Occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma due to Acalypha wilkesiana allergy.

Background: Acalypha wilkesiana, or copperleaf, is a plant of the Euphorbiaceae family. Although it is widely known as an outdoor ornamental plant, no cases of A. wilkesiana allergy have been reported to date.

Mustard allergy confirmed by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges: clinical features and cross-reactivity with mugwort pollen and plant-derived foods.

Background: Mustard IgE-mediated allergy is supposed to be a rare cause of food allergy, and its clinical features and cross-reactivities have not been fully elucidated.

Methods: A prospective study was carried out, recruiting mustard allergic patients, and paired control subjects. A clinical questionnaire was administered, and skin-prick tests (SPT) with panels of aeroallergens and foods, serum extraction for in vitro tests and double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFC) were performed.

Genetic basis of the latex-fruit syndrome: association with HLA class II alleles in a Spanish population.

Background: The latex-fruit syndrome is a well-defined disorder whose genetic background has not been elucidated.

Objective: To study the genetic basis of the latex-fruit syndrome.

Methods: In a case-control study, we have investigated a carefully selected group of patients allergic to latex, searching for association between latex-fruit allergy and HLA class I and II genes, HLA-DR functional groups, and markers IL4-R1 and FcepsilonRI-betaca .

Carica papaya pollen allergy.

Background: Carica papaya (CP) trees are widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas; however, CP pollen allergy has not been previously described.

Objective: To study patients with CP pollen hypersensitivity.

Methods: A CP pollen extract was elaborated.