Ozone affects pollen viability and NAD(P)H oxidase release from Ambrosia artemisiifolia pollen.

Air pollution is frequently proposed as a cause of the increased incidence of allergy in industrialised countries. We investigated the impact of ozone (O(3)) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and allergen content of ragweed pollen (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Pollen was exposed to acute O(3) fumigation, with analysis of pollen viability, ROS and nitric oxide (NO) content, activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD[P]H) oxidase, and expression of major allergens.

Is sensitization to furry animals an independent allergic phenotype in nonoccupationally exposed individuals?

Background: Patients sensitized to common pets (cat, dog) frequently display an immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated response to allergens from other animals.

Objective: To evaluate whether individuals sensitized to common pets might be at higher risk of developing allergic sensitization to other mammalian allergens.

Methods: The study population comprised 900 consecutive patients (300 individuals sensitized to different allergens including those of cat and dog [group AL, 300 sensitized to allergens other than those derived from cat and dog [group B], and 300 nonsensitized individuals [group C, controls]).

Sensitization to horse allergens in Italy: a multicentre study in urban atopic subjects without occupational exposure.

Background: Horses play a significant role in people's leisure time in Italy and other countries, but few data are available on IgE-mediated sensitization to horse allergens in patients without occupational exposure. We assessed, in a multicentric survey, the prevalence of horse sensitization in atopic subjects and its clinical characteristics.

Methods: Allergists from the whole Italian territory were required to collect the results of skin prick tests from at least 100 consecutive subjects.

Effects of climatic changes and urban air pollution on the rising trends of respiratory allergy and asthma.

Over the past two decades there has been increasing interest in studies regarding effects on human health of climate changes and urban air pollution. Climate change induced by anthropogenic warming of the earth's atmosphere is a daunting problem and there are several observations about the role of urbanization, with its high levels of vehicle emissions and other pollutants, and westernized lifestyle with respect to the rising frequency of respiratory allergic diseases observed in most industrialized countries.There is also evidence that asthmatic subjects are at increased risk of developing exacerbations of bronchial obstruction with exposure to gaseous (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide) and particulate inhalable components of air pollution.

The risk of bronchospasm in asthmatics undergoing general anaesthesia and/or intravascular administration of radiographic contrast media. physiopatology and clinical/functional evaluation.

It is well known that patients suffering from bronchial asthma undergoing to surgical procedures requiring general anaesthesia (GA) or the administration of water soluble radiographic contrast media (RCM) experience a risk of potentially severe bronchospasm. Nevertheless, little attention has been devoted on the possible preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of this potentially life-threatening event. It has been shown that the most important risk factor for bronchospasm during GA induction and/or the use of RCM is represented by a high degree of bronchial hyperreactivity with airway instability not adequately controlled by long-term anti-inflammatory treatment.

Phase II study of sunitinib malate, a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor in patients with relapsed or refractory soft tissue sarcomas. Focus on three prevalent histologies: leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) represent a diverse group of histologic subtypes with targetable molecular alterations, often treated as a single disease. Sunitinib malate is a multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor active in other solid tumors carrying similar alterations (i.e.

Treating moderate-to-severe allergic asthma with anti-IgE monoclonal antibody (omalizumab). An update.

Increased asthma severity is not only associated with enhanced recurrent hospitalisation and mortality but also with higher social costs. Most cases of asthma are atopic in nature, with the trigger for acute asthma attacks and chronic worsening of inflammation being allergens inducing an immune response through immunoglobulins of IgE class. Currently antiinflammatory treatments are effective for most of asthma patients, but there are subjects whose disease is incompletely controlled by inhaled or systemic corticosteroids and these patients account for about 50% of the healthcare costs of asthma.

Respiratory allergy induced by exclusive polysensitization to serum albumins of furry animals.

In this report we describe un unusual case of exclusive allergic sensitization to furry animals, as a possible study model to speculate about different modalities ofsensitization to allergens of common and less common mammalian species. A 27-year-old woman referred in our Allergological Centre for the occurrence of conjunctival and severe respiratory symptoms after contact with several animals such as cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, cows etc. Patient underwent clinical and anamnestic evaluation including a detailed information on the modality of exposure to different furry animals.

Projections of the effects of climate change on allergic asthma: the contribution of aerobiology.

Climate change is unequivocal and represents a possible threat for patients affected by allergic conditions. It has already had an impact on living organisms, including plants and fungi with current scenarios projecting further effects by the end of the century. Over the last three decades, studies have shown changes in production, dispersion and allergen content of pollen and spores, which may be region- and species-specific.

Short-term effects of airborne pollens on asthma attacks as seen by general practitioners in the Greater Paris area, 2003-2007.

Aims: To investigate for the first time the short-term effects of airborne pollen counts on general practitioner (GP) consultations for asthma attacks in the Greater Paris area between 2003-2007.

Methods: Counts were available for common pollens (Betula, Cupressa, Fraxinus and Poaceae). Weekly data on GP visits for asthma attacks were obtained from the French GP Sentinel Network.

Urban air pollution and climate change as environmental risk factors of respiratory allergy: an update.

The incidence of allergic respiratory diseases and bronchial asthma appears to be increasing worldwide, and people living in urban areas more frequently experience these conditions than those living in rural areas. One of the several causes of the rise in morbidity associated with allergic respiratory diseases is the increased presence of outdoor air pollutants resulting from more intense energy consumption and exhaust emissions from cars and other vehicles. Urban air pollution is now a serious public health hazard.

Control of asthma for reducing the risk of bronchospasm in asthmatics undergoing general anesthesia and/or intravascular administration of radiographic contrast media.

Background: It is well known that patients suffering from bronchial asthma undergoing surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia (GA) or the administration of water soluble radiographic contrast media (RCM) have an increased risk of potentially severe bronchospasm. Nevertheless, little attention has been devoted to the possible preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of this potentially life-threatening event. It has been shown that the most important risk factor for bronchospasm during GA induction and/or the use of RCM is represented by a high degree of bronchial hyperreactivity with airway instability not adequately controlled by long-term anti-inflammatory treatment.

Sunitinib treatment in pediatric patients with advanced GIST following failure of imatinib.

Background: Sunitinib inhibits KIT and other members of the split-kinase-domain family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Sunitinib prolongs survival in adult patients with imatinib-resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). We report the experience with sunitinib in pediatric patients with advanced GIST following failure of imatinib.

Horse allergens: An underestimated risk for allergic sensitization in an urban atopic population without occupational exposure.

Background: Data on allergic sensitization to horse allergen in modern urban areas are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of allergic sensitization and the modality of exposure to horse allergens in atopic patients living in an urban area and without occupational exposure to horse and/or horse-derived materials.

Methods: From among 1822 consecutive outpatients, we selected all subjects who had an immediate skin reaction to horse dander.

Sharing knowledge is the key to success in a patient-physician relationship: how to produce a patient information leaflet on COPD.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its prevalence is rising. In Italy, respiratory diseases are the third most common cause of death. The aim of the study is to produce a patient information leaflet (PIL) designed to educate patients about COPD in accordance with the best recommendations based on evidence and guidelines for the production of good quality written information, and to evaluate the impact of this intervention on the patients' knowledge of COPD.

Severe respiratory syndrome induced by allergic mono-sensitization to European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) in a older woman.

Although the increase in the rate of hamster ownership, no report of allergic sensitization to common hamster (Cricetus cricetus)-derived allergens as a consequence of domestic exposure has been published in Italy. A 64-year-old woman was referred to our Allergy Centre for the recent onset of conjunctival and severe respiratory symptoms (rhinitis, cough, wheezing and dyspnea). About three months ago she had purchased a common hamster as home pet.

Effects of climate change on environmental factors in respiratory allergic diseases.

A body of evidence suggests that major changes involving the atmosphere and the climate, including global warming induced by human activity, have an impact on the biosphere and the human environment. Studies on the effects of climate change on respiratory allergy are still lacking and current knowledge is provided by epidemiological and experimental studies on the relationship between asthma and environmental factors, such as meteorological variables, airborne allergens and air pollution. However, there is also considerable evidence that subjects affected by asthma are at an increased risk of developing obstructive airway exacerbations with exposure to gaseous and particulate components of air pollution.

TMJ metastasis: a unusual case report.

The metastases to the TMJ from a primary lung tumour is a very rare occurrence. This case is unusual in several aspects, as the non-reducible dislocation of the TMJ was the first clinical manifestation of the tumour. CT staging showed that this secondary tumour in the condyle was the only bone metastasis.

A review of anti-IgE monoclonal antibody (omalizumab) as add on therapy for severe allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma.

Bronchial asthma is recognized as a highly prevalent health problem in the developed and developing world with significant social and economic consequences. Increased asthma severity is not only associated with enhanced recurrent hospitalization and mortality but also with higher social costs. The pathogenetic background of allergic-atopic bronchial asthma is characterized by airway inflammation with infiltration of several cells (mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and T-helper (Th)2 lymphocytes).