BACKGROUND Viral infections and hypersensitivities are commonly reported by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) patients. Mast Cells (MC) uniquely mediate type 1 hypersensitivities and resolve viral infections via toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3). OBJECTIVE To characterise and compare mast cell progenitors (MCPs) in CFS/ME participants with a known MC disorder, Systemic mas...

Lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) is a widely used assay to detect drug-specific T cell reaction, but its relatively low sensitivity renders risk for pseudo-negativity. Basophil activation test (BAT) is an emerging assay initially used to diagnose food allergy, but its application to drug hypersensitivity as been reported anecdotally. Although a promising assay, the clinical settings or a pa...

Idiosyncratic generalized skin disorders resembling serious drug hypersensitivities have reportedly occurred after occupational exposure to trichloroethylene. However, factors associated with the disorders remain unknown except for trichloroethylene exposure. This study aimed at clarifying whether infectious diseases contributed to the development of rash or hepatitis in patients with trichloro...

BACKGROUND Immediate allergic reactions to β-lactam antibiotics are considered to be one of the most important drug hypersensitivities. A positive skin test (ST) with a combination of major and minor penicillin determinants is usually sufficient to recommend avoidance of the culprit drug, whereas a negative ST is usually followed by an oral challenge test (OCT). Recently, concern has been raise...

A 78-year-old woman presented to the emergency department complaining of a sore tongue. Her medical history included essential hypertension managed with atenolol, 100 mg/d, and enalapril, 5 mg/d, osteoporosis managed with calcium and vitamin D (with no past bisphosphonate treatment), and gastroesophageal reflux disease managed with omeprazole, 20 mg/d. Seventeen years before admission, she had ...

The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) and the endogenous peptide-ligand dynorphin have received significant attention due the involvement in mediating a variety of behavioral and neurophysiological responses, including opposing the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse including opioids. Accumulating evidence indicates this system is involved in regulating states of motivation and emotion. Acute act...

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