-
Frontiers in Allergy 2024Birch pollen-related food allergy (BPFA) is the most common type of food allergy in birch-endemic areas such as Western and Central Europe. Currently, there is no... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Birch pollen-related food allergy (BPFA) is the most common type of food allergy in birch-endemic areas such as Western and Central Europe. Currently, there is no treatment available for BPFA. Due to the cross-reactivity between birch pollen and a range of implicated plant foods, birch pollen allergen immunotherapy (AIT) may be effective in the treatment of BPFA. In this study, we systematically evaluate the effectiveness of birch pollen-specific subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy in treating BPFA.
METHODS
A search was performed in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane libraries. Studies were independently screened by two reviewers against predefined eligibility criteria. The outcomes of interest were changes in (1) severity of symptoms during food challenge, (2) eliciting dose (ED), and (3) food allergy quality of life (FA-QoL). The validity of the selected articles was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool. We focused on studies with the lowest risk of bias and considered studies with a high risk of bias as supportive. Data were descriptively summarized.
RESULTS
Ten studies were selected that included 475 patients in total. Seven studies were categorized into "high risk of bias" and three into "moderate risk of bias." The three moderate risk of bias studies, with a total of 98 patients, reported on severity of symptoms during challenge and on the ED. All three studies had a control group. Compared to the control group, improvement in severity of symptoms was observed during challenge in two out of the three studies and on the eliciting dose in one out of three. Only one study investigated the effect of birch pollen AIT on FA-QoL, showing that there was no significant difference between patients receiving subcutaneous immunotherapy or a placebo. Of the seven supportive studies, four had a control group and of those, three showed improvement on both severity of symptoms and ED. None of the supportive studies investigated the effect of the therapy on FA-QoL.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review shows that there is not enough evidence to draw firm conclusions about the effect of AIT on BPFA. Future research is warranted that uses robust clinical studies that include long-term effects, QoL, and multiple BPFA-related foods.
PubMed: 38903704
DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2024.1360073 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jul 2022Urban greenspace may have a beneficial or adverse effect on respiratory health. Our objective was to perform an exploratory systematic review to synthesise the evidence...
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE
Urban greenspace may have a beneficial or adverse effect on respiratory health. Our objective was to perform an exploratory systematic review to synthesise the evidence and identify the potential causal pathways relating urban greenspace and respiratory health.
METHODS
We followed PRISMA guidelines on systematic reviews and searched five databases for eligible studies during 2000-2021. We incorporated a broad range of urban greenspace and respiratory health search terms, including both observational and experimental studies. Screening, data extraction, and risk of bias, assessed using the Navigation Guide criteria, were performed independently by two authors. We performed a narrative synthesis and discuss suggested pathways to respiratory health.
RESULTS
We identified 108 eligible papers (n = 104 observational, n = 4 experimental). The most common greenspace indicators were the overall greenery or vegetation (also known as greenness), green land use/land cover of physical area classes (e.g., parks, forests), and tree canopy cover. A wide range of respiratory health indicators were studied, with asthma prevalence being the most common. Two thirds (n = 195) of the associations in these studies were positive (i.e., beneficial) with health, with 31% (n = 91) statistically significant; only 9% (n = 25) of reported associations were negative (i.e., adverse) with health and statistically significant. The most consistent positive evidence was apparent for respiratory mortality. There were n = 35 (32%) 'probably low' and n = 73 (68%) 'probably high' overall ratings of bias. Hypothesised causal pathways for health benefits included lower air pollution, more physically active populations, and exposure to microbial diversity; suggested mechanisms with poorer health included exposure to pollen and other aeroallergens.
CONCLUSION
Many studies showed positive association between urban greenspace and respiratory health, especially lower respiratory mortality; this is suggestive, but not conclusive, of causal effects. Results underscore the importance of contextual factors, greenspace metric employed, and the potential bias of subtle selection factors, which should be explored further.
Topics: Air Pollution; Allergens; City Planning; Humans; Parks, Recreational; Respiration; Trees
PubMed: 35283125
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154447 -
Environmental Research Oct 2020Exposure to Plant Protection Products, PPPs, (fungicides, herbicides and insecticides) is a significant stressor for bees and other pollinators, and has recently been...
Exposure to Plant Protection Products, PPPs, (fungicides, herbicides and insecticides) is a significant stressor for bees and other pollinators, and has recently been the focus of intensive debate and research. Specifically, exposure through contaminated pollen and nectar is considered pivotal, as it presents the highest risk of PPP exposure across all bee species. However, the actual risk that multiple PPP residues might pose to non-target species is difficult to assess due to the lack of clear evidence of their actual concentrations. To consolidate the existing knowledge of field-realistic residues detected in pollen and nectar directly collected from plants, we performed a systematic literature review of studies over the past 50 years (1968-2018). We found that pollen was the matrix most frequently evaluated and, of the compounds investigated, the majority were detected in pollen samples. Although the overall most studied category of PPPs were the neonicotinoid insecticides, the compounds with the highest median concentrations of residues in pollen were: the broad spectrum carbamate carbofuran (1400 ng/g), the fungicide and nematicide iprodione (524 ng/g), and the organophosphate insecticide dimethoate (500 ng/g). In nectar, the highest median concentration of PPP residues detected were dimethoate (1595 ng/g), chlorothalonil (76 ng/g), and the insecticide phorate (53.5 ng/g). Strong positive correlation was observed between neonicotinoid residues in pollen and nectar of cultivated plant species. The maximum concentrations of several compounds detected in nectar and pollen were estimated to exceed the LD for honey bees, bumble bees and four solitary bee species, by several orders of magnitude. However, there is a paucity of information for the biggest part of the world and there is an urgent need to expand the range of compounds evaluated in PPP studies.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Insecticides; Neonicotinoids; Pesticide Residues; Plant Nectar; Pollen; Pollination
PubMed: 32795671
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109873 -
Acta Ophthalmologica Feb 2023To determine the prevalence of allergic sensitization in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and to provide an overview of published studies on this topic.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
To determine the prevalence of allergic sensitization in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and to provide an overview of published studies on this topic. We systematically searched 11 literature databases on 24 May 2021, for studies with cross-sectional data on the prevalence of positive allergy tests in patients with VKC. Our main outcome of interest was the prevalence of allergic sensitization and the allergens involved. Prevalence meta-analyses were made to provide summary estimates. We identified 33 eligible studies for qualitative review with 2122 patients with VKC. Studies were predominantly based on patients seen in ophthalmology clinics. Overall, studies reported that the most prevalent positive allergen tests were the inhaled allergens house dust mites and pollen. Twenty-nine studies were eligible for the quantitative analysis. Here, we calculated the prevalence of allergen-positive patients to 57.7% (95% confidence interval: 52.5%-62.8%). Subgroup analyses of pooled estimates on sensitization based on specific testing methods found prevalence estimates of 51.4% for conjunctival provocation test, 68.7% for total tear IgE, 58.9% for specific tear IgE, and 58.2% for skin prick test. The prevalence of allergic sensitization in patients with VKC is 57.7%, and mostly towards inhaled allergens. The most frequent positive allergens are house dust mites and pollen. Identifying possible clinically relevant allergens provide information that may aid in managing VKC, such as environmental allergy-avoidance or allergy-specific treatment.
Topics: Humans; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Prevalence; Cross-Sectional Studies; Allergens; Immunoglobulin E
PubMed: 35848379
DOI: 10.1111/aos.15212 -
Phytotherapy Research : PTR Nov 2019Pollen has been used for centuries as a tonic and a multipurpose remedy in traditional medicine. The present umbrella review aims to qualitatively assess the therapeutic...
Pollen has been used for centuries as a tonic and a multipurpose remedy in traditional medicine. The present umbrella review aims to qualitatively assess the therapeutic efficacy of orally administered pollen in the management of nonallergic diseases. MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Articles were independently screened and selected, then quality of evidence of included studies was evaluated with a dedicated NIH tool. Retrieved evidence was critically appraised and discussed. Two hundred four articles were found and, after selection process, five systematic reviews were included in the present work, including one with a meta-analysis. Evidence from these reviews supports the use of grass pollen extracts for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and chronic prostatitis (CP). Additional preliminary evidence on the topic indicates the potential use of grass pollen extracts for vasomotor symptoms in women. Overall, results of the present review suggest that flower pollen extracts may be useful as a complementary remedy for the management of BPH, CP, and vasomotor symptoms. Evidence regarding bee pollen is too limited to draw any conclusion on its clinical efficacy. Further studies are needed.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Chronic Disease; Flowers; Humans; Male; Medicine, Traditional; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Pollen; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatitis; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 31435975
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6484 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Sep 2023The phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly real and relevant health problem. It is essential to verify the spread of this phenomenon in the... (Review)
Review
The phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly real and relevant health problem. It is essential to verify the spread of this phenomenon in the environment. The European honey bee, Apis mellifera L., is a globally managed pollinator continuously used for biomonitoring thanks to its morphological and behavioural characteristics. During their foraging activities, a large number of honey bees move in the area surrounding the hive within a 1.5 km of radius. Besides, their body covered with hair and bristles are able to intercept pollen and minute particles, such as atmospheric particles, contaminants and microorganisms. For these reasons, A. mellifera L. is widely used as an environmental sentinel, especially for detecting pollutants, pesticides, microorganisms, and AMR. This systematic review aimed to collect and summarize the role of honey bee colonies as a biological monitor of AMR pathogenic bacteria and the environmental spread of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). From honey bees were isolated a wide range of pathogenic and environmental bacteria strains, harbouring AMR and ARGs. However, AMR and ARGs were detected not only in environmental bacteria but also in symbiotic bacteria colonizing the bee gut. This systematic review highlights the employment of potential use of honey bees as AMR sentinel helpful for ecosystem health to implement possible control measures for humans, animals and plants, in the context of the "One-Health" approach.
PubMed: 37385360
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122120 -
International Archives of Allergy and... 2020To systematically review the effect and safety of epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) for allergic diseases. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
To systematically review the effect and safety of epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) for allergic diseases.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, CQ VIP Database, Wanfang Data, and international trial register from their inception to July 29, 2019, without language restrictions, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared EPIT versus no EPIT for allergen-triggered allergic reactions. We assessed certainty of evidence by the GRADE approach.
RESULTS
Ten RCTs with 1,085 participants (aged from 10 months to 65 years) comparing EPIT with placebo for peanut, cow milk, or grass-pollen allergy met the eligibility criteria. A substantial benefit in terms of desensitization in EPIT group was more likely for peanut or cow milk protein allergy (risk ratio [RR] 2.34, 95% CI 1.69-3.23; I2 = 0%; high certainty evidence). EPIT increased local-treatment-related adverse events (L-TRAE; RR 1.56, 95% CI 1.03-2.36; I2 = 82%; moderate certainty evidence). But there were no significantly increased risk of any TRAEs (low certainty evidence) or systemic-TRAEs (S-TRAEs; very low certainty evidence) in EPIT group. The incidence rate of serious AEs, the use of rescue medications, and anaphylactic reactions stratified by organ systems including skin and mucosa, eyes and upper respiratory, lower respiratory, and gastrointestinal system in EPIT group were similar to placebo group. In subgroup analysis, desensitization of EPIT was significantly effective in peanut allergy (RR 2.29, 95% CI 1.64-3.21; I2 = 0%) and children <12 years (RR 2.85, 95% CI 1.92-4.24; I2 = 0%) with high certainty evidence. Only epicutaneous grass-pollen immunotherapy significantly increased the risk of S-TRAE (RR 4.65, 95% CI 1.10-19.64; I2 = 0%).
CONCLUSION
The systematic review suggests that EPIT might induce desensitization in peanut allergy and an increased risk of local AEs. These findings should be interpreted with caution owing to the limited study and heterogeneity. More data in the older (children ≥12 years and adults) and other allergic diseases are needed.
Topics: Humans; Allergens; Clinical Trials as Topic; Desensitization, Immunologic; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Hypersensitivity; Treatment Outcome; Infant; Child, Preschool; Child; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Aged
PubMed: 31801149
DOI: 10.1159/000504366 -
Journal of Family & Reproductive Health Jun 2021Male infertility is involved in about half of the casess of infertility and the only sole reason for infertility in 20%-30% of the cases. Following the recent interest... (Review)
Review
Male infertility is involved in about half of the casess of infertility and the only sole reason for infertility in 20%-30% of the cases. Following the recent interest in the use of medicinal plants, scientists have sought to clarify their effects on male fertility. This review aimed to summarize the results of studies available to determine the effectiveness, safety and mechanism of herbal treatments in the improvement of male fertility. Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Central) databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published during 2000-2020. Studies were only included if they adhered to the CONSORT checklist. The methodological quality of the selected studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Finally, 20 studies recruiting a total of 1519 individuals were reviewed. These studies compared the effects of eleven different medicinal plants, i.e. ginseng, saffron, , palm pollen, ADOFON, TOPALAF, sesame, and , on male fertility with those of placebo. All studies (except one) confirmed the beneficial effects of medicinal plants on the improvement of sperm and reproductive parameters and thus male infertility. The existing RCTs indicated the positive effects of medicinal plants on male fertility. Therefore, in order to develop a novel approach to the treatment of male infertility, further clinical trials are warranted to determine the maximum dosage and duration of treatment with herbal medicines and evaluate any potential side effects of such interventions.
PubMed: 34721595
DOI: 10.18502/jfrh.v15i2.6447 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2022Root hairs are tubular outgrowths of epidermal cells that increase the root surface area and thereby make the root more efficient at absorbing water and nutrients. Their...
Root hairs are tubular outgrowths of epidermal cells that increase the root surface area and thereby make the root more efficient at absorbing water and nutrients. Their expansion is limited to the root hair apex, where growth is reported to take place in a pulsating manner. These growth pulses coincide with oscillations of the apoplastic and cytosolic pH in a similar way as has been reported for pollen tubes. Likewise, the concentrations of apoplastic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytoplasmic Ca oscillate with the same periodicity as growth. Whereas ROS appear to control cell wall extensibility and opening of Ca channels, the role of protons as a growth signal in root hairs is less clear and may differ from that in pollen tubes where plasma membrane H-ATPases have been shown to sustain growth. In this review, we outline our current understanding of how pH contributes to root hair development.
PubMed: 35968128
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.949672 -
Rhinology Dec 2021Allergic rhinitis (AR), an IgE mediated inflammatory disease, significantly impacts quality of life of a considerable proportion of the general population. Omalizumab, a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Allergic rhinitis (AR), an IgE mediated inflammatory disease, significantly impacts quality of life of a considerable proportion of the general population. Omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against IgE, has been evaluated for both seasonal and perennial AR. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of omalizumab in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in inadequately controlled AR.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic literature search of RCTs evaluating the safety and efficacy of omalizumab in AR. We synthesized evidence for clinical improvement of AR symptoms, quality of life, reduction of the use of rescue medication, and adverse events.
RESULTS
The systematic search returned 289 articles, of which 12 RCTs were eligible for data extraction and meta-analysis. Omalizumab reduced the Daily Nasal Symptom Severity Score (DNSSS) by a summary standardized mean difference of -0.41 points with large heterogeneity; omalizumab significantly reduced the DNSSS both in the 3 cedar pollen-induced AR trials by -0.97 points and to a lower extent in the remaining five non-cedar trials by -0.19 points. Omalizumab also improved the Daily Ocular Symptom Severity Score (DOSSS) by a summary standardized mean difference of -0.30 points with large heterogeneity; the Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire by a summary standardized mean difference of -0.45 points with no heterogeneity and the mean daily consumption of rescue antihistamines by a summary standardized mean difference of -0.21 with large heterogeneity. No statistically significant difference in the occurrence of adverse events was observed between omalizumab and placebo.
CONCLUSION
Our findings further support the efficacy and safety of omalizumab in the management of patients with allergic rhinitis inadequately controlled with a conventional treatment.
Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Humans; Nose; Omalizumab; Rhinitis, Allergic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34714895
DOI: 10.4193/Rhin21.159