In the light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, during which the world is confronted with a new, highly contagious virus that suppresses innate immunity as one of its initial virulence mechanisms, thus escaping from the first-line human defense mechanisms, enhancing innate immunity seems a good preventive strategy. Without the intention to write an official systematic review, but more to give an overview of possible strategies, in this review article we discuss several interventions that might stimulate innate immunity and thus our defense against (viral) respiratory tract infections. Some of these interventions can also stimulate the adaptive T- and B-cell responses, but our main focus is on the innate part of immunity. We divide the reviewed interventions in: 1) lifestyle related (exercise, >7 hours sleep, forest walking, meditation/mindfulness, vitamin supplementation); 2) Non-specific immune stimulants (letting fever advance, bacterial vaccines, probiotics, dialyzable leukocyte extract, pidotimod) and 3) specific vaccines with heterologous effect (BCG vaccine, mumps-measles-rubeola vaccine, i.e.). For each of these interventions we briefly comment on their definition, possible mechanisms and evidence of clinical efficacy or lack of it, especially focusing on respiratory tract infections, viral infections and eventually a reduced mortality in severe respiratory infections in the intensive care unit. At the end a summary table demonstrates the best trials supporting (or not) clinical evidence. Several interventions have some degree of evidence for enhancing the innate immune response and thus conveying possible benefit, but specific trials in COVID-19 should be conducted to support solid recommendations.

Although the prevalence of sensitization to fungi is not precisely known, it can reach 50% in inner cities and has been identified as a risk factor in the development of asthma. Whereas the prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing, it is unclear whether the same occurs with sensitization to fungi. A retrospective study was performed at the "Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez". From skin tests taken between 2004 and 2015, information was gathered about Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Cladosporium herbarum, Mucor mucedo and Penicillium notatum. The participating patients were 2-18 years old, presented some type of allergic condition, and underwent immediate hypersensitivity tests to the fungi herein examined. Descriptive analysis and chi-squared distribution were used. Of the 8794 patients included in the study, 14% showed a negative result to the entire panel of environmental allergens. The remaining 7565 individuals displayed sensitization to at least one fungus, which most frequently was Aspergillus, with a rate of 16.8%. When the patients were divided into age groups, the same trend was observed. The highest percentage of sensitization (58%) toward at least one type of fungus was found in 2014, and the lowest percentage (49.8%) in 2008. The rate of sensitization to at least one type of fungus was presently over 50%, higher than that detected in other medical centers in Mexico. This rate was constant over the 11-year study, and Aspergillus exhibited the greatest frequency of sensitization among the patients.

According to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) methodology, in 2003, the prevalence of asthma symptoms in children 6-7 years old and adolescents 13-14 years old was 11.6% and 13.7%, respectively. Since then, the number of asthma cases has increased worldwide. The study was conducted in several districts in northern Mexico City to evaluate the prevalence of asthma in these age groups and examine possible risk factors. The data were compared to the 2003 results from the same area. This was a comparative cross-sectional study following the official Global Asthma Network (GAN) methodology. The parents or guardians of participants completed a questionnaire that explored demographics, asthma symptoms, diagnoses, and possible risk factors. Central tendency measurements were determined for statistical analysis and chi-squared distribution for possible risk factors. A total of 2515 children aged 6-7 years and 3375 adolescents aged 13-14 years participated in the study. Compared to the ISAAC results, we found a greater prevalence of wheezing in both children (at some time in life, 19.2% vs. 27.1%; over the last year, 6.8% vs. 10.6%) and adolescents (at some time in life, 16.9% vs. 19.7%), and for children with an asthma diagnosis (4.5% vs. 5.1%). For both groups, the most common risk factor associated with wheezing was the presence of rhinitis symptoms. Asthma symptoms are highly prevalent in Mexico City, occurring in almost 20% of adolescents. Compared to a decade ago, there was a 7.9% increase in the prevalence of asthma symptoms in children. Almost half of the children and adolescents presenting with symptoms had experienced more than four episodes per year. However, less than 50% of children and adolescents with asthma symptoms had been diagnosed with this disorder, suggesting under-diagnosis.

Pimentel-Hayashi JA, et al. Asia Pac Allergy. 2020 Oct;10(4):e40. https://doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.2020.10.e40

El bienestar psicológico se refiere a la satisfacción general que los individuos tienen respecto de su vida. Este concepto se ha relacionado con la salud mental y con la detección de factores favorables al desarrollo humano. El interés en su estudio en adolescentes se ha incrementado en los últimos años debido a los cambios físicos, mentales y sociales propios a esta etapa del desarrollo, por lo que son necesarios instrumentos válidos y confiables que permitan su evaluación. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Bienestar Psicológico para Adolescentes (BIEPS-J) en una muestra mexicana de adolescentes tardíos y obtener evidencia de su validez convergente y de criterio. Se aplicó la escala BIEPS-J y la Escala de Autoestima de Rosenberg (EAR) a 271 estudiantes de ambos sexos de entre 16 y 18 años. Un análisis paralelo indicó dos factores presentes en la escala BIEPS-J, estructurados mediante un análisis factorial exploratorio (componentes principales, rotación oblicua) y que explicaron el 54% de la varianza. Los factores fueron: 1) Relación con uno mismo y con terceros, satisfacción con sus relaciones sociales y la aceptación de sí mismo; 2) Planes y recursos personales de control, sensación del dominio de su entorno y auto-competencia, además de la presencia de metas en su vida. La consistencia interna global (α > .80) y por factor (α > .70) fue aceptable. La escala BIEPS-J mostró validez convergente con la EAR (r = .44) y el nivel de bienestar psicológico se asoció al nivel de autoestima (p < .001). El puntaje total y por factor de la escala BIEPS-J no difirió entre sexos (p > .05). Los datos indican que la escala BIEPS-A es un instrumento válido y confiable para evaluar el bienestar psicológico en población adolescente mexicana de entre 16 y 18 años.