Allergo Journal International最新文献

{"title":"Physician’s perspectives on skin prick testing and allergy diagnostics in Germany","authors":"Ludger Klimek,&nbsp;Wolfgang Wehrmann,&nbsp;Randolf Brehler,&nbsp;Sven Becker,&nbsp;Mandy Cuevas,&nbsp;Moritz Gröger,&nbsp;Jan Hagemann,&nbsp;Ingrid Casper,&nbsp;Mathias Sulk,&nbsp;Senne Gorris,&nbsp;Sven F. Seys","doi":"10.1007/s40629-024-00297-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-024-00297-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Novel technologies standardising the testing process of immediate hypersensitivities have been developed and validated in recent years. Meanwhile, challenges with regard to availability of testing agents and shortage of trained personnel have increased. Novel technologies could fight these challenges, but their distribution is at present not known. The current survey, conducted by the German Society for Allergology (AeDA), aimed to assess current practices of allergy diagnostics in Germany.</p><p>Members of AeDA were invited to complete an online questionnaire to obtain information on their perspectives on allergy testing and diagnostics.</p><p>A total of 150 allergologists from different disciplines treating patients with allergy completed the questionnaire. This survey revealed that twice as many skin prick tests (SPT; 21.2 tests/week) compared to serum specific immunoglobulin E tests (IgE; 10.4 tests/week) are being performed. Nasal allergen provocation tests are being performed in 56.0% of hospitals and physicians’ offices. An individual standard allergen panel for SPT is applied in 78.0% of testing cases. Methods used to perform a read out of SPT are variable with measurement of the longest wheal diameter being used most frequently (68.0%), followed by a qualitative evaluation (46.6%) or the longest wheal diameter including pseudopods (34.4%). In all, 66% of allergologists indicated that a device that automating the SPT process would be valuable for clinical practice.</p><p>Skin prick tests and serum IgE tests are still the cornerstones in the diagnostic work-up of immediate-type allergies. Variability in the execution of skin prick tests exists between different hospitals and physicians’ offices in Germany. Inconsistent availability of testing reagents was considered most problematic for maintaining allergy diagnostics in Germany. A majority of allergologists are open to evaluating tools that may contribute to standardize skin prick tests.</p>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"33 5","pages":"159 - 164"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-024-00297-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141649035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Allergy skin prick tests with COVID-19 vaccines and their contribution to improve vaccination readiness and reduce anxiety","authors":"Tobias Pindel,&nbsp;Susanne Brandstetter,&nbsp;Wolfgang Sieber,&nbsp; Michael Kabesch M.D.","doi":"10.1007/s40629-024-00296-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-024-00296-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were introduced, they were suspected of triggering severe allergic reactions disproportionately often. This contributed to the fear of vaccination, particularly among allergy patients.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>In an allergy center in eastern Bavaria, we used a skin prick test to investigate how often sensitization to COVID-19 vaccines can be detected and whether appropriate testing could significantly reduce the fear of vaccination.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Comirnaty® (<i>n</i> <i>=</i> 245 tested/6.93% <i>clearly positive </i>reaction; Biontec/Pfizer, Mainz, Germany/New York City, NY, USA), Spikevax® (56/14.28%; Moderna, Cambridge, MA, USA), Vaxzevria® (208/4.32%; Astra Zeneca, Cambridge, England) and Jcovden® (48/4.16%; Johnson &amp; Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ, USA) were tested by skin prick test. Most participants tested were female (83.6%) and had a history of allergies (94.8%). Depending on the result of the skin prick test, the test subjects were advised on vaccination. In a questionnaire survey approximately 1 year after testing, 75.7% of the <i>N</i> = 70 respondents stated that their fear of vaccination had been greatly or very greatly reduced as a result of the testing and counseling. In the follow-up survey, 88.5% of all respondents had been vaccinated at least once. No notable allergic problems occurred during the COVID-19 vaccination in study participants.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The study shows that simple skin prick testing could reduce fears and concerns about allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, and thus significantly increase the willingness to vaccinate in the population, especially among allergy patients.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"33 5","pages":"153 - 158"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-024-00296-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142413498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Course of growth and nutritional status in Swiss children with food allergies","authors":"Rebekka Gerber,&nbsp;Andre Meichtry,&nbsp;Klazine van der Horst,&nbsp;Alice Koehli,&nbsp;Caroline Roduit,&nbsp;Felicitas Bellutti Enders,&nbsp;Isabel Skypala,&nbsp;Mary Hickson,&nbsp;Julia Eisenblaetter","doi":"10.1007/s40629-024-00289-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-024-00289-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Studies suggest that children with immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergies (FA) are at risk of impaired growth, especially those with cow’s milk or multiple FA. However, there is limited long-term data available on this topic. This analysis presents the growth of Swiss children for the first year after FA diagnosis.</p><p>This is a secondary analysis of data from a multicentered study following food allergic children (0–10 years) over 1 year post diagnosis, comparing those who received dietary counselling with those who did not. Growth z‑scores were calculated based on World Health Organization (WHO) standards, using data reported by caregivers. To analyze data, linear mixed models with between-subject factors related to dietary counselling, number of FA, and cow’s milk allergy were fitted to the data.</p><p>In the 48 children (median age 16 months) studied, we observed an increasing prevalence of wasting (weight-for-length/height z‑score &lt; 2; 2–10%) and a lower prevalence of stunting (length/height-for-age &lt; 2; 0–2%) over the 1‑year period. Twelve months after diagnosis, all median z‑scores showed an increase. Linear mixed model analysis did not find any significant within-subject and between-subject effects on growth.</p><p>Children with IgE-mediated FA can have normal growth if children with cow’s milk allergy or multiple food allergies receive dietary counselling. Routine length/height and weight measurements should be taken to identify individual malnutrition and to initiate tailored nutritional interventions. Larger studies with longer duration are needed to assess further growth development in children with IgE-mediated food allergies.</p>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"33 6","pages":"171 - 179"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-024-00289-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141356894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Classification of molds and definition of mold contamination","authors":"Thomas Gabrio,&nbsp;Guido Fischer","doi":"10.1007/s40629-024-00292-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-024-00292-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The term “molds” is defined and relevant sources of molds are given. The conditions and growth of mold fungi are explained. The determination of mould spores and colony-forming units (CFU) in the air is briefly explained and it is made clear that the total spore count is relevant for assessing the sensitizing and allergenic effect of moulds. Outdoor air-associated moulds such as <i>Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium herbarum</i> and <i>Penicillium chrysogenum</i> (mx1 mould mixture) are of particular importance due to their high degree of sensitization. Their concentration in the air is determined by the vegetation and is therefore dependent on the season. In people who were tested for mx1, sensitization to <i>Alternaria alternata</i> (m6) was predominantly observed for the individual allergens. For many indoor-associated moulds, no (valid) commercially available test extracts for the detection of sensitization, so-called allergy tests, are available. Allergy test results of mold mixtures, such as mx1, cannot be used to determine an indoor mold allergy, nor can the results of mold measurements in the rooms used by the respective persons be used for a risk assessment in the event of an existing mold infestation in the interior. The classification of mold fungi is explained.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"33 4","pages":"110 - 123"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141114600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The German guideline on medical clinical diagnostics for indoor mold exposure: key messages","authors":"Julia Hurraß,&nbsp; Gerhard A. Wiesmüller","doi":"10.1007/s40629-024-00294-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-024-00294-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The AWMF S2k guideline “Medical clinical diagnostics for indoor mold exposure” was introduced in 2016. The guideline is based on a standardized procedure of the AWMF including a systematic literature search involving several medical disciplines. The expert group has updated this guideline in accordance with AWMF specifications. For this purpose, a new Medline search was carried out for the current version of the guideline up to June 2022 with additional search terms. The search results were evaluated and further narrowed down by means of abstract screening and, where applicable, evidence-based evaluation of the full texts. Medical guidelines on related topics were also taken into account. The updated guideline is available since October 2023. This is intended to close the existing knowledge gap for rational and efficient medical diagnostics for indoor mold contamination and provides 26 core statements and recommendations, which are presented in detail.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"33 4","pages":"106 - 109"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-024-00294-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141002328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What effect do mycotoxins, cell wall components, enzymes and other mold components and metabolites have on our health?","authors":"Julia Hurraß,&nbsp;Rabea Teubel,&nbsp; Guido Fischer,&nbsp; Birger Heinzow,&nbsp; Gerhard A. Wiesmüller","doi":"10.1007/s40629-024-00295-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-024-00295-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The AWMF (Association of the Scientific Medical Societies) mold guideline “Medical clinical diagnostics for indoor mold exposure”—Update 2023 [44] concludes that there is limited or presumed evidence of a link between indoor dampness/mold exposure and health problems. However, there is inadequate or insufficient evidence for an association between indoor dampness/mold exposure and the environmental medical syndromes sick building syndrome (SBS), multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Newly coined terms, such as biotoxicosis and mold and vapor hypersensitivity syndrome (MDHS) or volatoxins, suggest a nosological specificity of a pathophysiological connection for which, however, there is no evidence to date. The background to this assessment is presented in this paper.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"33 4","pages":"124 - 132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-024-00295-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141005500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Allergen-specific immunotherapy for mold allergies","authors":"Randolf Brehler,&nbsp;Uta Rabe","doi":"10.1007/s40629-024-00293-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-024-00293-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Molds are ubiquitous in our environment and are considered by the population to be the most important indoor pollutant problem [1]. The current 2023 update to the AWMF mold guideline [1] is intended to allay or channel fears and provide assistance for a sensible diagnosis and treatment decision.</p><p>The detection of an IgE-mediated allergy implies for allergists Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) as an established treatment option. However, compared to the well-validated AIT with pollen and house dust mites, the decision to use AIT with mold extracts must be weighed more heavily between the benefits and risks.</p><p>Spores of <i>Alternaria alternata</i> are found in high concentrations in the outdoor air. Due to the high allergenic potential and the small size of the spores, an Alternaria allergy often leads to bronchial asthma, especially in children. The effectiveness of AIT with Alternaria extracts has been tested in several studies; for other molds, especially those from the indoor environment, the efficacy and applicability is very limited.</p><p>In terms of differential diagnosis, it must be borne in mind that molds can not only cause common allergic reactions but can also be responsible for allergic bronchopulmonary mycoses/aspergillosis (ABPA), Aspergillus bronchitis, exogenous allergic alveolitis (EAA), invasive aspergillosis, mycoses and rhinosinusitis. Very high concentrations, which can occur particularly in workplaces, can also result in toxic effects (“organic dust toxic syndrome”); molds are also held responsible for mucous membrane irritation, odor effects and mood disorders [1].</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"33 4","pages":"101 - 105"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-024-00293-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140669406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First report of lymphocyte transformation test positivity in a delayed allergic reaction to ticagrelor","authors":"Emilio Narváez-Fernández,&nbsp;Valeria Herrera-Lasso,&nbsp;Lucía Quintana-Castanedo,&nbsp;Miguel González-Muñoz,&nbsp;Ana Fiandor","doi":"10.1007/s40629-024-00284-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-024-00284-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"33 5","pages":"165 - 167"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140673857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxicokinetics of aluminium—novel insights in an old adjuvant","authors":"Karin Weisser","doi":"10.1007/s40629-024-00288-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-024-00288-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>In 2015, an interdisciplinary project was started to fill the gap of knowledge on the toxicokinetics of aluminium (Al) after exposure from adjuvanted products for subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT).</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Two complementary initiatives of the project are explained. The results of two studies are reviewed and put in connection with the overarching goal. An estimate is given which steps have been reached and which are still needed.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Recent in vivo data provided evidence of systemically available Al from SCIT products in rats (Weisser et al. 2020 [1]). The data are highly valuable for further development of the physiology-based toxicokinetic (PBTK) model for Al exposure which has been established in parallel (Hethey et al. 2021 [2]).</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The Hethey model is an important step towards prediction of Al exposure in man from various sources. For use in risk assessment of Al exposure from SCIT products further extension of the model is warranted.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"33 8","pages":"304 - 308"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-024-00288-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140692911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Skin tests, serological IgE detection, basophil test—what is available, useful and helps to clarify a mold allergy?","authors":"Monika Raulf,&nbsp; Sabine Kespohl","doi":"10.1007/s40629-024-00287-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-024-00287-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The prevalence of sensitization to molds is low in healthy people, but significant in asthmatics. As it has not yet been possible to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the presence of mold allergens and the occurrence of allergic symptoms, there is a great deal of uncertainty. The update of the S2k guideline “Medical–clinical diagnostics for indoor mold exposure” should help to objectify the topic. Based on the recommendations listed there for the diagnosis of suspected IgE-mediated mold allergy, this article presents the possibilities of skin tests, IgE determinations, and other in vitro test options, but also their limitations in clarifying the cause. Potential possibilities include component-resolved allergy diagnostics, while the limitations include the difficult standardization of test allergen extracts due to the complex allergen source and the insufficient commercial availability of the test extracts. A diagnostic algorithm is presented as a tool for a systematic approach to patients with suspected mold-associated respiratory allergy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"33 4","pages":"133 - 139"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-024-00287-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140744458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}