Tomato allergy in children and young adults: cross-reactivity with latex and potato

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that allergy to natural rubber latex is associated with cross-reactivity to certain foods such as tomato and potato. The objective was to investigate the clinical and immunologic differences between a group of patients with clinical allergy to tomato and latex and another which had only clinical allergy to tomato. We also aimed to assess, in vitro, the relationship of tomato and latex allergens, which could explain the cross-reactivity. METHODS: Forty patients with histories of adverse reactions to tomato and IgE-mediated hypersensitivity were enrolled in the study. Tomato, latex, and potato components were analyzed by SDS-PAGE immunoblotting. CAP and immunoblot inhibition were used to study allergen cross-reactivity. RESULTS: Patients from group A had a mean age of 13.2 years, and in group B the mean age was 21.7 years. In group B, 9/10 patients belonged to the latex-fruits syndrome. All patients of both groups tolerated potato. Immunoblotting patterns obtained with patients' sera from pool A showed IgE-binding bands to tomato ranging from 44 to 46 kDa and a triple band at 67 kDa. For latex, there was a strong binding at 44 kDa, and potato showed a strong band of 44 kDa and a 67-kDa triple band. In pool B, the binding to the band of 44 kDa in latex and tomato was more intense than in pool A. In pool A, immunoblot inhibition with potato allergen showed an intense inhibition of the three allergens (potato, latex, and tomato); with latex, inhibition was partial and with tomato, a complete inhibition of tomato and latex was observed, and a partial inhibition of potato. In pool B, the inhibition pattern followed a similar tendency to pool A. The CAP inhibition confirmed the high rate of cross-reactivity between tomato, potato, and latex. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, tomato, potato, and latex showed a common band of 44-46 kDa probably corresponding to patatin. This protein could be implicated in the high cross-reactivity between tomato, latex, and potato observed in the immunoblot and CAP inhibition.     

Effect of water suspended particles on the recovery of Cryptosporidium parvum from tomato surfaces

An increase in the number of outbreaks of foodborne disease associated with fresh produce consumption has been described. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of water suspended particles during immersing/spraying disinfection processes and the recovery of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts from tomato surfaces. Tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculetum Mill.) were immersed/sprayed with chlorinated water with low and high suspended particle content (10 and 1,000 mg/l) containing 100, 1,000 or 10,000 oocysts/l. Tomatoes were evaluated after a contact time of 120 seconds and 30 seconds for immersing and spraying procedures, respectively. The immersing procedure showed a high recovery of C. parvum oocysts from the tomato surface when the concentration was 10,000 oocysts/l and 10 mg/l suspended particles (295±94 [mean±standard deviation]). High particle content affected oocyst recovery and dissolved particles exerted a chlorine demand reducing the disinfectant residual. In the spraying procedure, the highest recovery was observed with 10,000 oocysts/l (225±72). Our understanding is that the association of C. parvum oocysts with suspended particles might promote the oocyst deposition in the wash water tanks and that this interaction should be considered when evaluating the quality of the water.     

Acceptability of Elderly Cancer Patients and Tolerance to COVID-19 Vaccination in the Brittany Region<br/>L’acceptabilité du Patient Âgé Porteur de Cancer et la Tolérance à la Vaccination Anti-COVID-19 dans la Région Bretagne

Context: Since January 2021, vaccination for COVID-19 has been made possible in France for people aged 75 and over. Patients suffering from a cancer disease are part of a group at risk to develop severe complications to COVID-19. Method: The « Unité de coordination en Onco-Gériatrie région Bretagne » (the Brittany This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Coordinating Unit in Onco-Geriatrics) has wished to set up an inquest about the acceptability and the tolerance to COVID-19 vaccination by old-aged patients suffering from cancer in the Brittany region. Results: The study has been carried out between May 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021 in 7 Breton centers. 50 patients have been included in the study with an average age of 84 (72-93). At the time of inclusion, 43 patients had already been vaccinated (80% having had 2 injections and 8% only one). Among them, 86% have declared they had had a very good tolerance to the first injection of the vaccine, and 90% to the second injection. 12% of the patients had not been vaccinated. Conclusion: Overall, in our study, old-aged patients suffering from cancer haven’t been reluctant to the antiCOVID-19 vaccination and have shown a very good tolerance to these vaccines. However, seen the profile of these patients and the period of inclusion, the number of patients showing a complete vaccinal outline should have been more consistent, indeed even total.

RÉSUMÉ
Contexte: Depuis le 25 janvier 2021, la vaccination de la COVID-19 a pu être réalisée en France auprès des personnes âgées de 75 ans et plus. Les patients souffrant d’une maladie cancéreuse font partie des groupes à risque de développer des complications sévères à la COVID-19. Méthode: L’Unité de Coordination en Onco-Gériatrie région Bretagne a souhaité mettre en place une enquête sur l’acceptabilité du patient âgé porteur de cancer et sur la tolérance à la vaccination anti-COVID 19 dans la région Bretagne. Résultats: L’étude a été réalisée entre le 1^er mai 2021 et le 31 août 2021 dans 7 centres bretons. 50 patients ont été inclus avec un âge médian de 84 ans (72–93). 43 patients au moment de l’inclusion avaient été vaccinés (80% ayant eu 2 injections et 8% une seule injection). Parmi eux, 86% ont déclaré avoir eu une très bonne tolérance à la première injection du vaccin et 90 % à la seconde injection. 12% des patients n’étaient pas vaccinés. Conclusion: Globalement, dans notre étude, les patients âgés porteurs de cancer ne présentaient pas de réticence à lavaccination anti-COVID19 et ont eu une très bonne tolérance à ces vaccins. Cependant, au vu du profil de ces patients et de la période d’inclusion, le nombre de patients présentant un schéma vaccinal complet aurait pu être plus conséquent.     

重组日本血吸虫谷胱甘肽S-转移酶的纯化

[目的] 原核表达并纯化重组日本血吸虫谷胱甘肽S转移酶．[方法] 将表达载体pGEX-5X-1转化至大肠杆菌BL21中，用异丙基硫代-β-D-半乳糖苷诱导，以十二烷基硫酸钠．聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳进行分析，产物用谷胱甘肽琼脂糖树脂纯化．[结果] 获得了纯化的谷胱甘肽S转移酶。     

Protective effects of lycopene and tomato extract against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

The protective effect of tomato extract and lycopene on acute doxorubicin (DOX) myocardial toxicity was evaluated in mice. DOX toxicity, induced by a single intraperitoneal injection (15 mg/kg), was revealed by an elevated serum CPK(MB) and histopathological observations. Tomato extract (1.2 and 2.4 g/kg, i.p.) and lycopene (1.7 and 3.5 mg/kg, i.p.) prevented the rise in serum CPK(MB) and ameliorated cardiac cell injury. These results suggest that tomato extract and lycopene inhibit DOX cardiotoxicity and might serve as a novel combination chemotherapeutic agent with DOX to limit free radical-mediated organ injury.     

卡介苗体外对急性淋巴细胞性白血病患儿细胞毒性T淋巴细胞杀伤HL-60细胞效应的影响

目的：探讨卡介苗（BCG）体外对急性淋巴细胞性白血病(ALL)患儿外周血细胞毒性T淋巴细胞（CTL）杀伤HL-60细胞效应的影响。方法：应用Ficoll-Hypaque法分离ALL患儿（白血病组）和健康儿童（对照组）的外周血单个核细胞,在白介素-2（IL-2）、植物血凝素（PHA）和BCG作用下诱导成CTL细胞;应用流式细胞仪测定CD3、CD3+CD4+、CD3+CD8+比例变化;应用MTT法检测CTL对HL-60细胞的杀伤力。结果：培养前2 d,对照组和白血病组CTL细胞数量及体积均无明显变化,第3天开始两组细胞均开始增殖,体积变大,6～10 d达高峰;培养至第10天时,加入BCG的白血病组和对照组细胞数量分别较无BCG的白血病组和对照组增多;白血病组CD3+CD8+比例明显高于对照组,经BCG作用后两组CD3+CD8+比例均明显升高;白血病组CTL对HL-60细胞的杀伤力明显低于对照组。结论：BCG可协同IL-2、PHA体外促进CTL细胞增殖并提高其对HL-60细胞的杀伤力。     

肺癌患者血清促血管生成素2水平及其临床意义

目的 分析不同病理分型、不同临床分期的肺癌患者中促血管生成素-2(Ang-2)的表达水平,进一步探讨该病的发病机理,为临床诊断提供依据.方法 对112例肺癌患者,16例健康体检者进行血清Ang-2检测,同时进行血清中其他相关肿瘤标志物检测.比较不同病理分型、临床分期及远处转移患者血清Ang-2的不同.结果 非小细胞肺癌患者血清Ang-2水平高于正常对照组(与鳞癌比较Sig 值为0.049,P＜0.05;与腺癌比较Sig值为0.011,P＜0.05);非小细胞肺癌Ⅲ、Ⅳ期患者血清Ang-2水平高于对照(与Ⅲ期比较Sig值为0.013,P＜0.05;与Ⅳ期比较Sig值为0.000,P＜0.001);远处转移患者血清Ang-2水平非常显著高于非远处转移者(Sig值为0.008,P＜0.01);结论 分析血清Ang-2水平对肺癌患者的临床诊断、预测转移和预后判断均有临床价值,应用Ang-2与其他肿瘤标志物联合检测可提高患者诊断阳性率.     

栀子、首乌对小鼠卡介苗炎症诱导抑郁模型的抗抑郁作用的实验研究

目的腹腔注射卡介苗（BCG）,建立炎症相关抑郁模型,明确栀子、首乌对炎症诱导抑郁模型的抗抑郁作用和机制。方法小鼠腹腔注射卡介苗200 mg.kg-1,吗氯贝胺组和栀子首乌组同时分别给予吗氯贝胺75 mg.kg-1和栀子首乌500 mg.kg-1水溶液灌胃,观察药物对动物体重、自主活动和强迫游泳实验中不动时间的影响。同时,使用ELISA法检测脑组织吲哚胺-23,-过氧化酶（IDO）和N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体（NMDAR1）含量。结果与模型组比较,栀子首乌药不能对抗BCG引起的小鼠体重下降（P〉0.05）,对小鼠的自主活动没有明显影响（P〉0.05）,但能明显缩短BCG模型小鼠强迫游泳不动时间（P〈0.05）,同时降低了脑组织中IDO和NMDAR1含量（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）。结论 BCG腹腔注射能引起动物抑郁样行为,栀子、首乌选择性增加小鼠不动时间,显示出一定的抗抑郁作用,其作用机制与抑制IDO活性减少五羟色胺（5-HT）代谢,下调NMDAR1减轻神经元毒性损伤有关。