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National Asthma Week: 10 things you need to know about asthma

Asthma affects about half a million Australian children and is one of the most common reasons why kids need to see a doctor or go to emergency.

Research

Intrauterine Growth Restriction Promotes Postnatal Airway Hyperresponsiveness Independent of Allergic Disease

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with asthma. Murine models of IUGR have altered airway responsiveness in the absence of any inflammatory exposure. Given that a primary feature of asthma is airway inflammation, IUGR-affected individuals may develop more substantial respiratory impairment if subsequently exposed to an allergen. This study used a maternal hypoxia-induced mouse model of IUGR to determine the combined effects of IUGR and allergy on airway responsiveness.

Research

Identification of genes differentially regulated by vitamin D deficiency that alter lung pathophysiology and inflammation in allergic airways disease

Vitamin D deficiency exacerbates house dust mite-induced inflammation and alterations in lung structure and function

Research

Reduced transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in the repair of airway epithelial cells of children with asthma

Evidence into the role of TGF-β1 in airway epithelial repair in asthma is still controversial. This study tested the hypothesis that the reduced TGF-β1 levels previously observed in paediatric asthmatic airway epithelial cells directly contribute to the dysregulated repair seen in these cells.

Research

Immunodominant T-cell epitopes in the VP1 capsid protein of rhinovirus species A and C

Our results indicate a dissociation between the antibody and T-cell responses to rhinoviruses

Research

Severe winter asthma exacerbations can be prevented by omalizumab, but there is no carryover effect.

Recurrent severe asthma exacerbations are associated with decreased lung growth or accelerated loss of long function and add substantially to cost and morbidity

Research

Multiancestry association study identifies new asthma risk loci that colocalize with immune-cell enhancer marks

We identified new asthma loci, found new associations at loci implicated in the comorbidity of asthma plus hay fever and confirmed nine known loci.