MeDALL (Mechanisms of the Development of ALLergy; EU FP7‐CP‐IP; Project No: 261357; 2010–2015) has proposed an innovative approach to develop early indicators for the prediction, diagnosis, prevention and targets for therapy. MeDALL has linked epidemiological, clinical and basic research using a stepwise, large‐scale and integrative approach: MeDALL data of precisely phenotyped children followed in 14 birth cohorts spread across Europe were combined with systems biology (omics, IgE measurement using microarrays) and environmental data. Multimorbidity in the same child is more common than expected by chance alone, suggesting that these diseases share causal mechanisms irrespective of IgE sensitization. IgE sensitization should be considered differently in monosensitized and polysensitized individuals. Allergic multimorbidities and IgE polysensitization are often associated with the persistence or severity of allergic diseases. Environmental exposures are relevant for the development of allergy‐related diseases. To complement the population‐based studies in children, MeDALL included mechanistic experimental animal studies and in vitro studies in humans. The integration of multimorbidities and polysensitization has resulted in a new classification framework of allergic diseases that could help to improve the understanding of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of allergy as well as to better manage allergic diseases. Ethics and gender were considered. MeDALL has deployed translational activities within the EU agenda.

Light transmission by thin films of nonhaemolysed blood is affected by the multiple scattering that occurs in undiluted blood. Previous studies did not permit investigation in terms of a light-scattering theory. The present study was made with an integrating-sphere spectrophotometer.Application of Twersky's theory for the multiple scattering of waves permitted separation of the effects of absorption and scattering on the light transmittance of nonhaemolysed blood. It is shown that the relationship between light scattering and red-cell concentration is parabolic and that the absorption of light within the erythrocyte is the same as in a haemoglobin solution.

The reflectance of light by nonhaemolysed blood has been studied previously only in thick layers. Some reflection oximetric techniques assumed an exponential relationship between oxygen saturation and reflection, whereas others assumed an inverse linear relationship. Reflectance and transmittance of thin films of flowing nonhaemolysed blood were measured, using an integrating sphere. Reflection and transmission were found to be linearly related, demonst,rat>ing bhat reflection is exponentially related to the extinction coefficient of haemoglobin. Confirmation was obtained of the observations that reflection increases and becomes asymptotic as sample depth increases and that reflection bears a parabolic relationship to the concentration of red blood cells.