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Background: Allergen component resolved diagnosis (CRD) is a method for identifying specific protein molecules that cause hypersensitivity. Unlike traditional methods that use crude allergen extracts containing multiple component species, CRD focuses on individual allergen protein molecules for more precise diagnosis. The World Allergy Organization (WAO) recommends CRD as a supplement to clinical history and allergen extract testing, and in some cases, it can replace crude extract tests. Methods: CRD involves the use of natural or recombinant proteins to detect specific IgE antibodies directed at individual allergenic components. This method allows for a more detailed analysis of a patient's allergic response compared to the use of whole allergen extracts. The Allergy Prevention and Control Specialty Committee of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, in collaboration with multidisciplinary experts, developed an expert consensus that incorporates the consensus of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), WAO, and important domestic literature on CRD in recent years. Results: The consensus aims to standardize the algorithm of allergen diagnosis and provides a reference for clinical practice. It also offers guidance for clinicians on the common protein families identified by CRD, the scenarios where CRD is applicable, and the significance of detecting common allergen components. Conclusions: Despite its potential, CRD is not widely used in clinical practice in China due to the lack of allergen component reagents and a general unawareness among clinicians about CRD's application and interpretation of test results. The expert consensus developed by the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association aims to address this gap and enhance the clinical application of CRD in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa. However, few studies focus on the distributional characteristics of allergens in AR patients in Southern Fujian Province, China. Methods: A skin prick test (SPT) was performed and eight common allergens including Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt), weeds, animal dander, molds, cockroaches, and mangoes were chosen. Results: The positive reactions rate to the allergens was 65.79% in 6689 patients in Southern Fujian Province. Positive reactions to Df and Dpt had a negative association with age, whereas positive reactions to cockroach and weed had a positive association with age. A linear trend analysis demonstrated a significant positive relationship between positive reactions to various allergens from 2016 to 2019. Positive reactions to Df and Dpt were both correlated with the season. Positive reactions to Df, Dpt, cockroach and weed were related to disease duration and positive reactions to cockroach were correlated with city residence. Multivariate analysis revealed that male positive reactions gradually decreased with age (≤ 60), in contrast to female (≤ 60) positive reactions. Statistical difference was observed between the genders with regard to AR incidence from 2016 to 2019. The positive rate of skin tests was highest in summer in men, whereas in women it was lowest in summer. The gender composition ratios of positive cases in Xiamen, Zhangzhou, and Quanzhou cities differed significantly. The proportion of patients with positive reactions to the allergens in the three cities decreased with age. The highest proportions of patients with positive reactions all occurred during summer in the three cities. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in the age composition ratios across the seasons. Conclusion: This study analyzed the distributional characteristics of AR allergens in Southern Fujian Province, China. These findings will inform specific immunotherapy for AR patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is one of the three major staple foods in the world. Although wheat is highly nutritional, it has a variety of allergenic components that are potentially fatal to humans and pose a significant hazard to the growth and consumption of wheat. Wheat allergy is a serious health problem, which is becoming more and more prevalent all over the world. To address and prevent related health risks, it is crucial to establish precise and sensitive detection and analytical methods as well as an understanding of the structure and sensitization mechanism of wheat allergens. Among various analytical tools, mass spectrometry (MS) is known to have high specificity and sensitivity. It is a promising non immune method to evaluate and quantify wheat allergens. In this article, the current research on the detection of wheat allergens based on mass spectrometry is reviewed. This review provides guidance for the further research on wheat allergen detection using mass spectrometry, and speeds up the development of wheat allergen research in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollutants can potentially lead to nitration of allergic proteins, thus promoting sensitization of these allergens. However, little is currently known about the nitration status of house dust mite (HDM) allergens. We identified the occurrence of nitrated products of two major HDM allergens Der f 1 and Der p 1 in dust samples collected from college dormitories in eastern China and assessed their associated health risk. The results showed that both non-nitrated and nitrated forms of the two allergens were detected in the dust in the range of non-detected (ND)-10.6, 1.44-15.4, ND-22.4, ND-7.28 µg/g for non-nitrated Der f 1, nitrated Der f 1, non-nitrated Der p 1 and nitrated Der p 1, respectively. The median rates of nitration were determined as 74.0% for Der f 1 and 20.4% for Der p 1 at consideration of one nitration site. Further analysis reveals that the levels of HDM allergens and their nitrated products were found to be generally higher during winter, in dormitories of lower altitude and with female occupants. Furthermore, the calculated risk indexes were at considerably high levels. Our findings suggest that nitrated HDM allergens have already accumulated in the environment at such significant levels and their associated health risk calls for our immediate attention. Graphical Abstract [Display omitted]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: allergen; China; Der p 23; house dust mite; IgE sensitization EN allergen China Der p 23 house dust mite IgE sensitization 226 229 4 02/20/23 20230201 NES 230201 Abbreviations CRD component-resolved diagnosis HDM house dust mite Key messages Major HDM sensitizers were the Der p 1, Der f 2, Der p 2 in China. Between the Central and Northern regions, the specific IgE levels of Der p 1, Der p 2, Der f 2 and Der p 23 were higher in the Central region, while no significant difference was found in other allergens. Therefore, the major HDM allergens in China were Der p 1, Der f 2, Der p 2, while Der f 1, Der p 23, Der p 21, Der p 7, Der p 5 and Der p 10 are minor allergens. [Extracted from the article]

The Humulus japonicus pollen is one of the most common allergenic pollens in China. However, little is unveiled regarding the allergenic components in Humulus japonicus pollen. Our study aimed to purify and identify the pathogenesis-related 1 (PR-1) protein from Humulus japonicus pollen, and to characterize the molecular and immunochemical properties of this novel allergen. The natural PR-1 protein (named as Hum j PR-1) was purified from Humulus japonicus pollen extracts with a combined strategy of chromatography, and identified by mass spectrometry. The coding sequence of Hum j PR-1 was confirmed by cDNA cloning. The recombinant Hum j PR-1 was expressed and purified from Escherichia coli. The allergenicity was assessed by immunoblot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), inhibition ELISA, and basophil activation test using Humulus japonicus allergic patients' whole blood. The physicochemical properties and 3-dimensional structure of it were comprehensively characterized by in silico methods. The allergenicity analysis revealed that 76.6 % (23/30) of the Humulus japonicus pollen allergic patients displayed specific IgE recognition of the natural Hum j PR-1. The cDNA sequence of Hum j PR-1 had a 516-bp open reading frame encoding 171 amino acids. Physicochemical analysis indicated that Hum j PR-1 was a stable and relatively thermostable protein. Hum j PR-1 shared a similar 3-dimensional folding pattern with other homologous allergens, which was a unique αβα sandwich structure containing 4 α-helices and 6 antiparallel β-sheets, encompassing 4 conserved CAP domain. The natural PR-1 was firstly purified and characterized as a major allergenic allergen in Humulus japonicus pollen. These findings would contribute to developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for Humulus japonicus pollinosis. • The natural Hum j PR-1 was firstly purified and characterized as a major allergenic allergen in H. japonicus pollen. • Hum j PR-1 showed high sensitization rate of 76.6 % (23/30) in Humulus japonicus pollen-allergic patients. • Hum j PR-1 had a unique αβα sandwich structure with 4 conserved CAP domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the characteristics of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) to 20 common allergens in 154 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). To assess the correlation of clinical food allergy with positive food allergens' sIgE results. We further discuss the significance of IgE as a potential biomarker for AD disease severity. Methods: A total of 154 AD patients were collected from 15 hospitals nationwide in China from 2019 to 2021. Serum IgE was measured using reverse-enzyme immuno capture test (REAST). Patients were required to have at least one positive sIgE (N ≥ 0.35 IU/mL). Patients were divided into groups according to gender, age, disease severity, and region. SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Compared with adolescent and adult, AD in infancy and childhood showed significantly higher frequencies of positive sIgE to food allergens, including egg, cow milk, and wheat (P < 0.01). However, adolescent and adult AD showed significantly higher frequencies of positive sIgE to inhaled allergens, dermatophagoides farinae, and house dust mite. In addition, sIgE in different sexes were different. Compared with women, men showed higher frequencies of positive allergen-specific IgE level to wheat, dermatophagoides farinae, and house dust mite. The most common food allergens with elevated sIgE levels were egg (71%), cow milk (39%) and wheat (32%). However, AD patients reported seafood, including crab, shrimp, and fish, as the most frequent food allergens which aggravate their disease in their daily life. Only 18 (12%) patients reported definite correlation of clinical practice with positive food allergens' IgE results. Among 154 sIgE-positive patients, 99 patients had an increase of total IgE (≥60 IU/ml). TotalIgE (tIgE) levels were significantly different between mild (193 ± 239 IU/mL), moderate (170 ± 202 IU/mL), and severe (375 ± 343 IU/mL) forms of AD patients (P < 0.01). AD patients with accompanied allergic diseases showed significantly higher tIgE levels than those without accompanied allergic symptoms (280 ± 286 IU/mL vs 194 ± 248 IU/mL). Conclusion: Neither sIgE nor tIgE levels can be used to evaluate the condition or severity of AD. AD patients with accompanied allergic diseases showed significantly higher tIgE levels than those without accompanied allergic symptoms. Infantile AD patients are more allergic to food, while adolescents and adults are more allergic to environmental antigens. IgE tests must be interpreted by combining with clinical history to avoid unnecessary food avoidance. Early food allergen introduction for infants may be promising for the prevention of food allergies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic diseases are becoming increasingly common, and they are a threat to people's health. Exploring the distribution characteristics of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) in people from Sichuan province, southwest China, can provide clinical epidemiological data. This study enrolled 12,204 consecutive patients with suspected allergies from May 2018 to May 2021. Among the patients, 4206 were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis or asthma. The Rayto Lumiray 1600 detection system and sIgE and total IgE (tIgE) detection kits were used to measure the levels of nine common sIgE and tIgE. sIgE ≥ 0.35 IU/mL was considered positive. The sensitization rate of D1 ( Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ) is the highest (22.97%), followed by D2 ( Dermatophagoides farinae ) (23.33%); M3 ( Aspergillus fumigatus ) has the lowest positive rate (1.5%). E5 ( Canis familiaris ) and I6 ( Blatella germanica ) exhibited relatively high sensitization rates (8.64% and 12.35%, respectively). Allergen sensitization was significantly higher in men than in women. Moreover, 90.3% of sensitization samples from D1 were combined with at least one of the other eight allergens. Similarly, a positive correlation was demonstrated between D1, D2, and E1 ( Felis domesticus ). In addition, patients with allergic rhinitis (91.88% and 91.54%, respectively), allergic asthma (72.44% and 74.01%, respectively), and allergic rhinitis with asthma (92.12% and 93.22%, respectively) were mainly sensitized to D1 and D2. D1, D2, I6, and E5 are the main allergens. Moreover, D1 and D2 are the main allergens in patients with respiratory allergic diseases. Research focusing on the distribution of allergens and the characteristics of hypersensitivity in different people helps prevent, diagnose, and treat allergic diseases., Competing Interests: Sources of funding: This work was partially supported by the Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Department Application Foundation Project, No. 2021YJ0198; Scientific Research Project of Sichuan Provincial Health Commission, No. 20PJ196; and the Technical Innovation Research and Development Project of Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau, No. 2019-YF05-01161-SN

Objectives: This thesis aims to provide patients with a preventive and therapeutic basis by analyzing IgE level influencing factors of common allergens for Allergic Rhinitis (AR)., Method: Multiple linear regression analysis is made upon questionnaires among 749 cases of AR patients that are divided into 5 age-based groups. Perform serum-specific IgE content testing on patients., Results: Cockroach being an allergen, AR patients' IgE Level is influenced by allergic history, home-raised plants and animals. For AR patients with mugwort as an allergen, allergy and asthma history could increase IgE level, respectively, β = 4.291 and β = 4.364. If the allergen turns out to be peanut, allergic history would increase the IgE level (β = 0.171), however, the level would be lower in female patients compared with male patients (β = -0.078). For patients with egg as an allergen, allergic history, home-raised plants and animals (pets) would all affect the IgE level, respectively, β = 0.182, β = 0.118 and β = -0.101., Conclusions: IgE level varies according to allergic history, home-raised plants & animals, gender, furniture renewal, asthma, and ages for patients with different allergens including cockroach, mold, mugwort, peanut, egg and crab. For each kind of allergen, the IgE levels react differently to different influencing factors, thus requiring a thorough analysis of each AR patient's allergen and allergenic factors., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 HCFMUSP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Anaphylaxis during anesthesia is a rare but often a potentially life-threatening event for patients. Identifying culprit agents responsible for anaphylaxis is of great important for avoiding potential re-exposure to allergens, but it poses great challenge for anesthetists. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the culprits of patients with a history of perioperative anaphylaxis referred to an anesthesia allergy clinic in China, and to evaluate the role of allergy diagnostic tests in clinical practice. Methods: A total of 145 patients (102 female/43 male) who attended the Anesthesia Allergy Clinic for allergen detection between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics, results of allergy diagnostic tests including skin, and/or basophil activation tests, and the incidence of repeat anaphylaxis after use of recommended alternative anesthetics were obtained. Results: Of these 145 patients, 109 patients (75.2%, 74 females/35 males) were determined to experience perioperative anaphylaxis. The most common presenting clinical feature was cardiovascular manifestations (n = 63, 57.8%). According to diagnostic work up, the most common causative agents for perioperative anaphylaxis were neuromuscular blocking agents (n = 35, 32.1%). After diagnostic work up, 52 patients underwent repeat anesthesia. None of these patients experienced recurrent anaphylaxis. Conclusions: This study suggests that neuromuscular blocking agents are the main cause of perioperative anaphylaxis. For patients with perioperative anaphylaxis, allergy diagnostic tests are essential to identify causative agents, and to find suitable alternative drugs for the future planning of subsequent anesthetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 30% of the world population suffers from immunoglobulin-E (IgE)-mediated allergy. IgE-mediated allergy affects the respiratory tract, the skin and the gastrointestinal tract and may lead to life-threatening acute systemic manifestations such as anaphylactic shock. The symptoms of allergy are mediated by IgE-recognition of causative allergen molecules from different allergen sources. Today, molecular allergy diagnosis allows determining the disease-causing allergens to develop allergen-specific concepts for prevention and treatment of allergy. Allergen-specific preventive and therapeutic strategies include allergen avoidance, vaccination, and tolerance induction. The implementation of these preventive and therapeutic strategies requires a detailed knowledge of the relevant allergen molecules affecting a given population. China is the world´s most populous country with around 1.4 billion inhabitants and an estimated number of more than 400 million allergic patients. Research in allergy in China has dramatically increased in the last decade. We summarize in this review article what is known about the dominating allergen sources and allergen molecules in China and what further investigations could be performed to draw a molecular map of IgE sensitization for China as a basis for the implementation of systematic and rational allergen-specific preventive and therapeutic strategies to combat allergic diseases in this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the allergen sensitization pattern among 4,203 children in the Shanxi region of China and to provide guidance for diagnosis and prevention of allergic diseases. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) results of 4,203 children aged 0–12 years from January to December in 2019. SIgE antibodies to 19 allergens in the serum sample were detected by enzyme ALLERGO-SORBENT testing. Results: In total, 49.70% (2,089/4,203) of children with allergic diseases were positive for sIgE, and the top 5 allergens were egg white 18.63% (783/4,203), artemisia 14.47% (608/4,203), milk 13.04% (548/4,203), ragweed 8.66% (364/4,203), and poplar/willow/elm 8.52% (358/4,203). Significant differences in the positive rate of food allergens and aeroallergens in different ages were found (p < 0.05). 50.98% (1,065/2,089) patients were sensitive to 2 or more allergens. The high sensitization rate in the >3-year group was significantly higher than the ≤3-year group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Egg white and artemisia are the most common allergens in children in northern China. This study provides allergic sensitization pattern of children and clinical epidemiological data in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aims to preliminarily investigate the prevalence characteristics of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in 57558 patients over the past decade by examining its distribution in the province and exploring its associations with age, sex, temperature, and relative humidity, providing insights for the prevention and diagnosis of allergic diseases in the Sichuan region., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 57558 patients who underwent allergen testing (by means of EUROIMMUN immunoblotting method) at West China Hospital, Sichuan University between August 2012 and February 2022. The clinical data of these patients were collected to establish a comprehensive database, while the temperature and humidity records of the corresponding timeframe were gathered for further analysis. The positive results from the allergen tests were categorized into four levels, including weakly positive (±), positive (+), moderately positive (++), and strongly positive (+++). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0, with Chi-square tests conducted to compare count data and Pearson's correlation tests done conducted to assess the relationships between different types of allergens and temperature/relative humidity. P <0.05 was applied to determine statistically significant differences. GraphPad Prism 9.0.0 was utilized to generate visual representations of the data., Results: The overall positivity rate of allergen-specific IgE among the 57558 samples was 30.69%. The top five allergens that elicited positive results were dust mite mix 1 (14.46%), crab (6.67%), soybean (4.72%), fish mix 1 (4.64%), and cockroach (4.34%). Notably, weakly positive (±) results were predominant for allergens such as eggs, peanuts, soybeans, cow's milk, beef, mutton, crab, shrimp, fish mix 1, cockroach, humulus japonicus , ambrosia artemisifolia , artemisia vulgaris , tree mix 2, house dust, and mold mix 1, collectively constituting over 40% of the positive outcomes. In contrast, cat hair and dog dander exhibited an equal distribution of approximately 25% for each positive levels, while mite mix 1 demonstrated the highest proportion of strongly positive results (+++), accounting for 37.66% of all positive results. Sex disparities in positivity rates were evident for various allergens, with significant differences observed for peanut, soybean, crab, shrimp, fish mix 1, cockroach, ambrosia artemisifolia , tree mix 2, cat hair, dog dander, and mite mix 1. Furthermore, the study identified age-related trends in allergen positivity rates, with a general decline observed across most allergens with increasing age. The positive rate of at least one food allergen was highest in the 0-10 age group (36.18%), and the positive rate of at least one inhalation allergen was highest in the 11-20 age group (45.35%). Noteworthy correlations were observed between allergen-specific IgE positivity and environmental factors, including a strong negative correlation between cow's milk allergy and relative humidity ( r =-0.640, P <0.05), a strong negative correlation of artemisia vulgaris sensitivity with temperature ( r Mean high temperature =-0.695, r Mean low temperature =-0.692, P <0.05), and a very strong positive correlation of mold mix 1 sensitivity with relative humidity ( r =0.704, P <0.05)., Conclusion: Allergen-specific IgE positivity is associated with genetic factors, demonstrates significant sex- and age-related characteristics in the population, and is influenced by changes in local temperature and relative humidity., Competing Interests: 利益冲突　所有作者均声明不存在利益冲突, (© 2024《四川大学学报（医学版）》编辑部 版权所有Copyright ©2024 Editorial Office of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)

Objective: This was the first multicentre study assessing the sensitisation patterns in patients with severe asthma by different occupations as well as different regions of China, and aimed to provide evidence for the prevention of sensitised patients with severe asthma. Methods: A total of 676 adults were included and assigned to three cohorts. Cohort A was comprised of severe asthma patients without smoking (n = 454), cohort B comprised severe asthmatic patients who were ex‐smokers (n = 149), and cohort C comprised non‐asthma individuals (n = 73). All study subjects underwent testing of serum sIgE level of house dusts mix (hx2), foods mix (fx5), moulds mix (mx2), tree pollen mix (tx4) and weed pollen mix (wx5) simultaneously. Results: Overall, the positive rates of hx2, fx5, mx2, tx4 and wx5 were 37.6%, 11.9%, 16.6%, 9.0% and 9.5% in severe asthmatic patients, respectively. Comparing cohort A with cohort B, the hx2 positive rates in cohort A were higher in fulltime homemaker (30.0% vs. 0.0%) and medical staff (40.0% vs. 0.0%, P < 0.05). However, the mx2 positive rates in cohort B were higher in businessman (30.0% vs. 7.0%) and the tx4 positive rates in cohort B were higher in drivers (35.7% vs. 0.0%, P < 0.05). The optimal scale analysis showed that severe asthmatic patients who work indoor were more prone to be allergic to house dusts (Cronbach's alpha = 76.4%). Conclusion: Patients with severe asthma in different occupations exhibited different sensitisation patterns. Avoid being contact with house dust and application of indoor air purifier should be considered for severe asthma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to indoor allergens is a principal risk factor for allergic diseases. However, most of the previous studies on indoor allergens focused on very limited kinds of allergens in China. Knowledge of the simultaneous exposure to multiple allergens is still lacking. In this study, the residual profiles of 8 allergens were investigated in 166 dust samples from 11 cities in China. The house dust mite allergens including Der p 1, Der f 1, and Der 2 were detected in the range of <0.02–283.83 μg/g dust. The concentrations of dog allergen Can f 1 and cat allergen Fel d 1 varied widely, from <0.84–22,896.46 μg/g dust for Can f 1 and from <0.02–6298.96 μg/g dust for Fel d 1. Cockroach allergen Bla g 2 was detected in 68% of the samples but at a low level with a maximum of 9.44 μg/g dust. Comparatively low detection frequencies were found for mouse allergen Mus m 1 as 37% and for fungi allergen Asp f 2 as 24%. The frequency of cleaning sheets/bedding was negatively correlated to the levels of house dust mite allergens. The presence of pets indoors was associated with higher levels of pet allergens and lower levels of house dust mite allergens and cockroach allergen. Risk evaluation reveals that at least 4 allergens were found in more than 80% of the rooms and more than 2 allergens with median/high risk were detected in 42% of the rooms, indicating that simultaneous exposure to multiple allergens is prevalent in China. [Display omitted] • Eight allergens were investigated in indoor dust in China. • House dust mite allergens including Der 1 and Der 2 were detected as the major allergens. • Dog allergen Can f 1 and cat allergen Fel d 1 were prevalent in households with pets. • Exposure to multiple allergens was identified in more than 80% of rooms. • More than 2 allergens with median/high risk were found in 42% of rooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the prevalence of sensitivity to common inhaled and food allergens among children with allergic rhinitis (AR) in Changzhou in eastern China and provide a basis for epidemiological research of pediatric allergic rhinitis and allergen avoidance in this region., Methods: This was a retrospective observational study, a total of 1248 children with AR were enrolled at the Third People's Hospital of Changzhou between January 2018 and December 2019. The serum-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) to 19 kinds of inhaled and food allergens and serum total IgE were detected with the AllergyScreen test (Mediwiss Analytic GmbH, Moers, Germany). All participants had a positive reaction to at least one allergen in the test (the sIgE concentration ≥ 0.35 IU/ml)., Results: Among the patients, 818 (65.54%) were male and 430 (34.46%) were female, with 81 (6.50%) aged 1-3 year, 501 (40.14%) aged 4-7 year, and 666 (53.36%) aged 8-14 year. The positivity rate of inhaled allergens was 80.05% (n = 999), while the positivity rate of food allergens was 66.19% (n = 826). 828 patients (66.35%) were sensitized to multiple allergens. The most common inhaled allergens were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (65.38%), mold mix (25.56%), house dust (20.67%), and dog hair dander (13.94%), and the most common food allergens were cow's milk (30.31%), cashew nut (27.9%), egg (22.68%), and beef (12.98%). With an increase in age, the inhaled allergen positivity rate showed a significant increase (P < 0.01), while the food allergen positivity rate decreased significantly (P < 0.01). There were significant age differences in total IgE levels (P < 0.01) and the total IgE level was highest in the group aged 8-14 year., Conclusions: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was the most common sensitizing allergen in pediatric patients with AR in Changzhou. Several other inhaled and food allergens were also common. We observed that multiple allergenic factors play an important role in the occurrence and development of AR., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Aims: In recent decades, Cinnamomum camphora have gradually become the main street trees in Shanghai. This study aims to investigate the allergenicity of camphor pollen., Main Methods: A total of 194 serum samples from patients with respiratory allergy were collected and analyzed. Through protein profile identification and bioinformatics analysis, we hypothesized that heat shock cognate protein 2-like protein (HSC70L2) is the major potential allergenic protein in camphor pollen. Recombinant HSC70L2 (rHSC70L2) was expressed and purified, and a mouse model of camphor pollen allergy was established by subcutaneous injection of total camphor pollen protein extract (CPPE) and rHSC70L2., Key Findings: Specific IgE was found in the serum of 5 patients in response to camphor pollen and three positive bands were identified by Western blotting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Immune dot blot and Western blot experiments confirmed that CPPE and rHSC70L2 can cause allergies in mice. Moreover, rHSC70L2 induces polarization of peripheral blood CD4 + T cells to Th2 cells in patients with respiratory allergies and mice with camphor pollen allergy. Finally, we predicted the T cell epitope of the HSC70L2 protein, and through the mouse spleen T cell stimulation experiment, we found that the 295 EGIDFYSTITRARFE 309 peptide induced T cells differentiation to Th2 and macrophages differentiation to the alternatively activated (M2) state. Moreover, 295 EGIDFYSTITRARFE 309 peptide increased the serum IgE levels in mice., Significance: The identification of HSC70L2 protein can provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for allergies caused by camphor pollen., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Several epidemiological surveys of allergic rhinitis (AR) have been conducted in China. However, the clinical features of AR are still not clear enough. The aim of the current study was to perform a multicenter investigation to evaluate the clinical features of AR in China. Methods: A multicenter investigation was performed in 13 allergy centers in central China. A disease-related questionnaire was completed by each patient themselves or with guardian assistance after the diagnosis of AR. The clinical features of AR and allergen profile were analyzed. Results: Eleven thousand four patients who were diagnosed with AR were recruited in this study. The percentages of classification of AR according to the Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma guidelines were 9.7% intermittent mild (IM), 3.1% persistent mild (PM), 33.9% intermittent moderate-severe (IMS), and 53.3% persistent moderate-severe (PMS). There were 61.6 and 42.2% AR patients who had concomitant ocular or lower respiratory symptoms in clinic. The occurrence of ocular and lower respiratory symptoms was found to be gradually increased from IM, PM, and IMS to PMS. Cold air and temperature change were the two most common factors triggering the nasal symptoms. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae were the most important allergens of central China. Conclusions: This study has contributed to a better understanding of clinical features of AR in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been reported that ambient particulate matter (PM) in some large cities, such as Beijing, China, causes adverse respiratory health effects. However, there is currently no experimental report on the relationship between bronchial asthma and urban PM (UPM) in northeast Asia. In this study, the microbial and chemical substances adsorbed onto UPM collected in Beijing were excluded by heat-treatment at 360°C for 30 min. The effects of UPM or heated UPM (H-UPM) toward allergic lung inflammation were compared in murine lungs to investigate the role of organic substances. ICR mice were administrated intratracheally with the two kinds of UPM and/or ovalbumin (OVA) 4 times at 2-week intervals. UPM and H-UPM enhanced eosinophil recruitment induced by OVA in the alveoli and in the submucosa of the airway, which has a goblet cell proliferation in the bronchial epithelium. UPM and H-UPM synergistically increased Th-2 cytokines—interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, eosinophil-relevant cytokines and chemokines, such as IL-5 and monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3), induced by OVA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The enhancing effects were much greater in UPM than in H-UPM. UPM induced adjuvant effects on specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgG1 production by OVA. In an in vitro study using RAW264.7 cells, UPM increased the expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) mRNA, but not TLR4 mRNA. H-UPM caused no expression of both TLR mRNAs. These results suggest that the aggravated lung eosinophilia in UPM was due to activation of a Th2-associated immune response via the activation of TLR2 by microbial materials. Chemical materials of air pollutant origin contained in UPM, and inorganic components (elemental carbon, mineral elements) in H-UPM, could also cause the aggravation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Profilin was one of the major component allergens in P. acerifolia pollen. • The profilin had a significant cross-reactivity with Pop n 2. • Enriching the information on the allergenic components. • Help to develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for allergic patients. The Platanus acerifolia (P. acerifolia) pollen is one of the most common causes of allergic respiratory symptoms in China. However, the allergenic components in P. acerifolia are not fully studied yet. The study aimed to determine the molecular and immunochemical characterization of the profilin from P. acerifolia pollen. The coding sequence of profilin was amplified, cloned, and then expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 cells and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. Protein refolding was followed by structural characterization and homology 3D model building. The allergenicity and cross-reactivity were assessed by ELISA, immunoblotting, or basophil activation test (BAT) using the sera of P. acerifolia allergic patients. The cDNA sequence of profilin was cloned with a 396 bp open reading frame coding for 131 amino acids. The molecular weight of the profilin was approximately 14 kDa, and the predicted structure consisted of 3 α-helixes and 7 β-sheets. Physicochemical analysis indicated the profilin was a stable, relatively thermostable, and relatively conserved protein. The allergenicity determined by ELISA, western blot, and BAT suggested 76.9% (30/39) of the P. acerifolia pollen allergic patients displayed specific IgE recognition of the profilin. The profilin shared > 80% sequence identity with Pop n 2, the profilin from Populus nigra , and observed a significant cross-reactivity with Pop n 2 in IgE-inhibition assay. Profilin, as one of the major component allergens in P. acerifolia pollen, was identified and characterized at molecular and immunochemical levels in this study. These findings would contribute to developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for P. acerifolia pollen allergic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the school environment, asthma and allergy in 10 schools in Taiyuan, China, with eight schools in Uppsala, Sweden. In total 2193 pupils (mean age 13 years) participated. Chinese pupils had more respiratory symptoms, particularly daytime breathlessness after exercise (29.8% vs. 7.1%; P < 0.001), while cat allergy (1.2% vs. 6.6%; P < 0.001) and dog allergy (1.3% vs. 4.0%; P < 0.01) was less common. Cumulative incidence of asthma (1.8% vs. 9.5%; P < 0.001) and doctor's diagnosed asthma (1.2% vs. 9.0%; P < 0.001) were less common in China, indicating an under-diagnosis of asthma. Chinese classrooms were colder (mean 14.7 vs. 21.4°C), more humid (mean 42% vs. 31% RH) and had higher CO2-levels (mean 2211 vs. 761 ppm). Levels of cat (Fel d1), dog (Can f1) allergens were low in settled dust from China (<200 ng/g dust), but high in airborne dust on Petri-dishes (GM 16.8 ng/m2/day for Fel d1 and 17.7 for Can f1). The Swedish settled dust contained cat, dog and horse allergens in high levels (median 1300 ng/g, 1650 ng/g, 1250 U/g dust, respectively). In conclusion, there were large differences in the school environment, and in respiratory symptom and allergy. Allergen measurements in settled dust only may largely underestimate the classroom exposure. Practical Implications There is a need to improve the school environment, both in China and Sweden. The Swedish schools contained high levels of cat, dog and horse allergens and more amounts of open shelves and textiles that can accumulate dust and allergens. The air measurements indicated that Chinese schools may contain significant amounts of cat and dog allergen, and analysis of settled dust only may not reflect the true allergen exposure. Since the Chinese schools had no mechanical ventilation, they could not fulfill the ventilation standard in winter, and hence there is a need for improving the ventilation. The great discrepancy between respiratory symptoms and reports on asthma, and the high prevalence of attacks of breathlessness without wheeze, may have implication for future questionnaire studies on asthma in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichosanthin (TCS) is the major effective component from Chinese herb Trichosanthes kirilowii. TCS has been approved to be effective in clinical treatment of HIV infection and leukemia, but its allergenicity has limited its clinical usage. To identify amino acid residues in TCS with an important role in IgE induction, TCS-specific IgE mAb (TE1) was used to serve as a probe and TE1 epitope was determined by a random phage-peptide library. Based on phage peptide sequences, TE1 epitope was predicted at amino acid residues 169–174 (QQIGKR) of TCS protein. Based on modeling data, two amino acids (Lys173 and Arg174) on TCS were considered to have a crucial role in binding to TE1. After lysine 173 and arginine 174 were mutated to glycine, the mutant TCS protein specifically lost the binding activity to TE1 mAb and exhibited reduced IgE induction in the immunized mice. The data showed that the IgE epitope of TCS was determined and shown to play a critical role in induction of IgE, and the modification of IgE-epitope may be a useful strategy to reduce the allergenicity of an allergen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The distribution of allergens has geographic characteristics. Local epidemiological data provides evidence-based strategies for the prevention and management of allergic diseases. Age and sex differences may exist in the prevalence of sensitivity to various allergens. We investigated the distribution of common allergens in allergic children in Shanghai, southeastern China., Methods: 39,926 children 1 month to 18 years of age diagnosed with allergic diseases were tested for the presence of serum-specific Immunoglobulins E (sIgE) to 17 allergens common to this region, using a reversed enzyme allergosorbent test., Results: 25,757 (64.5%) of the subjects showed elevated sIgE to at least one of the tested allergens. House mite and dust mite were the most common aeroallergens, while egg and milk were the most common food allergens. The most common aeroallergens and food allergens were similar among each allergic disease. By age-group analysis, the positive rates of aeroallergens were higher at older age. Several peaks of sensitization to food allergens were observed in children between 1 and 3 years of age for eggs, milk, nut, crab and shrimp. In addition, the sensitization to beef and mango was highest in children 3-6 years of age. The rate of positive sIgE detection was higher in males than females for all the tested allergens except cockroach, trees and beef. Considering the interplay between sex and ages and other related components (including season, monthly temperature, humidity, air quality index, test rate of patients), the sIgE positive rates of the main aeroallergens increased with age, while the main food allergens decreased; males are more sensitive to several aeroallergens (including dust mite, house mite, cat epithelium, dog epithelium and mulberry)., Conclusions: House mite, dust mite, milk, and egg are major allergens in Shanghai. Children at younger age are more sensitive to food allergens, while increasing overall prevalence of sensitization can be found with increasing age. Boys have higher positive rates of sIgE responses than girls. Knowledge of the prevalence of allergen sensitization in different age groups and sex may help facilitate diagnosis and intervention efforts to mitigate the impact of allergic diseases in this large geographical region. This approach may be extrapolated to other regions., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

BackgroundThe prevalence of asthma and allergic disease has been increasing in Hong Kong and environmental factors are thought to play a major role. AimTo define the distribution of common inhaled allergens and air pollutants inside residential homes in Hong Kong. MethodsForty randomly selected residential homes were visited and surveyed. Dust samples were collected from mattress, bedroom floor, lounge room floor and kitchen floor for assays of Der p 1, Fel d 1, and Bla g 2. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were measured by stationary samplers left in the bedroom, lounge room and kitchen over a 1-week period. ResultAll 40 homes were apartments in high-rise buildings and the mean age of the homes was 7.6 ± 4.8 years. Visible dampness and mould patches were present in 27.5% of homes and the main fuel for cooking was gas (97.5%). Der p 1, Fel d 1 and Bla g 2 were detectable in at least 1 niche in over 85% of homes. In particular, all dust samples from mattress and bedroom floor contained Der p 1, and over 50% had levels ≥ 2 μg/g. The (geometric) mean Der p 1 level in mattress dust was 8.8 (0.3–157.8) μg/g. Fel d 1 and Bla g 2 were present in low levels throughout the homes with respective (geometric) means of 0.3 (0–3.7) μg/g and 0.1 (0–1.1) Unit/g in mattress dust. NO2 was readily detected in all niches but the highest level was in the kitchen with mean exposure of 48.7 ppb which was 1.5 times higher than that in the bedroom and lounge room. ConclusionMajor allergens of mite, cat and cockroach, and NO2 are present in varying quantities in residential homes in Hong Kong. Exposure to these environmental factors could be important in the development of asthma and allergic diseases in susceptible individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Using multiplex microarray-based component resolved diagnosis (CRD) to investigate the allergen sensitization profile of allergic asthma patients in southern China., Method: Serum samples from 57 polysensitized mite allergic asthmatic patients in a tertiary referral centre of southern China were tested with multiplex CRD (ISAC) for specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) against 112 single allergen and components. Result was then compared with those from singleplex ImmunoCAP., Results: With ISAC, the highest sensitization was seen for nDer f 1 (71.9%), rDer f 2 (73.7%), nDer p 1 (70.2%) and rDer p 2 (66.7%), whereas rDer p 10 and other storage mites' components only showed 10% positivity. rFel d 1 and rCan f 1 were found positive in 29.8% and 14.0% samples respectively. Other epithelia components had less than 7.0% positive rate. Sensitization to pollen components was dominated by nCyn d 1 (17.5%) and nPhl p 4 (12.3%), Carbohydrate cross-reactive determinants (CCD) was positive in 4 patients who were also positive to nPhl p 4, nCyn d 1 and rPla a 2, and all of them have combined asthma and rhinitis. The sensitivity to mold (rAsp f 3), cockroach (nBla g 7) and Anisakis simplex component (rAni s 3) were all the same at 8.8%. 93.0% patients were sensitive to more than one component, with more than half of them (57.9%) positive to five or more components. Patients with combined asthma and rhinitis (AA + AR) were sensitive to more components than those with asthma only (AA). Positive rate to nPhl p 4 was significantly higher in patients with AA + AR than with AA only (χ 2  = 4.31, P =  0.038). Compared with ImmunoCAP, ISAC showed a similar high detection rate for D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae, but only 10.0% of B. tropicalis sensitive patients were positive to rBlo t 5. Optimal scale analysis on correlation of allergens components showed rDer p 10 was associated to food allergy., Conclusion: Being the first multiplex microarray based CRD study on southern Chinese, ISAC showed house dust mites components were the major allergen components led to sensitization in asthmatic patients. Patients with combined AA + AR were sensitive to more components than those with AA only. Other components with higher positive rate include pollen components nCyn d 1, nPhl P 4 and animal dander components rFel d 1 and rCan f 1. For B. tropicalis, the rBlo t 5 in ISAC may not represent the major Blomia component in southern Chinese patients., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To define the common food allergens in children with allergic rhinitis in Tianjin with detection of serum specific immunoglobulin E(IgE) against foods and inhalation. Method: Mediwiss(Screen Allergy) was used to determine serum specific IgE. The relationships between food allergy and gender, age, season were also analyzed. Result: Most common food allergens in children with AR in Tianjin are milk(17.28%), followed by egg white(13.79%), crab(9.56%) and cashew nuts(8.64%). Children in food-related allergy group were significantly less than that in the inhalation-related allergy group, the difference was statistically significant（ P <0.05）. Among food-related allergy group, one hundred and ninty four cases are both sensitive to food allergens and inhalation allergens, and the other 34 cases are only sensitive to food allergens. There were significant differences about the positive rate of allergy between different age groups( P <0.01).There was no significant difference in the total food allergens sensitivity rate between different gender and seasonal groups（ P >0.05）. The cashew and beef allergen sensitivity rates are different between male and female. The sensitivity rates of amaranth, egg, white milk, and crab are different among different age groups. The difference was statistically significant（ P <0.05）. Conclusion: Milk, egg, crab, cashew nuts are the most common food allergens in children with AR in Tianjin area. Only food-related allergy is rare, food allergies are usually accompanied by inhalation-related allergy. Cashew allergen sensitivity rate was higher in male than female. Milk allergen sensitivity rate was higher in female than male. Sensitivity rate of amaranth allergen increased significantly, while that of egg milk and crab allergen decreased significantly with age., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the airway resistance in Chinese children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by impulse oscilloetry (IOS) and investigate the association of the severity of OSAHS with the airway resistance and allergic sensitization., Method: A total of 120 children (92 boys) treated for snoring in Beijing Children's Hospital between October 2010 and March 2011 were included in this study. Ninety-three children were diagnosed with OSAHS and 27 did not show OSAHS. Total airway resistance (R5), proximal airway resistance (R20), and peripheral airway resistance (X5) were determined by IOS. Serum levels of total IgE and allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) were also determined., Results: R5 in the OSAHS group was significantly higher than that in the non-OSAHS group (P = 0.0025), whereas R20 and X5 were similar in the two groups. R5 was positively correlated with apnea hypopnea index and obstructive apnea index and negatively correlated with the lowest arterial oxygen saturation significantly (all P < 0.05). The percentage of children with abnormal serum levels of total IgE or abnormal allergen-specific IgEs was comparable in OSAHS and non-OSAHS groups. The proportions of abnormal R5 and of abnormal serum levels of total IgE were significantly higher in children with severe OSAHS compared with children with mild or moderate OSAHS (all P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Total airway resistance was significantly increased in Children with OSAHS. Allergic sensitization might contribute to the exacerbation of existing OSAHS in children. Large scale studies are required to further validate these findings., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: To investigate the serum total IgE (tIgE) and specific IgE (sIgE) to common allergens among allergic patients in Guangzhou, China., Methods: 7 085 patients were examined for tIgE and sIgE to 15 allergens, based on the protocols of reversed enzyme allergosorbent test and the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: 3 758 (53.04%) patients tested positive for tIgE, and 4 640 (65.49%) for sIgE. Der pteronyssinus, Der farinae, eggs, and cow's milk were the most common allergens leading to higher positive rates of sIgE responses. Several peaks of sensitization were: Der pteronyssinus, Der farinae, and Blomia tropicalis at age 10-12; cow's milk at age below 3; eggs at age 4-6. The mean level and positive rate of tIgE tended to increase in subjects sensitized to more allergens. Sensitization to Der pteronyssinus (OR, 1.6; P<0.05), Der farinae (OR, 1.5; P<0.05), Blomia tropicalis (OR, 1.4; P<0.05), Blattella germanica (OR, 1.5; P<0.05), cow's milk (OR, 1.3; P<0.05), and soy beans (OR, 2.0; P<0.05) were independently correlated with allergy-related conditions in preliminary diagnosis., Conclusion: The major allergens in Guangzhou include Der pteronyssinus, Der farinae, cow's milk, and eggs. Sensitization to these allergens appears to be predictors of allergy-related disorder., (Copyright © 2014 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by China CDC. All rights reserved.)