Showing papers by "Domingo Barber published in 2005"

Lipid transfer proteins and allergy to oranges.

Abstract: Background: Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are relevant fruit allergens, recently proposed as model plant food allergens. No citrus fruit allergen has been characterized to date. We

Isolation, cloning and allergenic reactivity of natural profilin Cit s 2, a major orange allergen.

Abstract: Background: Orange is among the most widely consumed fruits, and among the plant food sources causing allergic reactions according to popular perception. However, its relevant allergenic components are virtually unknown. Profilin is a well-defined minor plant panallergen, showing prevalences around 30% in fruits and vegetables. Methods: Twenty-three orange-allergic patients were studied. Natural orange profilin, named Cit s 2, was purified by affinity chromatography and characterized by N-terminal amino acid sequencing, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry analysis and isolation of its coding cDNA. Reactivity to Cit s 2 was analyzed in vivo by skin prick tests (SPT) and in vitro by IgE immunodetection, specific IgE determination in individual sera and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-inhibition assays. Results: The N-terminal amino acid sequence and molecular mass of natural Cit s 2, both fully in agreement with the complete amino acid sequence deduced from its coding cDNA, demonstrated its profilin nature. An unexpectedly high reactivity to Cit s 2 was found in vivo (78% of positive SPT responses) and in vitro (87% of sera from orange allergic patients had specific IgE to Cit s 2). The purified allergen inhibited around 50% of the IgE binding to an orange pulp extract. Conclusion: Orange profilin Cit s 2, unlike other plant food profilins, is a major and highly prevalent allergen.

Human hair: an unexpected source of cat allergen exposure.

Abstract: Background: Cat allergens are ubiquitous because the clothing of cat owners constitutes an important source of distribution of Fel d 1 in cat-free environments. Since Fel d 1 can ad

No rHev b 12-specific IgE-response in children sensitized to natural rubber latex.

Abstract: rate of adverse events (3). Few studies have investigated the tolerability of CE in patients with severe NSAIDs hypersensitivity, therefore we attempted to address this aspect. The main inclusion criterion for patients was a well-documented clinical history of erythema and/or urticaria/ angioedema following the intake of N or other NSAIDs in addition to N. Pregnant/lactating women and patients with systemic diseases or chronic idiopathic urticaria were excluded. Respiratory symptoms, laryngeal oedema or anaphylaxis after NSAIDs were exclusion criteria as well. The diagnosis of N-induced skin reaction was confirmed by an oral challenge (4). Patients had to be asymptomatic since at least 1 month at the time of the challenge. At the first visit, patients underwent physical examination, spirometry and skin-prick tests with common allergens. The oral challenge was singleblind and placebo-controlled, under continuous medical supervision. The CE and placebo (lactose) were administered in identical capsules. Four doses of CE were used: 20, 60, 120 and 200 mg, being this latter the commercial therapeutic dose. On day 1, three placebo capsules were given at 1-h interval. After 3-4 days, the patients received 20, 60 and 120 mg CE hourly, and 3–4 days later a single 200 mg dose was given. In addition to clinical follow-up and vital signs recording, a spirometry was performed at baseline and after 6 and 24 h in each session. The challenge was positive if erythema and/or rush and/or urticariaangioedema appeared. Seventy-two patients (26 male, age 14–70, mean age 41) were included. Thirty (42%) had a clinical history of respiratory or food allergy, and 31 (42.6%) reported cutaneous symptoms also with other drugs (mainly antimicrobials). Twenty-three patients had a clinical history of adverse reaction to N alone (Table 1). Sixty-eight patients (93%) tolerated the therapeutic dose of CE (200 mg) without reactions. Two patients had moderate angioedema of the lips about 30–40 min after the administration of the 200 mg dose. Those events resolved in <2 h after oral cetirizine and intravenous methylprednisolone. One patient reported generalized itching, without objective signs 35 min after 120 mg (no treatment needed), and another subject reported mild stomachache 1 h after the higher dose. An increasing number of publications is confirming that coxibs are overall safe and well-tolerated, and severe reactions with them are only anecdotal (5). This is important, since the large use of N has increased the number of (or selected out) those patients intolerant to it. Those patients should be considered highly reactive, and CE is a reasonable alternative drug (3). In our study, only two of the four adverse events reported could be considered related to CE. In fact, generalized itching alone and stomachache are not considered typical of drug hypersensitivity. The finding of only two positive responses (2.77%) to challenge with CE in highly reactive patients confirms that the drug has a very good tolerability.

Exposición y sensibilización a Tyrophagus putrescentiae en una población de alérgicos a Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus en Huelva

Abstract: Background In this work we analyzed the allergological importance of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tp) in Huelva (SE Spain). We studied the level of exposition and the grade of sensitization to Tp in a group of patients sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt). The allergenic cross-reactivity between Dpt and Tp was determined by RAST inhibition.