Evolution in the understanding of cross-reactivities of respiratory allergens: the role of recombinant allergens

The aim of this review is to show the impact of the use of purified and recombinant allergens to discriminate between co- and cross-sensitization to respiratory allergens. The author describes the evolution of diagnostic tests over the last decades; the tests initially allowed the detection of simultaneously positive cutaneous tests and/or simultaneous positivity of specific IgE to different allergen extracts, but they did not differentiate cross-sensitization from co-sensitization. RAST inhibition studies with crude extracts then established cross-reactivity, but did not identify the cross-reactive allergens involved. Later, immunoblot and CRIE inhibition were able to detect multiple cross-reactive allergens and to assess their physicochemical properties. But it is only since purified and recombinant allergens have been used in the different investigations that identification of cross-reactive allergens has been made possible at a molecular level. This historical approach is illustrated by examples selected from some of the main respiratory allergen sources: tree pollen, grass pollen, weed pollen, acarids, cockroaches and mammalians. For each of these allergen sources, the author gives an updated presentation of major and minor cross-reactive allergen molecules and refers to the last decade's major publications concerning immunochemical investigations carried out in the field of cross-reactive respiratory allergens. Emphasis is placed on the clinical applications for allergic patients: improvement in the accuracy of the diagnosis of sensitization, new concepts of immunotherapy based on genetically engineered hypoallergenic variants of cross-reactive allergens used alone or in combination, evaluation of allergen load with environmental tests using monoclonal antibodies against cross-reactive allergens.     

Inflammation and immunosuppression in severe acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis(AP) is a common disease,which usually exists in its mild form.However,in a fifth of cases,the disease is severe,with local pancreatic complications or systemic organ dysfunction or both.Because the development of organ failure is the major cause of death in AP,early identification of patients likely to develop organ failure is important.AP is initiated by intracellular activation of pancreatic proenzymes and autodigestion of the pancreas.Destruction of the pancreatic parenchyma first indu...     

A similar high level of immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G class milk antibodies and increment of local lymphoid tissue on the duodenal mucosa in subjects with cow's milk allergy and recurrent abdominal pains

In previous studies, we have reported endoscopic and histological alterations locally on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract associated with a gastrointestinal type of cow's milk allergy. In this study, we sought to further characterize endoscopic, and immunological findings in these children. We also hypothesized that the same type of immune responses might also be found in children with unexplained and recurrent abdominal pains. We did a gastroduodenoscopy for persistent GI symptoms, examined the mucosal histology of the small intestine and measured the antibodies to whole cow's milk and its fractions with an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a consecutive series of 22 subjects with untreated and 14 with treated cow's milk allergy (CMA) and 44 with recurrent abdominal pains (RAP). The immunological findings of the study subjects were compared with 54 controls. Lymphonodular hyperplasia (LNH) of the duodenum was the main endoscopic finding in 11 subjects (50%) with untreated and 5 (36%) with treated CMA. It was also found in 6 of 44 subjects with RAP. Compared with the controls, the patients with CMA showed significantly higher levels of IgA class antibodies to whole milk (p = 0.003) and βLG (p < 0.0001). Of the IgG class antibodies to βLG (p = 0.032), BSA (p < 0.0001) and αCAS (p < 0.0001) were significantly higher. The patients with LNH of the duodenal bulb as the main endoscopic finding showed significantly higher values of IgG class antibodies to βLG (p = 0.01) and αCAS (p = 0.005). Interestingly, the patients examined for RAP showed a similar increment in the pattern of whole milk and specific milk protein antibodies as the CMA children. In conclusion this study showed that gastrointestinal CMA beyond infancy is significantly associated with high levels of IgG and IgA class antibodies to milk and its fractions. As high levels of these antibodies and LNH of the duodenal bulb were also found in subjects with RAP, the study further suggests that gastrointestinal CMA might be one major reason for RAP.     

Modulation of facial reactions to avatar emotional faces by nonconscious competition priming

To investigate whether subliminally priming for competition influences facial reactions to facial emotional displays, 49 participants were either subliminally competition primed or neutrally primed. Thereafter, they viewed computer generated avatar faces with happy, neutral, and sad expressions while Corrugator supercilii and Zygomaticus major reactions were recorded. Results revealed facial mimicry to happy and sad faces in the neutrally primed group but not the competition primed group. Furthermore, subliminal competition priming enhanced Corrugator supercilii activity after an initial relaxation while viewing happy faces. An impression formation task revealed counter empathic effects confirming successful competition priming. Overall, results indicate that nonconscious processes influence a presumably nonconscious behavior.     

Acute exercise modulates the Foxo1/PGC-1α pathway in the liver of diet-induced obesity rats

PGC-1α expression is a tissue-specific regulatory feature that is extremely relevant to diabetes. Several studies have shown that PGC-1α activity is atypically activated in the liver of diabetic rodents and contributes to hepatic glucose production. PGC-1α and Foxo1 can physically interact with one another and represent an important signal transduction pathway that governs the synthesis of glucose in the liver. However, the effect of physical activity on PGC-1α/Foxo1 association is unknown. Here we investigate the expression of PGC-1α and the association of PGC-1α/Foxo1 in the liver of diet-induced obese rats after acute exercise. Wistar rats swam for two 3 h-long bouts, separated by a 45 min rest period. Eight hours after the acute exercise protocol, the rats were submitted to an insulin tolerance test (ITT) and biochemical and molecular analysis. Results demonstrate that acute exercise improved insulin signalling, increasing insulin-stimulated Akt and Foxo1 phosphorylation and decreasing PGC-1α expression and PGC-1α/Foxo1 interaction in the liver of diet-induced obesity rats under fasting conditions. These phenomena are accompanied by a reduction in the expression of gluconeogenesis genes, such as phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphate (G6Pase). Thus, these results provide new insights into the mechanism by which exercise could improve fasting hyperglycaemia.     

Developmental aspects of fear: Comparing the acquisition and generalization of conditioned fear in children and adults

Most research on human fear conditioning and its generalization has focused on adults whereas only little is known about these processes in children. Direct comparisons between child and adult populations are needed to determine developmental risk markers of fear and anxiety. We compared 267 children and 285 adults in a differential fear conditioning paradigm and generalization test. Skin conductance responses (SCR) and ratings of valence and arousal were obtained to indicate fear learning. Both groups displayed robust and similar differential conditioning on subjective and physiological levels. However, children showed heightened fear generalization compared to adults as indexed by higher arousal ratings and SCR to the generalization stimuli. Results indicate overgeneralization of conditioned fear as a developmental correlate of fear learning. The developmental change from a shallow to a steeper generalization gradient is likely related to the maturation of brain structures that modulate efficient discrimination between danger and (ambiguous) safety cues. © 2016 The Authors. Developmental Psychobiology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 58: 471–481, 2016.     

Factor Structure of the Urdu Version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale in Pakistan

Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) is one of the most commonly used self-report questionnaires to measure symptoms of anxiety disorders in adolescents. Despite its common use, studies that examine the psychometric properties of SCAS in Pakistan is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Urdu translated version of the SCAS among adolescents in Pakistan. A total of 1277 students (708 boys and 569 girls), aged 13 to17 years, who had been recruited from 13 schools in Rawalpindi, Pakistan participated in the study. The mean overall anxiety score was significantly higher in girls than males on all the SCAS subscales except for obsessive compulsive disorder. The internal consistency of the Urdu SCAS was good. Confirmatory factor analyses supported six separate factor structures. Results of the study are discussed with reference to the sociocultural milieu of Pakistan and culture sensitive conceptualization of anxiety and its subtypes.     

Association between bone mineral density and lumbar disc degeneration

Objectives

Higher vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) has been found to be related with lumbar disc degeneration (LDD), while relationship between femoral neck BMD and LDD remains controversial. The aim of our research was to study the relationship between LDD and BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck.

Study design

The study population consisted of 168 postmenopausal women (aged 63.3–75.0 years, mean 68.6 years) from the prospective OSTPRE and OSTPRE-FPS study cohorts. The severity of LDD was graded from T2-weighted MRI images using the five-grade Pfirrmann classification. Four vertebral levels (L1-L4) were studied (total 672 discs). The association between lumbar BMD and Z-score and the severity of LDD was studied separately for each vertebral level with AN(C)OVA analysis, using potential confounders as covariates.

Results

Higher lumbar BMD and Z-score were associated with more severe LDD at all studied levels (L1-L4): between L4-L5 disc and L4 BMD (p = 0.044) and L4 Z-score (p = 0.052), between L2-L3 disc and L3 BMD (p = 0.001) and at all other levels (p < 0.001). The mean degeneration grade of the studied discs was associated with the mean L1-L4 BMD and Z-score (p < 0.001). Statistical significance of any result did not alter after controlling for confounding factors. There was no significant association between femoral neck BMD and LDD.

Conclusions

Higher lumbar BMD/Z-score were associated with more severe LDD. There was no significant association between femoral neck BMD and disc degeneration. Femoral neck BMD may be a more reliable measurement for diagnosing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with degenerative changes in the lumbar spine.