Background. Efficacy of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is a new subject of research. The presence of asthmatic symptoms in patients with LAR in the context of AIT is unexplored. Objective. The efficacy and safety of AIT in patients with LAR towards birch pollen were investigated. The possibility of concomitant local allergic asthma in studied patients and the impact of AIT on it were examined. Methods. 36 patients with LAR towards birch were included in three years of AIT in a double-blind, placebo-control study. Primary outcome measurement was the mean changes in the combined symptom and medication scores (CSMSs) after AIT, and the second is the changes in the quality of life (QoL). Skin prick tests, serum, nasal allergen-specific IgE to birch, nasal and bronchial provocation challenge tests with birch allergen, methacholine tests, and spirometry were carried out at baseline and after AIT. Results. Mean CSMSs of three years of AIT were significantly decreased in the active group from 5.88 (range: 4.11-9.01) to 1.98 (range: 1.22-4.51; p<0.05). After three years of AIT, there was a significant increase of toleration for birch allergen from the mean concentration of 6250±1200 SQ-U/ml up to 45000±2500 SQ-U/ml (p=0.02) during repeated nasal challenges. 16 patients with LAR had the positive results of methacholine tests, and 11 of them had a positive bronchial challenge to birch allergen. After AIT, the significant decrease of bronchial responsiveness to birch allergen in 5 from 7 patients was confirmed (p=0.03). QoL assessed by the use of the RQLQ score was improved after AIT from 1.84 (95% CI: 1.53-1.97) to 1.45 (95% CI: 1.32-1.62) score in the active group after three years of AIT therapy (p=0.03). Conclusion. AIT to birch can be useful and safe in a patient with local allergic rhinitis and also with concomitant asthmatic symptoms. Further studies are needed.

Aims: An observational study of a retrospective cohort was performed to assess the impact of influenza vaccination (IV) on the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a population of middle-aged people for 8 weeks after IV and compared with an unvaccinated group. Patients and methods: Data from 1098 middle-aged patients (53.7 ± 4.7 years) after IV and 1205 unvaccinated patients (50.1 ± 6.8 years) were analyzed based on medical documentation. The inclusion criteria were age between 40 − 60 years and IV in the period from 1−30 September 2020. The incidence of infection with SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed by PCR and the classification of ICD-10 (U07.1). Results and conclusions: After IV, patients had significantly fewer SARS-CoV–2 infections than the unvaccinated patients ( P = .017). The hazard ratio was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.54−0.89). IV may partially reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Different endotypes of rhinitis are known, but its pathomechanism has not been conclusively established. For example, the precise difference between systemic allergic rhinitis (SAR) and local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is still being checked. Comparison of patients with LAR and with allergies to birch of those with intermittent allergic rhinitis, same allergy, or with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) was the purpose of this study. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Twenty-six patients with LAR, 18 with SAR and allergy to birch, and 21 with NAR were included. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected to undergo the following procedures at baseline: medical examinations, nasal provocation test (NPT), detection of nasal-specific IgE to birch as well as basophil activation test (BAT). All immunological parameters were detected before and after NPT. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Concentration of nasal IgE to Bet v1 increased comparably in the LAR and SAR groups after NPT to birch as follows: in 21 (81%) patients with LAR, 14 (78%) with SAR, and in everyone in the NAR group. Serum concentration of allergen-specific IgE to Bet v1 increased significantly from a median of 20.7 (25–75% interval: 11.2–35.6) IU/mL to 29.9 (13.6–44.1) (<i>p</i> = 0.028) after NPT in patients with SAR. Allergen-specific IgE to Bet v1 was absent in all patients with LAR and NAR before and after NPT. BAT with Bet v1 was positive in 22 (85%) patients with LAR, in 14 (78%) with SAR, and 2 (9.5%) with NAR. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> These obtained data suggest there are no potential mechanisms that could explain LAR compared to SAR.