The degree of serological sensitization to cat allergen in patients with or without cat at home.

Background: The relationship between exposure to cat/dog in domestic environments and development of allergic sensitization to pet allergens is still controversial.

Objective: To test the role of indirect exposure to cat, we aimed to evaluate the amounts of cat specific IgE in sensitized subjects with or without cat at home.

Methods: Three hundred six adult patients with a previous diagnosis of allergic sensitization to cat allergens (by skin prick test) were enrolled for this study.

[Operative stress and neuroendocrine changes: influence of anxiety, pain, and drugs].

In this study we took into consideration the neuroendocrine alterations caused by surgical stress, studying the cortisol and prolactin's course in plasma, during the period between preanesthesia and the morning after operation. Our research was particularly interested in identifying the influence of anxiety, pain and drugs. At this purpose, twenty-four patients (ASA 1-2) submitted to abdominal surgery, were subdivided in to two groups of twelve members each.