Prevalence of food allergy in Icelandic infants during first year of life

Neðst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn Skoða/Opna(view/open)Objective: This study is a part of EuroPrevall, an EU-funded European food allergy project. The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of food allergy in Icelandic infants during their first year of life. Material and methods: Infants (n=1,341) were followed prospectively from birth to 12 months of age. Questionnaires were obtained at birth and 12 months. Children with symptoms of possible food allergy were assessed with a skin-prick test (SPT) and specific IgE. Food allergy was confirmed with a double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC). Results: Out of 170 symptomatic children 44 infants (3.27%) had either positive SPT (n=21; 1.57%) or specific IgE (n=40; 2.98%). Food allergy was confirmed in 25 (1.86%); egg allergy 1.42%, milk 0.52%, fish 0.22%, wheat 0.15%, peanuts 0.15%, and soy 0.07%. Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed in 7.90% (n=106) and according to questionnaires 8.80% had asthma (n=118). Positive family history was the strongest risk factor for asthma (OR=2.12; p<0.001) and atopic dermatitis (OR=1.90; p=0.004). Family history influenced the relationship between predisposing factors and allergy symptoms. Conclusion: Our results show lower prevalence of food allergy than previously reported in a study of Icelandic children at two years of age. The prevalence was also lower than reported in some other European countries and could be explained by different genetic and environmental factors.Key words: exem, infants, food allergy, prevalence, asthma, atopic dermatitis.Inngangur: Rannsóknin er hluti af alþjóðlegri fæðuofnæmisrannsókn, EuroPrevall. Markmiðið var að rannsaka algengi fæðuofnæmis hjá íslenskum börnum á fyrsta ári. Efniviður og aðferðir: Börnum (n=1341) var fylgt eftir frá fæðingu til eins árs aldurs. Spurningalistar voru lagðir fyrir við fæðingu og 12 mánaða aldur. Barn með einkenni fæðuofnæmis var skoðað af rannsóknarlækni, ofnæmishúðpróf gerð og sértækt IgE mælt. Fæðuofnæmi var staðfest eða afsannað með tvíblindu þolprófi. Niðurstöður: Alls kom 231 barn í læknisheimsókn. Fjörutíu og fjögur börn (3,27%) voru með jákvæð ofnæmispróf, þar af 21 (1,57%) með jákvætt húðpróf og 40 (2,98%) með sértækt IgE í sermi. Fæðuofnæmi var staðfest hjá 25 börnum (1,86%). Algengi ofnæmis fyrir eggjum var 1,42%; mjólk 0,52%; fiski 0,22%; hveiti 0,15%; jarðhnetum 0,15% og soja 0,07%. Exem var greint hjá 7,90% (n=106) og samkvæmt spurningalista voru 8,80% með astma (n=118). Jákvæð fjölskyldusaga var sterkasti áhættuþátturinn fyrir astma (OR=2,12; p<0,001) og exemi (OR=1,90; p=0,004). Fylgni var á milli áhættuþátta og ofnæmissjúkdóma innan fjölskyldna. Ályktun: Niðurstöðurnar sýna heldur lægri tíðni en fyrri rannsókn á fæðuofnæmi hjá íslenskum börnum á öðru ári. Þær sýna einnig lægri tíðni fæðuofnæmis en í sumum öðrum Evrópulöndum sem hugsanlega má rekja til erfða og umhverfisþátta

PCR clonality detection in Hodgkin lymphoma

B-cell clonality detection in whole tissue is considered indicative of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We tested frozen tissue of 24 classical Hodgkin lymphomas (cHL) with a varying tumor cell load with the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets for IGH and IGK gene rearrangement (BIOMED-2). A clonal population was found in 13 cases with the IGH FR1 and/or FR2/FR3 PCRs. Using the IGK-VJ and IGK-DE PCRs, an additional six cases had a dominant clonal cell population, resulting in a detection rate of 79% in frozen tissue. Of 12 cases, also the formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue was tested. Surprisingly, in eight of the 12 FFPE cases with acceptable DNA quality (allowing PCR amplification of >200 nt fragments), the IGK multiplex PCRs performed better in detecting clonality (six out of eight clonal IGK rearrangements) than the IGH PCRs (four out of nine clonal rearrangements), despite a rather large amplicon size. There was no evidence of B-cell lymphoma during follow-up of 1 to 6 years and no correlation was found between the presence of a clonal result and Epstein–Barr virus in the tumor cells. Our results indicate that the present routine PCR methods are sensitive enough to detect small numbers of malignant cells in cHL. Therefore, the presence of a clonal B-cell population does not differentiate between cHL and NHL

Rapid deterioration in buried leather:archaeological implications

Understanding archaeological leather degradation helps inform economies, crafts, and technologies of historic communities. However, archaeological leather is at high risk of degradation due to deterioration and changes within the burial conditions. This research applied non-destructive FTIR-ATR to experimentally buried vegetable-tanned leather and archaeological leather excavated at the Roman site of Vindolanda, UK to explore survival, destruction, and preservation processes of tanned leather. Analyses focused on observing and monitoring changes in chemical functional groups related to leather tannins, collagen and lipid components following burial. FTIR-ATR results highlighted rapid changes following experimental burial in wet soil, tentatively associated with early onset microbial activity, which targeted readily available lipids but not tightly bound collagen. Prior to burial, differences in structural composition were present in leather spectra based on manufacture; however, following burial in wet soil, FTIR-ATR spectra indicated de-tanning occurs rapidly, especially in waterlogged conditions, with archaeological leather becoming more uniform and similar to untanned leather. Therefore, the comparison of FTIR-ATR results from archaeological leather to experimentally buried leather samples was informative for showing the destructive de-tanning in waterlogged environments. The comparison of FTIR-ATR data from modern unburied leather cannot be compared against archaeological samples. Importantly, despite de-tanning occurring soon after burial, the vegetable-tanning method promoted long-term preservation of leather in wet soil. The observed changes could not be directly associated with the proportion of condensed to hydrolysable tannin, suggesting alternate variables impacted the preservation. Furthermore, mineral components introduced into the leather through the animal skin, tannin material and/or tannin liquid are suggested to contribute to these changes. Crucially a high degree of heterogeneity in error results within the experimentally buried sample material underlined that any changes in collagen ratios cannot be overinterpreted and must be considered within the context of larger datasets.</p

Rapid deterioration in buried leather:archaeological implications

Understanding archaeological leather degradation helps inform economies, crafts, and technologies of historic communities. However, archaeological leather is at high risk of degradation due to deterioration and changes within the burial conditions. This research applied non-destructive FTIR-ATR to experimentally buried vegetable-tanned leather and archaeological leather excavated at the Roman site of Vindolanda, UK to explore survival, destruction, and preservation processes of tanned leather. Analyses focused on observing and monitoring changes in chemical functional groups related to leather tannins, collagen and lipid components following burial. FTIR-ATR results highlighted rapid changes following experimental burial in wet soil, tentatively associated with early onset microbial activity, which targeted readily available lipids but not tightly bound collagen. Prior to burial, differences in structural composition were present in leather spectra based on manufacture; however, following burial in wet soil, FTIR-ATR spectra indicated de-tanning occurs rapidly, especially in waterlogged conditions, with archaeological leather becoming more uniform and similar to untanned leather. Therefore, the comparison of FTIR-ATR results from archaeological leather to experimentally buried leather samples was informative for showing the destructive de-tanning in waterlogged environments. The comparison of FTIR-ATR data from modern unburied leather cannot be compared against archaeological samples. Importantly, despite de-tanning occurring soon after burial, the vegetable-tanning method promoted long-term preservation of leather in wet soil. The observed changes could not be directly associated with the proportion of condensed to hydrolysable tannin, suggesting alternate variables impacted the preservation. Furthermore, mineral components introduced into the leather through the animal skin, tannin material and/or tannin liquid are suggested to contribute to these changes. Crucially a high degree of heterogeneity in error results within the experimentally buried sample material underlined that any changes in collagen ratios cannot be overinterpreted and must be considered within the context of larger datasets.</p

Tumor Size of Invasive Breast Cancer on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Conventional Imaging (Mammogram/Ultrasound): Comparison with Pathological Size and Clinical Implications.

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowIn Landspitali University Hospital, magnetic resonance imaging is used non-selectively in addition to mammogram and ultrasound in the preoperative assessment of breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to assess invasive tumor size on imaging, compare with pathological size and evaluate the impact of magnetic resonance imaging on the type of surgery performed.All women with invasive breast cancer, diagnosed in Iceland, between 2007 and 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. In all, 438 of 641 (68%) patients diagnosed had preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Twelve patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded and 65 patients with multifocal or contralateral disease were assessed separately.Correlations between microscopic and radiologic tumor sizes were relatively weak. All imaging methods were inaccurate especially for large tumors, resulting in an overall underestimation of tumor size for these tumors. Magnetic resonance imaging under- and overestimated pathological tumor size by more than 10 mm in 16/348 (4.6%) and 26/348 patients (7.5%), respectively. In 19 patients (73%), overestimation of size was seen exclusively on magnetic resonance imaging. For tumors under- or overestimated by magnetic resonance imaging, the mastectomy rates were 56% and 65%, respectively, compared to an overall mastectomy rate of 43%. Of 51 patients diagnosed with multifocal disease on pathology, 19 (37%) were diagnosed by mammogram or ultrasound and 40 (78%) by magnetic resonance imaging resulting in a total detection rate of 84% (43 patients). Fourteen (3%) patients were diagnosed preoperatively with contralateral disease. Of those tumors, all were detected on magnetic resonance imaging but seven (50%) were also detected on mammogram or ultrasound or both.Our results suggest that routine use of magnetic resonance imaging may result in both under- and overestimation of tumor size and increase mastectomy rates in a small proportion of patients. Magnetic resonance imaging aids in the diagnosis of contralateral and multifocal disease

Assessing pathological conditions in archaeological bone using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF)

This study aims to investigate the potential of portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) for identifying pathological conditions in archaeological human skeletal remains. Bone element distribution in relation to known disease categories is analyzed using pXRF from the femora of 73 individuals (34 adult; 39 non-adult) from the post-Medieval Coach Lane skeletal collection (Durham University). There were no significant differences in the elemental ratios of individuals with scurvy, rickets, and cribra orbitalia. Potential alterations in elemental content were observed in relation to syphilis (Mn/S, Mn/Cl, and Ba/Cl) and neoplastic disease (Ba/Sr, S/Sr, Mn/Fe, and Zn/Cl). It is likely that post-depositional diagenetic changes, potentially exacerbated by the industrial location of the burial site, altered the elemental content of the individuals sampled and thereby effectively obscured any pathological changes detectable by pXRF

Prevalence of food allergy in Icelandic infants during first year of life

Neðst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn Skoða/Opna(view/open)Objective: This study is a part of EuroPrevall, an EU-funded European food allergy project. The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of food allergy in Icelandic infants during their first year of life. Material and methods: Infants (n=1,341) were followed prospectively from birth to 12 months of age. Questionnaires were obtained at birth and 12 months. Children with symptoms of possible food allergy were assessed with a skin-prick test (SPT) and specific IgE. Food allergy was confirmed with a double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC). Results: Out of 170 symptomatic children 44 infants (3.27%) had either positive SPT (n=21; 1.57%) or specific IgE (n=40; 2.98%). Food allergy was confirmed in 25 (1.86%); egg allergy 1.42%, milk 0.52%, fish 0.22%, wheat 0.15%, peanuts 0.15%, and soy 0.07%. Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed in 7.90% (n=106) and according to questionnaires 8.80% had asthma (n=118). Positive family history was the strongest risk factor for asthma (OR=2.12; p<0.001) and atopic dermatitis (OR=1.90; p=0.004). Family history influenced the relationship between predisposing factors and allergy symptoms. Conclusion: Our results show lower prevalence of food allergy than previously reported in a study of Icelandic children at two years of age. The prevalence was also lower than reported in some other European countries and could be explained by different genetic and environmental factors.Key words: exem, infants, food allergy, prevalence, asthma, atopic dermatitis.Inngangur: Rannsóknin er hluti af alþjóðlegri fæðuofnæmisrannsókn, EuroPrevall. Markmiðið var að rannsaka algengi fæðuofnæmis hjá íslenskum börnum á fyrsta ári. Efniviður og aðferðir: Börnum (n=1341) var fylgt eftir frá fæðingu til eins árs aldurs. Spurningalistar voru lagðir fyrir við fæðingu og 12 mánaða aldur. Barn með einkenni fæðuofnæmis var skoðað af rannsóknarlækni, ofnæmishúðpróf gerð og sértækt IgE mælt. Fæðuofnæmi var staðfest eða afsannað með tvíblindu þolprófi. Niðurstöður: Alls kom 231 barn í læknisheimsókn. Fjörutíu og fjögur börn (3,27%) voru með jákvæð ofnæmispróf, þar af 21 (1,57%) með jákvætt húðpróf og 40 (2,98%) með sértækt IgE í sermi. Fæðuofnæmi var staðfest hjá 25 börnum (1,86%). Algengi ofnæmis fyrir eggjum var 1,42%; mjólk 0,52%; fiski 0,22%; hveiti 0,15%; jarðhnetum 0,15% og soja 0,07%. Exem var greint hjá 7,90% (n=106) og samkvæmt spurningalista voru 8,80% með astma (n=118). Jákvæð fjölskyldusaga var sterkasti áhættuþátturinn fyrir astma (OR=2,12; p<0,001) og exemi (OR=1,90; p=0,004). Fylgni var á milli áhættuþátta og ofnæmissjúkdóma innan fjölskyldna. Ályktun: Niðurstöðurnar sýna heldur lægri tíðni en fyrri rannsókn á fæðuofnæmi hjá íslenskum börnum á öðru ári. Þær sýna einnig lægri tíðni fæðuofnæmis en í sumum öðrum Evrópulöndum sem hugsanlega má rekja til erfða og umhverfisþátta