The present study confirmed that jellyfish intake is safe, even for allergic individuals, and its organoleptic properties were accepted by the study population. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

The prevalence of food allergy (FA) has increased too rapidly, possibly due to environmental factors. The guidelines recommend strict allergen avoidance, but FA is still the main cause of anaphylaxis in all age groups. Immunotherapy is the only treatment able to change the course of allergic disease, and oral immunotherapy (OIT) is the more effective route in FA. However, it carries the risk of adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis. To improve OIT safety, adjuvant therapy with the immunoglobulin E (IgE) monoclonal antibody omalizumab has been extensively used. Results suggest particular benefit in patients with high risk of fatal anaphylaxis. An alternative approach is to use omalizumab instead of OIT to prevent severe allergic reactions upon accidental exposure. This paper reviews current evidence regarding IgE‐mediated FA, focusing on natural tolerance and food sensitization acquisition, and on avoidance measures and their limitations.

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Objective: to analyze component resolved diagnosis to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) in patients with respiratory allergy and its relationship with clinical severity in different geographical areas. Methods: 217patients (mean age 25.85±12.7 years; 51.16% females) were included, selected from 13 centers in Portugal (5 from North, n=65). All had allergic rhinitis, with or without asthma, and had positive skin prick tests to at least one dust mite.Specific IgE (sIgE) to Der p, Dermatophagoides farinae, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Der p1, Der p 2, Der p 10 and Der p 23 were determined by ImmunoCAP. Statistical analysis(Mann Whitney U test) compared patients with rhinitis vs rhinitis and asthma; mild vsmoderate-to-severe rhinitis; North vs South. Results: Prevalence of sensitization was 98.2% to Der p, and 72.4%, 89.4%, 9.7% and 77% to Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 10 and Der p 23, respectively. Corresponding median sIgE levelswere 8.56, 17.7, 0.01 and 3.95 kU A /L. sIgE to all allergens was higher in patients with moderate-to-severe rhinitis and rhinitis with asthma but not statistically significant (NSS). sIgE to Der p 2 was significantly higher in the South when compared with the North (p=0.0496). Conclusions: sensitization to Der p is the most common in Portugal. Der p 2 had the highest prevalence and median sIgE levels. All sIgE to molecular components were higher in more symptomatic patients (NSS). sIgE to Der p 2 was higher in the South, which may be related to the warmer temperature and/or the larger sample size.

Reported cases of anaphylaxis following COVID-19 vaccination raised concerns about the safety of these vaccines, namely in patients suffering from clonal mast cell (MC) disorders—a heterogenous group of disorders in which patients may be prone to anaphylaxis caused by vaccination. This study aimed to assess the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with clonal MC disorders. We performed an ambidirectional cohort study with 30 clonal MC disorder patients (n = 26 in the prospective arm and n = 4 in the retrospective arm), that were submitted to COVID-19 vaccination. Among these, 11 (37%) were males, and median age at vaccination date was 41 years (range: 5 y to 76 y). One patient had prior history of anaphylaxis following vaccination. Those in the prospective arm received a premedication protocol including H1- and H2-antihistamines and montelukast, while those in the retrospective arm did not premedicate. Overall, patients received a total of 81 doses, 73 under premedication and 8 without premedication. No MC activation symptoms were reported. COVID-19 vaccination seems to be safe in patients with clonal mast cell disorders, including those with prior anaphylaxis following vaccination. Robust premedication protocols may allow for vaccination in ambulatory settings.