High correlation of specific IgE sensitization between birch pollen, soy and apple allergens indicates pollen-food allergy syndrome among birch pollen allergic patients in northern China

Background： Birch pollen sensitization and associated pollen-food syndrome among Chinese allergic patients have not been investigated. Methods： Sera from 203 allergic patients from the northern part of China and collected during February to July 2014 were investigated. Specific immunoglobulin E （IgE） against birch pollen extract Bet v and major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 were measured using the ADVIA Centaur. The presence of major apple allergen Mal d 1 and soy bean allergen Gly m 4 specific IgE was measured by ImmunoCAP 100. Results： Among the 203 sere, 34 sera （16.7%） had specific IgE to Bet v and of these, 28 sere （82.4%） contained Bet v 1-specific IgE. Among the 28 sera with Bet v 1-specific IgE, 27 sera （96.4%） contained Mal d 1-specific IgE and 22 sera （78.6%） contained Gly m 4-specific igE. Of the 34 Bet v-positive sera, 6 sera （17.6%） contained no specific IgE for Bet v 1, Mal d 1, or Gly m 4. Almost all Bet v-positive sera were donated during the birch pollen season. Conclusions： The prevalence of birch allergy among patients visiting health care during pollen season can be as high as 16.7% in Tangshan City. The majority of Chinese birch allergic patients are IgE-sensitized to the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 as well as to the major apple allergen Mal d 1 and soy bean allergen Gly m 4. A relatively high number of patients （17.6%） are IgE-sensitized to birch pollen allergen（s） other than Bet v 1. The high prevalence of specific IgE to Mal d 1 and Gly m 4 among Bet v 1-sensitized patients indicates that pollen-food allergy syndrome could be of clinical relevance in China.

Prevalence of sensitization to weed pollens of Humulus scandens,Artemisia vulgaris,and Ambrosia artemisiifolia in northern China

Objective:Weed pollens are common sources of allergens worldwide.The prevalence of weed pollen sensitization is not yet fully known in China.The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sensitization to weed allergens from Artemisia,Ambrosia,and Humulus in northern China.Methods:A total of 1144 subjects(aged from 5 to 68 years) visiting our clinic from June to October 2011 underwent intradermal testing using a panel of 25 allergen sources.Subjects with positive skin responses to any pollen were further tested for their serum concentrations of IgE antibodies against Artemisia vulgaris,Ambrosia artemisiifolia,and Humulus scandens,and against the purified allergens,Art v 1 and Amb a 1.Results:Of 1144 subjects,170 had positive intradermal reactions to pollen and 144 donated serum for IgE testing.The prevalence of positive intradermal responses to pollens of Artemisia sieversiana,Artemisia annua,A.artemisiifolia,and H.scandens was 11.0%,10.2%,3.7%,and 6.6%,respectively.Among the intradermal positive subjects,the prevalence of specific IgE antigens to A.vulgaris was 58.3%,to A.artemisiifolia 14.7%,and to H.scandens 41.0%.The prevalence of specific IgE antigens to the allergen Art v 1 was 46.9%,and to Amb a 1 was 11.2%.The correlation between the presence of IgE antibodies specific to A.vulgaris and to the Art v 1 antigen was very high.Subjects with A.artemisiifolia specific IgE also had A.vulgaris specific IgE,but with relatively high levels of A.vulgaris IgE antibodies.There were no correlations between the presence of IgE antibodies to H.scandens and A.vulgaris or to H.scandens and A.artemisiifolia.Conclusions:The intradermal prevalence of weed pollen sensitization among allergic subjects in northern China is about 13.5%.Correlations of specific IgE antibodies suggest that pollen allergens from Artemisia and Humulus are independent sources for primary sensitization.

Phase composition, morphology and element contents of micro-arc oxidation ceramic coatings on Ti–6Al–4V alloy under different calcination conditions

Compound ceramic coatings with the main crystalline of Al_2TiO_5（in the as-prepared coating without treatment） were prepared in situ on the surface Ti-6Al-4V alloy by means of pulsed bipolar micro-arc oxidation in Na AlO_2 solution. For the purpose of studying the antioxidation properties of the samples, the coated samples treated in argon and the as-coated samples were calcined in air at 1000 °C. And the related characteristics were investigated by X-ray diffraction（XRD）, scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and X-ray fluorescence（XRF） spectroscopy, respectively. The results show that, when it was calcined in air for 1 h, Al_2TiO_5in the as-prepared coating decomposed and transformed into α-Al_2O_3 and rutile TiO_2.However, after almost 4 h in argon, Al_2TiO_5in the asprepared coating decomposed and the final coating surface contents are completely α-Al_2O_3, and those of the middle interface are mainly Al_2O_3 and Ti_2O_3. The morphologies of the coatings after calcination in argon and air are different.High-temperature oxidation occurred violently in the alloy substrate without coatings. Furthermore, the weight gain curves of the as-prepared samples and the coated samples treated in argon both show a parabolic shape.