Methods 18 grass pollen allergics underwent nasal allergen challenges; 15 grass allergics had matched diluent challenges. Symptom scores and peak nasal inspiratory flow were recorded; nasal fluid was collected using polyurethane sponges, then extracted by centrifugation across microfilters. Fluid was then tested for Th2 cytokines by Mesoscale 7-plex multi-spot plate assay. A further 6 allergics...

Background The allergists´ tool box in cat allergy management is limited. Clinical studies have shown that holo beta-lactoglobulin (holoBLG) can restore micronutritional deficits atopic immune cells and alleviate allergic symptoms a completely allergen-nonspecific manner. With this study, we aimed to provide proof of principle allergy. Methods A novel challenge protocol for standardized ECARF a...

The objective of this study was the evaluation of the usefulness of the nasal challenge test in the diagnosis of allergic respiratory diseases in subjects occupationally exposed to flour. A single-blind, placebo controlled study was conducted in 100 subjects with occupational atopic asthma with rhinitis. The control groups consisted of 20 atopic subjects not sensitized to investigated allergens...

Allergic respiratory diseases have recently become a major public and political concern in most industrialized countries over the world. The increased incidence in allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis has paralleled the motor vehicle traffic booming, suggesting a potential role of air pollutants in this major rise. Epidemiological studies have revealed a consistent association between outdoor ...

Recent studies of the involvement of the bone marrow in human atopic asthmatic responses to inhaled allergen confirm what we have found in a canine model of Ascaris suum induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness: CD34/45+ haemopoietic progenitors, increased in numbers in the blood and marrow of atopic individuals, can be specifically upregulated following airway allergen challenge eliciting bronchi...

Nasal hyperresponsiveness is one of the characteristic features of the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. This study examined whether repetitive inhalation of antigen (Japanese cedar pollen) led to the development of nasal hyperresponsiveness to histamine in sensitized conscious guinea-pigs. Guinea-pigs were repeatedly challenged by pollen inhalation once every week following sensitization by m...

BACKGROUND Allergic rhinitis is a common condition, with ragweed pollen one of the more prevalent aeroallergens. Environmental exposure units such as the Allergen BioCube® are valuable models for clinical allergy studies. A study was conducted to validate the Allergen BioCube for uniform ragweed pollen concentrations and clinically relevant sign and symptom responses to ragweed exposure. METH...

INTRODUCTION Optical rhinometry (ORM) is a technique that allows for direct continuous measurement of changes in blood flow (optical density) in nasal vessels, at the same time analyzing changes per unit of time in the evaluated variable: intravascular blood flow and oxygen saturation. AIM To assess the extent to which ORM can be used as an objective measure of nasal mucosal edema following a...

B1 receptors are known to be induced during allergic airway inflammation in animal models. However, little is known regarding in vivo B1 receptor expression in humans. We examined B1 receptor mRNA expression in nasal tissue samples from allergic rhinitis and normal subjects. Allergic rhinitis subjects displayed significantly higher expression of B1 receptor mRNA than did the normal subjects, an...

BACKGROUND Ricinus communis (castor bean) is a species included into the Euphorbiaceae family, common to all the warm regions of the world. Although the allergenicity of its seed is well known, references are scarce regarding the role played by its pollen as a pneumo-allergen. OBJECTIVES To carry out an aerobiological study of this pollen in the Málaga area (southern Spain); describe the phys...