Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology
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Second generation therapeutic vaccines based upon recombinant allergens or natural extracts, potentially formulated in vector systems or adjuvants, are being developed. To this aim, preclinical studies in relevant animal models are needed to select proper allergens, formulations and administration schemes. ⋯ The efficacy of a sublingual vaccine based on a Dpte/Dfar allergen extract mix was demonstrated in a well standardized murine model of chronic allergic airway inflammation based on clinically relevant mite allergens. The latter will be used as a benchmark for evaluation of future vaccines, including recombinant allergens. This HDM allergic airway inflammation animal model is a useful tool to design and select candidate vaccines to be tested in humans.
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Skin testing with amoxicillin (AX) is necessary to diagnose immediate hypersensitivity reactions to this β-lactam. A commercial AX (DIA-AX) has recently become available for skin testing. ⋯ This study shows that DIA-AX is equivalent to INJ-AX in terms of skin test response, as well as with in vitro immunochemical and biological tests. DIA-AX can therefore be used in the diagnosis of immediate hypersensitivity reactions.
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More perioperative cefazolin use has resulted in an increased risk of cefazolin-associated reactions. ⋯ In this cohort of patients with IgE-mediated reactions to cefazolin, a majority tolerated amoxicillin and several patients tolerated other cephalosporins. This implies that the R1 side-chain may play an essential role in IgE-mediated reactions to cefazolin. No clear rule to predict cross-reactivity with other ß-lactams could be determined. More research on IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to cefazolin and other cephalosporins is needed.
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Fixed airflow limitation can be found both in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), posing a day-to-day diagnostic challenge. ⋯ External validation of exhaled breath molecular profiling shows high accuracy in distinguishing asthma and COPD in newly recruited patients with fixed airways obstruction. Exhaled air analysis may therefore reduce misdiagnosis in obstructive airways diseases, potentially leading to more appropriate management.
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Few data on the diagnostic accuracy in pollinosis of the microarray ISAC of allergens are available. ⋯ Component-based microarray ISAC CRD103 and whole-allergen CAP showed high Se and Sp diagnosing equally grass and cypress pollen allergy. The cut-off point for each allergen should be properly applied for both techniques.