Legumes steam allergy in childhood: Update of the reported cases

In the past few decades, the prevalence of allergic diseases has deeply increased, with a key role played by food allergies. Legumes seem to play a major role towards the overall increase in the scenario of food allergy, since they are an appreciated source, consumed worldwide, due to their high protein content, variable amounts of lipids and for the presence of vitamins. In literature there are numerous descriptions of adverse reactions after ingestion of uncooked and cooked legumes. Nevertheless, cases of allergic reactions induced by inhaling vapours from cooking legumes have rarely been described. Herein the authors report an update of the literature data on allergic reactions caused by legume steam inhalation, underlying the possible pathogenic mechanism of these atopic events and the knowledge of literature data in paediatric age. The importance of this review is the focus on the clinical aspects concerning legume vapour allergy, referring to literature data in childhood

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Legumes steam allergy in childhood: Update of the reported cases.

In the past few decades, the prevalence of allergic diseases has deeply increased, with a key role played by food allergies. Legumes seem to play a major role towards the overall increase in the scenario of food allergy, since they are an appreciated source, consumed worldwide, due to their high protein content, variable amounts of lipids and for the presence of vitamins. In literature there are numerous descriptions of adverse reactions after ingestion of uncooked and cooked legumes. Nevertheless, cases of allergic reactions induced by inhaling vapours from cooking legumes have rarely been described. Herein the authors report an update of the literature data on allergic reactions caused by legume steam inhalation, underlying the possible pathogenic mechanism of these atopic events and the knowledge of literature data in paediatric age. The importance of this review is the focus on the clinical aspects concerning legume vapour allergy, referring to literature data in childhood.

Genetic diversity and structure of a worldwide collection of Phaseolus coccineus L.

Phaseolus coccineus L. is closely related to P. vulgaris and is the third most important cultivated Phaseolus species. Little is known about the patterns of its diversity. In this work, a representative collection of its worldwide diversity was initially developed. The collection includes 28 wild forms (WFs) and 52 landraces (LRs) from Mesoamerica (the crop domestication area), and 148 LRs from Europe (where the crop was introduced in the sixteenth century). The collection was studied by using 12 SSR molecular markers that were developed for the P. vulgaris genome. They were proved to be effective and reliable in P. coccineus in this work. Fourteen LRs of P. dumosus (previously identified as a subspecies of P. coccineus) were also studied. The genetic diversity, population structure and phylogenetic relationships were investigated. The results indicate that: (a) the European and Mesoamerican gene pools are clearly differentiated, (b) a certain reduction of diversity occurred with introduction into Europe, and (c) the Mesoamerican LRs (P. dumosus included) and WFs are closely related and are connected by a high gene flow. Inferences on the domestication process of P. coccineus are also presented. This study provides a picture of the genetic diversity distribution and outcomes with introduction into the Old World, which was not available before. It also underlines that the genetic diversity of both WFs and LRs is an important source for Phaseolus spp. breeding programs and deserves to be preserved in situ and ex situ.

[Clinical and angiocardiographic observations on the so-called absence of a branch of the pulmonary artery]. / Osservazioni cliniche ed angiocardiografiche sulla cosiddetta "assenza" di un ramo dell'arteria polmonare.

We present 5 cases with angiographically absent pulmonary artery: 4 with absence of right pulmonary artery and 1 with absence of the left. We excluded cases of atresia of pulmonary artery, ventricular septal defect and major aorto-pulmonary collaterals. We excluded also cases of anomalous origin of a pulmonary artery from the aorta. Surgical inspection in 3 patients demonstrated total absence of pulmonary main branch (1 case), with intraoperative death, and presence of the hilar portion of the pulmonary artery (2 cases), with successful palliative procedure. It is supportive of efforts to identify as early in life as is feasible the absent vessel, for surgical purposes. In fact the early surgical procedure will ensure development of the vessel and normal lung growth, and will decrease the risk of the following intracardiac repair, when needful.

Supraventricular tachycardia in infants: use of the "diving reflex".

The effectiveness of the "diving reflex" in treating paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) in 10 infants aged under 6 months is demonstrated. No rhythm disturbances were encountered during the maneuver, even in patients receiving digitalis. The recommended water temperature is 5 degrees C and the total time of facial immersion, between 6 and 7 seconds. The diving reflex might be considered the first therapeutic approach in infants under 6 months old with PSVT.

[Scimitar syndrome with or without the "scimitar sign"]. / Sindrome della scimitarra con o senza il "segno della scimitarra".

The so called scimitar syndrome is a congenital malformation characterized mainly by the anomalous venous return of the right lung in inferior vena cava. Many structure of the lung may be involved. Usually lobation and bronchial distribution are abnormal, the right pulmonary artery is hypoplastic or absent, a partial anomalous artery from aorta (pulmonary sequestration) may be present, the entire lung is small and various degree of displacement of the heart to the right is detectable. Associated congenital heart defects may also be present. The name of the syndrome comes from the presence of this vessel (scimitar's sign) on routine chest x-ray. This paper describes the clinical and angiographic reports of four cases, which may represent, according a unique embriological interpretation, a different instances of this syndrome. The anatomic characteristic, the sign of scimitar, could be also absent, as in cases 2 and 3. In the case 2 there was complete absence of right pulmonary artery and in the case 3 a severe hypoplastic right pulmonary artery with unique small venous return in left atrium. The authors opinion is that all the anomalies of lung vascular connections, that result from interference with the normal growth of the lung bud, its separation from systemic vascular channels, and the establishment of the lesser circulation should be included. Because the different components of thie malformation can be present in various combination, the sign of scimitar is not pathognomonic to define the syndrome.