Allergy Sufferers Research Articles

Pollen Cross-Reactivity: A Primer for Allergy Specialists

There are over 400,000 land-based plant species that comprise our biodiverse habitat. Only a small subset of those plant species satisfies Thommen’s postulates, classifying them as allergens. The number of allergenic species, however, remains so vast that it is prohibitive to both test and treat for all relevant species within a geographical region. Allergy specialists have a valuable tool that can be used to help simplify the management of allergic patients: cross-reactivity. Cross-reactivity is the ability for an allergen to induce an IgE-mediated response, regardless of previous exposure. Allergens are a complex milieu of proteins, some of which have allergic potential while others do not. A number of proteins are conserved across allergen species. When exposure to these conserved proteins occurs, the immune system recognizes them in a similar manner. For homologous or cross-reactive allergenic proteins, this conserved molecular recognition initiates the allergic cascade. Allergen characterization is critical to the understanding of cross-reactivity. Characterization, in this context, refers to the protein make-up of a particular allergen. The process of allergen characterization began in 1962 with the discovery of antigen E, the first identified allergenic protein. Antigen E, commonly known as Amb a 1, is an allergenic protein in ragweed, and is the primary sensitizing protein for ragweed allergy sufferers. These primary sensitizers are referred to as major allergens and can be defined as such when >50% of the allergic patient population is sensitized to them. An entire branch of research arose from this discovery, which has allowed for major advances to be made in the understanding of cross‑reactive relationships among allergen species. Cross‑reactivity is not limited to homologous major allergen expression. Rather, minor allergens and panallergens, though less clinically relevant, play a similar role in cross‑reactive relationships. This primer will explore the science behind cross‑reactivity, as well as provide a general overview of the cross‑reactive relationships that have been defined for plant allergens found across North America.

The Optimization of the Osborne Extraction Method for the Fractionation and Characterization of Oat Proteins

The growing number of wheat-related allergies worldwide has resulted in a new trend towards gluten-free alternatives. In this context, alternative cereals such as sorghum and oats are attracting new interest. Given the limited data available, the question of whether these cereals are completely safe and gluten-free for allergy sufferers remains open. One of the key steps in protein research is their efficient extraction. In this work, the Osborne sequential extraction method was developed and optimized using the response surface methodology in order to fractionate oat proteins. An optimized desirability of 0.986 was achieved with an extraction time of 4.7 min, a speed of 6, and a sample/solvent ratio of 5. The corresponding optimized responses were 8.7, 4.0, and 5.1% for the extraction yields of the avenin, avenalin, and albumin/globulin fractions, respectively. Further characterization of the extracts was carried out on 24 homogeneous and commercial oat samples via LC-MS/MS, targeting six potentially allergenic proteins. The avenin-E protein featured prominently, with relative contents of 60.7, 32.2, 58.0, and 59.8% in the total extract, avenin, avenalin, and albumin/globulin fractions, respectively, while the Avenin-3, ATI-2, avenin, SSG2, and SSG1 proteins in the total extract showed levels of 16.4, 9.3, 6.6, 4.8, and 2.2%, respectively. The preliminary results of an ELISA performed on the different fractions revealed low levels of gluten (from 1.24 ± 0.14 to 3.61 ± 0.16 mg/kg), which were well below the threshold limit of 20 mg/kg. These results support the hypothesis that oats can be a safe food for people suffering from cereal-related allergies. These results open the door to further studies into the comprehensive characterization of oat proteins.

Ionic Components of Particulate Matter 2.5 May Influence Daily Prevalence of Skin Symptom Exacerbations in Allergy Sufferers

(1) Background: To date, little research has epidemiologically examined whether the concentration of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and its ionic components is related to the prevalence of skin symptom exacerbations. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify this association in patients with allergic diseases. (2) Methods: From 1 February to 31 May 2020, we evaluated the daily prevalence of skin symptoms in outpatients with allergic diseases being treated at Fukuoka National Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan, and measured the concentration of PM2.5 and its ionic components. (3) Results: Univariate analysis showed a statistically significant association between skin symptoms and the concentration of PM2.5 and the ionic components SO42−, NH4+, K+, and Mg2+; multivariate analysis showed a statistically significant association between the daily prevalence of skin symptom and the concentration of the ionic components SO42− or Mg2+. (4) Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the concentration of some PM2.5 ionic components may affect skin symptom in patients with allergic diseases.

Assessing allergy risk from ornamental trees in a city: Integrating open access remote sensing data with pollen measurements

Platanus sp. pl. (plane trees) are common ornamental tree in Poland that produces a large amount of wind-transported pollen, which contains proteins that induce allergy symptoms. Allergy sufferers can limit their contact with pollen by avoiding places with high pollen concentrations, which are restricted mainly to areas close to plane trees. Their location is thus important, but creating a detailed street tree inventory is expensive and time-consuming. However, high-resolution remote sensing data provide an opportunity to detect the location of specific plants. But acquiring high-resolution spatial data of good quality also incurs costs and requires regular updates. Therefore, this study explored the potential of using open access remote sensing data to detect plane trees in the highly urbanized environment of Poznań (western Poland). Airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) was used to detect training treetops, which were subsequently marked as young plane trees, mature plane trees, other trees or artefacts. Spectral and spatial variables were extracted from circular buffers (r = 1 m) around the treetops to minimize the influence of shadows and crown overlap. A random forest machine learning algorithm was applied to assess the importance of variables and classify the treetops within a radius of 6.2 km around the functioning pollen monitoring station. The model performed well during 10-fold cross-validation (overall accuracy ≈ 92%). The predicted Platanus sp. pl. locations, aggregated according to 16 wind directions, were significantly correlated with the hourly pollen concentrations. Based on the correlation values, we established a threshold of prediction confidence, which allowed us to reduce the fraction of false-positive predictions. We proposed the spatially continuous index of airborne pollen exposure probability, which can be useful for allergy sufferers. The results showed that open-access geodata in Poland can be applied to recognize major local sources of plane pollen.

Allergies. there are People who are Born with Allergies, and there are others who Develop them after Years of Consuming an Aliment without any Problem

Survey collected demographic, psychosocial, and allergic data from 108 food allergy sufferers (85% female; 18-87). Following that, participants completed a two-week online diary survey on stress, mood, and energy and a 25-item food allergy checklist (based on iii Study 1) throughout the day. Daily polls show widespread allergies. Food allergies, the cost of avoiding particular foods, the anxiety of food safety concerns, the difficulty of maintaining a balanced diet, and the pressure of social activities centred on food were all issues. Allergy days increased stress and negativity, according to multilevel studies. Seniors were less energetic on allergy days. Rural and suburban communities frequently do better than smaller cities. Character may affect food allergy management. This study supports the first's results While food allergy rates are rising, little is known about its practical effects. This research sought to identify food allergy sufferers' issues, measure how much they affect daily life, explore how demographic and psychological factors affect food allergies, and devise solutions to help them. Study 1's qualitative results informed Study 2's quantitative findings. (2). The first research examined dietary allergies and health-related quality of life. Focus groups with four demographics helped researchers understand food allergy problems. Lifelong consumer susceptibility. Vulnerability depended on demographics, food allergy awareness, prejudice and stigma, pricing and availability of allergen-free choices, food label clarity, and restaurant wait staff skill (external conditions). The second research examined how much food allergy symptoms affected daily living (in terms of stress, mood, and energy levels). An online on food allergy prevalence and stress.

Suitability of Selected Apple Varieties for People with Allergies and Diabetes.

The study aimed to select apple varieties suitable for allergy sufferers and people with diabetes. The total polyphenol content, sugar content, acidity, and antioxidant activity of the apple fruit juices were determined using spectrophotometric techniques. The allergenic content in the apple juices was also measured. The strength of sensitisation was assessed using the ELISA method. Given their minimal content of both profilins and Bet v 1 homologues, Koksa Pomarańczowa (4.24 ± 0.08 µg/g Bet v 1 and 4.49 ± 0.82 ng/g profilins) and Książę Albrecht Pruski (5.57 ± 0.07 µg/g Bet v 1 and 3.34 ± 0.09 ng/g profilins) were identified as suitable for people with allergies. For people with diabetes, the most suitable apple variety was found to be Jakub Lebel, providing large doses of antioxidants and polyphenols (41.10 ± 0.20 and 5.16 ± 0.42, respectively) and a relatively low sugar content (9.06 g/100 g).

What’s the situation with ocular inflammation? A cross-seasonal investigation of proteomic changes in ocular allergy sufferers’ tears in Victoria, Australia

BackgroundOcular allergy (OA) is a localized subset of allergy characterized by ocular surface itchiness, redness and inflammation. Inflammation and eye-rubbing, due to allergy-associated itch, are common in OA sufferers and may trigger changes to the ocular surface biochemistry. The primary aim of this study is to assess the differences in the human tear proteome between OA sufferers and Healthy Controls (HCs) across peak allergy season and off-peak season in Victoria, Australia.Methods19 participants (14 OA sufferers, 5 HCs) aged 18–45 were recruited for this study. Participants were grouped based on allergy symptom assessment questionnaire scoring. Proteins were extracted from human tear samples and were run on an Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer. Peaks were matched to a DIA library. Data was analyzed using the software MaxQuant, Perseus and IBM SPSS.Results1267 proteins were identified in tear samples of OA sufferers and HCs. 23 proteins were differentially expressed between peak allergy season OA suffers vs HCs, and 21 were differentially expressed in off-peak season. Decreased proteins in OA sufferers related to cell structure regulation, inflammatory regulation and antimicrobial regulation. In both seasons, OA sufferers were shown to have increased expression of proteins relating to inflammation, immune responses and cellular development.ConclusionTear protein identification showed dysregulation of proteins involved in inflammation, immunity and cellular structures. Proteins relating to cellular structure may suggest a possible link between OA-associated itch and the subsequent ocular surface damage via eye-rubbing, while inflammatory and immune protein changes highlight potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of OA.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of algae derived food and diet factors in allergy and inflammation

Seaweed, a rich source of bioactive compounds, has gained increasing attention for its potential therapeutic applications in allergy and inflammation. This review examines the current scientific literature investigating the effects of seaweed derived food and diet factors on allergic and inflammatory conditions. Seaweed is abundant in polysaccharides, peptides, polyphenols, and fatty acids, which possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. These bioactive compounds have the capacity to modulate immune responses and mitigate allergic reactions, rendering seaweed a promising candidate for the development of functional foods and dietary interventions targeting allergy and inflammation. Explorations into the effects of seaweed consumption on allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis have shown encouraging results. Factors found in seaweed have the potential to alleviate symptoms, reduce inflammation, and boost immune function in allergy sufferers. Furthermore, inquiries into the effectiveness of diets incorporating seaweed in preventing and managing chronic inflammatory conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis have been undertaken. The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of seaweed derived compounds are being unraveled, revealing their ability to modulate immune cell activity, regulate cytokine production, inhibit inflammatory mediators, and promote gut microbiota balance. Understanding these molecular mechanisms is crucial for targeted interventions and the identification of specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed therapeutic effects. Seaweed derived food and diet factors hold significant promise as natural interventions for the prevention and management of allergic and inflammatory conditions. However, further research is required to establish the optimal dosage, formulation, and long-term effects of seaweed-based interventions. Additionally, clinical trials are necessary to validate their efficacy and safety in diverse patient populations. This review emphasizes the therapeutic potential of seaweed derived compounds and underscores the importance of incorporating seaweed into dietary strategies to combat allergy and inflammation.

The impact of temperature on increased airborne pollen and earlier onset of the pollen season in Trentino, Northern Italy

The impact of climate change on ecosystems can be assessed through pollen dispersion data, which acts as a proxy for the plant flowering stage. The aim of this study is to verify if changes occurred in the season and concentration of airborne pollen in Trentino (Northern Italy), and to evaluate if temperature (T), precipitation (P), and/or land use influenced such changes in the period 1989–2018. Airborne pollen, sampled by a Hirst-type trap, was analyzed by light microscopy, and pollen concentrations were obtained. Twenty-four taxa, covering 95% of the local pollen spectrum, were considered for this study. A significant upward trend in annual pollen integral (APIn) is the main outcome over the study period. The increase in APIn is more evident when analyzing the data in three decadic blocks, both for all the considered taxa (+ 58%) and for Arboreal Pollen (AP; + 155%). Considering both the annual data and the decadic blocks, APIn shows a significant positive trend for Cupressaceae/Taxaceae, Ulmus, Populus, Salix, Ostrya, Quercus, Olea (AP), and Plantago, Cannabaceae, Ambrosia (non-arboreal pollen, NAP); a significantly earlier start of the Main Pollen Season (MPS) is proved for Rumex and Poaceae. APIn for 24 taxa shows a significant positive correlation with annual T min (< 0.005) and T mean (< 0.001), both of which showing a significant increase, and a negative correlation (< 0.025) with the number of frost days. From a human health perspective, higher temperatures, driven by climate changes, lead to higher concentrations of allergenic airborne pollen, turning into a higher risk for allergy sufferers.

The Plight of the Metabolite: Oxidative Stress and Tear Film Destabilisation Evident in Ocular Allergy Sufferers across Seasons in Victoria, Australia.

Ocular allergy (OA) is characterised by ocular surface itchiness, redness, and inflammation in response to allergen exposure. The primary aim of this study was to assess differences in the human tear metabolome and lipidome between OA and healthy controls (HCs) across peak allergy (spring-summer) and off-peak (autumn-winter) seasons in Victoria, Australia. A total of 19 participants (14 OA, 5 HCs) aged 18-45 were recruited and grouped by allergy questionnaire score. Metabolites and lipids from tear samples were analysed using mass spectrometry. Data were analysed using TraceFinder and Metaboanalyst. Metabolomics analysis showed 12 differentially expressed (DE) metabolites between those with OA and the HCs during the peak allergy season, and 24 DE metabolites were found in the off-peak season. The expression of niacinamide was upregulated in OA sufferers vs. HCs across both seasons (p ≤ 0.05). A total of 6 DE lipids were DE between those with OA and the HCs during the peak season, and 24 were DE in the off-peak season. Dysregulated metabolites affected oxidative stress, inflammation, and homeostasis across seasons, suggesting a link between OA-associated itch and ocular surface damage via eye rubbing. Tear lipidome changes were minimal between but suggested tear film destabilisation and thinning. Such metabolipodome findings may pave new and exciting ways for effective diagnostics and therapeutics for OA sufferers in the future.

Development of craft drinks with oat milk and fruit and berry powders

Consumption of plant-based milk is growing every year, especially among allergy sufferers and lactose intolerant people. The development of beverages based on it with the addition of nutrients and improved taste properties is a trend among soft drink manufacturers. The purpose of the article is to develop recipes for craft drinks with oat milk and powders from freeze-dried fruits and berries, as well as to determine their sensory and physicochemical characteristics. The research was conducted using the method of expert evaluation of the sensory characteristics of drink compositions, the calculation method for calculating the nutritional and energy value of drinks, qualimetry methods for calculating a comprehensive indicator of drink quality, methods for determining the physicochemical characteristics of drinks, the Color Detector &amp; Catcher mobile application for determining the colour of drinks using the RGB additive colour model, and methods of statistical data processing using Mathcad 14 software. For drinks based on plant-based milk, it is proposed to use powders from freeze-dried fruits and berries as a recipe components. Freeze-dried plant powders preserve the colour, smell and taste of natural raw materials, as well as their nutrients. Model compositions of drinks with oat milk and powders made from freeze-dried mango, blueberries, strawberries, bilberries and raspberries were developed. The best drink compositions with high sensory properties (taste and smell, colour, appearance and consistency) were identified by an expert evaluation method. The density and active acidity of the developed drink compositions were investigated and their nutritional and energy values were calculated. It was found that the density of drinks increases with the increase in the content of fruit and berry powders, and the pH of drinks decreases. It has also been found that an increase in the content of freeze-dried fruit and berry powders in a drink leads to an increase in the content of protein and carbohydrates. Fruit and berry powders fortify drinks with nutrients and diversify their taste and aroma. The proposed drinks can be recommended for implementation in food industry enterprises, craft food production facilities and restaurants

Component-resolved diagnosis of tree pollen allergen: identify key allergens to develop treatment plans

With the increasing global prevalence of tree pollen allergies, there has been a significant impact on the quality of life for populations. In North and Central China, birch pollen, cypress pollen, and plane tree pollen are the most common allergens for springtime pollen allergy sufferers. The distribution of plants and patterns of pollen transmission in different geographical areas result in varying pollen exposure outcomes, further complicating the challenges in diagnosis and individualized treatment. This article delves into the research progress and clinical application of tree pollen allergies based on the "Molecular Allergology User's Guide 2.0 (MAUG 2.0) " published by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI). It discusses major allergen families and component proteins of tree pollen such as PR-10 proteins, profilins, polcalcins, as well as cross-reactive components that may cause pollen-food allergy syndrome. Allergen component diagnostics can distinguish true allergy sufferers from those with multiple allergen reactions, enabling more targeted selection of allergens for specific immunotherapy, thus enhancing treatment effectiveness. Bet v 1 and Cup a 1, for instance, are specific indicators for immunotherapy in birch and cypress allergy patients. Overall, this article provides cutting-edge information for professionals in the field of tree pollen allergies, offering in-depth exploration of tree pollen allergen component proteins, clinical manifestations, and treatment-related research, aiding in better understanding and addressing the challenges of tree pollen allergies.

VENOUS ULCERS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES

These are wounds that begin as little scratches, itches, or hemorrhages from an enlarging, convoluted rich vein. Like any wound, this one attempts to cure itself; but, because to poor circulation, edema, and the superimposition of infection, it worsens and grows larger over time, particularly in the elderly, the very sick, inactive people, smokers, allergy sufferers, diabetics, and people with certain collagen illnesses. The area where the initial skin damage occurred is usually where they are found, internally but also medially or laterally, above the medial malleolus and below the nape. In a typical organism, a wound would heal in a few days, however in the aforementioned circumstances, the wound worsens and enlarges. About 80% of the time, post-thrombotic syndrome or untreated varicose vein disease is the cause of these ulcers.

"Climate-friendly" diets from an allergy point of view.

Since the EAT-Lancet Commission's call for a change in diet towards more plant-based foods, especially protein sources, this so called "Planetary Health Diet (PHD)" has been widely discussed. While for some the reduction in animal foods is not enough and vegan diets are advocated to save the climate, others are sounding the alarm that the reduction is too drastic and that the PHD makes it impossible to provide a diet that meets our needs (of essential nutrients). In addition to climate aspects, health benefits often cited to justify the PHD do not take into account that vegetarians/vegans differ from the general population by far more factors than the reduction or elimination of animal foods. Also not sufficiently discussed is the fact that a diet which excludes or severely restricts animal foods is also associated with health risks if critical nutrients are not adequately covered. Moreover, the challenge of meeting protein requirements is underestimated by many. The food industry has responded to the trend towards more plant-based foods by massively expanding the range of highly processed or ultra-processed vegan foods. These - vegan or not vegan - are suspected of being partly responsible for the development of non-communicable diseases. In addition to general criticism regarding the usefulness of advertising the PHD, the replacement of animal protein sources with plant-based sources notably harbors a number of additional relevant risks for allergy sufferers so that the latter should be classified as an unfavorable target group for the implementation of the PHD recommendations.

The South African Pollen Monitoring Network: Insights from 2years of national aerospora sampling (2019-2021).

Pollen monitoring has been discontinuously undertaken in South Africa, a country with high biodiversity, a seasonal rainfall gradient, and nine biomes from arid to subtropical. The South African Pollen Monitoring Network was set up in 2019 to conduct the first long-term national aerospora monitoring across multiple biomes, providing weekly reports to allergy sufferers and healthcare providers. Daily airborne pollen concentrations were measured from August 2019 to August 2021 in seven cities across South Africa. Updated pollen calendars were created for the major pollen types (>3%), the average Annual Pollen Index over 12 months was calculated, and the results were compared to available historical data. The main pollen types were from exotic vegetation. The most abundant taxa were Poaceae, Cupressaceae, Moraceae and Buddleja. The pollen season start, peak and end varied widely according to the biome and suite of pollen taxa. The main tree season started in the last week of August, peaked in September and ended in early December. Grass seasons followed rainfall patterns: September-January and January-April for summer and winter rainfall areas, respectively. Major urban centres, for example, Johannesburg and Pretoria in the same biome with similar rainfall, showed substantive differences in pollen taxa and abundance. Some major differences in pollen spectra were detected compared with historical data. However, we are cognisant that we are describing only 2years of data that may be skewed by short-term weather patterns. Differences in pollen spectra and concentrations were noted across biomes and between geographically close urban centres. Comparison with historical data suggests pollen spectra and seasons may be changing due to anthropogenic climate change and landscaping. These data stress the importance of regional and continuous pollen monitoring for informed care of pollinosis.

Impact of Kayumidas© app on subjective symptoms and treatment adherence in allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis: Prospective Single-Arm interventional pilot study

IntroductionIn the spring of 2021, a physician-supervised application (app) “Kayumidas© - Itchy Eye Alert” was released for allergy sufferers, which implements a function to predict pollen dispersal status for each user based on weather forecasts and notify users of the results. This app provides push notifications of warning levels of itchiness and other symptoms, countermeasures, and the time to use medication. However, no evaluation has been conducted to determine whether the use of app improves compliance with treatment. This study aimed to verify whether the use of a smartphone app is effective in relieving the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis and how it changes patients’ eye drop behavior. MethodsThis was an investigator-initiated, observational, prospective cohort study that was conducted between February 2022 and May 2022. In 62 patients diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis, the scores of nine subjective eye and nose symptoms (1–4) and eye itchiness (1–7) before and after using the app were compared using a questionnaire. The adherence scores for eye drops (1–4) were also investigated using a questionnaire. ResultsThe scores for all five ocular subjective symptoms and all four nasal subjective symptoms improved significantly after app use (p < 0.01). Both itching scores (4.1 ± 1.1 vs. 1.6 ± 0.5, p < 0.01) and eye drop compliance scores (2.0 ± 0.7 vs. 3.9 ± 0.3, p < 0.01) improved significantly after app use. ConclusionThe use of the Kayumidas© app improved adherence to eye drops and the subjective symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis. Thus, app use effectively improves symptoms by changing behavior and improving self-care awareness regarding treatment in patients with allergic diseases.

Preserved Ophthalmic Anti-Allergy Medication in Cumulatively Increasing Risk Factors of Corneal Ectasia.

The prevalence of allergies is rising every year. For those who suffer from it, ocular inflammation and irritation can be inconvenient and unpleasant. Anti-allergy eyedrops are a readily available treatment for symptoms of ocular allergy (OA) and can help allergy sufferers regain normal function. However, the eye is a delicate organ, and multiuse eyedrops often utilise preservatives to deter microbial growth. Preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride (BAK) have been shown to induce decreased cell viability. Therefore, during a period of high localised inflammation and eye rubbing, it is important that the preservatives used in topical medicines do not contribute to the weakening of the corneal structure. This review explores ocular allergy and the thinning and protrusion of the cornea that is characteristic of the disease keratoconus (KC) and how it relates to a weakened corneal structure. It also describes the use of BAK and its documented effects on the integrity of the cornea. It was found that atopy and eye rubbing are significant risk factors for KC, and BAK can severely decrease the integrity of the corneal structure when compared to other preservatives and preservative-free alternatives.

The Variability of function of the Eustachian tube in patients with chronic sinusitis.

BackgroundThe Eustachian tube is a complex and inaccessible structure, which is responsible for the ventilation of the middle ear. The aim of the study was the assessment of an impact of chronic sinusitis on the auditory tube function. MethodsThe prospective analysis of 84 surgically treated chronic sinusitis patients was carried out. This study is based on preoperative results of impedance audiometry in correlation with the data from the medical history of chronic sinusitis, symptoms reported by the patients, results of Computered Tomography (CT) and the stage of inflammatory changes according to Lund and Mackay score. ResultsThe significant majority of patients of our study (65) had advanced auditory tube symptoms, while 4 patients suffered from symptoms significantly impacting daily life. In patients with chronic sinusitis the analysis demonstrated that tympanometry type B (12.67) and C (12.4) occured with significantly higher number of points of Lund-Mackay score than type A (9.2). In allergy sufferers type B of tympanometry was more often observed with characteristically bilaterally located inflammatory changes in maxillary and anterior ethmoid sinuses.ConclusionThe profile of chronic sinusitis patient in whom Eustachian Tube Dysfunction is more often observed, is as follows: Lund and Mackay score above 12pathological changes are bilaterally observed in maxillary and frontal ethmoid sinuses decrease of nasal patency nad postnasal dripAllergyoverusing alcohol and cigarettes, at least alcoholWorse result of Lund and Mackay score and the age of patients are 2 factors favoring the dysfunction of the Eustachian Tube.

Historical and social science perspectives on food allergy.

This article provides an overview of the insights social scientists, historians and other health humanities scholars have made to our understanding of food allergies. It shows how humanities and social science scholars have tended to address three pivotal issues related to food allergies: first, they have addressed the epidemiology of food allergies, including the apparent rise in the rate of food allergies and the emergence of theories that purport to explain why food allergies may be increasing. These include theories related to changes in food consumption and the hygiene hypothesis. Second, humanities and social science scholars have researched how risks related to food allergies have been constructed, understood, experienced and mitigated. Third, humanities and social science scholars have investigated the experiences of food allergy sufferers and those who care for them, providing valuable qualitative insights that can inform how we respond to food allergy and our understanding of the aetiology of food allergy. The article concludes with three recommendations. First, there should be a more interdisciplinary approach to food allergy research that involves social scientists and health humanities scholars. Second, humanities and social sciences scholars should be more willing to unpack and scrutinise the theories put forward to explain the aetiology of food allergies, rather than accepting them at face value. And finally, humanities and social sciences scholars can play a major role in ensuring that the experiences of patients and their carers are articulated and fed into debates about food allergy, including its causes and how to respond to it.

Grass flowering times determined using herbarium specimens for modeling grass pollen under a warming climate

The grass family is responsible for most of peoples pollen allergies, and the severity of pollen-based asthma and allergies is expected to increase with global climate change. Identifying grass species through standard pollen monitoring techniques have limitations due to challenges in species-specific pollen identification. As a result, these monitoring methods end up grouping all Poaceae species together, even though there are hundreds of grass species in Europe with flowering times that may vary drastically among species. Given this lack of specificity, it is hard to know which grass species are responsible for causing allergies over the pollen season, and how different species are affected by climate change. To address these issues, we obtained phenological data from thousands of herbarium specimens collected across Denmark spanning 190 years and used pollen monitoring data collected over the last four decades to determine the response of flowering time to climate change for 12 allergenic grass species, and identify which species are likely the biggest contributors to grass pollen loads throughout the pollen season. We find that pollen season duration is lasting longer and starting earlier, and the maximum pollen loads are occurring earlier in response to climate warming. Herbarium specimens provide taxonomic resolution and reveal that many grass species are flowering earlier in response to warmer spring temperatures. Seven out of the 12 species studied in Denmark are identified as major contributors to airborne pollen based on their flowering times, relative abundance and overlap with the time of the year when maximum pollen loads are detected. Four species (Poa pratensis, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus) significantly shifted their flowering time in response to warming temperatures and are flagged as of particular concern to allergy sufferers. Using data derived from natural history collections can contribute to the advancement of pollen forecasting for asthma and allergy patients under both current conditions and amidst future global changes.