Lifetime prevalence and determinants of hand eczema in an adolescent population in Germany: 15-year follow-up of the LISA cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Hand eczema is a common inflammatory skin disorder in both adolescence and adulthood. OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the lifetime prevalence of hand eczema and associated exogenous and endogenous risk factors among adolescents in Germany. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study embedded into a prospective population-based birth cohort in four regions of Germany, which recruited healthy neonates born between November 1997 and January 1999. We included 1736 participants who had completed the 15-year follow-up from birth cohort and 84.6% (1468/1736) had clearly reported whether they have ever had hand eczema. All the data were based on questionnaires and blood tests (immunoglobulin E). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine endogenous and exogenous factors in relation to the lifetime prevalence of hand eczema among adolescents. RESULTS: One thousand four hundred and sixty-eight adolescents (715 girls, 48.7%) were included in the final analysis. The lifetime prevalence of hand eczema among adolescents at the age of 15 was 10.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.9%-12.1%), with a significantly higher lifetime prevalence among girls than boys (12.7% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.005). Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated statistically significant associations between the lifetime prevalence of hand eczema and having ever been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1-2.8) or having ever had dry skin (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.1), respectively. No statistically significant independent associations were found between asthma, hay fever, allergy-related clinical symptoms, immunoglobulin E positivity and other exogenous factors in relation to hand eczema. CONCLUSION: Our study fills a research gap on the epidemiological burden of hand eczema among adolescents. One out of ten ever suffered from hand eczema until age 15 years indicating that hand eczema constitutes a significant burden in paediatric populations. The role of atopic dermatitis in hand eczema reinforces previous findings. Exogenous risk factors warrant further investigation.

Production of fructooligosaccharides by Bacillus subtilis natto CCT7712 and their antiproliferative potential.

AIMS: Fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) known for their health properties and ß-(2→6)-levan-type FOSs have shown prebiotic and immunomodulatory activities that overcome those of commercial ß-(2→1)-FOSs, but costs do not favour their use. Moreover, FOSs can reach the bloodstream through the diet, and little is known about their direct effect on cells. The aim of this work was to produce high-content FOSs by Bacillus subtilis natto CCT7712 in a bioreactor using commercial sucrose and to evaluate their antiproliferative effects in OVCAR-3 cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: FOS production reached 173·60 g l-1 , 0·2 vvm aeration and uncontrolled pH. Levan-type FOSs, composed of ß-(2 â†’ 6) links and mainly GF3 (6-nystose), were identified using RMN spectroscopy, FT-IR and ESI-MS. FOSs decreased the viability and proliferation of OVCAR-3 cells, and the effects were associated with an increased pro-inflammatory response by the induction of IL-8 and TNF-α, and the repression of ER-ß genes. The metabolic profiles showed disruption of cellular homeostasis that can be associated with a decrease in proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: The high production of levan-type FOSs from B. subtilis natto CCT7712 in a bioreactor was achieved, and they showed antiproliferative potential in OVCAR-3 cells. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: FOS could be a good target for future therapeutic studies and commercial use.

Dimerization leads to changes in APP (amyloid precursor protein) trafficking mediated by LRP1 and SorLA.

Proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by α-, ß- and γ-secretases is a determining factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Imbalances in the activity of all three enzymes can result in alterations towards pathogenic Aß production. Proteolysis of APP is strongly linked to its subcellular localization as the secretases involved are distributed in different cellular compartments. APP has been shown to dimerize in cis-orientation, affecting Aß production. This might be explained by different substrate properties defined by the APP oligomerization state or alternatively by altered APP monomer/dimer localization. We investigated the latter hypothesis using two different APP dimerization systems in HeLa cells. Dimerization caused a decreased localization of APP to the Golgi and at the plasma membrane, whereas the levels in the ER and in endosomes were increased. Furthermore, we observed via live cell imaging and biochemical analyses that APP dimerization affects its interaction with LRP1 and SorLA, suggesting that APP dimerization modulates its interplay with sorting molecules and in turn its localization and processing. Thus, pharmacological approaches targeting APP oligomerization properties might open novel strategies for treatment of AD.

Microbial characteristics in homes of asthmatic and non-asthmatic adults in the ECRHS cohort.

Microbial exposures in homes of asthmatic adults have been rarely investigated; specificities and implications for respiratory health are not well understood. The objectives of this study were to investigate associations of microbial levels with asthma status, asthma symptoms, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), and atopy. Mattress dust samples of 199 asthmatics and 198 control subjects from 7 European countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II study were analyzed for fungal and bacterial cell wall components and individual taxa. We observed trends for protective associations of higher levels of mostly bacterial markers. Increased levels of muramic acid, a cell wall component predominant in Gram-positive bacteria, tended to be inversely associated with asthma (OR's for different quartiles: II 0.71 [0.39-1.30], III 0.44 [0.23-0.82], and IV 0.60 [0.31-1.18] P for trend .07) and with asthma score (P for trend .06) and with atopy (P for trend .02). These associations were more pronounced in northern Europe. This study among adults across Europe supports a potential protective effect of Gram-positive bacteria in mattress dust and points out that this may be more pronounced in areas where microbial exposure levels are generally lower.

Early age exposure to moisture damage and systemic inflammation at the age of 6 years.

Cross-sectional studies have shown that exposure to indoor moisture damage and mold may be associated with subclinical inflammation. Our aim was to determine whether early age exposure to moisture damage or mold is prospectively associated with subclinical systemic inflammation or with immune responsiveness in later childhood. Home inspections were performed in children's homes in the first year of life. At age 6 years, subclinical systemic inflammation was measured by serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and blood leukocytes and immune responsiveness by ex vivo production of interleukin 1-beta (IL-1ß), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in whole blood cultures without stimulation or after 24 hours stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin (PI), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or peptidoglycan (PPG) in 251-270 children. Moisture damage in child's main living areas in infancy was not significantly associated with elevated levels of CRP or leukocytes at 6 years. In contrast, there was some suggestion for an effect on immune responsiveness, as moisture damage with visible mold was positively associated with LPS-stimulated production of TNF-α and minor moisture damage was inversely associated with PI-stimulated IL-1ß. While early life exposure to mold damage may have some influence on later immune responsiveness, it does not seem to increase subclinical systemic inflammation in later life.

Building dampness and mold in European homes in relation to climate, building characteristics and socio-economic status: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey ECRHS II.

We studied dampness and mold in homes in relation to climate, building characteristics and socio-economic status (SES) across Europe, for 7127 homes in 22 centers. A subsample of 3118 homes was inspected. Multilevel analysis was applied, including age, gender, center, SES, climate, and building factors. Self-reported water damage (10%), damp spots (21%), and mold (16%) in past year were similar as observed data (19% dampness and 14% mold). Ambient temperature was associated with self-reported water damage (OR=1.63 per 10°C; 95% CI 1.02-2.63), damp spots (OR=2.95; 95% CI 1.98-4.39), and mold (OR=2.28; 95% CI 1.04-4.67). Precipitation was associated with water damage (OR=1.12 per 100 mm; 95% CI 1.02-1.23) and damp spots (OR=1.11; 95% CI 1.02-1.20). Ambient relative air humidity was not associated with indoor dampness and mold. Older buildings had more dampness and mold (P<.001). Manual workers reported less water damage (OR=0.69; 95% CI 0.53-0.89) but more mold (OR=1.27; 95% CI 1.03-1.55) as compared to managerial/professional workers. There were correlations between reported and observed data at center level (Spearman rho 0.61 for dampness and 0.73 for mold). In conclusion, high ambient temperature and precipitation and high building age can be risk factors for dampness and mold in homes in Europe.

The independent role of prenatal and postnatal exposure to active and passive smoking on the development of early wheeze in children.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases childhood asthma risk, but health effects in children of nonsmoking mothers passively exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy are unclear. We examined the association of maternal passive smoking during pregnancy and wheeze in children aged ≤2 years.Individual data of 27 993 mother-child pairs from 15 European birth cohorts were combined in pooled analyses taking into consideration potential confounders.Children with maternal exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy and no other smoking exposure were more likely to develop wheeze up to the age of 2 years (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.20) compared with unexposed children. Risk of wheeze was further increased by children's postnatal passive smoke exposure in addition to their mothers' passive exposure during pregnancy (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.19-1.40) and highest in children with both sources of passive exposure and mothers who smoked actively during pregnancy (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.59-1.88). Risk of wheeze associated with tobacco smoke exposure was higher in children with an allergic versus nonallergic family history.Maternal passive smoking exposure during pregnancy is an independent risk factor for wheeze in children up to the age of 2 years. Pregnant females should avoid active and passive exposure to tobacco smoke for the benefit of their children's health.

The risk of respiratory symptoms on allergen exposure increases with increasing specific IgE levels.

BACKGROUND: The relation between IgE sensitization and allergic respiratory symptoms has usually been evaluated by dichotomizing specific IgE levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between specific IgE levels and risk of symptoms on allergen-related exposure, with special reference to allergen-related asthma-rhinitis comorbidity. METHODS: We considered 6391 subjects enrolled within the European Community Respiratory Health Survey 2, having information on cat/grass/D. pteronyssinus IgE levels and symptoms on exposure to animals/pollen/dust. The risk of oculonasal/asthmalike/both symptoms was evaluated by a multinomial logistic model. RESULTS: A clear positive association was observed between specific IgE levels to cat/grass/mite and the risk of symptoms on each allergen-related exposure (test for trend with P < 0.001). This trend was particularly pronounced when considering the coexistence of asthmalike and oculonasal symptoms. Compared to non-sensitized subjects, subjects with specific IgE to cat >= 3.5 kU/l presented relative risk ratios of 11.4 (95% CI 6.7-19.2), 18.8 (8.2-42.8), and 55.3 (30.5-100.2) when considering, respectively, only oculonasal symptoms, only asthmalike symptoms, or both. A similar pattern was observed when considering specific IgE to grass/mite and symptoms on exposure to pollen/dust. Also the proportion of people using inhaled medicines or visiting a general practitioner for breathing problems in the previous year increased with increasing sum of specific IgE to cat/grass/mite. CONCLUSION: Specific IgE level is the most important predictor of allergen-related symptoms. The risk of both oculonasal/asthmalike symptoms increases with specific IgE levels, suggesting that specific IgE contributes to the 'united airways disease'.

Early-life house dust mite allergens, childhood mite sensitization, and respiratory outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to indoor allergens during early life may play a role in the development of the immune system and inception of asthma. OBJECTIVE: To describe the house dust mite (HDM) allergen concentrations in bedroom dust during early life and to evaluate its associations with HDM sensitization, wheezing, and asthma, from birth to school age, in 5 geographically spread European birth cohorts. METHODS: We included 4334 children from INMA-Menorca (Spain), BAMSE (Sweden), LISAplus and MAS (Germany), and PIAMA-NHS (the Netherlands). Dust samples were collected from bedrooms during early life and analyzed for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p1) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f1). HDM concentrations were divided into four categories. Sensitization was determined by specific IgE. Wheezing and asthma information up to 8/10 years was collected through questionnaires. We performed mixed-effects logistic regression models and expressed associations as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: House dust mite concentrations varied across cohorts. Mean allergen concentrations were highest in INMA-Menorca (geometric mean (GM) Der p1 = 3.3 µg/g) and LISAplus (GM Der f1 = 2.1 µg/g) and lowest in BAMSE (GM Der p1 = 0.1 µg/g, Der f1 = 0.3 µg/g). Moderate and high HDM concentrations were significantly (P-values < 0.05) associated with 50-90% higher prevalence of HDM sensitization. No significant associations were observed with respiratory outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our study based on geographically spread regions, a large sample size, and a wide range of allergen concentration shows that HDM allergen concentrations vary across regions and that exposure during early life plays a role in the development of allergic sensitization but not in the development of respiratory outcomes.

Phenotyping asthma, rhinitis and eczema in MeDALL population-based birth cohorts: an allergic comorbidity cluster.

BACKGROUND: Asthma, rhinitis and eczema often co-occur in children, but their interrelationships at the population level have been poorly addressed. We assessed co-occurrence of childhood asthma, rhinitis and eczema using unsupervised statistical techniques. METHODS: We included 17 209 children at 4 years and 14 585 at 8 years from seven European population-based birth cohorts (MeDALL project). At each age period, children were grouped, using partitioning cluster analysis, according to the distribution of 23 variables covering symptoms 'ever' and 'in the last 12 months', doctor diagnosis, age of onset and treatments of asthma, rhinitis and eczema; immunoglobulin E sensitization; weight; and height. We tested the sensitivity of our estimates to subject and variable selections, and to different statistical approaches, including latent class analysis and self-organizing maps. RESULTS: Two groups were identified as the optimal way to cluster the data at both age periods and in all sensitivity analyses. The first (reference) group at 4 and 8 years (including 70% and 79% of children, respectively) was characterized by a low prevalence of symptoms and sensitization, whereas the second (symptomatic) group exhibited more frequent symptoms and sensitization. Ninety-nine percentage of children with comorbidities (co-occurrence of asthma, rhinitis and/or eczema) were included in the symptomatic group at both ages. The children's characteristics in both groups were consistent in all sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: At 4 and 8 years, at the population level, asthma, rhinitis and eczema can be classified together as an allergic comorbidity cluster. Future research including time-repeated assessments and biological data will help understanding the interrelationships between these diseases.

Glutathione-S-transferase P1, early exposure to mould in relation to respiratory and allergic health outcomes in children from six birth cohorts. A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting study results regarding the association of exposure to visible mould and fungal components in house dust with respiratory and allergic diseases in children. It has been suggested that functional polymorphisms of the GSTP1 gene may influence the risk for allergic disorders through an impaired defence against oxidant injury. METHODS: We examined in six birth cohorts of over 14 000 children whether the association between early exposure to reported mould at home in relation to respiratory and allergic diseases is modified by a single nucleotide polymorphism of the GSTP1 gene. RESULTS: We observed a positive association of mould exposure with nasal symptoms (2-10 year) aOR: 1.19 (1.02-11.38). Further, there was a borderline significant increased risk of rhinoconjunctivitis (6-8 year) in children homozygous for the minor allele Val/Val, aOR: 1.25 (0.98-1.60). In stratified analyses, subjects homozygous for the minor allele and exposed to mould at home were at increased risk for early wheezing aOR: 1.34 (1.03-1.75), whereas the major allele may confer susceptibility for later nasal outcomes, (6-8 year) aOR: 1.20 (1.00-1.45) and (2-10 year) aOR: 1.30 (1.04-1.61), respectively. For none of the health outcomes studied, we found gene by environment interactions. CONCLUSION: A genetic influence of the GSTP1 gene cannot be ruled out, but the magnitude of the effect is a matter of further research. In conclusion, the interplay between gene and environments is complex and remains subject of further study.

Endotoxin, extracellular polysaccharides, and ß(1-3)-glucan concentrations in dust and their determinants in four European birth cohorts: results from the HITEA project.

UNLABELLED: Early-life exposure to microbial agents may play a protective role in asthma and allergies development. Geographical differences in the prevalence of these diseases exist, but the differences in early-life indoor microbial agent levels and their determinants have been hardly studied. We aimed to describe the early-life levels of endotoxin, extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), and ß(1-3)-glucans in living room dust of four geographically spread European birth cohorts (LISA in Germany, PIAMA in the Netherlands, INMA in Spain, and LUKAS2 in Finland) and to assess their determinants. A total of 1572 dust samples from living rooms of participants were analyzed for endotoxin, Penicillium/Aspergillus EPS, and ß(1-3)-glucans. Information on potential determinants was obtained through questionnaires. Concentrations of endotoxin, EPS, and ß(1-3)-glucans were different across cohorts. Concentrations of endotoxin and EPS were respectively lower and higher in INMA than in other cohorts, while glucans were higher in LUKAS2. Season of sampling, dog ownership, dampness, and the number of people living at home were significantly associated with concentrations of at least one microbial agent, with heterogeneity of effect estimates of the determinants across cohorts. In conclusion, both early-life microbial exposure levels and exposure determinants differ across cohorts derived from diverse European countries. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study adds evidence of variability in the levels of indoor endotoxin, extracellular polysaccharide, and ß(1-3)-glucans across four geographically spread European regions. Furthermore, we observed heterogeneity across regions in the effect of exposure determinants. We hypothesize that the variations observed in our study may play a role in the differences in asthma and allergies prevalences across countries.

Association of gas cooking with children's respiratory health: results from GINIplus and LISAplus birth cohort studies.

UNLABELLED: Previous studies have found inconsistent results on the association between asthma in children and gas cooking emissions. We aimed to assess the effects of the long-term exposure to gas cooking on the onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms, focusing on wheezing, in children from two German birth cohorts: LISAplus and GINIplus. A total of 5078 children were followed until the age of 10 years. Asthma, wheezing, gas cooking, and exposure to other indoor factors were assessed through parental reported questionnaires administered periodically. Logistic and multinomial regressions adjusting for potential confounders were performed. The prevalence of asthma and persistent wheezing was higher among children exposed to gas cooking but the results were not statistically significant. Exposure to gas cooking was positively associated (P-value < 0.05) with exposure to other indoor factors (dampness, environmental tobacco smoke, and pets). Our results did not show a statistically significant association between the exposure to gas cooking and children's respiratory health. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: These analyses are consistent with the assumption of no effect of the exposure to low doses of nitrogen dioxide. The strong positive associations found between gas cooking and other indoor factors highlight the importance of considering other indoor factors when assessing health effects of gas cooking. Low-dose exposure to indoor nitrogen dioxide through gas cooking might not contribute to increase the risk of asthma and respiratory symptoms in children.

[Two German Birth Cohorts: GINIplus and LISAplus]. / Die zwei deutschen Geburtskohorten GINIplus und LISAplus.

Numerous chronic diseases in childhood and adulthood have their origins in perinatal life and are potentially influenced by trans-generational epigenetic processes. Therefore, prospective birth cohorts can substantially contribute to our knowledge about the etiology of diseases including modifiable risk factors. The two population-based German birth cohorts GINIplus and LISAplus aim to describe the natural course of chronic diseases and intermediate phenotypes in childhood and its determinants, and to identify potential genetic effect modifications. In the mid-1990s, 5,991 (GINIplus) and 3,097 (LISAplus) healthy, term newborns were recruited for long-term follow-up in four regions of Germany. The follow-up rate for the first 10 years was about 55%. We analyzed the growth and development of overweight, infections and allergic diseases, mental and oral health, metabolic and inflammatory parameters and the role of potential risk factors including genetics. The results of these two birth cohorts substantially contribute to the current knowledge about the natural course of these health parameters. These data were included in many international projects and consortia for purposes of international comparisons of prevalence and consistency of findings, and to increase the power of the analyses.

Association between domestic mould and mould components, and asthma and allergy in children: a systematic review.

Critical reviews over the past 10 yrs have found increased respiratory and allergic health outcomes for children living in damp and mouldy environments. However, recent studies have suggested that early childhood exposure to specific mould components may actually protect children from developing allergy. We conducted a systematic review of observational studies published in English from January 1980 to July 2010. This review was conducted according to systematic guidelines for Meta-analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE). The literature was searched using a computerised bibliographic database, PubMed. In order to increase the quality of the reviewed studies, meta-analyses of the effects of visible mould exposure on allergic health outcomes were performed and we evaluated the findings according to the Bradford Hill criteria for evidence of causation. The literature search identified 1,398 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and 61 studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in this review. We observed increased risks of allergic respiratory health outcomes in children exposed to visible mould and mould spores. These findings were confirmed by the results of the meta-analysis and in line with the evaluation criteria according to Bradford Hill. Visible mould was positively associated with asthma (OR 1.49 (95% CI 1.28-1.72)), wheeze (OR 1.68 (95% CI 1.48-1.90)) and allergic rhinitis (OR 1.39 (95% CI 1.28-1.51)). However, there was a tendency of lower risk for allergic health outcomes in children exposed to mould-derived components such as (1,3)-ß-d-glucan and extracellular polysaccharides. These findings suggest that home environments with visible mould and mould spore exposure increase the risk of allergic respiratory health outcomes in children. However, further investigations are needed to examine the effects of exposure to mould-derived components as the current literature is inconclusive. In order to disentangle the different effects of overall microbial exposure on children's health, research should focus on specific microbial markers in the home, in combination with new assessment techniques including molecular methods.

Respiratory health in children, and indoor exposure to (1,3)-ß-D-glucan, EPS mould components and endotoxin.

For a long time, exposure to mould and dampness-derived microbial components was considered a risk factor for the development of respiratory diseases and symptoms. Some recent studies suggested that early childhood exposure to mould components, such as (1,3)-ß-D-glucan and extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs), may protect children from developing allergy. We investigated the association of exposure to (1,3)-ß-D-glucan, EPS and endotoxin with asthma and allergies in 6-yr-old children. This investigation was the follow-up to a nested case-control study among three European birth cohorts. Children from two ongoing birth cohort studies performed in Germany (n = 358) and one in the Netherlands (n = 338) were selected. Levels of (1,3)-ß-D-glucan, EPS and endotoxin were measured in settled house dust sampled from children's mattresses and living-room floors when the children were, on average, 5 yrs of age. At the age of 6 yrs, health outcome information was available for 678 children. In the two German subsets, domestic EPS and endotoxin exposure from children's mattresses were significantly negatively associated with physician-diagnosed asthma (OR per interquartile range increase 0.60 (95% CI 0.39-0.92) and 0.55 (95% CI 0.31-0.97), respectively). In addition, EPS exposure was inversely related to physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.31-0.81). For the Dutch population, no associations were observed between exposure to microbial agents and respiratory health outcomes. We found inverse associations between domestic exposure to EPS and endotoxin from children's mattresses, and doctor-diagnosed asthma and rhinitis in German, but not in Dutch, school children. The reasons for the differences between countries are not clear.

Meta-analysis of mould and dampness exposure on asthma and allergy in eight European birth cohorts: an ENRIECO initiative.

BACKGROUND: Several cross-sectional studies during the past 10 years have observed an increased risk of allergic outcomes for children living in damp or mouldy environments. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether reported mould or dampness exposure in early life is associated with the development of allergic disorders in children from eight European birth cohorts. METHODS: We analysed data from 31 742 children from eight ongoing European birth cohorts. Exposure to mould and allergic health outcomes were assessed by parental questionnaires at different time points. Meta-analyses with fixed- and random-effect models were applied. The number of the studies included in each analysis varied based on the outcome data available for each cohort. RESULTS: Exposure to visible mould and/or dampness during first 2 years of life was associated with an increased risk of developing asthma: there was a significant association with early asthma symptoms in meta-analyses of four cohorts [0-2 years: adjusted odds ratios (aOR), 1.39 (95% CI, 1.05-1.84)] and with asthma later in childhood in six cohorts [6-8 years: aOR, 1.09 (95% CI, 0.90-1.32) and 3-10 years: aOR, 1.10 (95% CI, 0.90-1.34)]. A statistically significant association was observed in six cohorts with symptoms of allergic rhinitis at school age [6-8 years: aOR, 1.12 (1.02-1.23)] and at any time point between 3 and 10 years [aOR, 1.18 (1.09-1.28)]. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that a mouldy home environment in early life is associated with an increased risk of asthma particularly in young children and allergic rhinitis symptoms in school-age children.

New 4-O-substituted xylosyl units in the xyloglucan from leaves of Hymenaea courbaril.

A homogeneous fucogalactoxyloglucan, isolated from the leaves of Hymenaea courbaril, was analysed by methylation-GC-MS. These procedures involved derived partially O-methylated alditol acetates and acetylated aldononitriles, which demonstrated the presence of both 2-O- and 4-O-substituted Xylp units in the side-chains. The presence of the unusual, latter structure was confirmed by 2D NMR spectroscopy with a correlated HMQC C-4/H-4 signal at delta 77.8/3.73. A similar 4-O-substituted xylosyl structure was present in a decasaccharide Glc4Xyl3Gal2Fuc obtained via endo-glucanase treatment of the polysaccharide, which gave rise to a molecular ion with m/z 1555 (ESI-MS, Na+ form).