• Clin Nutr Res
• v.3(1); Jan 2014
• PMC3921299

Clin Nutr Res. 2014 January; 3(1): 9–16.

Published online 2014 January 27. doi:  10.7762/cnr.2014.3.1.9

PMCID: PMC3921299

Basophil Activation Test with Food Additives in Chronic Urticaria Patients

Min-Gyu Kang,1,2,3 Woo-Jung Song,1,2 Han-Ki Park,1,2 Kyung-Hwan Lim,1,2,3 Su-Jung Kim,1,2 Suh-Young Lee,1,2 Sae-Hoon Kim,1,2,3 Sang-Heon Cho,1,2 Kyung-Up Min,1,2 and Yoon-Seok Chang1,2,3

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Abstract

The role of food additives in chronic urticaria (CU) is still under investigation. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between food additives and CU by using the basophil activation test (BAT). The BAT using 15 common food additives was performed for 15 patients with CU who had a history of recurrent urticarial aggravation following intake of various foods without a definite food-specific IgE. Of the 15 patients studied, two (13.3%) showed positive BAT results for one of the tested food additives. One patient responded to monosodium glutamate, showing 18.7% of CD203c-positive basophils. Another patient showed a positive BAT result to sodium benzoate. Both patients had clinical correlations with the agents, which were partly determined by elimination diets. The present study suggested that at least a small proportion of patients with CU had symptoms associated with food additives. The results may suggest the potential utility of the BAT to identity the role of food additives in CU.

Keywords: Urticaria, Food additives, Hypersensitivity, Basophil activation test, Monosodium glutamate, Sodium benzoate

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Abstract

The role of food additives in chronic urticaria (CU) is still under investigation. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between food additives and CU by using the basophil activation test (BAT). The BAT using 15 common food additives was performed for 15 patients with CU who had a history of recurrent urticarial aggravation following intake of various foods without a definite food-specific IgE. Of the 15 patients studied, two (13.3%) showed positive BAT results for one of the tested food additives. One patient responded to monosodium glutamate, showing 18.7% of CD203c-positive basophils. Another patient showed a positive BAT result to sodium benzoate. Both patients had clinical correlations with the agents, which were partly determined by elimination diets. The present study suggested that at least a small proportion of patients with CU had symptoms associated with food additives. The results may suggest the potential utility of the BAT to identity the role of food additives in CU.

Keywords: 

Helminth Allergens, Parasite-Specific IgE, and Its Protective Role in Human Immunity

Front. Immunol., 14 February 2014 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00061

Colin Matthew Fitzsimmons^1†, Franco Harald Falcone²*^† and David William Dunne¹

• ¹Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
• ²School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

The Th2 immune response, culminating in eosinophilia and IgE production, is not only characteristic of allergy but also of infection by parasitic worms (helminths). Anti-parasite IgE has been associated with immunity against a range of helminth infections and many believe that IgE and its receptors evolved to help counter metazoan parasites. Allergens (IgE-antigens) are present in only a small minority of protein families and known IgE targets in helminths belong to these same families (e.g., EF-hand proteins, tropomyosin, and PR-1 proteins). During some helminth infection, especially with the well adapted hookworm, the Th2 response is moderated by parasite-expressed molecules. This has been associated with reduced allergy in helminth endemic areas and worm infection or products have been proposed as treatments for allergic conditions. However, some infections (especially Ascaris) are associated with increased allergy and this has been linked to cross-reactivity between worm proteins (e.g., tropomyosins) and highly similar molecules in dust-mites and insects. The overlap between allergy and helminth infection is best illustrated in Anisakis simplex, a nematode that when consumed in under-cooked fish can be both an infective helminth and a food allergen. Nearly 20 molecular allergens have been isolated from this species, including tropomyosin (Ani s 3) and the EF-hand protein, Ani s troponin. In this review, we highlight aspects of the biology and biochemistry of helminths that may have influenced the evolution of the IgE response. We compare dominant IgE-antigens in worms with clinically important environmental allergens and suggest that arrays of such molecules will provide important information on anti-worm immunity as well as allergy.

Keywords: helminth, allergen, Schistosoma mansoni, protective role, IgE

Citation: Fitzsimmons CM, Falcone FH and Dunne DW (2014) Helminth allergens, parasite-specific IgE, and its protective role in human immunity. Front. Immunol. 5:61. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00061

Received: 15 November 2013; Accepted: 03 February 2014;
Published online: 14 February 2014.

Edited by:

Annette Kuehn, Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé, Luxembourg

Reviewed by:

Tracey Lamb, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
Adriano Mari, Centri Associati di Allergologia Molecolare, Italy

Copyright: © 2014 Fitzsimmons, Falcone and Dunne. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Franco Harald Falcone, Division of Molecular and Cellular Science, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Boots Science Building, Science Road, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK e-mail: franco.falcone@notttingham.ac.uk

^†Colin Matthew Fitzsimmons and Franco Harald Falcone have contributed equally to this work.

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Trends in adult current asthma prevalence and contributing risk factors in the United States by state: 2000-2009

Research article

Xingyou Zhang^1*, Teresa Morrison-Carpenter², James B Holt¹ and David B Callahan²

• *Corresponding author: Xingyou Zhang gyx8@cdc.gov

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BMC Public Health 2013, 13:1156  doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-1156

Published: 10 December 2013

Abstract

Background

Current asthma prevalence among adults in the United States has reached historically high levels. Although national-level estimates indicate that asthma prevalence among adults increased by 33% from 2000 to 2009, state-specific temporal trends of current asthma prevalence and their contributing risk factors have not been explored.

Methods

We used 2000–2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) to estimate state-specific current asthma prevalence by 2-year periods (2000–2001, 2002–2003, 2004–2005, 2006–2007, 2008–2009). We fitted a series of four logistic-regression models for each state to evaluate whether there was a statistically significant linear change in the current asthma prevalence over time, accounting for sociodemographic factors, smoking status, and weight status (using body mass index as the indicator).

Results

During 2000–2009, current asthma prevalence increased in all 50 states and D.C., with significant increases in 46/50 (92%) states and D.C. After accounting for weight status in the model series with sociodemographic factors, and smoking status, 10 states (AR, AZ, IA, IL, KS, ME, MT, UT, WV, and WY) that had previously shown a significant increase did not show a significant increase in current asthma prevalence.

Conclusions

There was a significant increasing trend in state-specific current asthma prevalence among adults from 2000 to 2009 in most states in the United States. Obesity prevalence appears to contribute to increased current asthma prevalence in some states.

Keywords: 

Current asthma; Smoking; Obesity; Trend; The United States 

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Exp Ther Med. 2014 March; 7(3): 630–634.

Published online 2014 January 2. doi:  10.3892/etm.2014.1469

PMCID: PMC3919950

Efficacy analysis of three-year subcutaneous SQ-standardized specific immunotherapy in house dust mite-allergic children with asthma

YU HUI, LING LI, JUN QIAN, YUN GUO, XILIAN ZHANG, and XIAOJUAN ZHANG

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Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of three-year subcutaneous SQ-standardized specific immunotherapy (SCIT) in house dust mite (HDM)-allergic children with asthma. Ninety children with allergic asthma to HDMs, with or without allergic rhinitis, were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group and the control group. The treatment group received SCIT combined with standardized glucocorticoid management and the control group received standardized glucocorticoid management alone for a period of three years. The mean daily dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), a four-week diary recording the symptom scores of asthma, peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements, skin prick test results and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were assessed prior to treatment and following one, two and three years of treatment. The median dose of ICS was reduced in the treatment group after two and three years of treatment compared with that of the control group. After three years of treatment, the discontinuation percentage of ICS in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group. The treatment group demonstrated significantly reduced daytime and night-time asthmatic symptom scores, increased PEF values and reduced serum IgE levels after two and three years of treatment compared with those in the control group (P<0 .05="" a="" allergic="" an="" and="" asthma="" children="" combined="" conclusion="" dose.="" effective="" for="" ics="" immunotherapy="" in="" is="" of="" p="" reduction="" required="" resulted="" scit="" the="" three-year="" treatment="" with="">

Keywords: SQ-standardized specific immunotherapy, inhaled corticosteroids, asthma, house dust mite, children

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Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of three-year subcutaneous SQ-standardized specific immunotherapy (SCIT) in house dust mite (HDM)-allergic children with asthma. Ninety children with allergic asthma to HDMs, with or without allergic rhinitis, were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group and the control group. The treatment group received SCIT combined with standardized glucocorticoid management and the control group received standardized glucocorticoid management alone for a period of three years. The mean daily dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), a four-week diary recording the symptom scores of asthma, peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements, skin prick test results and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were assessed prior to treatment and following one, two and three years of treatment. The median dose of ICS was reduced in the treatment group after two and three years of treatment compared with that of the control group. After three years of treatment, the discontinuation percentage of ICS in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group. The treatment group demonstrated significantly reduced daytime and night-time asthmatic symptom scores, increased PEF values and reduced serum IgE levels after two and three years of treatment compared with those in the control group (P<0 .05="" a="" allergic="" an="" and="" asthma="" children="" combined="" conclusion="" dose.="" effective="" for="" ics="" immunotherapy="" in="" is="" of="" p="" reduction="" required="" resulted="" scit="" the="" three-year="" treatment="" with="">

Keywords: 

• Clin Vaccine Immunol
• v.20(8); Aug 2013
• PMC3754498

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2013 August; 20(8): 1133–1142.

doi:  10.1128/CVI.00043-13

PMCID: PMC3754498

Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Exposed to Microorganisms Involved in Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Induce a Th1-Polarized Immune Response

Anne-Pauline Bellanger,a,b,c,d Jean-René Pallandre,e Christophe Borg,e Sophie Loeffert,b Houssein Gbaguidi-Haore,c,fand Laurence Millona,b,c

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ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of three-year subcutaneous SQ-standardized specific immunotherapy (SCIT) in house dust mite (HDM)-allergic children with asthma. Ninety children with allergic asthma to HDMs, with or without allergic rhinitis, were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group and the control group. The treatment group received SCIT combined with standardized glucocorticoid management and the control group received standardized glucocorticoid management alone for a period of three years. The mean daily dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), a four-week diary recording the symptom scores of asthma, peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements, skin prick test results and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were assessed prior to treatment and following one, two and three years of treatment. The median dose of ICS was reduced in the treatment group after two and three years of treatment compared with that of the control group. After three years of treatment, the discontinuation percentage of ICS in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group. The treatment group demonstrated significantly reduced daytime and night-time asthmatic symptom scores, increased PEF values and reduced serum IgE levels after two and three years of treatment compared with those in the control group.
In conclusion, three-year SCIT treatment combined with ICS is an effective immunotherapy for children with allergic asthma and resulted in a reduction of the required ICS dose.

Keywords: SQ-standardized specific immunotherapy, inhaled corticosteroids, asthma, house dust mite, children

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ABSTRACT

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an immunoallergic disease characterized by a prominent interstitial infiltrate composed predominantly of lymphocytes secreting inflammatory cytokines. Dendritic cells (DCs) are known to play a pivotal role in the lymphocytic response. However, their cross talk with microorganisms that cause HP has yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the initial interactions between human monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) and four microorganisms that are different in nature (Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula [actinomycetes], Mycobacterium immunogenum[mycobacteria], and Wallemia sebi and Eurotium amstelodami [filamentous fungi]) and are involved in HP. Our objectives were to determine the cross talk between MoDCs and HP-causative agents and to determine whether the resulting immune response varied according to the microbial extract tested. The phenotypic activation of MoDCs was measured by the increased expression of costimulatory molecules and levels of cytokines in supernatants. The functional activation of MoDCs was measured by the ability of MoDCs to induce lymphocytic proliferation and differentiation in a mixed lymphocytic reaction (MLR). E. amstelodami-exposed (EA) MoDCs expressed higher percentages of costimulatory molecules than did W. sebi-exposed (WS), S. rectivirgula-exposed (SR), or M. immunogenum-exposed (MI) MoDCs (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). EA-MoDCs, WS-MoDCs, SR-MoDCs, and MI-MoDCs induced CD4+ 

Respiratory viruses and atypical bacteria triggering severe asthma exacerbation in children

Hong Kong Med J. 2013 Jun;19 Suppl 4:11-4.

Leung TF, Chan PK, Wong GW, Fok TF, Ng PC.

Abstract

1. Respiratory viruses and atypical bacteria were detected in 51.0% of Hong Kong children with asthma exacerbations, which was significantly higher than the detection rate of 27.3% in children with chronic stable asthma. 2. Co-infections of two or more respiratory pathogens were more commonly found in children with asthma exacerbations (10.7%) than in patients with stable asthma (2.6%). 3. Human rhinovirus infection was a significant risk factor for asthma exacerbations. 4. There was no significant association between the severity of asthma exacerbations and respiratory viral or atypical bacterial infections. 5. Routine use of macrolide antibiotics in the treatment of childhood asthma exacerbations should be discouraged.

PMID:

 

23775180

 

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 

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DRESS Syndrome with Cerebral Vasculitis

Internal Medicine
Vol. 52 (2013) No. 12 p. 1403-1405

Language:      English     Japanese   

http://dx.doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.52.8762

 DN/JST.JSTAGE/internalmedicine/52.8762

CASE REPORTS

DRESS Syndrome with Cerebral Vasculitis

Daniele Sola¹⁾, Luca Rossi¹⁾, Pier Paolo Sainaghi²⁾, Mario Pirisi^{1) 2)}

1) Department of Traslational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale Amedeo Avogadro, Italy 2) Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Maggiore della Carità Novara, Italy

 Released on J-STAGE 20130615  

Keywords: DRESS, vasculitis, allopurinol, cerebral involvement

•  Full Text PDF [1542K]

• Abstracts
• References(7)

DRESS (drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) syndrome is a severe reaction triggered by drugs that manifests as pyrexia and eosinophilia with involvement of the skin and internal organs. We herein describe the case of a patient who developed hyperuricemia after receiving treatment for tuberculosis, then took allpurinol and developed DRESS syndrome with a contextual coma and right hemisyndrome. This report describes for the first time the presence of vasculitic cerebral involvement in a patient with DRESS syndrome. The cerebral vasculitis responded to treatment, showing clinical and instrumental remission. In cases such as this, allergic cerebral vasculitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis because it can be treated if recognized early, thus leading to remission without the development of any sequelae.

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Nasal Allergy and Otitis Media. A real correlation?

• Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J
• v.14(1); Feb 2014
• PMC3916278

Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2014 February; 14(1): e59–e64.

Published online 2014 January 27.

Desiderio Passali,1,* Giulio C. Passali,2 Maria Lauriello,3 Antonio Romano,1 Luisa Bellussi,1 and Francesco M. Passali4

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Abstract

Objectives:

The correlation between middle ear pathology and nasal allergy has been debated for almost 30 years. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between otitis media with effusion (OME) and persistent allergic rhinitis symptoms versus intermittent rhinitis in children.

Methods:

The study included 100 atopic children (52 boys, 48 girls) aged 5–9 years with otological symptoms who were patients of the University of Siena Hospital, Italy. Ear, nose and throat evaluations, tympanometry, skin prick tests (SPTs), mucociliary transport time (MCTt) and Eustachian tube function tests were performed.

Results:

The SPTs revealed 50 children sensitised to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 34 to grass pollen and 16 to Parietaria. Of all patients, mild symptoms were intermittent in 19 children and persistent in 18; moderate/severe symptoms were intermittent in 22 and persistent in 41. Tubal dysfunction was present in 25 children, whereas middle ear effusion was present in 45 children undergoing myringotomy. The MCTt was slower in the persistent group (21 ± 2 mins) versus the intermittent group (16 ± 2 mins) with a significant difference (P - 0.01). Mean eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) values in the middle ear effusions of children who had undergone myringotomy were 251 ± 175.2 μg/L, and mean ECP blood values were 25.5 ± 16.3 μg/L, with significant differences (P - 0.001).

Conclusion:

There was a significant association between OME, delayed MCTt, ECP values in middle ear effusion and persistent symptoms of allergic rhinitis. These results suggest a direct involvement of the middle ear mucosa as a target organ in persistent forms.

Keywords: Otitis Media, Nasal Allergy, Children, Genetic Predisposition, Eustachian Tubes, Italy

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Abstract

Objectives:

The correlation between middle ear pathology and nasal allergy has been debated for almost 30 years. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between otitis media with effusion (OME) and persistent allergic rhinitis symptoms versus intermittent rhinitis in children.

Methods:

The study included 100 atopic children (52 boys, 48 girls) aged 5–9 years with otological symptoms who were patients of the University of Siena Hospital, Italy. Ear, nose and throat evaluations, tympanometry, skin prick tests (SPTs), mucociliary transport time (MCTt) and Eustachian tube function tests were performed.

Results:

The SPTs revealed 50 children sensitised to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 34 to grass pollen and 16 to Parietaria. Of all patients, mild symptoms were intermittent in 19 children and persistent in 18; moderate/severe symptoms were intermittent in 22 and persistent in 41. Tubal dysfunction was present in 25 children, whereas middle ear effusion was present in 45 children undergoing myringotomy. The MCTt was slower in the persistent group (21 ± 2 mins) versus the intermittent group (16 ± 2 mins) with a significant difference (P <0 .01="" 16.3="" 175.2="" 25.5="" 251="" and="" blood="" cationic="" children="" differences="" ear="" ecp="" effusions="" em="" eosinophil="" g="" had="" in="" mean="" middle="" myringotomy="" of="" protein="" significant="" the="" undergone="" values="" were="" who="" with="">P

 < 0.001).

Conclusion:

There was a significant association between OME, delayed MCTt, ECP values in middle ear effusion and persistent symptoms of allergic rhinitis. These results suggest a direct involvement of the middle ear mucosa as a target organ in persistent forms.

Keywords: