Vitamin D, allergies and asthma: focus on pediatric patients

In recent years, the interest of the scientific world towards vitamin D gradually increased, and several studies have been conducted to dissect its possible role in modulating the development/course of allergic diseases. Also, Vitamin D supplementation has been assessed as a beneficial approach for treating allergies in some, but not all studies. We reviewed herein the available and relevant literature concerning the possible links between Vitamin D, its supplementation and allergic diseases. A literature search was made independently by the Authors, identifying articles for a narrative review. As per literature, Vitamin D plays a key role in calcium and phosphate metabolism, and it is essential for bone health in infants, children and adolescents. However, there is presently insufficient evidence to support vitamin D supplementation for prevention or treatment of allergic diseases in infants, children and adolescents, concerning allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy and atopic dermatitis. Keywords: Vitamin D, Allergic diseases, Immunomodulation, Supplementation, Asthma, Rhinitis, Pediatric allerg

First Finding of Ostreopsis cf. ovata Toxins in Marine Aerosols

Since the late 1990’s, a respiratory syndrome has been repetitively observed in humans concomitant with Ostreopsis spp. blooms (mainly O. cf. ovata) in the Mediterranean area. Previous studies have demonstrated that O. cf. ovata produces analogues of palytoxin (ovatoxins and a putative palytoxin), one of the most potent marine toxins. Based on the observed association between O. cf. ovata blooms, respiratory illness in people, and detection of palytoxin complex in algal samples, toxic aerosols - containing Ostreopsis cells and/or the toxins they produce - were postulated to be the cause of human illness. However the presence of toxins in the aerosols has never been proved. A small scale monitoring study of marine aerosols carried out along the Tuscan coasts (Italy) in 2009 and 2010 is reported. Aerosols were collected concurrently O. cf. ovata blooms and they were analyzed by both PCR assays and LC-HRMS technique. The results, besides confirming the presence of O. cf. ovata cells, demonstrated for the first time the occurrence of ovatoxins in the aerosol at levels of 2.4 pg of ovatoxins per air liter. Given the lack of toxicological data on palytoxins by inhalation exposure, our results move the first unavoidable step towards a more comprehensive understanding of the Ostreopsis-related respiratory syndrome

First Finding of <i>Ostreopsis</i> cf. <i>ovata</i> Toxins in Marine Aerosols

Since the late 1990s, a respiratory syndrome has been repetitively observed in humans concomitant with <i>Ostreopsis</i> spp. blooms (mainly <i>O.</i> cf. <i>ovata</i>) in the Mediterranean area. Previous studies have demonstrated that <i>O.</i> cf. <i>ovata</i> produces analogues of palytoxin (ovatoxins and a putative palytoxin), one of the most potent marine toxins. On the basis of the observed association between <i>O.</i> cf. <i>ovata</i> blooms, respiratory illness in people, and detection of palytoxin complex in algal samples, toxic aerosols, containing <i>Ostreopsis</i> cells and/or the toxins they produce, were postulated to be the cause of human illness. A small scale monitoring study of marine aerosol carried out along the Tuscan coasts (Italy) in 2009 and 2010 is reported. Aerosols were collected concomitantly with <i>O.</i> cf. <i>ovata</i> blooms, and they were analyzed by both PCR assays and LC-HRMS. The results, besides confirming the presence of <i>O.</i> cf. <i>ovata</i> cells, demonstrated for the first time the occurrence of ovatoxins in the aerosol at levels of 2.4 pg of ovatoxins per liter of air. Given the lack of toxicological data on palytoxins by inhalation exposure, our results are only a first step toward a more comprehensive understanding of the <i>Ostreopsis</i>-related respiratory syndrome