Double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of grass pollen specific immunotherapy with oral drops administered sublingually or supralingually

SummaryForty-one patients suffering from grass pollen allergy underwent specific immunotherapy with standardized allergen extract consisting of six grass pollens (H-Al per os) administered either sublingually or supralingually for one year. In order to investigate clinical and immunological changes induced by the administration of allergens via the oral mucosa, the double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized design of the trial with 30 other patients enrolled in placebo groups was applied.Specific immunotherapy with oral drops administered sublingually or supralingually was performed in the same way, keeping the drops under or on the tongue, respectively, for 1–2min before swallowing them; at the end of the trial the cumulative dose of the allergen was almost 20 times higher than that of the subcutaneous therapy with corresponding allergen preparation. Data about symptoms scores and drugs intake during grass pollen season, as well as skin reactivity, levels of specific IgG and IgE antibodies, before the study and after the study's completion, were obtained.It was found that both routes of administration are effective according to subjective clinical parameters and drug consumption, with a highly significant reduction of symptoms and drug intake favoring sublingual administration where a reduction of more than 60% was achieved. Only sublingual active group showed a significant increase in Dactylis glomerata-specific IgG serum levels. Adverse effects were limited to a small number of generally mild local and/or systemic reactions.The results suggest that the administration of allergens via the oral mucosa is safe and clinically effective, favoring the sublingual rather than supralingual route

The perfect tense of the Latin verbs prandere and cenare

Tato práce se zabývá perfektem sloves prandeo (prandere) a ceno (cenare). Poskytuje přehled informací o perfektu těchto sloves v dílech antických latinských gramatiků i v moderní literatuře. Při pojednávání o teoretických aspektech této problematiky se práce dotýká problematiky kategorií aspektu a slovesného rodu v latině. Práce se rovněž zabývá interpretací výskytů perfekta sloves prandeo a ceno v dochovaných latinských textech. Hlavním výsledkem našeho zkoumání je zjištění, že aktivní participia pransus a cenatus není možné považovat za výjimečné případy.This thesis deals with the perfect tense of the Latin verbs prandeo (prandere) and ceno (cenare). It presents an overview of the information about the perfect tense of these verbs contained in the works of ancient Latin grammarians and in modern literature. While dealing with the theoretical aspects of this issue, the thesis touches on the issue of the categories of aspect and voice in Latin. The thesis also deals with the interpretation of the instances of the perfect tense of the verbs prandeo and ceno in extant Latin texts. The main result of our investigation is the finding that the active participles pransus and cenatus cannot be regarded as exceptional cases.Institute for Greek and Latin StudiesÚstav řeckých a latinských studiíFaculty of ArtsFilozofická fakult

The perfect tense of the Latin verbs prandere and cenare

This thesis deals with the perfect tense of the Latin verbs prandeo (prandere) and ceno (cenare). It presents an overview of the information about the perfect tense of these verbs contained in the works of ancient Latin grammarians and in modern literature. While dealing with the theoretical aspects of this issue, the thesis touches on the issue of the categories of aspect and voice in Latin. The thesis also deals with the interpretation of the instances of the perfect tense of the verbs prandeo and ceno in extant Latin texts. The main result of our investigation is the finding that the active participles pransus and cenatus cannot be regarded as exceptional cases

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the context of original antigenic sin

Immunological memory is the ability of the adaptive immune system to ensure a persistent protective effect after immunization. However, it can also be a limitation to building a sufficient level of protective antibodies specific to new mutations of the virus. It is imperative to bear this phenomenon (called “original antigenic sin”) in mind and make every effort to overcome its inherent pitfalls when updating current and designing new vaccines

Cholesterol in the Cell Membrane—An Emerging Player in Atherogenesis

Membrane cholesterol is essential for cell membrane properties, just as serum cholesterol is important for the transport of molecules between organs. This review focuses on cholesterol transport between lipoproteins and lipid rafts on the surface of macrophages. Recent studies exploring this mechanism and recognition of the central dogma—the key role of macrophages in cardiovascular disease—have led to the notion that this transport mechanism plays a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The exact molecular mechanism of this transport remains unclear. Future research will improve our understanding of the molecular and cellular bases of lipid raft-associated cholesterol transport