Evaluation and validation of a bee venom sting challenge performed by a micro-syringe.

Background: The honeybee sting challenge is considered a reliable procedure to evaluate the efficacy of specific immunotherapy, but it is difficult and unpractical to perform in clinical practice, because live insects are required.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and reliability of a challenge test using a micro-syringe, and compared the procedure with sting challenge.

Methods: Patients on bee venom immunotherapy and without systemic reactions at field sting were enrolled.

Improvement of shrimp allergy after sublingual immunotherapy for house dust mites: a case report.

The appropriateness of house dust mite specific immunotherapy in patients allergic to shrimps still remains unclear We present a clinical case as an immunological model for the strong sensitization to tropomyosin with symptoms of anaphylaxis due to shrimps and coexisting asthma due to house dust mite. The improvement in respiratory symptoms for house dust mite and in the food challenge for shrimps during mite immunotherapy with a known and high dosage of tropomyosin suggests the hypothesis that efficacy of mite immunotherapy in food allergy to tropomyosin may be dose dependent.

Sublingual immunotherapy for Alternaria-induced allergic rhinitis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Respiratory allergy due to Alternaria is a relevant clinical problem, and specific immunotherapy may represent a viable treatment option. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is safe and effective, but data for Alternaria are lacking.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of standardized SLIT in patients sensitized to Alternaria in a randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Long-lasting effects of sublingual immunotherapy according to its duration: a 15-year prospective study.

Background: Data on the long-term effects of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) are sparse, and the optimal duration of treatment is a matter of debate.

Objective: We sought to prospectively evaluate the long-term effect of SLIT given for 3, 4, or 5 years and to compare the effect of those different durations.

Methods: In this prospective open controlled study we followed up patients with respiratory allergy who were monosensitized to mites for 15 years.

Randomized open comparison of montelukast and sublingual immunotherapy as add-on treatment in moderate persistent asthma due to birch pollen.

Background: No studies have directly compared the effects of immunotherapy and antileukotrienes due to the long time required to appreciate the clinical effects of immunotherapy. We compared the effect of montelukast (MK) and SLIT added to standard therapy in moderate asthma over 5 years.

Methods: Open randomized controlled trial.

Long-term comparison of sublingual immunotherapy vs inhaled budesonide in patients with mild persistent asthma due to grass pollen.

Background: Few studies have compared the effects of immunotherapy and inhaled steroids. The main limitation of such studies is the long duration required to fully appreciate the effects of immunotherapy.

Objective: To compare the effects of inhaled budesonide and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in mild persistent asthma for up to 5 years.

Sublingual immunotherapy for large local reactions caused by honeybee sting: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) proved effective and safe in respiratory allergy, and thus its use in hymenoptera allergy can be hypothesized.

Objective: We sought to assess, in a proof-of-concept study, whether SLIT might potentially be beneficial in hymenoptera allergy. The sting challenge in large local reactions (LLRs) was used to test this hypothesis.

Effects of sublingual immunotherapy for multiple or single allergens in polysensitized patients.

Background: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has proven efficacy in treating respiratory allergy.

Objective: To compare the clinical and functional effects and the effect on nasal eosinophils of SLIT with either single or combination allergens.

Methods: We performed an open-labeled, controlled, 4 parallel-group randomized study with 58 patients sensitized to birch and grasses only who had rhinitis and bronchial hyperreactivity in both pollen seasons.

Comparison of the medium molecular weight venom fractions from five species of common social wasps by MALDI-TOF spectra profiling.

The average spectral profiles and the exact mass weight (MW) of biomolecules present in the medium fraction (from 900 to 3000 Da) of the venom of five social wasps (three European and one North American Polistes and the European hornet Vespa crabro) were determined by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) MS. Data were obtained analyzing the venom of single specimens (N = 46) and elaborated with the ClinProTools 2.0 (CPT) software to search for differences among the five species examined.

European Polistes venom allergy.

The American Polistes species venom mixture--that of P. annularis, P. fuscatus, P.

Clinical, functional, and immunologic effects of sublingual immunotherapy in birch pollinosis: a 3-year randomized controlled study.

Background: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has been proved effective in allergic rhinitis, but there are few studies assessing its effects on inflammation and on the lower airways.

Objective: We sought to evaluate at the same time the effects of SLIT on rhinitis symptoms, nasal inflammation, and lower airways function in patients with birch pollinosis.

Methods: Adult patients with rhinitis and asthma monosensitized to birch were evaluated during a run-in pollen season and then randomized to receive openly either drugs alone or drugs plus SLIT and reevaluated in the subsequent 4 pollen seasons.

Rhinitis and asthma co-morbidity in respiratory allergy due to house dust mite: results of an observational open controlled parallel group study in real-life setting.

Background: Some aspects of allergic progression still need to be addressed. To prevent the onset of the progression is not, at present, a very realistic aim, although therapeutic instruments are available to delay and, if possible, to stop it. We attempted to clarify these points in an observational open controlled three-parallel group study in a real-life setting.

Randomized controlled open study of sublingual immunotherapy for respiratory allergy in real-life: clinical efficacy and more.

Background: Some aspects of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) still need to be addressed: magnitude of the clinical efficacy, effect on the bronchial hyperreactivity adherence to treatment, preventive effect. We attempted to clarify these points in a randomized open, controlled, two parallel group study in a real-life setting.

Methods: Five hundred and eleven patients with allergic rhinitis with or without intermittent asthma were randomized to drugs only or drugs + SLIT (rate 2 : 3) for 3 years.

Characterization of the major allergens purified from the venom of the paper wasp Polistes gallicus.

Allergic reactions to vespid stings are one of the major causes of IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. Vespa and Vespula venoms are closely related; Polistes venom is more distantly related and its allergens are less well studied. There is limited cross-reactivity between Polistes and the other vespid venoms because of differences in the epitopes on the allergen molecules.

Efficacy of sublingual specific immunotherapy in Cupressaceae allergy using an extract of Cupressus arizonica. A double blind study.

Background: non-injective routes of immunotherapy in respiratory allergy have being proposed as an alternative to conventional immunotherapy. We carried out a study to evaluate the clinical efficacy and effects sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in patient with Cupressaceae pollen respiratory allergy.

Methods: twenty patients with Cupressaceae pollen (C.