| 1. |
- Gellerstedt, Martin, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
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Interpretation of subjective symptoms in double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges - interobserver reliability
- 2004
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Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 59, s. 354-356
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Subjective symptoms after food challenges are difficult to interpret and no standard is available. We discuss a strategy for how to interpret a diary. Furthermore, the interobserver reliability is evaluated. METHODS: Diaries for 32 patients with subjective symptoms were used. The diaries were re-evaluated with a predefined strategy by three independent observers. RESULTS: The proportion of positives was 21.9% among the old diagnoses, according to the new approach 34.4% (observers I and II) and 37.5% (observer III) were positive. The new approach had high interobserver reliability (97 and 100%). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of positives depends on how subjective symptoms are interpreted. Interpretations of subjective symptoms in diaries could be made with high interobserver reliability.
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| 2. |
- Rönmark, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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High incidence and persistence of airborne allergen sensitization up to age 19 years
- 2017
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Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 72:5, s. 723-730
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Longitudinal population-based studies about the natural history of allergic sensitization are rare. The aim was to study incidence and persistence of airborne allergen sensitization up to young adulthood and risk factors for early and late onset of sensitization.METHODS: All children aged 7-8 years in two municipalities in Northern Sweden were invited to a parental questionnaire and skin prick tests (SPTs) to ten airborne allergens, and 2148 (88%) participated. The protocol was repeated at age 11-12 and 19 years, and 1516 participated in all three examinations.RESULTS: Prevalence of any positive SPT increased from 20.6% at age 7-8 years to 30.6% at 11-12 years, and 42.1% at 19 years. Animals were the primary sensitizers at age 7-8 years, 16.3%, followed by pollen, 12.4%. Mite and mold sensitization was low. Mean annual incidence of any positive SPT varied between 2.8 and 3.4/100 per year, decreased by age for animal, and was stable for pollen. Sensitization before age 7-8 years was independently associated with family history of allergy, OR 2.1 (95% CI 1.6-2.8), urban living, OR 1.9 (95% CI 1.2-2.9), and male sex, OR 1.3 (95% CI 1.0-1.7), and negatively associated with birth order, OR 0.8 (95% CI 0.7-1.0), and furry animals at home, OR 0.7 (95% CI 0.7-0.9). Incidence after age 11-12 years was associated only with family history of allergy. Multisensitization at age 19 years was significantly associated with early age at sensitization. Remission of sensitization was uncommon.CONCLUSION: The increasing prevalence of allergic sensitization by age was explained by high incidence and persistence. After age 11-12 years, the factors urban living, number of siblings, and male sex lost their importance.
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| 3. |
- Bjerg, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Time trends in asthma and wheeze in Swedish children 1996-2006 : prevalence and risk factors by sex
- 2010
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Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 65:1, s. 48-55
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Recent data suggest that the previously rising trend in childhood wheezing symptoms has plateaued in some regions. We sought to investigate sex-specific trends in wheeze, asthma, allergic conditions, allergic sensitization and risk factors for wheeze.Methods: We compared two population-based cohorts of 7 to 8-year olds from the same Swedish towns in 1996 and 2006 using parental expanded ISAAC questionnaires. In 1996, 3430 (97%) and in 2006, 2585 (96%) questionnaires were completed. A subset was skin prick tested: in 1996, 2148 (88%) and in 2006, 1700 (90%) children participated.Results: No significant change in the prevalence of current wheeze (P = 0.13), allergic rhinitis (P = 0.18) or eczema (P = 0.22) was found despite an increase in allergic sensitization (20.6-29.9%, P < 0.01). In boys, however, the prevalence of current wheeze (12.9-16.4%, P < 0.01), physician-diagnosed asthma (7.1-9.3%, P = 0.03) and asthma medication use increased. In girls the prevalence of current symptoms and conditions tended to decrease. The prevalence of all studied risk factors for wheeze and asthma increased in boys relative to girls from 1996 to 2006, thus increasing the boy-to-girl prevalence ratio in risk factors.Conclusions: The previously reported increase in current wheezing indices has plateaued in Sweden. Due to increased diagnostic activity, physician diagnoses continue to increase. Time trends in wheezing symptoms differed between boys and girls, and current wheeze increased in boys. This was seemingly explained by the observed increases in the prevalence of risk factors for asthma in boys compared with girls. In contrast to the current symptoms of wheeze, rhinitis or eczema, the prevalence of allergic sensitization increased considerably.
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| 4. |
- Vitte, Joana, et al.
(författare)
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Fungal exposome, human health and unmet needs : a 2022 update with special focus on allergy.
- 2022
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Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Humans inhale, ingest and touch thousands of fungi each day. The ubiquity and diversity of the fungal kingdom, reflected by its complex taxonomy, are in sharp contrast with our scarce knowledge about its distribution, pathogenic effects, and effective interventions at the environmental and individual levels. Here, we present an overview of salient features of fungi as permanent players of the human exposome and key determinants of human health, through the lens of fungal allergy and other fungal hypersensitivity reactions. Improved understanding of the fungal exposome sheds new light on the epidemiology of fungal-related hypersensitivity diseases, their immunological substratum, the currently available methods, and biomarkers for environmental and medical fungi. Unmet needs are described and potential approaches are highlighted as perspectives.
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| 5. |
- Eriksson, Jonas, 1984, et al.
(författare)
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Cigarette smoking is associated with high prevalence of chronic rhinitis and low prevalence of allergic rhinitis in men
- 2013
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Ingår i: Allergy. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 68:3, s. 347-354
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background The harmful effects of tobacco smoke on human health, including respiratory health, are extensive and well documented. Previous data on the effect of smoking on rhinitis and allergic sensitization are inconsistent. We sought to investigate how smoking correlates with prevalence of allergic and chronic rhinitis among adults in Sweden. Methods The study population comprised 27 879 subjects derived from three large randomly selected cross-sectional population surveys conducted in Sweden between 2006 and 2008. The same postal questionnaire on respiratory health was used in the three surveys, containing questions about obstructive respiratory diseases, rhinitis, respiratory symptoms and possible determinants of disease, including smoking habits. A random sample from one of the cohorts underwent a clinical examination including skin prick testing. Results Smoking was associated with a high prevalence of chronic rhinitis in both men and women and a low prevalence of allergic rhinitis in men. These associations were dose dependent and remained when adjusted for a number of possible confounders in multiple logistic regression analysis. Prevalence of chronic rhinitis was lowest in nonsmokers and highest in very heavy smokers (18.5% vs 34.5%, P < 0.001). Prevalence of sensitization to common airborne allergens was lower in current smokers (25.9%, P = 0.008) and ex-smokers (28.2%, P = 0.022) than in nonsmokers (38.5%). Conclusion We found that smoking was associated with a high prevalence of chronic rhinitis in both sexes and a low prevalence of allergic rhinitis in men. The associations were dose dependent and remained when adjusting for several possible confounders.
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| 6. |
- Heikkila, K., et al.
(författare)
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Job strain and the risk of severe asthma exacerbations : a meta-analysis of individual-participant data from 100 000 European men and women
- 2014
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Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 69:6, s. 775-783
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundMany patients and healthcare professionals believe that work-related psychosocial stress, such as job strain, can make asthma worse, but this is not corroborated by empirical evidence. We investigated the associations between job strain and the incidence of severe asthma exacerbations in working-age European men and women. MethodsWe analysed individual-level data, collected between 1985 and 2010, from 102 175 working-age men and women in 11 prospective European studies. Job strain (a combination of high demands and low control at work) was self-reported at baseline. Incident severe asthma exacerbations were ascertained from national hospitalization and death registries. Associations between job strain and asthma exacerbations were modelled using Cox regression and the study-specific findings combined using random-effects meta-analyses. ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 10years, 1 109 individuals experienced a severe asthma exacerbation (430 with asthma as the primary diagnostic code). In the age- and sex-adjusted analyses, job strain was associated with an increased risk of severe asthma exacerbations defined using the primary diagnostic code (hazard ratio, HR: 1.27, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.00, 1.61). This association attenuated towards the null after adjustment for potential confounders (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.55). No association was observed in the analyses with asthma defined using any diagnostic code (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.86, 1.19). ConclusionsOur findings suggest that job strain is probably not an important risk factor for severe asthma exacerbations leading to hospitalization or death.
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| 7. |
- Schiöler, Linus, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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Nocturnal GERD - a risk factor for rhinitis/rhinosinusitis : the RHINE study
- 2015
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Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 70:6, s. 697-702
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundIt has been suggested that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a risk factor for developing rhinitis/rhinosinusitis, but data are lacking. This is a prospective 10-year follow-up study of a large multicenter cohort from Northern Europe, evaluating the relationship between nocturnal GERD and noninfectious rhinitis (NIR). MethodsThe study comprised 5417 subjects born between 1945 and 1973, who answered a questionnaire in 1999-2001 and again in 2010-2012. Noninfectious rhinitis was defined as having nasal obstruction, secretion, and/or sneezing without having the common cold. Odds ratios for developing NIR in relation to age, gender, BMI, smoking, asthma, and nocturnal GERD were calculated. ResultsDuring the 10-year observation period, 1034 subjects (19.1%) developed NIR. Subjects reporting nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux in both 1999 and 2010 had more NIR in 2010 (2.8% vs 1.2%, P<0.001). There was a significant dose-response relationship between the number of reflux episodes/week in 1999 and the risk of having NIR in 2010, P=0.02. In the multiple regression adjusted for age, gender, BMI, tobacco smoke, and asthma, those with nocturnal GERD in 1999 (3 episodes of nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms per week) had an OR of 1.6 (95% CI 1.0-2.5, P=0.03) to develop NIR in 2010. Smoking was associated both with an increased risk of developing NIR (30.7% vs 24.0%, P<0.001) and with the development of nocturnal GERD. ConclusionThis large, population-based, 10-year study indicates that nocturnal GERD was a risk factor for noninfectious rhinitis/rhinosinusitis. GERD should therefore be considered in patients with rhinitis of known and unknown origin.
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| 8. |
- Tomassen, P., et al.
(författare)
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Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin-specific IgE is associated with asthma in the general population : a GA(2)LEN study
- 2013
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Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 68:10, s. 1289-1297
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundSpecific IgE to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins (SE-IgE) has been associated with asthma. In the general population, we aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for serum SE-IgE and to examine the association with asthma.MethodsA postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of adults in 19 centers across Europe. A random sample of respondents was invited for clinical examination upon which they answered a questionnaire, underwent skin prick tests (SPTs) for common aeroallergens, and provided blood for measurement of total IgE and SE-IgE. Risks were analyzed within centers using weighted logistic regression, and overall estimates calculated using fixed-effects meta-analysis.Results2908 subjects were included in this analysis. Prevalence of positive SE-IgE was 29.3%; no significant geographic variation was observed. In contrast to positive skin prick tests, SE-IgE was more common in smokers (<15 pack-year: OR 1.11, P=0.079, 15 pack-year: OR 1.70, P<0.001), and prevalence did not decrease in older age-groups or in those with many siblings. Total IgE concentrations were higher in those with positive SE-IgE than in those with positive SPT. SE-IgE was associated with asthma (OR 2.10, 95% confidence interval [1.60-2.76], P=0.001) in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect was independent of SPT result and homogeneous across all centers.ConclusionsWe report for the first time that SE-IgE is common in the general population throughout Europe and that its risk factors differ from those of IgE against aeroallergens. This is the first study to show that SE-IgE is significantly and independently associated with asthma in the general population.
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| 9. |
- Karlsson, Anne-Li, et al.
(författare)
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Bet v 1 homologues in strawberry identified as IgE-binding proteins and presumptive allergens
- 2004
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Ingår i: Allergy. - : Wiley. - 1398-9995 .- 0105-4538. ; 59:12, s. 1277-1284
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: No strawberry allergen has so far been identified and characterized. Methods: Serum samples were collected from patients with a suggestive case history of adverse reactions to strawberry and other fruits. Extracts from fresh and frozen strawberries were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western blotting and mass spectrometry. Patient blood samples were analysed for inhibition of IgE binding and basophil degranulation. Results: Several IgE-binding proteins could be detected. In more than half of the patient sera, a 20/18-kDa doublet band was observed in Western blotting. These two bands were excised and analysed by mass spectrometry showing the presence of proteins belonging to the Bet v 1 family of allergens. Inhibition of the IgE binding to the 20/18-kDa doublet was obtained by addition of two recombinantly expressed allergens belonging to the Bet v 1 family (Bet v 1 and Mal d 1) and strawberry protein extract. In a cell-based assay of patient blood samples, basophil degranulation could be induced by strawberry protein extract and by Bet v 1 and Mal d 1. Conclusions: We conclude that strawberry homologues to Bet v 1 may be allergens of importance for adverse reactions to strawberry.
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| 10. |
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