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Census data reveals stark gap in asthma risk for inner and outer city kidsChildren who live in the outer suburbs of Australia’s four biggest cities are twice as likely to have asthma as those living in inner city areas, according to a new study based on health data captured in the last Australian Census.
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Distribution, composition, and activity of airway-associated adipose tissue in the porcine lungPatients with comorbid asthma-obesity experience greater disease severity and are less responsive to therapy. We have previously reported adipose tissue within the airway wall that positively correlated with body mass index. Accumulation of biologically active adipose tissue may result in the local release of adipokines and disrupt large and small airway function depending on its anatomical distribution. This study therefore characterized airway-associated adipose tissue distribution, lipid composition, and adipokine activity in a porcine model.
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Marked Variation in Paediatric Problematic Severe Asthma Services Across Australia and New ZealandAsthma affects > 10% of children in Australia and New Zealand (NZ), with up to 5% of those having severe disease, presenting a management challenge. We aimed to survey tertiary paediatric respiratory services across Australia and NZ using a custom-designed questionnaire, to conduct a cross-sectional observational study of the numbers of children with problematic severe asthma seen, the number treated with biologic therapy, outpatient clinic/multidisciplinary team services available, investigations and tools routinely used and approaches utilised for transition to adult care.
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The intersect of genetics, environment, and microbiota in asthma-perspectives and challengesIn asthma, a significant portion of the interaction between genetics and environment occurs through microbiota. The proposed mechanisms behind this interaction are complex and at times contradictory. This review covers recent developments in our understanding of this interaction: the "microbial hypothesis" and the "farm effect"; the role of endotoxin and genetic variation in pattern recognition systems; the interaction with allergen exposure; the additional involvement of host gut and airway microbiota; the role of viral respiratory infections in interaction with the 17q21 and CDHR3 genetic loci; and the importance of in utero and early-life timing of exposures.
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Decoding Susceptibility to Respiratory Viral Infections and Asthma Inception in ChildrenHuman Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Human Rhinovirus are the most frequent cause of respiratory tract infections in infants and children and are major triggers of acute viral bronchiolitis, wheezing and asthma exacerbations.
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Vitamin D over the first decade and susceptibility to childhood allergy and asthmaWe aimed to research relationships between 25(OH)D levels from birth to 10 y/o and susceptibility to allergic sensitization, respiratory issues and asthma.
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Characteristics associated with clinical severity and inflammatory phenotype of naturally occurring virus-induced exacerbations of asthma in adultsType 2 inflammation is present in patients during virus-induced asthma exacerbations, to the same degree as non-viral exacerbations
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IFNβ inhibits the development of allergen tolerance and is conducive to the development of asthma on subsequent allergen exposureData indicate a role for Interferonβ in linking viral infection and allergy
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Prevalence of allergic sensitization, hay fever, eczema, and asthma in a longitudinal birth cohortThe aim of this study was to longitudinally assess the prevalence of allergic sensitization, asthma, eczema and hay fever from infancy to adulthood
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Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms are associated with severity of wheezing illnesses and asthma exacerbations in childrenThese findings suggest that genetic variants at the VDR locus may play a role in acute wheeze/asthma severity in children