The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Feb 2004
Multicenter StudyMulticenter study of emergency department visits for food allergies.
Relatively little is known about the characteristics of patients who visit the emergency department (ED) for an acute allergic reaction. Although anaphylaxis guidelines suggest treatment with epinephrine, teaching about self-injectable epinephrine, and referral to an allergist, current ED management remains uncertain. ⋯ Although guidelines suggest specific approaches for the management of acute allergic reactions, ED concordance for food allergy appears low. These findings support a new collaboration between professional organizations in allergy and emergency medicine and the development of educational programs and materials for ED patients and staff.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Feb 2004
Comparative Study Clinical TrialLeukotrienes and 8-isoprostane in exhaled breath condensate of children with stable and unstable asthma.
Cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cys-LTs) and 8-isoprostane are biomarkers of airway inflammation and oxidative stress. ⋯ Our study shows that EBC cys-LTs and 8-isoprostane concentrations are higher in asthmatic children than in healthy control children, with scattered values in patients with unstable asthma. These findings suggest that EBC eicosanoid measurement may have useful clinical implications for investigating phenotype differences among asthmatic patients.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialThe addition of zafirlukast to cetirizine improves the treatment of chronic urticaria in patients with positive autologous serum skin test results.
Because leukotrienes have potent local effects on cutaneous vasculature, leukotriene antagonists might be effective in the treatment of chronic urticaria. ⋯ The results of this study indicate that only patients with autoimmune (ASST positive) chronic urticaria refractory to H(1)-antagonist monotherapy might benefit from the addition of the leukotriene D(4)-receptor antagonist zafirlukast to their treatment regimen. These results also suggest that routine screening of patients with chronic urticaria with the ASST might be useful in formulating therapeutic algorithms in the management of chronic urticaria.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jan 2004
Comparative Study Clinical TrialSoybean allergy in patients allergic to birch pollen: clinical investigation and molecular characterization of allergens.
Allergic reactions to legumes are generally thought to be acquired by means of primary sensitization through the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, Gly m 4 (starvation-associated message 22), a Bet v 1-related pathogenesis-related protein 10 from soy, was suggested to be an allergen in patients with allergic reactions to a dietary product containing a soy protein isolate. ⋯ Our results confirm that soybean is another birch pollen-related allergenic food. Gly m 4 is the major soy allergen for patients allergic to birch pollen with soy allergy. The content of Gly m 4 in soy food products strongly depends on the degree of food processing.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Dec 2003
Neutrophil-derived matrix metalloproteinase-9 is increased in severe asthma and poorly inhibited by glucocorticoids.
Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 levels are increased in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from patients with severe asthma on high doses of glucocorticoids (GCs). ⋯ BAL neutrophils contribute to BAL fluid MMP-9 protein and activity and are poorly inhibited by GCs.