Grass pollen sensitization in dogs in Paraná, Brazil: comparison between percutaneous and intradermal testing / [Sensibilização a polens em cães no Paraná, Brasil: comparação entre o teste percutâneo e o teste intradérmico]

Canine atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory, genetic, pruritic and chronic dermatosis that affects between 10 and 30% of dogs and one of the most important allergens is grass pollen. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitization to grass pollen allergens in dogs with canine atopic dermatitis and to compare intradermal skin test (IDT) with percutaneous test (PT). For this study, ten healthy dogs and 39 dogs with atopic dermatitis were tested. Dogs were submitted to IDT and PT for Lolium multiflorum, Cynodon dactylon and Paspalum notatum. The IDT and PT tests were compared using the Proportion Test. All healthy dogs were negative to both tests. Ten atopic dogs (25.6%) responded positively to the PT and none were positive in IDT. C. dactylon, L. multiflorum and P. notatum were responsible for positive reactions in 70%, 70% and 30% of positive dogs, respectively. The number of positive reactions in PT were statistically higher than IDT (P<0.05). In conclusion, grass pollen can be important source of allergens for dogs in Paraná state (Brazil) and the PT showed higher sensitization to grass pollen in dogs with atopic dermatitis than IDT.(AU)

A dermatite atópica canina é uma dermatose inflamatória, genética, prurítica e crônica que afeta entre 10% e 30% dos cães, e um dos alérgenos mais importantes são os polens de gramíneas. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a sensibilização a alérgenos de polens de gramíneas em cães com dermatite atópica e comparar o teste intradérmico (TID) com o teste percutâneo (TP). Para o estudo, 10 cães hígidos e 39 cães com dermatite atópica foram testados. Estes foram submetidos ao TID e ao TP para Lolium multiflorum, Cynodon dactylon e Paspalum notatum. TID e TP foram comparados usando-se o teste de proporção. Todos os cães hígidos foram negativos em ambos os testes. Dez cães atópicos (25,6%) responderam positivamente ao TP e nenhum ao TID. C. dactylon, L. multiflorum e P. notatum foram responsáveis por reações positivas de 70%, 70% e 30% dos cães positivos, respectivamente. O número de reações positivas no TP foi estatisticamente maior que no TID (P<0,05). Foi concluído que os polens de gramíneas podem ser importantes fontes de alérgenos para cães no estado do Paraná (Brasil) e que o TP mostrou maior sensibilização a polens em cães com dermatite atópica que o TID.(AU)

Composition, biological activity and toxicity of bee pollen: state of the art / Composición, actividad biológica y toxicidad del polen apícola: estado-del-arte

A research was conducted in scientific databases using keywords related to the composition, biological activity and toxicity of bee pollen from 2007 to July 2017. It was verified that this product is rich in carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, as well as various minerals and phenolic compounds. Its functional biological properties can be attributed mainly to the high content of flavonoids and polyphenols and a considerable antioxidant capacity has been reported, also highlighting antimicrobial activity and against cancer. However, current research still lacks deeper experimental evidence to justify the use of bee pollen for these purposes. The potential risks of their consumption can be attributed to contamination by pesticides, heavy metals and due to their allergenicity. A search of patents executed in technological databases with respect to the main properties of bee pollen has demonstrated a high interest in the development of technological products based on its many applications. The number of articles and patents found with this theme highlights the importance of this natural product in the scientific-technological advance, focusing on the development of natural supplements.

Há sido realizada una investigación en bases de datos científicas utilizando palabras clave relacionadas a la composición, actividad biológica y toxicidad del polen apícola en el período de 2007 a julio de 2017. Se ha verificado que este producto es rico en carbohidratos, proteínas y lípidos, además de diversos minerales y compuestos fenólicos. Sus propiedades biológicas funcionales pueden ser atribuidas principalmente al alto contenido de flavonoides y polifenoles y se ha reportado una considerable capacidad antioxidante, con destaque también para la actividad antimicrobiana y contra el cáncer. Sin embargo, las investigaciones actuales todavía carecen de evidencias experimentales más profundas para justificar el uso del polen apícola para estos propositos. Los riesgos potenciales de su consumo pueden ser atribuidos en gran parte a la contaminación por pesticidas, metales pesados y debido a su alergenicidad. Una búsqueda de patentes realizada en bases de datos tecnológicas con relación a las principales propiedades del polen apícola ha revelado un alto interés en el desarrollo de productos tecnológicos con base en sus diversas aplicaciones. La cantidad de artículos y patentes encontrados con ese tema evidencia la importancia de ese producto natural en el avance científico y tecnológico, con enfoque para el desarrollo de suplementos naturales.

Antioxidant activity of bee products added to water in tebuconazole-exposed fish

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of honey, propolis, and bee pollen for the reversal of lipid peroxidation induced by tebuconazole (TEB) in South American catfish (Rhamdia quelen), in which the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and the concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidants, reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid, and non-protein thiols were assessed. Honey (0.125 g L-1) and bee pollen (0.05 g L-1) added to the water reverse the production of TBARS induced by TEB, while propolis demonstrated a pro-oxidant effect, inducing an increase in TBARS production. The data presented herein suggest that the addition of water to honey and bee pollen potentially protects against the oxidative stress caused by agrichemicals.

Um experimento foi conduzido objetivando avaliar o potencial do mel, da própolis e do pólen apícola na reversão da peroxidação lipídica causada pelo fungicida tebuconazole (TEB) na espécie de peixe tropical Rhamdia quelen, avaliando a concentração das substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS), a atividade da enzima glutationa-S-transferase (GST) e das concentrações dos antioxidantes glutationa reduzida (GSH), ácido ascórbico e dos tiois não proteicos. O mel adicionado à água na concentração de 0,125g L-1 e o pólen apícola na concentração de 0.05 g L-1reverteram a geração das TBARS causada pela exposição ao TEB, enquanto a própolis demonstrou efeito pró-oxidante, induzindo um aumento na geração das TBARS. Os dados apresentados neste trabalho sugerem o potencial do mel e do pólen apícola adicionados à água como substâncias protetoras contra o estresse oxidativo causado por agroquímicos.

Relevamiento de flora alergógena en Concepción del Uruguay / Survey of allergenic flora at Concepcion del Uruguay

Fundamentos. La flora alergógena que emite grandes cantidades de pólenes anemófilos produce verdaderos brotes epidémicos de asma y rinoconjuntivitis, que afecta la calidad de vida de numerosas personas en los períodos de polinización. Identificarla en cada región es un paso importante para un mejor diagnóstico, tratamiento y prevención, tanto del caso clínico como del problema colectivo. Objetivos. Detectar y cuantificar los árboles y registrar las hierbas y clasificarlos según su importancia lergógena por su polinización anemófila. Material y métodos. Durante el año 2007 se realiza en Concepción del Uruguay, Entre Ríos, Argentina, un relevamiento de todos los árboles en los 36 km2 de la planta urbana y una semicuantificación de los árboles del periurbano en una superficie de 100 km2 donde además se registran las especies de hierbas, determinando su frecuencia con el conteo de ejemplares en pequeños sectores demostrativos de lotes relativamente homogéneos. Con el apoyo de claves de identificación botánica se observó la morfología externa. Se revisaron publicaciones previas para identificar el tipo de polinización y su alergenicidad. Resultados. Se tabulan 35.888 árboles, 16 especies predominantes de gramíneas, 19 de malezas y 15 de árboles del periurbano. Se identifican las especies alergógenas conocidas y las que podrían cosiderarse sospechadas. Son potencialmente alergógenos: árboles 75 por ciento, gramíneas 100 por ciento y malezas 20 por ciento. Conclusiones. Concepción del Uruguay presenta una flora alergógena variada con predominio de gramíneas, fresnos, eucaliptus y ambrosías, que debe considerarse en el enfoque clínico y sanitarios del asma y la rinoconjuntivitis atópica que afectan a porcentajes significativos de su población.

[Recognition and frequency determination of common allergens in allergic patients of Zanjan city by skin prick test]

Recognition of various environmental allergens is of great importance. Since contact with them may cause or accelerate sympotoms in allergic patients. Our purpose of this study was to determine sensitivity to common allergens by skin prick test. Patients with allergic rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis referred to Allergy Clinic of Valie Asr Hospital of Zanjan City, 2003-2005, were submitted to skin prick test with a series of indoor, outdoor and food allergens. Two hundred patients [111 females and 89 males] 4-60 years of age were recruited. Eighty three percent of subjects showed at least one positive skin prick test. The skin prick tests were positive for grass [Rye grass 41%], weed [pigweed 27%, Herb 21%], Tree [olive 22%, Ash 20%, Butirytis 19.5%], Mites [D.P 16%, D.F 16%], Cockroach 14.5%, feather 11%, Mold [Aspergillus 11.5%, Alternaria 7.5%], Food [Wheat 9%, Pepper 7.5%, Egg 6.5%]. According to the freguency of positive skin tests to pollens in our patients, it seems that avoiding contact with these agents in related seasons, treatment induction, drug dose acceleration and desensitization procedures would be of great help in allergic patients

Occupational asthma, eosinophil and skin prick tests and serum total IgE values of the workers in a plant manufacturing rose oil.

This study was aimed to determine the rate of occupational asthma (OA) in workers at a rose extracting plant. Specific clinical tests of 52 workers, randomly chosen from four local rose extracting plants, were statistically compared with the test results of 30 local control subjects of similar age and sex as the plant workers, but who had never worked in such a plant. There were no significant differences in pulmonary function tests (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR) between the control and test groups. Significantly higher serum total IgE values (p < 0.0001) were observed for the test subjects (239.08+/-240 IU/ml) compared to the control subjects (81.33+/-61.45 IU/ml). There were also significant differences (p < 0.0001) in the number of eosinophils between the control and test groups, with corresponding mean values of 2.28+/-2.75% and 0.73+/-1.72%, respectively. A specifically prepared skin prick test using a rose allergen (Rosa domescena) was positive for 53.84% in the test subjects whereas only 5.33% positive test results were seen in the control group. We have demonstrated the involvement of Rosa domescena pollen in occupational allergy, through IgE-mediated hypersensitivity. It was concluded that the workers of a rose oil extracting plant are more susceptible to the rose pollens.

Allergic conjunctivitis.

The purpose of this research is to study the clinical features and risk factors of various types of allergic conjunctivitis. Four hundred and forty-five patients with a history of itching, foreign body sensation, lacrimation and red eyes were examined, and a skin test was performed and assessed to grade the severity. The mean age of the subjects was 24.5 +/- 16.3 years with female preponderance, except for vernal keratoconjunctivitis. The majority of the patients had perennial allergic conjunctivitis. Ninety-five percent of the patients had associated allergic diseases, especially allergic rhinitis. Sixty-six percent of the patients had a family history of atopy. Most patients had symptoms at night. Symptoms persisted throughout the year and were generally triggered by exposure to house dust. The allergy skin tests to common aero-allergens were positive in 95% of patients tested. Common allergens causing sensitization were house-dust mites, house dust, cockroaches, and grass pollen. Environmental control and avoidance of these allergens should be stressed in the management of these conditions.

Determinación de hipersensibilidad inmediata a pólenes en pacientes alérgicos del Distrito Federal / Determination of immediate hypersensibility a pollens in allergic patients from Federal District

Antecedentes: la hipersensibilidad inmediata mediada por IgE representa el mecanismo de daño tipo 1 según la clasificación original de Gell y Coombs. Material y método: estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal en el que se revisaron los expedientes de 1250 pacientes del Servicio de Alergia del Hospital Infantil de México con diagnóstico de rinitis alérgica; asma; asma y rinitis alérgica. Resultados: de los 1250 pacientes estudiados 468 fueron del sexo femenino (37.44 por ciento) y 782 (62.58 por ciento) del masculino con una edad media en ambos casos de 7.9 ñ3.5 DE. En cuanto al resultado de las pruebas cutáneas 154 (12.32 por ciento) fueron negativos y 1096 (87.68 por ciento) positivos a uno o más antígenos. Conclusiones: los resultados obtenidos señalan la importancia de realizar mayor número de estudios que relacionen no sólo los porcentajes de positividad en la determinación de hipersensibilidad inmediata, sino también en la frecuencia de pólenes en el medio en el que se desenvuelve el paciente, junto con las épocas de polinización a lo largo de la República Mexicana, en la población pediátrica y de adultos, para efectuar pruebas cutáneas seleccionadas según la zona e instituir un tratamiento específico y adecuado para cada paciente.

Sensibilizaçäo atópica em escolares e adultos de Curitiba, Paraná / Atopic sensitization among schoolchildren and adults in Curitiba, Paraná

Objetivo: Determinar a freqüência de sensibilizaçäo atópica à Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) e Lolium multiflorum ( Lolium ) em escolares e adultos residentes em Curitiba, Paraná. Casuística e método: Foram avaliados 3271 escolares (13 e 14 anos), provenientes de 43 escolas de Curitiba e 3041 adultos (idade > 20anos) funcionários, médicos do Hospital de Clínicas e adultos da UFPR. Realizou-se teste cutâneo alérgico por puntura (TCA) com dois extratos alergênicos: DP 5000 AU/mL e Lolium 1:30 peso/volume (Bayer Corporation, USA). A leitura foi feita após 15 minutos e considerada reaçäo positiva aquela com pápula igual ou superior a 3 mm de diâmetro. Resultados: Observou-se uma freqüência de TCA positivo para DP em 31,3 por cento das crianças e 38,9 por cento dos adultos e para Lolium 4,7 por cento das crianças e 15,4 por cento dos adultos. A sensibilizaçäo exclusiva ao DP em crianças foi de 28,1 por cento, ao Lolium 1,5 por cento e a ambos 3,2 por cento. Em adultos, os valores foram de 26,8 por cento de sensibilidade exclusiva ao DP e 3,3 por cento ao Lolium e para ambos de 12,1 por cento. Conclusäo: Os resultados revelam a alta freqüência de sensibilizaçäo aos ácaros da poeira domiciliar na populaçäo geral e maior freqüência de reaçäo ao pólen de gramíneas em adulto do que em crianças.

Prevalence of allergic sensitization to regional inhalants among allergic patients in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Sensitization towards a panel of eight regional inhalant allergens was evaluated among 107 patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. A total of 32 children (age 5-13 years, mean 9 years; 18 male, 14 female), 75 adolescents and adults (aged 14-66 years, mean 32 years; 21 male, 54 female) and 20 normal control volunteers (aged 16-46, mean 30 years; 4 male, 16 female) were evaluated via skin prick test. A weal response of 3 x 3 mm or greater was taken to be positive. The sensitization rates among individuals to these allergens were: house dust mites, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (77.57%), Blomia tropicalis (71.96%), Austroglycyphagus malaysiensis (33.64%), pollen, palm oil Elaeis guineensis (22.43%), Acacia auriculiformis (12.15%), fern spore, resam Dicranopteris spp (11.21%), fungal spores: Curvularia fallax (8.41%) and Exserohilum rostratum (13.08%). There were significantly higher frequencies of sensitization to these allergens among allergic individuals compared to normal controls, and among atopic individuals with two allergy manifestations (rhinitis and asthma) compared to those with only one. No difference was noted between children and adults in the allergic group. In conclusion, the allergic patients were highly sensitized to dust mites and sensitization to regional pollen and spores was also documented. They should be considered as relevant and be included in skin test batteries in Indonesia.

Exposure to Parthenium hysterophorous pollen extract leads to bronchospasm in stable patients of bronchial asthma.

Role of Parthenium hysterophorous as an allergen evoking bronchial hyper-responsiveness was assessed in twenty five adult patients with stable asthma and ten healthy controls. Assessment was made with the help of skin prick and bronchial provocation tests (BPT) using a commercially available Pathenium extract. Eleven patients (44%) of the study group had a positive skin reaction and 4 (16%) showed a significant fall in FEV1 and PEFR (p < 0.05) on bronchial provocation. In the control group only one patient (10%) had a positive skin test while there was none with a positive bronchial challenge. There was a significant fall in the mean values of FEV1 and PEFR over base line after the BPT in patients of asthma than controls. It is concluded that a significant proportion of bronchial asthma patients are sensitized to Parthenium hysterophorous and it may act as a cofactor in seasonal exacerbation of their symptoms.

Polinosis en la región de Bahía Blanca / Pollinosis in the region of Bahía Blanca

El presente trabajo pretende mostrar una descripción actualizada de las polinosis en nuestra zona. Se efectuó el relevamiento profesional de las plantas conocidas y/o sospechadas como alergógenas en la región de Bahía Blanca. Se estudió el polen absoluto en el aire durante 3 años. Se realizó un calendario floral de 30 especies, controlando sus inflorescencias durante el mismo lapso. Fueron preparados extractos con los pólenes antecitadas y posteriormente testificados en cien pacientes afectados por polinosis. Ochenta y seis enfermos mostraron pruebas positivas a gramíneas compuestas y quenopodiáceas; sólo catorce fueron positivos a gramíneas únicamente. Los síntomas por estos últimos pólenes fueron particularmente frecuentes e intensos en el mes de noviembre, correspondiendose con la floración de aquella familia. Sin embargo, a pesar de las reacciones positivas - marcadas y frecuentes - para quenopodiáceas, las consultas durante el verano disminuyeron ostensiblemente. No fue demostrada una correlación clínica significativa entre la floración de las compuestas y la signosintomatología del grupo estudiado. Consideramos imprescindible el acabado conocimiento de la flora alergógena y su calendario floral para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la polinosis

Reflexöes sobre polinose: 20 anos de experiência / Pollinosis: 20 years of experience

Apolinose gramíneas no Brasil foi descrita na década de 70 e os primeiros casos observados em Curitiba em 1977. É mais freqüente em adultos (média de 32 anos) e monossensibilizados ao pólen. Em crianças, é comum associar-se à alegria perene por ácaros. A dispersao de polens aéreos de gramíneas tem aumentado. Além da conjuntivite e rinite alérgica, aumentou a freqüência de casos de asma sazonal.

Alergia respiratoria inducida por hongos / Respiratory hypersensibility induced by fungi

Se realizó una revisión retrospectiva de 152 expedientes de niños con alergia respiratoria, que acudieron al Hospital del Niño "Dr. Rodolfo Nieto Padrón" de Villahermosa, Tabasco, México, entre junio de 1984 y abril de 1986. El grupo estuvo formado por 85 niños (55.9%) y 67 niñas (44.1%) con una edad promedio de 7.3 años. Llamó la atención que la reactividad cutánea a hongos (88.1% fue más importante que a pólenes (69.0%), siendo los alérgenos más frecuentes: Curvularia (31.5%), Penicillium (31.5%) y Rhizopus (30.9%). Al analizarlos por padecimientos encontramos que el 95.6% de los asmáticos, el 90.8% de los riníticos y el 80.6% de los niños con ambos padecimientos fueron alérgicos a hongos, en tanto que la hiperreactividad a pólenes fue de 67.3%, 68.0% y 70.9% respectivamente. No observamos diferencias en la frecuencia de reactividad cutánea entre hongos y pólenes en relación con la edad

A Study of Allergy Skin Tests with Korean Pollen Extracts

In Korea, there are two descrite pollen seasons: a tree pollen season and a weed pollen season. In order to investigate the incidence of sensitization to the major pollens and to evaluate is clinical significance in respriatory allergic disease, skin prick tests were performed using 7 species of Korean pollen extracts (K-P extracts) and specific IgE was measured by the Phadebas radioallergosorbent test (RAST) in patients with positive skin prick tests. Of the 317 patients with respiratory allergic diseases 73 patients (23.0%) were skin prick test positive to one or more K-P extracts and the positive reactions to individual pollens were as follows: 14.2% (45/317) positive to sagebrush 10.4% to ragweed, 5.0% to grass, 4.1% to oak, 3.8% to alder, 1.9% to poplar; and 0% to pine. The 30-39yr old group manifested the highest skin test positivity 36.7%. There was no difference in the skin reactivity according to the patient's sex and the kinds of allergic disease. Also there was no relationship between birth season and skin test positivity. The agreement between the results of the skin prick test with K-P and commercially prepared Bencard's pollen extracts (B-P extracts) was good. There were good correlations between the strongly positive skin prick test and a posivite RAST and also between a netative skin prick test and a negative RAST. From this study, it can be concluded that overall sensitization rate of respiratory allergy patients to K-P exstracts was 23.0%, and that weed pollens such as sagebrush and ragweed were major pollens.