Validation of basophil histamine release against the autologous serum skin test and outcome of serum-induced basophil histamine release studies in a large population of chronic urticaria patients.

Background: Endogenous histamine-releasing factors (HRFs) are involved in 30-60% of patients with chronic urticaria (CU). Evidence for their existence comes from in vivo studies of autoreactivity with the autologous serum skin test (ASST), in vitro immunoassays demonstrating autoantibodies against the immunoglobulin E (IgE) or the high affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI) and serum-induced histamine release (HR) from basophils and mast cells. We have examined the correlation between the ASST and a new basophil histamine-releasing assay (the HR-Urtikaria test) in a group of well-characterized CU patients and subsequently determined the frequency of HR-Urticaria-positive sera from a larger population of CU patients.

Double blind placebo controlled exposure to molds: exposure system and clinical results.

Unlabelled: The objective was to develop an experimental setup for human exposure to mold spores, and to study the clinical effect of this exposure in sensitive subjects who had previously experienced potentially building-related symptoms (BRS) at work. From three water-damaged schools eight employees with a positive histamine release test to Penicillium chrysogenum were exposed double- blinded to either placebo, approximately 600,000 spores/m3 air of P. chrysogenum or approximately 350,000 spores/m3 of Trichoderma harzianum for 6 min on three separate days.

Locked nucleic acid inhibits amplification of contaminating DNA in real-time PCR.

Locked nucleic acid (LNA) is a modified DNA with increased binding affinityfor complementary DNA sequences. Our strategy was to use this property of LNA to inhibit undesired PCR amplification (e.g.

A comparative study of the FcepsilonRI molecule on human mast cell and basophil cell lines.

Background: Mast cells and basophils express the high-affinity IgE receptor FcepsilonRI. We have analysed the human mast cell line LAD2 and four subclones of the basophil cell line KU812 in order to reveal possible differences concerning the FcepsilonRI surface regulation, anti-IgE-triggered activation, FcepsilonRIalpha protein stability and the mRNA level of FcepsilonRIalpha-, beta- and the truncated beta-chain (beta(T)), and thereby determine the utility of these cell lines in investigations of the FcepsilonRI biology.

Methods: The surface expression of FcepsilonRI was assessed by flow cytometry, using the monoclonal antibody CRA1.

A systematic mutagenesis study of Ile-282 in transmembrane segment M4 of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase.

Homology models of plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase (Bukrinsky, J. T., Buch-Pedersen, M.

In search of a new paradigm: mechanisms of sensitization and elicitation of food allergy.

In this review of research priorities, presented for the European Commission, food allergy is established as a disease with a considerable impact on modern society. Research paradigms have changed from establishing basic symptomatology and diagnostic methods over allergen characterization to a risk-identification approach looking at which patients are at risk of developing reactions to a certain dose of allergenic food. In order to solve some of the apparent paradoxes of regional, temporal, and species-related differences in sensitization and food allergic reactions, it is suggested to study the basic underlying mechanisms in the cross-field between immunology and gastroenterology.

Out-of-season recollection of drug use for seasonal IgE-mediated rhinitis: useful but an overestimation.

Background: The history of seasonal, IgE-mediated (allergic) rhinitis is often obtained postseasonally as a retrospective assessment. It is not known whether recollected drug use is representative for the in-seasonal medication history.

Objectives: To investigate the agreement between in-seasonal and out-seasonal reports on drugs and drug doses, and to investigate whether retrospective assessment was sufficiently sensitive to detect the effect of intervention.

Is immunotherapy-induced birch-pollen-specific IgG4 a marker for decreased allergen-specific sensitivity?

Background: The role of IgG4 during allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is still controversial. The available studies present paramount differences in in vitro techniques, allergens, and clinical outcome parameters. By implementing a sensitive method, and pivotal clinical outcome parameters, we wanted to ascertain the utility of IgG4 as a clinical marker of decreased allergen-specific sensitivity to a common aeroallergen.

X-linked Menkes disease: first documented report of germ-line mosaicism.

This work investigated a three-generation Menkes disease family, where germ-line mosaicism was suspected in the maternal grandmother of the index patient. She had given birth to 2 boys who died of suspected Menkes disease on the basis of clinical and photographic evidence. Biochemical analysis of the index patient confirmed the diagnosis of Menkes disease, and DNA analysis established a partial gene deletion (EX11_EX23del), involving exons 11-23 and the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of ATP7A.

Vaccination for birch pollen allergy: comparison of the affinities of specific immunoglobulins E, G1 and G4 measured by surface plasmon resonance.

Background: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is associated with increased levels of allergen-specific IgG in serum. However, it is not clear to what extent qualitative changes in the allergen binding capacity of IgG may be induced as well.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of SIT on antibody affinity.

The effects of gastric digestion on codfish allergenicity.

Background: In a recent murine study, we showed that impaired gastric digestion supports the induction of fish allergy by protecting the digestion-sensitive major allergen parvalbumin and thus enhancing its sensitizing properties.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether impairment of peptic degradation might also play a role in the effector phase of codfish allergy.

Methods: The resistance of cod proteins to digestion by simulated gastric fluid was assessed in vitro .

Dietary proanthocyanidins: occurrence, dietary intake, bioavailability, and protection against cardiovascular disease.

The French have one of the lowest incidences of coronary heart disease in the Western world despite a diet with a relatively high fat content. This phenomenon that has puzzled researchers worldwide for more than a decade is known as the 'French paradox' and has been linked to the high consumption of red wine in France. Red wine is rich in the complex polyphenols, the proanthocyanidins, and these compounds have recently attracted attention as potential cardiac-protective compounds.

Singlet oxygen microscope: from phase-separated polymers to single biological cells.

The lowest excited electronic state of molecular oxygen, singlet molecular oxygen (a1Deltag), is an intermediate in many chemical and biological processes. Tools and methods have been developed to create singlet-oxygen-based optical images of heterogeneous samples that range from phase-separated polymers to biological cells. Such images provide unique insight into a variety of oxygen-dependent phenomena, including the photoinitiated death of cells.

Late puerperal thrombohemorrhagic complications in a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome.

In this study, we present a case of late-puerperal onset of thrombohemorrhagic complications in a 33-yr-old woman with known antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and heterozygosity for factor V Leiden gene mutation. Antithrombotic prophylaxis with low-molecular-weight (LMW) heparin was given since the 12th gestational week. Pregnancy and cesarean delivery were uncomplicated.

Mutations in endoglin and in activin receptor-like kinase 1 among Danish patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare disorder with one per 6000-10,000 affected individuals in the general Caucasian population. HHT is genetically heterogeneous, involving at least two loci HHT1 mapping to chromosome 9q34.1 and HHT2 mapping to chromosome 12q31.

Food allergy to apple and specific immunotherapy with birch pollen.

Conflicting results concerning the effect of specific pollen immunotherapy (SIT) on allergy to plant foods have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SIT using a birch pollen extract on food allergy with focus on allergy to apple. Seventy-four birch pollen-allergic patients were included in a double-blind, double-dummy, and placebo-controlled comparison of sublingual-swallow (SLIT) and subcutaneous (SCIT) administration of a birch pollen extract.

Evaluation of the potential allergenicity of the enzyme microbial transglutaminase using the 2001 FAO/WHO Decision Tree.

All novel proteins must be assessed for their potential allergenicity before they are introduced into the food market. One method to achieve this is the 2001 FAO/WHO Decision Tree recommended for evaluation of proteins from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It was the aim of this study to investigate the allergenicity of microbial transglutaminase (m-TG) from Streptoverticillium mobaraense.

Allergy assessment of foods or ingredients derived from biotechnology, gene-modified organisms, or novel foods.

The introduction of novel proteins into foods carries a risk of eliciting allergic reactions in individuals sensitive to the introduced protein and a risk of sensitizing susceptible individuals. No single predictive test exists to perform a hazard assessment in relation to allergenic properties of newly expressed proteins in gene-modified organisms (GMOs). Instead, performance of a weighted risk analysis based on the decision tree approach has been suggested.