300 research outputs found
Impact of Hymenoptera venom allergy and the effects of specific venom immunotherapy on mast cell metabolites in sensitized children
Introduction and objective. Mast cells (MC) are effector cells during severe systemic reactions (SR) to Hymenoptera stings.
Venom specific immunotherapy (VIT) is the treatment of choice for prevention of SR to stings. Tryptase and prostaglandin D2
metabolites (PGD2
) are the markers of MC activation. The study design was to 1. compare baseline values of serum tryptase
concentration (BST) and PGD2
metabolites in children with/without venom sensitization, 2. to evaluate an influence of rush
VIT on MC markers in treated children.
Materials and methods. Sensitized group: 25 children with SR to Hymenoptera sting. Control group: 19 healthy children.
Active treatment: 5-day-rush-VIT. BST was evaluated by ImmunoCAP, PGD2 metabolites in blood and urine by GC-NICI-MS.
Results. The baseline blood levels of MC markers were significantly higher, while urinary concentration of 9α,11β-PGF2
was
significantly lower in the whole group of venom-sensitized children compared to controls. Severity of SR showed negative
correlation with urinary PGD2
metabolites, while positive with plasma 9α,11β-PGF2 and BST concentration The highest
sensitivity was obtained for plasma 9α,11β-PGF2 whereas the highest specificity for urinary PGD-M.
Conclusions. In children with IgE-mediated SR to Hymenoptera stings, elevation of baseline values of PGD2
metabolites in
blood is accompanied by decreased excretion of its urinary metabolites.
Assessment of stable PGD2
metabolites might serve as an independent MC marker to identify allergic children.
There is an association between urinary PGD2
metabolites and severity of the SR to Hymenoptera stings
Development of children's hymenoptera venom allergy quality of life scale (CHVAQoLS)
BACKGROUND: Venom allergy is a rare but life-threatening disease and may have a considerable impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients, especially children. This paper presents development of the HRQoL scale for children and adolescents with Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA). METHODS: The study sample consisted of 71 children, born between 1992 and 2000, who presented with a history of insect sting reaction when referred for consultation in the allergy center of Polish-American Children’s Hospital, Krakow, Poland, during the period from 2000 to 2010. The initial pool of 60 items - divided into 6 domains - was prepared. The items with intercorrelations higher than 0.7 were removed from each domain and then principal component analysis was conducted for each domain separately, to provide a one-dimensional subscale for each domain. Reliability of the subscales was assessed using Cronbach alpha coefficient in terms of Classical Test Theory and with rho coefficient in terms of Item Response Theory. The multidimensionality of the scale was tested using multi-trait scaling. RESULTS: Three to four items from each domain were subsequently selected to constitute six subscales. Rho coefficients for all the subscales reached 0.8, similar results were achieved with the Cronbach alpha coefficients. Multi-trait method showed that the majority of the items indicated stronger correlations with their own subscales than with other subscales, which proves that our constructed subscales measure different dimensions of HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: The presented scale comprises high validity and reliability subscales measuring six dimensions of HRQoL related to Hymenoptera venom allergy in children and adolescents. Such information may be useful in everyday clinical practice
Congruence of the current practices in Hymenoptera venom allergic patients in Poland with EAACI guidelines
Introduction: Venom immunotherapy (VIT) practice is the definitive treatment
for patients with potentially fatal allergic reactions to Hymenoptera stings. The
aim is assesing compliance of VIT practice in Poland with the current European
Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) guidance.
Material and methods: A multicentre study was carried out using a structured
questionnaire which was sent by post to all VIT practitioners in Poland. Some
questionnaire items were altered, in comparison to original version by adding
additional answer options or alowing multiple answer option. The response rate
was 100%. The obtained results were compared with the published EAACI
guidelines.
Results: Twenty-six Polish centres took part in the survey. SSIgE and skin prick
tests (SPT) are together used as the first line of investigation, whereas
confirmatory intradermal tests (IDT) are applied in half of centres. Only a few
centres measure baseline serum tryptase levels. The ultra-rush protocol is
preferred. Antihistamine pre-medication is routinely practiced. A target dose
equal to 100 µg is used in most centres. A 6-week interval between booster
doses is the most frequent. Five years is considered as an optimal VIT duration.
Before the VIT completion, SSIgE is evaluated in fifty percent of centres, whereas
sting challenge is considered by half of responders.
Conclusions: There are some differences between current practice in Poland and
the EAACI recommendations, indicating areas requiring better compliance.
Comparision between Poland and the United Kingdom revealed that health
service organization and health care funding may play a major role in the
provision of allergy services. This may affect the extent to which international
guidance may be applied in individual countries. It is worth considering
conducting the same survey in other European countrie
National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic
Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = −0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics
National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic
Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter
hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for
representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic
(r = −0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics
National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic: Results from 67 nations
Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors that associated with people reported adopting public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = -.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics
The activity of hydrolytic enzymes in the digestive system of Acanthobdellida, Branchiobdellida and Hirudinida (Annelida,Clitellata) – considerations on similarity and phylogeny
Activities of nineteen hydrolases were measured in the digestive systems of predatory and blood-feeding true leeches (Hirudinida) and their closest relatives, Branchiobdellida and Acanthobdellida. Hydrolase activities were analyzed in different parts of the digestive systems: the species-specific anterior part, i.e. jaws, pharynx or proboscis, crop and intestine. The results obtained suggest that food digestion and possible absorption predominate in the intestine of most of the studied Hirudinida and A. peledina, whereas in B. astaci these processes take place in the anterior part of the digestive system and crop. In Erpobdellidae and Piscicola respirans, the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, leucine and valine arylamidases, and α-fucosidase was also detected in the anterior part of the digestive system. We also detected differences in enzyme occurrence between the studied species, which are probably connected with their different food preferences. Moreover, the presence of the whole spectrum of enzymes in predatory leeches and the absence of trypsin and α-chymotrypsin activity in the crop of all the leeches support the hypothesis that the leech ancestor was a blood-feeder. Our study showed that “Rhynchobdellida” constitute a paraphyletic group which confirms the previous results based on molecular phylogenetics, while Arhynchobdellida appears to be a non-monophyletic group which is not consistent with previous molecular results
- …