Desensitization for Peanut Allergies in Children.
Immunotherapy for peanut allergy has been an exploding topic of study within the last few years. Sublingual, epicutaneous, and oral immunotherapy are being investigated and show promise in the treatment of peanut allergy. Oral immunotherapy has shown the most clinical benefit; however, sublingual and epicutaneous immunotherapy appear to have the most favorable safety profiles. Most studies to date suggest that only a minority of subjects achieve sustained unresponsiveness to peanut after discontinuation of immunotherapy. Recent efforts have been focused on identifying adjunct therapies, such as omalizumab, that may assist patients in achieving peanut desensitization more quickly and with greater success. Several underlying immunologic mechanisms, including a switch from IgE to IgG4 production and induction of T regulatory cells, have been studied although more research is needed to identify reliable biomarkers. This article will describe the immunotherapy approaches that are being investigated to induce peanut desensitization, and highlight the benefits and risks of these therapies that need to be considered before they are ready for routine clinical practice.
Early introduction of food reduces food allergy–Pro.
Over the past two decades we have been debating the question of whether the age of commencement of complementary feeding affects the risk of developing food allergy. We ate up the notion that delayed introduction of more allergenic foods in early childhood, would help overcome the increasing rates of food allergy, then we promptly spat it out again despite limited evidence. Recently high-quality randomised controlled trial evidence has given us the confidence to swallow the concept that allergenic foods, like egg and peanut, should be given to infants. We now need to recommend that when an infant is developmentally ready, a variety of nutritious foods should be introduced to ensure high diet diversity, including the 'more allergenic' foods during infancy.
Supplementation with Brazil nuts and green tea extract regulates targeted biomarkers related to colorectal cancer risk in humans.
Se and green tea have been shown in epidemiological, observational and preclinical studies to be inversely related to the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). However, there are limited studies to evaluate their regulatory effects on genes/proteins that relate to CRC oncogenesis in human subjects, such as selenoproteins, WNT signalling pathway, inflammation and methylation. This study examined the effects of supplementation of Se using Brazil nuts and green tea extract (GTE) capsules, alone and in combination, on targeted biomarkers. In total, thirty-two volunteers (>50 years of age) with plasma Se≤1·36 µmol/l were randomised to one of three treatment groups: nine to Se (approximately 48 µg/d) as six Brazil nuts, eleven to four GTE capsules (800 mg (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate) and twelve to a combination of Brazil nuts and GTE. Blood and rectal biopsies were obtained before and after each intervention. Plasma Se levels, rectal selenoprotein P (SePP) and β-catenin mRNA increased significantly in subjects consuming Brazil nuts alone or in combination, whereas rectal DNA methyltransferase (DNMT1) and NF-κB mRNA were reduced significantly in subjects consuming GTE alone or in combination. None of the interventions significantly affected rectal acetylated histone H3 or Ki-67 expression at the protein level or plasma C-reactive protein. Effects of the combination of Brazil nuts and GTE did not differ from what would be expected from either agent alone. In conclusion, supplementation of Brazil nuts and/or GTE regulates targeted biomarkers related to CRC oncogenesis, specifically genes associated with selenoproteins (SePP), WNT signalling (β-catenin), inflammation (NF-κB) and methylation (DNMT1). Their combination does not appear to provide additional effects compared with either agent alone.
Discrimination of almonds (Prunus dulcis) geographical origin by minerals and fatty acids profiling.
Twenty-one almond samples from three different geographical origins (Sicily, Spain and California) were investigated by determining minerals and fatty acids compositions. Data were used to discriminate by chemometry almond origin by linear discriminant analysis. With respect to previous PCA profiling studies, this work provides a simpler analytical protocol for the identification of almonds geographical origin. Classification by using mineral contents data only was correct in 77% of the samples, while, by using fatty acid profiles, the percentages of samples correctly classified reached 82%. The coupling of mineral contents and fatty acid profiles lead to an increased efficiency of the classification with 87% of samples correctly classified.
Potential health benefits and quality of dried fruits: goji fruits, cranberries and raisins.
Dried fruits are important snacks and additives to other foods due to their taste and nutritional advantages. Therefore there is an important goal to control the quality of the food on the market for consumer's safety. Antioxidant activity of goji fruits (Lycium barbarum), cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon and oxycoccus) and raisins (Vitis vinifera) were studied using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and Folin-Ciocalteu assays. Cu, Mn and Ge influencing antioxidant activity were determined together with selected toxic metals (Cd, Ni and Pb). Contamination with fungi was studied by quantification of their marker - ergosterol and important mycotoxins (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, and ochratoxin A) were also determined. Antioxidant activity of all tested dried fruits was confirmed with goji fruits being the most profitable for consumers. Contamination of the tested fruits with toxic metals and mycotoxins was low.
Exploratory analysis of CD63 and CD203c expression in basophils from hazelnut sensitized and allergic individuals.
BACKGROUND: Sensitization to hazelnut (HN) is frequent and requires clarification to determine whether this sensitization is clinically relevant. The aim of this study was to investigate basophil activation profiles in HN-sensitized and allergic subjects. METHODS: Basophil activation was determined by flow cytometric analyses of CD63 and CD203c expression using several HN allergen concentrations. Depending on their clinical reaction pattern, an oral allergy symptom group (OAS, n = 20), a systemic reaction group (n = 12) and a sensitized group without clinical symptoms (n = 20) were identified. Additionally, 10 non-allergic and non-sensitized individuals served as controls. RESULTS: CD63 and CD203c expression differed between allergic (OAS and systemic group) and sensitized subjects. The HN concentration required to activate 30% of CD203c+ basophils [effective concentration (EC)30] was significantly higher in sensitized versus the allergic group (p = 0.0089). This was more pronounced when the basophil allergen threshold sensitivity (CD-sens) was calculated (CD63: p = 0.018; CD203c: p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that the basophil activation test may provide information to better distinguish between sensitized and allergic subjects if several allergen concentrations are considered. CD203c expression displayed a better discrimination compared to CD63; therefore, its diagnostic value might be superior compared with CD63.
Streamlining the analytical workflow for multiplex MS/MS allergen detection in processed foods
Allergenic ingredients in pre-packaged foods are regulated by EU legislation mandating their inclusion on labels. In order to protect allergic consumers, sensitive analytical methods are required for detect allergen traces in different food products. As a follow-up to our previous investigations, an optimized, sensitive, label-free LC-MS/MS method for multiplex detection of five allergenic ingredients in a processed food matrix is proposed. A cookie base was chosen as a complex food matrix and home-made cookies incurred with whole egg, skimmed milk, soy flour, ground hazelnut and ground peanut were prepared at laboratory scale. In order to improve the analytical workflow both protein extraction and purification protocols were optimized and finally a sensitive streamlined SRM based analytical method for allergens detection in incurred cookies was devised. The effect of baking on the detection of selected markers was also investigated.
Advances in food allergy in 2015.
This review highlights research advances in food allergy that were published in the Journal in 2015. The world of food allergy research continues to rapidly accelerate, with increasing numbers of outstanding submissions to the Journal. In 2015, important studies on the epidemiology of food allergy were published, suggesting differential rates of food allergy in specific racial and ethnic groups. Even more importantly, studies were published identifying specific risk factors for the development of peanut allergy, as well as specific prevention strategies. We also saw new studies on the diagnosis of food allergy and potential approaches to the treatment of food allergy, as well as novel mechanistic studies helping to explain the immunologic correlates of food allergy and food desensitization.
INC to Grant €350,000 in 2017 to Nuts and Dried Fruits Research and Dissemination
INC has launched its 2017 Annual Research Grant and Annual Grant for Promotion and Dissemination Projects to better understand the health benefits of nuts and dried fruits and spread the message around the globe.
INC funds these projects through two different requests for proposals for a total of €300,000 allocated to research recipients and €50,000 to dissemination. Since INC began offering these grants, it has awarded more than one million euros to the dissemination of and research on the health effects of nuts and dried fruits. More information about INC Grants can be found here.
2016 Grant Awardees
This year the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) selected six projects to receive 187,000 euros, reinforcing its commitment to research that helps improve our understanding of the benefits of eating nuts and dried fruits, as well as dissemination projects. INC awarded grants to three research projects on the relationship of dried fruit to glycemic response, the effects of nut consumption and endothelial function, and the relationship between nuts and fat cells.
Grant recipients:
Project: Dried fruit as a means for lowering the glycemic response to high glycemic index-carbohydrate foods (clinical study). Lead researcher: Dr. Cyril Kendall, Glycemia Consulting Inc., Canada.
Project: Exploration of the effects of nut consumption on markers of inflammation and endothelial function (systematic review and meta-analysis). LR: Prof. Linda Tapsell, University of Wollongong, Australia.
Project: Effects of nut-derived miRNAs on inflammatory and metabolic profile of fat cells (animal and cell study). LR: Dr. Daniele Lettieri-Barbato, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
INC also issued a total of 50,000 euros in grant money to three promotion and dissemination projects. The goal is to build consumer demand for nuts and dried fruits and provide information about their properties and qualities. Additionally, INC prioritizes projects aimed at disseminating the outcomes of the scientific findings that come from INC-funded research on health and nutrition.
These projects were the beneficiaries of the INC’s grants: Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM), Czech Republic. Project: Nuts, Obesity and Diabetes Symposium, 34th International Symposium on Diabetes and Nutrition. Nucis Italia. Project: “Nuts & Fit, Frutta Secca & Sport, il mix ideale per tenersi in forma”. Nucis Germany. Project: “Update Ernährungsmedizin” (Nutritional Medicine Congress Update). Moreover, INC is allocating nearly 200,000 euros to a Global Dissemination Program to encourage the use of nuts and dried fruits as a top of mind product.
INC to Grant €350,000 in 2017 to Nuts and Dried Fruits Research and Dissemination
INC has launched its 2017 Annual Research Grant and Annual Grant for Promotion and Dissemination Projects to better understand the health benefits of nuts and dried fruits and spread the message around the globe.
INC funds these projects through two different requests for proposals for a total of €300,000 allocated to research recipients and €50,000 to dissemination. Since INC began offering these grants, it has awarded more than one million euros to the dissemination of and research on the health effects of nuts and dried fruits. More information about INC Grants can be found here.
2016 Grant Awardees
This year the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) selected six projects to receive 187,000 euros, reinforcing its commitment to research that helps improve our understanding of the benefits of eating nuts and dried fruits, as well as dissemination projects. INC awarded grants to three research projects on the relationship of dried fruit to glycemic response, the effects of nut consumption and endothelial function, and the relationship between nuts and fat cells.
Grant recipients:
Project: Dried fruit as a means for lowering the glycemic response to high glycemic index-carbohydrate foods (clinical study). Lead researcher: Dr. Cyril Kendall, Glycemia Consulting Inc., Canada.
Project: Exploration of the effects of nut consumption on markers of inflammation and endothelial function (systematic review and meta-analysis). LR: Prof. Linda Tapsell, University of Wollongong, Australia.
Project: Effects of nut-derived miRNAs on inflammatory and metabolic profile of fat cells (animal and cell study). LR: Dr. Daniele Lettieri-Barbato, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
INC also issued a total of 50,000 euros in grant money to three promotion and dissemination projects. The goal is to build consumer demand for nuts and dried fruits and provide information about their properties and qualities. Additionally, INC prioritizes projects aimed at disseminating the outcomes of the scientific findings that come from INC-funded research on health and nutrition.
These projects were the beneficiaries of the INC’s grants: Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM), Czech Republic. Project: Nuts, Obesity and Diabetes Symposium, 34th International Symposium on Diabetes and Nutrition. Nucis Italia. Project: “Nuts & Fit, Frutta Secca & Sport, il mix ideale per tenersi in forma”. Nucis Germany. Project: “Update Ernährungsmedizin” (Nutritional Medicine Congress Update). Moreover, INC is allocating nearly 200,000 euros to a Global Dissemination Program to encourage the use of nuts and dried fruits as a top of mind product.