Swiss Institute of Allergy & Asthma Research

Novel concepts highlight a holistic approach to overall health and physical performance of athletes (professional sporters and physically active persons), linked with their nutrition and exposure to pollution and toxic substances affecting the integrity of their barriers of skin and mucosal body surfaces and healthy microbiome. DAVOS, Switzerland, July 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The health of athletes and physically active people is in the focus of the current research in the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) in collaboration with the Sports Medicine Department of the Davos Hospital (Swiss Research Institute for Sports Medicine - SRISM) on the effects of environmental pollutants and nutrition on the barrier function of the skin, respiratory tract and digestive tract. Epithelial barrier defects play a crucial role in defense against external influences such as viruses, bacteria, allergens and environmental pollutants. An intact barrier function is therefore essential for health and well-being. While modern living conditions expose us to a variety of toxic and harmful substances, athletes are faced with particular challenges due to their increased risk of exposure to these substances. Various cleaning products, air pollutants, small plastic particles (micro and nanoplastic) and food additives can damage the barrier function of skin and mucous membranes, which can lead to a disturbed composition of the microbiome (skin and intestinal bacterial flora) and chronic inflammatory reactions. The situation is particularly challenging for top athletes. The cumulative exposure to environmental toxins, cleaning agents, high levels of air pollution and special nutritional conditions can affect their overall health and sports performance. Reduced resistance to infection; increased hygiene conditions; increased burden of air pollution affect the health and performance of the athletes depending on their intensity of exercise, type of indoor, outdoor and water sports. Despite the well-known health benefits of physical activity, athletes must therefore also pay attention to a healthy diet and the protection of their epithelial barriers and healthy microbiome in order to minimize long-term health consequences and keep up with their top performance. In addition, our studies reviewed here demonstrate how food preferences, in particular the consumption of processed foods, can impair the epithelial barrier function. The use of emulsifiers and other additives in sports nutrition can lead to a disruption of the epithelial barriers and microbiome, which is associated with an increased risk of several diseases, such as allergies, autoimmunity and neuropsychiatric conditions. Together these novel concepts highlight a holistic approach to overall health and physical performance of athletes, linked with their nutrition and exposure to pollution and toxic substances affecting the integrity of their barriers of skin and mucosal body surfaces and healthy microbiome. Link for free download: Correspondence: Prof. Dr. Cezmi A. Akdis, MD Director Swiss Institute for Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) Herman-Burchard-Strasse 9 CH-7265 Davos Wolfgang Phone: +41 81 410 08 48 e-mail: [email protected] Dr. Walter Kistler Head of Department, Davos Sports & Health Spital Davos AG Promenade 4 CH-7270 Davos Platz Phone: +41 81 414 84 84 e-mail: [email protected] Web: This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download:

Nomenclature of allergic diseases and hypersensitivity reactions: Adapted to modern needs: An EAACI position paper published in 'Allergy' DAVOS, Switzerland, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The revision of the current allergic disease nomenclature based on symptoms and organ dysfunction has been long-awaited at the time of modern patient-tailored treatments and precision medicine. The new classification is based on disease mechanisms, thus facilitating targeted and personalised disease management. EAACI is the world leader in allergy science and education. The world's key opinion leaders gathered around the initiative of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) to present a new classification of allergic disorders based on the mechanisms of diseases. Published online today in Allergy, the position paper reveals the new way allergic diseases are perceived. We expect the new classification to profoundly change the healthcare professionals' approach to managing allergic diseases since it provides key solutions to a personalised approach . It is focused on the roles of immune-competent cells, changes in the tissues, the role of microbial infections, and genetic and epigenetic influences, all affecting the protective epithelial barrier of the skin, respiratory tract and gut. The exponential growth of precision diagnostic tools, including omic technology, molecular diagnostics, imaging, sophisticated genetic and epigenetic editing, nano-technologies, etc., compels us to introduce a more nuanced concept, moving the field towards precision and personalised medicine. The general consensus and fast dissemination of the new nomenclature of allergic diseases are crucial to developing the entire field of management of immune-mediated diseases. The cultural change brought by the new nomenclature will lead to novel concepts of diagnostic tools, improving therapies, and disease management and will guide future research into more innovative strategies for patient care. This will include new pinpoint targeted immune-based therapies, especially with substances made from living organisms, called biologicals, allergen immunotherapy, as well as strategies to alter the composition of the microbiome in humans among many others. The value of an idea lies in the use of it. We hope that the new nomenclature for allergic diseases developed by EAACI will help healthcare professionals and patients find a better way to manage and even cure allergic diseases. Contact: Prof. Marek Jutel MD, Head of the Department of Clinical Immunology, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland. [email protected], phone +48 71 784 17 40 Prof. Ioana Agache MD, Faculty of Medicine, Transylvania University, Brasov, Romania. [email protected], phone +40 727 849 321 Prof. Dr. Cezmi A. Akdis, Director, Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research, Davos, Switzerland. [email protected], phone: ++41 78 738 82 84 Direct link to download free access article: SOURCE SIAF

STOCKHOLM, Sept. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SciBase Holding AB ("SciBase") (STO:SCIB) , a leading developer of augmented intelligence-based solutions for skin disorders announced today the publication of a collaborative scientific project with the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) in Davos, Switzerland. The study is the first to use Nevisense to measure skin barrier function in human excised skin samples, demonstrating Nevisense as an effective laboratory research device. Skin barrier research comprises one of the fastest-growing fields within the dermatology community, including the development of new therapeutics, testing cosmetics, and beauty products, testing other consumer goods, and the scientific investigation of diseases related to the skin barrier. Nevisense and its underlying Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) technology were used to assess the effect of commercially available detergents on the skin barrier of mice and human skin samples. The top-line results of the study indicated that: EIS is a reliable biomarker/indicator of the skin barrier function in both ex vivo (lab research) and in vivo (human studies) models, with a higher sensitivity than trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). EIS showed a significant correlation with protein biomarkers that are associated with inflammatory pathways. EIS further correlated with the expression of skin barrier-related genes. EIS is a fast and reliable tool for investigating skin barrier function in both ex vivo and in vivo models, with possible applications in dermatological and cosmetic studies. "We are very encouraged to see that EIS measurements could identify skin barrier impairment at such an early stage and with high sensitivity. EIS provides an increasingly useful tool for such evaluations" said Professor Cezmi Akdis at SIAF (Swiss Institute of Asthma and Allergy Research). "This publication represents a rewarding collaborative effort between several leading organizations in the skin barrier research space. We are proud of the technology underpinning the success of this project. Skin barrier research has grown rapidly to include diseases like eczema, psoriasis, allergic disorders, and many others. We believe that Nevisense has the potential to become the state-of-the-art research tool within the skin barrier space, and now we can expand this to include ex vivo, in vivo, and human studies," says Pia Renaudin, appointed Chief Executive Officer of SciBase. The full results of the study have now been published in the scientific journal Allergy Household laundry detergents disrupt barrier integrity and induce inflammation in mouse and human skin - Rinaldi - Allergy - Wiley Online Library. The study was carried out jointly from SIAF (CH), SciBase (SE), and Genoskin (FR), amongst others. For more information, please contact: Tord Lendau, Chairman of the Board Tel: +46 70 810 01 67 Email: [email protected] Certified Advisor (CA): Vator Securities Tel: +46 8 580 065 99 Email: [email protected] About SciBase and Nevisense SciBase is a global medical technology company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, that has developed a unique point of care platform for the non-invasive detection of skin cancer and other skin conditions. SciBase is a pioneer within augmented intelligence, combining artificial intelligence with Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to provide objective information that assists dermatologists and others in clinical decision-making. SciBase's products include Nevisense and Nevisense Go and to date the platform addresses the areas of melanoma detection, non-melanoma skin cancer detection and skin barrier assessment. Nevisense is the only FDA-approved device for the detection of melanoma and the only MDR-approved technology for skin cancer detection in Europe. SciBase's technology is based on more than 20 years of academic research at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. For more information please visit . All press-releases and financial reports can be found here : The following files are available for download: SOURCE SciBase