Impact of Microbial Exposure of the Habitat at the Time of Birth on the Development of Allergic...
Allergic DisorderIn 2001-2002, a longitudinal study on the risk of atopic sensitization in children was conducted by the Pneumo-Allergology and Pediatrics departments of the CHU Saint-Pierre Hospital and at the Neonatology Department of the Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital (HUDERF). The aim of the study was to study bacteria and endotoxins in airborne dust in Brussels homes in order to evaluate their impact on the development of allergic diseases in newborns. Between December 2000 and August 2002, 114 children (67 from HUDERF and 47 from CHU St-Pierre) were included in the study. These were eutrophic children without acquired pathology or known genetics. Simultaneously a microbial habitat assessment was performed based on a detailed description and on endotoxin assays in the airborne and deposited dust (mainly mattress).These data can be used to define habitats with high or low contamination.Samples for microbial analyzes (Gram positive and negative and mold) were also carried out. Preliminary results suggested: A protective effect of airborne dust endotoxins on the risk of developing atopic dermatitis in children at 6 and 12 months of life, An effect of endotoxins promoting the occurrence of wheezing in children after 6 months. In this current, new study, the investigators will recontact the children who were included in the 2003 study. The goal is to evaluate them clinically and allergically and associate the risk of sensitization / allergic diseases with the microbial exposure of the habitat, measured during the neonatal period. Siblings and parents who were exposed during the same period will also be evaluated.
Effects of Vaginal Seeding on Infants' Body Mass Index and Allergy Risk for Caesarean-delivered...
Overweight and ObesityAllergyThis is a single-blind randomized controlled trial, aiming to evaluate the effects of vaginal seeding on body mass index as well as allergy risk for cesarean-delivered infants. It will be conducted in Liuyang city of China, and the targeted sample size is 106. All the eligible pregnant women will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group, and their babies of the participants will be followed up to 24 months of age.
Preventing Atopic Dermatitis and ALLergies in Children
Atopic DermatitisFood Allergy in Children6 moreThe primary objective is of the PreventADALL study is to test if primary prevention of allergic diseases is possible by simple and low cost strategies, and secondary to asses the impact of xenobiotic exposure and microbiota in and on the body and the environment on allergic disease development. The secondary objective is an exploratory focus to investigate early life risk factors for development of non-communicable diseases, including asthma and allergic diseases as well as for diseases that may share common risk factors, including cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. Design: A multi-national population-based prospective birth cohort with a factorial designed randomized controlled intervention trial of two clinical interventions; skin care 0-9 months and early food introduction by 3-4 months, thereafter observation only. Recruitment in three cities (Oslo, Ostfold and Stockholm) of approximately 2500 mother-child pairs is done in two steps; first pregnant women are recruited and enrolled at the 18-weeks ultrasound investigation (n=approximately 2700) and thereafter their new-born babies are included. Randomization into four groups is done by the postal code or "township" to ensure all four intervention-groups within each "township". Visits for biological and environmental sampling, observations and investigations will be at the relevant pediatric departments (at 3-6-12-24-36 months of age) and through childhood into adulthood thereafter, provided sufficient funding.
Activation and Function of Eosinophils in Conditions With Blood or Tissue Eosinophilia
Immune System DiseasesEosinophilia3 moreThis study will investigate how, why and under what conditions eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) become activated and will examine their function in immune reactions. Eosinophil counts often rise in response to allergies, asthma, and parasitic worm infections. They can also go up in uncommon autoimmune conditions and, rarely, in association with tumors. Elevated levels of these cells is called eosinophilia. Usually, eosinophilia causes no apparent symptoms, but in rare cases there may be local swelling and itching, allergic lung problems, heart disease or nerve damage caused by the release of toxic substances in these cells into body tissues. Patients 1 to 100 years of age with eosinophil counts greater than 750/ml or an abnormal accumulation of eosinophils in the skin or body tissues may be eligible for this study. All participants will have a thorough medical history, physical examination and blood tests. Depending on the person's age and symptoms, other diagnostic tests may be done, including specialized studies of the eye, lungs, skin, bone marrow, nerves or heart. This is not a treatment study, and no experimental treatments will be offered. Patients who require treatment will receive standard medical care. Certain other procedures may be requested solely for research purposes. All participants will be asked to donate extra blood for laboratory studies investigating how immune cells and other immune substances in the blood act to stimulate a rise in eosinophils. In addition, some participants may undergo one or more of the following: Annual Follow-up evaluations - Physical examinations and blood tests to evaluate changes in the patient's condition and eosinophil counts over time. Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration will be recommended during the initial evaluation, and in certain patients at other times when it is important to look directly at the newly developing cells in the bone marrow. For this procedure an area of skin and bone is anesthetized with xylocaine (an anesthetic similar to that used by dentists), and a very sharp needle is used to sample the bone marrow for evaluation. Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration can have side effects of pain and/or bleeding into the skin and soft tissues at the site of the procedure. Rarely the area at the biopsy site can become infected, and is treated with antibiotics. Genetic testing: Some of the blood drawn from you as part of this study will be used for genetic tests. Genetic tests can help researchers study how health or illness is passed on to you by your parents or from you to your children. Any genetic information collected or discovered about you or your family will be confidential. Leukapheresis (only patients 18 years and older) to collect large numbers of certain cells - In this procedure, whole blood is collected through a needle placed in an arm vein. The blood circulates through a machine that separates it into its components. The white cells are then removed and the rest of the blood is returned to the body, either through the same needle used to draw the blood or through a second needle placed in the other arm.
No-worry Baby Project
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in PregnancyGestational Hypertension12 moreThe Huizhou mother-infant cohort was set up to investigate the effect of dietary factors and environmental exposures during pregnancy on health consequences of mothers and offsprings in Huizhou, China.
Acquisition of Resistant Enterobacteria During Oral Drug Challenge for Betalactams in Children
Betalactams HypersensitivityDirect drug provocation testing, without prior skin or in vitro testing, is the reference standard for confirming the diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity reactions in children reporting mild and delayed-onset reactions. However, optimal protocol(s) have not been standardized. Although a 2-days' provocation testing protocol is effective, increasing its duration (up to 14 days) may improve its diagnosis performance without increasing the risk of severe reactions. However, a prolonged provocation testing could increase the risk of emergence of bacterial resistances in the digestive flora. Longer duration could be associated with the emergence of extended-spectrum betalactamase producing enterobacteria. However, this point has never been confirmed. The study will include children (0-18 years); referring for histories of mild and delayed-onset reactions to betalactams. drug provocation testing will be performed with the suspected BLs in our department, as in clinical practice. Two groups of patients will be compared: a group performing short provocation testing (arbitrary defined as lasting 1 to 4 days) and a group with prolonged drug provocation testing (arbitrary defined as lasting 5-8 days). A rectal swab will be collected for each patient before the provocation testing, a second one at the end of the provocation testing. Each sample will be analyzed to detect the presence extended-spectrum betalactamase -producing enterobacteria.
The PEBBLES Study - Testing a Strategy for Preventing Eczema and Food Allergy in High Risk Infants...
EczemaAsthma1 moreThis is a phase III, single blind (outcome assessor is blinded), randomised controlled multicentre trial of the effect of EpiCeram emollient for improving and maintaining skin barrier function and reducing incidence of eczema and food allergy in high risk infants. A total of 760 participants with a first degree family history of allergic disease (asthma, eczema, allergic rhinitis or food allergy) will be recruited (380 each group) from maternity wards of three hospitals.
Specific Oral Tolerance Induction (SOTI) to Children With IgE-mediated Wheat Allergy
Wheat AllergyThis is an observational pilot study investigating the effectiveness, safety and specific immunological mechanisms of Specific Oral Tolerance Induction (SOTI) in children with IgE-mediated wheat allergy. The study will include 10 patients with persistent IgE-mediated allergy to wheat, who will undergo 1-year home SOTI. Moreover, 5 patients with IgE-mediated allergy to wheat will be followed for 1-year period after their diagnosis, without any intervention. Well-cooked wheat spaghetti will be given daily to patients with a programmed weekly dose increment for 27 weeks (up-dosing phase). Subsequently, wheat protein maintenance dose will be received daily for additional 6 months (maintenance phase), while afterwards patients will be clinically assessed and a 2nd OFC at a higher cumulative dose of wheat protein will be performed, in order to assess patients' desensitization to wheat. Skin Prick Tests (SPTs) to wheat, blood sampling for the determination of total IgE, wheat specific IgEs and wheat Basophil Activation Test (BAT) will be performed at baseline, when patients reach the maintenance dose and before the 2nd OFC. Regarding historical control group the same testing will be performed at baseline and at re-evaluation (post 12 months).
A Prognostic Transcriptomic Signature for Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
Hypersensitivity PneumonitisUp to 135 patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis will be enrolled at 7 clinical centers across the United States. Patients will be followed for 24 months to determine if biomarkers in the blood can predict disease progression.
Biomarkers in Food Allergy Diagnosis
Allergy;FoodFood allergy is a global burden, affecting patients, society as a whole and the economy. For most common food allergies, patients synthesize specific IgE-antibodies against harmless food proteins. Clinical phenotypes of food-allergic patients are highly diverse. Differences in medical symptoms (organs, severity, delay), threshold and cross-reactivity levels suggest variable underlying endotypes. The aim of this study is to identify phenotypic biomarkers for advanced stratification of food-allergic patients. Our study will consist of up to 50 participants (30 food-allergic, 20 tolerant), recruited in Luxembourg. Clinical samples will be collected before, during and after the event of a double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge for patients. Multi-omics analyses of blood (sera, peripheral blood mononuclear cell, basophils) and stool will allow a deeper understanding of the underlying immune mechanisms, including allergen metabolism aspects, as well as the functional gut microbiome. Deciphering these basic aspects during the present pilot study is expected to pave the way towards novel personalized medicine approaches for diagnosing and treating of food-allergic individuals. This study is a cooperation project between the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), the Luxemburg Institute of Health (LIH), the University of Luxembourg and the Integrated Biobank of Luxemburg (IBBL).