Contact dermatitis as an adverse reaction to some topically used European herbal medicinal products - Part 3: Mentha × piperita - Solanum dulcamara.

This review focuses on contact dermatitis as an adverse effect of a selection of topically used herbal medicinal products for which the European Medicines Agency has completed an evaluation up to the end of November 2013 and for which a Community herbal monograph - now (since 2015)(†) called a European Union herbal monograph - has been produced. Part 3: Mentha × piperita L.-Solanum dulcamara L.

Analysis of short-term influences of ambient aeroallergens on pediatric asthma hospital visits.

The objective of our study was to investigate the association between daily pediatric asthma hospital visits and daily concentrations of aeroallergens and their specific species. Records of daily asthma visits in Cincinnati area were retrieved from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and aeroallergen sampling was performed by the Button Inhalable Sampler. The Poisson generalized linear model was carried out in which the log of the number of asthma hospital visits was related to aeroallergen level, treated as a continuous variable with adjustment for seasonal time trend, day of the week, ozone and PM(2.5) concentrations, temperature and humidity. The aeroallergens having a significant impact on asthma hospital visits were ragweed, oak/maple and Pinaceae pollen. Their relative risks on asthma hospital visits with respect to a 100 counts/m(3) increase in concentration were in the range of 1.23 to 1.54. The effects in causing the asthma exacerbation were delayed by 3 or 5 days.

Pólenes alergénicos y polinosis en la ciudad de Burgos / Allergenic pollens and pollinosis in the city of Burgos

El objetivo de este estudio ha sido conocer cuáles son los pólenes que con más probabilidad producen polinosis en el área de la ciudad de Burgos. Método: Para ello se realizaron recuentos de pólenes con un colector Burkard, situado en la terraza del hospital General Yagüe. Se analizaron los taxones cuya media fuera superior al 1% del total de los años 1997, 1998 y del 2001 al 2004. Dentro de un estudio multicéntrico del Comité de Aerobiología de la SEAIC para el estudio de la polinosis, se seleccionaron 147 pacientes de ambos sexos, con clínica de rinitis, asma o ambas estacionales, residentes en nuestra área y con pruebas positivas frente a pólenes. Según el método de estudio se realizaron pruebas cutáneas por la técnica del prick con una batería de 25 pólenes. Resultados: Los pólenes alergénicos más frecuentemente encontrados en la atmósfera de Burgos fueron: cupresáceas (38,87%), especies de Quercus (14,51%), gramíneas (13,58%), especies de Pinus (10%), especies de Urtica (4,74%), especies de Platanus (3,49%), especies de Plantago (3,32%), Populus (2,26%), Olea (2,20%) y chenopoidaceas-amarantaceas (1,26%). Comparado con los pólenes anteriores, los resultados de las pruebas del prick en orden de prevalencia fue: gramíneas (91%), Plantago lanceolata (42,86%), Olea europaea (36,05%), Chenopodium album (26,53%), Urtica dioica (24,49%), Platanus hispanica (21,77%), Cupressus arizonica (19,05%) y Quercus ilex (18,37%). Como se observa en nuestros resultados, la sensibilización frente al polen de las gramíneas es la causa principal de polinosis en nuestro medio

The aim of the study was to know the main pollens with a higher probability of inducing pollinosis in the city of Burgos. Methods: For this purpose, pollen levels were measured by a Burkard collector situated in the terrace of the General Yagüe’s Hospital. Taxons with a mean above 1% of total during 1997, 1998 and 2001-2004 were analyzed. As part of a multicentric study from the SEAIC’s Aerobiology Committee for the study of pollinosis, 147 patients of both sexes with symptoms of seasonal rhinitis and/or asthma, resident in our area and with positive tests to pollens were selected. According to the study’s methodology, prick tests were performed with a panel of 25 pollens. Results: The allergenic pollens more prevalent in the atmosphere of Burgos were: cuppressus (38.87%), Quercus spp (14.51%), grasses (13.58%), Pinus spp (10%), Urtica spp (4.74%), Platanus spp (3.49%), Plantago spp (3.32%), Populus (2.26%), Olea (2.20%) y Chenopoidaceae- Amarantaceae (1.26%). Comparing with previous pollens, the results of prick tests were in order of prevalence: grass (91%), Plantago lanceolata (42.86%), Olea europaea (36.05%), Chenopodium album (26.53%), Urtica dioica (24.49%), Platanus hispanica (21.77%), Cupressus arizonica (19.05%) and Quercus ilex (18.37%). As we can infer from our results, sensitization to grass pollens constitutes the major cause of pollinosis en our area

Chloroatranol, an extremely potent allergen hidden in perfumes: a dose-response elicitation study.

Oak moss absolute is a long-known, popular natural extract widely used in perfumes. It is reported as the cause of allergic reactions in a significant number of those with perfume allergy. Oak moss absolute has been the target of recent research to identify its allergenic components. Recently, chloroatranol, a hitherto unknown fragrance allergen, was identified in oak moss absolute. The objective was to assess the clinical importance of chloroatranol as a fragrance allergen by characterizing its elicitation profile. 13 patients previously showing a positive patch test to oak moss absolute and chloroatranol were included, together with a control group of 10 patients without sensitization to either of the 2 materials. A serial dilution patch test was performed on the upper back with concentrations ranging from 200 to 0.0063 p.p.m. of chloroatranol in ethanol. Simultaneously, the participant performed an open test simulating the use of perfumes on the volar aspect of the forearms in a randomized and double-blinded design. A solution with 5 p.p.m. chloroatranol was used for 14 days, and, in case of no reaction, the applications were continued for another 14 days with a solution containing 25 p.p.m. All test subjects (13/13) developed an allergic reaction at the site of application of the solution containing chloroatranol. Among them, 12/13 (92%) gave a positive reaction to the 5 p.p.m. solution and 1 to 25 p.p.m. None of the controls reacted (P < 0.001). The use test was terminated at median day 4. The dose eliciting a reaction in 50% of the test subjects at patch testing was 0.2 p.p.m. In conclusion, the hidden exposure to a potent allergen widely used in perfumes has caused a highly sensitized cohort of individuals. Judged from the elicitation profile, chloroatranol is the most potent allergen present in consumer products today.