Search

Skin tests for the diagnosis of food allergy are useful studies in the daily practice of the Allergist, when well implemented they are an effective method to avoid unnecessary food restrictions. After the discovery of IgE, technological advances have provided new laboratory techniques for the quantification of allergen-specific IgE antibodies in serum and on the surface of basophil-mast cells. In vitro testing provides several advantages: accurate quantitation, lack of drug interference, safety, and long-term sample storage. Food atopy patch testing (APT) may provide additional information in patients with atopic dermatitis and other non-IgE-mediated food allergies; However, due to the variability in test results, it is not recommended to apply it in isolation, but rather in conjunction with other more standardized and validated evaluation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Spontaneous chronic urticaria is a skin disease characterized by hives and itching of more than 6 weeks of evolution. Methodology: In this article we attempt to review the available evidence on the mechanisms that may intervene in the pathogenesis of urticaria. Knowledge of these mechanisms can allow a better clinical approach and the design of more specific and effective drugs. Results: The mechanisms that lead to the pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria appear to be various and converge in the activation by autoreactive mechanisms of mast cells and basophils, which induces the release of histamine and other mediators. Conclusion: Different activation pathways have been identified where IgG, IgE, the coagulation cascade, complement factors, different cytokines, neurotrophins and neuropeptides participate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducción. La prueba de activación de basófilos (PAB) se considera una técnica confiable y segura para el diagnóstico de problemas alérgicos. Objetivo. Profundizar en el estado del arte de la PAB y su utilidad clínica. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó una revisión narrativa de la literatura mediante la búsqueda electrónica en las bases de datos y metabuscadores Ovid Medline, Google Scholar y PubMed, sin limitar la búsqueda por fecha, idioma o tipo de artículo. Se buscaron artículos sobre los detalles técnicos de la PAB y su utilidad clínica en el manejo de las enfermedades alérgicas. Resultados. De los marcadores de activación, CD63 ha sido el más estudiado y es el que mejor representa un evento de degranulación anafiláctica, mientras que CD203c es representativo de varias formas de degranulación. La superioridad de uno sobre otro como prueba diagnóstica depende del problema alérgico estudiado. En cuanto a los métodos de detección de basófilos, su selección con un único marcador, CCR3, se propone como una opción con buena relación de costo-efectividad. Conclusiones. La PAB es una herramienta prometedora para evaluar en clínica las reacciones alérgicas de forma segura. Es necesario una mayor estandarización de protocolos para obtener resultados más reproducibles.

Background: Cow’s milk protein allergy is the main allergic problem during the first year of life, possibly owing to immune and gastrointestinal systems poor maturation. To prevent allergic reactions, the content and type of proteins in infant formulas resemble those of breast milk. We believe that reactions are due rather to the amount than to the type of protein. Objective: To design a new formula with cow’s milk that provides the infant with the main nutrients at an affordable cost and with lower risk for the development of allergies. Methods: Three-phase project: product design, industrial production and ex vivo assay to assess for anemia and type I allergic reaction by CD63 expression in basophils. Results: For every 100 calories, the content of protein was 2.0 g, carbohydrates 7.2 g and fat 0.5 g, which is higher than the indicated maximum value (4.5 g). Microbiologically, it was an innocuous food. CD63 expression was low in 57.1% of the babies and high in 42.9%. Conclusion: The new formula did not trigger any allergenic responses and can therefore be supplied to non-atopic infants.

Copyright of Revista Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT) is a proved, highly effective treatment for respiratory IgE-mediated diseases. However, few studies have explored the immunological mechanisms of IT in patients with atopic dermatitis. Objective: To explore the immune response of atopic dermatitis patients receiving house dust mite (HDM) immunotherapy, according to humoral response and basophil activation. Material and method: An open label study was done which assessed the severity of atopic dermatitis with SCORAD in 20 patients (10 with immunotherapy and 10 without it) every three months during two years. Serum samples were taken before the follow up, and at the rst and second year of study to analyze CD63 basophil expression, total IgE levels and speci c IgE and IgG4 to Der p and Der f. Ten patients with allergic rhinitis receiving IT and 5 non-allergic subjects were used as controls. Results: CD63 expression after basophil stimulation with Der p was higher in atopic dermatitis patients than in rhinitis and non-allergic subjects. After the rst and second year of treatment, CD63 expression was lower in atopic dermatitis active group than in the atopic dermatitis control group. We observed a correlation between SCORAD, IgG4 and CD63 expression. Conclusion: In patients with atopic dermatitis, basophil activation test could be a biomarker of clinical response and basophil modulation can result in a better clinical control.

Background: Cow's milk protein allergy is the main allergic problem during the first year of life, possibly owing to immune and gastrointestinal systems poor maturation. To prevent allergic reactions, the content and type of proteins in infant formulas resemble those of breast milk. We believe that reactions are due rather to the amount than to the type of protein. Objective: To design a new formula with cow's milk that provides the infant with the main nutrients at an affordable cost and with lower risk for the development of allergies. Methods: Three-phase project: product design, industrial production and ex vivo assay to assess for anemia and type I allergic reaction by CD63 expression in basophils. Results: For every 100 calories, the content of protein was 2.0 g, carbohydrates 7.2 g and fat 0.5 g, which is higher than the indicated maximum value (4.5 g). Microbiologically, it was an innocuous food. CD63 expression was low in 57.1% of the babies and high in 42.9%. Conclusion: The new formula did not trigger any allergenic responses and can therefore be supplied to non-atopic infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT) is a proved, highly effective treatment for respiratory IgE-mediated diseases. However, few studies have explored the immunological mechanisms of IT in patients with atopic dermatitis. Objective: To explore the immune response of atopic dermatitis patients receiving house dust mite (HDM) immunotherapy, according to humoral response and basophil activation. Material and method: An open label study was done which assessed the severity of atopic dermatitis with SCORAD in 20 patients (10 with immunotherapy and 10 without it) every three months during two years. Serum samples were taken before the follow up, and at the first and second year of study to analyze CD63 basophil expression, total IgE levels and specific IgE and IgG4 to Der p and Der f. Ten patients with allergic rhinitis receiving IT and 5 non-allergic subjects were used as controls. Results: CD63 expression after basophil stimulation with Der p was higher in atopic dermatitis patients than in rhinitis and non-allergic subjects. After the first and second year of treatment, CD63 expression was lower in atopic dermatitis active group than in the atopic dermatitis control group. We observed a correlation between SCORAD, IgG4 and CD63 expression. Conclusion: In patients with atopic dermatitis, basophil activation test could be a biomarker of clinical response and basophil modulation can result in a better clinical control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As peroxidases, presentes nos peroxissomos e lisossomos, pertencem às oxidases e atuam como catalítico para o peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2), posteriormente decomposto pela oxidação de cossubstratos, evitando danos celulares.(¹) Foi aplicada a técnica da peroxidase(2) em esfregaços sanguíneos de Phrynops geoffroanus, comparando com sangue humano, para avaliação da atividade e controle da reação. O esfregaço sanguíneo humano apresentou marcações em neutrófilos, fagócitos com muitos lisossomos e peroxissomos (Figura 1). Nos esfregaços sanguíneos de Phrynops geoffroanus, as marcações apresentaram-se nos basófilos (Figura 2), que representam de 10% a 25% dos leucócitos de quelônios e possuem grande número de granulações citoplasmáticas,(3) sugerindo a presença de grande quantidade de enzimas e organelas como lisossomos e peroxissomos, possivelmente associadas a sua participação em reações imunes. A atividade peroxidásica representa resposta do organismo a ações ambientais danosas, servindo como marcador biológico.Peroxidase, present in peroxisomes and lysosomes, belongs to the oxidases and acts as a catalyst for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and is later decomposed by oxidation of cosubstrates thereby preventing cell damage.(1) The peroxidase technique(2) was applied to blood smears of Phrynops geoffroanus and the results compared with human blood to evaluate the activity and control of the reaction. The human blood film showed markings in neutrophils and phagocytes with many lysosomes and peroxisomes (Figure 1). In blood smears of Phrynops geoffroanus, the markings were on the basophils (Figure 2), that represent 10% to 25% of leukocytes of turtles and have a large number of cytoplasmatic granules(3) suggesting the presence of large amounts of enzymes and organelles such as lysosomes and peroxisomes, possibly associated with their participation in immune reactions. Peroxidase activity is the body's response to harmful environmental actions and serves as a biological marker.

Los leucocitos basófilos de la sangre normal humana (L. b. s.) no solamente constituyen el grupo menos numeroso ( 1/2 %) de las células componentes de la sangre, sino también su variación numérica en casos patológicos es insignificante y ha sido observada en unas pocas enfermedades únicamente. Así se ha visto un aumento de los L. b. s. encima del valor normal del 1/2 % en casos alérgicos y en cierto número de enfermedades de la sangre, como la policitemia, el íctero hemolítico, algunas anemias secundarias y las leucemias. También se ha observado su aumento en las enfermedades parenquimatosas del hígado. La literatura sobre los L. b. s.es escasa en relación con la muy abundante sobre las otras clases de células de la sangre periférica. Ya los nombres de las arriba citadas enfermedades de la sangre indican que su diagnóstico se determina por características señales hematológicas distintas del comportamiento de los L. b. s. y que la encontrada variación numérica de éstos tiene para el diagnóstico un valor secundario solamente.