In the (sub)tropics allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma classification of allergic rhinitis is more useful than perennial-seasonal classification.

Background: Two different allergic rhinitis (AR) symptom phenotype classifications exist. Treatment recommendations are based on intermittent-persistent (INT-PER) cataloging, but clinical trials still use the former seasonal AR-perennial AR (SAR-PAR) classification. This study was designed to describe how INT-PER, mild-moderate/severe and SAR-PAR of patients seen by allergists are distributed over the different climate zones in a (sub)tropical country and how these phenotypes relate to allergen sensitization patterns.

Allergen sensitization linked to climate and age, not to intermittent-persistent rhinitis in a cross-sectional cohort study in the (sub)tropics.

Background: Allergen exposure leads to allergen sensitization in susceptible individuals and this might influence allergic rhinitis (AR) phenotype expression. We investigated whether sensitization patterns vary in a country with subtropical and tropical regions and if sensitization patterns relate to AR phenotypes or age.

Methods: In a national, cross-sectional study AR patients (2-70 y) seen by allergists underwent blinded skin prick testing with a panel of 18 allergens and completed a validated questionnaire on AR phenotypes.

Over diagnosis of persistent allergic rhinitis in perennial allergic rhinitis patients: a nationwide study in Mexico.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) symptom phenotypes have been described, and two different classifications exist. The former classification, seasonal versus perennial AR (SAR-PAR), and the Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) classifications, intermittent (INT) versus persistent (PER; ≥4 days/wk and ≥4 consecutive weeks) and mild versus moderate/severe. ARIA cataloging of INT-PER is based on the patient's description of the frequency of symptoms.

European and Mexican vs US diagnostic extracts of Bermuda grass and cat in skin testing.

Background: Laboratory testing of various diagnostic extracts has shown lower potencies for several European and Mexican extracts relative to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reference (10,000 BAU/mL). Quantitative skin prick testing (QSPT) with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extracts have previously shown a similar picture.

Objective: To compare European and Mexican Bermuda grass (BG) and cat diagnostic extracts against an FDA-validated extract using QSPT.

Skin prick test evaluation of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus diagnostic extracts from Europe, Mexico, and the United States.

Background: Previous Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus diagnostic extracts showed potencies of 36% to 44% for 3 European extracts relative to the FDA standard (10,000 AU/mL).

Objective: To compare biological activity of various European D pteronyssinus diagnostic extracts against an FDA-validated extract using quantitative skin prick tests.

Methods: Six diagnostic D pteronyssinus extracts (1 reference extract, which was made up of 10,000 AU/mL of the FDA-approved extract; 3 European extracts; 1 US-Mexican extract, which is imported as raw material from the United States and sold in Mexico; and 1 Mexican extract) were tested during 2 skin prick test sessions as a concentrate and 2 serial 2-fold dilutions, in quadruplicate, on the backs of 19 patients with D pteronyssinus allergic rhinitis.

Senescence of human fibroblasts after psoralen photoactivation is mediated by ATR kinase and persistent DNA damage foci at telomeres.

Cellular senescence is a phenotype that is likely linked with aging. Recent concepts view different forms of senescence as permanently maintained DNA damage responses partially characterized by the presence of senescence-associated DNA damage foci at dysfunctional telomeres. Irradiation of primary human dermal fibroblasts with the photosensitizer 8-methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet A radiation (PUVA) induces senescence.