Antigen resorption from the gastrointestinal tract. A historical perspective on the pathophysiological foundation of modern sublingual/oral immunotherapy.

Resorption of small particles and proteins through the mucous membranes of the intestines has been extensively studied for well over a 100 years and the arrival of sublingual/oral immunotherapy in clinical practice has renewed interest in this process. The first line of immune response to a potential allergen is at the site of contact with a mucous membrane and both inhaled and ingested allergens usually lead to some level of direct clinically appreciable manifestation on the mucous membrane. The initial process of antigen resorption has been relatively well understood for almost one century; however, the metabolic and/or immunological fate of large particles is the subject of more recent studies.

Mucosal histamine content and histamine secretion in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and allergic enteropathy.

Histamine exhibits various biological effects in inflammatory and immunological reactions. To further define its potential role in allergic enteropathy and inflammatory bowel disease, both gut mucosal histamine levels and histamine release from endoscopic biopsy samples were measured. Tissue histamine content resulted from addition of the released amount of histamine and the remaining part of tissue histamine.

Levocabastine nasal spray better than sodium cromoglycate and placebo in the topical treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

The efficacy and safety of the nasal administration (twice in each nostril, four times a day) of levocabastine (0.5 mg/ml) were compared with those of sodium cromoglycate (20 mg/ml) and placebo in a 2-week, parallel, double-blind trial in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. At the end of treatment, 89% of patients in the levocabastine-treated group rated their treatment as globally good or excellent as compared with 32% (p = 0.

[Cefixime therapy in sinusitis].

In a clinical study, 40 patients suffering from acute, recurrent or chronic sinusitis were treated with cefixime. The duration of therapy ranged from seven to 15 days. The dosage was 200 mg bid.