rome and Hypersensitivity

Previous studies have shown a negative association between ACP1 *B/*C genotype and total IgE level. ACP1 (acid phosphatase locus 1) is a polymorphic phosphotyrosine phosphatase that interacts with IL4-RA and is involved in T cell receptor signaling.. In the present paper, we have studied the relationship between *B/*C genotype which shows high ACP1 activity and skin testing in 300 adult subjects referred for allergic manifestations. ACP1 genotypes were determined by DNA analysis.. There is a significant negative correlation between the intensity of skin test reaction and *B/*C genotype (p = 0.01). The proportion of *B/*C genotype is lower in allergic subjects with intense skin reaction than in allergic subjects with moderate skin reaction and in healthy controls.. This new observation confirms by a different approach the relationship between ACP1 polymorphism and allergic manifestations, suggesting that high ACP1 activity protects against these manifestations.

Topics: Adult; Allergens; Female; Genotype; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Male; Polymorphism, Genetic; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Rome; Skin Tests

Diagnosis of walnut allergy includes the evaluation of IgE sensitization by skin prick tests (SPT) with standardized commercial extracts. When assuming the loss of relevant allergens due to extract preparation and storage, it is possible to perform SPT with fresh foods, i.e., prick by prick (PbP). To our knowledge, there is no published comparison between SPT with commercial extracts and PbP with fresh food about their sensitivity to the diagnosis of walnut allergy. Therefore, we describe our experience.. We observed seven children (mean age + SD 6.8 years + 5.2, range 2 - 15 years; male 85%) with an history of immediate adverse reaction following walnut ingestion. All but one the patients underwent SPT with at least two out of three walnut commercial extracts (Lofarma, Milan, Italy; ALK-Abellò, Milan, Italy; Allergopharma, Rome, Italy). It has also been performed PbP with raw walnut. IgE-mediated walnut allergy was diagnosed based on suggestive history, positivity of PbP and failed open food challenge with walnut.. The SPT with Lofarma extract was never positive (sensitivity = 0%), that performed with ALK extract was positive in 2/5 cases (sensitivity 40%) and that of Allergopharma extract was positive in 1/5 cases (sensitivity 20%). PbP was positive in 7/7 cases (sensitivity 100%).. In the specific case of walnut allergy in pediatric age, the execution of SPT alone with commercial extract may not be sufficient and clarifying in the diagnostic iter. We suggest to always associate the execution of PbP test.

Topics: Adolescent; Allergens; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Italy; Juglans; Male; Rome

Schoolchildren screening for allergic diseases may improve early identification and management of atopic children. The aim of this study was to perform a schoolchildren screening program for identification of children with allergic diseases.. All parents of children attending to 13 primary schools in the city of Rome were requested to fill in a demographic data form and the ChAt questionnaire. Allergological evaluation was performed in the children with suspect of allergy (ChAt score > 2). Ocular examination was performed to identify signs of allergic conjunctivitis. The presence of allergic symptoms was related to demographic and environmental variables.. A total of 2667 children (mean age: 7.1 ± 1 years) were included, and 2489 (93.3%) parents completed the ChAt questionnaire. Results of ChAt questionnaire showed a previous diagnosis of allergic disease in 637 (25.6%) children and the potential presence of an allergic disease (ChAt score > 2) in 35.1%. Multivariate analysis showed that older age, male gender, and having less than two siblings were associated with higher risk of allergic disease. Visual screening showed the presence of clinical signs of allergic conjunctivitis in 2% of children. Allergologic evaluation in 334 children confirmed the diagnosis of allergic disease in 324 (97%) cases. Among them, 97 (29.9%) did not refer to a previous formal diagnosis of allergic condition.. This study confirmed that schoolchildren screening using ChAt questionnaire could represent a useful tool for early identification of yet undiagnosed atopic children.

Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Male; Mass Screening; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Rome; Schools; Surveys and Questionnaires

Several studies report substantial differences in the prevalence of skin test reactivity to allergens in children from adjacent geographic areas; others report an increased prevalence over time. To find out whether these differences depend on variations in skin reactivity to histamine, we determined the time trend of histamine wheal sizes in successive cohorts of unselected children living in the same area (Viterbo, Italy).. We conducted three epidemiologic surveys, each including children aged 9 and 13 years. The 1983-7 study investigated 170 children (150 were tested twice); the 1992 study, 158 children; and the 1996 study, 208 children.. In both age groups, the mean diameter of the wheal induced by histamine skin prick tests (10 mg/ml) increased significantly over time (9-year-olds: 3.25 mm in 1983, 4.68 in 1992, and 5.89 in 1996; 13-year-olds: 3.89 mm in 1987, 5.18 in 1992, and 6.50 in 1996) (P < 0.001 between subsequent studies). The distribution of the wheal diameters for both ages showed a trend to a right shift in the three successive studies (P < 0.001). The dose-response curves for three histamine concentrations (0.2, 1, and 10 mg/ml) had significantly steeper slopes in 1996 than in 1983-7 (P < 0.001).. The marked time-related increase in the size of the histamine wheals could help to explain the trend toward an increased prevalence of positive allergen skin test reactions reported during the past years. The causes of increased skin reactivity to histamine remain conjectural.

Topics: Adolescent; Age Distribution; Child; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Health Surveys; Histamine; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Intradermal Tests; Male; Observer Variation; Prevalence; Rome; Time Factors

In the second semester of 1999, 246 patients, living in a Roman urban area, were subjected to a prick-test screening. 194 (78.9%) of the patients showed a positive answer toward almost one of the tested allergens, whereas the other 51 persons (21.1%) turned out to be negative. Of the patients with a positive cutireaction, 59 (24% of total survey and 30.4% of allergic subjects), with an average age of 29.6 (SD = 12.78) showed sensitization toward cypressus. The results were compared with a case-study of 900 atopic subjects, recruited by the same Center between 1994-96 and living in the same Roman area. In this last group we only found 84 pts (9.3%) with a positive prick-test toward Cypressus, with an average age of 35.2 (DS = 13.48). This analysis wants to stress the increasing incidence of allergy toward cypressus among atopic subjects, switching from 9.3% to 30.4%, in the same urban area, during these last three years.

Topics: Allergens; Cupressus; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Incidence; Male; Pollen; Rome; Urban Health

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Male; Middle Aged; Pollen; Rome

On the basis of various literature sources--mainly Suetonius, Plinius the Younger--typical symptoms of atopic diseases are described in some members of the Julio-Claudian family. Emperor Augustus could have suffered from bronchial asthma, seasonal rhinitis and atopic eczema, while Emperor Claudius showed signs of perennial rhinoconjunctivitis and Britannicus of horse dander allergy. Based on present-day standards, this can be regarded as a typical positive family history of atopy.

Topics: Famous Persons; History, Ancient; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Male; Medicine in the Arts; Rome; Sculpture

Topics: Food Hypersensitivity; History, Ancient; Hypersensitivity; Medicine in Literature; Mythology; Poetry as Topic; Rome

Topics: Animals; Blood Transfusion; Emergency Service, Hospital; Heart Defects, Congenital; Hospitals, Special; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Kidney Transplantation; Lung Diseases; Paris; Respiration, Artificial; Resuscitation; Rome