Performance in Kahoot! activities as predictive of exam performance.

BACKGROUND: Game-based learning (GBL) is effective for increasing participation, creativity, and student motivation. However, the discriminative value of GBL for knowledge acquisition has not yet been proven. The aim of this study is to assess the value of Kahoot! as a discriminative tool for formative assessment in medical education in two different subjects. METHODS: A prospective experimental study was conducted on a sample of 173 students enrolled in neuroanatomy (2021-2022). One hundred twenty-five students individually completed the Kahoot! prior to the final exam. In addition, students enrolled in human histology during two academic courses were included in the study. The control group course (2018-2019) received a traditional teaching methodology (N = 211), while Kahoot! was implemented during 2020-2021 (N = 200). All students completed similar final exams for neuroanatomy and human histology based on theory tests and image exams. RESULTS: The correlation between the Kahoot score and the final grade was analyzed for all students enrolled in neuroanatomy who completed both exercises. The correlation between the Kahoot exercise and the theory test, image exam and final grade was significantly positive in all cases (r = 0.334 p < 0.001, r = 0.278 p = 0.002 and r = 0.355 p < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, students who completed the Kahoot! exercise obtained significantly higher grades in all parts of the exam. Regarding human histology, the theory tests, image exams and final grades were significantly higher when using Kahoot! versus the "traditional" methodology (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.014, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates for the first time that Kahoot! can be used to improve and predict the final grade in medical education subjects.

Functional insights into the infective larval stage of Anisakis simplex s.s., Anisakis pegreffii and their hybrids based on gene expression patterns.

BACKGROUND: Anisakis simplex sensu stricto and Anisakis pegreffii are sibling species of nematodes parasitic on marine mammals. Zoonotic human infection with third stage infective larvae causes anisakiasis, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease. These 2 species show evidence of hybridisation in geographical areas where they are sympatric. How the species and their hybrids differ is still poorly understood. RESULTS: Third stage larvae of Anisakis simplex s.s., Anisakis pegreffii and hybrids were sampled from Merluccius merluccius (Teleosti) hosts captured in waters of the FAO 27 geographical area. Specimens of each species and hybrids were distinguished with a diagnostic genetic marker (ITS). RNA was extracted from pools of 10 individuals of each taxon. Transcriptomes were generated using Illumina RNA-Seq, and assembled de novo. A joint assembly (here called merged transcriptome) of all 3 samples was also generated. The inferred transcript sets were functionally annotated and compared globally and also on subsets of secreted proteins and putative allergen families. While intermediary metabolism appeared to be typical for nematodes in the 3 evaluated taxa, their transcriptomes present strong levels of differential expression and enrichment, mainly of transcripts related to metabolic pathways and gene ontologies associated to energy metabolism and other pathways, with significant presence of excreted/secreted proteins, most of them allergens. The allergome of the 2 species and their hybrids has also been thoroughly studied; at least 74 different allergen families were identified in the transcriptomes. CONCLUSIONS: A. simplex s.s., A. pegreffi and their hybrids differ in gene expression patterns in the L3 stage. Strong parent-of-origin effects were observed: A. pegreffi alleles dominate in the expression patterns of hybrids albeit the latter, and A. pegreffii also display significant differences indicating that hybrids are intermediate biological entities among their parental species, and thus of outstanding interest in the study of speciation in nematodes. Analyses of differential expression based on genes coding for secreted proteins suggests that co-infections presents different repertoires of released protein to the host environment. Both species and their hybrids, share more allergen genes than previously thought and are likely to induce overlapping disease responses.

Different protein composition of low-calorie diet differently impacts adipokine profile irrespective of weight loss in overweight and obese women.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: High-protein (HP) diets have shown benefits in cardiometabolic markers such as insulin or triglycerides but the responsible mechanisms are not known. We aimed to assess the effect of three energy-restricted diets with different protein contents (20%, 27%, and 35%; ∼80% coming from animal source) on plasma adipokine concentration and its association with changes in cardiometabolic markers. METHODS: Seventy-six women (BMI 32.8 ± 2.93) were randomized to one of three calorie-reduced diets, with protein, 20%, 27%, or 35%; carbohydrates, 50%, 43%, or 35%; and fat, 30%, for 3 months. Plasma adipokine (leptin, resistin, adiponectin, and retinol-binding protein 4; RBP4) levels were assessed. RESULTS: After 3 months, leptin concentration decreased in all groups without differences among them, while resistin levels remained unchanged. Adiponectin concentration heterogeneously changed in all groups (P for trend = 0.165) and resistin concentration did not significantly change. RPB4 significantly decreased by -17.5% (-31.7, -3.22) in 35%-protein diet (P for trend = 0.024 among diets). Triglycerides improved in women following the 35%-protein diet regardless of weight loss; RBP4 variation significantly influenced triglyceride concentration change by 24.9% and 25.9% when comparing 27%- and 35%- with 20%-protein diet, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A 35%-protein diet induced a decrease in RBP4 regardless of weight loss, which was directly associated with triglyceride concentration improvement. These findings suggest that HP diets improve the cardiometabolic profile, at least in part, through changes in adipokine secretion. Whether this beneficial effect of HP diet is due to improvements in hepatic or adipose tissue functionality should be elucidated. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The clinical trial has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02160496).

Diagnostic use of recombinant Tha p 2 in the allergy to Thaumetopoea pityocampa.

Thaumetopoea pityocampa causes allergies and skin and ocular lesions. No commercial tools are currently available for the clinical diagnosis of this allergy. We aimed to develop an in vitro method for the diagnosis of this allergy to avoid patients undergoing in vivo tests with insect extracts. Recombinant Tha p 2 was produced and used in an ELISA validated with 15 allergic patients. Subsequently, 42 subjects recruited from a random sampling cross-sectional study were analysed. The ELISA sensitivity and specificity were 93.3% and 100%, respectively, for the allergic patients and 71.4% and 95.3%, respectively, for the epidemiological study. The positive ELISA results correlated with the skin prick test areas with the whole body and the setae extracts. Professional exposure and short latency of symptoms onset were risk factors for a positive result in the ELISA. In conclusion, our ELISA is very useful for T. pityocampa allergy diagnosis and for epidemiologic testing.

Effect of different fat-enriched meats on non-cholesterol sterols and oxysterols as markers of cholesterol metabolism: Results of a randomized and cross-over clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Different kinds of fatty acids can affect the synthesis, absorption, and elimination of cholesterol. This study was carried out to assess the associations of cholesterol metabolism with the intake of two meats with different fatty acid composition in healthy volunteers. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group was composed of 20 subjects (12 males and eight females; age, 34.4 ± 11.6 years; body mass index (BMI), 23.5 ± 2.3 kg/m(2); low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, 2.97 ± 0.55 mmol/l; high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, 1.61 ± 0.31 mmol/l; triglycerides (TG), 1.06 ± 0.41 mmol/l) who completed a 30-day randomized and cross-over study to compare the cholesterol metabolism effect of 250 g of low-fat lamb versus 250 g of high-fat lamb per day in their usual diet. Cholesterol absorption, synthesis, and elimination were estimated from the serum non-cholesterol sterol and oxysterol concentrations analyzed by a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). No changes in weight, plasma lipids, or physical activity were observed across the study. Cholesterol intestinal absorption was decreased with both diets. Cholesterol synthesis and elimination decreased during the low-fat lamb dietary intervention (ρ = 0.048 and ρ = 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSION: Acute changes in the diet fat content modify the synthesis, absorption, and biliary elimination of cholesterol. These changes were observed even in the absence of total and LDL cholesterol changes in plasma. REGISTRATION NUMBER FOR CLINICAL TRIALS: ClinicalTrials.gov PRS, NCT02259153.

Neurophobia among undergraduate medical students: a European experience beyond the Anglosphere. / Neurofobia entre los estudiantes de medicina de una universidad española: experiencias más allá de la anglosfera.

INTRODUCTION: Neurophobia is defined as the fear of the neural sciences and clinical neurology that is due to the students' inability to apply their knowledge of basic sciences to clinical situations. This phenomenon, well documented in the Anglosphere, has seldom been studied in other European countries and never in our country. Our study aimed to determine whether said fear existed among Spanish medical students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire with 18 items was sent to medical students in the second, fourth and sixth years of medical school at a Spanish university during the academic years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. They were questioned about their fears regarding neurology and neurosciences, causes and potential solutions. RESULTS: Out of 320 responses, 34.1% suffered from neurophobia and only 31.2% felt confident they knew what neurologists do. Despite Neurology being considered the most difficult discipline, it did also arouse the most interest among the students. Main reasons identified for neurophobia were too theoretical lectures (59.4%), neuroanatomy (47.8%), and a lack of integration between neuroscience subjects (39.5%). Solutions considered most important by the students to reverse this situation went along those lines. CONCLUSION: Neurophobia is prevalent among Spanish medical students too. Having identified the teaching methodology as one of its fundamental causes, neurologists have the opportunity and obligation to reverse this situation. We should strive for more proactive involvement of neurologists at earlier stages of medical education.

TITLE: Neurofobia entre los estudiantes de medicina de una universidad española: experiencias más allá de la anglosfera.Introducción. Definimos neurofobia como el miedo a las neurociencias y la neurología clínica, fundamentalmente asociado a la falta de capacidad del estudiante para aplicar sus conocimientos teóricos. Esta sensación, bien contrastada en el sistema anglosajón, ha sido poco estudiada en otros territorios europeos y nunca en nuestro país. Nuestro objetivo es analizar si este miedo hacia la neurología también existe entre estudiantes de una universidad española. Material y métodos. Estudio mediante encuestas autoadministradas a estudiantes de segundo, cuarto y sexto año de medicina de la Universidad de Zaragoza durante los cursos académicos 2020-2021 y 2021-2022. Cuestionario de 18 preguntas que recoge la percepción hacia la neurología y el resto de las neurociencias y su comparación con respecto a otras especialidades médicas. Resultados. De los 320 encuestados, el 34,1% sufriría neurofobia y tan sólo el 31,2% tendría claro a qué se dedica un neurólogo. A pesar de ser la especialidad considerada más difícil, es también la que mayor interés despierta. Los principales motivos para ese miedo son una enseñanza eminentemente teórica (59,4%), la neuroanatomía (47,8%) y una falta de integración entre las asignaturas de neurociencias (39,5%). Las soluciones consideradas de mayor peso por los alumnos para revertir esta situación irían en esa línea. Conclusiones. La neurofobia es también un problema en la formación universitaria española. Identificada la metodología docente como una de sus causas fundamentales, los neurólogos tenemos la oportunidad y la obligación de intentar revertir esta situación. Para ello, será necesario participar activamente en la formación de los futuros médicos desde las etapas más tempranas del grado.

Clinical characteristics of premature cardiovascular disease in our health area.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular disease continues to be the main cause of mortality, but few data are available in the young population. The aim of our study was to know the incidence and clinical characteristics of premature cardiovascular disease in our health area. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of patients admitted for acute episode of premature cardiovascular disease in a referral hospital during 2018. RESULTS: We detected 367 subjects: 306 (83.4%) with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Almost half (164, 44.7%) were diabetic, with primary hypercholesterolaemia or high cardiovascular risk, and 84 (22.9%) had a personal history of cardiovascular disease. Among those with elevated risk or history (n = 207) only 47 subjects had LDL cholesterol at therapeutic target. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the subjects with premature cardiovascular disease in our study had higher cardiovascular risk than attributable to their age. Intensive diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors may prevent cardiovascular disease in young adults.

Contact angioedema and rhinoconjunctivitis caused by Dendrobaena species and Sarcophaga carnaria used as fishing bait.

The flesh fly Sarcophaga carnaria is commonly used as fishing bait. Immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated reactions caused by the handling of this bait have been reported. The earthworm Dendrobaena species is increasingly being used as fishing bait but there have been no reported cases of allergy to this species to date. We studied a 26-year-old amateur angler who presented rhinoconjunctivitis, urticaria, and angioedema on handling S carnaria. He started to use Dendrobaena species instead but developed the same symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify the allergens involved in the patient's clinical reactions. The study was performed using immunoglobulin (Ig) E immunoblotting and immunoblotting inhibition assays.The patient's serum detected allergens from Dendrobaena species (of an apparent molecular weight of approximately 150, 60, 37, 24, 21 and 19 kDa) and S. carnaria (approximately 70 kDa and a smear ranging from 50 to 40 kDa). The patient was diagnosed with allergy to both Dendrobaena species and 5 carnaria. This is the first case describing Dendrobaena species as an allergic agent.

[Skin reactions on exposure to the pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)]. / Manifestaciones cutáneas originadas por la oruga procesionaria del pino (Thaumetopoea pityocampa).

The pine processionary caterpillar is the larval form of the Thaumetopoea pityocampa moth. Mediterranean forests regularly suffer plagues of this insect, which has been moving north as a result of global warming. When the small urticating hairs that develop during the last 3 larval stages are shed and can become airborne. If they come in contact with skin, they can cause a variety of reactions, notably contact urticaria and papular rashes. Irritation can also occur if the hairs lodge in the mucosa of the conjunctiva or in the respiratory tract. Several cases of anaphylactic reactions have been reported in recent years. Mechanical (irritative) mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of lesions, or immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic hypersensitivity reactions may be implicated when the process is rapid, recurrent, and progressively more severe.

ANGPTL3 gene variants in subjects with familial combined hyperlipidemia.

Angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) plays an important role in lipid metabolism in humans. Loss-of-function variants in ANGPTL3 cause a monogenic disease named familial combined hypolipidemia. However, the potential contribution of ANGPTL3 gene in subjects with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) has not been studied. For that reason, the aim of this work was to investigate the potential contribution of ANGPTL3 in the aetiology of FCHL by identifying gain-of-function (GOF) genetic variants in the ANGPTL3 gene in FCHL subjects. ANGPTL3 gene was sequenced in 162 unrelated subjects with severe FCHL and 165 normolipemic controls. Pathogenicity of genetic variants was predicted with PredictSNP2 and FruitFly. Frequency of identified variants in FCHL was compared with that of normolipemic controls and that described in the 1000 Genomes Project. No GOF mutations in ANGPTL3 were present in subjects with FCHL. Four variants were identified in FCHL subjects, showing a different frequency from that observed in normolipemic controls: c.607-109T>C, c.607-47_607-46delGT, c.835+41C>A and c.*52_*60del. This last variant, c.*52_*60del, is a microRNA associated sequence in the 3'UTR of ANGPTL3, and it was present 2.7 times more frequently in normolipemic controls than in FCHL subjects. Our research shows that no GOF mutations in ANGPTL3 were found in a large group of unrelated subjects with FCHL.

Different Th1/Th2 responses to Anisakis simplex are related to distinct clinical manifestations in sensitized patients.

Anisakis simplex is a fish parasite capable of inducing inflammatory and allergic reactions in humans who eat raw or undercooked fish. The aim of this study was to characterize the T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2 immune response to parasite crude (CE) and thermostable (TsE) extracts in A. simplex-sensitized patients. Cytokines were quantified by a multiplex flow cytometric method in short-term whole blood cultures. Higher concentrations of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5, measured with the CE and TsE, were found in patients than in controls. Patients showing urticaria-angio-oedema or anaphylaxis (UA/A) had higher total and specific IgE levels than those with gastrointestinal symptoms (GI). The UA/A group showed high levels of IL-5 and IL-4 and low expression of IFN-gamma than the GI group. The GI group had significantly higher IFN-gamma/IL4 ratio than the UA/A group. Four patients with severe GI symptoms reporting a delayed skin test reaction had very low values of specific IgE to A. simplex and higher IFN-gamma/IL4 ratios than that observed in other patients belonging to the GI group. This short-term whole blood test can be useful for immune response characterization in Anisakis infection and showed that heated parasite antigens are still capable of inducing cellular immune response in sensitized patients.

Multiple acute parasitization by Anisakis simplex.

Hypersensitivity to Anisakis is an increasingly prominent medical problem throughout the world, due to a better understanding of diseases induced by parasites and to modern culinary habits of eating raw or undercooked fish. We describe the case of a patient who presented epigastric pain, wheals, erythema, and pruritus 3 hours after the ingestion of fish. More than 200 larvae were obtained by endoscopy. However, the patient only developed an immune response with specific immunoglobulin E and eosinophilia peaking at day 18 and decreasing during the 17-month follow-up. Only eosinophilia reached normal limits.

Lettuce-induced anaphylaxis. Identification of the allergen involved.

BACKGROUND: Only 2 allergenic proteins have been described in lettuce allergy: a 16-kDa protein (putative profilin) and a lipid transfer protein (LTP) named Lac s 1. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to identify the allergens involved in the anaphylactic reactions of 2 patients who had eaten lettuce. METHODS: The study was performed by Ig (immunoglobulin)-E immunodetection and immunodetection-inhibition assays. RESULTS: Both patients' sera showed specific IgE binding to a single protein from the crude lettuce extract (apparent molecular weight of 14 kDa). To characterize the allergen detected, the lettuce extract underwent proteolytic digestion and heat treatment and was highly resistant to both. The patients' sera also recognized the major peach allergen Pru p 3 by immunodetection. When the lettuce allergen was incubated with both Pru p 3 from peach peel and recombinant Pru p 3, the immunodetection-inhibition assay indicated that patients were sensitized to the lettuce LTP Lac s 1. CONCLUSIONS: The allergen involved in the lettuce-induced anaphylaxis of our patients was the LTP Lac s 1.

Selective allergy to lobster in a case of primary sensitization to house dust mites.

Allergy to only 1 kind of seafood is uncommon. We report a case of selective allergy to lobster. We studied a 30-year-old man who suffered generalized urticaria, facial erythema, and pharyngeal pruritus after eating lobster. He had a more than 10-year history of mild persistent asthma and sensitization to house dust mites. The study was performed by skin prick test, and prick-prick test, oral food challenge, specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E determinations by CAP (Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden) and ADVIA-Centaur (ALK-Abelló, Madrid, Spain), and IgE-immunoblotting. The patient's serum recognized 2 allergens of around 198 kDa and 2 allergens of around 65 kDa from the lobster extract, allergens of around 15, 90, and 120 kDa from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract, and allergens of around 15 and 65 kDa from Dermatophagoides farinae extract. Serum did not recognize purified shrimp tropomyosin. Immunoblot-inhibition assay results indicated cross-reactivity between lobster and mite allergens. This is the first report of selective allergy to lobster.

Neurofobia entre los estudiantes de medicina de una universidad española: experiencias más allá de la anglosfera / Neurophobia among undergraduate medical students: a European experience beyond the Anglosphere

Introducción: Definimos neurofobia como el miedo a las neurociencias y la neurología clínica, fundamentalmente asociado a la falta de capacidad del estudiante para aplicar sus conocimientos teóricos. Esta sensación, bien contrastada en el sistema anglosajón, ha sido poco estudiada en otros territorios europeos y nunca en nuestro país. Nuestro objetivo es analizar si este miedo hacia la neurología también existe entre estudiantes de una universidad española. Material y métodos. Estudio mediante encuestas autoadministradas a estudiantes de segundo, cuarto y sexto año de medicina de la Universidad de Zaragoza durante los cursos académicos 2020-2021 y 2021-2022. Cuestionario de 18 preguntas que recoge la percepción hacia la neurología y el resto de las neurociencias y su comparación con respecto a otras especialidades médicas. Resultados: De los 320 encuestados, el 34,1% sufriría neurofobia y tan sólo el 31,2% tendría claro a qué se dedica un neurólogo. A pesar de ser la especialidad considerada más difícil, es también la que mayor interés despierta. Los principales motivos para ese miedo son una enseñanza eminentemente teórica (59,4%), la neuroanatomía (47,8%) y una falta de integración entre las asignaturas de neurociencias (39,5%). Las soluciones consideradas de mayor peso por los alumnos para revertir esta situación irían en esa línea. Conclusiones: La neurofobia es también un problema en la formación universitaria española. Identificada la metodología docente como una de sus causas fundamentales, los neurólogos tenemos la oportunidad y la obligación de intentar revertir esta situación. Para ello, será necesario participar activamente en la formación de los futuros médicos desde las etapas más tempranas del grado.(AU)

Introduction: Neurophobia is defined as the fear of the neural sciences and clinical neurology that is due to the students’ inability to apply their knowledge of basic sciences to clinical situations. This phenomenon, well documented in the Anglosphere, has seldom been studied in other European countries and never in our country. Our study aimed to determine whether said fear existed among Spanish medical students. Material and methods: A self-administered questionnaire with 18 items was sent to medical students in the second, fourth and sixth years of medical school at a Spanish university during the academic years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. They were questioned about their fears regarding neurology and neurosciences, causes and potential solutions. Results: Out of 320 responses, 34.1% suffered from neurophobia and only 31.2% felt confident they knew what neurologists do. Despite Neurology being considered the most difficult discipline, it did also arouse the most interest among the students. Main reasons identified for neurophobia were too theoretical lectures (59.4%), neuroanatomy (47.8%), and a lack of integration between neuroscience subjects (39.5%). Solutions considered most important by the students to reverse this situation went along those lines. Conclusion: Neurophobia is prevalent among Spanish medical students too. Having identified the teaching methodology as one of its fundamental causes, neurologists have the opportunity and obligation to reverse this situation. We should strive for more proactive involvement of neurologists at earlier stages of medical education.

Bile acid synthesis precursors in subjects with genetic hypercholesterolemia negative for LDLR/APOB/PCSK9/APOE mutations. Association with lipids and carotid atherosclerosis.

Some oxysterols are precursors of bile acid synthesis and play an important role in cholesterol homeostasis. However, if they are involved in the pathogeny of genetic hypercholesterolemia has not been previously explored. We have studied non-cholesterol sterol markers of cholesterol synthesis (lanosterol and desmosterol) and oxysterols (7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one, 24S-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol) in 200 affected subjects with primary hypercholesterolemia of genetic origin, negative for mutations in LDLR, APOB, PCSK9 and APOE genes (non-FH GH) and 100 normolipemic controls. All studied oxysterols and cholesterol synthesis markers were significantly higher in affected subjects than controls (P<0.001). Ratios of oxysterols to total cholesterol were higher in non-FH GH than in controls, although only 24S-hydroxycholesterol showed statistical significance (P<0.001). Cholesterol synthesis markers had a positive correlation with BMI, triglycerides, cholesterol and apoB in control population. However, these correlations disappeared in non-FH GH with the exception of a weak positive correlation for non-HDL cholesterol and apoB. The same pattern was observed for oxysterols with high positive correlation in controls and absence of correlation for non-FH GH, except non-HDL cholesterol for 24S-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol and apoB for 27-hydroxycholesterol. All non-cholesterol sterols had positive correlation among them in patients and in controls. A total of 65 (32.5%) and 35 (17.5%) affected subjects presented values of oxysterols ratios to total cholesterol above the 95th percentile of the normal distribution (24S-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol, respectively). Those patients with the highest levels of 24S-hydroxycholesterol associated an increase in the carotid intima media thickness. These results suggest that bile acid metabolism is affected in some patients with primary hypercholesterolemia of genetic origin, negative for mutations in the candidate genes, and may confer a higher cardiovascular risk. Our results confirm that cholesterol synthesis overproduction is a primary defect in non-HF GH and suggest that subjects with non-FH GH show high levels of oxysterols in response to hepatic overproduction of cholesterol.

Seropositivity to a major allergen of Anisakis simplex, Ani s 1, in dyspeptic patients with Helicobacter pylori infection: histological and laboratory findings and clinical significance.

Previous studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of seropositivity to the Ani s 1 protein in dyspeptic patients with Helicobacter pylori infection, but it is not known whether this represents episodes of anisakiasis misdiagnosis or previous exposure to the parasite without clinical relevance. To investigate the clinical significance of seropositivity to the Ani s 1 protein, a cohort study was performed with 87 consecutive dyspeptic patients who were treated for H. pylori infection. Fourteen (16.5%) patients were seropositive for the Ani s 1 protein, which was associated with the consumption of uncooked fish (p 0.0002). There were no differences in histological findings between subjects seropositive or seronegative for Ani s 1, but seropositive patients had increased eosinophil and basophil leukocyte counts (p < 0.05). Anti-Ani s 1 IgE was associated with a lack of improvement in the group of patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia after successful eradication of H. pylori (p 0.016). Thus, in at least a subset of patients with H. pylori infection, seropositivity to Ani s 1 could have clinical relevance. In addition, these data highlight that only anisakiasis associated with severe allergic or gastric symptoms is currently being diagnosed.

Epitope mapping of the major allergen from yellow mustard seeds, Sin a I.

The antigenic sites on the major allergen from yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seeds were studied using murine (BALB/c) monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and human IgE antibodies. Ten IgG1 (K) mAb from two fusions were analyzed. Competition and complementation studies performed with peroxidase labeled mAb reveal the existence of two main antigenic sites in Sin a I. All the described mAb failed to recognize the unordered carboxyamidomethylated polypeptide chains, with the single exception of 2B3, which binds the alkylated large chain. However, this mAB cannot react with the tetranitromethane-modified protein which retains the native conformation. This fact suggests that the only tyrosine of Sin a I, located in the large chain, may be part of a sequential epitope of the allergen. This chemical modification also alters the binding of the mAb 4A11 and 3F3 to the allergen, besides 2B3. The three mAb belong to the same complementation group. Specific IgE binding cannot be inhibited either by the large or small carboxyamidomethylated polypeptide chains, while the nitrated allergen shows a weaker inhibitory activity than the native Sin a I. 4A11, which is a tyrosine-dependent mAb, causes the greatest binding inhibition of the tested mAb on human IgE from atopic individuals, as determined from a reverse enzyme immunoassay, suggesting an important role played by tyrosine in the immunochemical recognition of Sin a I.