Physician's appraisal vs documented signs and symptoms in the interpretation of food challenge tests: The EuroPrevall birth cohort.

Background: Blinded food challenges are considered the current gold standard for the diagnosis of food allergies. We used data from a pan-European multicenter project to assess differences between study centers, aiming to identify the impact of subjective aspects for the interpretation of oral food challenges.

Methods: Nine study centers of the EuroPrevall birth cohort study about food allergy recruited 12 049 newborns and followed them for up to 30 months in regular intervals.

Urinary leukotriene E4 levels in atopic and non-atopic preschool children with recurrent episodic (viral) wheezing: a potential marker?

Unlabelled: Backround: Reliable biological markers for the differentiation of asthma phenotypes in preschool children with wheezing are lacking. The purpose of the study is to assess the relationship of urinary Leukotriene E4 (U-LTE4) to particular asthma phenotypes in preschool children with recurrent episodic (viral) wheezing following upper respiratory tract infections with or without atopic predisposition.

Methods: Ninety-six preschool patients with recurrent episodic wheezing participated, 52 atopic and 44 non-atopic, during exacerbation and in remission.

Assessment of airflow limitation, airway inflammation, and symptoms during virus-induced wheezing episodes in 4- to 6-year-old children.

Background: It is disputed whether recurrent episodes of wheeze in preschool-aged children comprise a distinct asthma phenotype.

Objective: We sought to prospectively assess airflow limitation and airway inflammation in children 4 to 6 years old with episodic virus-induced wheeze.

Methods: Ninety-three children 4 to 6 years old with a history of mild, virus-induced episodes of wheeze who were able to perform acceptable fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (Feno) maneuvers and spirometry (with forced expiratory time ≥0.

A 5-year venom immunotherapy protocol with 50 μg maintenance dose: safety and efficacy in school children.

Background: Venom immunotherapy (VIT) has been shown to be an effective and safe treatment for preventing sting-induced anaphylaxis in patients with systemic reactions to hymenoptera stings. A remaining problem is the relative effectiveness and safety of different immunotherapy protocols used with respect to maintenance dose, injection interval, and duration.

Objective: We aimed to describe a modified cluster VIT protocol with a maintenance dose of 50 μg lasting 5 yr and to evaluate retrospectively its safety and efficacy in children.

Comparison of natural and recombinant forms of the major fish allergen parvalbumin from cod and carp.

Allergic reaction following fish consumption can trigger life-threatening reactions in predisposed individuals. Parvalbumins from different species have been identified as the major fish allergens. There are two distinct phylogenetic lineages of parvalbumins, alpha and beta.

Reintroduction of cow's milk in milk-allergic children: safety and risk factors.

Background: Although development of clinical tolerance is the rule in allergy to cow's milk (CM), food challenges are required in order to reintroduce CM into the patient's diet. Less 'invasive' procedures able to predict tolerance would be useful as clinical tools. The purpose of this study was to identify potential risk factors for clinical reactivity in CM-allergic children assessed for CM reintroduction.

Optimized techniques for the extraction of grape allergens appropriate for in vivo and in vitro testing and diagnosis.

Standardized allergen extracts are needed for diagnosis and therapy purposes. For grapes, standardization is hampered by low protein and high tannin and pectin concentrations. The aim of the current study was to develop an optimized method for the extraction of grape proteins and possibly extend this to other fruits.

Severe immediate allergic reactions to grapes: part of a lipid transfer protein-associated clinical syndrome.

Background: Grape allergy is considered rare; grape lipid transfer protein (LTP; Vit v 1), an endochitinase and a thaumatin-like protein (TLP) have been reported as grape allergens. A considerable number of patients have referred to our department for severe reactions to grapes, and several IgE binding proteins were detected.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify and characterise the allergens involved in severe allergic reactions to grapes and describe the population in which they occur.

Effect of in vitro gastric and duodenal digestion on the allergenicity of grape lipid transfer protein.

Background: Severe grape allergy has been linked to lipid transfer protein (LTP) sensitization. LTPs are known to be resistant to pepsin digestion, although the effect of gastroduodenal digestion on its allergenicity has not been reported.

Objective: We sought to investigate the effect of gastric and gastroduodenal digestion on the allergenic activity of grape LTP.

Association of weather conditions with childhood admissions for wheezy bronchitis or asthma in Athens.

Background: The association between asthma morbidity and meteorological conditions is well documented, but it is not clear to what extent more specific meteorological variables are implicated.

Objectives: This study was aiming to investigate whether there is any association between specific meteorological conditions and the seasonal variation and the rate of asthma admissions among children in Athens.

Methods: Data were obtained retrospectively from hospital registries of the three main Children's Hospitals in Athens during a 23-year period (1978-2000).

Efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate vs nedocromil sodium as prophylactic treatment for moderate/severe seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Background: The preventive use of medications has been proposed to be effective in the treatment of seasonal rhinitis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate and nedocromil sodium nasal sprays as prophylactic treatment for moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).

Patients: Sixty-one patients were recruited from 3 referral allergy centers.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated induction of angiogenesis by human rhinoviruses.

Background: Human rhinoviruses, major precipitants of asthma exacerbations, infect the lower airway epithelium inducing inflammation. The possibility that viral infection may mediate angiogenesis, thus contributing to airway remodeling, has not been evaluated.

Objective: To investigate whether epithelial infection with rhinovirus mediates angiogenesis in vitro, evaluate possible modulation by an atopic environment, and confirm angiogenic factor induction after in vivo rhinovirus infection.

Rhinovirus infection induces cytotoxicity and delays wound healing in bronchial epithelial cells.

Background: Human rhinoviruses (RV), the most common triggers of acute asthma exacerbations, are considered not cytotoxic to the bronchial epithelium. Recent observations, however, have questioned this knowledge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of RV to induce epithelial cytotoxicity and affect epithelial repair in-vitro.

Duration of postviral airway hyperresponsiveness in children with asthma: effect of atopy.

Background: Respiratory viruses induce asthma exacerbations and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Atopy is an important risk factor for asthma persistence.

Objective: We sought to evaluate whether atopy is a risk factor for prolonged AHR after upper respiratory tract infections (URIs).

Immune modulator pidotimod decreases the in vitro expression of CD30 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of atopic asthmatic and normal children.

Recurrent viral infections are frequently observed in children with atopic asthma. In this study we investigated the ability of the synthetic immunomodulator pidotimod to affect in vitro the phenotype and/or cytokine profile of blood cells in relation to atopic asthma. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 13 atopic asthmatic and 9 normal children and stimulated in culture with mitogen either in the presence or not of the drug.

The role of respiratory viruses in the origin and exacerbations of asthma.

Purpose Of Review: The present review focuses and comments on the increasing body of evidence correlating respiratory viral infections with asthma onset and exacerbations.

Recent Findings: Recent data suggest multiple and some time contrasting roles for viral infection in the origin of asthma. These data also indicate that the immune status of the host, including atopy, may interactively contribute to this process, conferring susceptibility or even resistance to the development of asthma in virus-infected individuals.

Skin-prick test findings in atopic asthmatic children: a follow-up study from childhood to puberty.

In a prospective cohort study we investigated the course of allergic sensitization from childhood to puberty in a group of children with atopic asthma. An attempt was made to correlate the findings with the persistence of asthma. A total of 150 children with atopic asthma established at 7 years of age were evaluated when 8-10 years of age.