Oxidative stress and alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata (AA) is an inflammatory and autoimmune disease presenting with non-scarring hair loss. The aethiopathogenesis of alopecia areata is unclear and many factors including autoimmunity, genetic predisposition, emotional and environmental stress are thought to play important roles in its development. Antioxidant/ oxidant balance perturbation is a common feature in autoimmune, emotional and environmental stress.

Immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions to intravascular iodine based radiocontrast media -- an update.

Used since 1929 in medical practice, nowadays four chemical varieties of intravascular iodine based radiocontrast media (I-RCM) are available: ionic monomers with high osmolarity, ionic dimers with low osmolarity, non-ionic monomers with low osmolarity and non-ionic iso-osmolar dimers. Increasing prescription of l-RCMs augments the number of reported hypersensitivity reactions. I-RCM induced hypersensitivity reactions can be dclasified in two types: immediate hypersensitivity reactions (IHRs - occurring within the first hour) and delayed hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs - occurring between 1 hour and 7 days).

[The role of allergological tests in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)].

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) is an uncommon respiratory condition in which Asp. spp spores and mycelia inhalation trigger an immuno allergic inflammatory response in the bronchial airways. ABPA mostly develops in asthmatic and cystic fibrosis patients.

Anti C1q antibodies in cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Unlabelled: Autoantibodies against C1q are strongly linked to immune-complex disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although anti-C1q antibodies have received much interest in the recent years, their biological functions remain unclear. Anti-C1q antibodies are strongly associated with lupus nephritis.