Oral mite anaphylaxis by Thyreophagus entomophagus in a child: a case report

Sensitization to Thyreophagus entomophagus, a storage mite, is uncommon and might produce occupational respiratory disorders in farmers. We present the first case of a child suffering anaphylaxis produced by ingestion of contaminated flour with Thyreophagus entomophagus

Bacterias con la capacidad de unir metales pesados y su empleo en la detoxificación de medios contaminados con metales pesados

Referencia OEPM: P200001387.-- Fecha de solicitud: 31/05/2000.-- Titulares: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de BarcelonaLa bacteria con capacidad de unir metales pesados es una bacteria adaptada al suelo y resistente a metales pesados, bien de forma natural o mediante manipulación genética, y ha sido modificada para expresar en su superficie, al menos, una proteína o una secuencia peptídica con la capacidad de unir uno o más metales pesados. En una realización particular, la bacteria adaptada al suelo y resistente, de forma natural, a metales pesados es Ralstonia eutropha, y la proteína capaz de unir uno o más metales pesados es una metalotioneína de un medio, sólido o líquido, contaminado con metales pesados.Peer reviewe

T cell activity in successful treatment of chronic urticaria with omalizumab

Omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody has the potential to alter allergen processing. Recently, it has been postulated the assessment of PHA-stimulated adenosine triphosphate (ATP) activity as maker of CD4+ T cells activity in peripheral blood cells. We present the case report of a 35-year-old woman with a history of chronic idiopathic urticaria and angioedema of 8 years of development with poor response to treatment. The patient was partially controlled with cyclosporine at doses of 100 mg/12 h. However, she was still developing hives daily. Finally treatment with omalizumab was started at dose of 300 mg every 2 weeks. The patient experienced a decrease in urticarial lesions 2 days after starting therapy. We also evaluated the effects of omalizumab therapy on the activity of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells from the patient, in order to determine the potential modification of anti-IgE therapy on the process of antigen presentation-recognition. Activity of CD4+ cells by ATP release was clearly increased demonstrating an enlarged CD4 activity. Omalizumab may be useful in the treatment of severe chronic urticaria. ATP activity of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells might be a non-subjective method to assess Omalizumab activity

Role of Predatory Mites in Persistent Nonoccupational Allergic Rhinitis

Mites can sensitize and induce atopic disease in predisposed individuals and are an important deteriorating factor in patients with allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. Although Pyroglyphidae mites have been extensively studied, very scarce reports are available on Cheyletidae spp. especially regarding human respiratory pathology. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the clinical role of this predator mite (Cheyletus eruditus) as a respiratory antigen in a selected sensitized human population. Fifty-two adult patients were recruited from the outpatient allergy clinic to assess their eligibility for the study. The thirty-seven subjects with persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR) who fulfilled the ARIA criteria had a positive IgE response confirmed by skin prick test (SPT) to C. eruditus. Only those individuals (37/47) with a positive SPT to C. eruditus showed a positive nasal provocation test (NPT), while 10 patients with nonallergic mild-to-moderate persistent rhinitis, control group, had a negative NPT with C. eruditus. The present paper describes a new role for the predator mite Cheyletus eruditus as a respiratory allergen in a selected subset of patients in a subtropical environment afflicted with persistent nonoccupational allergic rhinitis

Role of Predatory Mites in Persistent Nonoccupational Allergic Rhinitis

Mites can sensitize and induce atopic disease in predisposed individuals and are an important deteriorating factor in patients with allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. Although Pyroglyphidae mites have been extensively studied, very scarce reports are available on Cheyletidae spp. especially regarding human respiratory pathology. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the clinical role of this predator mite (Cheyletus eruditus) as a respiratory antigen in a selected sensitized human population. Fifty-two adult patients were recruited from the outpatient allergy clinic to assess their eligibility for the study. The thirty-seven subjects with persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR) who fulfilled the ARIA criteria had a positive IgE response confirmed by skin prick test (SPT) to C. eruditus. Only those individuals (37/47) with a positive SPT to C. eruditus showed a positive nasal provocation test (NPT), while 10 patients with nonallergic mild-to-moderate persistent rhinitis, control group, had a negative NPT with C. eruditus. The present paper describes a new role for the predator mite Cheyletus eruditus as a respiratory allergen in a selected subset of patients in a subtropical environment afflicted with persistent nonoccupational allergic rhinitis

Evaluation of major mite allergens from European standardized commercial extracts for in vivo diagnosis: addressing the need for precision medicine

Abstract Background Skin prick testing is the first-line interventional method to diagnose IgE mediated allergic diseases. Methodological differences in manufacturing processes and extract standardization may lead to variations in the reagent quality and potency. The current study evaluates sixteen commercially available Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Blomia tropicalis extracts for allergy diagnosis from different European manufacturers regarding allergen composition and content and whether these differences could influence their biological activity. Methods Mite-allergic subjects (n = 21) were skin-tested with the extracts and studied for immunoglobulin E reactivity. Nine extracts from D. pteronyssinus and seven from B. tropicalis were analysed for total protein content by Bradford and ELISA double sandwich was used to quantify specific antibodies for D. pteronyssinus and B. tropicalis major allergens from nine different manufacturers. Results Mite extracts showed a 10–60 fold variation regarding the total protein content. The contents of the major allergens of D. pteronyssinus and B. tropicalis differed considerably (30–53 fold change) among the extracts. Blo t 5 was quantitatively present in < 50% of the of the B. tropicalis reagents and could not be clearly detected by immunoblotting in the majority of the B. tropicalis commercial extracts. Conclusions Certain natural D. pteronyssinus and B. tropicalis extracts lack important allergens showing a considerable variability in composition and content. A closer collaboration among clinicians, allergen manufacturing companies and regulatory agencies to improve the quality and consistency of D. pteronyssinus and B. tropicalis extracts is warranted to achieve a more precise diagnosis and treatment of house dust mite allergy