Publications by authors named "Simone Hashimoto"
Background: Early identification of children at risk of asthma attacks is important for optimizing treatment strategies. We aimed to integrate salivary microbiome and serum inflammatory mediator profiles with asthma attacks history to develop a comprehensive predictive model for future attacks.
Methods: This study contained a discovery (SysPharmPediA) and a replication phase (U-BIOPRED).
Background: Asthma exacerbations are episodes of symptom worsening requiring increased therapy, which affect patients across all asthma severities. Potential genetic associations with asthma exacerbations in an understudied population were investigated.
Objective: We sought to perform a genome-wide association study on severe asthma exacerbations in an admixed adult population with varying asthma severities and to explore potential epigenetic roles.
Background: Pediatric Long COVID (PLC) is a heterogeneous condition, which can have a substantial impact on daily life of children and adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate health related quality of life (HRQoL), and mental and social health of children with PLC, in relation to children with other chronic health conditions (CHC) and from the general population (GP) during the pandemic.
Methods: Dutch children (8-18 years) with PLC (n = 106, 31% male) were included between May 2021 and March 2023.
Metabotypes are linked to uncontrolled childhood asthma, gut microbiota, and systemic inflammation.
J Allergy Clin Immunol
August 2025
Background: Childhood asthma has been linked to distinct metabolomic profiles.
Objective: We sought to identify phenotypes (metabotypes) in children with moderate to severe asthma through integrative fecal and serum metabolome analysis.
Methods: Children from the Systems Pharmacology Approach to Uncontrolled Pediatric Asthma cohort with Global Initiative for Asthma treatment step 3 or higher were recruited.
Background: Severe acute asthma (SAA) in children can be life-threatening. There has been a significant rise in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions due to SAA over the past two decades. While asthma is a heterogeneous disease, its underlying pathophysiological pathways remain underexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Asthma exacerbations (AEs) represent the major contributor to the global asthma burden. Although genetic and environmental factors have been associated with AEs, the role of epigenetics remains uncovered.
Objective: This study aimed to identify whole blood DNA methylation (DNAm) markers associated with AEs in Europeans.
: Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are common inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) inhaler devices. The difference in formulation and administration technique of these devices may influence oral cavity microbiota composition. We aimed to compare the saliva microbiome in children with moderate-to-severe asthma using ICS via MDIs versus DPIs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA) in combination with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are commonly used to treat asthma, however, some children lack response to the addition of LABA. This might be partially due to the presence of the Arg16Gly polymorphism, encoded by rs1042713 G>A in the ADRB2 gene. Carrying the A allele (Arg16) at this variant has been associated with an increased risk of exacerbations despite LABA treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Underlying immunological mechanisms in children with moderate-to-severe asthma are complex and unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between blood inflammatory parameters and asthma burden in children with moderate-to-severe asthma.
Methods: Blood inflammatory parameters (eosinophil and neutrophil counts and inflammatory mediators using multiplex immunoassay technology) were measured in children (6-17 years) with moderate-to-severe asthma from the SysPharmPediA cohort across four European countries.
Article Synopsis
- - The development of the CompOsite iNdexes For Response in asthMa (CONFiRM) aimed to create patient-centered tools that measure responses to biologics for severe asthma in both adults and children, integrating clinical data and quality of life (QoL) indicators.
- - Experts and patients collaborated to identify significant outcome changes and devised CONFiRM scores, which demonstrated high levels of agreement on key factors, with patients emphasizing the importance of quality of life more than healthcare professionals did.
- - The CONFiRM scores effectively measure treatment response, with strong validity metrics indicating their reliability, and they facilitate a comprehensive assessment of biologics’ effectiveness; further studies are required for prospective validation.
Fatigue in severe pediatric asthma patients: Results of the PANDA study.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol
October 2024
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated fatigue levels in children aged 6 to 17 with severe asthma, finding they experience significantly higher fatigue than their peers, with around 28% classified as "fatigued" and 15.4% as "severely fatigued."
- - Researchers utilized the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue Scale to measure fatigue and explored its relationship with asthma-related quality of life, symptom control, and other clinical factors.
- - The findings highlight the importance of addressing fatigue in severe pediatric asthma as a key factor in treatment and overall patient well-being.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Pediatric Post-COVID-19 Condition (PPCC), identify associated risk factors, and evaluate the quality of life in children based on the severity of their acute COVID-19 illness.
- A total of 579 children participated, with 260 experiencing mild COVID-19, 60 with severe disease, and 259 as a control group; results indicated that those with severe COVID-19 had a significantly higher prevalence of PPCC compared to mild cases and controls.
- Findings showed that while prevalence of PPCC decreased over time, children exhibiting PPCC had worse physical health-related quality of life and fatigue, with risk factors including prior health issues, hospitalizations, and ongoing fatigue one month post-infection.
Article Synopsis
- - The study focuses on factors influencing the decision to start biologics in children with severe asthma, as existing research is limited on this topic despite the availability of treatments.
- - Analysis was conducted on a group of 72 pediatric patients, revealing that higher GINA treatment steps, steroid toxicity, and a frequency of exacerbations were significant predictors for initiating biologic therapy.
- - The findings indicate a clinical need for biologics in children experiencing steroid toxicity, while highlighting other demographic and clinical factors that could influence treatment decisions.
Article Synopsis
- Pediatric post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) condition (PPCC) is a complex syndrome affecting children's daily lives, and this study aimed to uncover specific phenotypes to improve understanding and treatment.
- Researchers analyzed data from 111 children aged 3-18 with diagnosed PPCC, identifying three distinct clusters based on symptoms and demographics.
- The study found variations in age, sex, symptom patterns, and daily life impact among the clusters, emphasizing the need for further research into the diverse causes of post-COVID symptoms in children.
Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds for Asthma Control Classification in Children with Moderate to Severe Asthma: Results from the SysPharmPediA Study.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med
November 2024
Article Synopsis
- Early identification of poorly controlled asthma in children is crucial for improving treatment methods, and analyzing exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) shows promise for this task.
- A study evaluated the effectiveness of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to distinguish between controlled and uncontrolled pediatric asthma, using data from multiple research phases.
- Key findings revealed that specific VOCs, such as acetophenone and ethylbenzene, could differentiate asthma control levels, achieving strong accuracy in predicting outcomes based on the collected data from 196 children.
Background: Pediatric Post-COVID-Condition (PPCC) clinics treat children despite limited scientific substantiation. By exploring real-life management of children diagnosed with PPCC, the International Post-COVID-Condition in Children Collaboration (IP4C) aimed to provide guidance for future PPCC care.
Methods: We performed a cross-sectional international, multicenter study on used PPCC definitions; the organization of PPCC care programs and patients characteristics.
Article Synopsis
- Vaccination is essential for controlling COVID-19, but hesitancy is a challenge, especially among patients with severe asthma; this study explores their vaccination experiences.
- A questionnaire was distributed to patients with severe asthma across 12 European countries, revealing that 88% of participants had been or planned to be vaccinated, while 9.5% hesitated and 3% refused; beliefs about vaccines influenced these decisions.
- Most patients reported mild or no side effects and noted minimal impact on asthma symptoms post-vaccination, with nearly all vaccinated individuals recommending the vaccine to others in their situation.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates how pulmonary dysfunction might contribute to microvascular complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), given that traditional cardiometabolic risk factors do not fully explain these complications.
- - Conducted at the National Diabetes Management and Research Centre in Ghana, the study included 464 participants aged 35 and older who had T2D but did not have primary heart or lung diseases.
- - Results indicated that lower forced expiratory volume (FEV) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were linked to higher risks of nephropathy and neuropathy, though the correlations for retinopathy were not significant.
Severe Pediatric COVID-19 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children From Wild-type to Population Immunity: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study With Real-time Reporting.
Pediatr Infect Dis J
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- A multicenter study from March 2020 to December 2022 evaluated pediatric COVID-19 cases, examining severity and risk factors in 564 hospitalized children across three countries.
- Among the hospitalized children, those over 12 and with preexisting respiratory issues were more likely to experience severe illness, while cases during the omicron variant showed milder symptoms overall.
- The study emphasizes that real-time data collection is crucial for guiding public health decisions, including vaccine and booster strategies for children infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Article Synopsis
- Severe asthma in kids and teens poses significant health, financial, and social challenges due to its varied clinical forms and inflammation patterns.
- New treatments, especially monoclonal antibodies (biologics), have been developed but access to these therapies differs by country and is based on limited indicators.
- The review aims to evaluate recent advancements in treating severe pediatric asthma and explore potential biomarkers that can help determine which children will benefit most from these treatments.
Long-Term Weight Changes After Starting Anti-IL-5/5Ra Biologics in Severe Asthma: The Role of Oral Corticosteroids.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract
September 2023
Background: Many patients with severe asthma are overweight or obese, often attributed to unintentional weight gain as a side effect of oral corticosteroids (OCSs). Anti-IL-5/5Ra biologics significantly reduce OCS use, but their long-term effects on weight are unknown.
Objectives: To examine (1) weight change up to 2 years after anti-IL-5/5Ra initiation in subgroups on the basis of maintenance OCS use at start of treatment and (2) whether cumulative OCS exposure before or changes in OCS exposure during treatment are related to weight change.
Real-World Effectiveness of IL-5/5Ra Targeted Biologics in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma With Comorbid Bronchiectasis.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract
September 2023
Article Synopsis
- Bronchiectasis is a common issue in severe eosinophilic asthma patients, impacting disease severity, but its effect on IL-5 biologic treatment is unclear.
- A study of 97 adults showed that anti-IL-5/5Ra therapy significantly reduced asthma exacerbations and the need for oral corticosteroids (OCS).
- After one year of treatment, exacerbation rates dropped from 74.5% to 22.1%, and the number of patients on maintenance OCS decreased from 47% to 30%, highlighting the therapy's effectiveness even in those with bronchiectasis.
Article Synopsis
- Children with preschool wheezing or school-age asthma have different microbial profiles in their airways, which can affect their condition and treatment outcomes.
- A study of oropharyngeal samples from 241 children identified four distinct clusters based on microbial composition, with significant differences in associated allergies and asthma severity.
- The findings suggest that understanding these microbial clusters could offer new insights into asthma management and lead to innovative treatment strategies.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on real-life patients with severe asthma starting anti-interleukin-5 (IL5) treatment in Europe, assessing how they differ from those included in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- Out of 1231 patients, only about 27% met the eligibility criteria of RCTs, with key differences in smoking history, clinical factors, and medication use noted.
- The findings highlight that many patients who could benefit from anti-IL5 therapies may be overlooked in clinical trials, underscoring the value of studying broader patient populations in real-world settings.