Ulrich Wahn

..Sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy is a viable alternative to subcutaneous immunotherapy particularly attractive for use in children...

..SIT should not only be recognised as first-line therapeutic treatment for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis but also as secondary preventive treatment for respiratory allergic diseases...

..In order to determine if these differences are accounted for by the circulation of different RSV subtypes, we studied the prevalence of RSV subtype A and B strains in Zagreb County from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2007...

..Thus, we tried to further elucidate the role of ADAM33 polymorphisms (SNPs) in a genetic analysis of German case control and longitudinal populations...

..We assessed whether early treatment of AD signs/symptoms with pimecrolimus could influence long-term outcome by preventing disease flares...

..Specific allergen immunotherapy although being performed for almost 100 years, is still being addressed in clinical trials. In children the sublingual allergen application has gained considerable interest...

..Several asthma controllers are indicated for use in children. International guidelines recommend the use of inhaled corticosteroids as the preferred controller therapy in mild persistent asthma...

..Infantile diet, early exposure to environmental allergens and a variety of environmental and lifestyle factors may act as strong modulators of atopy during the first decade of life...

..These factors include gastrointestinal or skin exposure to food allergens; respiratory exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens; presence of environmental pollutants such as tobacco smoke; and exposure to microbial compounds...

..On the other hand, the evaluation of risk factors and determinants is a necessary prerequisite for any effective intervention...

..It should be noted, however, that the association of allergy prevalence and a loss of allergy protective factors described above seems to be more pronounced regarding respiratory allergy than other phenotypes of the atopic syndrome...

..The efficacy and safety of the 300-index of reactivity (IR) dose of 5-grass-pollen sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablets (Stallergènes, Antony, France) have been demonstrated for the treatment of hay fever in adults...

..These findings suggest that IL13 variants play a major role not only in non-cognate but also in allergen specific IgE synthesis...

..Our data suggest that MBL deficiency does not represent a pre-disposing factor for respiratory infections or atopic disorders in infants and children...

..0001). The replication and its statistical significance underlines the importance of the FLG polymorphisms and the importance of the skin barrier function in the development of AD and subsequent asthma...

..Furthermore, candidate gene studies of atopic dermatitis and increased total serum IgE levels on chromosomes 5q, 12q and 17q in MAS-children and their parents are outlined...

..Our data suggest that these ICOS variants do not play a major role in the development of atopy in European children...

..We conclude from our data that polymorphisms within GSTP1 do not play a major role in the development of bronchial asthma in German children...

..Asthma prediction in early infancy is essential for the development of new preventive strategies. Loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG) were identified as risk factors for eczema and associated asthma...

..Unknown factors between birth and school age determine the progressive loss of pulmonary function in children with persistent asthma. We investigated the role of allergic sensitisation and allergen exposure early in life...

..Children with AD and wheeze have a marked loss in lung function, suggesting a distinct phenotype rather than a progressive development from AD to asthma...

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..We delineated T-cell functions after induction of mucosal tolerance in the context of intranasally delivered organic dust compounds, lipopolysaccharides (LPS)...

..05 for all five domains, despite the very short duration of the study. It is concluded that improvements in atopic eczema in infants achieved by treatment with pimecrolimus have a significant beneficial effect on the QoL of parents...

..To analyze prevalences of allergic sensitization and atopic disease in relation to vaccination coverage...

..IL-31 is a novel cytokine that, when overexpressed in transgenic mice, induces severe itching dermatitis resembling human eczema...

..Episodes within these reference values per se should not cause unwarranted concern or intervention because of suspected immunodeficiency...

..We conclude that this SNP might not play a major role in the pathogenesis of asthma or BHR in German children...

..Self-Rating is combined with proxy-rating by parents in the use of the questionnaire...

..Conflicting data have emerged regarding the potential benefit of air cleaners with respect to a reduction of indoor pet allergens and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR)...

..CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our results suggest that the maintenance and repair of the epidermal barrier in infants with eczema may prevent the subsequent development of allergic airways disease...

..IgE sensitization against grass pollen is a cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis...

..Lower prevalence of atopy was found in children with continuous exposure to livestock and thus to microbial compounds. In animal models exposure to endotoxin (LPS) decreases allergic sensitization and airway inflammation...

..Therefore, we analyzed the binding of specific IgE antibodies to sequential epitopes of peanut and walnut in peanut-allergic patients with and without walnut allergy...

..These data show that the combination of anti-IgE plus SIT may be beneficial for the treatment of allergic diseases, offering improved efficacy, limited adverse effects, and potential immune-modifying effects...

..Moreover, the importance of considering cost-driving factors and using cohort or longitudinal designs in cost-of-illness approaches is emphasized...

..Lack of COL29A1 expression in the outer epidermis of AD patients points to a role of collagen XXIX in epidermal integrity and function, the breakdown of which is a clinical hallmark of AD...

..Within the last several years, the usefulness of oral immunotherapy has been investigated in food allergic patients. This review covers the most recent findings...

..The only treatment option for peanut allergy is strict avoidance...

..This will foster the substantiation of disease-prevention strategies, such as asthma, during the prenatal period...

..The aim of this study was to compare subjectively reported noise annoyance in 12-year-old asthmatic and non-asthmatic children with special regard to sex-specific differences...

..CC16 is expressed in the bronchial epithelium and exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the CC16 gene (A38G) was previously associated with asthma...

..In the present review, state-of-the-art treatment of allergic diseases with anti-IgE and allergen-specific immunotherapy is summarized, and the potential of combination therapy with both treatment options is discussed...

..CONCLUSION: Age related educational programmes for the control of atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents are effective in the long term management of the disease...

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..The test thus provides an opportunity for early correct diagnosis and identification of subjects at risk for whom intervention may be necessary...

..Additional clinical benefit was demonstrated in both pollen seasons, whether there was coverage by SIT or not. This combination might prove useful for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, particularly for polysensitized patients...

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..Granulysin produced by cytolytic T cells directly contributes to immune defense against tuberculosis (TB). We investigated granulysin as a candidate immune marker for childhood and adolescent TB...

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..8+/-3.5 vs. 4.1+/-3.3 episodes) or the average duration of episodes (7.7+/-3.5 vs. 7.6+/-3.8 days). CONCLUSION: This study does not demonstrate any beneficial effect of hydrotherapy on preschool children with frequent common colds...

..CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: For daily clinical practice, the APT adds only a small predictive value to the standard SPT and sIgE measurement in the diagnostic workup of suspected food-related symptoms in our study population...

..In summary, our results provide preliminary evidence for the reliability and construct, concurrent, and clinical validity of the instrument...

..However, anti-infective treatment administered before immunomodulatory therapy is likely to be decisive for the long-term therapeutic effect...

..We also assessed test agreement between IP-10 and the QuantiFERON(®)-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT) test results, and investigated whether IP-10 release upon mitogen stimulation is associated with age...

..They did not differ significantly between atopic and nonatopic individuals. Serum levels of ATRA are related to those of provitamin A carotenoids but are not directly related to atopy in the present study...

..This study demonstrates that in CF patients with end-stage lung disease, walking distance during a 12-min walk test is more informative with respect to survival than single parameters such as SaO(2,) pCO(2), FEV(1) or BMI...

..The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of these peptides in airway surface fluid of CF patients with mild lung disease...

..Most infants developing atopic dermatitis have a low risk for atopy. Primary prevention of atopic dermatitis is difficult...

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..CONCLUSION: We conclude that the evidence supports the validity and reliability of the instrument. An important future area of application is the use in comparative multi-center international studies...

..Allergen-specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is usually considered a "second-line," slow-acting, disease-modifying treatment...

..A high-sensitivity CRP assay is necessary to detect this low level, and in the case of iron or vitamin A, it can help to avoid misclassification of the nutritional status...

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..Finally, significant reduction of treatment costs was achieved. We conclude that structured training programs for parents of children with AD is a helpful adjunct to dermatological treatment...

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..In children, it appears to be more appropriate to calculate the INH dose on the basis of body surface area rather than bodyweight...

..This study demonstrated a weak protective effect of BCG vaccination against asthma but a much stronger protective effect of non-German ethnicity against atopic manifestations among preschool children from Germany...

..CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of the H(1)-antihistamine fexofenadine has been confirmed in this multicenter, multinational study of children aged 6 to 11 years with seasonal allergic rhinitis...

..CONCLUSION: These data indicate that local and systemic application of LPS modulates systemic and local T(H)1/T(H)2 immune responses in a distinct but similarly IL-12-dependent mode...

..It acts downstream of interleukin-13; inhibition of AMCase leads to an abrogated T-helper cell 2 inflammation, less bronchial hyperreactivity, and fewer eosinophils...

..We conclude that in patients with CF, an increase in neutrophilic airway inflammation is found that is positively influenced by rhDNase treatment...