Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a heterogeneous condition that can severely impact quality of life. Consequently, rapid disease control is essential. First-line treatment of the symptoms of ...CSU is the licensed dose of second-generation H1 antihistamines. For second-line treatment, this dose may be increased by up to 4 times. In patients who fail to respond to higher doses of H1 antihistamines, omalizumab for up to 24 weeks is recommended to achieve disease control. After this 24-week period, the patient's response to omalizumab should be assessed in order to identify refractory patients. Optimal management of refractory patients has not been established. Therefore, the aim of the present consensus document, which was drafted by allergists and dermatologists with specific expertise in treating urticaria, was to define specific patient profiles based on differences in their response to omalizumab. We also developed a treatment algorithm based on the specific response profile. After a comprehensive literature review, a group meeting was held to discuss issues related to the therapeutic management of patients with CSU that had not been addressed in previous studies. The experts considered both the available evidence and their own clinical experience with omalizumab. We believe that implementation of the proposed algorithm will optimize management of CSU patients who are refractory to antihistamines, reduce disease-related costs, and improve quality of life.
The use of soy proteins (SoyP) and sunflower proteins (SunP) in the microencapsulation by spray-drying technique of α-tocopherol (T) with a core/wall ratio of 2/1 was studied. SoyP and SunP were used ...as wall material in an unmodified and modified state. The enzymatic (hydrolysis and cross-linking) and chemical (acylation and cationization) modifications were carried out on vegetable proteins in order to improve their encapsulating properties. The results obtained demonstrated that in the native state, SunP showed higher retention efficiency for T microencapsulation (92.6%) compared to SoyP (79.7%), which could be connected to the different composition of protein extracts. Hydrolysis, acylation and cationization of protein resulted in reduced emulsion viscosity. The retention efficiency of T was improved up to 94.8–99.5% after protein acylation, which was attributed to improved affinity between core and wall material.
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•SoyP and SunP were efficient wall materials for microencapsulation.•Non-modified SunP was more efficient coating compared to SoyP.•Protein cationization resulted in decrease of α-tocopherol retention.•N-acylation of proteins improved retention efficiency of core.•Affinity between core and wall materials plays a major role in encapsulation.
Background
Fragrance contact allergy is common, but few studies on quality of life (QoL) in affected patients exist. Recently, the disease‐specific Fragrance Quality of Life Index (FQLI) was ...developed.
Objectives
To characterize QoL in European dermatitis patients with fragrance contact allergy at the time of diagnosis.
Methods
This was a cross‐sectional study, in which 2011 Danish, British, Spanish and German adult consecutive dermatitis patients were invited to complete a questionnaire on self‐reported disease severity, the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and the FQLI immediately prior to being patch tested.
Results
One thousand seven hundred and fifty‐eight patients responded, and 259 (14.7%; country range 11.7%‐18.5%) were fragrance‐positive. Among these, the total (SD) DLQI score was 6.2 (5.6) and the total (SD) FQLI score was 60 (25), with both estimates being comparable to those in fragrance‐negative patients. Adjusting the total FQLI score for age, sex and self‐rated disease severity showed a higher (ie, worse) score in fragrance‐positive patients (3.6‐point increase; 95% confidence interval: 0.30‐6.8 points; P = 0.03). Specifically, contact allergy to oxidized linalool was associated with greater impairment in QoL.
Conclusions
QoL in patients with fragrance contact allergy is impaired at a level comparable to that in other patch tested dermatitis patients, at the time of diagnosis, across several European countries.
The oil industry has been drilling wells since the last century using Portland cement as a cementing basic material. There are several environmental impacts associated with the Portland cement ...production from the raw materials extraction to the macro impact generated by clinkerization such as the emission of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2), combined with huge energy consumption for its production. The study of cement slurries with other precursors types is extremely important in order to obtain a paste with the best properties which are aimed to reduce the negative effects on the environment. Calcium sulfate α-hemihydrate (α-HH) is a material that presents high ecological potential and can be considered a less aggressive agglomeration agent to the environment than Portland cement. The objective of the present work was to develop and analyze the behavior of slurry systems based on α-HH as a basic agglomeration agent for oil well cementing. For this study, slurries were prepared with different water/gypsum ratio (WGR) and submitted to different curing periods (24 h, 7 and 28 days) and temperatures (27, 38 and 60 °C). Then, the additives were added to the slurries using different concentrations of retarding admixture (sodium tetraborate), of superplasticizer (polycarboxylate) and antifoam agent (silicol), aiming to obtain the technological properties required by the oil industry. Such formulations were evaluated through rheology tests, compressive strength and thickening, and thermal characterization (TG/DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Infrared region absorption spectroscopy (IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were performed to characterize the α-HH and its additive formulations. The results showed that the α-HH system with 0.5 WGR showed the best results. The additives were used satisfactorily to enable optimizing the technological properties of the slurry. The α-HH slurry is applicable for cementing shallow oil wells (500 m) under mild temperature and pressure conditions.
•Alternative materials for the PC with less aggressive effects on the environment.•α-HH slurry designed can meet the technical conditions of oil well cementing job.•α-HH as an alternative with lower energy consumption and lower emission of CO2.•Technological properties presented by α-HH similar to PC for application in oil well.
Despite emerging evidence and advances in the management of atopic dermatitis there a lack of consensus regarding the diagnostic criteria, therapeutic approach, method to assess severity, and patient ...follow-up for this condition. An expert consensus study was conducted to provide recommendations on the management of patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The study used Delphi-like methodology based on a literature review, a summary of the scientific evidence, and a 2-round survey. The agreement of 60 panellists on 21 statements was evaluated. Consensus was pre-defined as ≥ 80% agreement of all respondents. In the first round 6 statements reached consensus. Unanimous consensus was achieved regarding therapeutic goals and patient satisfaction (maintained in the long term and periodic goals reassessment recommended every 3–6 months). In the second round, half of the statements reached consensus, all related to patient follow-up, treatment goals, and atopic comorbidities. The statements that did not reach consensus were related to diagnosis (biomarkers, allergy, and food testing) and starting patients on conventional systemic treatment rather than advanced treatment. The study assessed expert opinion regarding a variety of topics related to the clinical approach to patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, in order to provide guidance on the diagnosis and management of patients with atopic dermatitis.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Biopolymer based microparticles were efficiently prepared from sunflower protein (SP) wall material and α-tocopherol (T) active core using a spray-drying technique. Protein enzymatic hydrolysis ...and/or N-acylation were carried out to make some structural modifications to the vegetable protein. Native and hydrolyzed SP were characterized by Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AsFlFFF). Results of AsFlFFF confirmed that size of proteinic macromolecules was influenced by degree of hydrolysis. The effect of protein modifications and the influence of wall/core ratio on both emulsions and microparticle properties were evaluated. Concerning emulsion properties, enzymatic hydrolysis involved a decrease in viscosity, whereas acylation did not significantly affect emulsion droplet size and viscosity. Microparticles obtained with hydrolyzed SP wall material showed lower retention efficiency (RE) than native SP microparticles (62–80% and 93% respectively). Conversely, acylation of both hydrolyzed SP and native SP allowed a higher RE to be reached (up to 100%). Increasing T concentration increased emulsion viscosity, emulsion droplet size and microparticle size, and enhanced RE. These results demonstrated the feasibility of highly loaded (up to 79.2% T) microparticles.
•Sunflower protein (SP) is a new biopolymer with interest to use in encapsulation.•Enzymatic hydrolysis resulted in proteinic macromolecules size decrease.•Protein N-acylation increases its affinity with hydrophobic core material.•N-acylation of SP improves retention efficiency of a-tocopherol.•SP based microparticles can be loaded with hydrophobic core material up to 79.2%.
The objectives were to evaluate the effects of differential supplementation of Ca salts (CS) of fatty acids (FA) on plasma acute phase proteins and both FA composition and function (i.e., activity ...and cytokine production) of neutrophils, during the peripartum and breeding periods. Holstein cows were assigned randomly to receive either CS of palm (PO) or safflower (SO) oils from 30 d prepartum until 35 d postpartum (dpp) and CS of PO or fish oil (FO) from 35 to 160 dpp. Supplementation of CS of FA was at 1.5% of dietary dry matter. Cows (n=32) were sampled three times weekly from parturition to 35 dpp for analyses of plasma concentrations of haptoglobin and fibrinogen. Cows (n=47) were sampled for neutrophil phagocytic and oxidative burst activities toward Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and neutrophil abundances of L-selectin and β2-integrin assessed by flow cytometry at 32 d prepartum, within 7h after parturition, and 4 and 7 dpp. Profiles of FA in neutrophils and cytokine production (i.e., tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-α, and IL-1β) were assessed prepartum (n=14), 35 (PO vs. SO; n=26) and 85 dpp (PO vs. FO; n=28). Plasma concentrations of haptoglobin and fibrinogen were greater for cows fed SO compared with PO. The percentage of neutrophils with phagocytic and oxidative burst activities was not affected by transition diets, but activities per neutrophil were greater in SO compared with PO diets at 4 (phagocytosis and oxidative burst) and 7 dpp (oxidative burst). Neutrophil abundance of L-selectin, but not β2-integrin, was greater in SO compared with PO at 4 and 7 dpp. Neutrophil productions of TNF-α and IL-1β were increased at 35 dpp in SO compared with PO diets, but production of TNF-α was attenuated in FO compared with PO at 85 dpp. Neutrophil ratios of n-6:n-3 FA were greater at 35 dpp in the SO diet and less at 85 dpp in FO compared with PO diets. In conclusion, cows supplemented with CS of SO had improved innate immunity (i.e., acute phase response and neutrophil function) to better cope with the bacterial challenges in the postpartum period. Conversely, CS of FO attenuated neutrophil cytokine production.
The numbers of potential neurotoxicants in the environment are raising and pose a great risk for humans and the environment. Currently neurotoxicity assessment is mostly performed to predict and ...prevent harm to human populations. Despite all the efforts invested in the last years in developing novel in vitro or in silico test systems, in vivo tests with rodents are still the only accepted test for neurotoxicity risk assessment in Europe. Despite an increasing number of reports of species showing altered behaviour, neurotoxicity assessment for species in the environment is not required and therefore mostly not performed. Considering the increasing numbers of environmental contaminants with potential neurotoxic potential, eco-neurotoxicity should be also considered in risk assessment. In order to do so novel test systems are needed that can cope with species differences within ecosystems. In the field, online-biomonitoring systems using behavioural information could be used to detect neurotoxic effects and effect-directed analyses could be applied to identify the neurotoxicants causing the effect. Additionally, toxic pressure calculations in combination with mixture modelling could use environmental chemical monitoring data to predict adverse effects and prioritize pollutants for laboratory testing. Cheminformatics based on computational toxicological data from in vitro and in vivo studies could help to identify potential neurotoxicants. An array of in vitro assays covering different modes of action could be applied to screen compounds for neurotoxicity. The selection of in vitro assays could be guided by AOPs relevant for eco-neurotoxicity. In order to be able to perform risk assessment for eco-neurotoxicity, methods need to focus on the most sensitive species in an ecosystem. A test battery using species from different trophic levels might be the best approach. To implement eco-neurotoxicity assessment into European risk assessment, cheminformatics and in vitro screening tests could be used as first approach to identify eco-neurotoxic pollutants. In a second step, a small species test battery could be applied to assess the risks of ecosystems.
Dietary sources of fatty acids were evaluated for their influence on oocyte quality and follicular development using 54 lactating cows in summer. Fat supplements were 1) sunflower oil (80% cis 18:1), ...2) Ca salt of transoctadecenoic acids (57% trans 18:1), 3) Ca salt of vegetable oils (30% 18:2), and 4) linseed oil (56% 18:3 and 16% 18:2). Fats were fed at 1.35% of dietary dry matter beginning at 5 wk prior to expected calving date and at 1.5% (oils) and 1.75% (Ca salts) of dietary dry matter for 15 wk after parturition. Four days following a programmed induced ovulation, 5 transvaginal oocyte aspirations were performed 3 or 4 d apart. Three days after the last aspiration, PGF2α was injected, followed 3 d later by a GnRH injection and a timed artificial insemination (d 0) 16 to 20h later. For the first 4 aspirations, oocytes grading 1 or 2 were used for in vitro embryo production. Total cell number and the proportion of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)–positive blastomeres were analyzed at d 8. At the fifth aspiration, the occurrence of metaphase II, group II caspase activity, and TUNEL labeling were determined after oocyte maturation. A total of 1,011 oocytes were collected. The proportion of oocytes with high caspase activity was greater for grade 3 compared with grades 1 and 2 (37.5 vs. 1.54 and 1.61%). Feeding polyunsaturated fatty acids, as compared with monosaturated fatty acids, failed to affect oocyte quality, as demonstrated by subsequent embryo development. Cows fed 18:2- or 18:3-enriched diets had a larger preovulatory follicle at insemination and subsequent volume of the corpus luteum compared with those fed cis 18:1 or trans 18:1 diets (16.8, 16.2 vs. 15.0, 14.9±0.7mm; 7,323, 8,208 vs. 6,033, 5,495±644mm3, respectively). The previously documented benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids on reproductive performance appear to reflect actions at alternative biological windows in lactating dairy cows.
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