Back to basics: likelihood ratios for olive and grass pollen specific IgE in seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Introduction: Specific IgE (sIgE) is merely a sensitization marker that cannot be used for allergy diagnosis if there are no associated clinical symptoms. As of 2023, there is still no evidence regarding the quantity of sIgE necessary to confirm or exclude clinical disease. Therefore, this study aimed to calculate cut-offs for sIgE, allowing us to effectively diagnose olive or grass pollen allergy and select allergenic immunotherapy (AIT) candidate patients in a region under high olive and grass allergenic pressure.

Natural and Induced Tolerance to Hymenoptera Venom: A Single Mechanism?

Inducing tolerance in Hymenoptera-allergic patients, bee venom immunotherapy (BVIT) is a widely accepted method to treat severe allergy to bee stings. In order to increase the existing knowledge on the underlying immunological mechanisms and look for possible biomarkers predictive of efficacy, a group of 20 bee-venom-allergic patients (AG) were thoroughly examined during their first year of BVIT. In addition, the results of treated patients with those of an untreated group of 20 tolerant beekeepers (TG) who had previously shown a firm suppressor-regulatory profile were compared.

Personalized diagnostic approach and indirect quantification of extravasation in human anaphylaxis.

Background: Anaphylaxis is the most acute and life-threatening manifestation of allergic disorders. Currently, there is a need to improve its medical management and increase the understanding of its molecular mechanisms. This study aimed to quantify the extravasation underlying human anaphylactic reactions and propose new theragnostic approaches.

Management of Double Sensitization to Vespids in Europe.

Wasp allergy with a diagnostic profile of double sensitizations to vespid venom is a frequent clinical problem in areas where different genera of wasps are present. Identification of the insect responsible for serious reactions poses a diagnostic challenge as the only effective treatment to date is immunotherapy based on the specific venom. In southern Europe, the double sensitization to and venoms is highly frequent.

Cut-off value of D. pteronyssinus specific IgE in double negative patients Der p 1 and Der p 2 and its clinical repercussion.

Accessibility to more precise diagnostic techniques such as component resolved diagnostics (CRD), provides us with an important advance in diagnostic aspects as well as treatment. The subject of this study aims to better understand the profiles of sensitization to Der p 1, Der p 2 and Der p 23 and to know to what extent their use could help us in optimizing the decision-making for their treatment with Specific Immunotherapy. Cross-sectional study of subjects older than 5 years, diagnosed with allergy to HDM using skin prick test and sIgE, with symptoms of rhinitis and/or asthma.

Improved gestational diabetes screening protocol.

Objectives: This work aimed to assess the diagnostic validity of two approaches for the screening of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with less discomfort for pregnant women.

Methods: A prospective diagnostic validation study was conducted with 2007 pregnant women. According to risk factors for GDM, women were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups.

Biophysical and biological impact on the structure and IgE-binding of the interaction of the olive pollen allergen Ole e 7 with lipids.

Ole e 7 allergen from Olea europaea pollen possesses a major clinical relevance because it produces severe symptoms, such as anaphylaxis, in allergic patients exposed to high olive pollen counts. Ole e 7 is a non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP) characterized by the presence of a tunnel-like hydrophobic cavity, which may be suitable for hosting and, thus, transporting lipids -as it has been described for other nsLTPs-. The identification of the primary amino acid sequence of Ole e 7, and its production as a recombinant allergen, allowed characterizing its lipid-binding properties and its effect at air-liquid interfaces.

Early Biomarkers for Severe Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions.

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) are typically classified into immediate and delayed reactions based on the time interval between drug exposure and onset of symptoms. Clinical manifestations range from mild to severe and life-threatening reactions. The most severe clinical entities are anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock for immediate reactions, and severe cutaneous adverse reactions such as Steven Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis for delayed reactions.

New insights into the sensitization to nonspecific lipid transfer proteins from pollen and food: New role of allergen Ole e 7.

Background: Ole e 7 is a nonspecific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP) from olive pollen, one of the main allergenic pollens worldwide. This allergenic nsLTP is responsible for severe symptoms in regions with high olive pollen exposure, where many Ole e 7-sensitized patients exhibit a co-sensitization to the peach nsLTP, Pru p 3. However, there is no evidence of cross-reactivity, which explains this observed co-sensitization.

Safety and reproducibility of nasal allergen challenge.

Background: The nasal allergen challenge (NAC) is a useful tool for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (AR) and local allergic rhinitis (LAR) and might serve to design and monitor allergen immunotherapy. Nevertheless, data about its safety and reproducibility are scarce.

Objective: To investigate the safety and reproducibility of NAC in pediatric and adult rhinitis patients with/without asthmatic symptoms, and in healthy controls.

Molecular sensitization patterns and influence of molecular diagnosis in immunotherapy prescription in children sensitized to both grass and olive pollen.

Background: The overlapping grass and olive pollen seasons in Spain and the phenomenon of cross-reactivity can make it difficult to determine the true causative agent of seasonal allergic rhinitis when only skin prick tests with whole extracts are used. The aim of the GRAMOLE study was to determine sensitization patterns to the major grass and olive pollen allergens detected using specific recombinant IgE and to explore how this knowledge affected physicians' choice of allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Methods: Epidemiological, observational, multicenter, cross-sectional study.

The high molecular weight dipeptidyl peptidase IV Pol d 3 is a major allergen of Polistes dominula venom.

Hymenoptera venom allergy can cause severe anaphylaxis in untreated patients. Polistes dominula is an important elicitor of venom allergy in Southern Europe as well as in the United States. Due to its increased spreading to more moderate climate zones, Polistes venom allergy is likely to gain importance also in these areas.

Venom immunotherapy: an updated review.

Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is the most effective form of specific immunotherapy to date. Hitherto, several relevant queries remain unanswered, namely optimal doses, duration, and means of assessment. Important progress has been lately made in terms of diagnosis by means of component-resolved diagnosis.