P.E. Manconi

Allergy and sports

At the beginning of the third millennium, physicalexercise is often seen as a kind of panacea (a Greekword meaning ‘‘a cure for every sickness’’): there is nodoubt that it induces an increase in an individual’ssocialization and self-esteem, but it also has positivephysiologic and psychologic effects, improving thefunctioning of the cardiovascular, respiratory, andmuscular systems, and leading to modifications indiet. Sports competitions are now an important part ofeconomic, social, and cultural life, and leading athletesrepresent a model to be imitated by the majority ofyoung people and children. Thus, a large proportion ofthe young population practice exercise and sports inorder to achieve the best results from their bodies.Because allergic illnesses in industrialized countriesaffect 10–25% of the population (1), it may reasonablybe hypothesized that this percentage will be the same forathletes and amateurs of various sporting disciplines.Could it be that a well-trained amateur or aprofessional athlete faces some problems of apseudoallergic type when performing physical exercise?Or is it conceivable that an allergic subject can practicesports at the expert level and, indeed, become achampion?These issues will be examined in this review article.

RAYNAUD'S PHENOMENON AND SCLERODERMA ASSOCIATED WITH SILICONE GEL BREAST IMPLANTS: AN EXAMPLE OF ASIA SYNDROME

Silicone-gel breast implants (SBI) have been widely used for breast augmentation. Although silicone is generally considered an inert substance, there has been much debate recently on its role in inducing chronic inflammation and systemic connective tissue diseases. The case of a young woman affected by Raynauds Phenomenon (RP), worsening of vitiligo and of autoimmune thyroiditis following SBI is reported in this paper. Removal of SBI led to temporary RP remission; however, despite notable clinical improvement, nailfold capillary microscopy showed progressive microcirculatory abnormalities consistent with a diagnosis of early scleroderma. Follow-up of the patient led to the diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) with pulmonary hypertension. The development of SSc after SBI is described, a condition that falls into the recently recognized “ASIA” (Autoimmune/inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants) syndrome. Nailfold capillary microscopy is a valuable tool in early SSc diagnosis, in monitoring disease activity and in establishing the risk of an aggressive course of connective tissue disease following silicone breast implantation. The relationship between silicone and the immune system requires further reports and investigation in order to determine the main individual risk factors predisposing to the wide spectrum of adjuvant-induced responses.

Asthma and Psychiatric Disorders: is there a link? A perspective study

moved to 1302b 261 Plasma levels of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-a in patients on maintenance hemodialysis Sotoodeh Jahromi, A; Shojaei, M; Hekmati, H; Vahid, M Jahrom University of Medical Science, Immunolgy, Jahrom, Islamic Republic of Iran; Jahrom University of Medical Science, Internal medicine, Jahrom, Islamic Republic of Iran; Jahrom University of Medical Science, Nephrology, Jahrom, Islamic Republic of Iran Background: Dialysis provides effective and safe treatment of ESRD, but patients who are maintained on chronic dialysis are at risk for cardiovascular disease. One major risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adult patients with ESRD is chronic inflammation. Cytokines are essential mediators of immune response and inflammatory reactions. During a hemodialysis (HD), cytokines are released mainly by monocytes activated by endotoxin-type compounds in dialyzer fluid, Complement factors and direct contact with dialyzer membrane. Aim of this study was to examine effects of the duration of HD therapy upon systemic profile of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNF-a and IL-6) in patients on regular maintenance HD. Poster Discussion Session 7 – Novel discoveries about the role of infections in asthma and allergy