Smart-Glasses: Exposing and Elucidating the Ethical Issues.

The objective of this study is to provide an overview over the ethical issues relevant to the assessment, implementation, and use of smart-glasses. The purpose of the overview is to facilitate deliberation, decision making, and the formation of knowledge and norms for this emerging technology. An axiological question-based method for human cognitive enhancement including an extensive literature search on smart-glasses is used to identify relevant ethical issues.

Development of a functional in vitro assay as a novel tool for the standardization of allergen extracts in the human system.

Background: Biochemical and immunochemical methods used for batch control of allergen extracts rely on the binding of IgE molecules to allergens. They do not measure the ability of a protein to induce type I allergic reactions. Therefore, a biological assay was established that is based on the cellular mechanisms of allergies in order to assess the cross-linking capacity of allergens.

Molecular cloning and immunological characterisation of potential allergens from the mould Fusarium culmorum.

Background: High quality and stability are essential requirements of commercial allergen preparations. Recently we have demonstrated the very low stability of protein allergens in an extract of the ubiquitous mould Fusarium culmorum.

Objective: The present study was performed to identify, isolate and characterise allergens of F.

IgE reactivity to profilin in pollen-sensitized subjects with adverse reactions to banana and pineapple.

Background: The so-called 'latex-fruit syndrome' is a well-documented phenomenon in cross-reactive allergies. By contrast, there is a lack of information about allergy to exotic fruits in patients with a predominant pollen sensitization. Since the ubiquitous protein profilin has been identified as an allergen in natural rubber latex as well as in pollen-related foods, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of profilin in allergy to certain exotic fruits.

Fusarium culmorum causes strong degradation of pollen allergens in extract mixtures.

Background: Therapeutic allergen extracts are frequently stored as mixtures to provide preparations used for specific immunotherapy. Substantial protease activity, found in certain mold extracts, has been suspected to cause a loss of allergenic activity as a result of self-degradation, as well as by means of degradation of allergens from pollen and other allergenic sources.

Objective: This study was performed to address possible deterioration of individual pollen allergens during storage of extract mixtures, with a mold extract as the source of proteolytic activity.