Metabolic and genetic risk factors for migraine in children.

Migraine can induce ischaemic stroke, and is considered an independent risk factor for stroke in the young. To date, the nature of the link between migraine and stroke is essentially unknown. Forty-five children were studied.

Is tennis a predisposing factor for degenerative shoulder disease? A controlled study in former elite players.

Background: High demands imposed to the shoulder during tennis activity can decrease the efficiency of static and dynamic constraints. Subtle or frank instability of the glenohumeral joint may occur, and long term degenerative changes may be expected.

Objective: To determine and compare the prevalence of primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis in senior tennis players and matched controls.

Giant ragweed specific immunotherapy is not effective in a proportion of patients sensitized to short ragweed: analysis of the allergenic differences between short and giant ragweed.

Background: Short ragweed and giant ragweed pollen allergens are considered largely cross-reactive, and it is generally believed that 1 species is sufficient for skin testing and immunotherapy. However, in the area north of Milan (a zone widely invaded only by short ragweed), about 50% of patients submitted to injection specific immunotherapy with giant ragweed showed little or no clinical response, but showed an excellent outcome if they were shifted to short ragweed specific immunotherapy.

Objective: To investigate allergenic differences between short and giant ragweed.

Cleavage of von Willebrand factor by ADAMTS-13 in vitro: effect of temperature and barium ions on the proteolysis kinetics.

The multimeric size of von Willebrand factor (VWF) is regulated by the specific cleaving metalloprotease, ADAMTS-13. Laboratory assays for ADAMTS-13 are useful for identifying severe protease-deficient activity. ADAMTS-13 activity is currently assayed by prolonged dialysis of plasma at 37 degrees C in low-ionic-strength denaturing buffer.

A lower level of entropy in circadian rhythm of the sinus R-R intervals suggests a prevalence of the cardiac sympathetic regulation in early physiological pregnancy.

The study estimates the unpredictable disorder (chaos) within the 24 h pattern of sinus R-R intervals (SRRI) in clinically healthy pregnant women (CHPW) and clinically healthy non-pregnant women (CHNPW), in order to evaluate the early gestational changes in neurovegetative cardiac pacing. SRRI were provided by the 24-h Holter ECG of 10 CHPW and 10 CHNPW. SRRI were investigated by descriptive conventional statistics by means of the Time and Frequency Domain Analysis, and subsequently, in their chaotic component by means of entropy analysis.

The effect of thermal processing on the IgE reactivity of the non-specific lipid transfer protein from apple, Mal d 3.

Background: Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are involved in allergy to fresh and processed fruits. We have investigated the effect of thermal treatment and glycation on the physico-chemical and IgE-binding properties of the LTP from apple (Mal d 3).

Methods: Mal d 3 was purified from apple peel and the effect of heating in the absence and presence of glucose investigated by CD spectroscopy, electrospray and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Why do lipid transfer protein-hypersensitive patients tolerate bean (and other legumes)?

Background: Patients allergic to nonspecific lipid transfer protein (LTP) frequently score positive on SPT with legumes but virtually never report adverse reactions eating these foods.

Objective: This study investigated the IgE reactivity to legumes of LTP-allergic patients and aimed to establish whether legumes can be considered safe in LTP-allergic patients.

Methods: Skin reactivity as well as clinical allergy to bean and pea were evaluated in a large cohort of LTP-hypersensitive patients.

von Willebrand factor multimer composition is modified following oral methionine load in women with thrombosis, but not in healthy women.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with an increased risk of venous and arterial thrombosis, probably by inducing endothelial damage. Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is an endothelial marker protein. It is a plasma multimeric molecule that plays a thrombophilic role.

Airborne allergy to sunflower seed.

Background: There is increasing evidence that bird fanciers may develop airborne allergies to unusual allergens.

Objective: To detect the allergen source in a bird fancier with a history of asthma associated with bird cage cleaning activities and with contact with a Brazil parrot.

Methods: SPT with a large series of both airborne and food allergens were carried out.

Adiponectin relationship with lipid metabolism is independent of body fat mass: evidence from both cross-sectional and intervention studies.

Adiponectin influences insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism, but it is not clear whether these effects are correlated with fat mass or distribution. We studied the relationship between plasma adiponectin and leptin levels, insulin sensitivity, and serum lipids by a cross-sectional study (n = 242 subjects) and by an intervention study (95 of 242) to evaluate the effect of weight loss (WL). Considering all subjects both together and subdivided into nonobese (n = 107) and obese (n = 135) groups, plasma adiponectin, but not plasma leptin, was significantly (P < 0.

Relationship between peach lipid transfer protein specific IgE levels and hypersensitivity to non-Rosaceae vegetable foods in patients allergic to lipid transfer protein.

Background: Lipid transfer protein (LTP), the major allergen in Rosaceae in geographic areas where the prevalence of birch pollen allergy is low, is a widely cross-reacting pan-allergen, but the pattern of cross-reactivity to plant-derived foods botanically unrelated to Rosaceae shows much variability.

Objective: To examine the relationship between peach LTP specific IgE levels and cross-reactivity to several non-Rosaceae, plant-derived foods.

Methods: IgE specific for peach LTP was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples from 40 patients with Rosaceae allergy monosensitized to LTP.

Effects of outside issues on the comparison question test.

In the present study, the authors examined the effects of outside issues on the validity of the Comparison Question Test in a laboratory mock-crime paradigm. In a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design, 192 participants either did or did not commit (a) a mock theft of a dollar (about which they were tested), or (b) a mock theft of dollars 20 (the outside issue); and they either were or were not asked questions about an outside issue. The presence of the outside issue had a strong differential impact on the participants who were innocent of the tested issue, and it dramatically moved their scores toward deception.

Parietaria profilin shows only limited cross-reactivity with birch and grass profilins.

Background: In patients showing multiple reactivity to seasonal airborne allergens, a skin prick test (SPT) with Parietaria pollen scores frequently negative, suggesting that profilin from Parietaria might not share IgE-binding epitopes with profilin from botanically unrelated airborne allergens. This study investigated the immunologic cross-reactivity between profilins from Parietaria, grass and birch pollen.

Methods: 36 patients hypersensitive to birch profilin, Bet v 2, underwent SPT with Parietaria, and IgE to both whole Parietaria pollen and Phleum profilin were sought in their sera by ELISA.

Effect of expanded newborn screening for biochemical genetic disorders on child outcomes and parental stress.

Context: Tandem mass spectrometry now allows newborn screening for more than 20 biochemical genetic disorders. Questions about the effectiveness and risks of expanded newborn screening for biochemical genetic disorders need to be answered prior to its widespread acceptance as a state-mandated program.

Objectives: To compare newborn identification by expanded screening with clinical identification of biochemical genetic disorders and to assess the impact on families of a false-positive screening result compared with a normal result in the expanded newborn screening program.

Detection of clinical markers of sensitization to profilin in patients allergic to plant-derived foods.

Background: A proper classification of patients allergic to plant-derived foods is of pivotal importance because the clinical features of allergic reactions to fruits and vegetables depend on the nature and characteristics of proteins responsible for sensitization. However, in normal clinical settings this is presently impossible.

Objective: We sought to detect clinical markers of sensitization to profilin.

Biological treatments affect the chemical composition of coffee pulp.

Biological treatments were applied to fresh coffee pulp (CoP) to improve its nutritive value for monogastric animals by reducing its content of cellulose and antinutritional factors (ANFs) such as total phenols, tannins and caffeine. Treatments were: (1) ensiling with 0, 50 and 100 gkg(-1) molasses for 2 and 3 months, (2) aerobic decomposition for 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days, (3) aerobic bacterial inoculation (Bacillus sp.) for 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days.

Allergenic relevance of Cupressus arizonica pollen extract and biological characterization of the allergoid.

Background: Cupressaceae (cypress) pollens can cause pollinosis in winter. However, the lack of specific commercial extracts combined with the early pollination period of cypress trees make a precise diagnosis difficult. The need for a reliable and effective cypress extract for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes is increasingly felt.