient to CBP. The desensitization procedure took 8 hours and was performed during each new chemotherapy cycle until the 12 cycles of chemotherapy were successfully completed. In summary, a case of CBP hypersensitivity in a 1-year-old girl who was successfully desensitized to CBP is reported.

Effect of losartan on vascular function in fructose-fed rats: the role of perivascular adipose tissue.

Recent studies have shown the effect of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) on the regulation of vascular function; however, its role in the model of metabolic syndrome remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of losartan on PVAT-derived vascular dysfunction in fructose-induced hypertensive rats. Rats were fed with either water, 10% fructose, or 10% fructose with 10mg/kg losartan for 8 weeks. In the isolated aorta with PVAT and endothelium, contraction induced by norepinephrine (NE) was more potent in fructose-fed rats compared to control rats. Losartan normalized blood pressure, insulin resistance, and NE-induced vasoconstriction in fructose-fed rats. In the aortic rings with/without endothelium and with/without PVAT, losartan could not improve the acetylcholine-induced relaxation in fructose-fed rats. The observation suggested that losartan partly improved the PVAT-associated vascular regulation in fructose-induced hypertensive rats.

The burden of asthma in an inner-city area: A historical review 10 years after Isaac.

BACKGROUND: According to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) methodology, in 2003, the prevalence of asthma symptoms in children 6-7 years old and adolescents 13-14 years old was 11.6% and 13.7%, respectively. Since then, the number of asthma cases has increased worldwide. The study was conducted in several districts in northern Mexico City to evaluate the prevalence of asthma in these age groups and examine possible risk factors. The data were compared to the 2003 results from the same area. METHODS: This was a comparative cross-sectional study following the official Global Asthma Network (GAN) methodology. The parents or guardians of participants completed a questionnaire that explored demographics, asthma symptoms, diagnoses, and possible risk factors. Central tendency measurements were determined for statistical analysis and chi-squared distribution for possible risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 2515 children aged 6-7 years and 3375 adolescents aged 13-14 years participated in the study. Compared to the ISAAC results, we found a greater prevalence of wheezing in both children (at some time in life, 19.2% vs. 27.1%; over the last year, 6.8% vs. 10.6%) and adolescents (at some time in life, 16.9% vs. 19.7%), and for children with an asthma diagnosis (4.5% vs. 5.1%). For both groups, the most common risk factor associated with wheezing was the presence of rhinitis symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma symptoms are highly prevalent in Mexico City, occurring in almost 20% of adolescents. Compared to a decade ago, there was a 7.9% increase in the prevalence of asthma symptoms in children. Almost half of the children and adolescents presenting with symptoms had experienced more than four episodes per year. However, less than 50% of children and adolescents with asthma symptoms had been diagnosed with this disorder, suggesting under-diagnosis.

Global Asthma Network Phase I study in Mexico: prevalence of asthma symptoms, risk factors and altitude associations-a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Global Asthma Network (GAN) was established in 2012 as a development to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood to improve asthma care globally. OBJECTIVE: To survey asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in primary and secondary school children and to investigate and evaluate its prevalence, severity, management and risk factors in Mexico. METHODS: GAN Phase I is a cross-sectional, multicentre survey carried out in 15 centres corresponding to 14 Mexican cities throughout 2016-2019 using the validated Spanish language version of the GAN Phase I questionnaires. The questionnaires were completed by parents of 6-7-year-old primary school pupils (school children) and by 13-14-year-old adolescents. RESULTS: A total of 35 780 school children and 41 399 adolescents participated. Wheezing ever prevalence was 26.2% (95% CI 25.8% to 26.7%) in school children and 23.9% (95% CI 23.4% to 24.3%) in adolescents. The corresponding frequencies for current wheeze were 10.2% (95% CI 9.9% to 10.5%) and 11.6% (95% CI 11.2% to 11.9%). In school children, the risk factors for current wheeze were rhinitis (OR 4.484; 95% CI 3.915% to 5.134%) and rash symptoms (OR 1.735; 95% CI 1.461% to 2.059%). For adolescents, rhinitis symptoms (OR 3.492; 95% CI 3.188% to 3.825%) and allergic rhinitis diagnosis (OR 2.144; 95% CI 1.787% to 2.572%) were the most significant. For both groups, there was a negative relation with centres' sea level altitude higher than 1500 m above mean sea level (p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The most important risk factors for asthma symptoms in both age groups were the presence of rhinitis and rash symptoms or diagnosis. On the other hand, sea level altitude higher than 1500 metres was a protective factor.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of OM-85 vs placebo in the prevention of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in children that attend day-care centers.

BACKGROUND: Children that attend day-care centers frequently contract acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). ARTIs represent a burden for both children and parents. Systematic reviews on the use of immunostimulants for the prevention of juvenile recurrent ARTIs have provided moderate evidence of efficacy and safety. The aim of the study was to establish whether the immunostimulant, OM-85, was cost-effective in preventing ARTIs in children 2-6 years old that attended day-care centers or preschools in Mexico. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of OM-85. For costs, we assumed an institutional perspective, which included the costs of care and supplies over a study period of six months, during the autumn-winter seasons. We created decision trees and constructed a model to identify pharmacoeconomic parameters. We generated 1000 estimations with the bootstrap method to calculate descriptive statistics of pharmacoeconomic parameters. We evaluated cost-effectiveness compared to treatment without immunostimulants. RESULTS: The mean (SD) incidences of ARTIs were 5.59 ± 0.29 without immunostimulants and 2.97 ± 0.32 with OM-85, during the study period. The mean (25th, 75th percentile) direct costs of ARTIs were 57.04 (37.11, 76.39) US$ (US dollars) without immunostimulants and 48.53 (37.35, 58.93) US$ with OM-85, with a mean increment of - 8.51(- 17.08, 0.75) US$, and a mean cost-effectiveness of - 17.94 (- 36.48, 1.66) US$. The direct costs plus the cost of one parent missing work to care for the child with ARTI were 125.76 (102.83, 150.16) US$, without immunostimulant and 85.21 (72.15, 98.81) US$, with OM-85. The increment was - 40.55 (- 68.29, - 13.95) US$, and the cost-effectiveness was - 86.89 (- 142.37, - 29.34) US$.Part of the cost reduction was ascribed to the reduced use of medications, particularly antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Our results were consistent with previous clinical studies conducted in closed institutions in Mexico. OM-85 reduced the number of ARTIs and the frequency of antibiotics use. We concluded that OM-85 was cost-effective for preventing ARTIs in children that attended day-care centers, particularly when parental absenteeism was covered by the institutions.

Effect of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation combined with lifestyle intervention on adipokines and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in obese adolescents with hypertriglyceridemia.

Obesity in adolescents is considered a major public health problem; combined interventional approaches such as omega-3 supplementation with lifestyle intervention (LI) might exert synergistic effects and exceed the impact of each individual strategy. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate if the supplementation of omega-3 with LI could improve metabolic and endothelial abnormality in obese adolescents with hypertriglyceridemia. The study involved sixty-nine adolescents with normal weight and seventy obese adolescents with hypertriglyceridemia. All obese adolescents were applied to LI and randomly assigned to omega-3 supplementation or placebo group for 12 weeks. The obese adolescents with hypertriglyceridemia presented increased levels of leptin, retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), selectin E (sE) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and decreased levels of adiponectin compared with control subjects. After 12-week intervention, omega-3 supplementation with LI decreased significantly in triglycerides, HOMA, leptin, RBP4, ADMA and sE. Moreover, omega-3 with LI displayed a significant reduction in triglycerides, ADMA and sE in comparison with LI alone. In subjects with omega-3 combined with LI assessed by multivariate regression model, the reduction in triglycerides was the only independent determinant of the decrease in ADMA. The reductions in triglycerides and HOMA were significantly contributed to the changes in sE. Our data indicated that omega-3 combined with LI in short duration significantly improved dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, abnormality of adipokines, endothelial dysfunction in comparison of LI alone, indicating the combined approach is an effective clinical and applicable strategy to control metabolic abnormality and decrease the risks of cardiovascular diseases in obese adolescents.