Carla Gemignani

IgE binding to soluble and insoluble wheat flour proteins in atopic and non-atopic patients suffering from gastrointestinal symptoms after wheat ingestion

Background The involvement of IgE‐mediated hypersensitivity reactions in the genesis of gastrointestinal symptoms after ingestion of foods containing wheat has been rarely reported.

IgE binding to almond proteins in two CAP-FEIA-negative patients with allergic symptoms to almond as compared to three CAP-FEIA-false-positive subjects.

Background: Allergy to almonds has been frequently reported, but data on the identification of the almond allergens, as well as on the reliability of the methods for in vitro detection of specific IgE for these allergens, are scant. This study aimed to identify the almond allergens and to evaluate the reliability of the CAP‐FEIA as the standard system for detection of almond‐specific IgE with clinical significance.

Airborne allergenic pollens in Padua: 1991–1996

Graminaceae, Urticaceae, Compositae, Betulaceae, Corylaceae and Oleaceae are the most representative allergenic taxa in Italy. In this paper the airborne pollen counts of the main allergenic families collected for a six-year period (1991–1996) in Paduas area were analysed. We observed a significant variability for all allergenic pollen types considered.

Airborne pollen in Padua (NE-Italy): A comparison between two pollen samplers

During recent years a gradual decrease inallergenic airborne pollen concentration hasbeen observed in the monitoring station ofPadua (Italy). Because technical checks of thesampler were not able to explain this trend,the results obtained from two twinpollen-samplers (Lanzoni VPPS 2000), placed twometres apart, were compared.An eight-week sampling was carried out duringthe year 2000 from July to September.Subsequent analysis revealed no statisticallysignificant difference between the dataobtained with the two instruments. On the otherhand, both samplers captured high levels offungal spores. We conclude that the observednegative trend in pollen count is real and notrelated to technical biases.

Biological effects of contaminated silicon carbide particles from a workstation in a plant producing abrasives

A sample of silicon carbide dust taken in the field from a plant producing abrasives was studied in vitro. The SiC particles (part unmilled and part milled) were able to disturb the structure of erythrocyte membranes and to lead to blood red-cell lysis; they also either interfered with complement and activated the alternate pathway, or interacted with biological media and polymorphonuclear leucocyte membranes, thus eliciting reactive oxygen species production. These in vitro properties were detected both in original large particles and unmilled particles, over 40% of which were of respirable size. The ability of these SiC particles to produce complement activation in vitro lends support to the previous hypothesis, that the radiographic opacities found in two workers employed in the same area of the plant from which the dust tested was taken are due to a reaction by pulmonary interstitial structures to SiC particle inhalation. It is speculated that SiC particles could act like asbestos, the ability of which to activate complement through the alternate pathway is considered to be one of the mechanisms by which the initial asbestotic lesions and subsequent fibrotic inflammatory infiltrates are generated in the lung.

The effects of air pollution on children

Air pollutants have been associated with a widevariety of adverse health effects in children. Adescription of the impact of air pollutants onchildrens health is complicated by the presence ofmany types of air pollution and by the variety ofindicators of adverse health effects. Over the periodApril-September 1994, the frequency of emergency roomvisits for asthma, bronchitis, laryngitis andbronchiolitis in the Paediatrics Department in Padua(Italy) has been documented and compared to outdoorconcentrations of airborne particulate, sulphurdioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) andozone in a case-control study. Two control groups ofchildren affected by air pollution not relateddiseases (acute gastro-enteritis or cranial trauma)have been considered. Atmospheric airborneparticulate, SO2, NOx and ozone concentrationswere obtained from the Air Quality Monitoring Networkof Padua. Statistical analysis was performed bymultiple logistic step-wise regression. A total of 468emergency room visits were noted; 139 childrensuffering from respiratory symptoms and 339 controls.The highest pollution levels were observed for ozone,with average 24 hr – concentrations, ranging from 30 to160 mcg per cubic meter, still lower than permittedlimits. No significant relationships could be foundbetween any of the pollution indices and the incidenceof emergency room visits for respiratory symptoms. Nodifference related to air pollutants was found betweendaily frequency of visits between cases and controls.Only bronchiolitis in the age < 2 years was relatedto the concentrations of NO2 (p < 0.05). Inconclusion, short-term exposure to moderately highlevels of photochemical air pollution did not resultin clear acute respiratory adverse effects inchildren.

IBS patients complaining of adverse reaction to flour have unrecognized IgE to prolamins from wheat

IBS Patients Complaining of Adverse Reaction to Flour Have Unrecognized IgE to Prolamins from Wheat. Francesca Polato, Gastroenterological and Surg Dept, Padova Univ, Padova Italy; Barbara Simonato, Andrea Curioni, Gabriella Pasini ~, Oept Di Biotecnologie Agrarie, Univ di Padova, Padova Italy; Carla Gemignani, Allergologic Unit, Univ di Padova, Padova Italy; Mario Plebani, Lab Medicine, Azienda Hosp Padova, Padova Italy; Franca Oe Lazzari, Gastroenterological and Surg Dept, Padova Univ, Padova Italy