Research - Allergies
Food allergies are associated with increased disease activity in multiple sclerosis
Rami Fakih, Camilo Diaz-Cruz, Alicia S Chua, Cindy Gonzalez, Brian C Healy, Neda Sattarnezhad, Bonnie I Glanz, Howard L Weiner,Tanuja Chitnis
Abstract
Objective The association between allergy and multiple sclerosis (MS) is still unclear. In our study, we assessed the association between a self-reported history of allergic conditions with MS clinical and MRI disease activity.
Methods A subset of 1349 patients enrolled in the Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (CLIMB) study completed a self-administered questionnaire on environmental, food and drug allergies. Patients were distributed among four allergy groups: (1) environmental, (2) food, (3) drug, (4) no known allergies (NKA). Clinical (number of attacks, expanded disability status scale (EDSS), MS severity score (MSSS)) and radiological variables (presence of gadolinium-enhancing lesions and lesion count), and their associations with the different allergy groups or those with NKA, were assessed.
Results The food allergy group had a 1.38 times higher rate for cumulative number of attacks compared with the NKA group (P=0.0062); this difference remained significant in the adjusted analysis (relapse rate ratio 1.27, P=0.0305). The food allergy group showed more than twice the likelihood (OR 2.53, P=0.0096) of having gadolinium-enhancing lesions on MRI. The environmental and drug allergy groups did not show significant differences when compared with the NKA group. The EDSS and MSSS were not affected by any type of allergy.
Conclusions MS patients with food allergy had more relapses and a higher likelihood of gadolinium-enhancing lesions compared with patients with no known allergy. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings and investigate underlying biological mechanisms, which may unveil new therapeutic and preventative strategies for MS.
Source : Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
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Hyeonggaeyeongyo-Tang for Treatment of Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis: A Prospective, Nonrandomized, Pre-Post Study
Min-Hee Kim,1,2 Jaewoong Son,1,2 Hae Jeong Nam,3 Seong-Gyu Ko,4 and Inhwa Choi2,3
Abstract
Hyeonggaeyeongyo-tang (HYT) is an ancient formula of oriental medicine traditionally used to treat rhinitis; however, clinical evidence has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term and long-term efficacy and safety of HYT for chronic rhinitis. Adult subjects with chronic rhinitis symptoms were recruited. The subjects received HYT for 4 weeks and had follow-up period of 8 weeks. Any medicines used to treat nasal symptoms were not permitted during the study. The skin prick test was performed to distinguish the subjects with allergic rhinitis from those with nonallergic rhinitis. After treatment, the total nasal symptoms score and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire score significantly improved in the whole subject group, in the allergic rhinitis group, and in the nonallergic rhinitis group, with no adverse events. This improvement lasted during a follow-up period of 8 weeks. Total IgE and eosinophil levels showed no significant difference after treatment in the allergic rhinitis group. HYT improved nasal symptoms and quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis. This is the first clinical study to evaluate the use of HYT to treat patients with rhinitis.
Source : Journal Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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KOTMIN13, a Korean herbal medicine alleviates allergic inflammation in vivo and in vitro
- Eujin Lee†,
- Sun-Gun Kim†,
- Na-Young Park,
- Hyo-Hyun Park,
- Kyu-Tae Jeong,
- Jongkeun Choi,
- In-Hae Lee,
- Hwadong Lee,
- Keuk-Jun KimEmail author and
- Eunkyung Lee
Abstract
Background
The ethanol extract of KOTMIN13, composed of Inula japonica Flowers, Trichosanthes kirilowii Semen,Peucedanum praeruptorum Radix, and Allium macrostemon Bulbs, was investigated for its anti-asthmatic and anti-allergic activities.
Methods
The anti-asthmatic effects of KOTMIN13 were evaluated on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine asthma model. Anti-allergic properties of KOTMIN13 in bone-marrow derived mast cells (BMMC) and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in vivo were also examined.
Results
In asthma model, KOTMIN13 effectively suppressed airway hyperresponsiveness induced by aerosolized methacholine when compared to the levels of OVA-induced mice. KOTMIN13 treatment reduced the total leukocytes, eosinophil percentage, and Th2 cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids in OVA-induced mice. The increased levels of eotaxin and Th2 cytokines in the lung as well as serum IgE were decreased by KOTMIN13. The histological analysis shows that the increased inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus secretion were also reduced. In addition, the degranulation and leukotriene C4 production were inhibited in BMMC with IC50 values of 3.9 μg/ml and 1.7 μg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, KOTMIN13 treatment attenuated mast-mediated PCA reaction.
Conclusions
These results demonstrate that KOTMIN13 has anti-asthmatic and anti-allergic effects in vivo and in vitro models.
Source : BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Suppression of neuropeptide production by quercetin in allergic rhinitis model rats
- Misako Kashiwabara,
- Kazuhito Asano
- Tomomi Mizuyoshi and
- Hitome Kobayashi
Abstract
Background
Quercetin, a dietary flavonoid found in many fruits, red wine and onion, among others, has been reported to have potent anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-cancer effects. Although quercetin is also reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, the precise mechanisms by which quercetin favorably modify the clinical conditions of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis (AR). The present study was designed to examine the influence of quercetin on the development of AR by using AR model rats.
Methods
Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were sensitized with toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) by intranasal instillation of a 10 % TDI in ethyl acetate in a volume of 5 μl once a day for 5 consecutive days. This sensitization procedure was repeated after a 2-day interval. After 5 days of the second sensitization, rats were treated with various doses of quercetin once a day for 2 to 7 days. Nasal allergy-like symptoms, which were induced by bilateral application of 5 μl of 10 % TDI in ethyl acetate, were assessed by counting sneezing and nasal rubbing behaviors for 10 min just after TDI nasal challenge. The levels of substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in nasal lavage fluids obtained 6 h after TDI nasal challenge was examined by ELISA.
Results
Oral administration of quercetin for 5 and 7 days, but not 2 and 3 days, could inhibit sneezing and nasal rubbing movements, which were increased by TDI nasal challenge. The minimum dose that caused significant inhibition was 25 mg/kg. Oral administration of quercetin at more than 25 mg/kg for 5 days significantly inhibited the increase in SP, CGRP and NGF contents in nasal lavage fluids induced by TDI nasal challenge.
Conclusion
The present results strongly suggested that quercetin will be a good candidate for the supplement on the management and treatment of allergic diseases, especially AR.
Source : BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Efficacy and safety of the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei LP-33 in allergic rhinitis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (GA2LEN Study)
D J Costa1, P Marteau2, M Amouyal1, L K Poulsen3, E Hamelmann4, M Cazaubiel5, B Housez5, S Leuillet5, M Stavnsbjerg6, P Molimard7, S Courau7 and J Bousquet8,9
- 1Primary Care Department, University of Medicine, Montpellier I University, Montpellier, France
- 2University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, APHP, Department of Hepato-gastro-enterology, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
- 3Allergy Clinic, Copenhagen University Hospital at Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 4University Children’s Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Department of Pediatrics, Bochum, Germany
- 5Biofortis, Mérieux NutriSciences Company, Saint-Herblain, France
- 6Global Regulatory and External Affairs, Chr. Hansen A/S, Hørsholm, Denmark
- 7Merck Consumer Health, Merck Médication Familiale, Dijon, France
- 8Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier, France
- 9Inserm, CESP Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, Respiratory and Environmental Epidemiology team, Villejuif, France
Background/objectives: An imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cells is involved in allergic rhinitis (AR) that may be improved by probiotics. To test the efficacy of the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei LP-33, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial was carried out in patients with AR to grass pollen treated with loratadine and presenting altered quality of life.
Subjects/methods: Subjects with persistent AR, symptomatic during the grass pollen season, and a positive skin test or specific immunoglobulin E to grass pollens were included by general practitioners (GPs). All received loratadine for 5 weeks. The primary end point was the improvement in Rhinitis Quality of Life (RQLQ) global score at the fifth week of LP-33 consumption compared with placebo (in addition to loratadine). Secondary end points included nasal and ocular symptoms (individual and total symptom scores), visual analogue scale and time of first exacerbation of the symptoms when loratadine was stopped.
Results: A total of 425 subjects were included. Using intent-to-treat analysis, the RQLQ global score decreased significantly more in the LP-33 group than in the placebo group (P=0.0255, difference=−0.286 (95% confidence interval (CI): −0.536; −0.035)). No significant differences were noted for the change of the rhinitis total symptom score 5 global score between groups (P=0.1288, difference=−0.452 (95% CI: −1.036; 0.132)). Significant differences in ocular symptoms (RQLQ) were observed between groups (P=0.0029, difference=−0.4087 (95% CI: −0.6768; −0.1407)).
Conclusions: This study performed by GPs shows that LP-33 improves the quality of life of subjects with persistent AR who are currently being treated with an oral H1-antihistamine. Whereas nasal symptoms had not changed, ocular symptoms had consistently improved.
Source : EU Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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