Basophil Activation Test Application in Drug Hypersensitivity Diagnosis: An Empirical Approach.

Background: The diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) is based both on clinical history and in vivo tests, such as specific IgE and cutaneous tests, when available.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to evaluate the basophil activation test (BAT) as a supplementary tool for drug challenges and drug allergy diagnosis.

Method: We evaluated 204 outpatients reporting DHRs.

[Drug allergy: new methodological approaches in occupational clinical evaluations].

Drug reactions in pharmaceutical industry workers represent a quiet different problem in terms of evaluation and job ability, if related to hospitalized patients with adverse reaction to drug administration. The modern approach of GRADE (Grading Recommendation Assessment Development and Evaluation) was applied to 8 workers who had suspected occupational drug reactions, and were clinically examined in order to exclude any possible adverse event. Such a method allows to draw the relationship between adverse reaction to drugs, aetiology, risk evaluation and clinical events.

Advances in laser cleaning of artwork and objects of historical interest: the optimized pulse duration approach.

Laser ablation has found numerous applications in biomedical and industrial settings but has not spread as quickly as a means of cleaning artwork. In this Account, we report recent advances in the study and application of laser cleaning to the conservation of cultural heritage. We focus on the solution of representative cleaning problems of encrusted stones, metals, and wall paintings that were achieved through the optimization of laser pulse duration.

Cleaning processes of encrusted marbles by Nd:YAG lasers operating in free-running and Q-switching regimes.

The removal process of degraded superficial layers from marble samples by Nd:YAG lasers was studied while simulating operative conditions of stone artwork restoration. The effects of laser irradiation at 1064 nm with three different pulse durations of 6 ns, 20 micros, and 200 micros were investigated by time-resolved shadowgraphy and emission spectroscopy of the ejection plume to characterize the specific interaction regimes, with particular concern given to the occurrence of side effects, such as thermal and mechanical damages to the substrate, that could affect the laser cleaning procedure.

The possible role of cockroaches in baker's asthma.

Background: Baker's asthma is related to wheat flour exposure and to other cereal dust exposure.

Objectives: The cockroach is considered a significant allergen and can occasionally trigger asthma in bakery workers.

Methods: The case of a 33-year-old male, suffering from asthma in the workplace with previous equivocal tests for cereal dust was investigated Clinical assessment of the worker consisted of cutaneous and blood screening for common and occupational allergens, including cockroach.