Allergic diseases in the elderly: biological characteristics and main immunological and non-immunological mechanisms

Life expectancy and the number of elderly people are progressively increasing around the world. Together with other pathologies, allergic diseases also show an increasing incidence in geriatric age. This is partly due to the growing emphasis on a more accurate and careful diagnosis of the molecular mechanisms that do not allow to ignore the real pathogenesis of many symptoms until now unknown, and partly to the fact that the allergic people from 20 years ago represent the elderly population now. Moreover, environmental pollution predisposes to the onset of allergic asthma and dermatitis which are the result of internal pathologies more than the expression of allergic manifestations. At the same time the food contamination permits the onset of allergic diseases related to food allergy. In this review we provide the state of the art on the physiological changes in the elderly responsible for allergic diseases, their biological characteristics and the major immunological and extra immunological mechanisms. Much emphasis is given to the management of several diseases in the elderly, including anaphylactic reactions. Moreover, some new features are discussed, such as management of asthma with the support of physical activity and the use of the AIT as prevention of respiratory diseases and for the purpose of a real and long lasting benefit. The mechanisms of adverse reactions to drugs are also discussed, due to their frequency in this age, especially in polytherapy regimens. Study of the modifications of the immune system is also of great importance, as regards to the distribution of the lymphocytes and also the presence of a chronic inflammatory disease related to the production of cytokines, especially in prevision of all the possible therapies to be adopted to allow an active and healthy agin

Fatal anaphylactic shock due to a dental impression material

Materials used for dental impressions are usually safe. This study describes a case of fatal anaphylaxis that appeared immediately after the oral mucosa came into contact with an alginate paste used for dental impressions. The cadaveric examination and the poslmortem toxicology report confirmed that the cause of death was anaphylactic shock. The patient was affected by both cardiovascular and lung dlseases that worsened the condition and forbade the use of epinephrine. To the authors' knowledge, dental impression materials, and alginate in particular, have not been reported previously as being a cause of anaphylaxi

Bilateral cyclic cheek lesions related to premenstrual syndrome: a multifactorial pathogenesis?

Introduction Cheek biting is a chronic, usually innocuous, self-inXicted injury that often occurs as a parafunctional habit. Case report We report an unusual case of bilateral cyclic cheek lesions in a 34-year-old woman characterized by hyperkeratinization near the biting edges of the teeth and hematic lesions accompanied by a cheek swelling sensation, without pain and burning. The lesions coincided with a premenstrual syndrome, characterized by Xuid retention Introduction Cheek biting is a chronic, usually innocuous, self-inXicted injury that often occurs as a parafunctional habit. Case report We report an unusual case of bilateral cyclic cheek lesions in a 34-year-old woman characterized by hyperkeratinization near the biting edges of the teeth and hematic lesions accompanied by a cheek swelling sensation, without pain and burning. The lesions coincided with a premenstrual syndrome, characterized by Xuid retentionrelated symptoms, such as leg swelling, breast tenderness, bloatedness with abdominal girth variation and weight gain. Conclusions We concluded that the excessive water retention caused a little widespread swelling, present at cheeks level also, that associated with a temporary bruxism (perhaps related to psychological stress typical of premenstrual syndrome) was probably responsible for the cyclic cheek lesions. Therefore, an oral exam by the womens health care provider may be valuable in cases of premenstrual syndrome