1/15. tobacco allergy: demonstration of cross-reactivity with other members of solanaceae family and mugwort pollen.BACKGROUND: tobacco is a plant belonging to the solanaceae family. This plant is usually used as a contact insecticide for several infestations in some areas, such as the Canary islands. Allergy induced by inhalation of this plant is unusual. Identification of the potential allergen in growing areas is essential. OBJECTIVE: We report a patient with occupational sensitivity to an aqueous solution of cut tobacco whose clinical manifestations were rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria. Past medical history was significant for seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to mugwort pollen and oral allergy syndrome with avocado. methods: Green tobacco and cured tobacco leaf extracts were prepared, skin prick tests were performed with green tobacco, cured tobacco leaf extracts, and certain aeroallergens. Conjunctival challenge test was carried out with green tobacco and cured tobacco leaf extract. serum-specific IgE against tobacco leaf was performed by commercial CAP. CAP inhibition experiments were carried out with tobacco and artemisia vulgaris. RESULTS: skin prick tests and conjunctival challenge tests with green tobacco and cured tobacco leaf extracts were positive, as well as serum-specific IgE by CAP, indicating an IgE-mediated sensitization. CAP inhibition experiments were carried out and it was found that tobacco, mugwort pollen, and tomato extracts inhibited the binding of the patient's serum to solid-phase tobacco leaf. No inhibition was observed when alternaria, D. pteronyssinus, and potato were used as control inhibitors. Inhibition of immunoCAP to mugwort was obtained with mugwort and tobacco extracts and no cross-reactivity to D. pteronyssinus was shown. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that tobacco can induce IgE-mediated reactions that are mediated by the existence of common antigenic epitopes between tobacco and mugwort pollen. This allergy can be a hazard of employment in the agricultural areas.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/15. Occupational IgE-mediated asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and contact urticaria caused by Easter lily (lilium longiflorum) and tulip.BACKGROUND: We report on IgE-mediated asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and contact urticaria to two liliaceae plants, tulip and Easter lily (lilium longiflorum), diagnosed in a floral shop worker. methods: Occupational asthma was diagnosed according to patient history, PEF monitoring, and a work-simulating provocation test. Flower-specific IgE was studied, and RAST inhibition tests were performed. RESULTS: skin prick testing showed positive reactions to tulip, Easter lily, and chrysanthemum. Total IgE was 180 kU/I, and specific IgE to tulip was 2.6 and to Easter lily 6.5 kU/I. In the RAST-inhibition test, no cross-reactivity was found. Occupational asthma was diagnosed by peak flow monitoring at work and at home, as well as specific inhalation challenge with Easter lily, with an immediate 18% reduction in PEF. In addition, contact urticaria and conjunctivitis were diagnosed. After a 9-year follow-up without exposure to lilies, the skin prick tests to L. longiflorum and tulip were still positive, but the specific IgE had disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: A case of IgE-mediated occupational asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and contact urticaria caused by L. longiflorum and tulip is presented. RAST inhibition tests indicated concomitant sensitization to the two liliaceae plants.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.66666666666667keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/15. Acute hydrops in the corneal ectasias: associated factors and outcomes.PURPOSE: To identify factors associated with the development of hydrops and affecting its clinical outcome. methods: Chart review of all patients with acute hydrops seen by a referral cornea service during a 2.5-year period between June 1996 and December 1998. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (22 eyes) with acute hydrops were seen. Nineteen patients had keratoconus, 2 had pellucid marginal degeneration, and 1 had keratoglobus. Twenty-one of 22 (95%) eyes had seasonal allergies and 20 of 22 (91%) eyes had allergy-associated eye-rubbing behavior. Six of 22 (27%) had a diagnosis of Down's syndrome. Six patients were able to identify a traumatic inciting event: vigorous eye rubbing in 4 and traumatic contact lens insertion in 2. The affected area ranged from 7% to 100% of the corneal surface area and was related to disease duration and final visual acuity. Proximity of the area of edema to the corneal limbus ranged from 0 to 2.3 mm and was also related to prognosis. Three serious complications were observed: a leak, an infectious keratitis, and an infectious keratitis and coincidental neovascular glaucoma. Various medical therapies did not differ significantly in their effect on outcome, and ultimately 4 (18%) of 22 patients underwent penetrating keratoplasty. Best-corrected visual acuity was equal to or better than prehydrops visual acuity in 5 of the 6 patients in whom prehydrops visual acuity was known, without corneal transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Allergy and eye-rubbing appear to be important risk factors in the development of hydrops. Visual results are acceptable in some patients without surgery. Close observation allows for the early detection and treatment of complications such as perforation and infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/15. Amniotic membrane transplantation in the management of shield ulcers of vernal keratoconjunctivitis.PURPOSE: To report our experience with amniotic membrane transplantation in the management of severe shield ulcers. DESIGN: Retrospective, interventional, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Four patients (seven eyes) with grade 2 (ulcer with opaque base) and grade 3 (plaquelike lesions) shield ulcers not responding to steroid therapy with or without surgical debridement. INTERVENTION: Amniotic membrane transplantation with stromal side down was performed after meticulous debridement of the ulcer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Healing of the ulcer with no epithelial defect. RESULTS: The ulcers healed with disintegration or retraction of the membrane in all patients within 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Amniotic membrane transplantation in combination with debridement is an effective surgical modality in the management of severe shield ulcers. Further studies are warranted to confirm the efficacy of amniotic membrane transplantation in the management of shield ulcer and its correct position in the treatment algorithm.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.6666666666667keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/15. Rhinoconjunctivitis and occupational asthma caused by Diplotaxis erucoides (wall rocket).Wall rocket (Diplotaxis erucoides) is a common Crucifera plant that grows in European and American vineyards and olive groves. We present the cases of 2 farmers with rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma related to wine-growing tasks during D erucoides pollination (March-April). The aim of this work was to demonstrate that occupational symptoms were caused by D erucoides pollen sensitization. Cutaneous tests, specific IgE measurements, conjunctival and bronchial provocation tests, and peak-flow measurements during working days were performed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/15. Limbal stem cell transplantation in chronic inflammatory eye disease.OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to describe the outcome of limbal stem cell transplantation (LSCT) in patients with severe ocular surface disease caused by underlying chronic inflammatory eye disease. DESIGN: Retrospective noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Nine patients with limbal stem cell deficiency caused by an underlying ocular inflammatory disease who underwent LSCT. methods: The authors reviewed the records of 11 eyes of 9 patients with immunologically mediated ocular surface disease that underwent LSCT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were reepithelialization of the corneal surface, restoration of corneal surface, and improvement in visual acuity. RESULTS: A total of 11 eyes underwent either autologous (n = 1) or HLA-matched living related donor (n = 10) LSCT for ocular surface disease secondary to inflammatory disease. Reepithelialization of the corneal surface in the immediate postoperative period occurred in 10 eyes (91%) within an average of 10 days (range, 3-21 days). Long-term restoration of the corneal surface was achieved in six (55%) eyes. visual acuity improved in six eyes (55%). Reasons for poor outcomes included microbial infection, limbal stem cell graft rejection, and corneal ulceration. No donor eyes had complications. CONCLUSIONS: patients with underlying immunologically mediated diseases, such as stevens-johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, or ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, who undergo LSCT have lower success rates than do those patients with noninflammatory ocular surface diseases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.6666666666667keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/15. Surgical treatment and desensitization therapy of giant papillary allergic conjunctivitis.We found that three cases of giant papillary conjunctivitis responded well to local specific desensitization therapy and transplantation of the conjunctiva with saphenous vein tissue.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/15. Cultivated corneal epithelial transplantation for severe ocular surface disease in vernal keratoconjunctivitis.PURPOSE: To report cultivated epithelial transplantation in 2 patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) with severe ocular surface disease. methods: Two patients initially diagnosed with burnt-out VKC presented with bilateral photophobia, decreased vision, and corneal neovascularization. The first patient underwent living-related conjunctival-limbal allograft in the left eye and cultivated limbal epithelial cell allotransplant in the right. The second patient underwent unsuccessful amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) followed by autologous cultivated limbal epithelial cell transplantation in the worse eye. RESULTS: Both patients had onset of VKC in the first decade. Surgical intervention in both led to marked amelioration in symptoms and improvement in vision. In patient 1, vision improved from 20/800 (both eyes) to 20/30 in the right and 20/100 in the left eye at a follow-up of 34 months. In patient 2, it improved from 20/400 to 20/50 after the second procedure, 25 months postoperatively. Histopathology of the excised pannus revealed fibrosis and mononuclear cell infiltrates in all 3 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Severe ocular surface disease may occur in persistent VKC, leading to marked visual loss. AMT alone may be insufficient to restore the ocular surface, and limbal epithelial cell transplantation is warranted.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/15. keratitis after intracorneal ring segment insertion for keratoconus.We report a case of sterile keratitis after Ferrara intracorneal ring (Ferrara Ophthalmics) implantation into the right cornea of a keratoconus patient who also suffered from atopic blepharoconjunctivitis. The keratitis resolved within a few days after removal of the Ferrara rings. Ocular atopy with sterile keratitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of keratitis after the insertion of intracorneal ring segments, which can be easily treated by ring removal.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/15. Occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma due to Acalypha wilkesiana allergy.BACKGROUND: Acalypha wilkesiana, or copperleaf, is a plant of the euphorbiaceae family. Although it is widely known as an outdoor ornamental plant, no cases of A. wilkesiana allergy have been reported to date. OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient with occupational respiratory allergy to A. wilkesiana. methods: Extracts from A. wilkesiana leaves and flowers were used for skin prick testing, specific conjunctival and bronchial challenge tests, and in vitro studies. These studies range from A. wilkesiana specific IgE determination to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunodetection of A. wilkesiana protein bands in patient serum samples and immunoblot inhibition by preincubation with salsola kali and chenopodium album pollen extracts. RESULTS: Our patient had positive skin prick test reactions to A. wilkesiana leaf and flower extracts; negative reactions were found in a control group of 20 atopic patients. On immunodetection of A. wilkesiana extracts in patient serum samples, as many as 9 different IgE-binding proteins, with apparent molecular weights of 16 to 86 kDa, were revealed. Preincubation with S. kali and C. album pollen extracts completely inhibited IgE binding to the A. wilkesiana extract. Specific bronchial challenge resulted in a spirometric 30% decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second with respect to baseline 1 minute after 1:100 (vol/vol) A. wilkesiana extract solution inhalation; 2 atopic controls had negative bronchial challenge test results. CONCLUSION: Acalypha wilkesiana is a new etiologic agent for IgE-mediated occupational respiratory allergy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.66666666666667keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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