OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of combined determination of in vitro allergens and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in indentifying children at a high risk of asthma among those with recurrent wheezing.

METHODSA total of 148 children with recurrent wheezing (0.5-6 years old) were enrolled as study subjects, and 80 healthy children who underwent physical examination were enrolled as the control group. Pharmacia UniCAP immunoassay analyzer was used to measure specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE). Nano Coulomb Nitric Oxide Analyzer was used to measure FeNO. The asthma predictive index (API) was evaluated.

RESULTSThe recurrent wheezing group had a significantly higher proportion of children with positive sIgE than the control group [68.9% (102/148) vs 11.3% (9/80); P<0.05]. The recurrent wheezing group also had significantly higher levels and positive rate of FeNO than the control group (P<0.05). The overall positive rate of API in children with wheezing was 32.4%, and the API-positive children had a significantly higher FeNO value than the API-negative children (51±6 ppb vs 13±5 ppb; P<0.05). The detection rate of API was 40.2% (41/102) in positive-sIgE children and 50.1% (38/73) in FeNO-positive children, and there was no significant difference between these two groups. The children with positive sIgE and FeNO had a significantly higher detection rate of API (81.4%) than those with positive sIgE or FeNO (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCombined determination of FeNO and in vitro allergens is more sensitive in detecting children at a high risk of asthma than FeNO or in vitro allergens determination alone and provides a good method for early identification, diagnosis, and intervention of asthma in children.

Allergens ; immunology ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; Breath Tests ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Sounds ; diagnosis

Offending food allergens can vary with regional preferences in food consumption. In this study, we analysed sensitization rates to commonly consumed foods in Korean adults suspected of having food allergy. One hundred and thirty four subjects underwent a skin prick test (SPT) with 55 food allergens, of which 13 were made by our laboratory and the rest were commercially purchased. Of the 134 patients, 73 (54.5%) were sensitized to one or more food allergens. Sensitization to chrysalis was detected most frequently, at a rate of 25.4%. Sensitization rates to other food allergens were as follows: maize grain (13.4%), shrimp (11.9%), almond (11.1%), wheat flour (8.2%), lobster (8.2%), buckwheat (8.2%), mackerel (5.2%), pollack (5.2%), halibut (4.5%), peanut (4.5%), anchovy (4.4%), squid (3.7%), saury (3.0%), common eel (3.0%), yellow corvina (3.0%), hairtail (2.2%), octopus (2.2%), and others. In addition to well-known food allergens, sensitivity to mackerel, chrysalis, pollack, and halibut, which are popular foods in Korea, was observed at high rates in Korean adults. We suggest that the SPT panel for food allergy in Korea should include these allergens.
Adult ; Aged ; Allergens/immunology ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Flounder/immunology ; Food Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/*analysis/immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth/immunology ; Perciformes/immunology ; Republic of Korea ; *Skin Tests ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Japanese hop (Humulus spp.) and mugwort (Artemisia spp.) are notable causes of autumn pollinosis in East Asia. However, Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts, which are widely used for the diagnosis, have not been standardized. This study was performed to standardize Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Allergen extracts were prepared in a standardized way using locally collected Humulus japonicus and purchased Artemisia vulgaris pollens. The immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivities of prepared extracts were compared with commercial extracts via IgE immunoblotting and inhibition analyses. Intradermal skin tests were performed to determine the bioequivalent allergy unit (BAU). RESULTS: The IgE reactive components of the extracts via IgE immunoblotting were similar to those of commercial extracts. A 11-kDa allergen showed the strongest IgE reactivity in Japanese hop, as did a 28-kDa allergen in mugwort pollen extracts. Allergenic potencies of the investigatory Japanese hop and mugwort extracts were essentially indistinguishable from the commercial ones. Sums of erythema of 50 mm by the intradermal skin test (SigmaED50) were calculated to be 14.4th and 13.6th three-fold dilutions for Japanese hop and mugwort extracts, respectively. Therefore, the allergenic activity of the prepared extracts was 90827.4 BAU/mg for Japanese hop and 34412 BAU/mg for mugwort. CONCLUSION: We produced Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts using a standardized method. Standardized Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts will facilitate the production of improved diagnostic and immunotherapeutic reagents.
Allergens/*analysis/*immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; *Artemisia ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity/blood/immunology ; Cross Reactions ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E/blood/*immunology ; Pollen/*chemistry/*immunology ; Reference Standards ; Republic of Korea ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the geographic distribution of air-borne allergens which caused allergic rhinitis in Urumqi, and offer guide for prevention and treatment of the patients with allergic rhinitis. METHOD: Skin prick tests were performed on 350 patients with allergic rhinitis by assay of Novo-helisen depot (NHD) fluid. RESULT: The total positive rate of inhaled allergens among 350 patients was 78.86%. The most frequent of allergen was chenopodium 78.86% (255 cases). The other frequent allergens were ragweed 36.86% (128 cases), artemisir 28% (98 cases), timothy 27.14% (95 cases), elm 5.71% (90 cases), willow 25.14% (88 cases), poplar 18.86% (66 cases), cockroach 18.86% (66 cases), dust-mite 14.86% (62 cases), flour mite 14.86% (52 cases), alternaria spp 2.86% (10 cases). Allergen were multiple in most AR patients. There was not statistically significant difference between the sexes. There was statistically significant difference between the tribes. CONCLUSION Chenopodium, ragweed and artemisir were the main allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis in Urumqi.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Allergens ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; immunology ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics and influence factors of sensitization hy allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis in the junction of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. METHOD: One thousand one hundred and twenty-four patients who were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis hy clinical history and symptoms underwent a skin prick test. The percent of allergens with positive skin response and Multiple Allergens Positive Scores were recorded, and their influence factors, included age, gender and test period were evaluated. RESULT: The percent of top three inhalant allergens with positive skin tests were as follow: dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (77.0%) ,dermatophagoides farina (77.1%), blattella germanica (42.3%); the percent of top three ingested allergens with loositive skintests were as follow: crab ( 39.5%), shrimp (31.1%), ribbonfish (10.8%). The average Multiple Allergens Positive Score was (3.6 +/- 2.7). The percent of allergens with positive skin response and Multiple Allergens Positive Score of different allergens changed as age, gender and text period changed, and the changing trend of them was accordant. The percent inhalant allergens with positive skin tests in dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, dermatophagoides farinae and cat fur in different gender showed a significant difference. CONCLUSION Acarine allergens were the most common allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis in the junction of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. The percent of allergens with positive skin response and the severity of multiple allergy were influenced by age, gender and text period. The severity of multiple allergy can be measured by Multiple Allergens Positive Score.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Allergens ; analysis ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the allergic status to common inhalant allergens and food allergens in clinical patients in Harbin in northeastern China and provide evidence to develop the prevention strategy of allergic disease.

METHODSThe data were collected from 5 473 patients with clinical suspected allergic diseases seeking medical care in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University. Among these patients, 2 530 (46.2%) were males aged 0-86 years, the youngest was only 1 month old and 2 579 (47.1%) were young children and teenagers. The serum specific Immunoglobulin E (sIgE) to 14 kinds of common allergens and serum total IgE were detected by using AllergyScreen test (Mediwiss Analytic GmbH, Moers, Germany).

RESULTSIn 5 473 subjects the positive rate of sIgE was 33.1% (n=1 813). Cow milk (6.9%) and wheat (3.1%) were the most common food allergens, followed by house dust mite mix (12.5%) and mould mix (9.4%) and the age and gender specific differences in the positive rate were significant. For the children aged <7 years the positive rates to cow milk, beef-mutton, and egg white/egg yolk were high, but the positive rates to house dust mite mix, ragweed estragon, and mould mix were low (P<0.05). For the adults the positive rates to aeroallergens were high while the rates to food allergens were low.

CONCLUSIONThe results from this study showed that the food allergens in Harbin had geographic characteristics, which support the viewpoint that the environment factors play an important role in the incidence of allergic diseases. Also, the detection of sIgE and total IgE are essential to identify relevant allergens for the purpose of early diagnosis, management and prevention of allergic disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Allergens ; analysis ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Hypersensitivity ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe hygiene hypothesis has been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of asthma. Allergen exposure was shown to inhibit asthma in an animal model. But the optimal timing of allergen exposure remains unclear. This study aims to explore the time effcct of allergen exposure and the possible mechanisms.

METHODSNeonate Wistar rats were randomly divided into asthma group, control group and day 1, day 3, day 7, and day 14 groups. The day 1, day 3, day 7 and day 14 groups were injected with ovalbumin (OVA) subcutaneously on days 1, 3, 7 and 14 after birth, respectively. Six weeks later, all groups, except the control group, were sensitized and stimulated with OVA to make the asthma model. We observed the pulmonary pathologic changes, detected the regulatory T cells, and CD28 expression level in thymus and spleen by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe asthmatic inflammation in the day 1, day 3 and day 7 groups, but not the day 14 group, was alleviated. The asthma group and day 14 group had lower proportions of regulatory T cells in the thymus compared with the control group, day 1, day 3, and day 7 groups. There was no significant difference in the CD28 expression levels on the regulatory and conventional T cells among groups. But the control group and the day 1, day 3, and day 7 groups had relatively higher proportions of CD28 positive regulatory T cells in the thymus than the day 14 group and the asthma group.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a "time-window" for early allergen exposure. The impairment of regulatory T cells may promote the development of asthma. Allergen exposure in the "time-window" can make the thymus produce normal quantity of regulatory cells. The CD28 signal on regulatory T cells may participate in the production of regulatory T cells.

Allergens ; immunology ; Animals ; Asthma ; etiology ; CD28 Antigens ; analysis ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of allergic rhinitis sensitized with mite, providing the evidence for the treatment plan of allergic rhinitis in Tianjin area. METHOD: The medical records of skin prick test results on 2390 allergic rhinitis patients from March 2009 to February 2012 were retrospectively studied. The data of mite sensitivity in gender, age, season, and regional differences were analyzed. RESULT: There was no significant difference of the positive rate of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae between male and female (P > 0. 05); The positive rate of dust mite decreased gradually with the growth of the age in the three groups of < 18,18-39,40-60 years old, but the positive rate of the patients over the age of 60 years old increased then. There were significant differences of positive rate to dust mite in different season (P < 0.05). The positive rate of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was the highest in the autumn (55.4%), and the lowest in winter (39.7%). The positive rate of Dermatophagoides farinae was the highest in winter (73.8%), and the lowest in spring (47.2%). There was no significant difference of the positive rate to dust mite between urban and suburb (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION There were some relationship of the positive rate of dust mite with age and season, but not gender and region among allergic rhinitis in tianjin.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Allergens ; analysis ; immunology ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyroglyphidae ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To survey and analyze the allergic rhinitis patients' allergens in developed region of Pearl River Delta and developing region out of Pearl River Delta in Guangdong. METHOD: Sixteen standard allergens were adopted for skin prick test and correlation factors were studied on 858 cases suspected allergic rhinitis from developed region of Pearl River Delta and developing region out of Pearl River Delta. Two regions patients sorts of allergen and their detection rate were compared, and the relationship between allergen positive rate and age, gender, body weight, family history was analyzed. RESULT: The 6 kinds allergen with higher positivity in developed region of Pearl River Delta are dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (55.4%), dermatophagoides culinae (53.9%), tropical mite (38.3%), dog hair (11.8%), blattella germanica (11.5%) and cat hair (8.1%); that from developing region out of Pearl River Delta are dermatophagoides culinae (50.4%), tropical mite(48.0%), dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (47.2%), blattella germanica (13.4%), cat hair (8.7%) and dog hair (7.1%). There is no significant difference of allergen positivity between the patients from the two regions except tropical mite. The positive rate in 15-18 years old patients was also different in the two groups. The positive rate was highest in the age from 19 to 30 years old,with a decreasing trend in younger and elder patients. There is no significant difference of the allergen positive rate between the both groups with body weight, family history and gender (P > 0.05). A higher allergen positivity was found in the patients with family history (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, dermatophagoides culinae, Tropical mite, dog hair, blattella germanica and cat hair are the major allergens in developed region of Pearl River Delta and developing region out of Pearl River Delta in Guangdong, but their ranking has some difference in the two regions. Patients with family history had a higher allergen positive rate.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Allergens ; analysis ; immunology ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Poverty Areas ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate which aeroallergens were prevalent in patients with allergic rhinitis in Yunnan. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of the medical records of intradermal test performed in 1893 AR patients. The samples were divided into four age groups: 4-17-year-olds, > 17-35-year-olds, > 35-50-year-olds and > 50-70-year-olds. According to gender,the samples were decided into two groups: the males and the females. The positive rate of aeroallergens were compared among the groups. RESULT: (1)The total positive rate of intradermal test was 70.1%. The top ten allergens were as follow: dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, dermatophagoides farina, house dust, pollen of the summer and autumn, alnus nepalensis, chenopodiaceae, mugwort, poaceae, brassica and cockroach. (2) In all groups,patients with triple positive allergens were the most common,followed by dual positive allergens and single positive allergen. (3) Among the top ten allergens, the top three positive ones in all groups were dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, dermatophagoides farina and house dust. And there were significant differences between 4-17-year-olds group and the other age groups (P < 0.01). (4) There was no significant difference between male and female patients in distribution of aeroallergens except House dust and mite. CONCLUSION The most common allergen in patients with allergic rhinitis in Yunnan is mite,the follow are pollen of the summer and autumn, alnus nepalensis, chenopodiaceae, mugwort, poaceae, and brassica. The distribution of aeroallergens are different among the age groups, but has no evident correlation with gender.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Allergens ; analysis ; immunology ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyroglyphidae ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult