Summary
Background
Data on molecular allergy diagnostics in adults with grass pollen allergy with regard to conjunctival and nasal provocation test outcome and specific immunotherapy are lacking to ...date.
Objective
To assess whether molecular allergy diagnostics for grass pollen allergens could help with predicting provocation test outcomes and serve as a basis for future component‐resolved specific immunotherapy.
Methods
Sera of 101 adults with grass pollen allergy was analysed for IgE against timothy grass pollen (
Phleum pratense
),
rP
hl p 1,
rP
hl p 2,
nP
hl p 4,
rP
hl p 5b,
rP
hl p 6,
rP
hl p 7,
rP
hl p 11
and
rP
hl p12
and correlated with the individuals' outcome in the nasal and conjunctival provocation tests and investigated in regard to a potential component‐resolved specific immunotherapy.
Results
An increasing number of sensitizations to timothy grass allergens was correlated to a positive reaction in the conjunctival (4.9 vs. 3.6,
P
=
0.003) and nasal provocation tests (4.5 vs. 2.2,
P
=
0.0175). In molecular sensitization profiles, a substantial heterogeneity was detected, with none of the patients exactly matching the allergen composition of a previously published component‐resolved specific immunotherapy containing
Phl p 1, Phl p 2, Phl p 5a/b
and
Phl p 6
. The results indicate that in 95% of the patients, a proportion of 50% of timothy‐IgE would be targeted with such a specific immunotherapy, while in 50% and 10% of patients, 80% and 90% of timothy‐IgE would be targeted, respectively.
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance
Molecular allergy diagnostics is a prerequisite for future component‐resolved specific immunotherapy due to the high heterogeneity of sensitization profiles. However, of current clinical relevance is the observed correlation between the number of sensitizations and provocation test outcome.
Pruritoceptive itch plays the greatest role in skin diseases and can be triggered by various itch mediators; it can be elicited experimentally most effectively through a histamine prick test.4 ...Acupuncture was shown to have antipruritic effects in early studies with healthy volunteers in the 1980s.5,6 It is unknown, however, whether acupuncture has a preventive effect on itch. ...this study aimed to evaluate a possible preventive effect of acupuncture on skin prick test histamine-induced itch and flare and wheal formation in 10 healthy volunteers. The study showed a significant reduction of experimentally induced itch and wheal formation after acupuncture point pretreatment compared with placebo-point pretreatment and no pretreatment. ...far, no controlled study has investigated the preventive effect of acupuncture on histamine-induced itch.
In this paper, we evaluate the effects of a psychological training, called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on stress and risk and time preferences. MBSR is a well-known psychological ...technique, which is believed to improve self-control and reduce stress. We conduct the experiment with 139 participants, half of whom receive the MBSR training, while the other half are asked to watch a documentary series, both over 4 consecutive weeks. Using a range of self-reported and physiological measures (such as cortisol measures), we find evidence that mindfulness training reduces perceived stress, but we only find weak evidence of effects on risk and inter-temporal attitudes.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Summary
Background Influences of microbial pathogens are crucial for the maturation of the immune system. Caspase‐recruitment domain containing protein 15 (CARD15) is a cytosolic receptor involved in ...bacterial recognition by antigen‐presenting cells. CARD15 polymorphisms have been associated with Crohn's disease. Recently, associations with atopic phenotypes have been reported in children.
Objective Within a large population of German adults (n=1875), we evaluated eight CARD15 polymorphisms for associations with atopic phenotypes.
Methods Subjects were phenotyped by standardized questionnaires and interviews as well as total and allergen‐specific IgE measurements. Genotyping was performed using matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization – time of flight mass spectrometry. Haplotypes were estimated using the SAS/Genetics module.
Results Subjects with a T allele at rs1077861 had a decreased risk of developing asthma (odds ratio OR=0.648, P=0.013), whereas the presence of an A allele at rs3135500 was significantly associated with an increased risk (OR=1.374, P=0.023). In addition, a CARD15 haplotype revealed to be protective against the development of asthma (OR=0.326, P=0.003). Subjects with an A allele at position rs5743266 or a T allele at rs2066842 had a significantly decreased risk of developing allergic rhinoconjunctivitis with ORs of 0.820 (P=0.049) and 0.801 (P=0.025). Polymorphism rs2066845 showed a significant association with increased total serum IgE (OR=2.155, P=0.006).
Conclusion Genetic variants of CARD15 that might result in inappropriate immunomodulation are not only associated with autoimmune diseases but also with atopic disorders.
Allergic diseases of the respiratory tract are common atopic diseases in the population. Pollen of plants are one of their main causes. Pollen of trees, grasses, and weeds like mugwort are of ...particular importance in this context. The purpose of the present study was to determine the association between typical respiratory symptoms due to pollen allergens and the sensitization to pollen of ragweed and mugwort in adults.
1039 participants (18 to 66 years) from Southwest Germany were included in this cross-sectional study. Complains typically for aeroallergens were recorded by questionnaire. In-vitro existing sensitizations were determined for grasses/early bloomer (gx1), trees (tx6), mugwort (w6 and Art-v1) and ragweed (w1 and Amb-a1) by testing for specific IgE-antibodies.
In a screening test with a mixed allergen sample (sx1) 36.0 % of the participants showed an aeroallergen sensitization. Consecutive investigations of these 374 positive samples revealed a sensitization to grasses/early bloomer, trees, ragweed (w1), mugwort (w6) and the major allergens ragweed (Amb-a1) and mugwort (Art-v1) in 61.8 %, 54.5 %, 29.9 %, 24.3 %, 1.9 %, and 12.3 %, respectively. This corresponds to 22.2 %, 19.6 %, 10.8 %, 8.7 %, 0.7 % and 4.4 %, respectively, in the whole study population. The participants tested positively stated significantly more disorders. On average, 51.1 % had known hay fever, 65.2 % sneezing without cold and 41.5 % sneezing due to contact with grasses or flowers. In contrast, participants tested negatively stated disorders in only 4.4 %, 32.5 %, and 3.9 %, respectively.
In Southwest Germany, sensitizations to plant pollen mainly are still caused by grasses, trees, and weeds like mugwort. A sensitization to pollen of ragweed alone is rare until now. However, in case of continuous allergic disorders of the respiratory tract in late summer, a sensitization to ragweed can be important for differential diagnostics.
Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Eimeria bovis are coccidian parasites of veterinary importance. Tachyzoites of N. caninum and T. gondii and sporozoites of E. bovis are able to invade and ...replicate in endothelial cells in vivo and in vitro. As it holds true for all eukaryotic cells, the survival of parasitized host cells and the parasites themselves should be dependent on ion balances, especially on extra- and intracellular calcium concentrations. Addition of the calcium ionophore A23187 reliably did release merozoites from mature N. caninum and T. gondii meronts grown in cultured primary bovine umbilical vein endothelial cells (BUVEC). Extent and time course of merozoite release depended on both, maturity of the meronts and concentration of the calcium ionophore. Attempts, however, to achieve synchronous release of merozoites from E. bovis first generation meronts by ionophore treatment failed, suggesting a different biological behaviour of this parasite. According to microscopical observations, the quite variable time of E. bovis macromeront maturation and a hampered merozoite exit owing to dense parasite-induced cytoskeleton elements surrounding the meront may be a reason for the lack of inducible synchronous release.
Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors (TCIs) used for the treatment of atopic eczema modify the immune regulatory function of the skin and may have the potential to enhance immunosuppressive ultraviolet ...(UV) effects. Current recommendations on UV protection in eczema patients treated with PCIs are inconsistent and have given rise to uncertainty and anxiety in patients. Therefore, the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) developed a position statement which reviews critically the available data with regard to the problem, especially analysing and commenting the limitations of rodent models for the human situation. There is no conclusive evidence from rodent trials to indicate that long-term application of TCIs is photococarcinogenic. There is a need for further studies to investigate the validity of mouse models as well as long-term cohort studies in patients using TCIs. Available data suggest that long-term application of TCIs is safe, that there is no evidence of increased skin cancer risk and that it is ethical to treat patients with TCIs when indicated.
In a recent genome wide scan, a functional promoter variant (rs2251746) in the gene encoding the alpha chain of the high affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E (IgE) (FCER1A) was identified as major ...determinant of serum IgE levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of rs2251746 on total IgE levels measured at different stages of life from birth (cord blood) up to the age of 6 and to evaluate its interaction with the environmental influences in two German birth cohorts. Data from two German birth cohorts were analysed (n = 1043 for the LISA cohort and n = 1842 for the GINI cohort). In the studies, total serum IgE was measured from cord blood, and blood samples taken at the age of 2/3 and 6 years. In a subgroup of the LISA study, house dust samples were collected at age of 3 months and the amount of endotoxin was determined. Random effect models were used to analyse the longitudinal health outcomes. In the two cohorts, the heterozygote and the rare homozygote of rs2251746 was consistently associated with lower total IgE levels from birth up to the age of 6 years with an allele-dose effect (P < 0.02 for blood samples taken at each time point in both cohorts). No interaction between the two FCER1A encoding gene and environmental exposures including endotoxin, worm infestation and day care centre attendance during early childhood were observed. Common variants in FCER1A strongly influence basal IgE production independently from environmental stimuli. These effects can be observed already in cord blood pointing to altered gene expression in foetus.
Summary
Background
Evidence is accumulating that the pollen exsudate contains an array of non‐allergenic, pro‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory substances acting on the innate and adaptive immune ...system. In this context, pollen‐associated E1‐phytoprostanes (PPE1) were shown to licence human monocyte‐derived dendritic cells for T‐helper type 2 (Th2) polarization of naïve T cells.
Objective
This study aims at analysing the impact of pollen‐associated lipid mediators on cytokine secretion and maturation of 6‐sulfo LacNAc+ dendritic cells (slanDCs), the most abundant native dendritic cell (DC) in human peripheral blood, and further dissecting the biologically active substance(s) within aqueous pollen extracts.
Results
Aqueous birch pollen extracts dose‐dependently inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced IL‐12 p70 production, while the levels of IL‐6 remained unaffected. PPE1 inhibited secretion of both IL‐12 p70 and IL‐6. Aqueous pollen extracts, but not PPE1 or F1‐phytoprostanes significantly reduced the LPS‐induced surface expression of the maturation markers CD80, CD83, CD40 and CCR‐7, an effect that was independent of proteins and that was still present in a 3 kDa cut‐off fraction of the pollen extract. These effects were observed irrespective of the atopy status of the donors. Finally, slanDCs exposed to aqueous pollen extracts were impaired in eliciting an IFN‐γ response in naïve CD4+ T cells.
Conclusion
Our data show that slanDCs, a subset of human blood DCs with constitutively high potency to induce Th1 responses, are susceptible to the Th2 polarizing effect of low molecular weight, non‐protein factors derived from pollen.
Cite this as: S. Gilles, D. Jacoby, C. Blume, M. J. Mueller, T. Jakob, H. Behrendt, K. Schaekel and C. Traidl‐Hoffmann, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 269–278.
Background Prevalence data for atopic eczema based on a dermatological examination have not so far been available for East and West Germany. Possible differences in the proportions of extrinsic and ...intrinsic types of eczema, and how far these could explain differences in the prevalence of eczema, need to be clarified. Objectives To compare the prevalence of atopic eczema in pre‐school children between different locations in East and West Germany, and over a period of 7 years, at three time points. Additionally, to determine the proportions of intrinsic and extrinsic types of eczema by taking skin prick test reactivity into account.
Methods Repeated cross‐sectional studies in 1991, 1994 and 1997 in 5–6‐year‐old pre‐school children at five different locations in West Germany (n = 2075) and six in East Germany (n = 1926) were carried out. Individuals with eczema were identified by an examination performed by physicians of the Department of Dermatology. In addition, a skin prick test and a standardized questionnaire were used.
Results The overall prevalence of atopic eczema in these children was 10·4%. At all three times of investigation (1991, 17·5% vs. 11·2%; 1994, 12·6% vs. 8·7%; 1997, 11·2% vs. 4·5%) and in the total group (12·9% vs. 8·2%), the prevalence was significantly higher in East than in West Germany. After controlling for influences of sex, parental history of atopic diseases, observer and socio‐economic status in multiple logistic regression analyses, these differences remained significant for 1991, 1994 and for the overall group (odds ratio, OR 1·78, 95% confidence interval, CI 1·43–2·21). Girls (OR 1·56, 95% CI 1·27–1·92) and children whose parents had a higher level of school education (OR 1·17, 95% CI 1·00–1·37) were affected more frequently. Of all children, 26·6%, and of those with eczema, 41·9% exhibited at least one reaction in the prick test (OR 2·21, 95% CI 1·75–2·80; sensitization in eczema vs. no eczema). Whereas 50·4% of the children with eczema in West Germany were sensitized, only 36·5% of the diseased children in East Germany reacted positively in the prick test (OR 1·77, 95% CI 1·12–2·79). Conclusions These results are in accordance with findings regarding allergic sensitization and hay fever and might indicate that factors other than allergy are responsible for the higher prevalence of atopic eczema in East Germany.
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