Being an immunological disease, the characteristics of allergy are those of specificity and memory. Regardless of whether the clinical manifestation is rhinoconjunctivitis, rhinitis, or asthma, the underlying immunological response disorder is based on the adverse reactions of cells in the immune system upon contact with allergens. These cells are specific for epitopes that are structural parts of allergens present in the allergenic source material. Two types of cells (i.e., T cells and B-cells) produce receptor molecules (i.e., T-cell receptors and immunoglobulin [IgE] antibodies) that, through high-affinity interactions with the allergen, efficiently catalyze the presence of even minute amounts of allergens into clinical symptoms, the extreme consequence of which may be life-threatening to the patient. (more…)
Allergen vaccines are complex mixtures of antigenic components produced by the extraction of naturally occurring source materia ...
The production of allergen vaccines imposes a number of constraints on both the selection of source materials and the physicoch ...
The quality of an allergen vaccine is a measure of the complexity of the composition, including the concentration of the variou ...
The potency of an allergen vaccine is the total allergen activity (that is, the sum of the contribution to allergenic activity from ...
Having determined an adequate potency and complexity in composition, an allergen vaccine may still be deficient in the content of m ...
The protective effect of breast-feeding on asthma and allergy has been debated for more than 60 years without any hope of a consensus. A major problem is the lack of randomized controlled trials. However, breast-feeding has a number of other benefits and should be recommended irrespective of any effect on asthma or allergy. This is why randomized trials are not considered ethical. Thus, we have to rely on observational studies, which have produced conflicting results. Mothers who do or do not breastfeed differ in several environmental exposures, including socio-economic class, smoking and area of living, which influence indoor and outdoor exposure to pollutants. Despite statistical adjustment for these confounding factors, the evidence is never as robust as it would be with an randomized controlled trial. (more…)
Breast milk contains a variety of bioactive substances, among them soluble CD14 (sCD14), which plays an important role in innat ...
The prevalence of atopic dermatitis is increasing in Western societies. The hygiene hypothesis proposes that this is due to red ...
The prevalence of asthma increases with increasing levels of Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE). However, the effect of early-l ...
If the breast-fed baby is lactose intolerant (usually a temporary condition following intestinal infection at this age), moth ...
Avoidance of any one of the individual risk factors associated with childhood asthma has not been successful in preventing its deve ...
If you suspect that certain foods trigger wheezing or asthma symptoms in your child, your first action should be a consultation with your pediatrician to determine the exact inventory of foods your child is allergies to. The doctor will probably refer you to a pediatric allergist, or may carry out the tests him-or herself to identify your child’s reactive foods. (more…)
Food is essential for sustaining human life. Many love to eat and find enjoyment in this activity. But there are literally thou ...
The food eating challenges materials used at different centers vary considerably. Some centers use freeze-dried foods, some use con ...
The most important aspect of managing food allergies in children and babies is to be sure that the developing child has each an ...
After long-term avoidance of the offending foods, many children outgrow their food allergies. Subsequent periodic challenge wit ...
Oral allergy syndrome is one form of allergy that body have allergic reaction to fruits and vegetables. Based on statistics fa ...
The allergen extracts used for diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases. In the process of fabricating of allergen extracts, it is important to apply the standards to address the variability nature of the materials. Other important consideration is to look for the way to reproduce and control the optimum safety and efficaciousness when used in clinics. (more…)
The production of allergen vaccines imposes a number of constraints on both the selection of source materials and the physicoch ...
Allergen vaccines are complex mixtures of antigenic components produced by the extraction of naturally occurring source materia ...
Being an immunological disease, the characteristics of allergy are those of specificity and memory. Regardless of whether the c ...
The oral allergy syndrome is difficult to detect. Common allergy tests to examine allergy are using extracts only in skin scrat ...
The diagnostic approach to allergic food reactions comprises three steps. The first step includes the medical allergy history, ...