Allergy
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Clinical efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy with tree pollen extract in children.
Subcutaneous immunotherapy has been the principal approach of immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic diseases. Several clinical studies with birch, alder or hazel pollen extract conducted as subcutaneous immunotherapy have been published suggesting a well-tolerated and clinically effective treatment. Only a few clinical studies of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with these allergens have been published. This study investigated the clinical efficacy, safety and dose-response relationship of SLIT in children suffering from rhinoconjunctivitis with/without asthma. ⋯ SLIT with tree pollen extract provided dose-dependent benefits in tree pollen-allergic children in terms of significantly reduced symptoms and medication use. The treatment was well tolerated.
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Comparative Study
The alpha-chain of high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcepsilonRIalpha) gene polymorphisms and serum IgE levels.
The high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin-E (IgE) (FcepsilonRI) plays a major role in the pathogenesis of allergy, but there are only two published studies on its alpha subunit (FcepsilonRIalpha) genetic variability in allergic diseases. ⋯ Our findings of genotype-related differences in IgE levels in allergic patients suggest an impact of -344 C>T but not -95 T>C gene polymorphism of FcepsilonRIalpha on total levels of IgE. The genetic variability in FcepsilonRIalpha at the -344 nucleotide of its regulatory sequence, though not related to atopy, predicts higher levels of the immunoglobulin.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of basophil activation tests using CD63 or CD203c expression in patients with insect venom allergy.
Flow cytometric basophil activation tests have been developed as cellular tests for in vitro diagnosis of IgE-mediated reactions. Different activation markers (CD63 or CD203c) with distinct ways of regulation have been used after stimulation with various allergens. ⋯ These results support the reliability of basophil activation tests using either CD63 or CD203c as cellular tests in the in vitro diagnosis of patients with bee or wasp venom allergy with a slightly higher sensitivity for the CD203c protocol.
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Diagnosis of anaphylaxis from neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) is not always straightforward. ⋯ The BAT constitutes a reliable instrument to diagnose anaphylaxis from rocuronium. The technique also allows quick and simultaneous testing of different potential cross-reactive NMBA and to tailor a safe alternative.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Cost-effectiveness of asthma control: an economic appraisal of the GOAL study.
The Gaining Optimal Asthma ControL (GOAL) study has shown the superiority of a combination of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate (SFC) compared with fluticasone propionate alone (FP) in terms of improving guideline defined asthma control. ⋯ The GOAL study previously demonstrated the improvement in total control associated with the use of SFC compared with FP alone. This study suggests that this improvement in control is associated with cost-per-QALY figures that compare favourably with other uses of scarce health care resources.