Safety and Low Incidence of Anaphylaxis in Performing Oral Drug and Food Challenges in Mastocytosis.

Background: Patients with mastocytosis (MC) have an increased risk of severe anaphylaxis. They report hypersensitivity reactions to drugs and food, but causality often remains questionable. Most allergy centers avoid oral challenge tests (OCT) in MC patients.

Detection of Sensitization Profiles with Cellular In Vitro Tests in Wheat Allergy Dependent on Augmentation Factors (WALDA).

Wheat allergy dependent on augmentation factors (WALDA) is the most common gluten allergy in adults. IgE-mediated sensitizations are directed towards ω5-gliadin but also to other wheat allergens. The value of the different in vitro cellular tests, namely the basophil activation test (BAT) and the active (aBHRA) and passive basophil histamine-release assays (pBHRA), in the detection of sensitization profiles beyond ω5-gliadin has not been compared.

Challenges in the Diagnosis of Cutaneous Mastocytosis.

Background: Mastocytosis is characterized by an accumulation of clonal mast cells (MCs) in tissues such as the skin. Skin lesions in mastocytosis may be clinically subtle or heterogeneous, and giving the correct diagnosis can be difficult.

Methods: This study compiles personal experiences together with relevant literature, discussing possible obstacles encountered in diagnosing skin involvement in mastocytosis and cutaneous mastocytosis (CM).

Challenge-confirmed diagnosis restores quality of life in cofactor-dependent wheat allergy.

Background: Food allergies including cofactor-dependent allergies such as cofactor-dependent wheat allergy (CDWA) decrease the quality of life (QOL) of patients.

Objective: To define the health-related QOL and fears in patients with CDWA and to evaluate the impact of diagnosis confirmation by oral challenge test (OCT).

Methods: Patients with CDWA diagnosed by clinical history, sensitization, and OCT were invited to participate.

SARS-CoV-2 and allergy - what have we learned after two and a half years?

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has significantly hampered the regular workflow for allergists and allergy departments.

Materials And Methods: The purpose of this review is to highlight our own experiences on SARS-CoV-2 and allergy as well as to discuss findings from the literature.

Results: Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is needed for protection against severe infection.

Increasing the COVID-19 immunization rate through allergy testing.

Background: Vaccination of the population is required to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Allergy testing could reduce anxiety towards COVID-19 vaccination and thereby may increase vaccination rate, however, its effectiveness remains unclear.

Methods: One hundred and thirty prospective real-life patients in need of but not daring to get vaccinated asked for allergy workup for COVID-19 vaccine hypersensitivity in 2021/2022.

PEG allergy - A COVID-19 pandemic-made problem? A German perspective.

Background: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been used for decades, but only caused allergic reactions exceptionally. Introduction of PEG-containing COVID-19 vaccines might have fostered public interest beyond medical reasoning.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the public interest in PEG allergy in Germany and the published PEG allergy cases worldwide.

Measuring What Matters to Patients in Dermatology Drug Development: A Regulatory Perspective.

Incorporating the patient voice into drug development and regulatory review process allows for the science of drug development to be more patient-centered. Dermatology is one therapeutic area where patients have the potential to provide valuable perspectives on symptoms, functional impacts, and aesthetic outcomes. Patient-reported and observer-reported outcomes play an important role in capturing concerns related to the disease or condition and its treatment.

Density of Conjugated Antibody Determines the Extent of Fc Receptor Dependent Capture of Nanoparticles by Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells.

Despite considerable progress in the design of multifunctionalized nanoparticles (NPs) that selectively target specific cell types, their systemic application often results in unwanted liver accumulation. The exact mechanisms for this general observation are still unclear. Here we asked whether the number of cell-targeting antibodies per NP determines the extent of NP liver accumulation and also addressed the mechanisms by which antibody-coated NPs are retained in the liver.

Ontogeny of alkaline phosphatase activity in infant intestines and breast milk.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating disease of intestinal inflammation that primarily affects premature infants. A potential risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis is exposure of the premature neonatal intestine to environmental bacteria and their proinflammatory products such as lipopolysaccharide. The metalloenzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP) has been shown to reduce lipopolysaccharide-mediated inflammation.

Myoma Imaging by Gynecologic Surgeons Training in Intraoperative Ultrasound Technique.

Study Objective: To compare preoperative transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) in surgeons first learning to use this technique.

Design: A prospective study of IOUS accuracy for mapping the size and location of myomas compared with TVUS or MRI (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Five University of California academic centers (Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco).

Interleukin-1 Beta-A Friend or Foe in Malignancies?

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is induced by inflammatory signals in a broad number of immune cell types. IL-1β (and IL-18) are the only cytokines which are processed by caspase-1 after inflammasome-mediated activation. This review aims to summarize current knowledge about parameters of regulation of IL-1β expression and its multi-facetted role in pathophysiological conditions.

BRAF inhibitors stimulate inflammasome activation and interleukin 1 beta production in dendritic cells.

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer with a growing incidence over the last decades. Fourty percent of all melanomas harbor a mutation in the signaling adaptor BRAF (V600E) that results in ERK hyperactivity as an oncogenic driver. In these cases, treatment with the BRAF inhibitors Vemurafenib (VEM) or Dabrafenib (DAB) coapplied with the MEK1/2 inhibitors Cobimetinib (COB) or Trametinib (TRA) can result in long-term suppression of tumor growth.

Large Q and S waves in lead III on the electrocardiogram distinguish patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from athletes.

Objective: To identify electrocardiographic findings, especially deep Q and S waves in lead III, that differentiate athletes from patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Digital ECGs of athletes and patients with HCM followed at the Stanford Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease were studied retrospectively. All patients with HCM had an echocardiogram performed.

Evaluation of sexual and fertility dysfunction in spinal cord-injured men in Jamaica.

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction and infertility are common in males with traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCIs). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and infertility in males with traumatic SCI managed in Jamaica, as well as the therapeutic options offered.

Case Presentation: A cross-sectional study including males with traumatic SCI managed at the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre, Kingston, Jamaica was carried out between 1 January and 31 December 2015.

Computerized Q wave dimensions in athletes and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients.

Background: There is controversy regarding Q wave criteria for assessing risk for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in young athletes.

Methods: The 12-lead ECGs from Preparticipation screening in healthy athletes and patients with HCM were studied retrospectively. All 12 leads were measured using the same automated ECG analysis program.