IgE expression pattern in lung: relation to systemic IgE and asthma phenotypes

BACKGROUND: IgE-mediated responses contribute to allergy and asthma. Little is understood regarding the relationship of tissue IgE to systemic IgE, inflammation or clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate local IgE expression and cellular inflammation in the proximal and distal lung of normal subjects and subjects with asthma of varying severity and relate those tissue parameters to systemic IgE levels, atopy, lung function, and history of severe exacerbations of asthma. METHODS: Tissue from more than 90 subjects with eosinophilic (SAeo(+)) and noneosinophilic (SAeo(-)) severe asthma, mild asthma and normal subjects were immunostained for IgE, signal-amplifying isoform of IgE receptor (FcepsilonRIbeta) and markers of mast cells, eosinophils, and lymphocytes. Tissue expression of IgE, FcepsilonRIbeta, cellular inflammation, serum IgE, and atopy were compared. Regression models were used to determine the relationship of local and systemic IgE to lung function and severe exacerbations of asthma. RESULTS: Mast cell-bound IgE was present along airways but absent in lung parenchyma. Although the groups were similar in systemic/serum IgE and atopy, local/tissue IgE was highest in SAeo(+) and correlated with eosinophils and lymphocytes (r(s) = 0.52, P < .0001; and r(s) = 0.23, P = .03, respectively). Higher local IgE was associated with better lung function, but also with more severe exacerbations of asthma. CONCLUSION: Local IgE appears to be primarily a component of responses within the mucosal immune compartment and is related to cellular inflammation, lung function, and clinical outcomes in asthma. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Local/airway IgE-related processes rather than systemic markers of atopy may be relevant in determining clinical outcomes in asthma.     

Cortical Bone Porosity in Rabbit Models of Osteoporosis

Cortical bone porosity is intimately linked with remodeling, is of growing clinical interest, and is increasingly accessible by imaging. Thus, the potential of animal models of osteoporosis (OP) to provide a platform for studying how porosity develops and responds to interventions is tremendous. To date, rabbit models of OP have largely focused on trabecular microarchitecture or bone density; some such as ovariectomy (OVX) have uncertain efficacy and cortical porosity has not been extensively reported. Our primary objective was to characterize tibial cortical porosity in rabbit-based models of OP, including OVX, glucocorticoids (GC), and OVX + GC relative to controls (SHAM). We sought to: (i) test the hypothesis that intracortical remodeling is elevated in these models; (ii) contrast cortical remodeling and porosity in these models with that induced by parathyroid hormone (1–34; PTH); and (iii) contrast trabecular morphology in the proximal tibia across all groups. Evidence that an increase in cortical porosity occurred in all groups was observed, although this was the least robust for GC. Histomorphometric measures supported the hypothesis that remodeling rate was elevated in all groups and also revealed evidence of uncoupling of bone resorption and formation in the GC and OVX + GC groups. For trabecular bone, a pattern of loss was observed for OVX, GC, and OVX + GC groups, whereas the opposite was observed for PTH. Change in trabecular number best explained these patterns. Taken together, the findings indicated rabbit models provide a viable and varied platform for the study of OP and associated changes in cortical remodeling and porosity. Intriguingly, the evidence revealed differing effects on the cortical and trabecular envelopes for the PTH model. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR)..     

New discoveries and directions for medical, dental and dental hygiene research: low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma

Abstract:  The study of plasma integrates physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering, and has recently engaged medicine and dental hygiene in research efforts. The study of plasma holds promise for a myriad of applications ranging from lasers and electronics, hazardous waste management, decontamination, sterilization and disinfection of foods, soil, water, instruments, to medical uses in wound healing and treating certain types of tumours and cancers. Plasma represents a new state-of-the-art sterilization and disinfection treatment for certain oral and enviornmental pathogens, heat-sensitive materials, contaminated medical waste, hard and soft surfaces, and ventilation systems may assist health care facilities in the management of various health concerns. The role that Low Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (LTAPP) could play in the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms might prove to be a new, faster, noncorrosive, more economical alternative, as well as support green healthcare.