This review will address cross-reactivity of pollen, fungal, and animal aeroallergens. In the 15 years or so that have transpired since similar reviews on pollen cross-reactivity were published, significant additional information both on cross-allergenicity and on plant systematics has become available (1,2). This review will attempt to incorporate those advances. Cross-reactivity among foods w...

Methods A prospective 10-year-follow-up study has been designed to evaluate 194 LAR patients and 97 healthy controls. All LAR patients had positive response to nasal allergen provocation test (NAPT) with at least one aeroallergen. Demographic and clinical questionnaire, spirometry, skin prick testing, and serum specific IgE antibodies to common aeroallergens were evaluated yearly, and NAPT were...

Background A number of common aeroallergens have serine proteinase activity, which is important for allergic sensitization. House dust mite (HDM), and other allergens with serine proteinase activity activate Protease-Activated Receptor-2 (PAR-2). We have shown that PAR-2 activation in the airways leads to allergic sensitization to concomitantly inhaled antigens, implicating PAR-2 in the pathoge...

BACKGROUND Birth cohort studies in some countries have shown a link between caesarean section and asthma. AIM To determine if there is an association between asthma and delivery via caesarean section in Malaysian children. METHOD This is a case-control study involving 156 children aged 3-15 years old, in a tertiary hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Seventy-eight children with a confirmed ...