Notch 2 receptor expression and reduced cytotoxicity in MAIT cells of active pulmonary TB patients

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), resulting in significant increase in mortality rate worldwide. Immunity against M.tb consists of both innate and adaptive immunity, with emerging evidence of the role of the unconventional mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. MAIT cells are MR1-restricted T cells that possess anti-bacterial activity, including activity in response to M.tb. To date, human studies regarding peripheral blood MAIT cell frequency and MAIT cell activity in TB patients are still controversial and most studies are cross-sectional.
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Direct healthcare cost comparison of Fluticasone propionate/Salmeterol vs Budesonide/Formoterol Maintenance And Reliever Therapy for moderate/severe asthma: Results from Thailand

Inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-agonist (ICS/LABA) for moderate/severe asthma i.e. regular Fluticasone propionate/Salmeterol (FP/Salm) with as-needed short acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) or ICS/Formoterol Maintenance And Reliever Therapy (MART) are the recommended options.
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Mepolizumab improved airway hyperresponsiveness in a patient with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a severe type of asthma characterized by hypersensitivity to Aspergillus fumigatus and lung infiltration with eosinophilia. The central pathogenesis of asthma is airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), with eosinophils playing a critical role. Anti-interleukin (IL)-5 antibody therapy has been recently introduced to treat severe asthma, which reportedly inactivates and reduces eosinophil count. A recent case series highlighted the improvement in asthmatic symptoms associated with ABPA, but previous reports failed to demonstrate any improvement in AHR.
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Validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of the Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL)

Assessment of quality of life is needed to assess therapeutic response. There is currently no instrument available for assessing the quality of life of chronic urticaria patients in Indonesia. CU-Q2oL is a specific questionnaire for chronic urticaria that was first developed in Italian. Validity and reliability tests are important to ensure that the language or term used are appropriate to the local culture and there is no change in the validity and reliability of the questionnaire.
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Manila grass (Zoysia matrella) Zoy m 1 allergen may contribute to allergic sensitization in tropical/subtropical regions due to extensive cross-reactivity with other group-1 grass pollen allergens

Pollen of grasses in Chloridoideae and Panicoideae subfamilies is a major source of grass group-1 allergens in tropical/subtropical areas. Previously, most studies of subtropical grass pollen allergens have focused on Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass-Chloridoideae) and Sorghum halepense (Johnson grass-Panicoideae). However, little information is available about allergenicity of pollen from Zoysia matrella (Manila grass or Zoysia grass-Chloridoideae), which is among the most popular turfgrasses in tropical/subtropical areas.
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Thymocytes induce renal tubular epithelial cells to undergo the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis is known to occur as a result of epithelial cell transformation into myofibroblasts via the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. It has been reported that macrophages, regulatory T (Treg) cells, and gamma delta T (γδ T) cells can promote fibrosis via EMT in vivo.
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