Risk Of Allergy Research Articles

Developmental trajectories of atopic dermatitis with multi-omics approaches in the infant gut: COCOA birth cohort.

An understanding of the phenotypes and endotypes of atopic dermatitis (AD) is essential for developing precision therapies. Recent studies have demonstrated evidence for the gut-skin axis in AD. To determine the natural course and clinical characteristics of AD phenotypes and investigate their mechanisms based on multi-omics analyses. Latent class trajectory analysis was used to AD phenotype in 2247 children who were followed until 9 years of age from the COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases (COCOA) birth cohort study. Multi-omics analyses (microbiome, metabolites, and gut epithelial cell transcriptome) using stool samples collected at 6 months of age were performed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of AD phenotypes. Five AD phenotypes were classified as follows: never/infrequent, early-onset transient, intermediate-transient, late-onset, and early-onset persistent. Early-onset persistent and late-onset phenotypes showed increased risks of food allergy and wheezing treatment ever, with bronchial hyperresponsiveness only evident in the early-onset persistent phenotype. Multi-omics analyses revealed a significantly lower relative abundance of Ruminococcus gnavus and a decreased gut acetate level in the early-onset persistent phenotype, with potential associations to ACSS2, JAK-STAT signaling, and systemic Th2 inflammation. The early-onset transient phenotype was associated with AMPK and/or chemokine signaling regulation, whereas the late-onset phenotype was linked with IL-17 and barrier dysfunction. Multi-omics profiling in early life may offer insights into different mechanisms underlying AD phenotypes in children.

Role of Vitamin D in Allergic Diseases

Introductions: Vitamin D has gained recognition in recent decades not only as a key regulator of calcium and phosphorus metabolism and bone health but also as an important factor modulating the immune system. Research indicates that vitamin D influences both innate and adaptive immune responses, which is significant in the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases. Vitamin D has a beneficial effect on asthma exacerbations and may help reduce respiratory inflammation, as well as alleviate symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of food allergies, worsen symptoms of atopic dermatitis, and contribute to the transition from acute to chronic urticaria. Conversely, supplementation may help prevent allergies, reduce the severity of atopic dermatitis by supporting skin barrier function and antimicrobial peptide production, and relieve symptoms in patients with chronic urticaria. Purpose of the study: The review article aims to present the current state of knowledge on the role of vitamin D in the treatment of asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria, and eczema. Material and methods: To summarize the current knowledge on the topic, a literature review of English language papers with a focus on the most current literature was performed. The review was conducted with the PubMed database with 64 works used, accessed before October 2024. Conclusions: Although the impact of blood vitamin D levels on the development and progression of allergic diseases has not yet been fully clarified, scientific studies suggest its significant role in modulating immune responses. Due to its immunoregulatory properties, vitamin D offers new hope for more effective treatment and prevention of allergic diseases.

Effects of Sex and Gender in Immediate Beta-Lactam Antibiotic Allergy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BackgroundBeta-lactams are the most common antibiotic class reported to cause allergic drug reactions. Previous literature suggests an increased prevalence of penicillin drug allergy in female patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. However, the effects of sex and gender have not been well characterized regarding the entire class of beta-lactam antibiotics. ObjectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify sex and gender-based differences in the prevalence of immediate beta-lactam allergy. MethodsWe performed an electronic search of Ovid MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library between 2013-2023. Patients with a documented beta-lactam allergy who underwent allergy testing with skin testing, oral drug challenge, or serum-specific IgE were included. We quantitatively assessed sex- and gender-based differences in beta-lactam allergy with meta-analysis. ResultsWe included 69 primary studies, assessing 53,989 participants from outpatient and inpatient cohorts. 7,558 patients had a confirmed beta-lactam allergy. There was no difference in the prevalence of positive beta-lactam allergy test between males and females. Sub-group analysis of studies that performed oral challenges did show a higher risk of beta-lactam allergy in females than males (RR 1.40, 95% CI 1.18-1.66, p < 0.001, I2 =77.8%). Finally, there was a higher proportion of females (64.8%) than males enrolled in beta-lactam allergy studies. ConclusionsOur findings suggest both sex-based and gender-based differences in the prevalence of immediate beta-lactam allergy. Both biological factors, such as sex hormones, and gender-based behaviors, including increased healthcare utilization, may contribute to higher rates of beta-lactam allergy diagnosis in females.

Aptamer-based sensitive fluorescence β-lactoglobulin food allergen bioassay via dual and cyclic bidirectional strand displacement amplifications.

β-Lactoglobulin (β-Lg) is a prevalent allergenic protein found in most dairy products, which poses great food safety risks for individuals with allergies, especially for infants. Sensitive and effective detection methods for such allergens are essential to reduce the risk of allergies in daily life. Herein, a fluorescent aptamer bioassay based on a dual and cyclic bidirectional strand displacement means is developed for thesensitive detection of β-Lg in infant rice porridge and milk. The aptamer in the duplex DNA probe binds β-Lg to release the assistance strand to further hybridize with two hairpins, which triggers the initiation of two cyclic amplification cycles through the polymerization, displacement, and nicking of the strands under the action of DNA polymerase and endonuclease restriction enzymes. The amplification cycles lead to the unfolding of many fluorescently quenched signal probes to exhibit substantially enhanced fluorescence recovery for detecting β-Lg. The assay can realize detection of β-Lg in concentrations as low as 4.41pM within the range of 0.01 to 10nM. Furthermore, our sensing method has the capability to discriminate β-Lg from other proteins with high selectivity, resulting in low levels of β-Lg detection in rice porridge and milk samples, demonstrating promising potentials of the developed sensing method for monitoring various food allergens.

09 Penicillin allergy de-labeling: Adaptation of risk stratification tool for patients and families

Abstract Background Penicillin allergy is reported in 10% of the population, however, over 90% of patients are deemed non-allergic upon allergist assessment. A validated mobile penicillin allergy risk assessment tool was previously developed to help healthcare providers identify patients at low risk of penicillin allergy and de-label them. Objectives The goal of this quality improvement project is to validate a patient-driven version of the assessment tool. Design/Methods Patients 6 months to 18 years old and pregnant women referred to the institution’s allergy clinics for penicillin allergy assessment were invited to use the patient tool to complete a self-assessment prior to their appointment, resulting in the assignment of a risk category: allergic, high risk, low risk, or not allergic. At their appointment, the allergist conducted an assessment with the standardized validated tool. The risk categories determined using the patient tool were compared against the allergist assessment. Patients were provided satisfaction surveys. Results The allergist assessment and patient tool demonstrated agreement in 57/84 (67.9%, 95% CI [56.7%,77.4%]) assessments, intra-class correlation (ICC) = 0.618, p&amp;lt;0.001. Of these, 45/57 (78.9%) patients were stratified as low risk or not allergic. In 22/84 (26.2%) assessments, the patient tool determined a higher risk category than the allergist, primarily due to differences in patients’ perceived timing and description of symptoms. Only 5/84 (6.0%) patients were placed in a lower risk category using the patient tool compared to the validated tool. Of these, one patient responded to the self-assessment accounting for a mild reaction, whereas the allergist assessment accounted for a second, more severe reaction. The other 4/5 patients mistakenly answered that they had never taken penicillin so were stratified as not allergic on the patient tool; however, they had previously taken penicillin and were found at risk of possible allergy by the allergist. Of those who responded to the satisfaction survey, 53/62 (85.5%) agreed that the patient tool was easy to use. Conclusion The patient tool demonstrates good agreement in determining penicillin allergy risk, generally aligning with the validated tool and offering potential as a method of empowering patients to assess their risk and advocate for their care. For a small minority of patients, the patient tool determined a lower risk category than the allergist assessment. To improve safety, agreement, and accessibility, iterative cycles of assessment and changes to the patient tool structure will be applied. Potential competing interests Funding was obtained from Valeo, Polaris Health, CeraVe, ALK, Astra Zeneca, Medexus, Novartis, Sanofi, Pfizer

Parent-reported offering of allergen foods to infants during complementary feeding: An observational study of New Zealand infants

The prevalence of food allergies in New Zealand infants is uncertain but is believed to be similar to Australia, exceeding 10%. Current recommendations for reducing food allergy risk are to offer all major food allergens to infants from as early as six months of age (start of complementary feeding), and before 12 months of age. However, little is known regarding parental practices around introducing major food allergens. This study aimed to explore parental offering of major food allergens to infants during complementary feeding, and parent-reported food allergies. The cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of the multi-centre (Auckland and Dunedin) First Foods New Zealand study of 625 parent-infant dyads. Participants were recruited in 2020–2022 when infants were 7–10 months of age. Questionnaires assessed sociodemographic characteristics, complementary feeding approach, infant pouch use and parental responses to five food allergy questions. All major food allergens had been offered to only 17% of infants by 9–10 months of age. Having offered egg, peanut, tree nuts, sesame, soy and seafood was more commonly associated with using a baby-led complementary feeding approach than a parent-led approach (p < 0.001). Frequent baby food pouch use was associated with a lower likelihood of offering egg and peanut (both p < 0.001). Overall, 12.6% of infants had a reported food allergy, with symptomatic response after exposure being the most common diagnostic tool. Most infants are not offered all major food allergens during early complementary feeding, with some parents actively avoiding major food allergens in the first year of life. These results provide up-to-date knowledge of parental practices, highlighting the need for more targeted advice and strategies to improve parental engagement with allergy prevention and diagnosis.

Prevention of allergies and infections by minimally processed milk in infants-The MARTHA feasibility and safety trial.

Consumption of raw cow's milk has repeatedly been shown to protect from asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections. As raw milk bears potential health hazards, it cannot be recommended for prevention. Therefore, we performed an intervention study with microbially safe but otherwise minimally processed cow's milk. Here we describe feasibility and safety of the trial. The MARTHA trial (DRKS00014781) was set up as a double-blind randomized intervention in a population residing in Bavaria. Infants from 6 to 36 months of age consumed minimally processed cow's milk (intervention arm) or ultra-heat-treated (UHT) semi-skimmed milk (comparator arm). At the age of 6 to 12 months, 260 infants were enrolled, with 72% having a family history of atopy. The extensive screening system for milk consumption and symptoms suggestive of adverse events was well accepted with 22,988 completed weekly surveys and an average completion of 82% surveys sent out. The children consumed the study milk on average on 457 days (61% of intervention days). The intervention proved to be safe without any case of milk allergy or milk intolerance under the intervention in both arms. All 6 cases of serious adverse events were unrelated to milk. The most common reason was unscheduled hospitalization of more than 3 days. The intervention with minimally processed milk and the study instruments proved feasible. During the age of 6 to 36 months, there was no increased risk of milk allergy in a population with a substantial proportion of family history of atopy.

Associations of heat with diseases and specific symptoms in Flanders, Belgium: An 8-year retrospective study of general practitioner registration data

IntroductionGlobal temperature rise has become a major health concern. Most previous studies on the impact of heat on morbidity have used hospital data. ObjectiveThis study aimed to quantify the association between ambient temperature and a variety of potentially heat-related medical conditions and symptoms using general practitioner (GP) data, in Flanders, Belgium. MethodsWe used eight years (2012–2019) of aggregated data of daily GP visits during the Belgian summer period (May-September). A distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) with time-stratified conditional quasi-Poisson regression was used to account for the non-linear and delayed effect of temperature indicators (minimum, mean and maximum). We controlled for potential confounders such as particulate matter, humidity, and ozone. ResultsThe overall (lag0-14) association between heat and most of the outcomes was J-shaped, with an increased risk of disease observed at higher temperatures. The associations were more pronounced using the minimum temperatures indicator. Comparing the 99th (20 °C) to the minimum morbidity temperature (MMT) of the minimum temperature distribution during summer, the relative risk (RR) was significantly higher for heat-related general symptoms (RR = 1.30 [95 % CI: 1.07, 1.57]), otitis externa (RR = 4.87 [95 % CI:2.98, 7.98]), general heart problems (RR = 2.43 [95 % CI: 1.33, 4.42]), venous problems (RR = 2.48 [95 % CI:1.55, 3.96]), respiratory complaints (RR = 1.97 [95 % CI: 1.25, 3.09]), skin problems (RR = 3.26 [95 % CI: 2.51, 4.25]), and urinary infections (RR = 1.37 [95 % CI: 1.11, 1.69]). However, we did not find evidence for heat-related increases in gastrointestinal problems, cerebrovascular events, cardiovascular events, arrhythmia, mental health problems, upper respiratory problems and lower respiratory problems. An increased risk of allergy was observed when the minimum temperature reached 17.8 °C (RR = 1.50 [95 % CI: 1.23, 1.83]). Acute effects of heat were observed (largest effects at the first few lags). SummaryOur findings indicated that the occurrence of certain symptoms and illnesses during summer season is associated to high temperature or environmental exposures that are augmented by elevated temperatures. Overall, unlike hospitalization data, GP visits data provide broader population coverage, revealing a more accurate representation of heat-health association.

Reaction Risk to Direct Penicillin Challenges

While direct penicillin challenges might support the expansion of penicillin allergy delabeling efforts, the perceived risk of reactions remains a key barrier. To evaluate the frequency of reactions to direct penicillin challenges in individuals with penicillin allergy labels and to identify factors associated with such reactions. Three electronic databases were searched (MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus) from inception to July 19, 2023, for primary studies assessing patients undergoing direct penicillin challenges. Articles were included regardless of publication year, language, status, or definition of allergy risk. Two reviewers independently selected original studies reporting the frequency of immunologically mediated reactions following a direct penicillin challenge in patients reporting a penicillin allergy. Two reviewers independently extracted data and independently assessed the quality of each primary study using a risk-of-bias tool for prevalence studies. The primary outcome was the frequency of reactions to direct penicillin challenges as calculated using random-effects bayesian meta-analysis of proportions. Secondary outcomes included risk factors for reactions and the frequency of severe reactions. A total of 56 primary studies involving 9225 participants were included. Among participants, 438 experienced reactions to direct penicillin challenges without prior testing, corresponding to an overall meta-analytic frequency of 3.5% (95% credible interval [CrI], 2.5%-4.6%). Meta-regression analyses revealed that studies performed in North America had lower rates of reaction to direct challenges (odds ratio [OR], 0.36; 95% CrI, 0.20-0.61), while studies performed in children (OR, 3.37; 95% CrI, 1.98-5.98), in outpatients (OR, 2.19; 95% CrI, 1.08-4.75), and with a graded (OR, 3.24; 95% CrI, 1.50-7.06) or prolonged (OR, 5.45; 95% CrI, 2.38-13.28) challenge had higher rates of reaction. Only 5 severe reactions (3 anaphylaxis, 1 fever with rash, and 1 acute kidney injury) were reported, none of which were fatal. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that reactions to direct penicillin challenges are infrequent, with rates comparable to indirect challenges after allergy testing. These findings suggest that direct challenges are safe for incorporation into penicillin allergy evaluation efforts across age groups and clinical settings.

Efficient protein extraction for assessing food allergy risk in complex alternative protein matrices

Allergy to novel food proteins, due to diverse ingredients and innovative food processing technologies employed to achieve desired functional properties, is a major safety concern. Current allergy testing methods (ELISA and mass spectrometry) depend on high-quality protein extracts, meaning existing methods are often tailored to specific matrices. Therefore, a more efficient and general protein extraction method is desirable for comprehensive allergy risk assessment. Here, we developed a highly efficient and reproducible protein extraction method which achieved at least 80 % efficiency across several food matrices. Proteomics analysis of a plant-based meat using our optimized extraction method showed that higher extraction efficiency improved reproducibility of identified proteins. Moreover, higher protein extraction efficiency resulted in increased abundances of individual allergenic proteins. This underscores the relevance of our method for more accurate measurements of allergenic protein concentrations in allergy risk assessments.

Effect of mothers‘ health literacy on early childhood allergy prevention behaviours: results from the KUNO-Kids health study

BackgroundParents can engage in several behaviours with regard to early childhood allergy prevention (ECAP). These can be related to diet of mother/child and the modification of the home environment; not all of them are justified by current evidence. Previous studies showed that parental health literacy (HL) is related to favourable health behaviours directed at the child. This study aimed to investigate the causal effect of mothers’ HL on ECAP behaviours and to test different moderators of this effect.MethodsOne thousand six hundred sixty-two mothers participating in the KUNO-Kids health study in the area of Regensburg, Germany were surveyed on HL (assessed via the health care scale of the Health Literacy Survey-EU questionnaire, HLS-EU-Q47) and ECAP behaviours implemented during pregnancy and the child’s first year of life. Patterns in ECAP behaviours were identified by latent class analysis. Multinomial regression modelling was performed with HL as exposure, ECAP as outcome variable, allergy risk, parental competence and bonding, anxiety and depression as moderators as well as potentially confounding variables.ResultsWe identified three classes of ECAP behaviours (class 1: „breastfeeding “ N = 871; class 2: „allergen-avoidance “ N = 490; class 3: „mixed behaviours “ N = 301). In univariable as well as fully adjusted regression models, compared to class 1, class 2 was negatively, and class 3 was not associated with HL. None of the tested moderating variables altered the association between HL and ECAP significantly.ConclusionsWe found an effect of mothers’ HL on ECAP behaviours: lower HL of mothers increased allergen-avoiding behaviour directed at their child, while decreasing the chance of exclusive breastfeeding. Improving HL could contribute to the implementation of recommended ECAP behaviours in families, especially to the reduction of allergen-avoiding behaviours.

Clinical breakage, slippage and acceptability of two commercial ultra-thin polyurethane male condoms compared to a commercial thin latex condom: a randomised, masked, 3 way crossover, multi centre controlled study (SAGCS 2)

BackgroundAlthough natural rubber latex remains dominant as the primary manufacturing material for male condoms synthetic materials first introduced in the early 1990s address many of the limitations of latex including the risk of allergies. Polyurethane elastomers allow condoms to be made significantly thinner to provide greater sensitivity and encourage greater use of condoms for contraception and STI prophylaxis.The primary objective of this Study was to evaluate the breakage, slippage and acceptability of two ultra-thin polyurethane condoms against a thin control latex male condom, designated latex C, in a randomized, cross over, masked, non-inferiority study. The condom designated Polyurethane A was designed for markets where 52/53 mm wide latex condoms are preferred whereas the condom designated Polyurethane B was designed for markets where the smaller 49 mm wide latex condom is preferred.MethodsThe Study was designed to meet the requirements specified in ISO 29943–1: 2017 and FDA guidelines for clinical studies on synthetic condoms. It was conducted by two Essential Access Health centres, one in Northern California and the other in Southern California. Sexually active heterosexual couples (300) aged between 18 and 45 years were recruited to use three sets of five condoms in a block randomized order, recording breakage, slippage and acceptability after each use. A total of 252 couples contributed 2405 evaluable condom uses per protocol for the Condom A versus Latex C comparison (1193 Polyurethane A plus 1212 Latex C), and 247 couples provided 2335 evaluable condom uses per protocol for the Condom B versus Latex C comparison (1142 Polyurethane B plus 1193 Latex C). Only condoms used for vaginal intercourse were included in the analysis.FindingsAlthough the total failure rates (breakage and slippage) for the polyurethane condoms were higher than for the control Latex C condom, all condoms performed extremely well with low failure rates compared to similar condom studies. Condom Polyurethane A met the noninferiority requirements specified in ISO 23409:2011 relative to Latex C, the control NR latex condom, in the full Study population. While condom Polyurethane B did not meet the noninferiority requirement for the full Study population, it did meet the noninferiority requirement when analysis was restricted to the intended population (men with penis lengths ≤ 170 mm).Trial registration The Study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04622306, Protocol Reference SAGCS 2, initial release date 11/02/2020.

Ultra-processed foods, allergy outcomes and underlying mechanisms in children: An EAACI task force report.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods [UPFs] may be associated with negative health outcomes. Limited data exist regarding the potential role of UPFs in the occurrence of allergic diseases. The underlying mechanisms underpinning any such associations are also poorly elucidated. We performed a systematic review and narrative evidence synthesis of the available literature to assess associations between UPF consumption and pediatric allergy outcomes (n = 26 papers), including data on the association seen with the gut microbiome (n = 16 papers) or immune system (n = 3 papers) structure and function following PRISMA guidelines. Dietary exposure to fructose, carbonated soft drinks, and sugar intake was associated with an increased risk of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergies in children. Commercial baby food intake was associated with childhood food allergy. Childhood intake of fructose, fruit juices, sugar-sweetened beverages, high carbohydrate UPFs, monosodium glutamate, UPFs, and advanced glycated end-products (AGEs) was associated with the occurrence of allergic diseases. Exposure to UPFs and common ingredients in UPFs seem to be associated with increased occurrence of allergic diseases such as asthma, wheezing, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis, in many, but not all studies. More preclinical and clinical studies are required to better define the link between UPF consumption and the risk of allergies and asthma. These observational studies ideally require supporting data with clearly defined UPF consumption, validated dietary measures, and mechanistic assessments to definitively link UPFs with the risk of allergies and asthma.

Higher maternal bread and thiamine intakes are associated with increased infant allergic disease.

A mother's diet during pregnancy may influence her infant's immune development. However, as potential interactions between components of our dietary intakes can make any nutritional analysis complex, here we took a multi-component dietary analysis approach. Nutritional intake data was collected from 639 pregnant women using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire to reflect their dietary intakes during 32-36 weeks of gestation. To investigate their dietary intake pattern, we calculated Dietary Inflammatory Index scores. Maternal consumption of 12 food groups, 20 individual whole foods, and 18 specific nutrient intakes, along with any vitamin and mineral supplementation, were determined. Infant outcomes included eczema, allergen sensitization, and IgE-mediated food allergy. Regression-based analyses with covariates adjustment were applied. Women with higher white bread consumption were more likely to have an infant with doctor-diagnosed eczema (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.16; 95% CI 1.08, 1.24; p < .001) and IgE-mediated food allergy (aRR 1.14; 95% CI 1.02, 1.28; p = .02). Higher maternal intakes of fiber-rich bread (aRR 1.14; 95% CI 1.04, 1.25; p = .01) and legumes (aRR 1.11; 95% CI 1.02, 1.21; p = .02) were also associated with infant doctor-diagnosed eczema. Higher maternal thiamine intakes were associated with increased parent-reported infant eczema (aRR 1.08; 95% CI 1.03, 1.12; p < .001). In Australia, where bread flour is fortified with thiamine, we identified consistent links between higher maternal thiamine-rich diets and increased risk of infant eczema and food allergy. Our results highlight a need for further investigation of potential effects of high thiamine exposures on immune development, especially in-utero.

OS01-09 Incorporating expert knowledge in the Skin Allergy Risk Assessment (SARA) Model: an integrated approach to testing and assessment (IATA) demonstrated in case studies

OS01-09 Incorporating expert knowledge in the Skin Allergy Risk Assessment (SARA) Model: an integrated approach to testing and assessment (IATA) demonstrated in case studies

Exploring Recent Developments in Immunodeficiency and Autoinflammatory Diseases

Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) and autoinflammatory disorders present major challenges in clinical medicine due to their complexity and varied symptoms. PIDs heighten the risk of infections, autoinflammatory conditions, allergies, and cancers, impacting approximately six million people worldwide. This article reviews recent developments in the understanding and management of antibody deficiencies particularly Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID), which is a condition caused by genetic abnormalities especially those involving the NFKB2 gene. Clinical cases highlight the challenges in managing CVID and underscore the necessity of targeted treatments, such as rituximab, for cases that do not respond to standard therapies. Autoinflammatory diseases characterized by episodes of unprovoked inflammation are also explored, with a focus on monogenic disorders such as Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). Advances in targeted therapies particularly IL-1 inhibitors, have shown significant promise in managing the conditions, reducing the frequency of flare-ups, and improving quality of life. This article concluded by emphasizing the need for ongoing research into the pathophysiology of these disorders, creating novel biomarkers for early identification, and international collaboration to enhance patient care and outcomes.

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.

Risk of Self-Reported Penicillin Allergy Despite Removal of Penicillin Allergy Label

Risk of Self-Reported Penicillin Allergy Despite Removal of Penicillin Allergy Label

A novel sustainable photo/chemical magnetic nanomaterial effectively mitigates the allergenicity of phospholipase A2

Reducing the allergenicity of edible insects is crucial for the comprehensive utilization of insect resources. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) exists in various edible insects and mammalian tissues, which can cause serious allergic reactions. Herein, we constructed a magnetic nanocomposite with photo/chemical synergistic capability to mitigate the allergenicity of PLA2. The formation of prepared nanocomposite was systematically confirmed using various techniques. The nanocomposite exhibited uniform diameters, abundant functional groups, excellent magnetic capabilities. An effective photo/chemical method was established to reduce the allergenicity of PLA2 in vitro. The feasibility of the method was demonstrated through circular dichroism, fluorescence spectrum and IgE-binding analysis. The allergenicity and IgE-binding effect of PLA2 were significantly reduced due to conformational changes after nanomaterial treatment. These results demonstrate the sensitivity and effectiveness a strategy for reducing PLA2 allergenicity, providing a basis for development of nanomaterials to reduce the risk of novel food allergies in response to edible insect products.

Association of HLA alleles with cephalosporin allergy in the Taiwanese population

Cephalosporin antibiotics are widely used in clinical settings, but they can cause hypersensitivity reactions, which may be influenced by genetic factors such as the expression of Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules. This study aimed to investigate whether specific HLA alleles were associated with an increased risk of adverse reactions to cephalosporins among individuals in the Taiwanese population. This retrospective case–control study analyzed data from the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI) on 27,933 individuals who received cephalosporin exposure and had HLA allele genotyping information available. Using logistic regression analyses, we examined the associations between HLA genotypes, comorbidities, allergy risk, and severity. Among the study population, 278 individuals had cephalosporin allergy and 2780 were in the control group. Our results indicated that certain HLA alleles, including HLA-B*55:02 (OR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.18–2.61, p = 0.005), HLA-C*01:02 (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.05–1.77, p = 0.018), and HLA-DQB1*06:09 (OR = 2.58, 95% CI 1.62–4.12, p < 0.001), were significantly associated with an increased risk of cephalosporin allergy reactions. Additionally, the HLA-C*01:02 allele genotype was significantly associated with a higher risk of severe allergy (OR = 2.33, 95% CI 1.05–5.15, p = 0.04). This study identified significant associations between HLA alleles and an increased risk of cephalosporin allergy, which can aid in early detection and prediction of adverse drug reactions to cephalosporins. Furthermore, our study highlights the importance of HLA typing in drug safety and expanding our knowledge of drug hypersensitivity syndromes.