BACKGROUND Allergic sensitization to aeroallergens develops in response to mucosal exposure to these allergens. Allergic sensitization may lead to the development of asthma, which is characterized by chronic airway inflammation. The objective of this study is to describe in detail a model of mucosal exposure to cockroach allergens in the absence of an exogenous adjuvant. METHODS Cockroach ext...

BACKGROUND Cockroaches are of vital importance medically and hygienically. They are able to contaminate foods and act as vectors of pathogenic agents such as bacteria, protozoa, and parasites to human environment either mechanically or through their digestive system. Cockroaches belong to the phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, and order Blattodea or Blattaria. To date, over 4,500 cockroach speci...

Fipronil and dieldrin are known to inhibit GABA receptors in both mammals and insects. However, the mechanism of selective toxicity of these insecticides between mammals and insects remains to be seen. One possible mechanism is that insect GABA receptors are more sensitive than mammalian GABAA receptors to fipronil and dieldrin. We examined differential actions of fipronil and dieldrin on GABA-...

BACKGROUND Sensitization to allergens produced by German and American cockroaches is strongly associated with the cause of asthma. Most of the cockroach allergens identified to date have been species specific. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify and sequence cross-reactive cockroach allergens. METHODS A Periplaneta americana cDNA library was screened with IgE antibody from patie...

Method Retrospective chart review of patients evaluated for allergic rhinitis and underwent skin prick testing. A cohort of 250 patients was randomly selected with inclusion criteria being symptomatic allergic rhinitis and positive allergy skin prick testing to usual panel of allergens. Data collection included demographics, smoking exposure, symptom pattern, presence or absence of non-nasal sy...

Insects are nature’s engineering marvels. They can perform marvellous feats such as jumping many times their own body length, lifting many times their own body weight, moving around even with multiple missing limbs and doing all this with amazing efficiency. It is little wonder then that roboticists have been attempting to replicate nature’s design feat in robots. The primary thrust in the area...