BACKGROUND Little is known about the relation between allergic sensitisation and subsequent long term lung function changes in working populations exposed to sensitising agents. AIMS To investigate whether exposure and work related sensitisation to laboratory animals are associated with lung function decline. METHODS The relation between exposure and sensitisation to laboratory animal aller...

At present, there are no widely applied or fully validated test methods to identify respiratory LMW allergens, i.e. compounds that are considered capable of inducing allergic asthma. Most tests have been investigated using strong respiratory allergens. Moreover, they are meant to detect the potential of a chemical to induce respiratory sensitisation at relatively high doses. Consequently, the s...

BACKGROUND Prevalence of respiratory allergic diseases has increased worldwide. Identification of the aeroallergens involved in allergenic sensitisation is important for diagnosis, treatment and prevention. OBJECTIVE To verify the molecular pattern of sensitisation to aeroallergens in patients with allergic respiratory diseases using microarray technique for specific IgE antibody detection. ...

BACKGROUND There are few studies which analyse the characteristics of allergic respiratory disease according to profiles of sensitisation to different allergens. This study describes the clinical features and therapeutic approaches, according to the sensitisation profile to relevant aeroallergens, in a sample of adult patients with a first-time diagnosis of respiratory allergy (rhinitis and/or ...

BACKGROUND A previous survey on allergens used by Mexican allergists in their skin prick test (SPT) panel showed wide variation. Humidity varies in different zones of Mexico. This might lead to differences in natural exposure and allergic sensitisation throughout the country. We aim to describe the SPT sensitivity patterns in the different climatic zones in Mexico and to show the usefulness of ...

Rules related to the safety of cosmetic products are imposed by the Council Directive 76/768/EEC (Cosmetics Directive) of 27 July 1976 (with subsequent amendments and adaptations). Article 2 states that: "A cosmetic product put on the market within the Community must not cause damage to human health when applied under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use ..." Article 7 explains th...

OBJECTIVES To describe the levels of exposure to fungal alpha-amylase in British bakeries and flour mills, and to describe the relation between exposure to alpha-amylase and sensitisation to fungal alpha-amylase. METHODS 495 personal flour dust samples were taken in seven British bakeries and flour mills and analysed for alpha-amylase with an immunoassay. Workers at the sites were asked to fi...

OBJECTIVES Ambrosia is spreading invasively in many European countries. Therefore, surveys showing the long-term consequences regarding the prevalence of sensitisation and allergy rates are needed. The aim of this study was to analyse the development of Ambrosia sensitisation and clinical symptoms over a period of 20 years among the patients of the allergy unit in Legnano in relation to the mea...

BACKGROUND Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), which has been proposed as a measure of airway inflammation, is increased in atopic subjects. This raises the question of whether eNO provides any additional information about airway inflammation in asthmatic subjects, other than as a marker for atopy. A study was undertaken to determine whether eNO levels in a population of atopic children are associated ...

Objectives—To describe the levels of exposure to fungal á-amylase in British bakeries and flour mills, and to describe the relation between exposure to á-amylase and sensitisation to fungal á-amylase. Methods—495 personal flour dust samples were taken in seven British bakeries and flour mills and analysed for á-amylase with an immunoassay. Workers at the sites were asked to fill out questionnai...