Identification of common allergenic structures in mugwort and ragweed pollen.

Unlabelled: Identification of common allergenic structures in mugwort and ragweed pollen.

Background: Despite the rare occurrence of ragweed in Middle Europe, a surprisingly high number of patients allergic to mugwort, a frequently encountered weed, display IgE reactivity against ragweed pollen allergens.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the high prevalence of IgE reactivity against ragweed in patients allergic to mugwort is caused by the presence of common allergenic determinants.

Effect of continuous allergen challenge on clinical symptoms and mediator release in dust-mite-allergic patients.

This study investigated the early, prolonged immediate, and late-phase reactions of dust-mite-sensitive subjects undergoing long-term challenge in the Vienna challenge chamber (VCC) in terms of clinical symptoms and inflammatory mediator level patterns in nasal lavage fluids. A concentration of 70 ng Der p 1/m3 of air (feces of Dermatophagoides) was maintained over 8 h in the VCC. To show the clinical impact of this challenge model, the effect of a histamine H1-receptor antagonist that also has some antiallergic properties (loratadine) was also investigated.

Characterization of allergens in Apiaceae spices: anise, fennel, coriander and cumin.

Background: Symptoms elicited by IgE-mediated food allergy range from mild local to severe systemic reactions. Allergens in spices are particularly dangerous due to their hidden presence in many dishes.

Objectives And Methods: According to clinical observations, mugwort and birch pollen allergy, and hypersensitivity to spices are frequently associated, but the crossreacting compounds were not defined so far.

Whole-blood immunoassay (SimpliRED) versus plasma immunoassay (NycoCard) for the diagnosis of clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis.

Background: The level of D-dimer in the blood reflects the level of lysed, cross-linked fibrin, and is a useful diagnostic marker in patients with clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In this study, two assays for the measurement of D-dimer levels were compared: the new, whole-blood immunoassay, SimpliRED, which can be performed at the patient's bedside in two minutes; and the plasma immunoassay, NycoCard.

Patients And Methods: D-dimer levels were determined using these two techniques in 108 patients with clinically suspected DVT.

Enolases are highly conserved fungal allergens.

Background: Lack of knowledge of the identity of fungal allergens still is a major obstacle for improvement of diagnosis and therapy of allergies to moulds. We have therefore further analyzed the allergens of the two moulds, Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium herbarum and found that enolases (EC 4.2.