Prevalence of asthma and severity of allergic rhinitis comparing 2 perennial allergens: house dust mites and Parietaria judaica pollen.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an increasingly prevalent worldwide disease that has a considerable impact on quality of life and health care costs. Asthma and AR may be part of the same disease, with AR leading to an increased risk of asthma. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of asthma in patients with AR due to house dust mites (HDMs) or Parietaria judaica and analyze the characteristics of asthma and AR in each group. METHODS: Cross-sectional, multicenter study with recording of demographic and clinical characteristics. All patients had AR confirmed by symptoms and a positive skin prick test to HDMs or P judaica. They were classified according to the severity and frequency ofAR following the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) and modified ARIA criteria and according to the severity of asthma following the Global Initiative for Asthma criteria. RESULTS: We studied 395 patients (226 in the HDM group and 169 in the Pjudaica group) with a mean (SD) age of 43 (15.3) years. Using the modified ARIA criteria, we detected more severe and persistent AR in the P judaica group than in the HDM group (44.5% vs 24.8%, P < .001). Nevertheless, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of the severity or prevalence (50% in HDM vs 47.9% in P judaica, P = .685) of asthma. CONCLUSION: AR due to P judaica pollen, which behaves like a perennial allergen, is associated with the same prevalence of asthma and with more severe rhinitis than AR due to HDMs.

Topical dexketoprofen as a cause of photocontact dermatitis.

We reported on the case of a patient who developed a cutaneous eruption in a photoexposed area 1 week after a continous topical treatment with dexketoprofen (Enangel). Photopatch tests were positive for dexketoprofen, ketoprofen and piketoprofen and patch test was positive for piketoprofen. Control photopatch testing with dexketoprofen in 15 healthy volunteers was negative. Dexketoprofen, ketoprofen and piketoprofen are non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (arylpropionic acid derivatives) often used as topical anti-inflammatory agents. It appears that the benzophenone moiety of their chemical structure is the cause of their photosensitivity and cross-photoreaction.

[Application of immunotherapy in Catalonia (Spain)]. / Aplicación de la inmunoterapia en Cataluña.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the use of specific immunotherapy (SIT) in public and private hospitals in Catalonia (Spain) in the management of respiratory allergic diseases and opinions about this treatment through a questionnaire. SIT dosage schedules and the creation of immunotherapy units were also investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: A questionnaire containing eight items was sent by post and/or electronic mail to the heads of allergy units in 24 public and private hospitals in Catalonia.A total of 18 hospitals responded. The most commonly used route of administration was subcutaneous (89.4 %, SD 9.05) and the most widely used dosage schedule was the classical schedule (77.2 %, SD 24.9). Most of the hospitals (83.3 %) believed that immunotherapy units were an advantage but only 44 % of them believed that their creation was feasible. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this survey identify the application of SIT in Catalonia and reveal certain features of this treatment that remain to be established such as the optimal dosage schedule and the precautions that should be followed when administering SIT.

[Transmural flow of D-galactose in the jejunum of young rats using a new perfusion chamber]. / Flujos transmurales de D-galactosa en yeyuno de ratas jóvenes con una nueva cámara de perfusión.

The chamber used allows the simultaneous but separated incubation of two intestinal segments (approximately 4 cm in length) in vitro and is especially suited for its application to studies on young animals. Segments are perfused with the help of a peristaltic pump (6 ml/h) without recycling. D-galactose fluxes across rat jejunum have been studied in everted jejunal segments from 19-21 day-old rats. Transmural fluxes (JmsGal) were determined using four external mucosal galactose concentrations (0.2, 2, 10 and 20 mM). The ratios of passive JmsGal were 1 : 11 : 49.7 : 96.7. Those due to active transport of the substrate were 1 : 7.1 : 14.6 : 18.8, indicating saturation. The active component of total JmsGal fluxes was 80%, 72%, 54% and 44%, respectively. Comparison of transmural galactose fluxes in noneverted segments from 20 day-old (suckling) and 25 day-old rats, showed that there is a marked reduction in both passive and active components of substrate flux across the intestine at the time of weaning.