allergy
Nickel allergy and orthodontic treatment.

Kalimo K, Mattila L, Kautiainen H.

Department of Dermatology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. kirsti.kalimo tyks.fi

OBJECTIVES: Tolerance induction to prevent development of nickel allergy has been suggested with permanent dental braces. We wanted to find out which effect orthodontic treatments had had on the development of nickel allergy in university students. STUDY DESIGN: We examined and patch tested 153 students, of whom 113 had a history of pierced skin, and 70 a history of orthodontic treatment roughly 10 years earlier. RESULTS: All except one student with pierced skin were females. Development of nickel allergy was significantly associated with skin piercing (54% compared with 12%). At the time of the study, there was a slight but non-significant difference in the prevalence of nickel allergy between students who had been subjects for orthodontic treatment (49%) compared with non-treated ones (58%) if they had pierced skin. There were no significant differences in the development of nickel allergy among students who had had permanent dental braces before (50%) or after skin piercing (48%). However, from 40 students without skin piercing four of 11 (three males) with a history of permanent braces had developed nickel allergy, as compared with none of 22 (P = 0.008) without orthodontic treatment suggesting possibility of sensitization through dental devices. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic treatment may not lead to tolerance induction on all occasions, and sensitization through permanent devices seems to be possible. Copyright 2004 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15324389&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori infection may increase the risk of food allergy development.

Figura N, Perrone A, Gennari C, Orlandini G, Giannace R, Lenzi C, Vagliasindi M, Bianciardi L, Rottoli P.

Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Siena, Italy. figura unisi.it

The aim of this study was to test whether patients with symptomatic food allergy and significant levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) to alimentary antigens were more likely infected by H. pylori, especially by strains expressing the CagA protein, with respect to controls. A group of 38 patients with symptomatic food allergy and 53 age-matched controls were examined serologically for H. pylori infectious status, and for CagA seropositivity. IgE to alimentary allergens were measured by a commercial kit. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with food allergy and controls was similar (42.1%, and 48.3%, respectively). However, anti-CagA antibodies in H. pylori-infected persons were detected in 62.5% of patients with food allergy, and 28% of controls (P = 0.030, odds ratio = 4.29). The mean level of IgE to the most common alimentary antigens in serum samples from infected patients with anti-CagA antibodies was significantly higher than in CagA-negative infected patients: 3.28 kU/L (SD 3.93), vs. 1.99 kU/L (SD 1.53), P = 0.002, 95% confidence interval = 0.61 to 2.53). Infection by CagA-positive H. pylori increases the risk of developing food allergy.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10695562&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
Effects of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis or tetanus vaccination on allergies and allergy-related respiratory symptoms among children and adolescents in the United States.

Hurwitz EL, Morgenstern H.

UCLA School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Los Angeles, Calif 90095-1772, USA. ehurwitz ucla.edu

BACKGROUND: Findings from animal and human studies confirm that diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis (DTP) and tetanus vaccinations induce allergic responses; associations between childhood vaccinations and subsequent allergies have been reported recently. OBJECTIVE: The association of DTP or tetanus vaccination with allergies and allergy-related respiratory symptoms among children and adolescents in the United States was assessed. METHODS: Data were used from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey on infants aged 2 months through adolescents aged 16 years. DTP or tetanus vaccination, lifetime allergy history, and allergy symptoms in the past 12 months were based on parental or guardian recall. Logistic regression modeling was performed to estimate the effects of DTP or tetanus vaccination on each allergy. RESULTS: The odds of having a history of asthma was twice as great among vaccinated subjects than among unvaccinated subjects (adjusted odds ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.59 to 6.74). The odds of having had any allergy-related respiratory symptom in the past 12 months was 63% greater among vaccinated subjects than unvaccinated subjects (adjusted odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 2.54). The associations between vaccination and subsequent allergies and symptoms were greatest among children aged 5 through 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: DTP or tetanus vaccination appears to increase the risk of allergies and related respiratory symptoms in children and adolescents. Although it is unlikely that these results are entirely because of any sources of bias, the small number of unvaccinated subjects and the study design limit our ability to make firm causal inferences about the true magnitude of effect.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10714532&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
Allergic management of Meniere's disease: an outcome study.

Derebery MJ.

House Ear Clinic and House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90057, USA.

The effect of allergy immunotherapy and elimination of suspected food allergens was evaluated in patients with Meniere's disease. A total of 137 patients with Meniere's disease for whom allergy treatment had been recommended were identified and were mailed and returned a symptoms questionnaire. One hundred thirteen had received allergy treatment; 24 did not have treatment and served as a control group. Information regarding history, signs and symptoms, allergy test results, and audiologic data were obtained by chart review. The 113 patients treated with desensitization and diet showed a significant improvement from pretreatment to posttreatment in both allergy and Meniere's symptoms. Ratings of frequency, severity, and interference with everyday activities of their Meniere's symptoms also appeared better after allergy treatment than ratings from the control group of untreated patients. Vertigo control results, by use of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery classification, categorized 47.9% as class A or B. Hearing was stable or improved in 61.4%. Patients with Meniere's disease can show improvement in their symptoms of tinnitus and vertigo when receiving specific allergy therapy. The inner ear may be the target, directly or indirectly, of an allergic reaction.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10652386&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
OTC cold, cough and allergy products: more choice or more confusion?

Agrawal M.

Department of Pharmacy and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, St. John's University, Jamaica, NY 11439, USA. agrawalm stjohns.edu

Cold and allergy remedies are one of the most confusing markets to consumers. There are several reasons why there is confusion among consumers when forced to select a cough/cold/allergy product. This paper examines the over-the-counter cold/cough/allergy products market specifically with respect to: (1) What are the common pharmaceutical active ingredients in cold/cough/allergy products? (2) What percentage of products are single ingredient, two ingredient, three ingredient or more? (3) What are the common combinations of pharmaceutical ingredients present in cold/cough/allergy products? The answers to the above questions could help health professionals such as pharmacists in rendering services such as counseling consumers when approached with questions about cold/cough/allergy products. The results could also help retailers in developing better shelf placement and positioning of cold/cough/allergy products.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10623197&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
[Allergy to cow's milk protein hydrolysates: apropos of 8 cases]

[Article in French]

Sotto D, Tounian P, Baudon JJ, Pauliat S, Challier P, Fontaine JL, Girardet JP.

Service de gastroenterologie et nutrition pediatriques, hopital d'enfants Armand-Trousseau, Paris, France.

BACKGROUND: The use of extensively hydrolyzed protein formulas is the best alternative for children with cow's milk allergy, though cases of allergies to hydrolyzed proteins have been reported. The aim of this study was to clarify from our experience the diagnostic, evolutive and therapeutic aspects of allergies to extensively hydrolyzed protein formulas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report eight cases of allergy to extensively hydrolyzed protein formulas seen between 1985 and 1998. The diagnostic criteria for allergy were either the appearance of immediate anaphylactic reactions after the ingestion of protein hydrolysate or a positive challenge test with the protein hydrolysate. RESULTS: Four children developed immediate anaphylactic symptoms after ingesting protein hydrolysate, and four children demonstrated subacute or chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. All children who developed acute anaphylactic symptoms had positive skin tests and specific IgF, antibodies (RAST) to cow's milk and/or hydrolyzed proteins. Conversely, in the four children with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, skin tests and specific IgE antibodies were negative in three cases, but intestinal histology was abnormal in all of them when they were fed with a protein hydrolysate; this became normal after excluding the hydrolysate (data available in only two cases). Three children tolerated another protein hydrolysate form (whey vs. casein), four children had a favourable outcome when fed with human milk, and an amino-acid-based formula was successfully used in the most recent case. Nonhydrolyzed cow's milk proteins were tolerated after the age of 18 months in six children. Other atopic symptoms were observed in six children. CONCLUSION: Allergy to cow's milk protein hydrolysate is rare. The diagnosis is usually easy in children who develop acute anaphylactic symptoms, though intestinal histology is generally necessary for the diagnosis of allergy with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. Treatment is based on the use of either another protein hydrolysate form (whey vs. casein) or an amino-acid-based formula.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10627898&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
Birth order and sibship size as independent risk factors for asthma, allergy, and eczema.

Bernsen RM, de Jongste JC, van der Wouden JC.

Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC--University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. r.bernsen erasmusmc.nl

This study was carried out to disentangle the independent relations of birth order and sibship size with the presence of asthma, allergy and eczema. In a retrospective study, 700 families in the Netherlands were selected with index children born in 1988-90. Data were extracted from reports of health examinations at the age of 6 years of these children and their siblings. Birth order, and not sibship size, appeared to be a strong risk factor for allergy (excluding eczema). Children with higher birth order had a lower risk of allergy compared with first-borns (adjusted odds ratios: 0.43, 0.26 and 0.05 for second-, third- and fourth- or higher borns, respectively; p < 0.0001). Allergy including eczema also had a significant relation with birth order (p = 0.01). For asthma there appeared no clear relation with birth order. For asthma a non-significant relationship with sibship size (adjusted for birth order) was found (p = 0.06): first-born children in small sibships were more at risk than those in larger sibships. For allergy and eczema no such trend was observed. In conclusion, birth order is inversely related to the risk of allergy, independent of the size of the sibship.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14675474&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine