Investigation on possible allergenicity of 19 different commercial enzymes used in the food industry.

The aim of the study was to investigate the safety to allergic patients of 19 commercially available and authority-approved enzymes used in the food industry. Enzymes produced by genetically modified organisms were included. Four hundred consecutive adult patients with a diagnosed allergy to inhalation allergens, food allergens, bee or wasp were included.

Anti-irritants I: Dose-response in acute irritation.

The term 'anti-irritant' (AI) was coined in 1965 by Goldemberg to describe a diverse group of topical product ingredients, which were able to reduce the irritation potential of other more irritating ingredients in the same product. 'AIs' are being added to cosmetic formulations in order, allegedly, to benefit tolerability of the products and allow claims such as 'soothing' and 'healing' ingredients. Limited documentation in favour of the efficacy of AIs is published.

European birth cohort studies on asthma and atopic diseases: II. Comparison of outcomes and exposures--a GA2LEN initiative.

Background: The Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN) is a consortium of 26 leading European research centres committed to establish a European research area of excellence in the field of allergy and asthma.

Aim: One of the GA2LEN work packages was designed to identify and compare the existing European birth cohort studies on asthma and atopic diseases. The present review compares their subjective and objective outcomes as well as exposure variables.

Diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis in children and adults: European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology/American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/PRACTALL Consensus Report.

There are remarkable differences in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of atopic dermatitis practiced by dermatologists and pediatricians in different countries. Therefore, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology nominated expert teams who were given the task of finding a consensus to serve as a guideline for clinical practice in Europe as well as in North America. The consensus report is part of the PRACTALL initiative, which is endorsed by both academies.

The hairless guinea-pig as a model for treatment of acute irritation in humans.

Background: The effect of six skin care formulations on experimentally induced acute irritation was studied in hairless guinea-pigs (HLGP) and in human volunteers (HV). The formulations were a basic cream, a carbomer cream and four modifications of the carbomer cream, containing either 10% isopropyl palmitate (IPP cream), 10% glycerol (glycerol cream), 19.5% canola oil (canola oil cream) or 0.

Diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis in children and adults: European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology/American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/PRACTALL Consensus Report.

There are remarkable differences in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of atopic dermatitis practiced by dermatologists and pediatricians in different countries. Therefore, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology nominated expert teams who were given the task of finding a consensus to serve as a guideline for clinical practice in Europe as well as in North America. The consensus report is part of the PRACTALL initiative, which is endorsed by both academies.

The prevalence of suspected and challenge-verified penicillin allergy in a university hospital population.

Suspected penicillin allergy is common among hospitalised patients, but the quality of the information given by the patient is often doubtful. Alleged penicillin allergic are likely to be treated with more toxic, broad-spectrum, and more expensive antibiotics, with effects on microbial resistance patterns and public economy as a consequence. We performed a cross-sectional case-control study with two visits to all clinical departments of a large university hospital in order to find in-patients with medical files labelled "penicillin allergy" or who reported penicillin allergy upon admission.

Wheat allergy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in adults.

Background: Wheat is believed to be an uncommon cause of food allergy in adults; the number of studies that address IgE mediated wheat allergy in adults is all too few.

Objective: Determine how many subjects with a history of wheat allergy have real allergy by double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge; identify the symptoms manifested during the challenge; determine the lowest provocation dose; determine the performance characteristics of wheat skin prick test and specific IgE; identify subjects with real wheat allergy for potential immunoblotting studies.

Methods: Patients underwent skin test with commercial wheat extract; specific wheat IgE was determined.

EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF guideline: management of urticaria.

This guideline is the result of a consensus reached during a panel discussion at the second International Consensus Meeting on Urticara, Urticaria 2004, a joint initiative of the EAACI Dermatology Section and GA2LEN. Urticaria has a profound impact on the quality of life, and effective treatment is therefore required. The recommended first line treatment are nonsedating H1 antihistamines.

EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF guideline: definition, classification and diagnosis of urticaria.

This guideline is the result of a consensus reached during a panel discussion at the 2nd International Consensus Meeting on Urticaria, Urticaria 2004, a joint initiative of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology Dermatology Section and the European Union (EU)-funded network of excellence, GA2LEN. It covers the definition and classification of urticaria, taking into account the recent progress in identifying causes, eliciting factors and pathomechanisms of this disease. We have outlined useful diagnostic approaches for different subtypes of urticaria.

The hairless guinea-pig as a model for treatment of cumulative irritation in humans.

Background: The effect of six skin-care formulations (SCFs) on experimentally induced cumulative irritation was studied in hairless guinea-pigs (HLGPs) and in human volunteers (HVs). The formulations were a basic cream, a carbomer cream and four modifications of the carbomer cream, containing either 10% isopropyl palmitate (IPP cream), 10% glycerol (glycerol cream), 19.5% canola oil (canola oil cream) or 0.

European birth cohort studies on asthma and atopic diseases: I. Comparison of study designs -- a GALEN initiative.

Background: The reasons for the rise in asthma and allergies remain unclear. To identify risk or protective factors, it is essential to carry out longitudinal epidemiological studies, preferably birth cohort studies. In Europe, several birth cohort studies on asthma and atopic diseases have been initiated over the last two decades.

Eosinophilia in the upper gastrointestinal tract is not a characteristic feature in cow's milk sensitive gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Measurement by two methodologies.

Background: An association between cow's milk hypersensitivity (CMH) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in childhood has been reported in the past decade.

Aim: To assess whether biopsies from the upper gastrointestinal tract of children with cow's milk sensitive GERD have a specific allergic inflammatory pattern, and to compare two different techniques for measuring inflammatory cells in gastrointestinal biopsies.

Methods: GERD was diagnosed by means of endoscopy and oesophageal pH monitoring.

The prevalence of food hypersensitivity in an unselected population of children and adults.

A rising prevalence of food hypersensitivity (FHS) and severe allergic reactions to food has been reported the last decade. To estimate the prevalence of FHS to the most common allergenic foods in an unselected population of children and adults. We investigated a cohort of 111 children <3 yr of age, 486 children 3 yr of age, 301 children older than 3 yr of age and 936 adults by questionnaire, skin prick test, histamine release test and specific immunoglobulin E followed by oral challenge to the most common allergenic foods.

The prevalence of peanut sensitization and the association to pollen sensitization in a cohort of unselected adolescents--The Odense Adolescence Cohort Study on Atopic Diseases and Dermatitis (TOACS).

In the last decade an increased occurrence of peanut hypersensitivity and severe anaphylactic reactions to peanut have been reported. However, few prevalence studies have been performed in unselected populations. This study evaluated the point prevalence of peanut hypersensitivity in Danish adolescents.

Standard skin prick testing and sensitization to inhalant allergens across Europe--a survey from the GALEN network.

Skin prick testing (SPT) is the standard method for diagnosing allergic sensitization but is to some extent performed differently in clinical centres across Europe. There would be advantages in harmonizing the standard panels of allergens used in different European countries, both for clinical purposes and for research, especially with increasing mobility within Europe and current trends in botany and agriculture. As well as improving diagnostic accuracy, this would allow better comparison of research findings in European allergy centres.

A comparison between criteria for diagnosing atopic eczema in infants.

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown different estimates of the frequency of atopic eczema (AE) in children. This may be explained by several factors including variations in the definition of AE, study design, age of study group, and the possibility of a changed perception of atopic diseases. The role of IgE sensitization in AE is a matter of debate.