1/11. Occupational rhinitis and bronchial asthma due to artichoke (cynara scolymus).BACKGROUND: The artichoke is a perennial horticultural plant that belongs to the Compositae family. OBJECTIVE: To present case studies of 2 vegetable warehouse workers who developed occupational rhinitis and bronchial asthma by sensitization to artichoke. methods: Skin prick tests with common inhalants and foods were performed. Specific IgE to artichoke, parietaria judaica pollen, and olea europaea pollen extracts was measured by a specific IgE enzyme immunosorbent assay kit. Molecular mass of the allergens was studied by the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) immunoblotting technique. patients underwent a nasal challenge test, and one patient provided peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measurements in her workplace. RESULTS: In both patients, results of skin prick tests to artichoke were positive. Levels of specific IgE for artichoke were 0.68 kU/L in patient 1 and 2.14 kU/L in patient 2. The protein composition of the artichoke extract, studied by SDS-PAGE, showed that most bands ranged from 30 to 14 kDa. The IgE-binding bands with the serum samples of patient 1 showed apparent molecular masses of 56, 48, 38, 31, 27, 25, 16, and 15 kDa; however, the serum samples of patient 2 showed IgE bands of 21 and 19 kDa. Western blotting of artichoke extract showed a complete inhibition of IgE-binding bands when serum samples were preincubated with P. judaica pollen extract. Nasal challenge with artichoke extract triggered a peak nasal inspiratory flow decrease of 81% and 85% in patient 1 and patient 2, respectively. Finally, patient 1 recorded a PEFR decrease of up to 36% after exposure to artichoke in her workplace. CONCLUSIONS: SDS-PAGE immunoblotting inhibition performed for the artichoke extract showed a total disappearance of the specific IgE binding bands when serum samples were previously incubated with P. judaica pollen extract, thus establishing the existence of a serologic cross-reactivity between artichoke and P. judaica pollen.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/11. Occupational rhinitis and bronchial asthma due to TBTU and HBTU sensitization.Exposure to an increasing amount of products in the work environment is leading to new cases of occupational asthma among workers. We report the case of a worker at a pharmaceutical plant who developed occupational rhinitis and bronchial asthma due to HBTU: 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate and TBTU: 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate sensitization, two chemical products widely used in peptide synthesis and coupling. skin tests (prick test) with HBTU and TBTU solutions in PBS were positive at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. skin tests with the same solutions in 10 atopic controls yielded a negative result. Nasal challenge tests with these products were positive with HBTU at a concentration of 0.01 mg/ml and TBTU at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. In both cases PNIF (peak nasal inspiratory flow) decreased by more than 60% and severe sneezing and rhinorrhea were induced. Nasal challenge tests performed on 10 atopic controls with TBTU and HBTU at a concentration of 1 mg/ml were negative. We conclude that the patient presents occupational rhinitis and bronchial asthma due to TBTU and HBTU; the operational mechanism is probably immunological IgE-mediated given the positive prick tests and nasal challenge with these products.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/11. Refractory rhinosinusitis complicating immunosuppression: application of N-chlorotaurine, a novel endogenous antiseptic agent.Severe infections are a frequent complication in immunosuppression following transplantations. In the case reported here, a heart-transplanted patient was treated for refractory rhinosinusitis with a combination of sinus surgery and rinsing with N-chlorotaurine (NCT). The daily rinse was well tolerated and effective. The combination of functional endonasal sinus surgery and topical treatment with NCT appeared effective and well tolerated in antibiotic-resistant sinusitis under immunosuppression.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/11. Rhino-sinusitis related to endosseous implants extending into the nasal cavity. A case report.Rhino-sinusitis may develop as a result of an altered airflow in the nasal cavity causing irritation of the nasal mucosa. A patient is presented who developed recurrent rhino-sinusitis complaints following placement of endosseous implants in the maxilla. Inspection of the nasal floor revealed that two implants had perforated the floor of the nasal cavity. The part of the implants protruding in the nasal cavity was surgically resected via an endonasal approach whereupon the rhino-sinusitis complaints disappeared.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/11. Labyrinth dysfunction 8 months after cochlear implantation: a case report.OBJECTIVE: Investigate whether the cochleostomy is a possible port of entry for pneumolabyrinth and a resulting vertigo in patients provided with a cochlear implant. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Hospital Grosshadern. PATIENT: 62-year-old patient who underwent implantation of a HiFocus II cochlear implant with positioner from Advanced bionics (CLARION). Eight months postoperatively, the patient reported rotatory vertigo and right-side tinnitus after he had blown his nose harder than usual during an episode of rhinitis. INTERVENTIONS: Preoperative and postoperative testing of both the petrosal bone with a CT scan and of balance function. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: air inclusion in the labyrinth. RESULTS: In contrast to the preoperative high resolution computed tomography (CT) scan, air inclusion was seen in the labyrinth during the episode of vertigo. At the same time, balance function tests with Frenzel glasses revealed both spontaneous and provoked horizontal nystagmus to the right side. At follow-up 8 weeks later, the level of vertigo had significantly decreased. Twelve months later, the control CT showed the cochlear implant positioned correctly and no visible air in the labyrinth. CONCLUSION: It is known that placement of the HiFocus II with Positioner from CLARION requires a relatively large cochleostomy of 1.5 mm. Moreover, in the connective tissue seal between the electrode and the positioner, the latter reaches into the tympanic cavity, and this is possibly the weak point. Further investigation will be needed to determine whether the large cochleostomy with the HiFocus II with positioner increases the predisposition to labyrinth dysfunction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/11. anaphylaxis to Cyphomandra betacea Sendth (tamarillo) in an obeche wood (Triplochiton scleroxylon)--allergic patient.BACKGROUND: anaphylaxis after the first exposure to a food allergen is uncommon unless a cross-reaction is present. OBJECTIVE: To investigate a possible relationship between the fruit Cyphomandra betacea Sendth (commonly known as tamarillo) and the wood of Triplochiton scleroxylon (obeche) in a patient with allergic occupational bronchial asthma due to obeche wood who began to experience anaphylaxis episodes after eating tamarillo. methods: A 33-year-old carpenter exposed to obeche wood in his occupation was initially seen with rhinitis and bronchial asthma. The causal relationship of these symptoms to obeche wood exposure was investigated by means of peak flow monitoring and bronchial inhalation testing. Furthermore, the patient had 2 acute episodes of anaphylaxis a few minutes after eating salad containing tamarillo. He had never tasted tamarillo before. The allergologic study included skin prick tests, serum specific IgE determinations, bronchial challenges, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and immunoblotting. RESULTS: Results of skin prick tests with common aeroallergens were negative. Strong skin prick test responses were obtained with obeche and tamarillo. Results of bronchial challenge testing with obeche extract were positive. In tamarillo extract, a 28-kDa band appeared as the most relevant IgE-binding antigen. A similar band of 28 kDa happens to be frequently detected in obeche-allergic patients. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of anaphylaxis to tamarillo presented in a patient allergic to obeche, which raises the question of a new cross-reactivity antigen.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25640457443196keywords = fruit (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/11. Swiss chard hypersensitivity: clinical and immunologic study.Allergy to vegetables and fruits seems to be more prevalent in atopics, especially in birch pollen-sensitized individuals. We report a case of a grass pollen-sensitized woman, in whom the inhalation of vapor from boiling Swiss chard precipitated rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma. Type I hypersensitivity to Swiss chard was demonstrated by means of immediate skin test reactivity, specific IgE determination by RAST, basophil degranulation, histamine release test, and an immediate bronchial provocation test response to Swiss chard extract. The controls did not react to any of these tests. RAST inhibition assays suggest the presence of some cross-reactivity among Swiss chard and grass pollen antigens, as well as cross-reactivity between vegetables and weed pollens of the chenopod family.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25640457443196keywords = fruit (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/11. Fibromuscular temporalis graft implantation for rhinitis sicca.A surgical technique is described of implanting temporalis fascia and muscle beneath the nasal mucosa to reduce nasal dryness and to attempt to normalize the nasal airflow in selected patients with rhinitis sicca secondary to prior nasal surgery. The surgical technique is described in detail and is illustrated in a case report.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/11. Allergy to the coffee plant.Occupational respiratory allergy to green coffee beans in coffee roastery workers is well established. I now report on a 50-year-old female atopic patient sensitized to the coffee plant used for indoor decoration. The symptoms were rhinitis and conjunctivitis on exposure to the plant. Investigation showed a positive skin prick test, RAST, and rhinoconjunctival provocation test to coffee leaf allergen extract. However, the commercially available RAST disk for green coffee beans seems to be appropriate for diagnosing allergy to the potted coffee plant.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/11. Oral allergy syndrome induced by chestnut (Castanea sativa)BACKGROUND: Oral allergy syndrome is a distinctive type of allergy to food resulting from direct contact between food and the oral mucosa. Normally, it affects patients who are allergic to pollens. It can be challenged by testing for hypersensitivity to fresh fruit or vegetables in well-known associations. Oral allergy syndrome rarely occurs in patients with other types of allergies, or to food not associated with pollens. Only occasionally does chestnut cause hypersensitivity. There are only a few reported cases, depending on cross-reactivity in previously latex-hypersensitive patients. Oral allergy syndrome to chestnut in a patient with respiratory allergy to Dermatophagoides is therefore unusual and worth reporting. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical features and their differences from previously reported cases and to analyze the techniques and methodologic problems related to in vivo and in vitro diagnosis. methods: Case report. skin tests with commercial and freshly made extracts and by the prick-by-prick method. Challenge test. Specific IgE antibody assay. Prausnitz-Kustner reaction. RESULTS: The challenge with fresh food confirmed an oral allergy syndrome to chestnut. Clear symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma set in as well. skin tests with several commercial extracts and the prick-by-prick test were negative and so was specific IgE assay in serum by RAST and other immunoenzymatic methods. Skin prick test with a freshly prepared extract of fresh chestnut and the passive transfer reaction were positive. CONCLUSIONS: The case of oral allergy syndrome to chestnut reported here appears to be a manifestation of immediate IgE-dependent hypersensitivity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25640457443196keywords = fruit (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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