Mid-Year Basic Aeroallergen Course

The Basic Aeroallergen Course includes instructions for operating volumetric air samplers, as well as an emphasis on microscopic features of pollen and fungal spores. 

The focus of the course will primarily be on concepts for the identification of common pollen and fungal aeroallergen sources encountered in the United States and abroad. 

Course participants will also receive training on how to set-up and operate a volumetric air sampler, process collected samples, and identify tree, grass and weed pollen, and fungal spores using light microscopy. Course participants will also learn how to become certified with the NAB. 

 TARGET AUDIENCE 

The audience that participates in the Basic Aeroallergen Course includes prospective National Allergy Bureau (NAB) station heads and counters, clinicians, fellows in training, as well as those with a general interest in the field of Aerobiology. 

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to: Describe the basics of setting up a sampling station and the use of air sampling in a clinical practice. Describe the fundamentals of plant and fungal reproductive biology as it relates to aeroallergens. Describe the basic features of pollen and fungal spore morphology and identify the most common pollen and fungal spores encountered in air samples.

SUMMARY

Available credit: 5.75 Attendance 5.75 CME
Course opens: 07/15/2021
Course expires: 07/14/2022
Cost: $10.00

Please login or register to take this course.

The complexities of insulin allergy: a case and approach

• Case Report
• Open Access
• 
  

• Babak Aberumand & 
• Samira Jeimy 

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology volume 17, Article number: 79 (2021) 

• details

Abstract

Background

Insulin hypersensitivity is rare, but challenging for individuals with diabetes. The prevalence of insulin allergy has decreased since the introduction of human recombinant insulin preparations. Hypersensitivity reactions range from injection site erythema and swelling, to anaphylaxis. While some reactions are to excipients (zinc, protamine, metacresol), many are to recombinant insulin itself. We present a case of type 1 hypersensitivity to various preparations of insulin in a patient with insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Case presentation

A 61-year-old woman with a 30-year history of insulin-dependent T2DM was referred for evaluation of reactions to insulin.

Follow-up study of airway microbiota in children with persistent wheezing

• Research
• Open Access
• 
  

• Lei Wu, 
• Chencong Shen, 
• Yuanling Chen, 
• Xin Yang, 
• Xiaofei Luo, 
• Chengcheng Hang, 
• Lingling Yan & 
• Xuefeng Xu 

Respiratory Research volume 22, Article number: 213 (2021) 

• details

Abstract

Background

Increasing evidence revealed that airway microbial dysbiosis was associated with increased risk of asthma, or persistent wheezing (PW). However, the role of lung microbiota in PW or wheezing recurrence remains poorly understood.

Methods

In this prospective observational study, we performed a longitudinal 16S rRNA-based microbiome survey on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples collected from 35 infants with PW and 28 age-matched infants (control group). A 2-year follow-up study on these PW patients was conducted. The compositions of lower airway microbiota were analyzed at the phylum and genus levels.

A spotlight on lime: a review about adverse reactions and clinical manifestations due to Citrus aurantiifolia

• Review
• Open Access
• 
  

• Clara Alessandrello, 
• Luca Gammeri, 
• Serena Sanfilippo, 
• Raffaele Cordiano, 
• Silvia Brunetto, 
• Marco Casciaro & 
• Sebastiano Gangemi 

Clinical and Molecular Allergy volume 19, Article number: 12 (2021) 

Abstract Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia) is a plant belonging to the family of Rutaceae and to the genus Citrus. The fruit is widely used in the United States, Mexico, Southeast Asia, Latin America, but is increasingly widespread all over the world. It is used as a fresh fruit, in the preparation of foods, sweets and drinks and its oils are used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. The main adverse reactions to lime seem to be represented by contact dermatitis, allergic and phototoxic type. In the context of allergic forms, several allergens have been identified in the citrus family, the main one being limonene, but no noteworthy cross-reactivity has been identified.

Assessment of TSLP, IL 25 and IL 33 in patients with shrimp allergy

• Research
• Open Access
• 
  

• Natalia Ukleja-Sokołowska, 
• Magdalena Żbikowska-Gotz, 
• Kinga Lis, 
• Rafał Adamczak & 
• Zbigniew Bartuzi 

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology volume 17, Article number: 76 (2021) 

• details

Abstract

Background

Shrimp allergy is a growing problem among the European population. TSLP, IL-25 and IL-33 are involved in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases, including asthma and atopic dermatitis, as they activate the Th2-dependent immune response.

Methods

Thirty-seven patients (18 male and 19 female) with a positive history of symptoms associated with shrimp consumption were selected. All patients had blood samples taken to assess the concentration of allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) to house dust mites (HDM) and shrimp (Singleplex, quantitative method with cut off value > 0,35 kAU/L) as well as the level of allergen components using the ImmunoCap ISAC method (Microarray test, semi-quantitative with cut off value > 0,3 ISU-E). The concentrations of TSLP, IL-25 and IL-33 in the patients’ blood serum was assessed using the ELISA method (Cusabio). Twenty patients with negative allergy history of allergic disease tests were included in the control group.

Results

Among the 37 shrimp-allergic patients, ImmunoCap ISAC was identified the presence of sIgE to the available shrimp allergen components in only 14 cases (37.8%). TSLP and IL25 levels were significantly higher in the study group. No statistically significant correlation was found between the concentration of analyzed alarmins and the concentration of sIgE level to shrimp or HDM between the study and control groups. No statistically significant correlation was found between poly-sensitization occurring in patients and levels of TSLP, IL-25 and IL-33 .

Conclusion

In shrimp-allergic patients, the concentrations of TSLP and IL-25 were significantly higher than in the control group (1.33 vs. 0.49 and 157 vs. 39.36, respectively). There was no correlation between the concentrations of TSLP, IL-25 and IL-33 and the concentration of sIgE in the patients or the number of allergen components that the patients were sensitized to.

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CD8+ Tregs ameliorate inflammatory reactions in a murine model of allergic rhinitis

• Research
• Open Access
• 
  

• Lin Lin, 
• Fei Dai, 
• Jinjin Wei & 
• Zheng Chen 

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology volume 17, Article number: 74 (2021) 

• details

Abstract

Background

CD8+CD25+fork-head box transcription factor (Foxp3)+ regulatory T cells (CD8+ Tregs) play a role in immune tolerance. However, the role of these cells in allergic rhinitis (AR) has not been elucidated. The study aimed to evaluate influences of CD8+ Tregs on inflammatory conditions in a murine model of AR.

Transcutaneous penetration of a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) compared to a full-size antibody: potential tool for atopic dermatitis (AD) treatment

• Short Report
• Open Access
• 
  

• Audrey Baylet, 
• Raoul Vyumvuhore, 
• Marine Laclaverie, 
• Laëtitia Marchand, 
• Carine Mainzer, 
• Sylvie Bordes, 
• Brigitte Closs-Gonthier & 
• Laurent Delpy 

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology volume 17, Article number: 73 (2021) 

Abstract: Currently, several biologics are used for the treatment of cutaneous pathologies such as atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis or skin cancers. The main administration routes are subcutaneous and intravenous injections. However, little is known about antibody penetration through the skin. The aim was to study the transcutaneous penetration of a reduced-size antibody as a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) compared to a whole antibody (Ab) and to determine its capacity to neutralize an inflammatory cytokine involved in AD such as human interleukin-4 (hIL-4).

Residual respiratory impairment after COVID-19 pneumonia

• Research
• Open Access

• Francesco Lombardi, 
• Angelo Calabrese, 
• Bruno Iovene, 
• Chiara Pierandrei, 
• Marialessia Lerede, 
• Francesco Varone, 
• Luca Richeldi, 
• Giacomo Sgalla on behalf of 
• the Gemelli Against COVID-19 Post-Acute Care Study Group

BMC Pulmonary Medicine volume 21, Article number: 241 (2021) 

Abstract

Introduction

The novel coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 can infect the respiratory tract causing a spectrum of disease varying from mild to fatal pneumonia, and known as COVID-19. Ongoing clinical research is assessing the potential for long-term respiratory sequelae in these patients. We assessed the respiratory function in a cohort of patients after recovering from SARS-Cov-2 infection, stratified according to PaO2/FiO2 (p/F) values.

Method

Approximately one month after hospital discharge, 86 COVID-19 patients underwent physical examination, arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and six-minute walk test (6MWT).