Near-ground effect of height on pollen exposure.

The effect of height on pollen concentration is not well documented and little is known about the near-ground vertical profile of airborne pollen. This is important as most measuring stations are on roofs, but patient exposure is at ground level. Our study used a big data approach to estimate the near-ground vertical profile of pollen concentrations based on a global study of paired stations located at different heights.

Ragweed allergy: Pollen count and sensitization and allergy prevalence in two Italian allergy centers.

Background: Ragweed allergy represents a challenge for allergists due to its increase in some geographic areas, mainly northern Italy.

Objectives: To compare two allergy centers in northern Italy by analyzing both the pollen count and the patient characteristics (sensitization and allergy prevalence) over a 10-year period.

Methods: Pollen counts for 10 years (2004-2013) were evaluated and compared in the two centers.

Long-term comparison of sublingual immunotherapy vs inhaled budesonide in patients with mild persistent asthma due to grass pollen.

Background: Few studies have compared the effects of immunotherapy and inhaled steroids. The main limitation of such studies is the long duration required to fully appreciate the effects of immunotherapy.

Objective: To compare the effects of inhaled budesonide and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in mild persistent asthma for up to 5 years.

Effects of sublingual immunotherapy for multiple or single allergens in polysensitized patients.

Background: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has proven efficacy in treating respiratory allergy.

Objective: To compare the clinical and functional effects and the effect on nasal eosinophils of SLIT with either single or combination allergens.

Methods: We performed an open-labeled, controlled, 4 parallel-group randomized study with 58 patients sensitized to birch and grasses only who had rhinitis and bronchial hyperreactivity in both pollen seasons.

DHCR24 gene expression is upregulated in melanoma metastases and associated to resistance to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

The DHCR24 gene encoding for the 3beta-hydroxysterol delta24-reductase, an oxidoreductase involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, was isolated by subtractive hybridization as highly expressed in a short-term melanoma cell line derived from a cutaneous metastases (S/M2) compared to that obtained from the autologous primary tumor (S/P). DHCR24 (alias seladin-1, diminuto/dwarf1 homolog) has been reported to act as an antiapoptotic factor in neurons. Gene expression analysis by Northern blot confirmed that DHCR24 was 5-fold upregulated in S/M2 compared to S/P cells.