Managing systemic reactions and venom immunotherapy in vespid-venom allergy: observations from a retrospective study of Portuguese patients.

Vespula spp. and Polistes spp. are relevant species in South Europe, with Vespa velutina nigrithorax (VVN) being considered a public health problem.

Molecular sensitization profile to grass and olive pollens in Portugal.

Grass and olive pollens have overlapping pollination periods and are common allergens in the Iberian Peninsula. The objective is to determine the sensitization pattern to major Phleum pratense and Olea europaea pollens in the Portuguese population with pollen allergic rhinitis (AR) using molecular allergen diagnosis (MAD). Seasonal AR patients (≥ 12 years), with positive skin prick tests (SPT) to Phleum and Olea were recruited from 16 centers.

Delayed postoperative reactions to metamizole: a diagnostic challenge.

Metamizole, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug from the pyrazolone group, is a frequent cause of immediate hypersensitivity reactions and, more rarely, of delayed drug hypersensitivity reactions. Due to its favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics, metamizole is widely used in the postoperative period for pain control. Retrospective study of patients referred for allergological study between January 2012 and June2022 for postoperative hypersensitivity reactions.

An Unusual IgE-Mediated Hypersensitivity: Two Case Reports of Paracetamol Allergy.

Paracetamol is one of the most commonly used analgesic and antipyretic agents worldwide, attributed in part to its excellent safety profile when administered at recommended doses. Paracetamol allergy is not common, and the majority of the reactions are related to the pharmacological action of cyclooxygenase 1 inhibition. Selective and Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity reactions are rare.

Hypersensitivity to Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on a pediatric Portuguese cohort.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)/analgesics (paracetamol) are among the most common causes of drug hypersensitivity reactions in children, with a reported prevalence of around 0.3% in the pediatric population. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are the most commonly reported culprits in the pediatric population.

A real-world characterization of a population with eosinophilic esophagitis: looking for severity biomarkers.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an immune-mediated chronic esophageal disease, with frequent association with atopy. A vali-dated non/minimally invasive biomarker of disease severity has not been identified. We aimed to determine if sensitization to airborne and food allergens correlates with disease severity, and to evaluate the association between clinical and laboratory characteristics with the severity of EoE.

Omalizumab in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU): Real-Life Experience in Dose/Interval Adjustments and Treatment Discontinuation.

Background: Data on real-life experience with omalizumab dose/interval adjustments are still limited, as well as on omalizumab discontinuation.

Objective: To evaluate efficacy and safety of omalizumab dose/interval adjustment in a Portuguese cohort of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and to characterize those who discontinued omalizumab.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients who started omalizumab for CSU at a Portuguese Urticaria Center of Reference and Excellence (UCARE) was conducted between 2009 and 2021.

Hereditary angioedema: 24 years of experience in a Portuguese reference center.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) poses a high burden of disease, being its epidemiological and clinical data heterogeneous among countries, with no recent published studies concerning Portuguese patients. Therefore, we aimed to raise awareness of HAE and to contribute to clinical knowledge. An observational, descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was performed, that included a cohort of 126 patients followed in a single Portuguese Center.

Breast Cancer Treatment Delay in SafetyNet Health Systems, Houston Versus Southeast Brazil.

Background: Breast cancer outcomes among patients who use safety-net hospitals in the highly populated Harris County, Texas and Southeast Brazil are poor. It is unknown whether treatment delay contributes to these outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with non-metastatic breast cancer diagnosed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011 at Harris Health Texas and Unicamp's Women's Hospital, Barretos Hospital, and Brazilian National Institute of Cancer, Brazil.

Gut Microbiota and Depressive Symptoms at the End of CRT for Rectal Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.

Background: The role of alterations in gut microbiota composition (termed dysbiosis) has been implicated in the pathobiology of depressive symptoms; however, evidence remains limited. This cross-sectional pilot study is aimed at exploring whether depressive symptom scores changed during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy to treat rectal cancer, and if gut microbial taxa abundances and predicted functional pathways correlate with depressive symptoms at the end of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Methods: 40 newly diagnosed rectal cancer patients (ages 28-81; 23 males) were assessed for depressive symptoms using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and provided stool samples for 16S rRNA sequencing.

Rapid desensitization to acetylsalicylic acid in patients with ischemic heart disease: 10-year experience of a Portuguese Allergy Department.

Managing Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) hypersensitivity (HS) in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a challenge. Data on Rapid Desensitization (RD) to ASA is scarce. We aimed to report the outcomes of our 10-year experience with RD to ASA.

Cold Urticaria. Characterizing the population from an urticaria outpatient clinic.

Introduction: Cold Urticaria (ColdU) is a type of chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) where recurrent pruritic wheals and/or angioedema occur after exposure to cold stimulus. Although it usually only affects exposed areas, systemic reactions can occur in severe cases. In this study, we seek to characterize the ColdU cases within our Centre's population of patients.

Cold Urticaria. Characterizing the Population From an Urticaria Outpatient Clinic.

Introduction: Cold Urticaria (ColdU) is a type of chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) where recurrent pruritic wheals and/or angioedema occur after exposure to cold stimulus. Although it usually only affects exposed areas, systemic reactions can occur in severe cases. In this study, we seek to characterize the ColdU cases within our Centre's population of patients.

Association of Radiotherapy-Related Intestinal Injury and Cancer-related Fatigue: A Brief Review and Commentary.

Radiotherapy treatment-induced intestinal injury and gut microbial perturbation/dysbiosis have been implicated in the pathobiology of cancer-related fatigue. The objective of this brief review was to explore the available evidence of the relationship between intestinal injury and self-reported fatigue, especially among cancer patients. The scientific evidence-including our own-linking gut mucosal barrier dysfunction and gut microbial perturbation/dysbiosis induced by cancer treatment with worsening of cancer related fatigue (perhaps through the gut-brain axis) is limited but promising.

Anaphylaxis in children and adolescents: The Portuguese Anaphylaxis Registry.

Background: Anaphylaxis is increasing at pediatric age; however, its characterization is hampered by underdiagnosis and underreporting. The aim of this study was to identify the causes of anaphylaxis in children and adolescents in Portugal, thus contributing to a better knowledge of its etiology, clinical manifestations, and management.

Methods: During a 10-year period, a nationwide notification system for anaphylaxis was implemented, with voluntary reporting by allergists.

Co-Occurrence of Symptoms and Gut Microbiota Composition Before Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer: A Proof of Concept.

Purpose: To examine a) whether there are significant differences in gut microbial diversity and in the abundance of gut microbial taxa; and b) differences in predicted functional pathways of the gut microbiome between those participants with high co-occurring symptoms and those with low co-occurring symptoms, prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CRT) for rectal cancer.

Methods: Rectal cancer patients (n = 41) provided stool samples for 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and symptom ratings for fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms prior to CRT. Descriptive statistics were computed for symptoms.