Peamaclein--a new peach allergenic protein: similarities, differences and misleading features compared to Pru p 3.

BACKGROUND: Among the peach-derived allergens which are already known, the lipid transfer protein (Pru p 3) seems to be the one to exert severe allergic reactions. OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize a new peach allergen causing a clinical picture similar to that of Pru p 3. METHODS: Patients were selected on the basis of their severe clinical reactivity and negative results to a panel of peach allergens available on the ISAC103 microarray. Several in-house and commercial preparations were compared. Several methods were used to characterize the newly identified molecule. Specific IgE and inhibition assays were performed using the Allergen micro-Beads Array (ABA) assay. RESULTS: Negative ISAC results to Pru p 3 were confirmed by additional testing in contrast with the positive results obtained by commercial Pru p 3-enriched peach peel extracts. The analyses of one of these preparations led to the identification of Peamaclein, a new allergenic protein. It is a small, basic, cysteine-rich, heat-stable, digestion-resistant protein, homologous to a potato antimicrobial peptide. Peamaclein was able to trigger positive skin test reactions and to bind IgE in the ABA assay. It displays an electrophoretic mobility and chromatographic behaviour similar to that of Pru p 3; therefore, it can be hidden in Pru p 3 preparations. In fact, Pru p 3-enriched peach peel extracts were found to contain both Pru p 3 and Peamaclein by means of comparative in vivo testing, and by biochemical and immunochemical assays. Commercially available anti-Pru p 3 polyclonal antibodies were found to have a double specificity for the two molecules. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A new allergen from peach belonging to a new family of allergenic proteins has been identified and characterized. This knowledge on Peamaclein will improve our understanding on the clinical aspects of the peach allergy and the quality of diagnostic reagents.

Occurrence of nonceliac gluten sensitivity in patients with allergic disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of gluten sensitivity (GS) in a group of allergic patients and to assess the efficacy of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on the improvement of the symptomatology in those who were diagnosed with GS. METHODS: 262 unrelated allergic patients with gastrointestinal symptoms of obscure origin were tested for GS condition by biopsy. All patients were also genotyped for the typical celiac DQ2 and DQ8 molecules and investigated for several hematological parameters such as antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies. Patients displaying mucosal lesions were invited to follow a GFD. RESULTS: Seventy-seven of the 262 allergic patients were positive to mucosal lesions, but negative to the antiAGA, antiEMA and to DQ2 and DQ8 molecules. We found, instead, a prevalence of the DQA1*05 allele, whereas anemia of inflammatory origin represented the predominant complaint in our subjects. The positive patients, who, after the GS diagnosis, followed a GFD, exhibited control of symptoms as well as stabilization of the hematological parameters even if allergic manifestations were not abated. CONCLUSIONS: A nonceliac gluten-sensitive enteropathy (NCGSE) commonly occurs in allergic patients. Based on the high prevalence of NCGSE in allergy, it is recommended that biopsy should be part of the routine investigation of allergic disease to offer the benefits of treatment with a GFD to the patients.

Emotional and Cognitive Preservice Science Teachers' Engagement While Living a Model-Based Inquiry Science Technology Engineering Mathematics Sequence About Acid-Base.

Science inquiry and modeling activities have been proved to heighten emotional situations; therefore, research about emotions should aim to identify which activities promote student engagement with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields through multidimensional models that include emotional and cognitive engagement. This research is focused on science teachers' need to carefully review their classroom instructions to ensure that students are provided with opportunities to develop appropriate understandings of acid/base models (and their concepts). To achieve this, we have implemented a short model-based inquiry acid-base instructional sequence in the context of a TV-spot about chewing gum. A descriptive, non-experimental quantitative methodology with a heuristic (emotional: self-report questionnaire; and cognitive: self-regulation questionnaire) has been used to analyze what Pre-Service Secondary Education Teachers from several Spanish universities recognize to have learned and felt in each activity. Differences regarding knowledge declared by the participants were identified in all the tasks from before to after carrying them out. Furthermore, the results seem to indicate that there are significant relationships between the knowledge and the emotions, being different depending on the skill involved. Significant correlations between emotions have been found. However, there were no significant correlations with either rejection and knowledge or with other emotions, which points to emotional engagement. Generally, no significant differences were identified between emotions and gender or universities, with some exceptions between genders in two tasks. Thus, the results led us to reflect on the instructional sequence implementation's ability to bring awareness to the learning process and how it produces multidimensional engagements.

TNFα deficiency results in increased IL-1ß in an early onset of spontaneous murine colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)) is a multifactorial disease resulting from immune dysregulation in the gut. The underlying colitis is characterized by high levels of inflammatory cytokines, including TNFα. Biological intervention for IBD patients using anti-TNFα antibodies is often an effective therapeutic solution. However, TNFα neutralization fails to induce remission in a subgroup of IBD patients, primarily in UC patients. There is a dearth of suitable animal models representing TNFα non-responders. Here we have combined one of the best UC models currently available, namely Winnie and the TNFαKO mouse to generate a TNFα-deficient Winnie to study early onset colitis. The induced TNFα deficiency with underlying colitis does not influence general health (viability and body weight) or clinical parameters (colon weight, colon length and histological colitis) when compared with the Winnie genotype alone. The molecular characterization resulted in identification of Il1ß as the major elevated cytokine during early phases of colitis. Further, in vitro functional assay using bone marrow-derived dendritic cells confirmed IL-1ß as the major cytokine released in the absence of TNFα. This study has generated a successful model of colitis that remains TNFα non-responsive and has demonstrated that IL-1ß expression is a major pathway for the progression of colitis in this system. These data also suggest that IL-1ß can be a potential target for clinical intervention of UC patients who fail to respond to TNFα neutralization.

SWOT analysis to evaluate the programme of a joint online/onsite master's degree in environmental education through the students' perceptions.

This study shows the use of SWOT to analyse students' perceptions of an environmental education joint master's programme in order to determine if it runs as originally planned. The open answers given by students highlight the inter-university nature of the master's, the technological innovation used as major points, and the weaknesses in the management coordination or the duplicate contents as minor points. The external analysis is closely linked with the students' future jobs, their labour opportunities available to them after graduation. The innovative treatment of the data is exportable to the evaluation of programmes of other degrees because it allows the description linked to its characteristics and its design through the students' point of view.

Expansion diverticulum of the suprapineal recess causing cerebellar ataxia. A case report.

As a result of long-standing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsation against the thinnest segments of the ventricular walls, focal enlargement of the ventricular system (diverticulum) may occur, mainly at the medial wall of the trigone of the lateral ventricles (atrial diverticula) or at the posterior wall of the third ventricle (expansion of the suprapineal recess). In the latter case, ocular signs are the most common symptoms, due to the severe deformation of the periaqueductal region. We describe a case of non-communicating hydrocephalus in a 36-year-old woman who presented a three-year history of cerebellar ataxia. Preoperative brain magnetic resonance (MR) scan showed marked supratentorial hydrocephalus with an apparently patent aqueduct of Sylvius, and an enlarged suprapineal recess causing cerebellar and tentorial dislocation. The patient was successfully treated by endoscopic third ventriculostomy and monitored by MR scans with phase-contrast sequences for assessment of CSF flow. Cerebellar ataxia is a very rare symptomatic onset for a suprapineal recess expansion diverticulum, which may cause obstructive hydrocephalus that can be effectively treated by endoscopic third ventriculostomy.