1/8. 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) |
2/8. 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) |
3/8. 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) |
4/8. 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) |
5/8. 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) |
6/8. 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) |
7/8. 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) |
8/8. Rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma caused by vine pollen: a case report.BACKGROUND: The vine (Vitis vinifera) is a cultivated plant that is found in some European and American countries. Its pollen gathers in small quantities during a short pollination period in the months of May and June. Allergy to vine pollen has not been previously documented. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe a case report of allergy to vine pollen documented on the basis of anamnesis, cutaneous, provocation, and specific IgE determination tests. methods: An allergenic extract was obtained from collected V vinifera pollens by aqueous standard procedures. pollen counts and pollination periods of this and other common pollens in the area where the patient became symptomatic were studied. Cutaneous tests and the presence of specific IgE to the pollen extracts were performed by prick, CAP, and RAST techniques. Bronchial and conjunctival tests with the involved pollen extracts were also carried out to identify the sensitizing allergens. Five healthy subjects and 5 pollinic patients were used as control subjects and underwent the same tests. RESULTS: Skin prick test responses with vine pollen at different concentrations were positive for the studied patient and negative for the control subjects. Patient serum revealed a total IgE titer of 334 IU/mL and a specific IgE value of 1.3 PRU/mL (RAST class 2) to vine pollen. Bronchial and conjunctival provocation test responses were also positive when the patient was challenged with V vinifera extract. CONCLUSION: Exposure to the pollen of the vineyard plants (V vinifera) can induce immunologic sensitization and rhinoconjunctivitis/asthma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |