Detection of profilin in SPT extracts that are supposed to contain it

Publication date: Available online 5 September 2018

Source: Allergologia et Immunopathologia

Author(s): C. Pitsios, A. Iliopoulou, M. Kontogianni, G. Papagregoriou

Abstract

Introduction and objectives

Profilin is a panallergen contained in pollen, plant foods and latex. Although cross-reactivity is expected while performing skin prick tests (SPT) with allergens that contain profilin, this is not always noticed. The purpose of this study was to detect if profilin is contained in the commercial SPT extracts of pollen and plant foods which, in their fresh form, contain determined epitopes of profilin.

Material and methods

Commercial SPT extracts of different pharmaceuticals were analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The study included purified palm date profilin, peach (whole, pulp and peel extracts), hazelnut, Olea europea, Parietaria judaica and Phleum pratense.

Results

Profilin was detected in all, but peach extracts; it was neither contained in the whole peach extract nor in the ones of peel or pulp.

Conclusion

The only accurate way to detect sensitization to profilin, while performing SPT, is the use of purified profilin extract. Even if a plant food or pollen contain an identified molecule of profilin, the relevant SPT commercial extract may not.

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Asthma diagnosis in infants and preschool children: a systematic review of clinical guidelines

Publication date: Available online 5 September 2018

Source: Allergologia et Immunopathologia

Author(s): L. Moral, G. Vizmanos, J. Torres-Borrego, M. Praena-Crespo, M. Tortajada-Girbés, F.J. Pellegrini, Ó. Asensio

Abstract

Background and aim

The definition and diagnosis of asthma are the subject of controversy that is particularly intense in the case of individuals in the first years of life, due to reasons such as the difficulty of performing objective pulmonary function tests or the high frequency with which the symptoms subside in the course of childhood. Since there is no consensus regarding the diagnosis of asthma in preschool children, a systematic review has been carried out.

Materials and methods

A systematic search was made of the clinical guidelines published in the last 10 years and containing information referred to the concept or diagnosis of asthma in childhood – including the first years of life (infants and preschool children). A series of key questions were established, and each selected guide was analyzed in search of answers to those questions. The review protocol was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO), with registration number CRD42017074872.

Results

Twenty-one clinical guidelines were selected: 10 general guides (children and adults), eight pediatric guides and three guides focusing on preschool children. The immense majority accepted that asthma can be diagnosed from the first years of life, without requiring pulmonary function tests or other complementary techniques. The response to treatment and the exclusion of other alternative diagnoses are key elements for establishing the diagnosis. Only one of the guides denied the possibility of diagnosing asthma in preschool children.

Conclusions

There is generalized although not unanimous agreement that asthma can be diagnosed in preschool children.

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The profile of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and GATA3 in patients with LRBA deficiency and CVID with no known monogenic disease: Association with disease severity

Publication date: Available online 5 September 2018

Source: Allergologia et Immunopathologia

Author(s): G. Azizi, Y. Bagheri, R. Yazdani, M. Zaki-Dizaji, M. Jamee, F. Jadidi-Niaragh, A.N. Kamali, H. Abolhassani, A. Aghamohammadi

Abstract

Background

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common symptomatic form of primary immunodeficiency (PID). LPS-responsive beige-like anchor protein (LRBA) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by a CVID-like phenotype. T cell abnormality was reported in patients with CVID and LRBA deficiency. The study's aim was to evaluate IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and GATA3 expression in patients with LRBA deficiency and CVID with no known monogenic disease, and further evaluate its relevance with immunological futures and clinical complications of patients.

Methods

The study population comprised patients with CVID, LRBA deficiency and age–sex matched healthy controls. Mutation analysis was done by whole exome sequencing in CVID patients to rule out monogenic PIDs. After CD4+ T cell stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies, gene expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and transcription factor GATA3 was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The protein of mentioned cytokines was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The main clinical presentations of CVID patients were infections only and lymphoproliferations phenotypes, but in LRBA patients were autoimmune and enteropathy phenotype. The frequencies of CD4⁺ T cells were significantly reduced in LRBA and CVID patients. There were no statistically significant differences among GATA3, IL4, and IL5 gene expressions by CD4⁺ T cells of patients and controls, however, the IL10 expressions in CVID patients was significantly lower than in LRBA patients and HCs. As compared with HCs, CVID patients showed a prominent decrease in IL-4 and IL-10 production by CD4⁺ T cells.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated that patients with CVID and LRBA deficiency (even with severe infectious and inflammatory complications) have not imbalance in Th2 response, which is in parallel with lower frequency of allergy and asthma in these patients.

https://ift.tt/2Q4bPnY

Analysis of the effectiveness of training school personnel in the management of food allergy and anaphylaxis

Publication date: Available online 5 September 2018

Source: Allergologia et Immunopathologia

Author(s): E. Gonzalez-Mancebo, M.M. Gandolfo-Cano, M.J. Trujillo-Trujillo, E. Mohedano-Vicente, A. Calso, R. Juarez, A. Melendez, P. Morales, F. Pajuelo.

Abstract

Background

Food allergy is a very frequent and increasingly common disease in children and adolescents. It affects quality of life and can even be life-threatening. Given that 10–18% of allergic/anaphylactic food reactions take place in schools, it is essential to provide school personnel with training on the management of reactions.

Methods

The Allergy Unit of Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Spain, organized a conference entitled "Management of Food Allergy in Children and Adolescents in School Centers" during which teachers, cooks, cafeteria monitors, and summer-camp leaders underwent a training course. Attendees filled out a questionnaire with eight questions before and after the course to assess their self-efficacy in management of food allergy and anaphylaxis. The results were compared.

Results

A total of 191 people participated (51% dining-room monitors, 24% teachers, 13% cooks, and 12% other professions). The areas in which the attendees presented the lowest confidence before receiving the course were recognition of symptoms and treatment of the reactions/anaphylaxis. The mean score for each of the eight concepts evaluated improved after the training course. This improvement was significant in the management of anaphylaxis.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates the usefulness of a self-efficacy scale in school personnel as a tool to assess the ability to manage food allergy and anaphylaxis. It can help to identify problem areas in which more specific training programs can be implemented.

https://ift.tt/2LZQ9pL

Subdiuretic dose of furosemide enhances albuterol effects in asthmatic mice rather than bumetanide

Publication date: Available online 5 September 2018

Source: Allergologia et Immunopathologia

Author(s): H. Murad, T. Ghabrah, M. Rafeeq, S. Ali

Abstract

Background

One of the loop diuretics, furosemide, was found useful in bronchial asthma. It enhanced anti-asthmatic effects of albuterol. The underlying mechanism is still unclear.

Objective

This study was planned to investigate whether the enhancing effect of furosemide for albuterol in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic BALB/c mice is diuretic-related or not.

Methods

Two sets of experiments were performed. In the first, effects of inhaled subdiuretic doses of furosemide and bumetanide (another loop diuretic) were compared. Treatments (mg/mL) were given as 15 minute-inhalation before final ovalbumin provocation as follows: albuterol (2.5), furosemide (0.08), bumetanide (0.005), (albuterol + furosemide, 2.5 + 0.08), and (albuterol + bumetanide, 2.5 + 0.005). Airway hyperreactivity (AHR) to inhaled methacholine, levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and differential white blood cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung histopathology were evaluated. In the second set, effects of oral diuretic doses (mg/kg) of furosemide (10) and bumetanide (0.25) were given before final ovalbumin provocation. Urine volume and asthma parameters were measured.

Results

Ovalbumin-asthmatic mice showed significant increases in AHR, levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and inflammatory cells in BALF, and lung inflammatory cell infiltration. Inhaled furosemide significantly decreased these changes while inhaled bumetanide failed. Albuterol and albuterol + bumetanide significantly decreased these changes more than furosemide while albuterol + furosemide produced the most significant decreases. Both oral furosemide and bumetanide exerted equivalent diuretic effects but failed to improve asthma.

Conclusions

Inhaled subdiuretic dose of furosemide enhanced effects of albuterol more in ovalbumin-asthmatic mice rather than bumetanide, while oral diuretic doses of both drugs failed to improve asthma, indicating that this enhancing effect is not diuretic-related.

https://ift.tt/2Q7GaSW

Contact sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis

Publication date: Available online 5 September 2018

Source: Allergologia et Immunopathologia

Author(s): D. Ozceker, F. Haslak, F. Dilek, S. Sipahi, E. Yucel, N. Guler, Z. Tamay

Abstract

Background

Atopic dermatitis is a common illness in childhood. Children with atopic dermatitis are prone to develop cutaneous sensitization due to skin barrier dysfunction.

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of cutaneous sensitizations in patients with atopic dermatitis and to identify the most frequent causative allergens.

Study design

The study group consisted of 112 children with atopic dermatitis, aged 1–18 years (median 88.5 months) and 39 healthy controls, aged 1–8 years (median 88.48 months).

Methods

The diagnosis of atopic dermatitis was established by modified Hanifin and Rajka criteria; severity of the disease was assessed by scoring of atopic dermatitis. Serum blood eosinophil count, total IgE and skin prick tests for common aeroallergens and food allergens were performed. Patch tests with cosmetic series and European standard patch test series (Stallegenes© Ltd, Paris, France) were applied.

Results

Of the children with atopic dermatitis, 17% (n = 19) were sensitized to either cosmetic or standard series or both of them; no children in the control group had a positive patch test (p = 0.001). Atopy and severity of atopic dermatitis was not a significant risk factor for cutaneous sensitization. The most common allergens were Nickel sulphate and Methychloroisothiazinolone (4.5% and 4.5%) in the European standard patch test and cocamidoproplybetaine (12.5%) in the cosmetic series patch test.

Conclusion

Cutaneous sensitization can develop in children with atopic dermatitis, therefore allergic contact dermatitis should be kept in mind.

https://ift.tt/2wHFGK9

A New Look at Familial Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Ashkenazi Jewish Population

Schiff, ER; Frampton, M; Semplici, F; Bloom, SL; McCartney, SA; Vega, R; Lovat, LB; ... Levine, AP; + view all Schiff, ER; Frampton, M; Semplici, F; Bloom, SL; McCartney, SA; Vega, R; Lovat, LB; Wood, E; Hart, AL; Crespi, D; Furman, MA; Mann, S; Murray, CD; Segal, AW; Levine, AP; - view fewer (2018) A New Look at Familial Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Ashkenazi Jewish Population. Digestive Diseases and Sciences 10.1007/s10620-018-5219-9 . (In press). Green open access

https://ift.tt/2LXIwjL