March 4, 2015

Hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): classification of a Danish patient cohort according to EAACI/ENDA guidelines

Research

Open Access

Christoffer V NissenCarsten Bindslev-Jensen and Charlotte G Mortz*

Abstract (provisional)
Background Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are reported to be the second most common cause of drug hypersensitivity. In 2011, experts from the EAACI/ENDA group and GA2LEN proposed a new classification system for NSAID hypersensitivity. The aim of this study was to classify a patient cohort with a history of NSAID hypersensitivity according to this system. 
Methods Patients with a clinical history of NSAID hypersensitivity referred to the Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital between 2002 and 2011 and evaluated with oral provocation tests (OPTs) were included in the study. Medical records were retrospectively investigated with respect to the culprit NSAID(s), underlying diseases and symptoms at the primary reaction and during oral provocation tests (OPTs). Data was supplemented with a questionnaire. Classification according to EAACI guideline was based on these findings. 
Results In total 149 patients were included. Of those, 39 patients (26.2%) had a positive OPT. Twenty-nine patients were classified as cross-reactive responders and 9 patients as single NSAID responders after positive OPTs with the culprit NSAID, but not to acetylsalicylic acid. All single NSAID responders reacted to non-pyrazolone drugs. Only one patient could not be classified according to the EAACI/ENDA system. An overlap between respiratory and cutaneous symptoms was found in 15/39 (38%) of patients. 
Conclusions All but one of our patients could be classified according to the EAACI classification system. Overlaps between different classes may occur much more commonly than expected.

The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production.

Combined Treatment with Antiviral Therapy and Rituximab in Patients with Mixed Cryoglobulinemia: Review of the Literature and Report of a Case Using Direct Antiviral Agents-Based Antihepatitis C Virus Therapy

Case Reports in Immunology
Volume 2015 (2015), Article ID 816424, 5 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/816424
Case Report
Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Lagro Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
Received 26 September 2014; Revised 9 January 2015; Accepted 20 January 2015
Academic Editor: Lenin Pavón
Copyright © 2015 Teresa Urraro et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) is an autoimmune/B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder associated with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection, manifesting as a systemic vasculitis.

March 2, 2015

Evaluation of the applicability of the Immuno-solid-phase allergen chip (ISAC) assay in atopic patients in Singapore

ResearchOpen Access



Amelia Santosa12*Anand Kumar Andiappan3Olaf Rotzschke3Hung Chew Wong2Amanda Chang4Mei Bigliardi-Qi5,De-Yun Wang6 and Paul Lorenz Bigliardi15
Background/Objective Molecular-based allergy diagnostics are gaining popularity in clinical practice. Our aim was to evaluate their role in the tropics, given the inherent genetic and environmental differences.

Expression of surfactant protein D in airways of asthmatics and interleukin-13 modulation of surfactant protein D in human models of airway epithelium

Research

Open Access

Jie XuGurpreet K Singhera and Delbert R Dorscheid*

Abstract (provisional)

Background Surfactant protein D (SP-D), a pattern recognition molecule, has been shown to play roles in host defense such as opsonisation, aggregation of pathogens, and modulation of the inflammatory response. In light of infection-induced exacerbations and damage to the airway epithelium from inflammation, these functions of SP-D make it relevant in the development and pathogenesis of asthma.

February 27, 2015

H2-Eb1 expression is upregulated in the nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis


Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common allergic diseases. The results of recent studies of HLA-DRB1 suggest that HLA-DRB1 plays an important role in allergic disease.

February 26, 2015

Evaluation of patients’ expectations and benefits in the treatment of allergic rhinitis with a new tool: the patient benefit index – the benefica study

Research

Open Access

Pascal Demoly1*Michel Aubier234Frédéric de Blay5François Wessel6Pierre Clerson7 and Pascal Maigret8

Abstract (provisional)
Background Symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) have a detrimental effect on quality of life. The AR-Patient Benefit Index (AR-PBI), a specific self-assessment tool has been developed to assess treatment-related benefit in two separate sections: the Patient Needs Questionnaire (PNQ) which explores the patient’s expectations before treatment and the Patient Benefit Questionnaire (PBQ) which evaluates treatment benefit. For the PNQ, three dimensions summarized patients’ expectations: symptoms, social life and emotional state, thus covering a larger field than symptomatic relief.

Food allergy in the Netherlands: differences in clinical severity, causative foods, sensitization and DBPCFC between community and outpatients

Research

Open Access

Thuy-My Le1*Els van Hoffen110Ischa Kummeling12James Potts2Barbara K Ballmer-Weber3Carla AFM Bruijnzeel-Koomen1Ans FM Lebens1Jonas Lidholm4Titia M Lindner1Alan Mackie5EN Clare Mills6Ronald van Ree7Stefan Vieths8Montserrat Fernández-Rivas9Peter G Burney2 and André C Knulst1


Abstract (provisional)
Background It is unknown whether food allergy (FA) in an unselected population is comparable to those from an outpatient clinic population.
Objective To discover if FA in a random sample from the Dutch community is comparable to that of outpatients.

February 25, 2015

Evaluation of a web-based asthma self-management system: a randomised controlled pilot trial

Research article

Open Access

John M Wiecha1*William G Adams2Denis Rybin3Maria Rizzodepaoli4Jeremy Keller5and Jayanti M Clay6

Abstract (provisional)
Background Asthma is the most common chronic condition of childhood and disproportionately affects inner-city minority children. Low rates of asthma preventer medication adherence is a major contributor to poor asthma control in these patients.

A randomised dose-ranging study of tiotropium Respimat® in children with symptomatic asthma despite inhaled corticosteroids

Research

Open Access

Christian Vogelberg1*Petra Moroni-Zentgraf2Migle Leonaviciute-Klimantaviciene3Ralf Sigmund4Eckard Hamelmann5Michael Engel2 and Stanley Szefler6

Abstract
Background
A considerable number of children with asthma remain symptomatic despite treatment with inhaled corticosteroids, resulting in significant morbidity, reduced quality of life, increased healthcare costs and lost school days.

February 24, 2015

Insights and advances in chronic urticaria: a Canadian perspective

Review

Open Access

Gordon Sussman1*Jacques Hébert2Wayne Gulliver3Charles Lynde1Susan Waserman4Amin Kanani5Moshe Ben-Shoshan6Spencer Horemans1Carly Barron1,Stephen Betschel1William H Yang7Jan Dutz5Neil Shear1Gina Lacuesta8Peter Vadas1Kenneth Kobayashi7Hermenio Lima4 and F Estelle R Simons9

Abstract

In the past few years there have been significant advances which have changed the face of chronic urticaria. In this review, we aim to update physicians about clinically relevant advances in the classification, diagnosis and management of chronic urticaria that have occurred in recent years.

Effects of Nasal Corticosteroids on Boosts of Systemic Allergen-Specific IgE Production Induced by Nasal Allergen Exposure


OPEN ACCESS
PEER-REVIEWED
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Cornelia Egger, Christian Lupinek, Robin Ristl, Patrick Lemell, Friedrich Horak, Petra Zieglmayer, Susanne Spitzauer, Rudolf Valenta, Verena Niederberger

Published: February 23, 2015

Abstract

Background

Allergen exposure via the respiratory tract and in particular via the nasal mucosa boosts systemic allergen-specific IgE production. Intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) represent a first line treatment of allergic rhinitis but their effects on this boost of allergen-specific IgE production are unclear.

February 23, 2015

Sleepiness, inflammation and oxidative stress markers in middle-aged males with obstructive sleep apnea without metabolic syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Research

Open Access

Daniela Kuguimoto Andaku1Vânia D’Almeida14*Gláucia Carneiro2Sônia Hix13Sergio Tufik1 and Sônia Maria Togeiro1

Abstract
Background
The simultaneous occurrence of metabolic syndrome and excessive daytime sleepiness are very common in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Both conditions, if present in OSA, have been reported to be associated with inflammation and disruption of oxidative stress balance that impair the cardiovascular system. To verify the impact of daytime sleepiness on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, we evaluated OSA patients without significant metabolic disturbance.

February 22, 2015

The development of a standardised diet history tool to support the diagnosis of food allergy

ReviewOpen Access

Published: 19 February 2015
Abstract (provisional)
Isabel J Skypala1*Carina Venter2Rosan Meyer3Nicolette W deJong4Adam T Fox5,Marion Groetch6J N Oude Elberink7Aline Sprikkelman8Louiza Diamandi9Berber J Vlieg-Boerstra10 and the Allergy-focussed Diet History Task Force of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
The disparity between reported and diagnosed food allergy makes robust diagnosis imperative.

February 20, 2015

No evidence for altered intracellular calcium-handling in airway smooth muscle cells from human subjects with asthma

Research article

Open Access

David Sweeney12Fay Hollins1Edith Gomez12Rajendra Mistry2Ruth Saunders1,Robert Alfred John Challiss2* and Christopher Edward Brightling1*


David Sweeney and Fay Hollins contributed equally to this work.
Published: 13 February 2015
Abstract (provisional)
Background 
Asthma is characterized by airway hyper-responsiveness and variable airflow obstruction, in part as a consequence of hyper-contractile airway smooth muscle, which persists in primary cell culture. One potential mechanism for this hyper-contractility is abnormal intracellular Ca2+ handling.