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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]

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.

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]

Urticaria commonly occurs in childhood, affecting up to 15% of British children. It is characterized by the sudden onset of wheals, angioedema, or both. Episodes are usually acute, often triggered by viral infections or antibiotics, with approximately a third progressing to chronic or recurrent urticaria. This review focuses on chronic urticaria subtypes, diagnosis and treatment options for children. The diagnosis is usually made clinically, and a focused history is key. Detailed investigation is usually unnecessary. Chronic urticaria is divided into chronic spontaneous urticaria and the inducible urticarias. Chronic spontaneous urticaria is autoimmune in origin, in approximately 40% of older children. Cold urticaria and dermographism are the most common inducible urticarias. Isolated angioedema should prompt consideration of hereditary angioedema. The mainstay of treatment is trigger avoidance combined with non-sedating antihistamines. Higher doses of antihistamines may be required but these are usually tolerated well. We provide guidance on antihistamine updosing strategies. There is an improvement in symptoms for most children, but leukotriene receptor antagonists can provide additional improvements in some children. Tranexamic acid may provide symptomatic relief for isolated angioedema. Short courses of oral steroids may be used in acute episodes or highly symptomatic patients with chronic urticaria. Second line treatment for non-responders is primarily monoclonal anti-IgE antibody therapy but a small number of children and young people continue to have significant symptoms despite this and in these children ciclosporin may be useful. Urticaria usually resolves and almost all children and young people are disease free after 7 years. [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]

Copyright of Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Modern beekeeping uses various technological solutions to control and manage apiaries, but many need help with problems related to energy consumption and the inability to adapt to changing conditions. This article presents the development of the conceptual model of hardware-software complex architecture, focusing on the modularity and flexibility of the system. The main idea is to use a universal programmable logic controller with a modular architecture, which allows users to quickly adapt the system to new tasks by adding or replacing sensors and control mechanisms. The proposed approach considers minimizing energy consumption using energy-efficient LoRa technology for data transmission. Such a system's main advantages and potential risks are considered, and formulas for calculating energy consumption during data transmission are presented. The article can serve as a guide for specialists in the field of beekeeping and developers of automation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic urticaria (CU) is the recurring development of wheals (aka "hives" or "welts"), angioedema, or both for more than 6 weeks. Wheals and angioedema occur with no definite triggers in chronic spontaneous urticaria, and in response to known and definite physical triggers in chronic inducible urticaria. Approximately 1.4% of individuals globally will have CU during their lifetime. The itching and physical discomfort associated with CU have a profound impact on daily activities, sexual function, work or school performance, and sleep, causing significant impairment in a patient's physical and mental quality of life. CU also places a financial burden on patients and healthcare systems. Patients should feel empowered to self-advocate to receive the best care. The voice of the patient in navigating the journey of CU diagnosis and management may improve patient–provider communication, thereby improving diagnosis and outcomes. A collaboration of patients, providers, advocacy organizations, and pharmaceutical representatives have created a patient charter to define the realistic and achievable principles of care that patients with CU should expect to receive. Principle (1): I deserve an accurate and timely diagnosis of my CU; Principle (2): I deserve access to specialty care for my CU; Principle (3): I deserve access to innovative treatments that reduce the burden of CU on my daily life; Principle (4): I deserve to be free of unnecessary treatment-related side-effects during the management of my CU; and Principle (5): I expect a holistic treatment approach to address all the components of my life impacted by CU. The stated principles may serve as a guide for healthcare providers who care for patients with CU and translate into better patient–physician communication. In addition, we urge policymakers and authors of CU treatment guidelines to consider these principles in their decision-making to ensure the goals of the patient are achievable. [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.

BackgroundUrticaria (defined as the presence of hives, angioedema, or both) can be caused by a variety of etiologies ranging from more common conditions such as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) to rarer conditions such as hereditary angioedema (HAE). Specialist referral may be necessary in cases of severe urticaria or HAE, but access to specialist services remains limited in certain regions, such as the Greater Bay Area (GBA) of China. To address this, the Hong Kong–Macau Severe Hives and Angioedema Referral Pathway (SHARP) was initiated by the Hong Kong Institute of Allergy and Macau Society of Dermatology to promote multidisciplinary collaboration and regional exchange of expertise in the diagnosis and management of severe urticaria.MethodsA nominated task force of dermatologists and immunologists who manage patients with severe urticaria formulated the consensus statements (CS) using the Delphi method. The consensus was defined a priori as an agreement of ≥80%.ResultsA total of 24 CS were formulated, including four statements on classifications and definitions, seven statements on diagnosis, and 13 statements on management and referral. The definitions for acute/chronic urticaria and severe CSU were stated. Unnecessary investigations and inappropriate medications were discouraged. The characteristics and recommended approach to suspected bradykinergic angioedema were specified. Stepwise treatment options using second-generation antihistamines, omalizumab, or cyclosporin for patients with CSU were addressed, and the importance of access to HAE-specific medications was emphasized. Furthermore, an integrated referral pathway for patients with severe hives and angioedema was constructed.ConclusionThe SHARP provides guidance for the management and specialist referral of patients with severe hives and angioedema in Hong Kong and Macau.

Copyright of Historia Agraria is the property of Historia Agraria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract 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.

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]

Urticaria is a heterogeneous inflammatory disorder that can be acute or chronic and is defined by the appearance of wheals, angioedema, or both. Very recently, the newest update and revision of the international European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology/Global Allergy and Asthma European Network/European Dermatology Forum/Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma Clinical Immunology guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of urticaria was published. It aims to help primary care physicians and specialists in the management of their patients with urticaria. The guideline applied the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluations approach to developing consensus recommendations. These recommendations were then discussed in a Delphi conference that included more than 250 specialists in the field, and they are endorsed by more than 50 international societies. Here, we highlight changes from previous versions of the international urticaria guideline and their impact on clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicity of neem oil on developmental stages of Apis mellifera L. was evaluated by applying three concentrations within the marked comb cells with micropipette as single (applied only once) and multiple exposures (at one day interval up to capping of cells) on different age groups of larvae (1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 days). Results revealed that maximum survival was observed in controls (both negative and positive) and at par with 0.05% (T1) and 0.1 % (T2) concentrations. Minimum survival of larval stage was found in 1% (T3). Same trend was also observed in emerged pupae (CD=17.9) and in mortality of adult bees (CD=15.3). Significant difference in the survival of larval (p<0.05), emerged pupae (p<0.05) and mortality of adult (p<0.05) honey bees was found within stages originating from treated larvae. Both in single or multiple doses, it was found that larvae treated at 1-2 days age group was significantly affected as compared to other stages. [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]

Purpose of Review: While aeroallergens are a well-established trigger of asthma and allergic rhinitis, their role in allergic skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and chronic urticaria remains controversial. This paper reviews the pathophysiology and clinical evidence for aeroallergens in these allergic skin diseases and summarizes current strategies for evaluation and management. Recent Findings: Current evidence implicates aeroallergens as triggers of cutaneous reactions in atopic dermatitis. Direct skin contact is the likely route of trigger. Aeroallergens may also trigger chronic urticaria, though mechanistic studies are limited. These allergens may cross the skin barrier and directly trigger neurons to release substance P, resulting in mast cell degranulation and dumping of histamine and prostaglandin D2. Many studies link aeroallergen sensitization to chronic urticaria, and case reports suggest the utility of avoidance strategies. Summary: The role of aeroallergens as a trigger is clear in atopic dermatitis and becoming emergent in chronic urticaria. Skin prick testing or serum-specific immunoglobulin E testing may be used to determine sensitivities. Management at this time centers on avoidance, and further studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of aeroallergen immunotherapy for both conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundCholinergic urticaria (CholU) is a common type of chronic inducible urticaria. Little is known about the burden of the disease and its unmet medical needs.AimTo characterize the unmet medical needs of patients with CholU.MethodsPatients with CholU (n = 111) took part in a German online survey that assessed their symptoms, diagnostic delay, impact on daily life, quality of life (QoL), and their experience with physician care.ResultsVirtually all patients reported typical signs and symptoms of CholU, i.e., whealing (93.7%) and itching (91.9%), in response to typical trigger situations, such as physical activity, passive warming, or stress. Despite this, patients reported a marked diagnostic delay of 30.2 months (range from 0 to 279 months). Only 38% of the patients received a blood examination, and only 16% underwent provocation testing for diagnosing CholU, as recommended by the international guidelines. Physician contacts were common, but patient satisfaction with their disease management was low. In total, 90.1% of the patients stated to have an uncontrolled disease, resulting in a strong impact on their everyday activities, sleep, and QoL.ConclusionPatients with CholU exhibit many important unmet needs, and improvement in the diagnostic workup and patient care is needed, as are better treatment options.

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]

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 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.

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]

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Background: Acute urticaria is a common dermatological condition in emergency departments (EDs). The main therapy involves controlling pruritus with antihistamines. Although guidelines have promoted the use of corticosteroids in addition to H1 antihistamines, well-designed clinical trials evaluating this approach are scarce.Methods: Adult ED patients with acute urticaria and a pruritus score > 5 on a visual analog scale (VAS) were randomized into three groups: (i) IV chlorpheniramine (CPM) treatment, (ii) IV CPM and IV dexamethasone (CPM/Dex) and (iii) IV CPM and IV dexamethasone with oral prednisolone as discharge medication for 5 days (CPM/Dex/Pred). The primary outcomes were self-reported pruritus VAS scores at 60 min after treatment. We also evaluated 1-week and 1-month urticaria activity scores for 7 days and adverse events.Results: Seventy-five patients (25 per group) were enrolled. The VAS scores of all groups decreased, but no significant difference was found in the VAS scores at 60 min after treatment between patients in the CPM group (n = 25) and those who received both CPM and dexamethasone (n = 50). At the 1-week and 1-month follow-ups, active urticaria (indicated by the urticaria activity score at 7 days) was more prevalent in the CPM/Dex/Pred group (n = 25) than in the control group.Conclusions: The present study did not find evidence that adding IV dexamethasone improves the treatment of severe pruritus from uncomplicated acute urticaria. Oral corticosteroid therapy may be associated with persistent urticaria activity. Due to the lack of clinical benefits and the potential for side effects, using corticosteroids as an adjunctive treatment is discouraged. [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]

Purpose of Review: Both adults and children are frequently affected by symptoms of itchy urticarial lesions that cause considerable distress and impact nearly all their daily activities. A comprehensive history is critical to identify the etiology in patients who have chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) (those with symptoms for > 6 weeks) and is more important than extensive laboratory serum tests. Unfortunately, most of the current treatment guidelines have been based on data from adult studies since there is rare data on children. These treatment algorithms have been subsequently used to extrapolate treatments for children. Recent Findings: Current treatment regiments do not achieve complete success in all patients, neither adults nor children. As the pathophysiology of chronic urticaria slowly becomes defined, novel therapies are being tested which target these individual molecular pathways to treat those that continue to experience symptoms. Summary: Future studies are required to establish the natural history, risks/benefits and efficacy of current medications, and biologics used to treat CSU in children. [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 urticaria (CU) is characterised by the recurrence of hives/angioedema for >6 weeks. It affects children and adults and has a worldwide distribution. In children, CU is substantially less common than acute urticaria but is associated with larger decrease in quality of life. The current classification divides CU into two groups: 1) chronic spontaneous urticaria, which includes idiopathic urticaria (by far the most common type), autoimmune urticaria, and those associated with drugs, food, or additives allergies; and 2) chronic inducible urticaria, constituted by cholinergic urticaria and physical urticarias. Diagnosis of CU is based on the history and characteristics of the lesions. Although laboratory and specific testing could establish the diagnosis of some subtypes of CU, frequently the aetiology is never found; therefore, an extensive workup is not recommended. Once the trigger has been identified, it must be avoided. Specific treatment may be tried, but unfortunately this is not always possible. Currently, the first-line treatment for children with CU are second generation H1-antihistamines (SG-H1AH), such as cetirizine, fexofenadine, desloratadine, and rupatadine, among others. If, after 2–4 weeks, the patient has not improved, an increment from 2 to 4-times the regular dose is recommended. Patients that fail to respond to this treatment may be switched to another SG-H1AH or a second agent, such as H2-antihistamines (e.g., cimetidine, ranitidine), ketotifen, cyclosporine, or a leukotriene receptor inhibitor (e.g., montelukast), may be added to the H1-antihistamine therapy. Recently, omalizumab, an anti-immunoglobin-E monoclonal antibody has been approved in several jurisdictions for patients 12 years or older with recalcitrant CU; however, its high cost has limited its use.

This revised 9-page illustrated fact sheet by James D. Ellis discusses the merits of using nucleus colonies, or nucs, which are smaller versions of full-sized Langstroth hives. The publication explains how to create and manage nucs and how to use them to control swarming, strengthen production colonies, re-queen hives, hive swarms, produce queens to sell to other beekeepers, and in general strengthen and expand a beekeeping operation. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in869 Original Publication: Ellis, James, and Catherine Nalen. 2010. “The Advantages of Using Nucs in Beekeeping Operations”. EDIS 2010 (7). https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/118804.