Nasal nitric oxide in relation to asthma characteristics in a longitudinal asthma cohort study

Innovative biosensing smart masks: unveiling the future of respiratory monitoring

Real-time monitoring of respiratory health is increasingly critical, particularly in addressing global health challenges such as Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Smart masks equipped with biosensing mechanisms revolutionize respiratory health monitoring by enabling real-time detection of respiratory parameters and biomarkers. In recent years, significant advancements have been achieved in the development of smart masks based on different sensor types with high sensitivity and accuracy, flexible functionality, and portability, providing new approaches for remote and real-time monitoring of respiratory parameters and biomarkers. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of development and future potential of biosensing smart masks in various domains. This review outlines a systematic categorization of smart masks according to diverse sensing principles, classifying them into six categories: electrochemical sensors, optical sensors, piezoelectric sensors, and others. This review discusses the basic sensing principles and mechanisms of smart masks and describes the existing research developments of their different biosensors. Additionally, it explores the innovative applications of smart masks in health monitoring, protective functions, and expanding application scenarios. This review also identifies the current challenges faced by smart masks, including issues with sensor accuracy, environmental interference, and the need for better integration of multifunctional features. Proposed solutions to these challenges are discussed, along with the anticipated role of smart masks in early disease detection, personalized medicine, and environmental protection.

Inhaled corticosteroids' effects on biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate and blood in patients newly diagnosed with asthma who smoke

OBJECTIVE

Exposure to cigarette smoke complicates the treatment and management of asthma through a variety of inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the differences between newly diagnosed cases of asthma in smokers and nonsmokers in terms of localized and systemic biomarkers following treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or ICS in combination with a long-acting β2 agonist (LABA).

METHODS

Specimens of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) from newly diagnosed patients with asthma were used to quantify inflammation in the airways, while blood samples were used to assess systemic inflammation. In both samples, the levels of IL-6, LTB4, LTD4, and 8-isoprostane were measured and these were repeated after 3 months of treatment with ICS or ICS + LABA.

RESULTS

Of the 20 patients, 10 (50%) were nonsmokers with asthma (NSA) and 10 (50%) smokers with asthma (SA). There was no statistically significant difference in the blood or EBC levels of IL-6, LTB4, LTD4, or 8-isoprostane between the groups prior to treatment. Only the decrease in 8-isoprostane level in the EBC samples was found to be significantly greater in the NSA group after treatment (for smokers, the change was 2.91 ± 23.22, while for nonsmokers it was -22.72 ± 33.12, p = 0.022). Post-treatment asthma control was significantly better in the NSA group (p = 0.033).

CONCLUSION

Monitoring the alterations in 8-isoprostane levels in EBC in patients with asthma who smoke may be helpful in deciding on therapeutic management and switching treatments. Asthma control was better in nonsmokers than in smokers.

The Functional Diversity of Nitric Oxide Synthase Isoforms in Human Nose and Paranasal Sinuses: Contrasting Pathophysiological Aspects in Nasal Allergy and Chronic Rhinosinusitis

The human paranasal sinuses are the major source of intrinsic nitric oxide (NO) production in the human airway. NO plays several roles in the maintenance of physiological homeostasis and the regulation of airway inflammation through the expression of three NO synthase (NOS) isoforms. Measuring NO levels can contribute to the diagnosis and assessment of allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). In symptomatic AR patients, pro-inflammatory cytokines upregulate the expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) in the inferior turbinate. Excessive amounts of NO cause oxidative damage to cellular components, leading to the deposition of cytotoxic substances. CRS phenotype and endotype classifications have provided insights into modern treatment strategies. Analyses of the production of sinus NO and its metabolites revealed pathobiological diversity that can be exploited for useful biomarkers. Measuring nasal NO based on different NOS activities is a potent tool for specific interventions targeting molecular pathways underlying CRS endotype-specific inflammation. We provide a comprehensive review of the functional diversity of NOS isoforms in the human sinonasal system in relation to these two major nasal disorders' pathologies. The regulatory mechanisms of NOS expression associated with the substrate bioavailability indicate the involvement of both type 1 and type 2 immune responses.