Revised guidance on the risk assessment of plant protection products on bees (, spp. and solitary bees).

The European Commission asked EFSA to revise the risk assessment for honey bees, bumble bees and solitary bees. This guidance document describes how to perform risk assessment for bees from plant protection products, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 1107/2009. It is a review of EFSA's existing guidance document, which was published in 2013.

Evaluation of the automated LIAISON SARS-CoV-2 TrimericS IgG assay for the detection of circulating antibodies.

Objectives: COVID-19 has brought about tests from many manufacturers. While molecular and rapid antigen tests are targeted for early diagnosis, immunoassays have a larger role in epidemiological studies, understanding longitudinal immunity, and in vaccine development and response.

Methods: The performance of the LIAISON SARS-CoV-2 TrimericS IgG assay was evaluated against the Beckman ACCESS SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay in New Mexico, and against the Siemens ADVIA Centaur COV2G assay in New York.

Overview of the testing and assessment of effects of microbial pesticides on bees: strengths, challenges and perspectives.

Currently, there is a growing interest in developing biopesticides and increasing their share in the plant protection market as sustainable tools in integrated pest management (IPM). Therefore, it is important that regulatory requirements are consistent and thorough in consideration of biopesticides' unique properties. While microbial pesticides generally have a lower risk profile, they present special challenges in non-target organism testing and risk assessment since, in contrast to chemical pesticides, their modes of action include infectivity and pathogenicity rather than toxicity alone.

Defining challenge-proven coexistent nut and sesame seed allergy: A prospective multicenter European study.

Background: Peanut, tree nut, and sesame allergies are responsible for most life-threatening food-induced allergic reactions. Rates of coexistent allergy between these foods have been from mostly retrospective studies that include only a limited number of tree nuts or were not based on oral food challenges.

Objective: The Pronuts study is a multicenter European study (London, Geneva, and Valencia) assessing the challenge-proven rate of coexistent peanut, tree nut, and/or sesame seed allergy.

Oral Immunotherapy With Partially Hydrolyzed Wheat-Based Cereals: A Pilot Study.

To date, only few studies have assessed oral immunotherapy (OIT) for wheat allergy and often describe severe adverse reactions during therapy. We developed partially hydrolyzed wheat-based cereals (pHC), which were used in a multicenter, open-label, OIT pilot study, in immunoglobulin E-mediated wheat allergy children (NCT01332084). The primary objective of the study was to test whether wheat allergic patients tolerate pHC and primary end point was the presence or not of immediate adverse reactions to pHC during the 1-day initial escalation phase (stepwise increased doses of pHC), with evaluation of the maximum dose tolerated.

IL-17 receptor A and adenosine deaminase 2 deficiency in siblings with recurrent infections and chronic inflammation.

Background: Data on patients affected by chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis underscore the preponderant role of IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) in preserving mucocutaneous immunity. Little is known about the role of adenosine deaminase (ADA) 2 in regulation of immune responses, although recent reports linked ADA2 deficiency with inflammation and vasculitis.

Objective: We sought to investigate the mechanisms of chronic inflammation and vasculitis in a child lacking IL-17RA and ADA2 to identify therapeutic targets.

Comparison of two oral probiotic preparations in a randomized crossover trial highlights a potentially beneficial effect of Lactobacillus paracasei NCC2461 in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Background: There is promising but conflicting evidence to recommend the addition of probiotics to foods for prevention and treatment of allergy. Based on previous studies with fermented milk containing Lactobacillus paracasei NCC2461, we aimed to compare the effect of a powder form of the latter probiotic with the effect of a blend of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC SD5221 and Bifidobacterium lactis ATCC SD5219 in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Methods: A double-blind, randomized, cross-over study, involving 31 adults with allergic rhinitis to grass pollen, was performed outside the grass pollen season (registration number: NCT01233154).

Novel birch pollen specific immunotherapy formulation based on contiguous overlapping peptides.

Background: Synthetic contiguous overlapping peptides (COPs) may represent an alternative to allergen extracts or recombinant allergens for allergen specific immunotherapy. In combination, COPs encompass the entire allergen sequence, providing all potential T cell epitopes, while preventing IgE conformational epitopes of the native allergen.

Methods: Individual COPs were derived from the sequence of Bet v 1, the major allergen of birch pollen, and its known crystal structure, and designed to avoid IgE binding.

Predicting positive food challenges in children sensitised to peanuts/tree nuts.

Background: Children with atopic diseases in early life are frequently found with positive IgE tests to peanuts/tree nuts without a history of previous ingestion. We aimed to identify risk factors for reactions to nuts at first introduction.

Methods: A retrospective case-note and database analysis was performed.

Paediatric oral peanut challenges: a comparison of practice in London and western Switzerland.

Background: There are guidelines on how to develop a food challenge protocol, but at present there is no gold standard guidance on method, and separate units produce differing protocols.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 200 patients' data from the paediatric allergy units in Lausanne and Geneva, Western Switzerland, and St Thomas' Hospital (STH), UK.

Results: St Thomas' Hospital has a younger cohort with a lower overall mean spIgE (2.

Parent perceived quality of life is age-dependent in children with food allergy.

Background: Food allergy in children significantly affects their quality of life. Its impact can be analyzed by quality of life questionnaires.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to validate the French version of disease-specific questionnaires and to evaluate the quality of life in children with IgE-mediated food allergy.

[Food allergy in children: anything new in its management?].

The prevalence of food allergy in children is increasing, in particular in its most severe presentation, i.e. anaphylaxis.

Toward protein biomarkers for allergy: CD4+ T cell proteomics in allergic and nonallergic subjects sampled in and out of pollen season.

Allergy is an immunological disorder of the upper airways, lung, skin, and the gut with a growing prevalence over the last decades in Western countries. Atopy, the genetic predisposition for allergy, is strongly dependent on familial inheritance and environmental factors. These observations call for predictive markers of progression from atopy to allergy, a prerequisite to any active intervention in neonates and children (prophylactic interventions/primary prevention) or in adults (immunomodulatory interventions/secondary prevention).

Effect of Lactobacillus paracasei ST11 on a nasal provocation test with grass pollen in allergic rhinitis.

Background: Probiotics have been associated with prevention and improvement of symptoms in atopic diseases such as atopic dermatitis. However, few studies exist that document their efficacy for upper airways allergies such as allergic rhinitis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of short-term oral administration of Lactobacillus paracasei ST11 on a nasal provocation test (NPT) with grass pollen.

Measurement of sVEGF R1 and PlGF in serum: comparing prototype assays from Beckman Coulter, Inc. to R&D Systems microplate assays.

Objective: To compare the performance of prototype Access® sVEGF R1 and PlGF automated immunoassays from Beckman Coulter to the Quantikine® microplate ELISA assays by R&D Systems.

Methods: Samples obtained from pregnant women, non-pregnant women and men were assayed according to manufacturers' instructions.

Results: Compared to the Quantikine assays, the Access assays demonstrated improved precision, increased sensitivity, broader dynamic ranges, and reduced analysis time.

[Rare food allergies].

A limited number of foods explain the majority of food allergies. These allergies can be due to a weak allergenicity (garlic, onion, potato), or a weak (or increasing) exposure to emergent food allergens which can be imported (exotic fruits), or recently introduced (lupin, buckwheat, sesame, inulin) or modified by the industry (lysats, lecithins, traces of antibiotics, caseinates, molds, dust mite). Others are in relation with rarer cross-reactivity food allergy syndrome (Apiaceae-Compositae-mugwort syndrome, egg-bird syndrome, cat epithelium-pork meat syndrome).

Lupine-induced anaphylaxis in a child without known food allergy.

Background: Lupine allergy is caused by ingestion of the flour of a plant called Lupinus albus, a member of the Leguminosae family. Lupine allergy has been described in adult patients previously known to have peanut allergy (cross-reactivity).

Objective: To describe the first case of an anaphylactic reaction caused by ingestion of lupine flour in a pediatric patient without a known peanut allergy.

[Modern nutrition and development of new allergies].

The prevalence of food allergy varies between 1 and 8% and depends on age, countries, symptoms and allergens. Main food allergens remain peanut, nuts, egg, cow milk, wheat, soybeans and fish. However, novel food industrial processes have induced new food allergies.

Allergy to betalactam antibiotics in children: a prospective follow-up study in retreated children after negative responses in skin and challenge tests.

Background: Up to 10% of the patients in whom suspected betalactam hypersensitivity (HS) has been excluded by skin and challenge tests report suspected allergic reactions during subsequent treatments with the same or very similar betalactams. It has been suggested that the reactions may result from a resensitization induced by the challenge performed at the time of the allergological work-up. However, most patients did not undergo a second allergological work-up, to determine if the reactions resulted from betalactam HS or not.

Post-Amadori AGE inhibition as a therapeutic target for diabetic complications: a rational approach to second-generation Amadorin design.

Aminoguanidine and pyridoxamine (Pyridorintrade mark), two major inhibitors of advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation, have entered clinical trials for diabetic nephropathy. They share no structural similarity and are believed to inhibit AGE formation by entirely different mechanisms. Pyridoxamine is a post-Amadori AGE inhibitor-that is, an "Amadorin"-whereas aminoguanidine primarily scavenges reactive dicarbonyl precursors to AGEs.

Role of CAPS in dense-core vesicle exocytosis.

Calcium-dependent activator protein for secretion (CAPS) was initially identified in brain cytosol based on its ability to reconstitute calcium-triggered dense-core vesicle (DCV) exocytosis in permeable cell lines (PC12) of adrenal chromaffin origin. Current evidence indicates that CAPS functions selectively in DCV exocytosis by interacting with DCVs, the plasma membrane, and protein components of the fusion machinery. To further delineate the role of CAPS in endocrine and neural secretion, the tissue distribution of CAPS was determined.

[Acute respiratory distress syndrome in children].

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) encountered in a child may be either due to a primary lung infection or may be secondary to a systemic inflammatory response of varying origin. Therapy is based on: 1) the mechanical ventilation strategy aimed at maintaining the functional residual capacity by alveolar recruitment using positive end expiratory pressure and to limit secondary pulmonary lesions by using small tidal volumes, 2) prone positioning as soon as sufficient stability is achieved; 3) optimizing tissue oxygen delivery by cardiac support; 4) correction of any other organ dysfunction. If this conventional approach is not sufficient experimental therapies may be tempted given the vital risk.