Evaluation of the applicability of the Immuno-solid-phase allergen chip (ISAC) assay in atopic patients in Singapore

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Molecular-based allergy diagnostics are gaining popularity in clinical practice. Our aim was to evaluate their role in the tropics, given the inherent genetic and environmental differences. METHODS: We recruited subjects with history of atopy and collected data on demographics and atopic symptoms using validated questionnaires. Subjects underwent a series of skin prick tests (SPT). Serum total and specific IgE levels were measured using ImmunoCAP FEIA and ImmunoCAP ISAC®, respectively. We describe their pattern of sensitization and agreement between test methods. RESULTS: A total of 135 subjects were recruited; mean ± SD age of 31.18 ± 12.72 years, 52.7% female. Allergic rhinitis (AR) was the most prevalent clinical manifestation of atopy (70.7%), followed by atopic dermatitis (AD) (50.5%) and asthma (26.2%). Polysensitization was seen in 51.1% of subjects by both SPT and ISAC. House dust mites (HDM) were the dominant allergen, with sensitization in 67.8% and 62% of subjects on SPT and ISAC, respectively. A group of subjects with monosensitization to B. tropicalis was identified. HDM sensitization was strongly associated with AR, while AD and asthma were not associated with sensitization to any allergen. Agreement between SPT and ISAC was mostly suboptimal. Greatest agreement was documented for the measurement of HDM sensitization with both methods (κ = 0.64). Sensitization to the bulk of the remaining allergens in the ISAC panel was infrequent. CONCLUSION: Multiplex methods should not be used as a screening tool, especially in a population with lower rates of polysensitization and a dominant sensitizing allergen. There may be a role in adjusting the antigen spectrum in the ISAC panel to regional differences. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13601-015-0053-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Hypersensitivity to Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Children and Adolescents: Cross-Intolerance Reactions.

Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review;Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used worldwide and are responsible for several types of drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) in all age groups. The 2 major groups of DHRs to NSAIDs are those induced by immunological mechanisms (selective reactions) and those where inflammatory mediators are released through activation of the prostaglandin-leukotriene pathway without specific immunological recognition (cross-intolerance). In the present review, we focus on cross-intolerance reactions, which are the most frequent DHRs and are becoming a topic of major interest in children and adolescents. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are the drugs that most frequently cause DHRs in children; other NSAIDs are responsible for reactions in adolescents. In vivo and in vitro tests are of limited diagnostic value, with some exceptions for the less common selective reactions. In cross-intolerance, the clinical history and controlled administration are in many instances the only way to establish a diagnosis and look for alternatives. The clinical history is diagnostic when consistent symptoms occur repeatedly after exposure to NSAIDs with different chemical structures. Cutaneous and respiratory symptoms often co-occur in young children. The natural history of these reactions in children is unknown, and some patients can develop tolerance over time. Atopy remains a major risk factor for cross-intolerant reactions. The increasing interest in hypersensitivity to NSAIDs with improvements in patient phenotyping and the information provided by pharmacogenetics will improve our understanding and management of these reactions in the near future.The present study was supported by grants from the Carlos III National Health Institute RD12/0013 (RIRAAF Network), FIS PI12/02247, and FIS PI13/02598. It was also supported by Marie Curie (IAPP 7th Framework Program Mr. SymBioMath, no. 324554) and the Andalusian Public Health Service (PI-0279-2012 and PI-0463-2013).YesLos antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINEs) son ampliamente utilizados en todo el mundo y en todos los tramos de edad. Son responsables de un número importante de reacciones de hipersensibilidad a fármacos (RHFs), que no sólo afectan a adultos sino también a niños y adolescentes. Existen dos grandes grupos: reacciones selectivas, inducidas por mecanismos inmunológicos específicos, y de intolerancia cruzada (IC), donde se liberan mediadores inflamatorios en ausencia de reconocimiento inmunológico específico. En esta revisión nos ocuparemos de la IC, que es la causa más frecuente de RHFs y resulta de gran interés en niños y adolescentes. El paracetamol y el ibuprofeno son los medicamentos más frecuentemente implicados en las RHFs en niños. El uso diagnóstico de los tests in vivo e in vitro es muy limitado, con algunas excepciones en las reacciones selectivas. En las de IC, la historia clínica y la administración controlada son en ocasiones la única vía para confirmar el diagnóstico y determinar las alternativas terapéuticas más adecuadas. La historia clínica tiene valor diagnóstico cuando se reproducen síntomas consistentes repetidamente tras la exposición a AINEs no relacionados estructuralmente. En niños de corta edad es especialmente frecuente la combinación de síntomas cutáneos y respiratorios. Aunque se desconoce la historia natural de la IC en niños, es probable que se desarrolle tolerancia a lo largo de la vida. El fenotipado detallado junto con la información proporcionada por la fármaco-genética no sólo proporcionarán un conocimiento más preciso de la IC sino que también facilitará el manejo clínico de estos pacientes

The High-Acceptance Dielectron Spectrometer HADES

HADES is a versatile magnetic spectrometer aimed at studying dielectron production in pion, proton and heavy-ion induced collisions. Its main features include a ring imaging gas Cherenkov detector for electron-hadron discrimination, a tracking system consisting of a set of 6 superconducting coils producing a toroidal field and drift chambers and a multiplicity and electron trigger array for additional electron-hadron discrimination and event characterization. A two-stage trigger system enhances events containing electrons. The physics program is focused on the investigation of hadron properties in nuclei and in the hot and dense hadronic matter. The detector system is characterized by an 85% azimuthal coverage over a polar angle interval from 18 to 85 degree, a single electron efficiency of 50% and a vector meson mass resolution of 2.5%. Identification of pions, kaons and protons is achieved combining time-of-flight and energy loss measurements over a large momentum range. This paper describes the main features and the performance of the detector system

Long-Term Outcomes with Subcutaneous C1-Inhibitor Replacement Therapy for Prevention of Hereditary Angioedema Attacks

Background For the prevention of attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE), the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous human C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH[SC]; HAEGARDA, CSL Behring) was established in the 16-week Clinical Study for Optimal Management of Preventing Angioedema with Low-Volume Subcutaneous C1-Inhibitor Replacement Therapy (COMPACT). Objective To assess the long-term safety, occurrence of angioedema attacks, and use of rescue medication with C1-INH(SC). Methods Open-label, randomized, parallel-arm extension of COMPACT across 11 countries. Patients with frequent angioedema attacks, either study treatment-naive or who had completed COMPACT, were randomly assigned (1:1) to 40 IU/kg or 60 IU/kg C1-INH(SC) twice per week, with conditional uptitration to optimize prophylaxis (ClinicalTrials.gov registration no. NCT02316353). Results A total of 126 patients with a monthly attack rate of 4.3 in 3 months before entry in COMPACT were enrolled and treated for a mean of 1.5 years; 44 patients (34.9%) had more than 2 years of exposure. Mean steady-state C1-INH functional activity increased to 66.6% with 60 IU/kg. Incidence of adverse events was low and similar in both dose groups (11.3 and 8.5 events per patient-year for 40 IU/kg and 60 IU/kg, respectively). For 40 IU/kg and 60 IU/kg, median annualized attack rates were 1.3 and 1.0, respectively, and median rescue medication use was 0.2 and 0.0 times per year, respectively. Of 23 patients receiving 60 IU/kg for more than 2 years, 19 (83%) were attack-free during months 25 to 30 of treatment. Conclusions In patients with frequent HAE attacks, long-term replacement therapy with C1-INH(SC) is safe and exhibits a substantial and sustained prophylactic effect, with the vast majority of patients becoming free from debilitating disease symptoms

The effect of thermal processing on betalain pigments contents and antiradical activity of red beet

Celem badań było określenie wpływu blanszowania i suszenia korzeni buraka ćwikłowego oraz ogrzewania suszu buraczanego na zawartość barwników betalainowych oraz zdolność przeciwutleniającą. Stwierdzono, że blanszowanie powodowało stratę barwników czerwonych na poziomie około 25%. Jednocześnie następował ok. 2-krotny wzrost zdolności przeciwutleniającej. Suszenie zwiększyło tę zdolność o 25%, chociaż spowodowało 18% spadek zawartości barwników czerwonych. Największe straty zawartości barwników czerwonych (o 80%) spowodowało ogrzewanie suszu buraczanego przez 3 i 5 godz. Pomimo tak dużej degradacji barwników zdolność przeciwutleniająca wzrosła o 75%.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of blanching and hot-air drying of red beet roots, as well as heating of dried beetroot on betalain contents and antiradical activity. It was found that blanching diminished betalain contents by almost 25%. However, a double increase was found for antiradical activity. Drying improved antiradical activity by about 25%, whereas losses of red pigment reached 18%. The highest losses of red pigment (by almost 80%) were caused by heating of dried beetroot for 3 and 5 h. Even at such a considerable pigment content decrease antiradical activity increased by about 75%