UNASSIGNED: Changes in land use and climate change have been reported to reduce biodiversity of both the environment and human microbiota. These reductions in biodiversity may lead to inadequate and unbalanced stimulation of immunoregulatory circuits and, ultimately, to clinical diseases, such as asthma and allergies.
UNASSIGNED: We summarized available empirical evidence on the role of inner (gut, skin, and airways) and outer (air, soil, natural waters, plants, and animals) layers of biodiversity in the development of asthma, wheezing, and allergic sensitization.
UNASSIGNED: We conducted a systematic search in SciVerse Scopus, PubMed MEDLINE, and Web of Science up to 5 March 2024 to identify relevant human studies assessing the relationships between inner and outer layers of biodiversity and the risk of asthma, wheezing, or allergic sensitization. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022381725).
UNASSIGNED: A total of 2,419 studies were screened and, after exclusions and a full-text review of 447 studies, 82 studies were included in the comprehensive, final review. Twenty-nine studies reported a protective effect of outer layer biodiversity in the development of asthma, wheezing, or allergic sensitization. There were also 16 studies suggesting an effect of outer layer biodiversity on increasing asthma, wheezing, or allergic sensitization. However, there was no clear evidence on the role of inner layer biodiversity in the development of asthma, wheezing, and allergic sensitization (13 studies reported a protective effect and 15 reported evidence of an increased risk).
UNASSIGNED: Based on the reviewed literature, a future systematic review could focus more specifically on outer layer biodiversity and asthma. It is unlikely that association with inner layer biodiversity would have enough evidence for systematic review. Based on this comprehensive review, there is a need for population-based longitudinal studies to identify critical periods of exposure in the life course into adulthood and to better understand mechanisms linking environmental exposures and changes in microbiome composition, diversity, and/or function to development of asthma and allergic sensitization. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13948.

UNASSIGNED: Alpha-gal allergy or red meat allergy is a rare yet potentially severe allergy. Sensitisation usually occurs when alpha-gal present in the tick\'s saliva is transferred to humans during a tick bite, prompting the production of IgE antibodies to alpha-gal. Subsequent exposure to mammalian meat or other products containing alpha-gal can lead to allergic reactions.
UNASSIGNED: A previously healthy man in his sixties was admitted with acute anaphylaxis. A history of multiple tick bites and recent consumption of mammalian meat raised suspicion of anaphylaxis caused by alpha-gal syndrome.
UNASSIGNED: A diagnosis of alpha-gal syndrome was given based on elevated alpha-gal IgE antibodies, and further supported by medical history and clinical assessment. He was discharged with dietary instructions to eliminate food and products containing alpha-gal, and to manage allergy symptoms and anaphylaxis according to local guidelines.

UNASSIGNED: Identify countries that have legislation on mandatory declarations of food allergens, irradiated foods, and transgenic foods on the nutritional labels of packaged foods.
UNASSIGNED: Exploratory study reviewing the health regulations and technical standards for foods in Latin American countries in order to gather information on declarations of allergens, trace allergens, irradiated foods, and transgenic foods. The information search was carried out through the countries\' government web pages. Presentation of the results is descriptive and narrative.
UNASSIGNED: Of the 19 countries reviewed, 89% require a declaration of allergens on their nutrition labeling, 76% have legislation that explicitly require a statement on trace allergens, and 82% follow Codex Alimentarius recommendations with some modifications of food categories.
UNASSIGNED: Three pending challenges in the Region are: requiring statements on allergens as a food safety measure; making progress toward improved labeling of trace allergens; and ensuring universal availability of epinephrine.
UNASSIGNED: Identificar os países que têm legislação relacionada à declaração obrigatória de alimentos alergênicos, irradiados e transgênicos na rotulagem nutricional de alimentos embalados.
UNASSIGNED: Estudo exploratório com revisão dos regulamentos sanitários ou normas técnicas de alimentos dos países da América Latina, a fim de coletar informações sobre a declaração de alimentos alergênicos, traços de alergênicos, alimentos irradiados e transgênicos na rotulagem nutricional. A busca de informações foi realizada por meio dos sites governamentais dos países. Os resultados são apresentados de forma descritiva e narrativa.
UNASSIGNED: Dos 19 países analisados, 89% declaram alergênicos na rotulagem nutricional, 76% incorporam explicitamente a declaração de traços na legislação e 82% seguem as recomendações do Codex Alimentarius, com algumas modificações nas categorias de alimentos.
UNASSIGNED: Entre os desafios pendentes na Região estão a implementação da declaração de alergênicos como medida de segurança alimentar e a melhoria da rotulagem de traços de alergênicos e da disponibilidade universal de epinefrina.

UNASSIGNED: Allergic sensitization is an essential step in the development of allergic airway inflammation to birch pollen (BP); however, this process remains to be fully elucidated. Recent scientific advances have highlighted the importance of the allergen context. In this regard, microbial patterns (PAMPs) present on BP have attracted increasing interest. As these PAMPs are recognized by specialized pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), this study aims at investigating the roles of intracellular PRRs and the inflammasome regulator NLRP3.
UNASSIGNED: We established a physiologically relevant intranasal and adjuvant-free sensitization procedure to study BP-induced systemic and local lung inflammation.
UNASSIGNED: Strikingly, BP-sensitized Nlrp3-deficient mice showed significantly lower IgE levels, Th2-associated cytokines, cell infiltration into the lung, mucin production and epithelial thickening than their wild-type counterparts, which appears to be independent of inflammasome formation. Intriguingly, bone-marrow chimera revealed that expression of NLRP3 in the hematopoietic system is required to trigger an allergic response.
UNASSIGNED: Overall, this study identifies NLRP3 as an important driver of BP-induced allergic immune responses.

The prevalence of allergic diseases has dramatically increased among children in recent decades. These conditions significantly impact the quality of life of allergic children and their families. Lactoferrin, a multifunctional glycoprotein found in various biological fluids, is emerging as a promising immunomodulatory agent that can potentially alleviate allergic diseases in children. Lactoferrin\'s multifaceted properties make it a compelling candidate for managing these conditions. Firstly, lactoferrin exhibits potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which can mitigate the chronic inflammation characteristic of allergic diseases. Secondly, its iron-binding capabilities may help regulate the iron balance in allergic children, potentially influencing the severity of their symptoms. Lactoferrin also demonstrates antimicrobial properties, making it beneficial in preventing secondary infections often associated with respiratory allergies. Furthermore, its ability to modulate the immune response and regulate inflammatory pathways suggests its potential as an immune-balancing agent. This review of the current literature emphasises the need for further research to elucidate the precise roles of lactoferrin in allergic diseases. Harnessing the immunomodulatory potential of lactoferrin could provide a novel add-on approach to managing allergic diseases in children, offering hope for improved outcomes and an enhanced quality of life for paediatric patients and their families. As lactoferrin continues to capture the attention of researchers, its properties and diverse applications make it an intriguing subject of study with a rich history and a promising future.

Background: Screening and treating healthcare workers (HCWs) for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) are essential for tuberculosis (TB) infection control. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to anti-TB drugs present challenges to patient safety and treatment completion. Objective: This study investigated the association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and the risk of ADRs, especially drug hypersensitivity (DHS) and hepatotoxicity, in HCWs with LTBI receiving isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF) therapy. Methods: Korean HCWs with LTBI who received a 3 month INH and RIF regimen were included in this study. HLA genotyping was performed on HCWs who experienced ADRs during treatment, as well as the control group consisted of individuals who did not develop ADRs. Results: Of the 67 patients, 29 (43.2%) experienced ADRs during INH and RIF therapy. The HLA-A*11:01 allele was more frequent in patients with DHS without hepatotoxicity (DSH+/H-) compared to the control group (DHS-/H-) (4/9, 44.4% vs. 3/38, 7.9%; odd ratio [OR], 8.554; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.415-59.869; p = 0.018). Conversely, HLA-DPB1*05:01 was associated with an increased risk of hepatotoxicity regardless of DHS (10/20, 50% vs. 5/38, 13.2%; OR, 5.323; 95% CI, 1.493-21.518; p = 0.011). In the DHS with hepatotoxicity group (DHS+/H+), HLA-DPB1*05:01 was present in a higher proportion (3/5, 60% vs. 5/38, 13.2%; OR, 8.912; 95% CI, 1.110-92.993; p = 0.037), whereas HLA-A*11:01 was not observed in this group. Conclusions: The HLA-A*11:01 allele was associated with an increased risk of DHS without hepatotoxicity, whereas the HLA-DPB1*05:01 allele was associated with an increased risk of hepatotoxicity.

Cannabis allergy is a relatively new phenomenon described in the 1970s. Its increased frequency has been observed over the last years due to the increasing therapeutic and recreational use of cannabis-based products. Sensitization possibly leading to allergy symptoms can occur not only through the smoking of cannabis, but also through ingestion, the inhalation of pollen, or direct contact. The severity of symptoms varies from benign pruritus to anaphylaxis. There is scant information available to support clinicians throughout the entire therapeutic process, starting from diagnosis and ending in treatment. In this review, we present six cases of patients in whom molecular in vitro testing revealed sensitization to cannabis extract and/or cannabis-derived nsLTP molecules (Can s 3). Based on these cases, we raise important questions regarding this topic. The article discusses current proposals and highlights the importance of further research not only on cannabis allergy but also on asymptomatic sensitization to cannabis allergens, which may be ascertained in some percentage of the population.

The avoidance of allergen intake is crucial for persons affected by peanut allergy; however, the cross-contamination of food is common and leads to unpredictable consequences after the consumption of supposedly \"safe\" food. The aim of the present study was to eliminate harmful traces of peanut allergens from food using purified clinoptilolite-tuff (PCT)-a specially processed zeolite material. Analyses were performed using a peanut ELISA and a Coomassie blue (Bradford) assay. Mimicking conditions of the human gastrointestinal tract demonstrated a higher efficacy of PCT in the intestine (pH 6.8) than in the stomach (pH 1.5). Adsorption rates were fast (<2 min) and indicated high capacities (23 µg and 40 µg per 1 mg of PCT at pH 1.5 and pH 6.8, respectively). Allergenically relevant peanut protein concentrations were sorbed in artificial fluids (32 µg/mL by 4 mg/mL of PCT at pH 1.5 and 80.8 µg/mL by 0.25 mg/mL of PCT at pH 6.8) when imitating a daily dose of 2 g of PCT in an average stomach volume of 500 mL. Experiments focusing on the bioavailability of peanut protein attached to PCT revealed sustained sorption at pH 1.5 and only minor desorption at pH 6.8. Accompanied by gluten, peanut proteins showed competing binding characteristics with PCT. This study therefore demonstrates the potential of PCT in binding relevant quantities of peanut allergens during the digestion of peanut-contaminated food.

Allergic diseases are showing increasing prevalence in Western societies. They are characterized by a heightened reactivity towards otherwise harmless environmental stimuli. Allergic diseases showing a wide range of severity of symptoms have a significant impact on the quality of life of affected individuals. This study aims to highlight the mechanisms that induce these reactions, how they progress, and which prenatal factors influence their development. Most frequently, the reaction is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) produced by B cells, which binds to the surface of mast cells and basophils and triggers an inflammatory response. The antibody response is triggered by a shift in T-cell immune response. The symptoms often start in early childhood with eczema or atopic dermatitis and progress to allergic asthma in adolescence. An important determinant of allergic diseases seems to be parental, especially maternal history of allergy. Around 30% of children of allergic mothers develop allergic sensitization in childhood. Genes involved in the regulation of the epithelial barrier function and the T-cell response were found to affect the predisposition to developing allergic disorders. Cord blood IgE was found to be a promising predictor of allergic disease development. Fetal B cells produce IgE starting at the 20th gestation week. These fetal B cells could be sensitized together with mast cells by maternal IgE and IgE-allergen complexes crossing the placental barrier via the low-affinity IgE receptor. Various factors were found to facilitate these sensitizations, including pesticides, drugs, exposure to cigarette smoke and maternal uncontrolled asthma. Prenatal exposure to microbial infections and maternal IgG appeared to play a role in the regulation of T-cell response, indicating a protective effect against allergy development. Additional preventive factors were dietary intake of vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids as well as decreased maternal IgE levels. The effect of exposure to food allergens during pregnancy was inconclusive, with studies having found both sensitizing and protective effects. In conclusion, prenatal factors including genetics, epigenetics and fetal environmental factors have an important role in the development of allergic disorders in later life. Children with a genetic predisposition are at risk when exposed to cigarette smoke as well as increased maternal IgE in the prenatal period. Maternal diet during pregnancy and immunization against certain allergens could help in the prevention of allergy in predisposed children.

UNASSIGNED: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a prevalent condition, but long-term effective treatments are scarce. Differentiation of odontoblast-like cells is promising for inducing tertiary dentinogenesis and ensuring sustained therapeutic efficacy against DH. This study examined the effects and mechanism of action of mild heat stress (MHS) on the differentiation of odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells.
UNASSIGNED: We used a heating device to accurately control the temperature and duration, mimicking the thermal microenvironment of odontoblast-like cells. Using this device, the effects of MHS on cell viability and differentiation were examined. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. The expression and nucleoplasmic ratio of the yes-associated protein (YAP) were examined by western blotting and immunofluorescence. The gene expression levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP1) were measured using qPCR. Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) expression was evaluated using immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Verteporfin was used to inhibit YAP activity.
UNASSIGNED: Mild heat stress (MHS) enhanced the odontoblast differentiation of MDPC-23 cells while maintaining cell viability. MHS also increased YAP activity, as well as the levels of HSP25 mRNA, HSP70 mRNA, HSP90α mRNA, DMP1 mRNA, and DSPP protein. However, after YAP inhibition, both cell viability and the levels of HSP90α mRNA, DMP1 mRNA, and DSPP protein were reduced.
UNASSIGNED: YAP plays a crucial role in maintaining cell viability and promoting odontoblast differentiation of MDPC-23 cells under MHS. Consequently, MHS is a potential therapeutic strategy for DH, and boosting YAP activity could be beneficial for maintaining cell viability and promoting odontoblast differentiation.