Outdoor airborne allergens: Characterization, behavior and monitoring in Europe

Aeroallergens or inhalant allergens, are proteins dispersed through the air and have the potential to induce allergic conditions such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma. Outdoor aeroallergens are found predominantly in pollen grains and fungal spores, which are allergen carriers. Aeroallergens from pollen and fungi have seasonal emission patterns that correlate with plant pollination and fungal sporulation and are strongly associated with atmospheric weather conditions. They are released when allergen carriers come in contact with the respiratory system, e.g. the nasal mucosa. In addition, due to the rupture of allergen carriers, airborne allergen molecules may be released directly into the air in the form of micronic and submicronic particles (cytoplasmic debris, cell wall fragments, droplets etc.) or adhered onto other airborne particulate matter. Therefore, aeroallergen detection strategies must consider, in addition to the allergen carriers, the allergen molecules themselves. This review article aims to present the current knowledge on inhalant allergens in the outdoor environment, their structure, localization, and factors affecting their production, transformation, release or degradation. In addition, methods for collecting and quantifying aeroallergens are listed and thoroughly discussed. Finally, the knowledge gaps, challenges and implications associated with aeroallergen analysis are describe

Near-ground Effect of Height on Pollen Exposure

The effect of height on pollen concentration is not well documented and little is known about the near-ground vertical profile of airborne pollen. This is important as most measuring stations are on roofs, but patient exposure is at ground level. Our study used a big data approach to estimate the near-ground vertical profile of pollen concentrations based on a global study of paired stations located at different heights. We analyzed paired sampling stations located at different heights between 1.5 and 50m above ground level (AGL). This provided pollen data from 59 Hirst-type volumetric traps from 25 different areas, mainly in Europe, but also covering North America and Australia, resulting in about 2,000,000 daily pollen concentrations analyzed. The daily ratio of the amounts of pollen from different heights per location was used, and the values of the lower station were divided by the higher station. The lower station of paired traps recorded more pollen than the higher trap. However, while the effect of height on pollen concentration was clear, it was also limited (average ratio 1.3, range 0.7–2.2). The standard deviation of the pollen ratio was highly variable when the lower station was located close to the ground level (below 10m AGL). We show that pollen concentrations measured at >10m are representative for background near-ground levels

Evaluation of traumatic dental injuries in a group of Turkish population

Background: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are significant clinical  problems that may have complex etiologies and may cause physical and physiological impairment.Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of TDIs in a group of Turkish subjects.Materials and Methods: The prevalence of TDIs and the pattern of traumatized teeth were studied in relation to age, gender, cause, location, and type of injury. This study was carried out to include all age groups and teeth. TDIs were recorded using the World Health Organization classification modified by Andreasen et al.Results: The prevalence of TDIs was found to be 4.4% (255 injured  patients/5800 presented patients), and the injuries were most commonly observed in the age group of 11-20 years. Males were more affected than females (males, 153; females, 102). The most common cause of traumatic injury was falling (68.2%), and the most common place of trauma was outdoors (56.1%). 4, 7% of patients injured because of their systemic diseases. The most frequently injured teeth were the upper central incisors (primary teeth, 64.5%; permanent teeth, 72.5%), and the most common type of dental injury was uncomplicated crown fracture in both primary (63%) and permanent dentition (47%).Conclusion: In the surveyed population, the prevalence of TDIs was found to be low. However, the teacher and family of adolescents and the  caregivers of patients with some systemic diseases like epilepsy should be warned about TDIs.Key words: Dental trauma, etiology, prevalenc

Venous malformation with multiple phleboliths: A case report

Venous malformations are congenital, abnormally formed vessels, present at birth. They do not undergo regression with the growth of the patient. Due to the stagnation of blood flow in venous malformations, thrombosis and phlebolith formation may occur. Phleboliths are calcified thrombi which radiographically must be differentiated from calcified lymph nodes, sialoliths, foreign bodies, and other radiopacities. We report an extensive venous malformation in a 19-year-old woman with panoramic radiography demonstrating multiple phleboliths. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the extension of the lesion into the hard palate and the masseter muscles superiorly, extending from the oropharynx to the tongue, inferiorly reaching the right clavicula and spreading between the right sternocleidomastoid muscle and strap muscles of the neck. The article is presented because the presence of phleboliths demonstrated on panoramic radiography is rarely described in the literature

Primary double teeth and their effect on permanent successors

Aim Understanding the effects of primary double tooth (PDT) on permanent successors is important to ensure healthy permanent occlusion and aesthetics. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and type of PDT, their effect on permanent successors, and the accompanying dental anomalies/pathologies in a Turkish population

Fibrolipomatous hamartoma in a patient with tuberous sclerosis: Report of a case

Tuberous sclerosis is a rare congenital disorder with an incidence of 1 in 6000 births. The classic triad is seizure, mental deficiency, and angiofibromas. Orofacial manifestations include fibrous hyperplasia, hemangioma, bifid uvula, cleft lip and palate, macroglossia, high arched palate, and enamel defects. Benign tumors of the jaws including desmoplastic fibroma, calcifying odontogenic tumor, and odontogenic myxoma have been recently reported in tuberous sclerosis. This case report adds fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the mandible to this list