| 1. |
- Bonroy, Carolien, et al.
(författare)
-
Detection of antinuclear antibodies : recommendations from EFLM, EASI and ICAP
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. - : Walter de Gruyter. - 1434-6621 .- 1437-4331. ; 61:7, s. 1167-1198
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are important for the diagnosis of various autoimmune diseases. ANA are usually detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using HEp-2 cells (HEp-2 IFA). There are many variables influencing HEp-2 IFA results, such as subjective visual reading, serum screening dilution, substrate manufacturing, microscope components and conjugate. Newer developments on ANA testing that offer novel features adopted by some clinical laboratories include automated computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) systems and solid phase assays (SPA).Methods: A group of experts reviewed current literature and established recommendations on methodological aspects of ANA testing. This process was supported by a two round Delphi exercise. International expert groups that participated in this initiative included (i) the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group “Autoimmunity Testing”; (ii) the European Autoimmune Standardization Initiative (EASI); and (iii) the International Consensus on ANA Patterns (ICAP).Results: In total, 35 recommendations/statements related to (i) ANA testing and reporting by HEp-2 IFA; (ii) HEp-2 IFA methodological aspects including substrate/conjugate selection and the application of CAD systems; (iii) quality assurance; (iv) HEp-2 IFA validation/verification approaches and (v) SPA were formulated. Globally, 95% of all submitted scores in the final Delphi round were above 6 (moderately agree, agree or strongly agree) and 85% above 7 (agree and strongly agree), indicating strong international support for the proposed recommendations.Conclusions: These recommendations are an important step to achieve high quality ANA testing.
|
|
| 2. |
- Lumia, Mirka, et al.
(författare)
-
Food consumption and risk of childhood asthma
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. - : WILEY. - 0905-6157 .- 1399-3038. ; 26:8, s. 789-796
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundThe consumption of foods rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has been proposed to protect against childhood asthma. This study explores the association of food consumption (including cow's milk (CM)-free diet) in early life and the risk of atopic and non-atopic asthma. MethodsFood intake of 182 children with asthma and 728 matched controls was measured using 3-day food records, within the Finnish Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) Nutrition Study cohort. The diagnoses of food allergies came both from the written questionnaire and from the registers of the Social Insurance Institution. Conditional logistic regression with generalized estimating equations framework was used in the analyses. ResultsThe diagnosis of cow's milk allergy (CMA) led to multiple dietary restrictions still evident at 4yr of age. Even after adjusting for CMA, higher consumption of CM products was inversely associated with the risk of atopic asthma and higher consumption of breast milk and oats inversely with the risk of non-atopic asthma. Early consumption of fish was associated with a decreased risk of all asthma. ConclusionsDietary intake in early life combined with atopy history has a clear impact on the risk of developing asthma. Our results indicate that CM restriction due to CMA significantly increases and mediates the association between food consumption and childhood asthma risk.
|
|
| 3. |
- Nwaru, Bright I, 1978, et al.
(författare)
-
Vitamin D intake during the first 4years and onset of asthma by age 5: A nested case-control study.
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. - : Wiley. - 1399-3038. ; , s. 1-8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Early-life vitamin D intake has been linked to asthma risk in childhood, but the role of longitudinal vitamin D exposure has not been previously evaluated. We investigated the association between vitamin D intake during the first 4years of life and asthma risk by age 5.Within a Finnish population-based birth cohort, 182 incident asthma cases were matched to 728 controls on sex, genetic risk for type 1 diabetes, delivery hospital, and time of birth. Vitamin D intake was assessed by age-specific 3day food records. Parents completed a validated version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire at 5years.At 3months, supplements were the main source of vitamin D intake; intake from foods increased from 3months on, mainly from fortified milk products. Vitamin D intake at each specific age was associated with an increased risk of any asthma, atopic, and non-atopic asthma, but only intake at 1 and 2years was statistically significantly associated with asthma. Longitudinal vitamin D intake was associated with an increased risk of asthma (OR 1.24; 95%CI 1.00-1.53).Increased vitamin D intake in childhood, particularly intake at 1 and 2years of age, may increase risk of childhood asthma. This might reflect a true effect or residual confounding by lifestyle or environmental factors. Repeated assessment of vitamin D intake allowed evaluation of the longitudinal and age-dependent impact of vitamin D on the risk of asthma. Further longitudinal studies are required to confirm or question these findings.
|
|
| 4. |
- Ojwang', Vincent, et al.
(författare)
-
Early exposure to cats, dogs and farm animals and the risk of childhood asthma and allergy.
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. - : Wiley. - 1399-3038. ; 31:3, s. 265-272
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Synergistic role of exposure to cats, dogs, and farm animals during infancy on the risk of childhood asthma and allergy remains unknown.To investigate independent and synergistic associations between exposure to indoor pets and farm animals during infancy and the risk of asthma and allergy by age 5.We studied 3781 children participating in the Finnish Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) nutrition study. At age 5, a validated version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was administered to collect information on asthma and allergic disease; and exposure to indoor pets and farm animals during the first year of life. Allergen-specific IgE antibodies were analyzed from serum samples. Statistical analyses employed Cox proportional hazards- and logistic regression.Having a dog in the house was inversely associated with the risk of asthma (HR 0.60; 95%CI, 0.38-0.96); allergic rhinitis (OR 0.72; 95%CI, 0.53-0.97); and atopic sensitization (OR 0.77; 95%CI, 0.63-0.96). Having a cat was associated with decreased risk of atopic eczema (OR 0.68; 95%CI, 0.51-0.92). Farm animals were neither independently nor in synergy with indoor pets associated with the outcomes.Having a dog or cat in the house during the first year of life may protect against childhood asthma and allergy. We did not find a synergistic association between cat, dog and farm animal exposure on the risk of childhood asthma and allergy. Future research should identify specific causative exposures conferred by indoor pets and whether they could be recommended for allergy prevention.
|
|
| 5. |
- Sack, Ulrich, et al.
(författare)
-
Quality and best practice in medical laboratories : specific requests for autoimmunity testing
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Autoimmun Highlights. - : Springer. - 2038-0305 .- 2038-3274. ; 11:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Special conditions associated with laboratory autoimmune testing are not well compatible with recent developments in regulatory frameworks such as EN/ISO 15189 accreditation or in vitro diagnostic medical device regulation (IVD-R). In addition, international recommendations, guidelines and disease criteria are poorly defined with respect to requirements on autoantibody testing. Laboratory specialists from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and The Netherlands collected information, reported national experience, and identified quality issues in relation to autoantibody testing that require consensus on interpretation of the regulatory frameworks and guidelines. This process has been organized by the European Autoimmunity Standardisation Initiative (EASI). By identifying the critical items and looking for a consensus, our objective was to define a framework for, in particular, EN/ISO accreditation purposes. Here, we present a review of current publications and guidelines in this field to unify national guidelines and deliver in this way a European handout on quality control and accreditation for laboratories involved in autoantibody testing. We focus on quality items that can be checked during accreditation visits. Despite various local varieties, we encountered an overwhelming dedication to quality assurance in all contributing countries.
|
|
