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Introduction: Prick-to-prick (PTP) test with fresh food is accepted as a reliable tool for measuring sensitization to fruits and vegetables. Not all fruits and vegetables are available throughout the year. The objective of this study was to investigate whether skin prick test (SPT) performed with frozen juice of fruits and vegetables (FJFV) is a good alternative to PTP tests performed with fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV)., Methods: Adult patients suspected of having a food allergy to fruits and/or vegetables were included. A questionnaire was used to score symptoms after consumption of apple, kiwi, peach, tomato, and carrot. SPTs with FJFV, and PTP tests with FFV were performed. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) between the SPT and PTP test results were calculated. The sensitivity and specificity of both diagnostic tests towards food allergen specific symptoms (FASS) were calculated., Results: Thirty-six patients were included. FASS was positive in 75% for apple, 53% for kiwi, 44% for peach, 25% for tomato, and 22% for carrot. ICC between SPT and PTP test results were moderate for apple (0.72) and kiwi (0.71), strong for peach (0.75) and tomato (0.89), and very strong for carrot (0.94). Sensitivity was equal for the SPT and PTP tests for apple (0.93), peach (0.81), and carrot (1.00), and comparable for kiwi (0.50 resp. 0.70), and tomato (0.44 resp. 0.56). Specificity was equal for apple (0.33), peach (0.15), and carrot (0.41), and comparable for kiwi (0.29 resp. 0.21) and tomato (0.80 resp. 0.72)., Conclusions: Results of SPT with FJFV and PTP test with FFV are comparable. SPT with FJFV is a good alternative in the daily practice of the allergists., (© 2024 Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam. Clinical and Translational Allergy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.)

Background: This study continues the review by Gøtzsche and Johansen (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008, Art. No: CD001187), aiming to systematically generate hypotheses on the effectiveness of (sub)strategies for house dust mite allergen avoidance in the treatment of allergic asthma., Methods: We used the trials previously analysed by Gøtzsche and Johansen and searched recently published studies. Data on asthma symptom scores (ASS), ACQ, number of improved patients, AQLQ-scores, medication use, FEV 1 %, PC 20 , and FeNO levels were analysed. The effectiveness of strategies was assessed using Metafor in R., Results: Thirty-five trials involving 2419 patients were included in the final study. The patient-reported outcome number of patients with improved condition following total bedroom control was RR = 3.39 (95% confidence interval: 1.04 to 11.04, P = 0.04). The mean differences in the ASS by nocturnal air purification was -0.7 (95% confidence interval: -1.08 to -0.32, P < 0.001). Other outcomes including partial bedroom control were non-significant or clinically not of importance., Conclusions: Total bedroom control and nocturnal air purification of the breathing zone hypothetically provides clinical benefits in patients with house dust mite-induced allergic asthma. The number of patients with improvements in their condition respectively the asthma symptom score differences showed potential in small subgroups, consisting of single studies. Partial bedroom control is not recommended., Systematic Review Registration: Prospero CRD42022323660., (© 2024 The Author(s).)