Threshold Concentrations for Ragweed and Birch Pollen in Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic RhinitisSeasonal Allergic Rhinitis2 moreThe ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia is spreading in northern Europe due to climate change. The pollen are considered highly allergenic and might trigger allergy symptoms at much lower concentrations than e.g. grass or birch pollen. This study aims to determine threshold concentrations for ragweed and birch pollen in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Participants will be exposed in an allergen challenge chamber that was technically modified to maintain very low and stable pollen concentrations for several hours. The study design is adaptive, where the pollen concentrations are escalated or de-escalated based on interim analysis of resulting allergic symptoms.
Repertoire and Properties of Anti-drug Antibodies Involved in Immediate Hypersensitivity in the...
HypersensitivityImmediate3 moreAcute per-anesthetic hypersensitivity reaction (HSA-PA) is a rapidly occurring systemic reaction following injection of a drug during anesthesia (mortality between 3 and 9%). The substances responsible for these reactions in France are curare in 60% of cases, followed by antibiotics. The main mechanism mentioned is an immediate systemic hypersensitivity immune reaction mediated by IgE antibodies (anaphylaxis). NeuroMuscular Blocking Agents (NMBA; curare) relax skeletal muscles to facilitate surgeries and permit intubation, but lead to adverse reactions: (a) severe hypersensitivity reactions (anaphylaxis) thought to rely on pre-existing anti-NMBA antibodies; (b) complications due to postoperative residual curarization. Identification of patients at risk remains suboptimal due to the lack of adequate tools to detect anti-NMBA antibodies. A capturing agent exists for only one out of the four most used NMBAs, allowing reversal of profound curarization. Case reports suggested that it might also ameliorate an ongoing anaphylaxis due to that NMBA. Based on strong preliminary results, our study proposes to characterize anti-drugs antibody repertoires in patients with various NMBA or antibiotics-anaphylaxis, describe activation pathways leading to anaphylaxis, develop and validate diagnostic and therapeutic molecules to ameliorate patient screening, NMBA-anaphylaxis and reverse profound neuromuscular block.
Study to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability and Explorative Efficacy of DM-101PX in Birch Pollen Allergic...
Birch Pollen AllergyRandomized, double-blind placebo-controlled phase I trial with the primary aim to investigate safety and tolerability of three ascending dosing schemes of DM-101-PX in birch pollen allergic adults. As an explorative objective, the trial will also investigate the effect of DM-101PX on the allergic symptoms following birch pollen allergen exposure in a chamber. Expanded access to the study treatment is not available.
The Quality of Life of Mothers of Children With Food Allergy
Food AllergyFood allergy (FA) derives from an abnormal immunological response to dietary antigens. On the basis of the immunological mechanism, FA are divided into the following forms: IgE-mediated, non-IgE-mediated and mixed. Prevalence, persistence and severity of pediatric FA have significantly increased over the past 2 decades. The treatment of FA is based on a rigorous elimination diet and on the correct management of acute allergic reactions, induced by the accidental ingestion of food allergens, with antihistamines, cortisones and adrenaline. Ensuring a strict exclusion of the allergen from the diet can be problematic, with the risk of nutritional deficiencies, accidental exposure, cross-contamination or caused by incorrect labeling of processed food products. At the same time, the daily management of a correct elimination diet and a possible allergic reaction, entail a significant burden and high levels of anxiety and stress associated with uncertainty about the management of anaphylaxis, in the parents of children with FA, particularly in mothers, resulting in an impact on Quality of Life (QoL). The availability of a multidisciplinary team made up of pediatricians, allergists and dietitians / nutritionists with experience in the field of FA could reduce the stress and anxiety of parents, while improving their QoL. Currently, for the evaluation of the quality of life of the parent of a child with FA, specific questionnaires for food allergies developed and validated in English are used: the food allergy self-efficacy scale for parents (FASE-P) and the Food Allergy Quality of Life - Parental Burden Questionnaire (FAQL-PB).
Central Sodium Sensing: Implications for Blood Pressure Regulation
Salt Sensitivity of Blood PressureThe ability of the brain to sense changing sodium levels in the blood is critical in mediating the neurohumoral responses to hypernatremia, however, the mechanisms underlying sodium sensing in humans is poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to identify key sodium-sensing regions of the human brain in older adults and determine if the Na-K-2Cl co-transporter mediates the neurohumoral response to acute hypernatremia. Completion of this project will increase our understanding of blood pressure regulation, which has major public health implications.
Effect of MIST on Esophageal Sensitivity in HV
StressEffect of acute psychosocial stress on esophageal sensitivity in healthy volunteers.
Response to Different Wheat Genotypes in Not-celiac Wheat Sensitivity
Non-celiac Wheat SensitivityNon-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a condition where intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms are triggered by gluten ingestion in the absence of celiac disease and wheat allergy. Despite the great interest in NCGS, much remains unknown about the pathogenesis. Some studies seem to suggest that wheat components other than gluten (i.e. amylase/trypsine inhibitors, ATIs) can cause the symptoms, and therefore the term "non-celiac wheat sensitivity" (NCWS) has been proposed instead of NCGS. It is believed that this condition is worldwide increasing, due to the evolution of wheat breeding (i.e. consumption of wheats with high gluten content), and that ancient wheats are better tolerated by NCWS patients than the modern ones. Therefore, the aim of the study is to determine whether the common belief regarding the fact that ancient wheats are better tolerated by NCWS patients than the modern ones is confirmed by scientific data, and to identify the wheat kernel components triggering this pathology. The availability of wheat materials with opposite characteristics, such as the period of development (ancient vs. modern), or the technological properties (cultivars with weak glutens vs. strong gluten), or the presence/absence of specific ATIs polypeptides, will allow to define the role played by these factors. Therefore, the study has two objectives: 1) extraction and testing of total kernel proteins, in order to evaluate the inflammatory response to gluten and non-gluten proteins by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and immunocytes extracted by the rectal mucosa of NCWS patients and healthy control subjects, and 2) clinically testing two wheat genotypes, selected on the basis of the previous in vitro studies, showing the highest and the lowest in vitro inflammatory response, in order to verify their effect in triggering NCWS symptoms.
Insulin Sensitivity After Breast Cancer
Insulin Sensitivity/ResistanceBreast Cancer2 moreEpidemiological studies have revealed that 60-80% of women with breast cancer (BC) develop metabolic disorders that are similar to those observed in conditions like type 2 diabetes. These metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and glucose intolerance, are associated with increased BC recurrence and mortality. Skeletal muscle is the major site of glucose uptake in humans. The aims of the present project are to 1) determine the involvement of insulin resistance in skeletal muscle in the metabolic disorders prevalent in BC survivors, 2) identify BC-and/or treatment-induced molecular changes in skeletal muscle from BC survivors .
The Feasibility of Systemic Reaction After Contact Exposure to the Allergenic Food in Children With...
Food AllergyQuality of LifeThe prevalence of food allergy in the western world is a growing health problem. The majority of reactions are caused due to oral exposure to the known food allergen. However, there are reports about allergic symptoms after exposure to the allergenic food by contact and/ or inhalation. Most of those reports are subjective without an objective report of healthcare professionals. There are only a few prospective studies that observed objectively the "reliability" of those subjective reports. The estimated chance for systemic allergic reaction due to skin prick test with fresh food is 0.008%, and even then it will not cause anaphylaxis that will need epinephrine use. That evidence is in concordance with our experience. Even with all the information gathered, a study that examines the chance of systemic reaction after skin contact with the allergenic food is still missing. Additionally, lately, researchers start to examine the influence of food allergy on the quality of life (QOL) of allergic children and their parents. As expected, all studies show negative effects on QOL. The major concern of the parents is from random exposure and severe allergic reaction due to contact with the allergenic food. As far as the investigators know, no study examined the influence of supervised contact with allergenic food on the fear of the child and his parents. The study aims to evaluate the risk for a systemic allergic reaction after skin exposure to allergenic food in children with known food allergy.
Mucosal IgE to Improve Diagnosis of Food Allergy and Food Hypersensitivity
Food AllergyFood HypersensitivityAim of the study is to improve the diagnosis of food allergy and hypersensitivity. Intestinal homogenates will be used to determine total IgE, specific IgE, tryptase, histamine and inflammation parameters (IFNgamma, TNFalpha). These data will be correlated with serum values and disease status. In addition, organoids from duodenal tissue will be isolated and cultured in vitro and stimulated with the major food allergens. The gene and protein expression will be checked to identify relevant biomarkers.