Differential expression of microRNAs and their possible roles in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria and active hives.

Background: Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a complicated skin disease with unknown pathophysiology. MicroRNAs (miRNA) have been shown to be active in cellular regulation. The goal of this pilot study was to examine whether miRNAs may be involved in the regulation of CIU or as biomarkers for CIU.

Optimal skin prick wheal size for diagnosis of cat allergy.

Background: The skin prick test is the diagnostic procedure of choice for determination of immediate hypersensitivity. A wheal diameter of 3 mm or larger is generally accepted as the cutoff for a positive test result, although the validity of this assumption has not been rigorously demonstrated.

Objective: To determine the skin prick wheal size that best identifies clinical allergy to cat.