The WEB-based Asthma Control: an intriguing connection or a dangerous hazard?

Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase relieves adipose inflammation via modulating M1/M2 macrophage polarization to alleviate airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in obese asthma

Obesityincreasestheriskofasthma and tends to enhance the asthma severity, however, its mechanism is not fully elucidated. The expansion of adipose tissue in obesity is accompanied by the accumulation of adiposetissue macrophages (ATMs) that could contribute to alow-gradeinflammationstate. In this study, we researched the regulatory role of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) on ATMs-mediated inflammation in obese asthma. A mouse model of obese asthma that induced by high-fat diet (HFD) feeding and Ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization was employed to investigate the effects of AUDA, a sEH inhibitor (sEHi), on airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsivenesss (AHR) and pulmonary pathological changes. In addition to alleviating the key features of asthma in obese mice, we confirmed that AUDA reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory factor, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumornecrosisfactor-α (TNF-α) in adipose tissue and serum. Moreover, AUDA could remarkedly reduce Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-elevated IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Mechanistically, AUDA effectively reduced inflammation in adipose tissue, resulting in reduced systemic inflammation, by inhibiting M1-type macrophage polarization and promoting M2-type macrophage polarization. These processes were found to act through ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Herein, we proved that inhibition of sEH expression helped to mitigate multiple parameters of obese asthma by regulating the balance of M1/M2 macrophage polarization in adipose tissue.

New Concepts and Technological Resources in Patient Education and Asthma Self-Management

Asthma is a chronic disease that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In general, the use of technology resources or electronic health (e-health) has been shown to have beneficial effects on patients with asthma. E-health can impact a broad section of patients and can be cost-effective and associated with high patient satisfaction. E-health may enable remote delivery of care, as well as timely access to health care, which are some of the common challenges faced by patients with asthma. Web-based asthma self-management systems have been found to improve quality of life, self-reported asthma symptoms, lung function, reduction in asthma symptoms/exacerbations, and self-reported adherence for adults. Social media is commonly being used as a platform to disseminate information on asthma to increase public awareness. It can facilitate asthma self-management in a patient friendly manner and has shown to improve asthma control test scores as well as self-esteem. Text massages reminders can increase awareness regarding asthma treatment and control, thus potentially can improve adherence to medications and asthma outcome. Mobile health applications can support asthma self-management, improve a patient's quality of life, promote medication adherence, and potentially reduce the overall costs for asthma care. Inhaler trackers have shown to be beneficial to asthma outcome in various populations by improving adherence to asthma medications. Barriers such as physician financial reimbursement as well as licensing for rendering tele-healthcare services are important concerns. Other limitations of using technology resources in health care are related to liability, professionalism, and ethical issues such as breach of patient confidentiality and privacy. Additionally, there may be less face-to-face interaction and care of the patient when e-health is used.

Information and communication technology use in asthmatic patients: a cross-sectional study in Latin America

Rapid diffusion, low cost and broad availability of information and communication technologies (ICTs) make them an attractive platform for managing care, communication and interventions in asthma. There is little information in Latin America about usage frequency of ICTs in asthmatic patients.

The analysis undertaken consisted of an observational, cross-sectional study that aimed to identify the frequency and type of ICTs most often used by asthmatics. The Spanish version of the Michigan questionnaire was employed in five Latin American countries. Age and educational level was categorised. Logistic regression was performed among these groups concerning the frequency of ICT usage and the level of interest shown in seeking and receiving information about asthma.

In total, 673 asthma patients were surveyed. The mean age was 43.44 years. Over two-thirds of the participants were female (68.4%). The most used ICT was the short message service (SMS) (69.9%). SMS and E-mail are useful tools for communicating (i.e. receiving and seeking information) with all asthma patients, irrespective of their age. WhatsApp (61.5%) and Facebook (32.0%) were rated as being the most interesting channels of communication for receiving information. Regression analysis showed that younger asthmatics and asthmatics with higher educational levels were most likely to use almost all forms of ICTs.

ICTs are generally an attractive platform for managing care, communication and interventions to improve asthma care. SMS and E-mail were found to be the preferred ICT forms among users. However, social media forms such as WhatsApp and Facebook may also be appropriate for certain types of patient.

ICT and social media use among asthmatics from Latin Americahttp://ow.ly/TxVj30cKylJ