Contribution of Kazal-Like Domains of the Serine Protease Inhibitor-1 from Toxoplasma gondii in Asthma Therapeutic Vaccination Effectiveness

<b><i>Background:</i></b> We have previously showed rTgPI-1 tolerogenic adjuvant properties in asthma treatment, turning it a promising candidate for allergen-specific immunotherapy. This therapy is an alternative treatment to control asthma that still presents several concerns related to its formulation. rTgPI-1 contains independent inhibitory domains able to inhibit trypsin and neutrophil elastase, both involved in asthma pathology. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> In view of the need to design rational therapies, herein we investigated the contribution of the different inhibitory domains in rTgPI-1 therapeutic effectiveness. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> BALB/c mice were rendered allergic by intraperitoneal OVA-alum sensitization and airway challenged. Once the asthmatic phenotype was achieved, mice were intranasally treated with OVA combined with the full-length recombinant protein rTgPI-1 or its truncated versions, Nt (containing trypsin-inhibitory domains) or Ct (containing neutrophil elastase-inhibitory domains). Afterward, mice were aerosol re-challenged. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Asthmatic mice treated with the neutrophil elastase- or the trypsin-inhibitory domains separately failed to improve allergic lung inflammation. Only when all inhibitory domains were simultaneously administered, an improvement was achieved. Still, a better outcome was obtained when mice were treated with the full-length rTgPI-1. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Adjuvant ability depends on the presence of all its inhibitory domains in a single entity, so it should be included in potential asthma treatment formulations as a full-length protein.

Investigating the Outcomes of an Asthma Educational Program and Useful Influence in Public Policy

The study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an asthma educational program for asthma control, asthma self-management, asthma knowledge, and patient activation. The study analyzes different demographic variables with the purpose of investigating which asthma patients performed better than others. Based on these demographic characteristics, the study provides several recommendations for various stakeholders. The study is based on a positivist approach since its purpose is to investigate the consequences of an asthma educational program with a view to generalizing the results to a larger population. The study targets public and private hospitals which have applied the asthma educational program in collaboration with the Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA). Multiple questionnaires were deployed 263 valid responses were received from patients of public and private hospitals using online and offline data collection method. Several parametric and non-parametric tests were carried out in terms of data analysis. The results reveal that patients in the intervention group obtained high scores and were therefore more knowledgeable and able to control their asthma compared to the control group. Overall, patients in the intervention group performed better in terms of asthma control, asthma self-management and knowledge and awareness. There was a high level of patient activation in this group. In the context of demographic features, it was found that patients who are married and are undergraduate degree holders in employment scored high compared to patients who were young, single, post-graduate degree holders that were mainly self-employed. The results of this study can guide policy makers, SINA authorities, and hospitals as to which demographic category of asthma patients require immediate attention. The significance of asthma educational programmes has increased especially through social media platforms as the number of adult patients continues to increase day by day.

Literature Review : Pengaruh Teknik Pernapasan Buteyko Terhadap Kontrol Asma

The Backgrounds : Asthma can cause narrowing of the airways, and it can cause symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath (dyspnea), therefore treatment is needed to control asthma to reduce the symptoms caused. One of the non-farmacological treatments is using the buteyko breathing technique. To describe the effect of the buteyko breathing technique on asthma control. This literature review research accessed the Garba Garuda and Researchgate databases. Search articles using two languages, for Indonesian-language articles, the search was conducted using the keywords: “Asma”, “Buteyko”, "Kontrol asma", while the English-language articles used the keywords: “Asthma”, “Buteyko”, “Asthma control". This study used the JBI critical appraisal checklist for quasi-experimental studies, and the PICOTS format (population, intervention, comparative group, outcome, time, study design) in determining inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results of this literature review showed that there was an increase in the level of asthma control after the intervention. There was also an effect of giving the buteyko breathing technique on asthma control. The p-value was less than 0.05. The conclusion of this literature review research showed that there was an effect of giving the buteyko breathing technique on asthma control. Keywords : Asthma; Buteyko; Asthma control AbstrakPenyakit asma dapat menyebabkan penyempitan pada saluran napas, dan hal ini dapat menimbulkan gejala seperti mengi, batuk, dan sesak napas (dispnea) pada penderitanya, maka dari itu diperlukan pengobatan untuk mengontrol asma agar mengurangi gejala yang ditimbulkan. Salah satu pengobatan non farmakologinya yaitu dengan menggunakan teknik pernapasan buteyko. Tujuan dari penelitian literature review ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh teknik pernapasan buteyko terhadap kontrol asma. Penelitian literature review ini mengakses database Garba Garuda, dan Researchgate. Pencarian artikel menggunakan dua bahasa yaitu bahasa Indonesia, dan bahasa Inggris, untuk artikel berbahasa Indonesia, pencarian dilakukan dengan menggunakan kata kunci : “Asma”, “Buteyko”, “Kontrol Asma”, sedangkan artikel berbahasa Inggris menggunakan kata kunci : “Asthma”, “Buteyko”, “Asthma control”. Instrumen telaah kritis yang digunakan yaitu dengan menggunakan JBI critical appraisal checklist for quasi-eksperimental studies, serta menggunakan format PICOTS (population, intervention, comparative group, outcome, time, studi design) dalam menentukan kriteria inklusi dan eksklusi. Hasil penelitian literature review ini menunjukkan bahwa terdapat kenaikan pada tingkat kontrol asma sesudah pemberian intervensi tersebut, dibandingkan sebelum pemberian intervensi, dan terdapat pengaruh pemberian teknik pernapasan buteyko dengan kontrol asma dengan hasil p value <0,05. Simpulan dari penelitian literature review ini menunjukkan bahwa terdapat pengaruh pemberian teknik pernapasan buteyko terhadap kontrol asma. Kata Kunci : Asma; Buteyko ; Kontrol asma

Pediatric Obesity-Related Asthma: The Role of Nutrition and Nutrients in Prevention and Treatment

Childhood obesity rates have dramatically risen in numerous countries worldwide. Obesity is likely a factor in increased asthma risk, which is already one of the most widespread chronic respiratory pathologies. The pathogenic mechanism of asthma risk has still not yet been fully elucidated. Moreover, the role of obesity-related inflammation and pulmonary overreaction to environmental triggers, which ultimately result in asthma-like symptoms, and the importance of dietary characteristics is well recognized. Diet is an important adjustable element in the asthma development. Food-specific composition of the diet, in particular fat, sugar, and low-quality nutrients, is likely to promote the chronic inflammatory state seen in asthmatic patients with obesity. An unbalanced diet or supplementation as a way to control asthma more efficiently has been described. A personalized dietary intervention may improve respiratory symptoms and signs and therapeutic response. In this narrative review, we presented and discussed more recent literature on asthma associated with obesity among children, focusing on the risk of asthma among children with obesity, asthma as a result of obesity focusing on the role of adipose tissue as a mediator of systemic and local airway inflammation implicated in asthma regulation, and the impact of nutrition and nutrients in the development and treatment of asthma. Appropriate early nutritional intervention could possibly be critical in preventing and managing asthma associated with obesity among children.