Atopic outcomes at 2 years in the CORAL cohort, born in COVID-19 lockdown

Introduction The CORAL study is a cohort of infants born during the first weeks of the first SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) lockdown. This cohort has had lower antibiotic exposure, higher breastfeeding rates and lower infection rates, especially in the first year of life. We hypothesized that the altered early-life environment of infants born during lockdown would change the incidence of allergic conditions. Methods This longitudinal, observational study followed 365 infants born between March and May 2020 from enrolment to the age of 2 years. Infants attended three research appointments at 6-, 12-, and 24-months and completed detailed questionnaires. At research appointments, children had skin prick testing, and atopic dermatitis (AD) assessment. Statistical analysis focused on changes within the group at different time points, the influence of specific environmental factors on allergic risk and compared the incidence of atopic conditions with a pre-pandemic Irish infant cohort, BASELINE. Results AD was more common in CORAL group at both 12 (26.5% vs. 15.5%; p p = .02) compared with pre-pandemic BASELINE cohort. Within the CORAL group, those with AD at both 12- and 24-month appointments had a more severe AD phenotype associated with a higher risk of allergic sensitization. There was less milk (0% vs. 1%; p = .09), peanut (0.6% vs. 1.8%; p = .3), and egg allergy (0% vs. 2.9%; p p p  Conclusions Despite higher AD incidence in the CORAL cohort, the incidence of food sensitization and allergy are lower than expected pre-pandemic rates possibly reflecting the early introduction and maintenance of dietary allergens enhanced by changes in infant infections, antibiotic use, and breastfeeding in the first 2 years of life in the group. These beneficial effects of the lockdown could be outweighing the expected risk of less early-life microbial encounters outlined by the hygiene hypothesis.</p

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on infants’ coronavirus exposure and routine healthcare access in Ireland: the CORAL birth cohort study at 6 months.

The public health strategy during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020–2021 led to profound changes in social behaviour, affecting not only familial but also wider social interactions. These changes may have altered viral and bacterial interchange. A significantly decreased diversity of gut and skin microbiota has been demonstrated inallergic individuals compared to non-allergic subjects. The CORAL study is a longitudinal study of the impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on allergic and autoimmune dysregulation of infants born from March –May 2020, during Ireland’s first lockdown (Ireland formally entered national lockdown on March 27th 2020, though severe restrictions had been gradually escalated for the 2 weeks prior to that date. The first release of lockdown was on June 8th 2020). CORAL will follow children initially until they are 2 years old, with stool sampling at 6,12 and 24 months for microbiome diversity analysis and allergy testing and blood RNA and epigenomic testing at 12 and 24 months</p

Research update: celebrating a passion for research

RCSI’s Research Strategy focuses on translational health research – ‘from bench to bedside to population’ – because ultimately ‘Today’s research is tomorrow’s healthcare’. We work to ensure that you, our undergraduate students, get a sense of the research culture of RCSI during your education here. The passion for research, and the great strides being made in their specialties, are evident from the testimonials of some of your senior professors in the following pages of this special 10th anniversary volume of the RCSIsmj. Alongside their commentaries, I can add from my experience that the best research is conducted when differing disciplines bring their collective expertise together to address a specific health problem. The Department of Psychology, among others, has focused on researching the patient’s perspective on health, illness and healthcare. Topics such as patient quality of life and family burden have become increasingly important research themes in many health conditions. RCSI has led on many Irish population health surveys – on general lifestyle, on sexual health and on ageing. We are also proud to co-host a national postgraduate PhD training programme in health services and population health (SPHeRE). Student research is supported in numerous ways in the RCSI – in particular through the Research Summer School, where over 120 students annually get an opportunity to join research teams here. The student conference (ICHAMS: International Conference of Health and Medicine Students), now in its sixth year, is an example of RCSI student-led showcasing of undergraduate research work. The RCSIsmj is the perfect closing point to that triangle of opportunities to ‘conduct, present and publish’ research as a student. Since its inception in 2008 the RCSIsmj has provided a great platform for undergraduate students to showcase and publish your research. The success of the RCSIsmj comes from the skill, enthusiasm, and dedication of fellow students who serve as the RCSIsmj Executive Committee, the staff writers and the peer review team. The RCSIsmj has gone from strength to strength. It has been wonderful to witness its growth over the last 10 years. As staff, we proudly and regularly present copies to external visitors – who (almost) don't believe such a quality publication could be student produced! We are happy to pass on the credit to you as student teams and contributors who have made this reputation of RCSIsmj possible. We celebrate the 10th anniversary edition. Well done to all who have been involved over the last 10 years; your contribution to the RCSI’s overall research profile and reputation has been invaluable. Happy 10th birthday!</p