Identification of an allergenic calmodulin from Amaranthus palmeri pollen.

Introduction: Pollens are an important source of allergens that trigger rhinitis or asthma. The allergenic extracts of pollens used to diagnose and treat allergies contain different allergenic antigens. Isolated allergenic proteins are employed in in vitro assays, skin tests and allergenic-specific immunotherapy.

[Determination and analysis of protein profile of different transfer factors].

Background: The transfer factor (TF) is the dialyzable extract of leukocytes with cellular immunity transfer properties. Its use has spread in the treatment of a wide range of immunologic, infectious, and even oncological diseases. However, important aspects in their protein profile, component concentrations, and a well-defined action mechanism are not completely unknown.

[Allergens used in skin tests in Mexico].

Background: Immunotherapy is the only recognized causal treatment for allergies. It is prepared on an individual basis, based on the patient's clinical history and the result of the skin prick test (SPT). An adequate composition of the allergens with which to test the patient is crucial for an optimal diagnosis.

[Practice patterns in Mexican allergologists about specific immunotherapy with allergens].

Background: Immunotherapy has been practiced since over a hundred years. Since the first applications up today changes have occurred in the preparation, dose and duration of the treatment, as well as in the extracts used. Guidelines have been published in Mexico and other countries to try to unify these practice patterns of immunotherapy.

[Practice patterns in Mexican allergologists about skin tests with allergens during 2005-2006].

Background: Immunotherapy has been practiced since over a hundred years. The exact composition of the immunotherapy concentrate, with which the patient is treated, depends partly on the results of the skin prick tests applied to the allergic patient. As such, the effectiveness of the immunotherapy depends heavily on the quality of the skin prick test.

[Current and future approaches for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of inferior respiratory tract].

Among the allergic disorders we emphasize the inflammatory diseases of the inferior respiratory tract by their incidence, repercussion in daily activities, and by their high cost of medical attention. For their treatment, they require more than one inhaled or systemic drug. Current medicines tend to have adverse or secondary effects, such as: osteoporosis, type 3 diabetes mellitus, tremor or tachycardia.

[Occupational asthma and reactive airway dysfunction syndrome].

Occupational asthma could be defined as a reversible lung disorder characterized by attacks of breathing difficulty, wheezing, and cough, which are caused by various agents found in the workplace. Incidence varies from 2 to 15% in adult work population; actually there is no data for the child population. Allergic occupational asthma is due to allergic sensitization to a specific substance or material present at the workplace; non-allergic occupational asthma occurs because of the high exposure to an irritant also at the workplace.

[Nasal budesonide plus zafirlukast vs nasal budesonide plus loratadine-pseudoephedrine for controlling the symptoms of rhinitis and asthma].

Objective: To compare the efficacy of nasal budesonide plus oral zafirlukast against nasal budesonide plus oral loratadine/pseudoephedrine combination in the control of symptoms of rhinitis and asthma.

Patients And Methods: A controlled, clinical, randomized, double blind and crossover study was made in 36 patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma following one of the next treatment regimes: group a) nasal budesonide plus oral zafirlukast twice a day or group b) nasal budesonide plus oral loratadine/pseudoephedrine twice a day, both of them during six weeks, and two weeks of washing and crossover of the treatments during six more weeks. Changes in the rhinitis and asthma symptoms, blood eosinophils, pulmonary function testing, and nasal cytology were evaluated before and after the treatment.

[Prevalence and potential triggering factors of chronic urticaria and angioedema in an urban area of northeastern Mexico].

Background: Urticaria and angioedema are illnesses of easy diagnosis, but to solve them or to determine their cause is complex, as well as the therapeutic management of chronic cases.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, possible precipitating factors and chronic urticaria characteristics.

Material And Methods: A questionnaire was applied to 4,000 persons selected at random, from the ages of 18-50 years, women and men.

[HIV-infection and its implications on allergic diseases].

Introduction: In 1980 AIDS appeared in the USA in the homosexual community. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VIRUS: A particle of HIV is formed by two identical RNA chains that are packed within a center of viral proteins, and surrounded by a double layer of fosfolipids derived from the cellular membrane of the host.

Clinical Symptoms: It starts with a severe infection, evolving in a progressive chronic infection reaching a final phase with a T CD4+ cellular count under 200 cells per mm3, with incident infections, neoplasias, consumption syndrome, renal dysfunction, and degeneration of the central system.