Pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis): newly identified important inhalant allergens in bronchial asthma

The nonstinging house ant, Monomorium pharaonis (pharaoh ant), was recently identified as a cause of respiratory allergy. This study was performed to evaluate the extent of sensitization to pharaoh ant, and its clinical significance in asthmatic patients. We carried out skin prick tests in 318 patients with asthma. Specific IgE (sIgE) to pharaoh ant was measured by ELISA, and cross-reactivity was evaluated by ELISA inhibition tests. Bronchial provocation testing was performed using pharaoh ant extracts. Fifty-eight (18.2%) of 318 patients showed positive skin responses to pharaoh ant, and 25 (7.9%) had an isolated response to pharaoh ant. Positive skin responses to pharaoh ant were significantly higher among patients with non-atopic asthma than among those with atopic asthma (26.0% vs. 14.9%, p<0.05). There was significant correlation between sIgE level and skin responses to pharaoh ant (rho=0.552, p<0.001). The ELISA inhibition tests indicated that pharaoh ant allergens had various pattern of cross-reactivity to house dust mites and cockroaches. Bronchial provocation tests to pharaoh ant were conducted for 9 patients, and eight showed typical asthmatic reactions. In conclusion, pharaoh ant is an important source of aeroallergens, and it should be included in the skin test battery for screening the causative allergens in patients with asthma.     

Phdiatop检测在筛选变应性鼻炎中的价值

目的探讨Phadiatop检测在变应性鼻炎筛选诊断中的应用价值.方法对72例临床表现为变应性鼻炎症状及体征患者进行Phadiatop检测,同时采用5种常见过敏原作皮肤试验,并进行对比分析.结果72例中Phdiatop阳性47例(65.28%),皮肤试验阳性42例(58.33%),两者间无显著性差异(P＞0.05);Phadiatop阴性25例(34.72%),皮试阴性21例(29.17%),皮试可疑阳性9例,其中6例Phdiatop阳性.结论Phadiatop在变应性鼻炎的筛选诊断中具有重要价值.     

Insights in particulate matter‐induced allergic airway inflammation: Focus on the epithelium

Outdoor air pollution is a major environmental health problem throughout the world. In particular, exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been associated with the development and exacerbation of several respiratory diseases, including asthma. Although the adverse health effects of PM have been demonstrated for many years, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully identified. In this review, we focus on the role of the lung epithelium and specifically highlight multiple cytokines in PM‐induced respiratory responses. We describe the available literature on the topic including in vitro studies, findings in humans (ie observations in human cohorts, human controlled exposure and ex vivo studies) and in vivo animal studies. In brief, it has been shown that exposure to PM modulates the airway epithelium and promotes the production of several cytokines, including IL‐1, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐25, IL‐33, TNF‐α, TSLP and GM‐CSF. Further, we propose that PM‐induced type 2‐promoting cytokines are important mediators in the acute and aggravating effects of PM on airway inflammation. Targeting these cytokines could therefore be a new approach in the treatment of asthma.     

化妆品相关皮肤不良反应512例临床特点及致病成分分析

【摘要】 目的 分析化妆品相关皮肤不良反应的临床特点及主要致病成分，为化妆品不良反应起到预警作用并提供客观的风险评估依据。方法 收集2018年3月至2019年10月在重庆市中医院门诊就诊的512例化妆品不良反应可疑患者，男14例，女498例，通过填写统一制定的化妆品不良反应报告卡，记录患者的病史资料和所使用化妆品的相关信息；对其中103例（男3例，女100例）进行化妆品原物斑贴试验及化妆品成分斑贴试验，结合48和72 h斑贴试验结果综合判定并汇总分析。结果 512例可疑化妆品不良反应病例中，主要表现类型为接触性皮炎（495例，96.7%）。化妆品不良反应的皮损形态主要为红斑501例（97.9%）、丘疹313例（61.1%）、水肿249例（48.6%）、鳞屑166例（32.4%）；症状主要为瘙痒480例（93.8%），其次为灼热感359例（70.1%）和紧绷感297例（58.0%）。103例化妆品成分斑贴试验显示，阳性71例，最易引起化妆品不良反应的变应原分别为硫柳汞（31例，30.1%）、十二烷基硫酸钠（29例，28.2%）、秘鲁香脂（17例，16.5%）、布罗波尔（12例，11.7%）及三乙醇胺（10例，9.7%）。将化妆品变应原系列分为14个类别，阳性率前4位的类别分别为乳化剂54例（45.8%）、防腐剂47例（39.8%）、芳香剂17例（14.4%）和表面活性剂10例（8.5%）。2例男性和69例女性斑贴试验阳性，男女阳性率差异无统计学意义（2/3比69/100，χ2 = 0.01，P > 0.05）；18 ~ 29岁组、30 ~ 49岁组及50 ~ 70岁组阳性率分别是34%、34%、32.4%，各组间阳性率差异无统计学意义（χ2 = 0.693，P > 0.05）。结论 化妆品不良反应最常见的表现为接触性皮炎，致病成分具有多样性，最易引起化妆品皮肤不良反应的变应原分别为硫柳汞、十二烷基硫酸钠、秘鲁香脂、布罗波尔及三乙醇胺。     

Comparison of allergen-specific IgE levels between Immulite 2000 and ImmunoCAP systems against six inhalant allergens and ten food allergens

Abstract

In vitro allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) measurement has been used as an important diagnostic tool for allergic diseases. Currently, quantitative sIgE levels are detected mainly by using ImmunoCAP and Immulite 2000 assay system. These two systems have the same calibration scale at 0–100 kUA/L, but they differ in used allergens, detection methods and automation systems. We compared 1600 paired sIgE results for 204 allergic patients, including 100 paired sIgE assay results for each of 16 allergens (Alternaria alternata, birch-alder mix, cat dander, D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, dog dander, buckwheat, crab, egg white, mackerel, milk, peach, peanut, shrimp, soybean and wheat flour). Inter-method comparison was performed for qualitative data with a cutoff of 0.35 kUA/L and a detection limit of 0.1 kUA/L, semi-quantitative class results and quantitative data. In qualitative comparisons, the overall concordance rate ranged from 81.0% to 99.0% (k: 0.599–0.949) with the cutoff value of 0.35 kUA/L. It also ranged from 80.0% to 99.0% (k: 0.521–0.951) with the detection limit of 0.1 kUA/L. The class results from these two assays showed good agreements for all allergens. For quantitative sIgE results, these two assays showed moderate positive correlations for Dog dander (r?=?0.683) and Mackerel (r?=?0.573) but high to very high correlations for the other 14 allergens (r?=?0.734–0.972). Immulite 2000 and ImmunoCAP assays demonstrated good concordance and correlation for 16 common allergens, but international standards against each specific allergen for calibration and harmonization of sIgE tests are still needed.     

Role of Animal Danders as Inhalant Allergens in Bronchial Asthma in India

The etiological significance of animal danders in Indian patients with nasobronchial disorders has not yet been investigated. In the present study, the role of animal danders in the etiology of bronchial asthma was studied. Extracts of danders from 6 animals along with guinea pig whole pelt were prepared. Intradermal and bronchial provocation tests with these extracts were performed on (i) 68 asthmatics and (ii) 20 nonallergic healthy volunteers. In patients, significant positive skin reactions (2+ to 4+) ranged from 1.4% each with guinea pig whole pelt and ox dander to 8.8% with dog dander extracts. None of the healthy volunteers elicited such a response. On bronchial provocation, 20% and 53.8% of the tests were positive in asthmatics showing 1 +and 2+skin reactivity, respectively. All the patients as well as controls eliciting negative intradermal responses demonstrated uniformly negative bronchial provocation tests to different dander extracts. Analysis of various clinical features of asthmatics with respect to skin positivity to dander/pelt extract was also carried out. Radioallergosorbent tests (RASTs) were performed to estimate dander-specific IgE levels in the sera of patients showing different grades of skin response to dander extracts of dog, horse, and goat. Sixty percent of sera from the patients showing 2+ to 4+ skin reactivity to various animal dander extracts showed positive RASTs. RAST positivity as well as RAST ratio increased with increase in the intensity of skin response. All the patients with positive cutaneous as well as positive bronchial responses also showed positive RASTs. Similarly, all the patients with positive skin and positive RASTs showed positive bronchoprovocation tests. These results suggested that animal danders play an important role in the etiology of bronchial asthma. Some of the clinical characteristics of asthmatics, such as (i) early age at onset of asthma, (ii) positive family history, and (iii) asthma with associated allergies, have significant bearing on the cutaneous response to various dander extracts.     

Identification of the major allergenic proteins from silkworm moth (Bombyx mori) involved in respiratory allergic diseases

Introduction and ObjectivesMoths are a significant source of indoor and outdoor aeroallergens. High prevalence of IgE-mediated sensitization was demonstrated in a group of patients with allergic respiratory diseases. There are no studies on adult stage of these moth species allergens involved in allergic respiratory reactions - the aim of this study.Material and Methods36 participants were included in an experimental study, submitted to skin prick test with Bombyx mori wing extract and six other common allergens, as well as Western blot analysis with incubated nitrocellulose membrane impregnated with silkworm moth extract and human IgE-antibody. The participants were divided into 3 groups: 1) 21 allergic patients whose skin prick test was positive to Bombyx mori wing extract, 2) eight allergic patients whose skin prick test was positive to mite and negative to Bombyx mori extract 3) seven negative non-allergic subjects.ResultsAmong the 21 participants from group 1, 19 serum samples reacted to Bombyx mori extract by Western blot. All of them reacted to a protein at 80 kDa and five other proteins (66, 50, 45, 37 and 30 kDa) were identified in more than 50% of the individuals tested, considered as major allergenic proteins. Sera from seven out of eight patients sensitized to house dust mite demonstrated IgE-reactivity to Bombyx mori extract by Western blot analysis. Serum samples from healthy participants did not react at all.ConclusionSix major reactive proteins by immunoblot analysis from moth’s wings sensitized patients can be potential allergens. The one at 80 kDa is the major protein, seen in all IgE-reactive patients from group 1 and in none from group 2, yet to be identified. Future studies should be conducted to better characterize these proteins.     

支气管激发试验阳性患者变应原皮试的临床探讨

目的了解支气管激发试验阳性患者对14种吸入变应原（过敏原）过敏的分布状况和相关性。方法选取366例支气管激发试验阳性患者进行变应原皮试。结果366例患者中297例对14种变应原试验阳性,总阳性率为81．1％;过敏原以屋尘、粉尘螨、多价昆虫、春季花粉I等为主;其中对6种及6种以上变应原过敏的患者占35．7％。皮试阳性组患者与皮试阴性组患者吸人使第一秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）下降20％的乙酰甲胆碱累积剂量（PD20FEV,）差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论支气管激发试验阳性患者最常见的过敏原为屋尘、粉尘螨、多价昆虫、春季花粉I等;PD20FEV。与变应原皮试检出阳性率可能存在相关性。     

Evaluation of the frequency of food allergens based on skin prick test in children in Kurdistan Province – Iran

Introduction

Food allergy refers to abnormal reactions of the body caused by an immune system response to food. This study was conducted aiming to investigate allergy to food allergens in children with food allergies.

抗组胺药在变应性鼻炎中的作用机制及应用进展

变应性鼻炎（AR）是一种鼻黏膜的慢性非感染性炎症,主要是由机体接触致敏变应原后诱发的由特异性免疫球蛋白E（IgE）介导的、多种炎性细胞（如肥大细胞、嗜碱性粒细胞等）参与的鼻黏膜的高敏反应。组胺在AR发病中发挥重要作用,是引起鼻痒、喷嚏、流涕等临床症状的核心介质。抗组胺药物通常通过拮抗组胺相关受体来阻断组胺与受体结合,从而影响变态反应发生的过程。因此,抗组胺药在AR治疗中的应用也越来越重要而广泛。本文主要就抗组胺药在AR中的作用机制及治疗进展作一综述,探讨其在AR的应用价值。