Characterization of allergens in Apiaceae spices: anise, fennel, coriander and cumin

Background Symptoms elicited by IgEmediated food allergy range from mild local to severe systemic reactions. Allergens in spices are particularly dangerous due to their hidden presence in many dishes. Objectives and Methods According to clinical observations, mugwort and birch pollen allergy, and hypersensitivity to spices are frequently associated, but the crossreacting compounds were not defined so far. We tested sera of 15 patients who experienced adverse reactions to spiced food and characterized their IgE-binding patterns on anise, fennel, coriander and cumin extracts through immunoblot and inhibition experiments. Results The use of anti-Bet v 1 (MoAb) and anti-profilin (rabbit) antibodies revealed the presence of crossreacting allergens in the tested spice extracts. Inhibition experiments showed that IgE-binding to allergens in Apiaceae spices could be blocked by preincubation of sera with rBet v I or rBet v 2 (birch profilin). Moreover, we detected crossreacting allergenic molecules in the molecular weight range of 60kDa. IgE-binding to spice allergens occurred only with sera of 10/15 (66%) patients with allergy to pollen (birch, niugwort) and/or celeriac. In five out of 15 (33%) patients with a history of adverse reaction to spices, but without pollen and celeriac allergy, no IgE-binding to any spice protein could be demonstrated. It is possible that these clinical reactions could bo elicited by other types of hypersensitivity (Type II. IIII, IV), however, as spices contain highly reactive substances, the symptoms may most likely be classified as food-intolerant. Conclusions Bet v 1- and profilin-related allergens may, besides higher molecular weight allergenic molecules, be responsible for Type I allergy to anise, fennel, coriander or cumin, members of the Apiaceae.     

Optimization of a formulation for direct compression using a simplex lattice design

In this paper it is demonstrated how the optimum composition of a mixture for direct compression consisting of -lactose monohydrate, roller-dried -lactose and microcrystalline cellulose can be found using a systematic optimization technique. The experiments were chosen according to a simplex lattice design. The results of these experiments were used to fit a mathematical model, which then can predict the properties of all possible mixture compositions and enables a graphic representation of these properties in the form of contour plots. At a level of 4% the effect of three disintegrants (sodium starch glycolate, croscarmellose sodium and crospovidone) on the properties of the tablets compressed from these filler-binders, was evaluated by superimposing the contour plots of the different tablet responses. It was found that all the disintegrants used were effective in this combination of filler-binders. In order to evaluate drug dissolution rate an extra experiment with crospovidone as the disintegrant was performed, in which oxazepam was used as a test drug.     

Milk and Dairy Products: Good or Bad for Human Bone? Practical Dietary Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects women twice as often as men. Additionally, it is estimated that 0.3 million and 1.7 million people have hip fractures in the USA and Europe, respectively. Having a proper peak bone mass and keeping it as long as possible is especially important for osteoporosis prevention. One of the most important calcium sources is milk and dairy products. Breast milk is the best infant food, but milk should not be avoided later in life to prevent losing bone mass. On the other hand, more and more people limit their milk consumption and consume other dairy or non-dairy products. For example, they are usually replaced with plant beverages, which should be consumed carefully in several age groups. Additionally, an important element of milk and dairy products, as well as plant beverages, are probiotics and prebiotics, which may modulate bone turnover. Dietary recommendations focused on milk, and dairy products are an important element for the prevention of osteoporosis.     

Histamine Intolerance in Children: A Narrative Review

Histamine intolerance is defined as a disequilibrium of accumulated histamine and the capacity for histamine degradation. This clinical term addresses a non-immunologically mediated pathology when histamine ingested with food is not particularly high, however its degradation is decreased. This paper aims to provide a narrative review on etiopathology, epidemiology, possible diagnostic algorithms and diagnostic challenges of histamine intolerance in children. The clinical picture of histamine intolerance in children is similar to that observed in adults apart from male predominance found in paediatric patients. Both in children and adults, a histamine-reduced diet is typically the treatment of choice. Diamine oxidase supplementation offers another treatment option. There is no symptom or test pathognomonic for histamine intolerance. Nevertheless, manifestations of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, measurements of diamine oxidase deficits, positive results of histamine provocation tests and improvement in symptoms with histamine-reduced diet considerably increase the probability of histamine intolerance diagnosis. These factors have been included in the proposed diagnostic algorithm for histamine intolerance. In children histamine intolerance most likely co-occurs with allergies and bowel diseases, which creates an additional diagnostic challenge. As the evidence for children is poor further research is needed the determine epidemiology, validate diagnostic algorithms and establish possible treatment options regarding histamine intolerance.     

瘦素受体Gln223Arg基因多态性与不同葡萄糖耐量血清瘦素的相关性研究

目的 :研究瘦素受体基因Gln2 2 3Arg等位基因与不同葡萄糖耐量中血清瘦素及其它代谢指标的关系。方法 :运用聚合酶链反应 限制性片段长度多态性 (PCR RFLP)方法测定无亲缘关系 ,不同葡萄糖耐量 198例北京地区汉族人的瘦素受体基因Gln2 2 3Arg等位基因 ,同时分析其与临床资料的相关性。结果 :不同等位基因型的瘦素水平无显著差异 ,而在葡萄糖耐量减低 (IGT)男性 ,Gln2 2 3Arg等位基因有较高的胆固醇水平 [(7 2 6±1 95 )和 (5 31± 1 31)mmol/L ,P =0 0 4]和较高的收缩压 [(18 8± 1 2 )和 (17 2± 1 6 )kPa ,P =0 0 3]。结论 :瘦素受体Gln2 2 3Arg基因多态性与不同葡萄糖耐量的血清瘦素无关 ,但与机体代谢有一定关系     

Follow up study of cow's milk protein intolerant infants

Over a period of 4 years, 88 infants with cow's milk protein intolerance (CMPI) were followed prospectively in order to evaluate the persistence of CMPI and its relationship between either serum IgE levels or RAST results for cow's milk. After exclusion of lactose intolerance, two positive cow's milk elimination challenge tests were considered diagnostic for CMPI. At the age of 1, 2, 3 and 4 years respectively, 85%, 78%, 49% and 33% of the children still were cow's milk intolerant. Initial serum values of IgE 10 kU/l indicated a late development of tolerance to cow' milk proteins. At the age of 4 years, 90% of infants with initial IgE levels <10 k U/l had become tolerant to cow's milk while this was the case for only 47% of infants with initial IgE levels 10 k U/l. Initial RAST results for cow's milk bore no obvious relationship to outcome.     

早期新生儿乳糖吸收不良与乳糖不耐受筛查及影响因素探讨

为了解乳糖吸收不良在新生儿早期的分布状况，本文采用醋酸铅半定量法测定了86例早期新生儿(足月儿74例、早产儿12例)的粪便乳糖及粪便pH值，结果提示：LM(乳糖吸收不良)在早期新生儿中发生率较高，达39．5％，而LI(乳糖不耐受)发生率为5．8％，说明大部分乳糖吸收不良的新生儿不伴有消化道症状。进一步分析，LM/LI的发生与分娩方式、围产期缺氧史、孕周、喂养史及性别均无关。本文随访了全部5例LI患儿，虽未经治疗，腹泻、腹胀症状多在2—3周内消失，最长1例症状持续至6周，生后3-4个月时复查粪便乳糖均转阴，同时生长发育良好。故新生儿早期的LM/LI系一个暂时性的缺乏，发育性的过程，考虑与肠粘膜发育不够成熟有关。     

The prevalence of lactase deficiency and lactose intolerance in Chinese children of different ages

Objective To determine lactose metabolism and lactase activity in Chinese children of diff erent ages, prevalence of lactase deficiency (LD), and lactose intoleran ce (LI).
Methods All 1168 healthy subjects between 3 and 13 years were recruited from schools in four large cities in China. They were screened by a 25 g lactose tolerance tes t. Some subjects were challenged with 50 g milk powder on different days. Bot h indicators, the expiratory H₂ concentration and intolerance symptoms, were a nalyzed.
Results LD occurred in 38.5% of children in the 3-5 year age group, and 87% of the 7-8 year and 11-13 year old groups. The age of occurrence for LD may be at 7-8 years among Chinese children. The prevalence of LI among Chinese children w as 12.2% at age 3-5 years, 33.1% at age 7-8 years, and 30.5% at age 11-13 yea rs, respectively.
Conclusion The results demonstrate that LD is very common in Chinese children from these fo ur cities. LD and LI have a dose dependent response: lactose absorption and sym ptoms are based on lactase activity. The relationship between breast feeding hi story (or the history of cow milk intake) and lactase activity among Chinese chi ldren has not been established.