R-mandelonitrile-lyase, homolog to Pru d 10, is a major peach allergen in peach allergic Spanish population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Peach allergy is a prevalent cause of food allergy. Despite the repertoire of allergens available for molecular diagnosis, there are still patients with undetectable IgE levels to peach allergens but presenting symptoms after its ingestion. The objective of this study was to investigate the allergenic profile in a patient population with symptoms produced by peach. METHODS: An exploratory retrospective study was performed with patients presenting symptoms after the ingestion of peach. Forty-two patients were included in the study. The allergenic profile of individual patients was investigated by immunoblot. A serum pool was prepared with the sera that recognized a 70 kDa band. This pool was used to detect this protein in peach peel and pulp and to identify the 70 kDa protein in 2D immunoblot. Spots recognized in the 2D immunoblot were sequenced by LC-MS/MS. Inhibition studies were performed between peach peel and almond. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (52.4%) recognized the 70 kDa protein in immunoblot. This protein was recognized in peel and pulp. Two different spots were observed in 2D-PAGE, both were identified as (R)-mandelonitrile lyases (RML) with high amino acid similarity with Pru du 10. Peach RML were partially inhibited with an almond extract. No association was found between any reported symptom and sensitization to RML. RML-sensitized patients were older and reported pollen associated respiratory symptoms more frequently than negative patients. CONCLUSION: A new peach allergen, a RML, homologous of Pru du 10, recognized by 52% of the population has been identified.

IgE, IgG1 and IgG4 response to specific allergens in sensitized subjects showing different clinical reactivity to Anisakis simplex.

SUMMARY: Background. Anisakis simplex hypersensitive subjects may be sensitized without clinical allergy, or experience acute symptoms or chronic urticaria induced by raw fish. We studied whether the 3 subgroups differ in IgE, IgG1 or IgG4 reactivity to specific Anisakis simplex allergens. Methods. 28 Anisakis simplex-hypersensitive adults, 11 with acute symptoms, 9 with chronic urticaria, and 8 sensitized were studied. IgE, IgG1 and IgG4 to rAni s 1, 5, 9 and 10 were sought by ELISA. IgE and IgG4 to nAni s 4 were determined by WB. Results. IgE to Ani s 1, 4, 5, 9, and 10 were found in 8, 3, 2, 5, and 9 sera, respectively. Nine sera did not react to any allergen. IgG1 to Ani s 1, 5, 9, and 10 were detected in 5, 16, 14, and 4 sera, respectively. Four sera did not react to any of the 4 allergens. IgG4 to Ani s 1, 4, 5, 9, and 10 were detected in 10, 0, 2, 6 and 1 sera, respectively. Fifteen subjects did not react to any of the 5 allergens. On ELISA sensitized subjects showed lower IgE and IgG1 levels than patients. IgG4 levels were highest in the sensitized group. The prevalence of IgE, IgG1 or IgG4 reactivity to any of the studied allergens did not differ between the 3 subgroups. Conclusion. The clinical expression of Anisakis simplex sensitization does not seem to depend on IgE reactivity to a specific allergen of the parasite, nor on the presence of IgG antibodies possibly related with blocking activity.

Relationships between T cell and IgE/IgG4 epitopes of the Anisakis simplex major allergen Ani s 1.

BACKGROUND: Anisakiasis is a global disease caused by the consumption of raw or lightly cooked fish parasitized with third-stage Anisakis larvae. Anisakis simplex allergens may cause severe allergic reactions including angio-oedema, urticaria and anaphylaxis. Approximately 80% of allergic patients have allergen-specific IgE against Ani s 1, and the diagnostic value of testing for antibodies to Ani s 1 has been extensively demonstrated. However, no previous studies have investigated the molecular aspects of the allergic response to Ani s 1. Knowledge of allergen-specific T cell and B cell (IgE and IgG4) epitopes is important for elucidating the immunological mechanisms underlying allergic responses, and for understanding why particular proteins behave as allergens. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the main T cell- and B cell (IgE and IgG4)- binding regions of Ani s 1. METHODS: T cell epitopes were identified by peptide proliferation assays using T cell lines derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 11 patients with Anisakis allergy, and IgE and IgG4 epitopes were identified by microarray immunoassay using sera from a different group of 11 patients with Anisakis allergy. RESULTS: Several T cell epitopes of Ani s 1 were identified, of which Ani s 1145-156 , Ani s 1151-162 and Ani s 1163-171 located at the C-terminal end of the protein were the most relevant. IgE and IgG4 recognized largely the same peptides, including Ani s 122-41 , Ani s 125-44 , Ani s 127-47 , Ani s 137-56 and Ani s 194-113 . CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first report describing the T cell epitopes of an important allergen of A. simplex, and the first B cell epitope study of this allergen in the Spanish population. This information can help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the allergic response to Ani s 1, potentially leading to therapeutic and diagnostic advances.

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.

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.

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.

Modelling the growth of Leuconostoc mesenteroides by Artificial Neural Networks.

The combined effect of temperature (10.5 to 24.5 degrees C), pH level (5.5 to 7.5), sodium chloride level (0.25% to 6.25%) and sodium nitrite level (0 to 200 ppm) on the predicted specific growth rate (Gr), lag-time (Lag) and maximum population density (yEnd) of Leuconostoc mesenteroides under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, was studied using an Artificial Neural Network-based model (ANN) in comparison with Response Surface Methodology (RS). For both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, two types of ANN model were elaborated, unidimensional for each of the growth parameters, and multidimensional in which the three parameters Gr, Lag, and yEnd are combined. Although in general no significant statistical differences were observed between both types of model, we opted for the unidimensional model, because it obtained the lowest mean value for the standard error of prediction for generalisation. The ANN models developed provided reliable estimates for the three kinetic parameters studied; the SEP values in aerobic conditions ranged from between 2.82% for Gr, 6.05% for Lag and 10% for yEnd, a higher degree accuracy than those of the RS model (Gr: 9.54%; Lag: 8.89%; yEnd: 10.27%). Similar results were observed for anaerobic conditions. During external validation, a higher degree of accuracy (Af) and bias (Bf) were observed for the ANN model compared with the RS model. ANN predictive growth models are a valuable tool, enabling swift determination of L. mesenteroides growth parameters.

Effects of acute and chronic toluene inhalation on behavior, monoamine metabolism and specific binding (3H-serotonin and 3H-norepinephrine) of rat brain.

The present study deals with the effect of chronic toluene inhalation (30,000-40,000 ppm in air, 15 min/day for 30 days) that induced abnormal behavior states resembling the serotonin syndrome in rats: resting tremor, hindlimb abduction, Straub tail, head weaving and rigidity. The head weaving latencies were significantly decreased when assessed at 15 and 30 days of exposure to toluene vapors. The sequence pattern signs of serotonin syndrome were changed after 15 and 30 days of exposure, indicating possible cumulative effects and/or tolerance development. There were no changes in concentrations of indolamine and catecholamine compounds in different parts of the rat brain (cerebral cortex, midbrain, brainstem and cerebellum) as influence of chronic toluene exposure. Examination of specific serotonin ((3H)-5HT) to crude synaptic membranes prepared from rat brains and subjected to chronic toluene inhalation revealed a very high increased value in apparent Kd (30.7 +/- 15) with respect to its air control (9.7 +/- 2.3) and baseline control (5.8 +/- 3.2). This difference was highly significant (p < 0.02). There were no changes in apparent Bmax of specific (3H)-5HT binding sites. On the other hand (3H)-NE binding of rat brain studies did not show any difference either in apparent Kd or apparent Bmax. These results indicate that serotonin syndrome may be a consequence of changes of serotonergic mechanism, specifically a reduced affinity in specific (3H)-5HT binding sites.

Effect of nutritional status and ozone exposure on rat brain serotonin.

BACKGROUND: Ozone is an environmental pollutant that has widely documented deleterious effects on exposed organisms. In Mexico City, this pollutant frequently reaches concentrations that surpass safe health limits. In addition, it has been reported that the prevalence of malnutrition remains high in our childhood population. This experiment was carried out to determine whether malnutrition is a factor contributing to an increase in the risk of damage associated with ozone exposure. METHODS: Using an experimental animal model, 21-day-old rats fed normally or with induced malnutrition were subchronically exposed to 0.5 ppm of ozone or fresh air, respectively, for 30 days. At the end of this period and using HPLC, serotonin concentrations were measured in four areas of the brain: cortex, hemispheres, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata. RESULTS: Malnourished animals had a significant weight deficit beginning at 28 days with respect to well-fed animals. Among the well-fed animals, this phenomenon is seen at 35 days in exposed and non-exposed animals. In the four regions of the brain, malnourished animals show low serotonin concentrations with respect to well-nourished animals. In the cerebellum, there was an interaction between the nutritional factor and ozone exposure, while in the medulla oblongata both factors acted independently. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a multiplicative effect from the nutritional factor and ozone exposure in the changes observed concerning serotonergic metabolism.

Patterns of drug consumption in relation with the pathologies of elderly Mexican subjects resident in nursing homes.

PURPOSE: To describe the patterns of drugs consumed by the male and female elderly living in Mexican private and public nursing homes. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty elderly participants from four nursing homes (2 private and 2 public) were selected for the six month study: 108 subjects were excluded; the remaining 242 were between 65 and 100 years old; 123 were females and 119 males. A complete clinical history was taken and clinical files were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 242 elderly studied, 193 took diverse medications and 28.5% were at risk of some type of drug interaction. The groups of drugs more frequently consumed were vitamins and anti-anemic medications, followed by cardiovascular drugs. Females consumed greater number of drugs. They also consumed more drugs simultaneously. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to monitor the elderly for their drugs pattern use.

[Agranulocytosis induced by captopril after 4 months of treatment]. / Agranulocitosis inducida por captopril tras cuatro meses de tratamiento.

A case of a patient treated by captopril who developed agranulocytosis and sepsis from pulmonary origin is presented. Shortly, we reviewed the pathogenesis of this complication and highlight the fact that in this patient this adverse reaction to captopril was late.