Neurotrophins: are they meaningful in chronic spontaneous urticaria?

Plasma neurotrophin levels are elevated in patients with allergic and autoimmune diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the serum neurotrophin levels in 42 patients displaying chronic spontaneous urticaria, as well as 22 healthy control subjects. Blood samples were obtained from subjects during their first visit to the clinic, and then again after one month of desloratadine therapy.

Confirmed prevalence of food allergy and non-allergic food hypersensitivity in a Mediterranean population.

Background: Until the present, no comprehensive studies evaluating the prevalence of food allergy and non-allergic food hypersensitivity (FA/NAFH) in adults have been done in Turkey or its surrounding countries.

Objective: This large population-based study was planned to identify the confirmed prevalence of adverse reactions to food in adults in Istanbul.

Methods: A total of 17 064 telephone numbers were randomly selected from both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul, and the 11 816 subjects who agreed to participate in the study were addressed with a questionnaire of eight items.