Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs enhance IgE-mediated activation of human basophils in patients with food anaphylaxis dependent on and independent of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) act as cofactors worsening the allergic reactions induced by food allergens.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of both lysine acetylsalicylate (L-ASA) (non-selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor) and valdecoxib (selective COX-2 inhibitor) in basophils activated by peach lipid transfer protein (Pru p 3) in patients with food-dependent NSAID-induced anaphylaxis (FDNIA).

Methods: Twenty Pru p 3-allergic patients with FDNIA group, eleven peach anaphylaxis not exacerbated by NSAIDs (no-NSAID group) and 5 healthy volunteers were recruited.

HLA distribution in COPD patients.

Background: Auto-immunity may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly to the presence of emphysema. Auto-immune diseases are characterized by an abnormal distribution of HLA class II alleles (DR and DQ). The distribution of DRB1 and DQB1 alleles has not been investigated in COPD.

Specific IgE levels to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus are associated with meteorological factors.

Background: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus specific IgE (sIgE) measurement is a major diagnostic test for the detection of sensitization to that allergen.

Methods: To investigate the effect of climate on the seasonal variations of D.pteronyssinus sIgE, we studied the tests performed in an insular population during a 10-year period.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition can suppress major attributes of human epithelial tumor-initiating cells.

Malignant progression in cancer requires populations of tumor-initiating cells (TICs) endowed with unlimited self renewal, survival under stress, and establishment of distant metastases. Additionally, the acquisition of invasive properties driven by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical for the evolution of neoplastic cells into fully metastatic populations. Here, we characterize 2 human cellular models derived from prostate and bladder cancer cell lines to better understand the relationship between TIC and EMT programs in local invasiveness and distant metastasis.

Molecular characterization of human cutaneous melanoma-derived cell lines.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that different genetic profiles contribute to melanoma development and progression.

Materials And Methods: To evaluate the existence of different molecular aberration patterns in melanoma associated with v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) or 9p21 locus alterations, eleven patient-derived melanoma cell lines were characterized. Multiplex ligation probe amplification (MLPA) was used to detect chromosomal alterations.