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Background: A considerable number of pollen-allergic patients develops allergy to plant foods, which has been attributed to cross-reactivity between food and pollen allergens. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences among pollen-allergic patients with and without plant food allergy. Methods: Eight hundred and six patients were recruited from 8 different hospitals. Each clinical research group included 100 patients (50 plant food-allergic patients and 50 pollen-allergic patients). Diagnosis of pollen allergy was based on typical case history of pollen allergy and positive skin prick tests. Diagnosis of plant-food allergy was based on clear history of plant-food allergy, skin prick tests and/or plant-food challenge tests. A panel of 28 purified allergens from pollens and/or plant foods was used to quantify specific IgE (ADVIA-Centaur® platform). Results: Six hundred and sixty eight patients (83%) of the 806 evaluated had pollen allergy: 396 patients with pollen allergy alone and 272 patients with associated food and pollen allergies. A comparison of both groups showed a statistically significant increase in the food and pollen allergy subgroup in frequency of: (1) asthma (47 vs. 59%; p < 0.001); (2) positive skin test results to several pollens: Plantago,Platanus,Artemisia,Betula,Parietaria and Salsola (p < 0.001); (3) sensitization to purified allergens: Pru p 3, profilin, Pla a 1 – Pla a 2, Sal k 1, PR-10 proteins and Len c 1. Conclusion: Results showed relevant and significant differences between both groups of pollen-allergic patients depending on whether or not they suffered from plant-derived food allergy. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy (Symbicort SMART®) improves asthma control compared with fixed-dose inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β 2-agonist (ICS/LABA) regimens, but its efficacy has not been assessed in comparison with sustained high-dose salmeterol/fluticasone (Seretide™) plus a short-acting β 2-agonist (SABA). Methods: Patients (N=2309) with symptomatic asthma (aged ⩾12 years; forced expiratory volume in 1s ⩾50% predicted), who had experienced an asthma exacerbation in the previous year, were randomised to receive budesonide/formoterol 160/4.5μg two inhalations twice daily and as needed, or one inhalation of salmeterol/fluticasone 50/500μg twice daily plus terbutaline as needed, for 6 months. Results: Time to first severe exacerbation, the pre-specified primary outcome, was not significantly prolonged (risk ratio 0.82; 95% confidence interval 0.63, 1.05). Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy reduced total exacerbations from 31 to 25 events/100 patients/year (P=0.039), and exacerbations requiring hospitalisation/emergency room (ER) treatment from 13 to 9 events/100 patients/year (P=0.046). The treatments showed no difference in measures of lung function or asthma symptoms. The mean dose of ICS received was lower using budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy (792μg/day budesonide [1238μg/day beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) equivalent] versus 1000μg/day fluticasone [2000μg/day BDP equivalent] with salmeterol/fluticasone therapy; P<0.0001). Both treatments were well tolerated. Conclusion: In the treatment of uncontrolled asthma, budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy reduces the incidence of severe asthma exacerbations and hospitalisation/ER treatment with similar daily symptom control compared with sustained high-dose salmeterol/fluticasone plus SABA. This benefit is achieved with substantially less ICS exposure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduces a series of articles devoted to basic and clinical aspects of allergy to olive pollen. Mechanisms of allergic reactions; Tolerance to olive pollen sensitization; Symptomatology of olive pollen allergy.