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Biomedical subjects

L Businco

Publications and source records attributed to L Businco.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[From atopic dermatitis to asthma].

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic skin disorder in infancy and childhood and is the main hallmark of atopic constitution. The disease is multifactorial, and although genetic predisposition is certainly a prerequisite, a number of environmental factors modulate the phenotypic expression of AD. The majority of affected children shows IgE sensitisation towards a large variety of foods and aeroallergens. Since at least 1600, it has been recognized that patients with AD have a high predisposition to develop asthma. Recent epidemiological studies show that AD is commonly seen in individuals from families with a history of asthma. In addition, in population where asthma is uncommon, AD is also uncommon. The sex distribution of AD and asthma is the same, with boys affected significantly more often by these two atopic diseases and in similar proportions. The ETAC project (Early Treatment of the Atopic Child) is a large multicenter, multi-national, double blind, placebo controlled, randomised trial. The main objective of the study is to stop the progression from AD to asthma in young children with AD using early therapeutic intervention with Cetirizine and the second objective is to investigate the main risk factors for the onset of asthma. The results of this study indicate that exposure to potent allergens such as cat or mite significantly increased the risk of sensitisation to these allergens. Prolonged breast feeding was associated with a lowest sensitisation rate to cow milk proteins and to egg. Therefore environmental factors seem to play a crucial role in IgE sensitisation in children with AD.

Asthma↗
PubMed1996

[Results of a multicentric study for the prevention of atopic allergy. 48 months of follow up].

With the cooperation of 12 Maternity Hospitals we have started a prospective study to evaluate the effect of dietary and environmental measures in the development of atopic disease in "at risk" newborns. The preventive measures included: exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months of life, soy milk supplement when breast milk is not sufficient, elimination of house dust, no smoking in the house, etc. All infants were seen at the age of 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 months and twice-a-year afterwards. 1213 babies have been enrolled. At the last follow-up of 48 months 531 children are 4 year old. The cumulative prevalence of atopic disease was 20%: 11 (2%) children developed atopic dermatitis, 69 (13%) asthma, 21 (4%) rinithis, 5 (1%) urticaria. The low prevalence of atopic disease and the trivial course of the allergic manifestations in the children who followed the preventive measures (78/444 = 18%) and the higher (28/87 = 32%) in these who did not (p < 0.01) stressed the importance of such manipulations for the prevention of atopy in "at risk" babies.

Asthma↗
PubMed1995

Food allergy and asthma.

Food allergy (FA) is one of the causes of atopic dermatitis (AD), of acute urticaria, of reactions of the gastrointestinal tract, and of acute systemic anaphylaxis, but its role in asthma appears to be less clear. The prevalence and incidence of subjects with food-induced wheezing have not been well studied. In addition, the number of subjects with proven food-induced wheezing by double-blind, placebo-controlled oral food challenge (DBPCOFC) has been small. At the moment wheezing is considered unusual in food-hypersensitive subjects, and wheezing as the unique symptom of FA is rare. Furthermore, most cases of food-induced asthma have been observed in children. Food allergy may trigger allergic respiratory symptoms through two main routes: ingestion or inhalation. Children with asthma, who are allergic to foods, present some particular features such as AD and a related significantly elevated total serum IgE level. Alternatively, FA may occur in patients who are "high IgE responder" and more prone to become sensitive to many allergens, including foods. Therefore, children with asthma and a history of AD and/or elevated total serum IgE level should be carefully assessed for FA. We have shown that a significant proportion of children with IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy experienced asthma following DBPCOFC with cow's milk.

Asthma↗
PubMed1995

Systemic reactions to specific immunotherapy in children with respiratory allergy: a prospective study.

The aim of this multi-centre prospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of systemic reactions to specific immunotherapy in children with allergic asthma and or rhinitis. One thousand and fifty-six children (653 boys and 403 girls), median age 8.5 years, were enrolled in this three-year prospective study. All the children were treated with injections of the following allergenic extracts: 689 of house dust mite, 291 of grass, 109 of Parietaria, 13 of Alternaria, 6 of Artemisia and 11 of Olea. Among 1056 treated children, 41 (3.7%) had systemic reactions: 40 children (3.7%) experienced mild symptoms such as asthma and/or urticaria, and only one shock (0.08%). A total of 47,247 injections were administered, and the rate of systemic reactions, according to the number of total injections was only 0.08%. According to the allergenic extract, systemic reactions occurred in 29/689 children (4.2%) treated with house dust mites extract (0.09% of the injections), in 9/291 children (3.1%) treated with grass extract (0.07% of the injections) and in 3/109 children (2.8%) treated with Parietaria extract (0.06% of the injections). The prevalence of systemic reactions was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in the children treated with house dust mite extract in comparison with those treated with pollen extracts. All the systemic reactions appeared within 30 minutes following the administration of the extract and occurred in 37/41 cases (90.2%) with the same dose, previously tolerated. Most reactions were mild, and were readily controlled by immediate emergency treatment. There was no need for hospitalization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Natural history of IgE antibodies in children at risk for atopy.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between atopic diseases and high serum IgE levels has been emphasized since the mid-sixties, when IgE antibodies were discovered. A number of environmental factors, such as the type of feeding, passive smoking, viral infections, early mold, house dust mite and pet fur exposure modulate IgE synthesis and affect the development of atopic diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the natural history of total and specific IgE antibodies in babies at risk for atopy, enrolled in a prospective study for the prevention of atopic disease, and follow-up from birth to 4 years of age. METHODS: One hundred seventy-four babies (90 boys and 84 girls) at risk for atopy were enrolled in this study. At the last follow-up the children had a median age of 52 months (range 43 to 74 months), dietary and environmental manipulations for the prevention of atopic diseases were recommended. All the infants were examined at the ages of 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months and twice each year subsequently when detailed histories were taken and signs and symptoms of atopic disease were sought. Total and specific IgE to cow milk, egg, soy, wheat, and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) were measured at 6 and 12 months of life and then every year. RESULTS: During the first 24 months of life, the number of children with specific IgE to foods (n = 30) was significantly higher in comparison to the number of children with specific IgE to Dpt (n = 12) (P = .0006). Cow milk and egg were the most common offending foods. The number of children with IgE to cow milk (n = 14) was significantly higher than that with IgE to soy (n = 9) (P = .0011). Total serum IgE levels were significantly higher in the group of children who developed atopic disease in comparison with the group that did not (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Dietary and environmental measures may influence the IgE response in atopy-prone children, thus confirming the role of environmental factors in the modulation of the phenotypic expression of atopy.

Allergens↗
PubMed1994

Immunogenicity of a so-called hypoallergenic formula in at-risk babies: two case reports.

The clinical and immunologic findings of two breast-fed babies who experienced anaphylaxis after a feeding with a partially whey hydrolysate formula (PWHF) are reported. Sensitization to this formula seems to have occurred in the first days of life in the Maternity Hospital where the babies were fed the same formula. These two case reports suggest that PWHF may be immunogenic in the IgE system. This data is in agreement with previous studies which showed intact fragments of cow's milk (CM) proteins in PWHF.

Anaphylaxis↗
PubMed1993

Allergenicity of milk protein hydrolysate formulae in children with cow's milk allergy.

Cow's milk protein hydrolysate formulae have been developed to lower or eliminate the allergenicity of cow's milk proteins, and to reduce the antigenic load and the risk of sensitization. Cross-reactivity between different hydrolysate formulae and cow's milk proteins has been demonstrated. We have studied 20 children (median age 31 months, range 15-76 months) with a history of IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy. All the children had immediate allergic respiratory and/or cutaneous and/or gastro-intestinal reactions to cow's milk ingestion. In addition, the children had positive prick skin tests and positive RAST to cow's milk. Prick skin test, RAST, and double-blind placebo controlled food challenges were performed with three different hydrolysate formulae: a casein hydrolysate formula and two whey formulae, one partially and one extensively hydrolyzed. All 20 children had immediate allergic reactions after the challenge test with cow's milk. Only 2/20 children had a positive challenge test with a casein hydrolysate formula (Alimentum): one developed asthma and one urticaria. Two of the 15 children challenged with an extensively hydrolysed whey formula (Profylac) developed perioral erythema. Nine out of 20 children had a positive challenge test with a partially hydrolysed whey formula (Nidina H.A.): four developed asthma, three urticaria and two lip oedema. All children had positive prick skin tests to cow's milk proteins (casein and/or lactalbumin); 9 to Nidina H.A.; 3 to Profylac, and 3 to Alimentum. Specific IgE antibodies to cow's milk were present in all children; in 13 to Nidina H.A., in 4 to Profylac, and in 3 to Alimentum.

Allergens↗
PubMed1993

Breast milk from mothers of children with newly developed atopic eczema has low levels of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

BACKGROUND: Infants at risk of atopic dermatitis have lower than normal levels of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids are normally present in substantial quantities in human breast milk. METHODS: Because of the equivocal evidence concerning the ability of breastfeeding to delay the onset or reduce the severity of atopic dermatitis, we have analyzed the fatty acid composition of breast milk from the mothers of children with newly developed disease with the use of gas chromatography. RESULTS: Breast milk lipids from mothers of children with newly developed atopic dermatitis had increased proportions of linoleic acid and significantly decreased proportions of its long chain polyunsaturated derivatives compared with a control group. The ratio of linoleic acid to the sum of its metabolites, gamma-linolenic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid was 11.78 in the atopic group and 9.02 in the control group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with previous findings of an abnormal fatty acid status in atopic subjects and may account for some of the inconsistent results from studies of the effect of breastfeeding on the subsequent development of atopic dermatitis. We conclude that further studies to examine the effects of supplementation of the diet of breastfeeding mothers with long chain polyunsaturates should be done.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Allergenicity and nutritional adequacy of soy protein formulas.

Soy protein formulas are used for different conditions, including cow milk protein allergy, lactose and galactose intolerance, and severe gastroenteritis. Feeding soy protein formulas to normal term infants is associated with normal growth, normal protein nutritional status, and normal bone mineralization. Recent studies of infants fed soy protein formulas exclusively during the first months of life revealed no immunologic abnormality; however, the use of such formulas for management of cow milk protein allergy and for prevention of atopy is controversial. Although in the past decade many studies have stressed soy allergenicity, soy allergenicity has been confirmed by the challenge test in only a few studies. In this article we review the studies dealing with the allergenicity of soy protein formulas. We also present our own data on their use in the prevention and management of cow milk protein allergy.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

New strategies for the prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis in children.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a very common disease in children, often underdiagnosed and with underestimated complications. Its prevalence has increased during the last years, due to changes in environmental factors. The therapeutic strategy will include prevention by identification and eviction of the main allergens, associated to pharmacological therapy. Among antirhinitic drugs, the new generation of non-sedative specific antihistamines represent the main choice. We report our own experience with astemizole, one of these new antihistamines which confirms that astemizole is an effective and safe drug for the management of AR in children.

Allergens↗