Biomedical subjects

C Y Pascual

Publications and source records attributed to C Y Pascual.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

[The allergenic significance of legumes].

Leguminous are a cheap source of protein that are cultivated practically throughout the world. They are the main source of food in developing countries. In the Mediterranean area and Middle East, the most commonly consumed legumes are lentils and chickpea. In the United States, United Kingdom and south-east Asia, the major legumes involved in food allergy are considered to be peanut and soy bean, respectively. The clinical manifestations of the allergy to legumes are similar for all legumes and range from oral allergy syndrome, urticaria, angioedema, rhinitis and asthmatic crises to anaphylaxis and even death. Legumes have a high degree of immunological cross-reactivity. Severals authors have described cross-reactivity among different legumes and between legumes and various vegetables. The allergenicity of legumes is mainly is mainly related to allergens from the storage proteins of seeds. Vicilins from this group of proteins could be an important common allergen in clinical allergy to legumes. Profilins are considered to be a cause of cross-reactivity among fruits, vegetables and some pollens and are believed to be a panallergen. Other panallergens of increasing importance are lipid transfer proteins. Few studies have assessed the long-term clinical course of allergy to legumes. Novel therapeutic agents are being investigated for the treatment of peanut allergy and these could be applied to other legumes.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Anisakis and anisakiosis].

The nematode Anisakis simplex (AS) is a world wide distributed parasite that infects consumers of raw or undercoocked parasitized fish. The clinical manifestation of Anisakiosis depend on the site in the digestive tract in which larva lodges. The symptoms develops as a result of the inflammation when the larvae penetrates the gastric mucous. Most of asymptomatic subjects show high levels of specific IgE to AS. Diagnosis of AS allergy is not simple, due to cross-reactivity with other allergens. In childhood is more difficult to make a right diagnosis than in adult population. Most of positive prick test to AS correspond to children with positive prick tests to other allergens. Cross-reactivity between this parasite and other parasites with a higher prevalence in childhood, is the cause of a false diagnosis. The secretor-excretory antigen shows a better specificity, recognizing the true parasitized patients. This antigen could be used as indicator of parasitization. To follow prevention rules AS, avoid consumption of raw fish unless frozen for 48 hours or ingestion of fresh fish always cooked for more than 20 minutes at least at 60 C.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Latex allergy].

Latex allergy has become an increasing cause of morbility in the last few years and is now recognized as an international health problem. The prevalence of latex sensitization among the general population is less than 1 %. The groups at highest risk include healthcare workers, rubber industry workers, patients with a history of multiple surgical procedures, particularly children with spina bifida and urogenital abnormalities, atopic individuals, and patients with certain fruit allergies (especially kiwi, avocado, chestnut and banana). The molecular and immunological characteristics of several natural latex allergens have been identified. Symptoms range from contact urticaria to anaphylaxis. Diagnosis is based on clinical history and is confirmed by skin prick tests. Measurement of serum specific IgE to latex can also be useful. The best treatment is latex avoidance and substitution by other materials. However, because latex products are ubiquitous in medical and nonmedical devices of daily use, a latex-free environment is not easy to achieve. In some patients, immunotherapy could be an alternative.

Allergens↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Allergy and parasites reevaluated: wide-scale induction of chronic urticaria by the ubiquitous fish-nematode Anisakis simplex in an endemic region.

BACKGROUND: The ubiquitous fish-nematode Anisakis simplex produces acute urticaria or angioedema in the course of gastro-allergic anisakiasis. We studied the relationship between this nematode and chronic urticaria (CU), as well as the clinical usefulness of measuring specific IgG4 in A. simplex-sensitized patients with CU. METHODS: First, the prevalence of sensitization to A. simplex was estimated in 135 consecutive CU patients and the result was compared with known data about sensitization in a healthy population. Then, clinical response to a 2-month diet without fish was analyzed in 76 CU patients. The improvement rate in patients with and without sensitization to A. simplex was compared. Finally, the improvement rate, other clinical data and specific immunoglobulins in sensitized patients with and without detectable specific IgG4 were compared. RESULTS: a) The A. simplex sensitization rate in CU patients was 52.6 % compared with a known prevalence of between 16 and 20 % in our region. b) Of 65 sensitized patients, 52 experienced clinical improvement after the diet compared with only three of 11 patients without sensitization to A. simplex (p = 0.001). c) Of 43 patients with detectable specific IgG4, 38 showed clinical improvement compared with only 14 of 22 patients without detectable IgG4 (p = 0.02). Eight of nine patients with previous fish-associated cutaneous symptoms had detectable specific IgG4 compared with 15 of 32 patients who reported no previous fish-associated symptoms or acute urticaria (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that A. simplex is a possibly widespread etiologic agent able to induce CU. This parasite model constitutes the first report that associates an infectious agent with CU on a large scale. The detection of IgG4 antibodies reflects a previous acute parasitic infection and a temporary diet without fish improves symptoms in most patients with detectable specific IgG4.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevention of food allergy].

The occurrence of allergic diseases depends on genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors determine individual risk and these persons should undergo early detection. However, the methods currently available (mainly clinical history and IgE in umbilical cord blood) have poor predictive value so their use in the general population is not practical. In contrast, the feeding habits of newborns and infants can influence the development of food allergies in children at risk. Therefore, several modes of action have been proposed, based mainly on prolonging breast-feeding (with the mother avoiding allergenic foods) and delaying the introduction of complementary foods considered to be a risk. Use of cow milk protein hydrolysates may have a preventive effect similar to that of breast-feeding, but their administration is not problem-free. The preventive effect of partial hydrolysates or soybean formulas is even more questionable.

Adult↗