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Background: Urticaria is a common disease with a marked influence on quality of life. The key cell involved is the mast cell, which can be activated by a vast variety of stimuli, and the major mediator is histamine. Allergic urticaria is a disorder with a large variety of causes: food, drugs, insect venom, skin contact with allergens, and physical exercise. Buckwheat consumption has increased in European countries and the USA because it is gluten-free. It can trigger anaphylactic shock if ingested, inhaled, or handled with the hands. Five common buckwheat allergens named Fag e1 to 5 (Fag e1, 2, and 3 are considered the major allergens) and two tartary buckwheat allergens named Fag t1 and Fag t2 have been described. Method: We present the case of a patient who experienced two anaphylactic shocks and in whom the etiological factor was buckwheat. The patient presented to the Allergology department for the evaluation of two episodes of severe allergic reactions that required emergency therapy, episodes that involved the loss of consciousness and were of major severity. At each anaphylactic shock, an ambulance was requested, and emergency therapy was administered, leading to the patient's recovery within a few hours. Diagnosis: Since each episode occurred a few minutes after eating, the diagnosis was established based on a detailed anamnesis and prick skin tests, followed by specific IgE dosages. Other foods consumed by the patient, assessed by prick skin testing and specific IgE dosages of suspected foods, were excluded as the etiological cause. Increased levels of buckwheat-specific immunoglobulin E were highlighted, thus identifying the etiological agent. The treatment of anaphylactic shock was performed urgently by the ambulance crew with adrenaline, infusion solutions, cortisone preparations, and antihistamines. Result: Following the treatment that was initiated, there was a partial remission of the lesions after a few hours. Conclusions: Buckwheat allergy is rare, but it produces symptoms that affect the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and respiratory tract, as well as anaphylaxis. In a professional environment, it can trigger allergic rhinitis, asthma, and hives. Although buckwheat allergens have been described, their clinical relevance has only been studied in a small number cases. In current practice, the only commercially available allergen is Beech e2 per the ImmunoCAP ISAC microarray. Diagnosis can be difficult in clinical practice. This reported case suggests the need for a thorough anamnesis, since buckwheat is consumed as a hidden allergen, and in Europe, it is not necessary to label foods containing this allergen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a letter discussing the incidence and risk factors of cutaneous reactions to the first COVID-19 booster vaccine. The study included healthcare employees who received the first mRNA COVID-19 booster and completed a symptom survey within 3 days post-vaccination. The results showed that 2.4% of recipients experienced cutaneous reactions, such as itching, rash, hives, and swelling. Asian race was associated with a higher risk of cutaneous reactions, particularly itching and swelling. The study suggests that additional research is needed to investigate Asian race as a potential risk factor for cutaneous reactions after mRNA vaccines. [Extracted from the article]

The current paper represents a study accomplished on the territory of Tăcuta commune, in Vaslui County, to estimate the honey potential of the area. The results showed that here lives a spontaneous, diversified, and cultivated flora, among which exist also species of honey interest (acacia, linden, rapeseed, sunflower, etc.); they can provide up to 153 tons of honey, which would ensure conditions for the maintenance of 1260 stationary bee families. The area can also assure good conditions for capitalizing on the honey potential by pastoral beekeeping, especially for: acacia harvesting, where could be moved up to 3000 hives, linden harvesting, where could be moved up to 2700 hives, and sunflower harvesting, where could be moved up to 970 hives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Google Trends is a powerful tool for health information access and disease surveillance, including COVID-19 data forecasting. Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 include urticarial rash, which is multifactorial and may indicate a better prognosis. Aim of this study was to analyse the search queries for the term “urticaria” during the six years period (2017-2022) and assess the relationship between relative search volume (RSV) and a global rise in COVID-19 cases. Methods: This study examined search queries for "urticaria" from 2017 to 2022, exploring the relationship between RSV and global COVID-19 cases. Data on "urticaria" search volume in various countries were collected using Google Trends. Microsoft Excel and correlation analysis were used to analyse the data and investigate the association between search volume and monthly COVID-19 case rise. Results: During 2017-2019, the mean RSV for "urticaria" was 69.9 ± 10.1, which increased to 84.1 ± 8.6 during 2020-2022. The difference in means was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean RSV in 2022 (94.3) was the highest among all years studied. The increase in RSV from 2020 to 2022 moderately correlated (r = 0.56) with monthly COVID-19 case rise (p < 0.001). Nicaragua showed the highest search interest, while Africa, North America, Asia and Pacific, the Middle East and Europe had low search interest. Conclusions: This study identified a significant increase in search volume for "urticaria" during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicaragua had the highest search interest, while English-speaking countries displayed low interest. Language variation, cultural differences and COVID-19-related health concerns may influence public interest in urticaria. These findings can aid public health officials in understanding public health concerns and tailoring effective health communication strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic urticaria is defined as the almost daily occurrence of wheals and pruritus for a minimum of six weeks, adversely affecting the quality of life and necessitating management with a drug with better efficacy and a high safety profile. This study was designed to determine how monotherapy with newer antihistamines benefits chronic spontaneous urticaria by producing earlier and longer periods of remission. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the adverse effects associated with the drugs. Aim: To compare the efficacy of Levocetirizine and Bilastine in chronic spontaneous urticaria. Materials and Methods: The study was a single-blinded randomised controlled trial conducted in the Department of Dermatology at Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India over 24 months from January 2020 to December 2021. A total of 163 patients with chronic urticaria were randomly divided into two groups: Group A with 82 patients and group B with 81 patients. The patients were treated with tablet Levocetirizine 5 mg and tablet Bilastine 20 mg for six months (with up-dosing to four-fold maximum) in Group A and Group B, respectively. The treatment response was assessed using the Urticaria Activity Score (UAS) at each follow-up. Patients were followed-up for an additional six months to observe the time of recurrence. Total 15 patients were lost to follow-up and were consequently excluded from the statistical analysis. Results: At the end of six months, the improvement observed in UAS was statistically similar in both groups (p-value=0.513). The time taken for remission was shorter with Levocetirizine (11.19±5.31 weeks) compared to Bilastine (14.59±5.02 weeks). Recurrence occurred earlier with Bilastine compared to Levocetirizine. Conclusion: Levocetirizine and Bilastine are equally effective in controlling urticaria at the end of six months of treatment. Patients on Levocetirizine experienced earlier remission as well as late recurrence compared to those on Bilastine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common skin disease without an etiology in the vast majority of cases. The similarity of symptoms and pathology to allergen-induced skin reactions supports that skin mast cell IgE receptor activation is also involved in CSU. Accumulating evidence also supports a role for blood basophils in disease expression. Blood basopenia is noted in active CSU disease with the recruitment of blood basophils to skin lesion sites. Blood basophils further display altered IgE receptor mediated degranulation patterns in two phenotypes that improve in remission. In active CSU subjects, changes in IgE receptor signaling molecule expression levels accompany the altered degranulation function in blood basophils. The success of therapies targeting IgE in CSU patients have also shown that altered blood basophil phenotypes and enumeration have potential use as a disease biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Chronic urticaria symptoms are benign and self-limiting. However, chronic urticaria with systemic symptoms can be life-threatening and may be an early sign of anaphylactic shock. This systematic review was conducted to recognize and understand the clinical features of urticaria and the role of diet modification in chronic urticaria to minimise the side effect of long-term therapy. Methods A primary literature search using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) was conducted using PubMed and Science Direct databases in January 2021. Results A total of 10 articles were included in this study. Some diets and conditions were recommended to be avoided in patients with chronic urticaria are galactose-a-1,3-galactose allergy (a-gal), Anisakis simplex, pseudo allergens, gluten, food additives and histamine. Supplementation with diamine oxidase, vitamin D and probiotics was beneficial. Conclusion Diet modification in chronic urticaria patients receiving long-term medical therapy must be done to reduce drug side effects. Consumption of foods suspected of causing urticaria should be avoided for three consecutive weeks, especially for pseudoallergenic foods and histamine-containing foods. Moreover, patients should avoid consuming certain foods that can cause nutritional deficiencies, so further consultation with a nutritionist is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food allergy is becoming increasingly common among the pediatric population. Despite strict avoidance of food allergens, a subgroup of sensitive individuals still develops frequent, persistent, and difficult to treat hives (FPDTH) for which there is no curative therapy. Although these cases are rare, these patients are in most need of therapy. Case presentations: This is a retrospective review of 3 pediatric patients with highly sensitive food allergies who initially presented with hives daily or every other day, or multiple times a day, but achieved marked remission after traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies. Patient 1 (P1) is a 5-year-old who has experienced 140 reactions in his lifetime. Reactions were mostly hives with 4 episodes of anaphylaxis. P1 had used Prednisone 20 times, had an Epinephrine injection 4 times, and had 3 emergency room (ER) visits. Patient 2 (P2) is a 12-year-old who had experienced hives since age 3. Despite daily antihistamine use, P2 had > 730 reactions in his lifetime at the time of presentation including 2 episodes of anaphylaxis. He had been prescribed prednisone 4 times, an Epinephrine injection 2 times, and had 1 ER visit. Patient 3 (P3) is a 20-month-old girl who had experienced > 120 reactions including 1 episode of anaphylaxis. She was on daily desonide and frequently used an antihistamine, yet still had required a course of prednisone once, an Epinephrine injection once, and had 1 ER visit to manage her reaction. After presenting to our clinic, patients received internal and external TCM treatments, including herbal baths and creams (Remedy A-D) as basic remedies to reduce food reactions, including but not limited to frequent hives. Within 7–9 months of TCM treatment, remarkably all patients had complete remission of atopic symptoms. All three patients also experienced an improvement in other conditions including food intolerance, diarrhea, anxiety, eczema, and environmental allergies. After 1 year of treatment, all three patients had reductions in food-specific IgE levels that had been previously elevated, and additionally, P1 and P3, who initially had high total IgE levels, experienced a marked decrease in total IgE levels as well. All three patients continued to introduce foods into their diet that they previously had reactions to, and all 3 patients remain symptom-free. Conclusions: Three pediatric patients with a known history of multiple food sensitivities and physician-diagnosed food allergies that presented with FPDTH underwent a TCM regimen and experienced dramatic improvement in symptoms and reduction in their IgE levels. This regimen appears to be effective in FPDTH population although a further study in a controlled clinical setting is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This update and revision of the international guideline for urticaria was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN) and its Urticaria and Angioedema Centers of Reference and Excellence (UCAREs and ACAREs), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF; EuroGuiDerm), and the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology with the participation of 64 delegates of 50 national and international societies and from 31 countries. The consensus conference was held on 3 December 2020. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell–driven disease that presents with wheals, angioedema, or both. The lifetime prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous or inducible urticaria is disabling, impairs quality of life, and affects performance at work and school. This updated version of the international guideline for urticaria covers the definition and classification of urticaria and outlines expert‐guided and evidence‐based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the arrival of varroa (Varroa destructor) in Mexico, more than 33 % of the hives in the highland and northern regions of the country have been lost annually, due to the excessive use of synthetic acaricides, which have developed resistance in the populations of these mites. Due to this, the objective of this research was to evaluate the fall of V. destructor mites, as well as the percentage of infestation through the application of botanical grinds of garlic (Allium sativum), laurel (Laurus nobilis) and oregano (Origanum vulgare) in Apis mellifera colonies in winter season. 16 jumbo-type hives were used, thus four hives per treatment, where each hive was the experimental unit. The treatments were: 1) Control (no treatment); 2) garlic; 3) laurel, and 4) oregano. Treatments included powdered sugar in a 1:1 ratio. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design. The percentage of initial infestation (covariate) does not represent significance (p > 0.05). Laurel presented the highest value (42.46 ± 12.07) for the number of fallen mites. From day 7 the infestation percentages decrease, highlighting laurel (p < 0.01). The group of control hives showed an upward trend, with averages higher than 5 % (5.32 ± 1.16). At present, the research area regarding the efficacy of botanical grinds in beekeeping is limited, therefore, the use of bioacaricides as botanical grinds represents an alternative for the control of the V. destructor mite, since they are ingredients of easy accessibility, they present a low cost and a simple methodology of elaboration and application. In addition, being an organic treatment, it guarantees environmental, obtaining safety in honey and by-products derived from the hive previously treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bees preferentially occupy thick walled tall narrow tree cavities and attach their combs directly to the nest wall, leaving periodic gaps. However, academic research and beekeeping are conducted in squat, thin walled man made hives, with a continuous gap between the combs and the walls and roof. Utilising a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of thermoregulating bees in complete nests in trees and thin walled man made hives, with the average size of tree comb gaps determined from honey bee occupied synthetic tree nests, this research compared the metabolic energy impacts of comb gaps and vertical movement of the thermoregulated brood area. This shows their heat transfer regimes are disparate, including: bee space above combs increases heat loss by up to ∼70%; hives, compared to tree nests, require at least 150% the density of honey bees to arrest convection across the brood area. Tree cavities have a larger vertical freedom, a greater thermal resistance and can make dense clustering redundant. With the thermal environment being critical to honey bees, the magnitude and scope of these differences suggest that some hive based behavioural research needs extra validation to be considered non-anthropogenic, and some bee keeping practices are sub-optimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Chronic spontaneous urticaria is one of the most troubling symptoms in autoimmune connective tissue diseases (ACTDs). Our aim is to better characterize the association between chronic spontaneous urticaria and ACTDs. Methods A retrospective study of patients seen at ACTDs clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital. Results Of the 41 patients who fit our criteria, 58% had no underlying ACTDs, 22% had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and only 4% had other types of ACTDs. Conclusion Chronic spontaneous urticaria is a frequent condition in SLE. We did not find a strong association between other ACTDs and chronic spontaneous urticaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Spontaneous chronic urticaria is a skin disease characterized by hives and itching of more than 6 weeks of evolution. Methodology: In this article we attempt to review the available evidence on the mechanisms that may intervene in the pathogenesis of urticaria. Knowledge of these mechanisms can allow a better clinical approach and the design of more specific and effective drugs. Results: The mechanisms that lead to the pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria appear to be various and converge in the activation by autoreactive mechanisms of mast cells and basophils, which induces the release of histamine and other mediators. Conclusion: Different activation pathways have been identified where IgG, IgE, the coagulation cascade, complement factors, different cytokines, neurotrophins and neuropeptides participate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by wheals and/or angioedema recurring for >6 weeks. Cumulative distribution function (CDF) curves compare cumulative probabilities of response between treatments across responder definition spectrums. Methods: LIBERTY-CSU CUPID Study A (NCT04180488) was a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial of dupilumab treatment for 24 weeks in patients with CSU remaining symptomatic despite standard-of-care (SOC) H1-antihistamines. Patients were randomized to receive add-on dupilumab (dupilumab/SOC) or placebo (placebo/SOC) subcutaneously every 2 weeks. CDF curves were plotted for the distribution of possible within-patient response for Urticaria Activity Score over 7 days (UAS7), Itch Severity Score over 7 days (ISS7), and Hives Severity Score over 7 days (HSS7) for dupilumab/SOC and placebo/SOC arms. Results: In CDF analysis at Week 24, more patients experienced UAS7, ISS7, and HSS7 improvements with dupilumab/SOC than placebo/SOC; 74.2% vs 50.0% of patients (dupilumab/SOC vs placebo/SOC) achieved ≥11-point reductions (minimal important difference [MID] threshold) in UAS7. Similarly, 78.8% vs 51.7% of patients (dupilumab/SOC vs placebo/SOC) reached ≥5-point reductions (MID threshold) in ISS7 and HSS7. The responder proportion was ≥20% greater for dupilumab/SOC vs placebo/SOC for response thresholds of 9.5- to 22-point reductions for UAS7, 4.5- to 11-point reductions for ISS7, and 5- to 11-point reductions for HSS7. Conclusion: Irrespective of within-patient responder thresholds, greater proportions of patients experienced improvement in UAS7, ISS7, and HSS7 with dupilumab/SOC vs placebo/SOC at Week 24. Overall safety was consistent with the known dupilumab safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic spontaneous urticaria is challenging to manage and substantially affects quality of life. This US, non-interventional qualitative study examined patients' clinical journeys and emotional burden from symptom onset through disease management. Chronic spontaneous urticaria patients participated in interviews and completed diaries focusing on disease and treatment history/perspectives, impact on personal/family life, and relationships with physicians/other healthcare providers. Physicians were interviewed about their views on disease management and patient care. Twenty-five patients, previously or currently receiving chronic spontaneous urticaria treatment(s), and 12 physicians participated. Key stages following symptom onset were identified: Crisis (associated with feelings of torment/disorientation/shock); Searching for answers (puzzlement/frustration/anxiety); Diagnosis (relief/satisfaction/fear/isolation); and Disease management (frustration/hope/powerlessness). Findings revealed patients' perceptions and experiences of chronic spontaneous urticaria, including living with a 'skinemy', experiencing their 'own personal hell' and feeling 'like an experiment'. Awareness of unmet needs in patient care/management identified in this study may ultimately improve patient support and enhance physicians' understanding of disease burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This evidence‐ and consensus‐based guideline was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group. The conference was held on 1 December 2016. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the EU‐founded network of excellence, the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO) with the participation of 48 delegates of 42 national and international societies. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell‐driven disease, presenting with wheals, angioedema, or both. The lifetime prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous urticaria and other chronic forms of urticaria are disabling, impair quality of life and affect performance at work and school. This guideline covers the definition and classification of urticaria, taking into account the recent progress in identifying its causes, eliciting factors and pathomechanisms. In addition, it outlines evidence‐based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different combinations of medications are utilized during wrist access for radial artery (RA) or ulnar artery (UA) catheterization in neuroendovascular procedures to preclude vasospasm. These “cocktails” commonly include the calcium channel blocker Verapamil, without established benefit. We analyze outcomes in patients with and without Verapamil in their “cocktail” by using a case-control cohort of our single-center experience.A prospective log of consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic cerebral angiograms using RA/UA access was retrospectively reviewed, and patients were grouped into Verapamil and non-Verapamil cohorts. The primary outcomes assessed were the presence of forearm skin rashes (hives) and RA/UA spasms. Our initial management included Verapamil (5 mg) in the cocktail, but Verapamil was removed after we noticed the development of hives in multiple patients immediately following its injection.A total of 221 patients underwent 241 RA/UA diagnostic cerebral angiograms and were included in our analysis. One hundred and forty-nine patients (61.8%) underwent catheterization with Verapamil and 92 (38.2%) were catheterized without it. Four of the 149 patients in the Verapamil group (2.7%) developed hives during the procedure and were treated with Benadryl (25 mg). Of the 92 patients who did not receive Verapamil, there were zero (0%) cases of hives and one (1.1%) case of vasospasm.Verapamil in the “cocktail” for wrist access diagnostic cerebral angiograms was associated with periprocedural hives, but not associated with a significant reduction in spasm compared to the non-Verapamil group. Our findings suggest that the administration of prophylactic Verapamil for these procedures may not be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both spontaneous and inducible forms of chronic urticaria pose a significant economic burden and have an adverse effect on patients' quality of life. The international guidelines and US practice parameters for the diagnosis and management of chronic urticaria both recommend performing a thorough patient history and physical examination, conducting limited routine laboratory testing, and taking a stepwise approach to treatment. These documents differ in several areas, such as the order of diagnostic procedures and the treatment for patients non-responsive to standard dose H1-antihistamines. Patients with chronic urticaria who visit a specialist have typically been treated with second-generation H1-antihistamines - the recommended first-line treatments. The advantages and disadvantages of each treatment option should be taken into consideration when selecting therapies beyond H1-antihistamines. Greater awareness of the international guidelines and US practice parameters will likely improve the quality of care for patients with chronic urticaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This guideline is the result of a systematic literature review using the 'Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation' (GRADE) methodology and a structured consensus conference held on 28 and 29 November 2012, in Berlin. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the EU-funded network of excellence, the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), and the World Allergy Organization (WAO) with the participation of delegates of 21 national and international societies. Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell-driven disease, presenting with wheals, angioedema, or both. The life-time prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous urticaria and other chronic forms of urticaria do not only cause a decrease in quality of life, but also affect performance at work and school and, as such, are members of the group of severe allergic diseases. This guideline covers the definition and classification of urticaria, taking into account the recent progress in identifying its causes, eliciting factors and pathomechanisms. In addition, it outlines evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This guideline is the result of a systematic literature review using the 'Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation' (GRADE) methodology and a structured consensus conference held on 28 and 29 November 2012, in Berlin. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the EU-funded network of excellence, the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), and the World Allergy Organization (WAO) with the participation of delegates of 21 national and international societies. Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell-driven disease, presenting with wheals, angioedema, or both. The life-time prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous urticaria and other chronic forms of urticaria do not only cause a decrease in quality of life, but also affect performance at work and school and, as such, are members of the group of severe allergic diseases. This guideline covers the definition and classification of urticaria, taking into account the recent progress in identifying its causes, eliciting factors and pathomechanisms. In addition, it outlines evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the work was to research various systems of bee families placement at the sunflower pollination, to distinguish the advantages of this crop conducted pollination, with the help of the bees and to develop some streamline suggestions to increase the amount of seed production.It was conducted an experiment to test three systems (scheme) of bee families exploitation at the pollination of early hybrid sunflower "El Passo 199" on three agricultural land of 30 hectares each, which were placed at a distance of over 600 - 1000 m from each other. The load of bee families at the pollination was 1 ha per each family. In the first scheme (batch I, witness) – the hives with bee families were placed traditionally in a hearth, at one side (edge) of the field with blooming plants. In the second scheme (batch II) – the bee hives were placed in two hearths at the two opposite sides of the field. In the third scheme (batch III) – the bee hives were placed in four hearths, proportionally at the four sides of the field.The research results have shown that the bee hives placement at the sunflower pollination, proportionally at those 4 symmetrically opposite sides of the field, provides a significant increase of bee visits to the flowers, compared to the witness batch – with 1.4 bees/ 5 min, or 82.5 % (td = 14.2; P < 0.001) and, compared to batch II – with 0.4 bees/ 5 min, or 14.8 % (td = 2.8; P < 0.01). By the total pollen amount collected in the nest daily, on average, bee families from batch II exceeded their fellows of witness batch with 25 g/day, or 16.8 % (td = 4.3; P < 0.001), and those of batch III exceeded their fellows of batch I - with 46 g, or 30.9 % (td = 5.9; P < 0.001). By flight intensity, the bees without pollen balls of batch III exceeded their fellows of witness batch with 46 bees/10 min, or 9.5 % (td = 2.1; P < 0.05), and those with pollen balls – with 35 bees/10 min, or 17.8 % (td = 3.1; P < 0.01). The seeds fertilization degree, in case of isolated pollination was very low, and was 13.1 – 15.8 %. In case of free pollination (entomophilous), contrary, the most sun flower inflorescence seeds were fertile (full), The number of fertile seeds, in this case, exceeded 5.7 – 7.2 times compared to the isolated pollination (P < 0.001). The seeds pollination degree, in case of free pollination, was 88.6 – 92.1 %. The seeds pollination degree from batch III, was higher, compared with witness batch– with 3.5 percentual units, or 4.0 % (td = 2.6; P < 0.01). The total weight of harvested seeds, on average, at one sun flower inflorescence, in case of entomophilous pollination, exceeds compared to the isolated pollination, in all batches and examined sectors 1.8 – 2.2 times more (P<0.001), and by fertile seed weight–2.3 – 2.6 times (P < 0.001). By the quantity (weight) of fertile (full) seed production, sun flower inflorescences of batch II exceeded their fellows of batch I with 11.9 g, or 18.5 % (td = 5.6; P < 0.001), and the sun flower inflorescences of batch III exceeded their fellows of batch I with 16.1 g, or 23.8 % (td = 6.7; P < 0.001). From the obtained information, were deduced the conclusions that the conducted pollination of early sunflower hybrid El Passo-199 with the help of the bees, provides, compared to the isolated pollination, an increase of seeds fertilization degree and of the seed production weight with 2.3 – 2.6 times. The proportional placement of the bee hives at the pollination, as close to the picking source, at the four opposite sides of the sunflower field, contributes to a significant increase of the bees visits frequency to the flowers – with 82.5 %, of the flight intensity of the bees without pollen balls – with 9.5% and of those with pollen balls – with 17.8 %, of the collected pollen amount – with 39.6 %, of the seeds fertilization degree – with 4. 0%, and of the seeds production – with 23.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This guideline is the result of a systematic literature review using the ' Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation' ( GRADE) methodology and a structured consensus conference held on 28 and 29 November 2012, in Berlin. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI), the EU-funded network of excellence, the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network ( GA2 LEN), the European Dermatology Forum ( EDF), and the World Allergy Organization ( WAO) with the participation of delegates of 21 national and international societies. Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell-driven disease, presenting with wheals, angioedema, or both. The life-time prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous urticaria and other chronic forms of urticaria do not only cause a decrease in quality of life, but also affect performance at work and school and, as such, are members of the group of severe allergic diseases. This guideline covers the definition and classification of urticaria, taking into account the recent progress in identifying its causes, eliciting factors and pathomechanisms. In addition, it outlines evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists ( UEMS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This methods report describes the process of guideline development in detail. It is the result of a systematic literature review using the 'Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation' ( GRADE) methodology and a structured consensus conference held on 28 and 29 November 2012, in Berlin. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI), the EU-funded network of excellence, the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network ( GA2 LEN), the European Dermatology Forum ( EDF), and the World Allergy Organization ( WAO) with the participation of delegates of 21 national and international societies. This guideline covers the definition and classification of urticaria, taking into account the recent progress in identifying its causes, eliciting factors and pathomechanisms. In addition, it outlines evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists ( UEMS) and is published in Allergy 2014; 69:868-887. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognize that delayed hypersensitivity reactions to sulfonamides may present as urticated plaques with hyperpigmentation and purpura for which a diagnosis of urticarial vasculitis should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which investigates the reproductive behavior, culturing, and colony formation of stingless bee or Tetragonula fuscobalteata and the description of its males cells from worker cells. The study experimented on 80 cells, including 40 worker cells and 40 male cells which are measured with an eyepiece micrometer in a binocular stereo microscope. Results show that the duration of the egg development reduces when temperature rise to 35 Celsius (C) or higher is critical.

Abstract: Urticaria is a common pruritic skin disorder that is often seen in the office and varies in severity and chronicity. The etiologic cause is frequently not identifiable. Urticaria may be associated with physical factors and triggers, including foods or medications. A significant percentage of patients with chronic urticaria have circulating autoantibodies directed toward immunoglobulin-E or the high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin-E (FcεRI), or have antithyroid antibodies that might play a role in the activation of the final common pathway in urticaria: mast cell activation and degranulation. Management begins with a careful investigation and elimination of eliciting factors when identified, followed by treatment of underlying disease. Antihistamines are the current mainstay of pharmacotherapy for urticaria, which provide symptomatic relief in most cases. In severe cases, corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine sulfate (Plaquenil; Sanofi-Synthelabo, New York, NY), and immunosuppressive agents, including cyclosporin, are sometimes used by specialists. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We study the hive model of tensor products, following Knutson, Tao, and Woodward. We define a coboundary category where the tensor product is given by hives and where the associator and commutor are defined using a modified octahedron recurrence. We then prove that this category is equivalent to the category of crystals for the Lie algebra . The proof of this equivalence uses a new connection between the octahedron recurrence and the Jeu de Taquin and Schützenberger involution procedures on Young tableaux. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This is a case study of an alexithymic female patient with hives who was treated with hypnotic imagery-therapy. The patient initially exhibited a deficit in imagination, but with continued treatment her imagination during hypnosis improved. She also developed the ability to verbally express emotions, not only in the hypnotic state, but also in the waking state. In addition, as a result of internalizing the therapist's suggestions of relaxation, the therapy increased the patient's capacity for self-care. It is suggested that hypnotic imagery-therapy is effective in decreasing alexithymic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two types of stone structure are described that survive from past centuries. One is a wall, usually facing south, in which recesses were built to accommodate individual hives: skeps, or log, cork or board hives. To date, 144 walls have been reported in France: 98 in Provence and 46 in 15 departments elsewhere, and their locations are listed in an Appendix. The other type of structure is a massive stone enclosure built on a hillside, also usually facing south. Over 100 enclosures have been recorded, with the highest density in the Roya valley, Alpes-Maritimes. They were probably built to prevent bears and other animals from reaching the hives placed on terraces inside. Surviving examples of both types of structure have been dated to the 16–19th centuries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A 24-year-old woman had a 9-week history of second to third daily urticaria that began after an episode of contact urticaria to topical bufexamac. She was found to have an underlying gastrointestinal infection with Blastocystis hominis. This was thought to be clinically relevant as she had a history of mild chronic diarrhoea. After treatment of the Blastocystis hominis, her urticaria ceased. This could indicate the importance of performing stool microscopy and culture on all patients with chronic urticaria of unknown aetiology. The relationship of urticaria to intestinal parasites and the possibility that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications could act as cofactors that help precipitate an urticarial reaction is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D plays an important role in the immune system; decreased serum vitamin D concentrations have been linked to dysregulated immune function. Low vitamin D status is probably associated with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). We evaluated the prevalence of low vitamin D status, and the clinical response and quality of life following vitamin D supplementation, in a prospective case-control study with 60 CSU patients and 40 healthy individuals. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks. For patients with 25(OH)D concentrations < 30 ng/ml, treatment included 20,000 IU/day of ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and non-sedative antihistamine drugs for 6 weeks. Urticaria symptom severity and quality of life were assessed based on the Urticaria Activity Score over 7 days (UAS7) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Of the 100 participants, 73% were female; the mean age was 39 ± 16 years. Vitamin D deficiency (measured as 25(OH)D < 20 ng/ml) was significantly higher in the CSU group than the control group. The median 25(OH)D concentration for the CSU group, 15 (7 - 52) ng/ml was significantly lower than for control group, 30 (25 - 46) ng/ml. Overall, 83% (50/60) of CSU patients (25(OH)D < 30 ng/ml) were treated with ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) supplementation; after 6 weeks, these patients showed significant improvements in UAS7 and DLQI scores compared with the non-vitamin D supplement group. This study revealed a significant association of lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations with CSU. Vitamin D supplements might improve symptoms and quality of life in CSU patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]