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The article compares two different methods of defining pollen seasons based on 10 years of birch and grass pollen data from Berlin, Germany, and Vienna, Austria. The study found that the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) definition correlated significantly with allergic rhinitis symptoms reported by users of electronic diaries. The analysis showed differences in the start, end, and duration of pollen seasons between the two cities, highlighting the importance of accurately defining pollen seasons for clinical trials and allergen immunotherapy. The study confirmed the applicability of both the EAACI and percentage analysis (PA) methods in describing pollen season characteristics for different regions. [Extracted from the article]

Background Clinical efficacy of pollen allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been broadly documented in randomized controlled trials. The underlying clinical endpoints are analysed in seasonal time periods predefined based on the background pollen concentration. However, any validated or generally accepted definition from academia or regulatory authorities for this relevant pollen exposure intensity or period of time (season) is currently not available. Therefore, this Task Force initiative of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI) aimed to propose definitions based on expert consensus. Methods A Task Force of the Immunotherapy and Aerobiology and Pollution Interest Groups of the EAACI reviewed the literature on pollen exposure in the context of defining relevant time intervals for evaluation of efficacy in AIT trials. Underlying principles in measuring pollen exposure and associated methodological problems and limitations were considered to achieve a consensus. Results The Task Force achieved a comprehensive position in defining pollen exposure times for different pollen types. Definitions are presented for 'pollen season', 'high pollen season' (or 'peak pollen period') and 'high pollen days'. Conclusion This EAACI position paper provides definitions of pollen exposures for different pollen types for use in AIT trials. Their validity as standards remains to be tested in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In recent years, it has been demonstrated that the air carries not only airborne pollen but also plant particles of smaller size that have allergenic activity, and, being within the respirable range, these particles can trigger rapid attacks in the lower respiratory tract. The study of particles according to size (0.7–40 μm) could provide valuable information on the real allergenic activity in the atmosphere. Objective The purpose of this study was to analyse the dynamics of airborne Olea europaea pollen in contrast to the allergenic activity of Ole e 1 in the atmosphere. Methods The analyses were carried out with a Hirst-type volumetric collector and a cascade impactor simultaneously during the MPS of the olive. The indirect ELISA was used to detect the allergenic activity. The sampling was performed in Granada city centre (S Spain), in the Science Faculty building on the University of Granada from 30 April to 26 June 2005. Results and conclusions This research demonstrates that both the allergenic activity as well as the pollen particles follow in a similar curve, except in periods before or succeeding the main Olea pollen season. The study of the distribution of the allergenic particles according to their sizes reveals that the highest concentrations are between 3.3 and <0.7 μm, thus indicating that allergenic activity primarily involves paucimicronic particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Privet pollen rarely accounts for more than 1% of the annual total of daily pollen concentrations measured in a city; however in areas where these trees are widely used as ornamentals the amounts collected may be high enough to cause allergy symptoms. Methods: Air samples taken with volumetric particle samplers Lanzoni VPPS 1000 (Lanzoni s.r.l., Bologna, Italy) show that there are differences in privet pollen concentrations measured in neighbourhoods with a high incidence of privet trees and in those taken at some distance from the source of emission. Results: The results suggest that differences are due to the short dispersal range of the pollen grains once released from the plant, resulting from both the entomophilous nature of the plant and the large size of the pollen grains. Urban design, moreover, may play an important role in impeding pollen grain dispersion if the air cannot flow freely through long, narrow avenues. Another important consideration is that the last stages of the flowering period of privet overlaps with the flowering period of olive trees, the main allergen in the area. The fact that the two pollen types share common allergens means that there may be a cross-reaction between olive tree pollen and privet pollen. Conclusions: Privet pollen should be considered as a potential causative agent of local allergy problems in areas where its presence is extensive and is in combination with other allergens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ambient air quality monitoring is a governmental duty that is widely carried out in order to detect non-biological ("chemical") components in ambient air, such as particles of < 10 µm (PM10, PM2.5), ozone, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. These monitoring networks are publicly funded and air quality data are open to the public. The situation for biological particles that have detrimental effects on health, as is the case of pollen and fungal spores, is however very different. Most pollen and spore monitoring networks are not publicly funded and data are not freely available. The information regarding which biological particle is being monitored, where and by whom, is consequently often not known, even by aerobiologists themselves. This is a considerable problem, as local pollen data are an important tool for the prevention of allergic symptoms. Objective: The aim of this study was to review pollen monitoring stations throughout the world and to create an interactive visualization of their distribution. Methods: The method employed to collect information was based on: (a) a review of the recent and historical bibliography related to pollen and fungal spore monitoring, and (b) personal surveys of the managers of national and regional monitoring networks. The interactive application was developed using the R programming language. Results: We have created an inventory of the active pollen and spore monitoring stations in the world. There are at least 879 active pollen monitoring stations in the world, most of which are in Europe (> 500). The prevalent monitoring method is based on the Hirst principle (> 600 stations). The inventory is visualised as an interactive and on-line map. It can be searched, its appearance can be adjusted to the users' needs and it is updated regularly, as new stations or changes to those that already exist can be submitted online. Conclusions: The map shows the current situation of pollen and spore monitoring and facilitates collaboration among those individuals who are interested in pollen and spore counts. It might also help to improve the monitoring of biological particles up to the current level employed for non-biological components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To inform the clinical practice guidelines' recommendations developed by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology systematic reviews (SR) assessed using GRADE on the impact of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and active smoking on the risk of new-onset asthma/recurrent wheezing (RW)/low lung function (LF), and on asthma-related outcomes. Only longitudinal studies were included, almost all on combustion cigarettes, only one assessing e-cigarettes and LF. According to the first SR (67 studies), prenatal ETS increases the risk of RW (moderate certainty evidence) and may increase the risk of new-onset asthma and of low LF (low certainty evidence). Postnatal ETS increases the risk of new-onset asthma and of RW (moderate certainty evidence) and may impact LF (low certainty evidence). Combined in utero and postnatal ETS may increase the risk of new-onset asthma (low certainty evidence) and increases the risk of RW (moderate certainty evidence). According to the second SR (24 studies), ETS increases the risk of severe asthma exacerbations and impairs asthma control and LF (moderate certainty evidence). According to the third SR (25 studies), active smoking increases the risk of severe asthma exacerbations and of suboptimal asthma control (moderate certainty evidence) and may impact asthma-related quality-of-life and LF (low certainty evidence)., (© 2024 European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Iodinated contrast media produce non-immediate hypersensitivity reactions (NIHR). The goal of this prospective study was to determine the utility of skin tests and the subsequent tolerance to negative skin-tested iodinated contrasts in patients with NIHR caused by iomeprol., Methods: Prick and intradermal tests with iomeprol, iopamidol, iopromide, and iobitridol were performed in all patients. IV challenge with the causative contrast (iomeprol in 90%) was made if skin tests were negative. In case of a positive skin test with the causal contrast, or a positive challenge test with it, IV challenge test with an alternative, negative skin-tested contrast was performed in all patients., Results: Skin tests were positive in 47.6% (20/42) of patients with NIHR induced by iomeprol. Of the 66 challenge tests performed with negative skin-tested iodinated contrasts, tolerance was confirmed in 35 (53%): 32 iomeron, 2 iobitridol, 1 iopamidol. Cross-reactivity between iomeprol and iopamidol was 22% (4/20 in patients with positive skin tests and 5/21 in patients with negative skin tests)., Conclusions: Sensitivity of the skin tests was less than 50% NIHRs due to iomeprol, while the negative predictive value of skin tests in patients who tolerated challenges with alternative contrasts (mainly iopamidol) was 53% (35 tolerated out of 66 performed). The cross-reactivity between iomeprol and iopamidol is high., (© 2022 European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Humans inhale, ingest, and touch thousands of fungi each day. The ubiquity and diversity of the fungal kingdom, reflected by its complex taxonomy, are in sharp contrast with our scarce knowledge about its distribution, pathogenic effects, and effective interventions at the environmental and individual levels. Here, we present an overview of salient features of fungi as permanent players of the human exposome and key determinants of human health, through the lens of fungal allergy and other fungal hypersensitivity reactions. Improved understanding of the fungal exposome sheds new light on the epidemiology of fungal-related hypersensitivity diseases, their immunological substratum, the currently available methods, and biomarkers for environmental and medical fungi. Unmet needs are described and potential approaches are highlighted as perspectives., (© 2022 The Authors. Allergy published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The effectiveness of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis (AR) depends on the definition of pollen exposure intensity or time period. We recently evaluated pollen and symptom data from Germany to examine the new definitions of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) on pollen season and peak pollen period start and end. Now, we aim to confirm the feasibility of these definitions to properly mirror symptom loads for grass and birch pollen-induced allergic rhinitis in other European geographical areas such as Austria, Finland and France, and therefore their suitability for AIT and clinical practice support., Methods: Data from twenty-three pollen monitoring stations from three countries in Europe and for 3 years (2014-2016) were used to investigate the correlation between birch and grass pollen concentrations during the birch and grass pollen season defined via the EAACI criteria, and total nasal symptom and medication scores as reported with the aid of the patient's hay-fever diary (PHD). In addition, we conducted a statistical analysis, together with a graphical investigation, to reveal correlations and dependencies between the studied parameters., Results: The analysis demonstrated that the definitions of pollen season as well as peak pollen period start and end as proposed by the EAACI are correlated to pollen-induced symptom loads reported by PHD users during birch and grass pollen season. A statistically significant correlation (slightly higher for birch) has been found between the Total Nasal Symptom and Medication Score (TNSMS) and the pollen concentration levels. Moreover, the maximum symptom levels occurred mostly within the peak pollen periods (PPP) following the EAACI criteria., Conclusions: Based on our analyses, we confirm the validity of the EAACI definitions on pollen season for both birch and grass and for a variety of geographical locations for the four European countries (including Germany from a previous publication) analyzed so far. On this basis, the use of the EAACI definitions is supported in future clinical trials on AIT as well as in daily routine for optimal patient care. Further evaluation of the EAACI criteria in other European regions is recommended., (© 2019 The Authors. Allergy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: In the absence of a gold-standard tool to measure chronic pelvic pain (CPP), most studies on the prevalence of CPP use the NIH-chronic prostatitis symptom index (CPSI) questionnaire. However, its suitability and relevance for use in both sexes have not yet been evaluated, and generalized interpretation of the results is therefore questionable. Accordingly, we designed a questionnaire that discriminates between patients with and without symptoms of CPP., Methods: We undertook a study to test the discriminating capacity for chronic pelvic pain questionnaire (CPPQ)-Mohedo test for CPP among healthy and unhealthy individuals, and if this discrimination was similar for men and women. We did a matched study - 40 unhealthy men were matched by age with 40 unhealthy women - and each of those was matched with six healthy controls by age and sex (480 in total). To elaborate the questionnaire (CPPQ-Mohedo), we started with the NIH-CPSI, adapting the items referring to anatomic areas for women, changing the type of response and including various items on pelvic pain not previously recorded., Results: The NIH-CPSI questionnaire [area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC curve), 0.946] was very similar to that of the CPPQ-Mohedo questionnaire (area under the ROC curve, 0.968), but the first required more items. CPPQ-Mohedo showed similar discriminant capacity between men and women. The dimensions involved (pain and quality of life) showed internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.75)., Conclusions: The CPPQ-Mohedo questionnaire presented discriminating power in men and women with symptoms of CPP. This questionnaire may be used as a screening tool to identify patients and include them in treatment programmes, as an outcome assessment tool for treatment and clinical trials, or as a tool to assess the prevalence of CPP in epidemiologic studies., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Aim: To analyse obesity and overweight prevalence trend in Oviedo (Spain) during the last 14 years., Patients and Methods: Two cross-sectional studies were conducted in the same five public schools of the urban area of Oviedo in 1992 and 2004-06. One thousand one hundred sixty-five children and young adults between the age of 6 and 17 years were studied in 1992 and 1312 in 2004-06. Obesity and overweight were defined according to the International Obesity Task Force cut-off values., Results: Body mass index (BMI) values (20.5+/-3.6 vs. 20.1+/-3.3 p=0.02) and obesity prevalence (6.3% vs. 4.5% p<0.05) were significantly higher in the 2004-06 cohort, while overweight prevalence showed a non-significant increase. Obesity prevalence increased in both sexes in the 6-11-year group. In adolescent females, a four-fold increase was observed, from 0.9% in 1992 (95% CI: -0.1 to 1.9) to 3.8% in 2004-06 (95% CI: 1.8-6). A slight non-significant decrease was observed in adolescent males (6.6% in 1992 to 5.8% in 2004-06)., Conclusion: Obesity and overweight are increasing in children and adolescents in Oviedo at a level similar to that observed in studies conducted in developed countries. This obesity epidemic is becoming an important public health issue.