The 'Wieliczka' Salt Mine with specific stable, microclimatic conditions is a unique place, where pulmonary and allergy-related diseases are treated. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of biological particles in the air of the 'Wieliczka' Salt Mine in relation to the location and time. Twenty measurements were taken quarterly in 2012-2016, in four salt chambers. The volumetric and impact methods were used to measure microbiological contamination, while the mite and cat allergens were measured using FEIA assay. The statistically significant differences among the study sites and time of measurements, treated as the following seasons, for spores and bacteria were found. Pollen grains were observed in the underground chambers rarely and in significantly lower quantities than outdoors. No statistically significant differences between the content of Der p1 and Fel d1 allergens among the study locations, seasons and patient presence/absence were found. The qualitative content of microorganisms in the air of salt chambers seems to be related to the biological material carrying in by patients and staff. Keywords Underground air quality Á Allergen free zone Á Fungal spores Á Bacteria Á Impact and volumetric methods Á Subterraneotherapy Á Speleotherapy

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Skoczowski A, Obtułowicz K, Czarnobilska E, Dyga W, Mazur M, Stawoska I, Waga J. Antibody reactivity in patients with IgE-mediated wheat allergy to various subunits and fractions of gluten and non-gluten proteins from ω-gliadin-free wheat genotypes. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2017; 24(2): 229-236. doi: 10.5604/12321966.1233572 Abstract Introduction and objective. Gluten proteins (gliadins and glutenins) are polymorphic wheat storage proteins of allergenic properties. Significant differences in chemical composition between both protein groups allow to expect highly specific immunological response of individual subunits and fractions in reactions with IgE sera of people allergic to wheat. The aim of these studies was to identify and characterize the most allergenic gluten proteins (GP) and nongluten proteins (NGP) occurred in two closely related wheat hybrid genotypes. Materials and method. 3xC and 3xN wheat hybrids, which differ strongly in regard of gliadin composition, were analyzed. Seven people manifesting different symptoms of wheat allergy donated sera for the experiment. The technique of immunoblotting after SDS-PAGE was used for identification of allergenic subunits and fractions among GP and NGP. Immunologically active protein bands were visualized by chemiluminescence. Results. Great variation of immunodetection spectra was observed. Results of immunoblotting showed LMW glutenins to be of highest, gliadins of medium, while NGP of lowest allergenicity for selected patients. The 43-kDa and 47-kDa LMW glutenin subunits, 40-kDa and 43-kDa γ-gliadin fractions and 49-kDa NGP can be considered as the most immunoreactive among all protein bands separated by SDS-PAGE. Conclusion. The observed differentiation of immunodetection spectra allows to model highly specific IgE-binding profiles of allergenic wheat proteins attributed to individual patients with symptoms of gluten intolerance. Highly immunoreactive subunits and fractions among GP and NGP were identified. The observed immunoreactivity of 49 kDa NGP is worth to emphasize, as it has never been reported as wheat allergenic protein before.

Abdominal angioedema attacks are a frequent and typical symptom of hereditary angioedema (HAE) but very often generate diagnostic problems. The study presents laboratory and clinical findings of 7 patients with HAE 1/2 hospitalized due to severe attacks. In all cases, at admittance severe abdominal pain, flatulence, strong weakness, different grade of nausea/vomiting or diarrhoea and abundant free fluid in peritoneal cavity were present. In the history of all patients, recurrent 2 to 3 day long abdominal attack with ascites, were announced. Laboratory data done before the treatment showed elevated leukocytosis, hematocrit, serum glucose, high D-dimers and decreased value of APTT. All patients had an abdominal ultrasound examination, in 5 patients additional abdominal angio-CT was performed to exclude thromboembolic episode. The infusion of human C1 inhibitor concentrate was administered as causative treatment. Completely withdrawal of symptoms was noted up to72 hrs after infusion. In addition all laboratory parameters normalized as well as the free fluid in abdominal cavity disappeared, however, Ddimers serum level despite a decreasing tendency reached the normal range just after 2 weeks.

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