Food allergies are an important health problem and affect up to 2% of the adult population and 8% of children worldwide. Under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) of 2004, foods that contain or derive from the "Big 8" allergens (milk, egg, finfish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans) must be declared and the "common or usual name" of the allergen source must be printed on the label of the food product. Currently, the most common used detection methods for food allergens are enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based. ELISA, a protein-based method, targets specific allergen(s) and detects by colorimetric reaction following binding with a specific-enzyme labeled antibody. However, studies have demonstrated that matrix interference and heat treatment can interfere with the detectability of commercial ELISA kits. An alternative approach to targeting the allergen in soy is to use deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as a unique marker that can be used to indicate the presence of soy in food. According to FALCPA the source of an allergen should be declared on the label, therefore identifying an allergen, such as soy, by DNA detection could be a valid means of meeting FALCPA requirements. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR), a DNA-based method, can identify the presence of soy through amplification of specific sequences of DNA through the use of primers. However, the sensitivity of real-time PCR can be influenced by the amplification protocol, primer design and DNA extraction methods. Thus, the main objectives of this study were to 1) verify the specificity of primers designed to detect soy DNA from different soy products, 2) optimize the previously developed real-time PCR protocol to detect soy DNA, 3) investigate the application of two commercially available DNA recovery systems (column and magnetic beads) to recover soy DNA from different forms of soy products using real-time PCR and 4) determine the effect of food matrices and thermal processing on soy detection using DNA and ELISA methods. In this study, Wizard Magnetic DNA Purification system kit (Promega, Madison, WI) was selected as the column DNA recovery system while DNeasy mericon Food Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) was selected as the magnetic beads system. Neogen Veratox for soy allergen was selected as the ELISA system. The evaluations of both DNA recovery systems were conducted on soy protein isolates (SPI), powdered soybean and soymilk. The effect of thermal processing in soy detection was conducted on four different food matrices (protein, fat, carbohydrate and water). Each food matrix was spiked with 10% soy protein isolates and heated at 95ºC for an hour. Both DNA (column and magnetic beads DNA recovery system) and ELISA detection methods were used to detect soy in heated and non-heated food matrices. The limit of detection for column DNA recovery method in soybean, SPI and soymilk can be as low as 20 ppm, while magnetic beads DNA method was matrix dependent. The magnetic beads methods demonstrated a lower detection for soybean sample (1.33 ppm) but higher for soymilk (133.3 ppm). The soy percent recovery for non-heated food matrices was higher in ELISA methods and lower in magnetic beads DNA method. For heated food matrices, percent recovery for both DNA methods was higher than ELISA method. Overall, heat treatment can significantly reduce the ability of the ELISA method to detect soy in all food matrices. However, for DNA methods (column and magnetic beads), water and ranch matrices were the only two that were significantly affected by thermal processing. In terms of food matrices, water matrix (heated and non-heated) has the highest percent recovery of soy for all detection methods. However, percent recovery of soy in flour matrix (non-heated) was the lowest using both DNA methods. / Graduation date: 2013

Diss. Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2004. / Härtill 7 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that disproportionately affects low-income and minority children in the United States. Some studies have found a clear link between poor housing quality and exposure to allergen triggers associated with increased risk of asthma. Other studies have evaluated the relationship between stressful circumstances due to chronic illness, premature birth or violence on asthma outcomes. Psychological stress is thought to weaken the immune and neuroendocrine response making the body more vulnerable to environmental allergens. Studies have been done to assess the impact of psychological stress due to violence or the care of long term-critically ill children on increased asthma morbidity. However, asthma morbidity is not equal in all low-income and minority communities. It is possible that a form of stress - housing stress - which results from living in substandard housing conditions, may in fact provide more insight into the pathways linking indoor home exposures and stress in a way that leads to greater asthma susceptibility. Few studies have been done to assess the impact of stress due to substandard housing conditions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of severe housing stress due to dilapidation, mold and a lack of housing control on child asthma control and on caregiver asthma-related quality of life. METHODS: A total of 143 children with asthma living in Boston, Massachusetts and between the ages of 4 and 18 were enrolled in the Boston Allergen Sampling Study between 2008 and 2011. Home visits were conducted to measure the levels of common allergens in the home and assess child asthma control, housing stress, perceived stress, and caregiver asthma-related quality of life. Housing stress was assessed based on resident perceptions of dilapidation, mold, and a lack of housing control; perceived stress for the caregiver was assessed using the Perceived-Stress Scale (PSS); child asthma control was assessed using Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores; and caregiver asthma-related quality of life was assessed using the Pediatric Asthma Caregiver Quality of Life (PACQOL) questionnaires. RESULTS: In a multivariate logistic regression severe housing stress was associated with 7.5 times increased odds of poor asthma control (OR = 7.51, 95%CI 2.7 to 20.79, p<0.0001) for the child and 3.0 times increased odds of poor caregiver asthma-related quality of life (OR = 3.02, 95%CI 1.37 to 6.63, p<0.006). This association was significant after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Independent of allergen exposure, the association between severe housing stress and asthma health outcomes for both the child and caregiver indicate that there is an emotional stress-based pathway directly tied to poor housing quality that poses increased risk for worse asthma health outcomes.

L’allergie cutanée est un problème majeur de santé publique pouvant fortement impacter la vie de l’individu atteint. Une cause largement reconnue d’allergie de contact sont les substances parfumantes intégrées dans les produits cosmétiques. La réglementation cosmétique en vigueur oblige le fabricant à évaluer les risques de ces substances. Bien que certaines de ces substances soient également présentes dans les huiles essentielles, il n’existe pas à l’heure actuelle une telle réglementation pour les huiles essentielles. L’objectif de cette thèse a été de caractériser l’exposition à certaines substances parfumantes d’intérêt provenant de la consommation d’huiles essentielles et de produits cosmétiques. Nous avons d’abord étudié la consommation d’huiles essentielles au sein d’un panel représentatif de la population française. Nous avons ensuite défini les substances parfumantes sensibilisantes retrouvées dans ces huiles. L’exposition cutanée aux produits cosmétiques a également été étudiée. Enfin, ces données ont été croisées pour comparer l’exposition provenant de la consommation de ces deux produits au limonène en utilisant des méthodes statistiques probabilistes (Méthodes de Monte-Carlo). Cela a permis de démontrer que les huiles essentielles pouvaient être un fort contributeur dans l’exposition globale au limonène, pour certaines zones corporelles comme le visage. Il a donc été mis en évidence l’intérêt de la prise en compte des huiles essentielles, et non pas seulement des produits cosmétiques dans l’exposition globale à certains allergènes de contact, pour mieux protéger la population. / Skin sensitization is a public health issue in France and in the rest of Europe that can impact the life of the affected individual. A well-known cause of skin sensitization are the fragrance allergens present in cosmetics. The European cosmetic regulation in force to date requires the manufacturer to assess the risks of these substances prior to their placing on the market. Although some of these substances are also present in essential oils, there is currently no such regulation for these products. The aim of this work was to characterize the exposure to particular fragrance substances of interest due to the consumption of essential oils and cosmetics. At first, we studied the consumption of essential oils in a representative panel of the French population. Then, we defined the fragrance allergens found in these oils. We also defined dermal exposure to cosmetics. Finally, these data were crossed using probabilistic statistical methods (Monte-Carlo methods) to compare exposure to a particular allergen present in these two products: the limonene. This work permitted to demonstrate that essential oils can be a strong contributor in the global exposure to limonene, for particular body areas, e.g. face. This work therefore highlights the importance of taking into account essential oils, and not only cosmetics in the global exposure to particular contact allergens, in order to better protect the population.

Introdução: Fungos são alérgenos cuja importância nas doenças alérgicas respiratórias é subestimada por falta de extratos alergênicos adequados para diagnóstico, quer através de testes cutâneos, quer através de dosagem de IgE específica. Botucatu possui características próprias por se localizar numa \"cuesta\" e possuir vegetação variada que cobre grande parte da cidade. A partir das plantas os fungos ganham o ar através da esporulação podendo ser inalados e sensibilizar pacientes com alergias respiratórias. Este trabalho se propõe a estudar quais os fungos mais prevalentes em Botucatu e a taxa de sensibilização dos principais gêneros entre os portadores de asma e rinite procedentes dessa região. Casuística e Métodos: Foi desenvolvido um aparelho caça esporos para a captura dos mesmos em quatro pontos da cidade. Foram feitas cinco coletas/ponto/semana durante um ano para contagem e identificação das UFC (unidades formadoras de colônias). Foram selecionados pacientes de Botucatu e região com asma e rinite, nos quais se aplicou testes de puntura para os principais alérgenos, incluindo onze diferentes fungos. Foram também realizados testes intradérmicos com extratos de fungos nos pacientes cujo teste de puntura ao fungo em questão tenha sido negativo. Resultados: Foram identificados 67 gêneros sendo os mais prevalentes: Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Levedura, Aspergillus, Helminthosporium, Nigrospora, Monilia, Fusarium, Hyalodendrum, Penicillium, Curvularia, Humicola, Alternaria, Trichoderma e Sphaerosporium. Foram selecionados 207 pacientes dos quais 118 (57%) apresentaram pelo menos um teste positivo a fungo. O teste intradérmico foi responsável por 88% do diagnóstico de sensibilização A dosagem de IgE específica mostrou baixa sensibilidade (4%). Os fungos mais sensibilizantes foram: Aspergillus, Neurospora, Candida, Penicillium e Cladosporium. Observou-se maior positividade a fungos no grupo de asma grave, sendo que Aspergillus, Neurospora e Candida foram mais prevalentes nesse grupo. Encontrou-se associação positiva entre pacientes com asma atendidos em Pronto-Socorros durante o ano estudado e o total de UFC nesse período. Conclusões: Os fungos mais prevalentes no planeta são também encontrados em Botucatu, embora haja fungos característicos dessa região; a sensibilização a fungos é expressiva na população estudada e guarda relação com maior gravidade da asma; o teste intradérmico foi o melhor meio diagnóstico para sensibilização a fungos / Purpose: Fungi are allergens whose importance has been underestimated due to the absence of reliable extracts for the diagnosis of sensitization in vivo or in vitro. Botucatu has unique characteristics because of its location on a \"cuesta\" and its varied vegetation which cover a large area of the city. The fungi reach the air from the plants through sporulation and they can be inhaled and sensitize patients with allergic diseases. Here we studied the most prevalent fungi in the air of Botucatu and the rate of sensitization to the main fungi genus among patients with asthma and rhinitis. Methods: We developed a spore trap to catch the spores from the air in four points in the city. Five collections were taken weekly during a whole year. Colony forming units (CFU) were counted and the fungi on Petri dishes were classified. Patients with asthma and rhinitis have been selected and submitted to prick tests with the main allergens including eleven different types of fungi. Intradermal tests with fungi extract were also performed in the patients whose prick test to these fungi had been negative. Results: Sixty-seven genus of fungi have been identified and the more prevalent were: Cladosporium, Epicoccum, yeast, Aspergillus, Helminthosporium, Nigrospora, Monilia, Fusarium, Hyalodendrum, Penicillium, Curvularia, Humicola, Alternaria, Trichoderma and Sphaerosporium. Two hundred and seven patients have been selected and 118 (57%) have been at least one positive test to fungus. Intradermal test made the diagnosis in 88% of all diagnostics of sensitization, whereas \"in vitro\" specific IgE had low sensibility (4%). The more sensitizer fungi were: Aspergillus, Neurospora, Candida, Penicillium and Cladosporium. There was a significant correlation between severe asthma and fungi sensitization and the fungi more prevalent in that group of patient were: Aspergillus, Neurospora and Candida. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the number of asthmatic patients attended in Emergencies and the total of CFU in the study period. Conclusion: We recognize in the air fungi specific to Botucatu although the most prevalent fungi are the same found in other places in the world; the fungi sensitization among patients with allergic respiratory diseases is meaningful and correlated with asthma severity; the intradermal test was the best mean to diagnose fungi sensitization

The theme of the diploma thesis is allergens in the teaching of natural science, biology and chemistry. The subject and its aim is to find out the presence of allergens in selected classes of natural sciences (natural sciences, biology, chemistry) as well as the level of awareness of problems of allergies and allergens from teachers and pupils of elementary schools and grammar schools and to compare whether teachers of selected subjects take into account Creating climate climate for allergic pupils. The thesis consists of theoretical and practical part. The first part summarizes all theoretical knowledge, including the theme of allergies and allergens. It deals with the concept of allergy from the historical point of view, it characterizes the general importance of allergies and its connection with the immune system, it presents individual risk factors influencing the origin and development of allergic disease. A large part of the theoretical part describes allergic diseases including their manifestations, diagnosis and follow-up treatment, and also the individual types of allergens that are classified according to their effects on the organism. Last but not least, the chapter deals with the presence of allergens in the school environment. Also in this part the pedagogical documents - RVP and ŠVP...

A imunodeficiência comum variável (ICV) é uma síndrome heterogênea caracterizada por hipogamaglobulinemia e infecções bacterianas de repetição. As doenças obstrutivas, como a asma, estão presentes em aproximadamente 50% dos pacientes. Os sintomas decorrentes de infecções respiratórias de repetição podem mascarar os sintomas de alergia respiratória. A asma tem alta prevalência no mundo e é observada em aproximadamente 10% da população brasileira. Embora muitos pacientes com ICV apresentem história clínica sugestiva de rinite e/ou asma alérgicas, a participação da atopia não está bem esclarecida e freqüentemente os níveis de IgE total e/ou IgE específica estão baixos. Muitos autores estudam a produção de IgE local e uma correlação entre a concentração de IgE nos fluidos corporais e no soro existe. Os objetivos deste estudo são avaliar a função pulmonar em pacientes com ICV através de: espirometria, provocação brônquica com histamina e com alérgeno; investigar o diagnóstico de asma em pacientes com ICV e realizar a investigação in vivo e in vitro da IgE em pacientes com ICV. Este estudo incluiu 62 pacientes que estavam em acompanhamento ambulatorial no Serviço de Imunologia Clínica e Alergia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. A função pulmonar foi avaliada pela espirometria e pela provocação brônquica com histamina antes e após uma provocação brônquica com Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) e a investigação da IgE específica para aeroalérgenos através de teste epicutâneo e avaliação da IgE sérica específica usando ImmunoCAPTM. Vinte e nove (46,7%) tinham história clínica de sugestiva de asma e em relação à atopia, 27 (43,5%) tinham história sugestiva de atopia. Uma associação de asma e atopia no mesmo paciente foi encontrada em 18 pacientes (29%). Nós comparamos o grupo sugestivo de asma alérgica com os outros pacientes pacientes com rinite alérgica ou não-alérgica, asma não-alérgica e pacientes sem sintomas respiratórios. A maioria dos pacientes apresentou níveis séricos de IgE total indetectáveis. Somente dois pacientes apresentaram resultado positivo para IgE específica pelo teste epicutâneo e in vitro. Sessenta e um pacientes realizaram espirometria. Destes, 25 pacientes (41%) apresentaram resultado normal, 29 (47,5%) apresentaram distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo e 7 (11,5%) apresentaram resultados sugestivos de distúrbio ventilatório restritivo. As provocações brônquicas foram realizadas em 15 pacientes. A provocação brônquica com histamina foi considerada positiva em 3 pacientes com história positiva para asma. Em relação à provocação brônquica com Der p, nenhum paciente apresentou resposta imediata positiva. Entretanto, quando a segunda provocação brônquica com histamina foi realizada (pós-Der p), quatro dos 5 pacientes com história sugestiva de asma alérgica apresentaram resultado positivo, com diminuição de PC20 em relação à primeira provocação vi brônquica com histamina. Uma diferença estatística foi observada nos resultados entre o grupo sugestivo de asma alérgica e os pacientes sem asma alérgica. Ao final do estudo, a asma foi confirmada em 9 pacientes com ICV (14,5%), a atopia foi confirmada em 6 pacientes com ICV (9,7%) e a asma alérgica foi confirmada em 4 pacientes com ICV (6,5%), que correspondeu a 22,2% dos 18 pacientes com suspeita de asma alérgica / Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogenous immunodeficiency syndrome characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, and recurrent bacterial infections. Obstructive diseases as asthma are present in approximately 50 % of patients. Symptoms due to recurrent respiratory pyogenic infections may mask respiratory allergic symptoms. Asthma has high worldwide prevalence and is observed in approximately 10 % of Brazilian population. Although a number of patients with CVID report a clinical history suggestive of allergic symptoms, the role of atopy is not well established in these individuals; and frequently levels of total IgE and/or specific IgE are low. Local IgE production has been studied and a correlation between IgE concentration in body fluids and serum exists. The objectives of this study are evaluation of pulmonary function in patients with CVID through: spirometry, bronchial challenge with histamine, and with allergen; investigate asthma diagnosis in patients with CVID; perform in vivo and in vitro investigation of IgE in patients with CVID. This study included sixty-two patients, who were being followed at the Service of Clinical Immunology and Allergy of the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School. Pulmonary function was assessed using spirometry and bronchial challenge with histamine before and after a bronchial challenge with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p), and investigation of specific IgE for aeroallergens with skin prick test and serum specific IgE evaluation using ImmunoCAPTM. Twenty-nine (46.7 %) had clinical history suggestive of asthma, and in regards to atopy, twenty-seven patients (43.5%) reported atopy suggestive history. An association of asthma and atopy in the same patient was observed in eighteen (29 %) participants. We compared the group of allergic asthma with the other patients patients with allergic or non-allergic rhinitis, non-allergic asthma, and patients without respiratory. Most patients had undetectable levels of total IgE concentration in serum. Only two patients had positive results for specific IgE by prick test and in vitro investigation. All patients, except one, underwent spirometry test for lung function evaluation. Of the sixty-one patients, twenty-five (41 %) had normal spirometry results, twenty-nine (47.5 %) had Obstructive Ventilatory Defect, and seven (11.5 %) had results suggestive of Restrictive Ventilatory Defect. Bronchial challenges were performed in fifteen patients. Bronchial challenge with histamine was considered positive in three patients with a positive history of asthma. Regarding to bronchial challenge with Der p, none presented immediate positive response. However, when the second nonspecific bronchial provocation with histamine was performed (post-Der p), four of the five patients with a history of allergic asthma had positive test results, with lower PC20 than in the first non-specific bronchial provocation with histamine. A statistical difference was noticed in the test results of the group suggestive for allergic asthma and the patients without allergic asthma. viii At the end of this study, asthma had been confirmed in 9 patients with CVID (14.5%), atopy had been confirmed in 6 patients with CVID (9.7%), and allergic asthma had been confirmed in 4 patients with CVID (6.5%), which corresponded to 22.2% of the 18 patients suspected of allergic asthma

The aim of the diploma thesis was to provide an overview of the prevalence of allergenic and potentially allergenic metals in eye shadows. The diploma thesis gives an overview of the legislation on cosmetics and description of the types of allergenic reactions caused by allergenic and potential allergenic metals in eye shadows. Listed below are the preparation methods of the samples for analysis and the list of the methods by which can the selected metals be analyzed. The experimental part of the diploma thesis deals with an analysis of selected allergenic and potentially allergenic metals in eye shadows. In the experimental part of diploma thesis method of sample preparation for analysis of eye shadows and a method of analysis of sample of eye shadows by ICP-MS have been optimized. Monitored analytes were selected metals. Altogether 6 samples of eye shadows from different manufacturers were chosen. Measured results have been statistically processed, confronted with the applicable legislation and assessed in terms of possible allergic reactions.

Orientador: Nilton Carlos Machado / Resumo: Introdução. As alergias alimentares são um problema crescente no mundo, e a única maneira de tratar continua sendo a exclusão de alimentos com a proteína implicada. A ANVISA estabeleceu requisitos para a rotulagem dos principais alimentos que causam alergias alimentares. Portanto a leitura dos rótulos dos alimentos embalados deve ser praticada por todo cuidador de crianças alérgicas. Objetivo. Qualificar os rótulos apresentados pelas indústrias de alimentos com base na resolução atual e propor medidas que beneficiem a leitura de rótulos pelo público alérgico. Métodos. Estudo observacional transversal para avaliar a rotulagem de alérgenos de alimentos embalados. No primeiro momento foi realizada uma busca em supermercados de diferentes marcas de gêneros alimentícios. No segundo momento mediante sorteio eletrônico foi obtida amostra para analise, composta do mínimo de 50% de marcas de alimentos embalados de cada gênero alimentício. Posteriormente, foi realizada fotografia digital de cada produto, em todas as suas dimensões (painel principal, laterais e fundos). Os alimentos embalados foram divididos com base nos Grupos da Pirâmide alimentar brasileira. Foram analisados: os ingredientes presentes e as características da rotulagem. Dados apresentados de forma descritiva. A classificação dos rótulos foi apresentada em escore baseado na resolução vigente, gerando pontuação de 0 a 10 aos diferentes alimentos dos Grupos da Pirâmide alimentar brasileira. Resultados. Os alimentos embal... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction. Food allergies are a growing problem worldwide, and the only way to treat them is to exclude foods with the protein involved. ANVISA has established requirements for the labelling of major foods that cause food allergies. Therefore, the reading of packaged food labels should be practiced by all caregivers of allergic children. Aims. Qualify the labels presented by the food industries based on the current resolution and propose measures that benefit the reading of labels by the allergic public. Methods. Cross-sectional observational study to evaluate allergen labelling of packaged foods. At first, a search was done in supermarkets of different brands of foodstuffs. In the second moment, utilizing an electronic draw, a sample was obtained for analysis, composed of at least 50% of packaged food brands of each foodstuff. Subsequently, digital photography of each product was performed, in all its dimensions (main panel, sides and bottoms). The packaged foods were divided based on the Brazilian Food Pyramid Groups. Were analyzed: the present ingredients and the characteristics of the labelling. Data are presented descriptively. The classification of the labels was presented in a score based on the current resolution, generating a score from 0 to 10 to the different foods of the Brazilian Food Pyramid Groups. Results. Packaged foods have quality information, with labeling scores close to the maximum in all groups. Regarding the indication of the presence of allergens: ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre