Publications by authors named "Alice Toniolo"

Article Synopsis
  • IgE-mediated food allergies are the most common type, causing quick and serious reactions that affect patients' and caregivers' lives.
  • Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to IgE, reducing allergic reactions, and has been approved by the FDA for treating these food allergies.
  • The GALEN ANACARE Consensus Statement supports omalizumab's use based on a systematic review and expert agreement, noting it is currently the only drug that can significantly reduce IgE-mediated food allergic reactions, although more evidence is needed for stronger guideline recommendations.
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Article Synopsis
  • Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that impacts both patients and their caregivers mentally, and although intramuscular adrenaline is the recommended treatment, it's often not utilized as needed.
  • The study involved 75 parents of children with severe food allergies who completed a questionnaire to evaluate their confidence in managing anaphylaxis and using adrenaline autoinjectors, leading to a five-factor model related to various aspects of anaphylaxis management.
  • The developed questionnaire displayed high reliability and effectively gauges parental self-efficacy, helping clinicians pinpoint educational needs for better training and support in managing anaphylaxis situations.
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Experiential learning (ExL) is the process of learning through experience or more specifically "learning through reflection on doing". In this paper, we propose a simulation of these experiences, in Augmented Reality (AR), addressing the problem of language learning. Such systems provide an excellent setting to support "adaptive guidance", in a digital form, within a real environment.

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Learning vocabulary in a primary or secondary language is enhanced when we encounter words in context. This context can be afforded by the place or activity we are engaged with. Existing learning environments include formal learning, mnemonics, flashcards, use of a dictionary or thesaurus, all leading to practice with new words in context.

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Background: Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening event, but it is frequently undertreated in pediatric patients with food allergies. Previous studies showed that auto-injectable adrenaline (AAI) is underused by patients and parents. This is especially troubling since fatal anaphylaxis has been associated with delayed adrenaline administration.

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Background: Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a promising treatment for food allergy (FA) however it is a challenging process for patients and parents. Induction can generate stress and anxiety. This may in turn affect their motivation and ability to cope with OIT challenges.

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Background: Alexithymia is a multifaceted personality construct described as "a lack of words to express emotions" that includes difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings and a concrete, externally oriented cognitive style. Among patients with food allergy (FA) alexithymia has been found higher than in general population and associated with dysfunctional coping strategies. Childhood traumatic experiences and/or dysfunctional parent-child relationship can contribute to alexithymia.

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Background: Despite a relatively high risk for allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, schools are not sufficiently trained and confident in handling children suffering from food allergy. This study aimed to measure the improvement of school personnel's self-efficacy in managing food allergy and anaphylaxis at school after a specific multidisciplinary training course.

Methods: A total of 592 teachers and school caretakers completed the School Personnel Self-Efficacy-Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Questionnaire (S.

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Background: Food allergy is a common immunologic disease that includes potentially fatal reactions. It impacts considerably on patients' social life including close interpersonal relationships. Attachment theory provides a theoretic framework to evaluate the quality of close interpersonal relationships in chronic disorders.

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Background: Food allergy affects up to 4-7% European schoolchildren. Studies identified important shortcomings on food allergy and anaphylaxis management in schools. In social cognitive theory, personal beliefs in own capabilities influence choices, effort levels, perseverance and performance accomplishments.

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Specific reactive oxygen species (ROS) from different sources, might lead to different and even opposite, cellular effects. We studied the production of specific ROS resulting from the exposure of human umbilical veins endothelial cells (HUVEC) to H2O2 derived from the natural antioxidant epigallocathechin gallate (EGCG) or from the exposure to IL-1β using a fluorogenic probe and flow cytometry, and evaluated by western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry the associated expression of transcription factors sensitive to both inflammatory and oxidative stress, such as NF-κB and Nrf2, and some downstream activated genes such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and hemeoxygenase 1 (HO-1). The results obtained showed that exogenously-generated H2O2 induce anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in HUVECs counteracting the pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effect of IL-1β related to the production of superoxide anions.

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Alexithymia is a multifaceted personality construct associated with several medical illnesses. However, no studies have focused on food allergy. We investigated alexithymia among food-allergic youths, compared to a matched healthy sample.

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The study investigated self-concept in food-allergic youths and matched healthy controls. Global and domain-specific self-concepts were assessed in 154 participants (9-19 years) using the Multidimensional Self-Concept Scale. Statistical analysis assessed differences between the two samples and effects of asthma, dermatitis, age, and gender among patients.

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Macrophage activation has been observed in vivo under physiological and pathological conditions, and may represent an attractive target for pharmacological modulation. This study tested the hypothesis that human blood-derived macrophages generated in vitro in the absence of specific macrophage growth factors respond flexibly to activation stimuli and pharmacological treatment. Monocytes were differentiated to macrophages for 7 days in culture in RPMI 1640 with 10% FCS.

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Context And Objective: During their reproductive years, women are generally protected from cardiovascular disease events by their estrogen-replete status. Our starting hypothesis was that lower estrogen levels after menopause are associated with macrophage activation profiles skewed toward proinflammatory phenotypes. Research Design and Setting: This was an in vitro and ex vivo study in human blood-derived macrophages.

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Background: Avoidance of food allergens requires adapting dietetic habits, changing nutritional approach. A restriction of food choice can result in a monotonous diet and impact social life. This study investigated the impact of food allergy on nutritional behavior and attitudes of patients and their families.

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Background: The incidence of food allergy is such that most schools will be attended by at least one food allergic child, obliging school personnel to cope with cases at risk of severe allergic reactions. Schools need to know about food allergy and anaphylaxis management to ensure the personal safety of an increasing number of students. The aim of this study was to investigate Italian school teachers and principals' knowledge, perceptions and feelings concerning food allergy and anaphylaxis, to deeply understand how to effectively support schools to manage a severely allergic child.

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