Nuevas formas farmacéuticas para el tratamiento de enfermedades alérgicas

Specific immunotherapy involves certain drawbacks which could be minimized by the use of appropriate adjuvants, capable of amplifying the right immune response with minimal side effects. In this context, we review different types of immunotherapy vehicles and coadyuvants. We describe previous studies by our group in which we demonstrated the adjuvant capacity of Gantrez® AN nanoparticles, which can effectively enhance the immune response. We employed two types of nanoparticles (with and without LPS of Brucella ovis as immunomodulator) within capsulated ovoalbumin and Lollium perenne extract, tested on a model of mice sensitized to this allergenic mixture. In the challenge experiment involving the sensitized mice, differences in the mortality rate and in the MCP-1 levels were found between the treated groups and the control. Under the experimental conditions of this model of mice pre-sensitized to L. perenne, Gantrez®AN nanoparticles appeared to be a good strategy for immunotherapy. We finally tested these carriers administered by the oral route and found that they were able to protect a model of mice sensitized to ovalbumin from anaphylactic shock

A severe case of lipoatrophy due to human insulin and insulin analogs in a patient with diabetes: is an immunological mechanism involved?

The precipitin technique has been used in insulin resistance and immunity studies since the 1940s [7]. In the case described, the technique proved, once again, to be a valid method for choosing the most appropriate insulin. However, whether or not an immunological mechanism was involved in the lipoatrophic process remains uncertain, and further studies with adequate immunological assessment are necessary

Practical Guidelines for Perioperative Hypersensitivity Reactions

Perioperative hypersensitivity reactions constitute a first-line problem for anesthesiologists and allergists. Therefore, hospitals should have a consensus protocol for the diagnosis and management of these reactions. However, this kind of protocol is not present in many hospitals, leading to problems with treatment, reporting of incidents, and subsequent etiological diagnosis. In this document, we present a systematic review of the available scientific evidence and provide general guidelines for the management of acute episodes and for referral of patients with perioperative hypersensitivity reactions to allergy units. Members of the Drug Allergy Committee of the Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) have created this document in collaboration with members of the Spanish Anesthesia Society (SEDAR). A practical algorithm is proposed for the etiologic diagnosis, and recommendations are provided for the management of hypersensitive patients

A new rapid desensitization protocol for chemotherapy agents

Background: Desensitization has been used for some decades to treat patients with the allergenic drug when an alternative drug with similar effi cacy and safety is not available. We present the results from a series of oncology patients desensitized at our hospital during the last 2 years. Objective: To assess the effi cacy of a new desensitization protocol in patients allergic to chemotherapy drugs. Methods: We performed an observational retrospective study of 11 women (6 breast cancer and 5 ovarian cancer) who underwent our desensitization protocol. Four patients had immediate reactions to carboplatin, 3 to docetaxel, 3 to paclitaxel, and 1 to both docetaxel and paclitaxel. Premedication was administered in all cases. A 5-step protocol based on 5 different dilutions of the drugs was used. Results: We performed 39 desensitization procedures: 14 to carboplatin, 3 to oxaliplatin, 16 to docetaxel, and 6 to paclitaxel. Eight patients tolerated the full dose in 36 procedures. One patient suffered an anaphylactic reaction to carboplatin that reverted with treatment. One patient had dyspnea after a paclitaxel cycle. One patient experienced dyspnea due to chronic pulmonary thromboembolism related to her disease. Conclusion: Desensitization is a useful procedure in patients who are allergic to their chemotherapy agents

Influencia del procesamiento del fruto de membrillo (Cydonia Oblonga Miller) en el contenido de polifenoles y actividad antioxidante del mismo.

Los polifenoles son metabolitos secundarios presentes en gran proporción en las frutas, en su mayoría representados por los flavonoides y ácidos fenólicos. El creciente interés por estas sustancias es principalmente debido a su capacidad antioxidante y la asociación entre su consumo y la prevención de algunas enfermedades. Entre las frutas, el membrillo es una importante fuente de componentes que promueven la salud, tales como compuestos fenólicos. Si bien el membrillo no se consume fresco debido a su dureza, amargor y astringencia, es muy apreciado como materia prima para la producción de dulces y jaleas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la propiedad antioxidante del fruto de membrillo, su dulce y los productos intermediarios de su elaboración, con el fin de estudiar el efecto del procesado térmico en las características nutricionales del mismo. Se analizaron el fruto (pulpa+piel), la mezcla cruda (pulpa+piel+azúcar) y el dulce regular y el reducido en carbohidratos. Se midió el contenido de polifenoles totales (PT), perfil de polifenoles por HPLC-DAD-MSMS y la actividad antioxidante in vitro por las técnicas DPPH (capacidad de atrapamiento de radicales libres) y FRAP (poder reductor). Todas las muestras analizadas presentaron un alto contenido de polifenoles en un rango de 200-500 mg ac. gálico/100g muestra (futo, mezcla cruda, dulce). Se demostró la actividad antioxidante in vitro por ambos métodos en todas las muestras. Los valores obtenidos variaron entre 400 y 1500 μmol TROLOX/100g muestra (futo, mezcla cruda, dulce). Tanto para la línea regular como la reducido en carbohidratos se mantuvo el contenido de polifenoles desde el fruto al dulce, conteniendo el regular 370 mg de ác. gálico/100 g de dulce y el light 184 mg ác. gálico/100g de dulce. Por otro lado se lograron identificar 16 compuestos polifenólicos, siendo los mayoritarios los ácidos cafeoil-quínicos, seguidos por los derivados del ácido cumárico, catequina y quercetina. La proporción de los distintos compuestos también se mantuvo desde el fruto al dulce, lo que significa que el procesado térmico no afecta cuantitativamente ni cualitativamente el contenido de polifenoles. Con respecto a la capacidad antioxidante determinada por DPPH y FRAP, como era de esperarse al mantenerse el contenido de polifenoles, no hubo tampoco pérdida de la actividad debido al procesamiento del membrillo. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que el dulce de membrillo realiza un aporte importante de antioxidantes en la dieta, y además que no existe perdida en la calidad nutricional debido al procesado térmico.publishedVersio

Evaluación de la eficacia de diferentes insecticidas químicos para el control de la oruga del cascabullo, Helicoverpa gelotopoeon Dyar (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), en el cultivo de garbanzo

En la campaña 2010, la superficie cultivada con garbanzo en la Argentina fue de 40.000 ha, lo que significó un crecimiento del 150% con respecto a la campaña 2009 (Vizgarra et al., 2011). En la provincia de Tucumán y zonas de influencia (sudeste de Catamarca y oeste de Santiago del Estero), la superficie sembrada superó las 25.000 ha para la campaña 2011, producto del buen precio que tuvo esta legumbre en el 2010, que la posicionó como una interesante alternativa invernal (Vizgarra et al., 2012).Fil: Scalora, Franco S.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Casmuz, Augusto S.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Cazado, Lucas Emiliano. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Aralde, Marcos R.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Aybar Guchea, Matías. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Fadda, Lucas A.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, Mario. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, César Horacio. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Tolosa, Gerardo J.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Vera, Martín A.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Gastaminza, Gerardo A.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Willink, Eduardo. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Vizgarra, Oscar N.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Walter. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentin

Characterization of hepatitis C RNA-containing particles from human liver by density and size

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles found in vivo are heterogeneous in density and size, but their detailed characterization has been restricted by the low titre of HCV in human serum. Previously, our group has found that HCV circulates in blood in association with very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Our aim in this study was to characterize HCV RNA-containing membranes and particles in human liver by both density and size and to identify the subcellular compartment(s) where the association with VLDL occurs. HCV was purified by density using iodixanol gradients and by size using gel filtration. Both positive-strand HCV RNA (present in virus particles) and negative-strand HCV RNA (an intermediate in virus replication) were found with densities below 1.08 g ml−1. Viral structural and non-structural proteins, host proteins ApoB, ApoE and caveolin-2, as well as cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipids were also detected in these low density fractions. After fractionation by size with Superose gel filtration, HCV RNA and viral proteins co-fractionated with endoplasmic reticulum proteins and VLDL. Fractionation on Toyopearl, which separates particles with diameters up to 200 nm, showed that 78 % of HCV RNA from liver was >100 nm in size, with a positive-/negative-strand ratio of 6 : 1. Also, 8 % of HCV RNA was found in particles with diameters between 40 nm and 70 nm and a positive-/negative-strand ratio of 45 : 1. This HCV was associated with ApoB, ApoE and viral glycoprotein E2, similar to viral particles circulating in serum. Our results indicate that the association between HCV and VLDL occurs in the liver

Immunogenicity of peanut proteins containing poly (anhydride) nanoparticles

In the last decade, peanut allergy has increased substantially. Significant differences in the prevalence among different countries are attributed to the type of thermal processing. In spite of the high prevalence and the severe reaction induced by peanuts, there is no immunotherapy available. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential application of poly(anhydride) nanoparticles (NPs) as immunoadjuvants for peanut oral immunotherapy. NPs loaded with raw or roasted peanut proteins were prepared by a solvent displacement method and dried by either lyophilization or spray-drying. After physicochemical characterization, their adjuvant capacity was evaluated after oral immunization of C57BL/6 mice. All nanoparticle formulations induced a balanced T(H)1 and T(H)2 antibody response, accompanied by low specific IgE induction. In addition, oral immunization with spray-dried NPs loaded with peanut proteins was associated with a significant decrease in splenic T(H)2 cytokines (interleukin 4 [IL-4], IL-5, and IL-6) and enhancement of both T(H)1 (gamma interferon [IFN-γ]) and regulatory (IL-10) cytokines. In conclusion, oral immunization with poly(anhydride) NPs, particularly spray-dried formulations, led to a pro-T(H)1 immune response

Reliability of a novel electro-medical device for wheal size measurement in allergy skin testing: An exploratory clinical trial

Skin prick testing (SPT) is the cornerstone of IgE-mediated allergy diagnosis,1 due to its high sensitivity and specificity.2 However, a uniform method for wheal measurement does not exist. Ansotegui et al.2 recommends to measure wheals in millimeters with a ruler, in many centers they are outlined with a pen and transfer by tape to a paper and then measured. Subsequently, the specialist is able to manually measure the maximum (MD) and orthogonal diameter (OD) of the wheal. This procedure is time consuming and makes repro-ducible measurements difficult.2,3 Knowing the wheal's area could help make a more accurate diagnosis.4 Over the last 30 years, many attempts have been made to develop a device to measure the size of SPT.3 Nexkin DSPT® (Figure S1A,B) is a novel mechatronic system based on 3D laser technology, that automatically locates allergen's wheal and measures its size (MD, OD and area in square millimeters) (Figure S1C)