Respiratory syncytial virus: current progress in vaccine development.

Viruses. 2013;5(2):577-94

Authors: Rudraraju R, Jones BG, Sealy R, Surman SL, Hurwitz JL

Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the etiological agent for a serious lower respiratory tract disease responsible for close to 200,000 annual deaths worldwide. The first infection is generally most severe, while re-infections usually associate with a milder disease. This observation and the finding that re-infection risks are inversely associated with neutralizing antibody titers suggest that immune responses generated toward a first RSV exposure can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality throughout life. For more than half a century, researchers have endeavored to design a vaccine for RSV that can mimic or improve upon natural protective immunity without adverse events. The virus is herein described together with the hurdles that must be overcome to develop a vaccine and some current vaccine development approaches.

PMID: 23385470 [PubMed - in process]

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Depression, physical activity, energy consumption, and quality of life in OSA patients before and after CPAP treatment.

Sleep Breath. 2013 Feb 6;

Authors: Diamanti C, Manali E, Ginieri-Coccossis M, Vougas K, Cholidou K, Markozannes E, Bakakos P, Liappas I, Alchanatis M

Abstract
BACKGROUND: A variety of studies have demonstrated improvement in quality of life and depressive symptoms in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. However, very little is known about the effect of OSA treatment on physical activity and energy consumption. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in depression, physical activity, energy expenditure, and quality of life (QoL) in OSA patients before and after CPAP therapy. METHODS: Forty-one patients with OSA as revealed by polysomnography, were included to the study. They responded to the generic World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL) questionnaire, to the specific-disease Quebec Sleep Questionnaire, and to Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in order to evaluate QoL and the incidence of depression. In addition, all patients wore an accelerometer which measured physical activity and energy expenditure during a week. At least 6 months after initiation of CPAP treatment (mean time, 9 months) we re-examined 24 patients who met the compliance with the treatment criteria. RESULTS: Patients after CPAP therapy had significantly higher scores in all domains of the Quebec Sleep Questionnaire and in the domains of physical health/level of independence and psychological health/spirituality of the WHOQoL. Depression scores were also better in CES-D after treatment. However, despite the improvement in QoL and psychological status, CPAP therapy had no impact on physical activity and energy expenditure. CONCLUSIONS: CPAP therapy improves QoL and lessens depressive symptoms in our group of well-treated OSA patients. However, physical activity and energy expenditure did not present statistically significant improvement in the same group of OSA patients.

PMID: 23386373 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Pulmonary manifestations of chronic granulomatous disease.

Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2013 Feb;9(2):153-60

Authors: Mahdaviani SA, Mohajerani SA, Rezaei N, Casanova JL, Mansouri SD, Velayati AA

Abstract
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited disorder, characterized by defects in superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase of phagocytes. The genetic defects in CGD induce failure to activate the respiratory burst in the phagocytes, leading to severe recurrent infections and unexplained prolonged inflammatory reactions that may produce granulomatous lesions. A noble advance in curative therapy for CGD is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Since the most common site of involvement in CGD is the lung, the pulmonologists (pediatrics or adult) may be among the first to recognize the pattern of infection, inflammation and granuloma formation, leading to diagnosis of CGD. Pulmonologists need to be aware of different lung manifestations of CGD.

PMID: 23390946 [PubMed - in process]

Atopy is important in the management of asthma.

Paediatr Respir Rev. 2013 Feb 5;

Authors: Just J

Abstract
Allergic diseases are a public health problem in industrialized countries due to the increasing number of allergies related to Western lifestyle. The multiplicity of organs affected by allergy (skin (atopic dermatitis), airway epithelium (respiratory allergy), and digestive tract (food allergy)) worsens the prognosis of each of the allergic diseases and specially asthma. The importance of allergy in management of asthma is also underlined by the risk of fatal or near fatal acute asthma attacks due to multiple allergic sensitizations. Preliminary studies suggest that specific treatment of allergy could change the asthma course.

PMID: 23395430 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]