July 15, 2016

Buildings, Beneficial Microbes, and Health

Publication stage: In Press Corrected Proof

July 14, 2016

In vitro tests for drug hypersensitivity reactions: an ENDA/EAACI Drug Allergy Interest Group position paper

Allergy Volume 71Issue 8pages 1103–1134, August 2016
  1. C. Mayorga1,2
  2. G. Celik3
  3. P. Rouzaire4
  4. P. Whitaker5
  5. P. Bonadonna6
  6. J. Rodrigues-Cernadas7
  7. A. Vultaggio8
  8. K. Brockow9
  9. J. C. Caubet10
  10. J. Makowska11
  11. A. Nakonechna12
  12. A. Romano13
  13. M. I. Montañez14
  14. J. J. Laguna15
  15. G. Zanoni16,
  16. J. L. Gueant17
  17. H. Oude Elberink18
  18. J. Fernandez19
  19. S. Viel20
  20. P. Demoly21
  21. M. J. Torres2,* and
  22. on behalf of In vitro tests for Drug Allergy Task Force of EAACI Drug Interest Group
  23. Abstract
    Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) are a matter of great concern, both for outpatient and in hospital care. The evaluation of these patients is complex, because in vivo tests have a suboptimal sensitivity and can be time-consuming, expensive and potentially risky, especially drug provocation tests. There are several currently available in vitro methods that can be classified into two main groups: those that help to characterize the active phase of the reaction and those that help to identify the culprit drug.

July 12, 2016

Thumb-Sucking, Nail-Biting, and Atopic Sensitization, Asthma, and Hay Fever

Stephanie J. Lynch, Malcolm R. Sears, Robert J. Hancox 

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The hygiene hypothesis suggests that early-life exposure to microbial organisms reduces the risk of developing allergies. Thumb-sucking and nail-biting are common childhood habits that may increase microbial exposures. We tested the hypothesis that children who suck their thumbs or bite their nails have a lower risk of developing atopy, asthma, and hay fever in a population-based birth cohort followed to adulthood.

July 11, 2016

CHI3L1 polymorphisms, cord blood YKL-40 levels and later asthma development

 
OPEN ACCESS
 
OPEN PEER REVIEW
  • Jakob Usemann,
  • Urs FreyEmail author,
  • Ines Mack,
  • Anne Schmidt,
  • Olga Gorlanova,
  • Martin Röösli,
  • Dominik Hartl and
  • Philipp Latzin
Contributed equally
Abstract
Background
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1), the gene encoding YKL-40, and increased serum YKL-40 levels are associated with severe forms of asthma. It has never been addressed whether SNPs in CHI3L1 and cord blood YKL-40 levels could already serve as potential biomarkers for milder forms of asthma. We assessed in an unselected population whether SNPs in CHI3L1 and cord blood YKL-40 levels at birth are associated with respiratory symptoms, lung function changes, asthma, and atopy.

Characterizing the inflammatory response in esophageal mucosal biopsies in children with eosinophilic esophagitis

OPEN

Wael N Sayej1, Antoine Ménoret2, Anu S Maharjan2,3, Marina Fernandez1, Zhu Wang4, Fabiola Balarezo5, Jeffrey S Hyams1, Francisco A Sylvester1,2,3,6 and Anthony T Vella2,6

Abstract

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an emerging allergic, IgE- and non-IgE (Th2 cell)-mediated disease. There are major gaps in the understanding of the basic mechanisms that drive the persistence of EoE. We investigated whether esophageal biopsies from children with EoE demonstrate an inflammatory response that is distinct from normal controls. We prospectively enrolled 84 patients, of whom 77 were included in our analysis, aged 4–17 years (12.8±3.8 years; 81% males). Five esophageal biopsies were collected from each patient at the time of endoscopy. Intramucosal lymphocytes were isolated, phenotyped and stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/ionomycin to measure their potential to produce cytokines via flow cytometry. We also performed cytokine arrays on 72-h biopsy culture supernatants. CD8+ T cells, compared with CD4+ T cells, synthesized more TNF-α and interferon (IFN)-γ after mitogen stimulation in the EoE-New/Active vs EoE-Remission group (P=0.0098;P=0.02) and controls (P=0.0008; P=0.03).

Parental smoking and cessation during pregnancy and the risk of childhood asthma

Abstract
Background
To evaluate the association between maternal and paternal smoking during pregnancy, and asthma among offspring.
Methods
We conducted a hospital-based birth retrospective observational birth cohort study in a University-based Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland. 39 306 women, delivering between 1989 and 2006, were linked to the national register for asthma reimbursement for their offspring (2641 asthmatics). Pregnancy factors were recorded during pregnancy.

July 8, 2016

Current Trends in Prevalence and Mortality of Anaphylaxis

Opinion Statement
It has not been until the last decade that we have gained insight to the global epidemiology of anaphylaxis, due to the methodological difficulties of such studies. Heterogeneity in definitions, severity grading and study designs have hampered compiling robust data which can be consistently analysed and compared. Also, previous International Classification of Diseases coding for anaphylaxis has been suboptimal further hindering epidemiological studies.

July 7, 2016

Drug-Induced Anaphylaxis: Clinical Scope, Management, and Prevention

Opinion statement

Drug-induced anaphylaxis (DIA) is a severe, life-threatening reaction occurring after drug exposure. It is an important cause of anaphylaxis and accounts for up to one third of drug hypersensitivity reactions. As in other anaphylaxis reactions, immunoglobulin E (IgE) has an important role in its mechanism, but other non-immunological reactions may also occur in DIA. Cutaneous and respiratory symptoms are present in a majority of patients, and cardiovascular events are more common in elderly patients.