Is the Anamnesis Enough to De-Label Patients with Reported Beta-Lactam Allergy?

The decision whether to de-label patient with suspected BL hypersensitivity is based on risk stratification. The aim of this study was to prepare a characteristic of diagnostic risk groups and to create a model enabling the identification of the low-risk diagnostic group. We analyzed the medical records of patients hospitalized due to suspected hypersensitivity to BL antibiotics.

Occupational anaphylaxis to food.

Increasing incidence and importance of allergies in everyday life leads to bigger impact on the professional lives of patients. Continuous exposure to various allergens may be a trigger factor of development allergic diseases, even anaphylactic shock. This paper summarizes available knowledge of occupational anaphylaxis to food.

Low-Salicylate Diet in Patients with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease: Personalization of Indications to Dietary Treatment.

Introduction: A particularly aggressive course of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps is seen in patients with bronchial asthma and hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These patients often report exacerbation associated with consumption of foods reach in salicylates. Therefore, the authors analyzed the effect of a low-salicylate diet (LSD) on the course of chronic sinusitis with polyps in patients with NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD) to answer the question: which patients would obtain the best therapeutic benefit?

Methods: Adult patients with N-ERD were selected for dietary intervention with LSD.

Gene Polymorphisms Presumably Participate in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Spontaneous Autoreactive Urticaria.

Recent studies underline a potential role of autoimmune and genetic disturbances in this disorder pathogenesis. Variants in genes related to inflammatory processes may possibly predispose to chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) occurrence. The objective of this study was to search for an association of genes polymorphisms with the pathogenesis of CSU.

Serum levels of interleukin 33 and its receptor ST2 in patients treated with subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy in intermittent allergic rhinitis.

Introduction: Interleukin 33 (IL-33) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in pathological processes in seasonal allergic rhinitis. IL-33 binds to ST2 receptor, which is highly expressed on mast cells and selectively on Th2 cells. Information is lacking on the role of IL-33/ST2 axis in allergen subcutaneous immunotherapy.

Dietary Intake of Flavonoids and Ventilatory Function in European Adults: A GA²LEN Study.

Background: Flavonoids exert anti-inflammatory properties and modulate oxidative stress in vitro, suggesting a protective effect on lung function, but epidemiological studies examining this association are scarce.

Methods: A stratified random sample was drawn from the GA²LEN screening survey, in which 55,000 adults aged 15 to 75 answered a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. Post-bronchodilator spirometry was obtained from 2850 subjects.

Is fruit and vegetable intake associated with asthma or chronic rhino-sinusitis in European adults? Results from the Global Allergy and Asthma Network of Excellence (GALEN) Survey.

Background: Fruits and vegetables are rich in compounds with proposed antioxidant, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties, which could contribute to reduce the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases.

Objective: We investigated the association between asthma, and chronic rhino-sinusitis (CRS) with intake of fruits and vegetables in European adults.

Methods: A stratified random sample was drawn from the Global Allergy and Asthma Network of Excellence (GALEN) screening survey, in which 55,000 adults aged 15-75 answered a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms.

Increased Levels of Interleukin-33 and Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin in Exhaled Breath Condensate in Chronic Bronchial Asthma.

Background: Epithelium-derived cytokines such as thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin (IL)-25, and IL-33 are important contributors to inflammation in asthma. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a noninvasive method used to assess the inflammation of airways. Our aim was to assess the levels of TSLP, IL-25, IL-33, and its receptor ST2l/IL-1 R4 in EBC in patients with asthma and to correlate these with serum levels and asthma control.

Chemokine receptors expression on CD3+ blood cells in bronchial asthma.

Purpose: Chemokines and their receptors participate in pathomechanism of bronchial asthma. The aim of the study was to analyze the pattern of chemokine receptor expression on T cells in severe asthmatics and to compare to mild-to-moderate patients and controls.

Material/methods: Flow cytometric analysis of CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR3, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR7, CCR8 expression on CD3(+)CD8(-) and CD3(+)CD8(+) cells was performed in patients with different severity of chronic asthma and in controls.

Coexistence of angioedema alone with impaired glucose tolerance.

Background: Most patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) exhibit recurrent angioedema. As of yet, the pathogenesis of angioedema in CSU is largely unclear, especially when angioedema occurs in patients who do not develop wheals. Over the past years, we and others have repeatedly observed that patients with recurrent angioedema alone exhibit impaired glucose tolerance.

Serum IL-33 but not ST2 level is elevated in intermittent allergic rhinitis and is a marker of the disease severity.

Background: Th2 cells play an important role in intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR). Interleukin (IL)-33 stimulates the production of Th2-associated cytokines. IL-33 binds to ST2 receptor which is highly expressed on mast cells and selectively on Th2 cells.

Coexistence of two types of allergic hypersensitivity to drugs.

Hypersensitivity to drugs is a complex diagnostic challenge. Detailed medical history remains the mainstay of drug hypersensitivity evaluation, which further determines diagnostic procedures, especially the types of skin tests to be performed. The current paper presents the case of a female patient with coexisting features of supposed immunoglobulin E (IgE) dependent allergic hypersensitivity to fluoroquinolones and those of non-IgE dependent allergic hypersensitivity to povidone-iodine.

Does the proper intravenous immunoglobulin substitution in primary immunodeficiency protect against HBV infections?: a description of a case series.

There are no recommendations concerning preoperative management of primary immunodeficiency patients in cases of emergency or planned surgery in relation to risk of hepatitis type B virus infection. To assess if immunodeficient patients regularly supplemented with immunoglobulins are protected against hepatitis B. IgG, IgM and IgA total levels and anti-HBs level were estimated in adult patients with primary humoral immunodeficiency before and after immunoglobulins supplementation according to a standardized schedule.

[Coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - retrospective analysis].

Introduction: The incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus tends to rise in old populations. The coincidence of these two diseases seems to be quite frequent. The aim of the study was the retrospective analysis of all patients hospitalized in the Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Silesia in 2000-2004 due to the diagnosis of COPD and the assessment of the coincidence of that chronic disease with glucose metabolic disturbances.

[Hyperserotoninemia as a cause of symptomatic bronchial asthma].

Asthma-like symptoms, infrequently, may be secondary to other diseases like: gastro-esophageal reflux, allergic bronchial-pulmonary aspergillosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, sarcoidosis or carcinoid syndrome. The diagnosis is often made after months of unsuccessful treatment. The authors discuss clinical picture and diagnostic problems in case of symptomatic bronchial asthma in course of hyperserotoninemia.

[Allergen specific-IgG4 in circulating immune complexes in patients with inhalant allergy undergoing specific immunotherapy].

The mechanism of action of specific immunotherapy (SIT) is still not definitely clear. The problem of the presence of allergen specific-IgG4 in circulating immune complexes (CIC) of patients with inhalant allergy is being discussed. The aim of the study was to determine the allergen specific-IgG4 serum levels and concentration in CIC in patients with inhalant allergy who underwent specific immunotherapy with relevance to its clinical benefits.

[The impact of environmental factors in atopic disorders].

The widely understood environmental influence plays an important role in the formation of atopic phenotype. The manifestation of clinical symptoms and signs of asthma is the resultant of the effects of many genes and gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Based on recent literature data the main environmental factors are analysed, such as tobacco smoke, viral infections, living conditions, moisture and moulds, diet and air pollution.