Microcystin: From Blooms to Brain Toxicity.

An increase in the temperature of lakes and ponds facilitates the over-growth of photosynthetic cyanobacteria that produce a class of toxins called cyanotoxins. The abundance of cyanobacteria poses a significant threat to drinking and irrigation water supplies, and therefore, cyanotoxins have become a major class of environmental pollutants. Microcystins, the most common cyanotoxins, are cyclic peptides produced by cyanobacteria through non-ribosomal peptide synthases, and currently, approximately 279 microcystins have been identified to date.

Genotype-Guided Asthma Treatment Reduces Exacerbations in Children: Meta-Analysis of Two Randomized Control Trials.

Background: 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.

Environmental risk factors for respiratory infection and wheeze in young children: A multicentre birth cohort study.

Introduction: Respiratory infections and wheeze have a considerable impact on the health of young children and consume significant healthcare resources. We aimed to evaluate the effect of environmental factors on respiratory infections and symptoms in early childhood.

Methods: Environmental risk factors including: daycare attendance; breastfeeding; siblings; damp within the home; environmental tobacco smoke (ETS); child's bedroom flooring; animal exposure; road traffic density around child's home; and solid fuel pollution within home were assessed in children recruited to the GO-CHILD multicentre prospective birth cohort study.

Mannose-binding lectin genotype is associated with respiratory disease in young children: A multicenter cohort study.

Background: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an important component of the innate immune system. Polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene and promoter region are directly associated with MBL-deficiency. We sought to determine the association between MBL genotype on the frequency of common childhood respiratory infections, respiratory symptoms, and atopic outcomes in early childhood.

Inhibitory Neurotransmission Is Sex-Dependently Affected by Tat Expression in Transgenic Mice and Suppressed by the Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Enzyme Inhibitor PF3845 via Cannabinoid Type-1 Receptor Mechanisms.

(1) Background. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system, which regulates physiological and cognitive processes, presents a promising therapeutic target for treating HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Here we examine whether upregulating eCB tone has potential protective effects against HIV-1 Tat (a key HIV transactivator of transcription) protein-induced alterations in synaptic activity.

LTA4H rs2660845 association with montelukast response in early and late-onset asthma.

Leukotrienes play a central pathophysiological role in both paediatric and adult asthma. However, 35% to 78% of asthmatics do not respond to leukotriene inhibitors. In this study we tested the role of the LTA4H regulatory variant rs2660845 and age of asthma onset in response to montelukast in ethnically diverse populations.

Identification of as a Potential Locus Associated with Inhaled Corticosteroid Response in Childhood Asthma.

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the most common asthma controller medication. An important contribution of genetic factors in ICS response has been evidenced. Here, we aimed to identify novel genetic markers involved in ICS response in asthma.

ADRB2 haplotypes and asthma exacerbations in children and young adults: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: The polymorphism Arg16 in β -adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene has been associated with an increased risk of exacerbations in asthmatic children treated with long-acting β -agonists (LABA). However, it remains unclear whether this increased risk is mainly attributed to this single variant or the combined effect of the haplotypes of polymorphisms at codons 16 and 27.

Objective: We assessed whether the haplotype analysis could explain the association between the polymorphisms at codons 16 (Arg16Gly) and 27 (Gln27Glu) in ADRB2 and risk of asthma exacerbations in patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus LABA.

Asthma prescribing according to Arg16Gly beta-2 genotype: a randomised trial in adolescents.

Introduction: The A allele of rs1042713 (Arg16 amino acid) in the β-adrenoreceptor is associated with poor response to long-acting β-agonist (LABA) in young people with asthma. Our aim was to assess whether the prescribing of second-line controller with LABA or a leukotriene receptor antagonist according to Arg16Gly genotype would result in improvements in Pediatric Asthma-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ).

Methods: We performed a pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT) a primary care clinical research network covering England and Scotland.

Correction: Pharmacogenomic associations of adverse drug reactions in asthma: systematic review and research prioritization.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Pharmacogenomic associations of adverse drug reactions in asthma: systematic review and research prioritisation.

A systematic review of pharmacogenomic studies capturing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) related to asthma medications was undertaken, and a survey of Pharmacogenomics in Childhood Asthma (PiCA) consortia members was conducted. Studies were eligible if genetic polymorphisms were compared with suspected ADR(s) in a patient with asthma, as either a primary or secondary outcome. Five studies met the inclusion criteria.