Omalizumab rapidly improves angioedema-related quality of life in adult patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: X-ACT study data

Background The X-ACT study aims to examine the effect of omalizumab treatment on quality of life (QoL) in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients with angioedema refractory to high doses of H1-antihistamines. Methods In X-ACT, a phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, CSU patients (18–75 years) with ≥4 angioedema episodes during the 6 months before inclusion were randomized (1:1) to receive omalizumab 300 mg or placebo every 4 weeks for 28 weeks. Angioedema-related QoL, skin-related QoL impairment, and psychological well-being were assessed. Results Ninety-one patients were randomized and 68 (omalizumab, n=35; placebo, n=33) completed the 28-week treatment period. At baselin…

Development and validation of the mastocytosis quality of life questionnaire: MC-QoL

Background Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous disease characterized by a clonal expansion of mast cells in various organs. The vast majority of patients affected suffer from signs and symptoms caused by mediator release from mast cells. Although the disease burden is high, there is currently no specific instrument to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment in patients with mastocytosis. Objective The aim of this study was to develop and validate a disease-specific tool to assess HRQoL impairment in patients with cutaneous and indolent systemic mastocytosis, the Mastocytosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MC-QoL). Methods Sixty-two potential MC-QoL items were developed in a co…

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management and course of chronic urticaria

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically disrupts health care around the globe. The impact of the pandemic on chronic urticaria (CU) and its management are largely unknown. Aim: to understand how CU patients are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; how specialists alter CU patient management; and the course of CU in patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods: our cross-sectional, international, questionnaire-based, multicenter UCARE COVID-CU study assessed the impact of the pandemic on patient consultations, remote treatment, changes in medications, and clinical consequences. Results: the COVID-19 pandemic severely impairs CU patient care, with less than 50% of the weekly numbers o…

T cell killing by tolerogenic dendritic cells protects mice from allergy.

It is well established that allergy development can be prevented by repeated low-dose exposure to contact allergens. Exactly which immune mechanisms are responsible for this so-called low zone tolerance (LZT) is not clear, although CD8⁺ suppressor T cells are known to have a role. Here, we show that TNF released by tolerogenic CD11⁺CD8⁺ DCs located in skin-draining lymph nodes is required and sufficient for development of tolerance to contact allergens in mice. DC-derived TNF protected mice from contact allergy by inducing apoptosis in allergen-specific effector CD8⁺ T cells via TNF receptor 2 but did not contribute to the generation and function of the regulatory T cells associated with LZ…

Effect of Lanadelumab Compared With Placebo on Prevention of Hereditary Angioedema Attacks: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Current treatments for long-term prophylaxis in hereditary angioedema have limitations.To assess the efficacy of lanadelumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits active plasma kallikrein, in preventing hereditary angioedema attacks.Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 41 sites in Canada, Europe, Jordan, and the United States. Patients were randomized between March 3, 2016, and September 9, 2016; last day of follow-up was April 13, 2017. Randomization was 2:1 lanadelumab to placebo; patients assigned to lanadelumab were further randomized 1:1:1 to 1 of the 3 dose regimens. Patients 12 years or older with hereditary a…

Autologous whole blood injections to patients with chronic urticaria and a positive autologous serum skin test: a placebo-controlled trial.

<i>Background:</i> Patients with chronic urticaria (CU) frequently exhibit positive skin test reactions to autologous serum (ASST). Therapies aimed at inducing tolerance to circulating histamine-releasing factors in ASST+ CU patients, e.g. by treatment with autologous whole blood (AWB), have not yet been tested. <i>Objective:</i> To test whether ASST+ CU patients can benefit from repeated low-dose intramuscular injections of AWB. <i>Methods:</i> We characterized CU severity and duration, anti-Fc<sub>Ε</sub>RI and anti-IgE expression, use of antihistamines, and quality of life in 56 CU patients (ASST+: 35, ASST–: 21) and assessed the t…

Die Wahrnehmung verbaler und nonverbaler Kommunikation

In diesem Kapitel diskutieren wir eine Reihe von Theorien und Befunden zur Wahrnehmung verbaler und nonverbaler Informationen. Im ersten Abschnitt erlautern wir zunachst allgemein, was wir unter der Wahrnehmung von Informationen verstehen wollen. Danach befassen wir uns mit der Aufmerksamkeit fur verbale und nonverbale Signale. Dabei diskutieren wir den Visual Dominance-Effekt, den McGurk-Effekt sowie Befunde von neurowissenschaftlichen Studien und Eyetracking-Analysen, die zeigen, dass Menschen zuerst nonverbale Signale wahrnehmen, bevor sie sich verbalen Signalen zuwenden. Im dritten Abschnitt geht es uns um die Frage, wie Menschen verbale und nonverbale Signale verarbeiten und welche dav…

Development and validation of the Urticaria Control Test: a patient-reported outcome instrument for assessing urticaria control.

Background Chronic urticaria is a frequent and debilitating skin disease. Its symptoms commonly fluctuate considerably from day to day. As of yet, the only reliable tool to assess disease activity is the Urticaria Activity Score, which prospectively documents the signs and symptoms of urticaria for several days. Objective We sought to develop and validate a novel patient-reported outcome instrument to retrospectively assess urticaria control, the Urticaria Control Test (UCT). Methods Potential UCT items were developed by using established methods (literature research and expert and patient involvement). Subsequently, item reduction was performed by using a combined approach, applying impact…

Nonverbale politische Kommunikation: Definitionen und Grundlagen

In diesem Kapitel definieren wir zunachst die Begriffe Kommunikation und politische Kommunikation. Anschliesend unterscheiden wir zwischen verbaler und nonverbaler Kommunikation (Kommunikationskanale) und beschaftigen uns mit den verschiedenen Moglichkeiten, nonverbal zu kommunizieren (Kommunikationselemente). Wir argumentieren, dass Politik heute fast ausschlieslich medienvermittelt ist, und verdeutlichen, welche Elemente nonverbaler Kommunikation in diesem Kontext besonders relevant sind. Schlieslich prasentieren wir ein Modell medienvermittelter nonverbaler politischer Kommunikation, das als Grundlage fur die weiteren Kapitel dieses Lehrbuchs dient.

21. Mainzer Allergie-Workshop

Nonverbal Influence During Televised Debates

Experimental studies find a strong influence of nonverbal signals on the evaluation of political candidates when raters are asked to judge unknown candidates from short-duration exposures. Yet when viewers are exposed to candidates’ verbal and nonverbal communication in a more naturally occurring context, the presence of verbal communication can make the influence of nonverbal communication seem attenuated. To link these findings, the present study uses continuous response measurement to uncover the relative influence of verbal and nonverbal communication on political opinion formation during a debate clip lasting about 9 minutes. The analysis suggests that nonverbal communication influenc…

Migration of Melanoblasts into the Developing Murine Hair Follicle Is Accompanied by Transient c-Kit Expression

Disruption of the c-Kit/stem cell factor (SCF) signaling pathway interferes with the survival, migration, and differentiation of melanocytes during generation of the hair follicle pigmentary unit. We examined c-Kit, SCF, and S100 (a marker for precursor melanocytic cells) expression, as well as melanoblast/melanocyte ultrastructure, in perinatal C57BL/6 mouse skin. Before the onset of hair bulb melanogenesis (i.e., stages 0–4 of hair follicle morphogenesis), strong c-Kit immunoreactivity (IR) was seen in selected non-mela-nogenic cells in the developing hair placode and hair plug. Many of these cells were S100-IR and were ultrastructurally identified as melanoblasts with migratory appearanc…

The global burden of chronic urticaria for the patient and society*

Chronic urticaria (CU) affects about 1% of the world population of all ages, mostly young and middle-aged women. It usually lasts for several years (> 1 year in 25-75% of patients) and often takes > 1 year before effective management is implemented. It presents as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) or both in the same person. More than 25% of cases are resistant to H1 -antihistamines, even at higher doses, and third- and fourth-line therapies (omalizumab and ciclosporin) control the disease only in two-thirds of H1 -antihistamine-resistant patients. Here we review the impact of CU on different aspects of patients' quality of life and the burden of this …

Management of patients with hereditary angioedema in Germany: comparison with other countries in the Icatibant Outcome Survey

Abstract Background The Icatibant Outcome Survey (IOS; NCT01034969) is a Shire‐sponsored, international, observational study monitoring the safety and effectiveness of icatibant, a bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist approved for the acute treatment of adults with hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency (HAE‐C1‐INH). Objective To report IOS data comparing demographic and icatibant treatment outcomes in patients with HAE‐C1‐INH from Germany to HAE‐C1‐INH patients from 11 other IOS countries. Methods A descriptive, retrospective, comparative analysis of data from 685 IOS patients with HAE‐C1‐INH from seven centres in Germany (n = 93) vs. centres from Austria, Brazil, Czech Republic, …

Travel‐associated infectious skin diseases

The Urticaria Activity Score-Validity, Reliability, and Responsiveness.

Background Chronic spontaneous urticaria is characterized by fluctuating symptoms. Its activity is assessed with the urticaria activity score (UAS). Two versions of the urticaria activity score used for 7 consecutive days (UAS7) are available: (1) The guideline-recommended UAS7, with once-daily documentation, and (2) the UAS7TD, with twice-daily documentation. Objective To better characterize both UAS7 versions with regard to their validity, reliability, sensitivity to change, minimal important difference (MID), and smallest detectable change (SDC). Methods One hundred thirty adult patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria completed both UAS7 versions, the Patients Global Assessment (PatG…

Mast cells as initiators of immunity and host defense

Until recently, mast cells have been viewed primarily as harmful because of their key role as effector cells of allergic and potentially lethal anaphylactic reactions. Their contribution to human health appeared instead to be limited to the elimination of parasites. There is, however, growing evidence for additional beneficial functions of mast cells, particularly regarding the initiation of acquired immune reactions. Thus, mast cells can phagocytize diverse particles, take up antigens, and express a number of receptors, particularly MHC class I and II antigens, ICAM-1 and -3, CD43, CD80, CD86 and CD40L which allow them to interact with T and B lymphocytes. They can also secrete numerous cy…

TV-Duelle als Instrumente der Wahlkampfkommunikation: Mythen und Fakten

Die Geschichte der Fernsehdebatten begann im amerikanischen Prasidentschaftswahlkampf 1960. John F. Kennedy gewann die erste von vier Debatten, weil sein Kontrahent Richard Nixon krank aussah und schlecht rasiert war. Weil Kennedy die Debatte gewann, gewann er wenig spater auch die Prasidentschaftswahl. Spatere Prasidentschaftswahlkampfe wurden unter anderem dadurch entschieden, dass ein Kandidat wahrend einer Debatte zu haufig auf die Uhr sah oder zu oft uber die Aussagen seines Kontrahenten lachte. So oder ahnlich wird die Geschichte der Fernsehdebatten zusammengefasst, wenn deutsche Medien ihre Leser und Zuschauer auf die auch hierzulande immer popularer werdenden TV-Duelle in Wahlkampfe…

TLR3-induced activation of mast cells modulates CD8+ T-cell recruitment.

AbstractMast cells play an important role in host defense against various pathogens, but their role in viral infection has not been clarified in detail. dsRNA, synthesized by various types of viruses and mimicked by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) is recognized by Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3). In this study, we demonstrate that poly(I:C) injection in vivo potently stimulates peritoneal mast cells to up-regulate a number of different costimulatory molecules. Therefore, we examined the expression and the functional significance of TLR3 activation in mast cells. Mast cells express TLR3 on the cell surface and intracellularly. After stimulation of mast cells with poly(I:C) and Newcas…

Macrophage inflammatory protein-1.

Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha was identified 15 years ago as the first of now four members of the MIP-1 CC chemokine subfamily. These proteins termed CCL3 (MIP-1alpha), CCL4 (MIP-1beta), CCL9/10 (MIP-1delta), and CCL15 (MIP-1gamma) according to the revised nomenclature for chemokines are produced by many cells, particularly macrophages, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes. MIP-1 proteins, which act via G-protein-coupled cell surface receptors (CCR1, 3, 5), e.g. expressed by lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages (MPhi), are best known for their chemotactic and proinflammatory effects but can also promote homoeostasis. The encouraging results of preclinical studies in murine model…

Learning Versus Knowing

Many studies have shown that voters do learn about political issues from televised debates. Because debaters may not be interested in educating voters but in gaining votes, this does not necessarily mean that debate viewers improve their knowledge (i.e., learning something that is correct). Instead, they may become misinformed by watching a debate. Taking the second debate in the 2002 German general election as an example, we first compare people’s knowledge about economic facts before and after the debate with the actual situation as represented by official statistics. In a second step, we trace back the change or stability of their assessments of the state of the economy to candidates’ s…

Clinical features and epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis and Leishmania major/HIV co-infection in Cameroon: results of a large cross-sectional study.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in Central Africa, including Cameroon. However, data on its prevalence and co-infection with HIV are scarce. Here we present the results of a large cross-sectional study reporting the prevalence, clinical features and species identification of CL and HIV co-infection in northern Cameroon. A total of 32 466 subjects were clinically screened for CL during a door-to-door survey, followed by parasitological diagnosis in the field laboratory. Amongst the subjects surveyed, 146 (0.4%) were diagnosed with active CL. Seven (4.8%) of these 146 CL patients tested positive for HIV-1 and/or HIV-2. The number of lesions per CL patient ranged from 1 to 20. Three of…

Two-Step Flow of Communication

WITHDRAWN: Scaling up strategies of the Chronic Respiratory Disease programme of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (Action Plan B3 – Area 5)

Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in patients with chronic urticaria who exhibit IgE against thyroperoxidase

Background A subgroup of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CU) exhibits IgE antibodies directed against autoantigens, such as thyroperoxidase (TPO). We conducted this study to investigate whether such patients with CU with IgE against TPO benefit from treatment with omalizumab, a humanized anti-IgE mAb licensed for the treatment of severe persistent allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma. Objectives We sought to assess the efficacy of omalizumab treatment in patients with CU with IgE autoantibodies against TPO. Methods In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study patients with CU (male/female, 18-70 years of age) with IgE autoantibodies against TPO who had pers…

Total IgE levels are linked to the response of chronic spontaneous urticaria patients to omalizumab

Media Effects: Levels of Analysis

Epidemiology, comorbidities, and healthcare utilization of patients with chronic urticaria in Germany

Background. Comprehensive data on the epidemiology and comorbidities of chronic urticaria (CU) in Germany are either limited, or not contemporary. Objectives. To investigate the epidemiology of CU, overall comorbidities and healthcare resource utilized by patients with CU in Germany, using an anonymized statutory health insurance (SHI) database. Methods. Anonymized SHI claims research database of the Institute for Applied Health Research, Berlin [InGef] (01 January 2015-30 September 2018) was used to analyse insured individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of CU (ICD-10-GM codes). Twelve-month diagnosed prevalence and incidence, comorbidities (vs. atopic dermatitis and psoriasis), and healthc…

Characteristics and determinants of patient burden and needs in the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria

Objectives: Treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is based on evidence-based guidelines. However, specific patient needs and benefits from therapy have not been differentiated on the guideline level. The current study was designed to use the first part of the PBI, the PNQ, to characterize[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL]

15. Mainzer Allergie-Workshop 2003

Validation of the Angioedema Control Test (AECT)—A Patient-Reported Outcome Instrument for Assessing Angioedema Control

Background Recurrent angioedema (RA) is an important clinical problem in routine care and emergency medicine. As of recently, the only validated tools to specifically assess disease status in patients with RA were diary-type activity assessments and angioedema-related quality-of-life questionnaires. Although these tools are particularly helpful in clinical studies, they were not designed to determine disease control or to guide treatment decisions. To close this gap, the Angioedema Control Test (AECT) was published recently. Objective To test the AECT for its validity and reliability, and to identify a cutoff value to aid treatment decisions. Methods Two AECT versions with a recall period o…

Media Effects on Positive and Negative Learning

While educational science in the past mainly focused on students’ formal or intentional learning from courses, textbooks, or online tutorials in university contexts, communication science usually deals with ordinary citizens’ informal or unintentional learning from the mass media in everyday life. One of the general aims of the PLATO project is to bring these research traditions together. Therefore, this paper sums up research on media effects on positive and negative learning recently conducted; our studies show that media coverage is often biased and news media, therefore, contribute to negative as well as positive learning. Which kind of learning occurs, heavily depends on the way inform…

A randomized trial of quilizumab in adults with refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria

p53 Involvement in the control of murine hair follicle regression.

p53 is a transcription factor mediating a variety of biological responses including apoptotic cell death. p53 was recently shown to control apoptosis in the hair follicle induced by ionizing radiation and chemotherapy, but its role in the apoptosis-driven physiological hair follicle regression (catagen) remains to be elucidated. Here, we show that p53 protein is strongly expressed and co-localized with apoptotic markers in the regressing hair follicle compartments during catagen. In contrast to wild-type mice, p53 knockout mice show significant retardation of catagen accompanied by significant decrease in the number of apoptotic cells in the hair matrix. Furthermore, p53 null hair follicles…

Sustained safety and efficacy of ligelizumab in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: A one‐year extension study

Background: Ligelizumab, a next-generation, humanized anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) monoclonal antibody is in development as a treatment for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria, whose symptoms are inadequately controlled with standard-of-care therapy. Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety and re-treatment efficacy of ligelizumab 240 mg in patients who completed the core study and extension study. Methods: This open-label, single-arm, long-term Phase 2b extension study was designed to assess patients who were previously administered various doses of ligelizumab, omalizumab or placebo in the Phase 2b, dose-finding core study and who presented with active disease after Week 32. In …

Pioneer: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2 Study of Avapritinib in Patients with Indolent or Smoldering Systemic Mastocytosis with Symptoms Inadequately Controlled with Standard Therapy

Background: The gain-of function mutation KIT D816V plays a central role in the pathogenesis of systemic mastocytosis (SM). Among subtypes of SM, indolent SM (ISM) is the most frequent and is associated with normal/near-normal life expectancy; smoldering SM (SSM) is a subtype with a relatively higher burden of mast cells and may be associated with an increased risk of progression to advanced mastocytosis. However, both ISM and SSM patients may experience severe symptoms associated with mast cell mediator release, such as pruritus, diarrhea, anaphylaxis, and bone pain, which can be severely debilitating and have a profoundly negative impact on quality of life. Symptomatic treatments (eg, ant…

Development and construct validation of the angioedema quality of life questionnaire

Background Recurrent angioedema is a frequent clinical problem characterized by unpredictably and rapidly occurring cutaneous and mucosal swellings. These swellings may be painful and/or disfiguring. Upper airway involvement can also lead to dyspnea and suffocation. Although the disease burden is high, there is currently no specific instrument to measure health-related quality of life (QoL) impairment. Objective To develop and validate the first symptom-specific tool to assess QoL impairment in recurrent angioedema patients, adhering to established methodological recommendations. Methods During the development phase, 29 questions (items) were generated. Subsequently, item reduction was perf…

Allergen-Immuntherapie in der aktuellen COVID-19-Pandemie – ein Positionspapier von ARIA, EAACI, AeDA, GPA und DGAKI (Kurzversion) – Positionspapier der deutschen ARIA-GruppeA in Kooperation mit der österreichischen ARIA-GruppeB, der schweizerischen ARIA-GruppeC, dem Ärzteverband Deutscher Allergologen (AeDA)D, der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allergologie und Klinische Immunologie (DGAKI)E und der Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Allergologie (GPA)F in Kooperation mit der AG Klinische Immunologie, Allergologie und Umweltmedizin der DGHNO-KHCG und der Europäischen Akademie für Allergologie und Klinische Immunologie (EAACI)H

Control of murine hair follicle regression (catagen) by TGF‐β1in vivo

The regression phase of the hair cycle (catagen) is an apoptosis-driven process accompanied by terminal differentiation, proteolysis, and matrix remodeling. As an inhibitor of keratinocyte proliferation and inductor of keratinocyte apoptosis, transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) has been proposed to play an important role in catagen regulation. This is suggested, for example, by maximal expression of TGF-beta1 and its receptors during late anagen and the onset of catagen of the hair cycle. We examined the potential involvement of TGF-beta1 in catagen control. We compared the first spontaneous entry of hair follicles into catagen between TGF-beta1 null mice and age-matched wild-type …

The international EAACI/GA²LEN/EuroGuiDerm/APAAACI guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of urticaria

This update and revision of the international guideline for urticaria was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GALEN) and its Urticaria and Angioedema Centers of Reference and Excellence (UCAREs and ACAREs), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF; EuroGuiDerm), and the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology with the participation of 64 delegates of 50 national and international soci…

Überzeugen oder Überreden?

In Bundestagswahlkampfen haben die politischen Parteien viele unterschiedliche Moglichkeiten der Wahleransprache. Sie konnen die Wahler z.B. ober Wahlprogramme, Parteiveranstaltungen, Infostande oder Postwurfsendungen direkt ansprechen. Der Nachteil dieser Formen der Wahleransprache besteht darin, dass so nur vergleichsweise wenige Wahler erreicht werden. Wahlprogramme und Postwurfsendungen werden kaum gelesen, Infostande und Parteiveranstaltungen werden nur von wenigen Wahlern besucht. In der Regel handelt es sich dabei um die Wahler, die die jeweilige Partei ohnehin mit einer hohen Wahrscheinlichkeit wahlen werden. Deutlich mehr Wahler erreichen die Parteien, wenn es ihnen gelingt, ihre B…

The international WAO/EAACI guideline for the management of hereditary angioedema – the 2017 revision and update

Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a rare and disabling disease. Early diagnosis and appropriate therapy are essential. This update and revision of the global guideline for HAE provides up-to-date consensus recommendations for the management of HAE. In the development of this update and revision of the guideline, an international expert panel reviewed the existing evidence and developed 20 recommendations that were discussed, finalized and consented during the guideline consensus conference in June 2016 in Vienna. The final version of this update and revision of the guideline incorporates the contributions of a board of expert reviewers and the endorsing societies. The goal of this guideline up…

Critical role of IL-10 in the induction of low zone tolerance to contact allergens

The development and mechanisms of tolerance to allergens are poorly understood. Using the murine low zone tolerance (LZT) model, where contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is prevented by repeated topical low-dose applications of contact allergens, we show that LZT induction is IL-10 dependent. IL-10 is required for the generation of LZT effector cells, that is, CD8+ regulatory T cells. Only T cells from tolerized IL-10+/+ mice or IL-10-/- mice reconstituted with IL-10 during LZT induction adoptively transferred LZT to naive mice and prevented CHS, whereas T cells from IL-10-/- mice failed to do so. The IL-10 required for normal LZT development is derived from lymph node CD4+ T cells, the only sk…

What is the physiological function of mast cells?

Under physiological conditions, skin mast cells preferentially localize around nerves, blood vessels and hair follicles. This observation, which dates back to Paul Ehrlich, intuitively suggests that these enigmatic, multifacetted protagonists of natural immunity are functionally relevant to many more aspects of tissue physiology than just to the generation of inflammatory and vasodilatory responses to IgE-dependent environmental antigens. And yet, for decades, mainstream-mast cell research has been dominated by a focus on the -undisputedly prominent and important - mast cell functions in type I immune responses and in the pathogenesis and management of allergic diseases. Certainly, it is ha…

Development of the Angioedema Control Test—A patient‐reported outcome measure that assesses disease control in patients with recurrent angioedema

Background Recurrent angioedema (AE) is an important clinical problem in the context of chronic urticaria (mast cell mediator-induced), ACE-inhibitor intake and hereditary angioedema (both bradykinin-mediated). To help patients obtain control of their recurrent AE is a major treatment goal. However, a tool to assess control of recurrent AE is not yet available. This prompted us to develop such a tool, the Angioedema Control Test (AECT). Methods After a conceptional framework was developed for the AECT, a list of potential AECT items was generated by a combined approach of patient interviews, literature review and expert input. Subsequent item reduction was based on impact analysis, inter-it…

Unifying or Polarizing? Short-Term Effects and Postdebate Consequences of Different Rhetorical Strategies in Televised Debates

Despite a large body of research, little is known about the ways in which viewers react to different kinds of statements during televised debates nor about the degree to which these short-term reactions influence postdebate opinions. Taking the second televised debate in the 2002 German national election as an example, we address both of these questions. We identify the most unifying and polarizing statements and connect immediate reactions during the debate to postdebate verdicts on an individual level of analysis. Our results show that commonplaces and acclaims met unanimous support among audience members with different political predispositions. Attacks and statements in which the candid…

EAACI/GA²LEN/EDF/WAO guideline: management of urticaria

This guideline, together with its sister guideline on the classification of urticaria (Zuberbier T, Asero R, Bindslev-Jensen C, Canonica GW, Church MK, Gimenez-Arnau AM et al. EAACI/GA(2)LEN/EDF/WAO Guideline: definition, classification and diagnosis of urticaria. Allergy 2009;64: 1417-1426), is the result of a consensus reached during a panel discussion at the Third International Consensus Meeting on Urticaria, Urticaria 2008, a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the EU-funded network of excellence, the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA(2)LEN), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) and the World Al…

Kit Is Expressed by Epithelial Cells In Vivo

In mammalian skin, stem cell factor (SCF) regulates the proliferation and maturation of mast cells and melanocytes, which are thought to be the only cutaneous cells that express the Kit-tyrosine kinase receptor (Kit) and respond to epithelial and mesenchymal-derived SCF. We previously had noted, however, the presence of Kit+ cells in murine hair follicles, in an introepithelial tissue compartment devoid of melanocytes and mast cells. Here we have identified the nature of this Kit+ population of cells in hair follicles of C57BL/6 mice. Anagen hair follicles showed strong Kit immunoreactivity not only in the pigmentary unit above the follicular dermal papilla but also in a much more proximall…

Nonverbale Kommunikation in der Politik

In diesem Kapitel erlautern wir kurz, warum nonverbale Kommunikation fur die politische Meinungsbildung zunehmend relevant wird, und geben einen Uberblick uber das Lehrbuch.

Omalizumab is effective in symptomatic dermographism-results of a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Severe Chronic Allergic (and Related) Diseases: A Uniform Approach – A MeDALL – GA<sup>2</sup>LEN – ARIA Position Paper

Concepts of disease severity, activity, control and responsiveness to treatment are linked but different. Severity refers to the loss of function of the organs induced by the disease process or to the occurrence of severe acute exacerbations. Severity may vary over time and needs regular follow-up. Control is the degree to which therapy goals are currently met. These concepts have evolved over time for asthma in guidelines, task forces or consensus meetings. The aim of this paper is to generalize the approach of the uniform definition of severe asthma presented to WHO for chronic allergic and associated diseases (rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, chronic urticaria and atopic dermatitis) in …

Evidence-based recommendations for the therapeutic management of angioedema owing to hereditary C1 inhibitor deficiency: consensus report of an International Working Group

Angioedema owing to hereditary deficiency of C1 inhibitor (HAE) is a rare, life-threatening, disabling disease. In the last 2 years, the results of well-designed and controlled trials with existing and new therapies for this condition have been published, and new treatments reached the market. Current guidelines for the treatment for HAE were released before the new trials and before the new treatments became available and were essentially based on observational studies and expert opinion. To provide evidence-based HAE treatment guidelines supported by the new studies, a conference was held in Gargnano del Garda, Italy, from September 26 to 29, 2010. The meeting hosted 58 experienced HAE ex…

ARIA digital anamorphosis: Digital transformation of health and care in airway diseases from research to practice: Review

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Mast cells promote Th1 and Th17 responses by modulating dendritic cell maturation and function

Mast cells (MCs) play an important role in the regulation of protective adaptive immune responses against pathogens. However, it is still unclear whether MCs promote such host defense responses via direct effects on T cells or rather by modifying the functions of antigen-presenting cells. To identify the underlying mechanisms of the immunoregulatory capacity of MCs, we investigated the impact of MCs on dendritic cell (DC) maturation and function. We found that murine peritoneal MCs underwent direct crosstalk with immature DCs that induced DC maturation as evidenced by enhanced expression of costimulatory molecules. Furthermore, the MC/DC interaction resulted in the release of the T-cell mod…

Rolle der Mastzelle bei allergischem Asthma bronchiale

Mastzellen sind seit Jahrzehnten als „Allergieeffektorzellen“ im Rahmen akuter allergischer Reaktionen beschrieben. Neuere Daten belegen nun, dass Mastzellen nicht nur an der Auslosung anaphylaktischer Reaktionen beteiligt sind, sondern auch masgeblich fur die Entstehung und Unterhaltung allergischer Entzundungsreaktionen sind. Insbesondere Untersuchungen an Modellen des allergischen Asthmas belegen eine zentrale Rolle von Mastzellen bei der initialen Entwicklung einer Atemwegsentzundung und bronchialen Uberempfindlichkeit. Dies scheint durch Mastzellmediatoren, wie Histamin und Tumor-Nekrose-Faktor, vermittelt zu werden.

Peltier effect-based temperature challenge: an improved method for diagnosing cold urticaria.

Die Wirkung nonverbaler Kommunikation auf die politische Meinungsbildung

In diesem Kapitel diskutieren wir die Befunde von empirischen Studien zu den Einflussen nonverbaler Kommunikation auf die politische Meinungsbildung. Dabei beschaftigen wir uns mit Studien zur Wirkung physischer Attraktivitat, zur Wirkung von Gestik und Mimik und zur Wirkung vokaler Kommunikation. Anschliesend diskutieren wir Studien zur Wirkung nonverbaler journalistischer Darstellungstechniken wie Kameraperspektiven, Einstellungsgrosen und Split-Screen-Format. Schlieslich behandeln wir Studien, die die Einflusse nonverbaler Kommunikation insgesamt untersuchen, ohne dabei einzelne Kommunikationselemente zu betrachten. Hierunter fallen insbesondere so genannte Medienvergleiche, also Studien…

How do university students’ web search behavior, website characteristics, and the interaction of both influence students’ critical online reasoning?

The Internet has become one of the main sources of information for university students’ learning. Since anyone can disseminate content online, however, the Internet is full of irrelevant, biased, or even false information. Thus, students’ ability to use online information in a critical-reflective manner is of crucial importance. In our study, we used a framework for the assessment of students’ critical online reasoning (COR) to measure university students’ ability to critically use information from online sources and to reason on contentious issues based on online information. In addition to analyzing students’ COR by evaluating their open-ended short answers, we also investigated the stude…

The Power of Smiling. How Politicians’ Displays of Happiness Affect Viewers’ Gaze Behavior and Political Judgments

It is a common assumption that facial expressions of politicians, such as a smile, are powerful tools to draw attention and evoke positive impressions. However, previous research has not fully linked politicians’ nonverbal behavior, viewers’ visual attention and their political impression formation. To address this gap, the research presented in this chapter uses a multi-method design to explore the role of a politician’s smiling for viewers’ judgments about him. More precisely, a laboratory study examined the visual attention (eye-tracking; n = 122) and spontaneous judgments of viewers (continuous response measurement; n = 125) while the participants were exposed to an excerpt of a German …

Chronic spontaneous urticaria activity, impact and control as well as their changes are strongly linked, and these links are not affected by angioedema or comorbid inducible urticaria - Results from the validation of the Polish Urticaria Control Test.

Background Monitoring the effects of treatment on disease activity, impact, and control in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is essential. We do not have enough information on how these features of CSU and its response to treatment are linked. Also, there is no information on how recurrent angioedema or coexisting chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) affect their relation. The aim of this study was to analyse the link between disease activity, impact, and control in CSU patients and possible effects of recurrent angioedema and comorbid CIndU. Methods To perform these analyses, we validated the Polish version of the Urticaria Control Test (UCT) in 106 chronic urticaria patient…

Effect of omalizumab on angioedema in H1-antihistamine-resistant chronic spontaneous urticaria patients: results from X-ACT, a randomized controlled trial

Background Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) severely impacts quality of life (QoL), especially in patients with wheals and angioedema. Omalizumab is approved as add-on therapy for CSU patients; however, its effect on patients who are double-positive for wheals and angioedema has not been systematically studied. Objective The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of omalizumab vs placebo at week 28 using the Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life (CU-Q2oL) questionnaire. Number of angioedema-burdened days, time interval between successive angioedema episodes, disease activity, angioedema-specific and overall QoL impairment were secondary objectives. Methods X-ACT was a phase III, rand…

ATTENTUS, a German online survey of patients with chronic urticaria highlighting the burden of disease, unmet needs and real-life clinical practice.

Antihistamine-resistant chronic spontaneous urticaria: 1-year data from the AWARE study.

BACKGROUND Previous reports indicate that patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) are undertreated and that physicians show poor adherence to guideline recommendations. Awareness of CSU has improved in recent years, but it remains unclear if this has improved the management of these patients in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE To describe disease burden, quality of life (QoL), and treatment patterns of patients with H1 -antihistamine-refractory CSU in Germany. METHOD A World-wide Antihistamine-Refractory chronic urticaria (CU) patient Evaluation (AWARE) is a global prospective, non-interventional study of CU in the real-world setting, supported by the manufacturer of omalizumab. Patie…

High Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Emotional Distress in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Quality of life, which is impaired in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), is influenced by comorbid mental disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and spectrum of mental disorders and to determine levels of emotional distress in patients with CSU. One hundred patients with CSU were investigated for mental disorders (by specialized diagnostic interviews and psychometric instruments), levels of emotional distress (by the Global Severity Index of the Symptom Check List; SCL-90R GSI) and underlying causes of their urticaria (by dermatological assessment). Forty-eight percent of patients with CSU were diagnosed with one or more psychosomatic disorders; most c…

Positive and Negative Media Effects on University Students’ Learning: Preliminary Findings and a Research Program

Research in communication science highlights positive as well as negative effects of news and social media on learning but focuses predominantly on the largely unintended knowledge acquisition of the overall population. Research in educational science deals with students’ knowledge acquisition but is largely limited to formal learning such as in university courses. In this paper, we report findings of a pilot study combining both approaches by dealing with mass and social media effects on university students’ learning. While this study reveals several effects, their influences and causality remain largely unclear. Therefore, we propose a research program to explain positive and negative med…

Investigating label suggestions for opinion mining in German Covid-19 social media

This work investigates the use of interactively updated label suggestions to improve upon the efficiency of gathering annotations on the task of opinion mining in German Covid-19 social media data. We develop guidelines to conduct a controlled annotation study with social science students and find that suggestions from a model trained on a small, expert-annotated dataset already lead to a substantial improvement - in terms of inter-annotator agreement(+.14 Fleiss' $\kappa$) and annotation quality - compared to students that do not receive any label suggestions. We further find that label suggestions from interactively trained models do not lead to an improvement over suggestions from a stat…

Development, validation, and initial results of the Angioedema Activity Score

Background Recurrent angioedema (RecA) is a frequent clinical problem characterized by suddenly occurring cutaneous and/or mucosal swellings. Depending on their location, RecA may be painful, hindering, disfiguring, or even life-threatening. The assessment of disease activity in affected patients is important to guide treatment decisions. Currently, however, there is no standardized and validated outcome measure available to do so. Objective To develop and validate the first specific patient-reported outcome instrument to assess disease activity in RecA patients, the Angioedema Activity Score (AAS). Methods After a set of potential AAS items was developed, item evaluation and reduction were…

Inflammatory Murine Skin Responses to UV-B Light Are Partially Dependent on Endothelin-1 and Mast Cells

Endothelin (ET-1) has been shown to crucially contribute to UV-induced skin responses such as tanning. To test whether ET-1 is also involved in early cutaneous reactions to UV, we assessed ET-1 skin levels in UV-irradiated mice. In correlation with the levels of UV-induced skin inflammation, ET-1 concentrations increased substantially and continually. Moreover, blocking of ET-1 receptors (ET A ) resulted in significantly decreased cutaneous inflammation following UV irradiation. When we assessed skin responses to ET-1 injections, we observed prominent mast cell degranulation and mast cell-dependent inflammation. Since mast cells also critically contributed to UV-induced inflammation, we det…

Looking over the channel: The balance of media coverage about the “refugee crisis” in Germany and the UK

Abstract This study compares the balance of newspaper and television news coverage about migration in two countries that were differently affected by the so-called “refugee crisis” in 2015 in terms of the geopolitical involvement and numbers of migrants being admitted. Based on a broad consensus among political elites, Germany left its borders open and received about one million migrants mainly from Syria during 2015. In contrast, the conservative British government was heavily attacked by oppositional parties for closing Britain’s borders and, thus, restricting immigration. These different initial situations led to remarkable differences between the news coverage in both countries. In line…

Interleukin-2 immediate type hypersensitivity?

Two patients with metastatic malignant melanoma developed immediate type hypersensitivity-like symptoms while being treated with recombinant interleukin-(IL-)2 immunotherapy. Both patients showed positive skin prick tests to IL-2, enhanced basophil degranulation in vitro and responded to anti-histamines, but laboratory investigations suggested an IgE-independent, pseudoallergic mast cell degranulation against IL-2.

Wie Menschen zukünftige Temperaturveränderungen durch den Klimawandel einschätzen

In seinen nunmehr 25 Jahren am Mainzer Institut fur Publizistik hat sich Erich Lamp nicht nur immer wieder mit der Macht der offentlichen Meinung beschaftigt, sondern auch in unzahligen Methodenkursen Umfrageforschung gemeinsam mit den Studierenden sogenannte Split-Ballot-Experimente durchgefuhrt.

Evolutionsbiologische und soziokulturelle Ansätze zur Erklärung nonverbalen Verhaltens

In diesem Kapitel systematisieren wir Erklarungsansatze dafur, warum Menschen nonverbal so kommunizieren, wie sie es tun. Dabei diskutieren wir einerseits evolutionsbiologische Erklarungen, die davon ausgehen, dass das nonverbale Verhalten genetisch bedingt ist und mehr oder weniger unbewusst Grundemotionen wie Angst, Wut, Freude, Trauer, Ekel, Uberraschung und Verachtung ausdruckt. Andererseits diskutieren wir soziokulturelle Erklarungen, die davon ausgehen, dass das nonverbale Verhalten im Verlauf des Lebens gelernt wird. Dabei thematisieren wir auch, inwieweit sich das nonverbale Verhalten in unterschiedlichen Kulturen unterscheidet, und ob Emotionen mit Hilfe nonverbaler Kommunikation a…

Omalizumab is effective in cold urticaria—results of a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Nonverbale Kommunikation in den Massenmedien

In diesem Kapitel diskutieren wir zunachst unterschiedliche Methoden zur Analyse nonverbaler Medienkommunikation. Dabei unterscheiden wir grob zwischen psychologischen Methoden, die an einzelnen Kommunikationselementen ansetzen, und kommunikationswissenschaftlichen Methoden, die versuchen, nonverbale Medieninhalte umfassend zu untersuchen. Danach beschaftigen wir uns mit der Frage, wie sich der Umfang und die Inhalte nonverbaler politischer Kommunikation in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten entwickelt haben. Dabei interessiert uns einerseits, inwieweit politische Akteure selbst zunehmend auf eine Visualisierung der Politik setzen. Andererseits systematisieren wir die Befunde zur nonverbalen polit…

WAO guideline for the management of hereditary angioedema

Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease and for this reason proper diagnosis and appropriate therapy are often unknown or not available for physicians and other health care providers. For this reason we convened a group of specialists that focus upon HAE from around the world to develop not only a consensus on diagnosis and management of HAE, but to also provide evidence based grades, strength of evidence and classification for the consensus. Since both consensus and evidence grading were adhered to the document meets criteria as a guideline. The outcome of the guideline is to improve diagnosis and management of patients with HAE throughout the world and to help initiate uniform care …

Definition, aims, and implementation of GA [sup] 2 LEN/HAEi Angioedema Centers of Reference and Excellence

This document summarizes the aims of GA2 LEN/HAEi Angioedema Centers of Reference and Excellence (ACAREs) and elaborates the requirements that ACAREs must fulfill to become certified. It also provides (see Appendix S1) background information on GA2LEN and HAEi, including HAEi member organizations and regional patient advocates, on why we need an Angioedema Center of Reference and Excellence (ACARE) program and network, and on the accreditation and certification process, governance and funding, and on the interaction with other GA2LEN networks of centers of reference and excellence. The protocols, aims, requirements, and provisions related to becoming a certified CARE are based on (a) the ex…

Schröder gegen Merkel. Wahrnehmung und Wirkung des TV-Duells

TV-Debatten haben sich weltweit zu einem zentralen Element moderner Wahlkampfe entwickelt. Bereits Ende der 1990er Jahre fanden in mindestens 35 Landern Fernsehdebatten unterschiedlichster Formate statt (Plasser/Plasser 2002: 312). Zwar gab es im deutschen Fernsehen schon seit den 1960er Jahren die „Elefantenrunden“ der Spitzenkandidaten aller im Bundestag vertretenen Parteien. Doch „TV-Duelle“, bei denen nur die Kandidaten der beiden grosten Parteien gegeneinander antreten, haben sich erst seit dem Bundestagswahlkampf 2002 als feste Institution etabliert. Dies wird daran deutlich, dass auch vor der Bundestagwahl 2005 wieder ein solches Duell stattfand und auch vor immer mehr Landtagswahlen…

Interleukin-2-Soforttyp-Allergie?

Impaired T-cell-dependent protection againstLeishmania majorinfection in HIV-positive patients is associated with worsened disease outcome

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients coinfected with HIV are known to show a more severe, prolonged course of disease; the immunological basis is not known. We now assessed clinical features, sera and skin biopsies of HIV(+) and HIV(-) patients with CL to identify drivers of increased susceptibility to Leishmania. CL lesion numbers, surface, and healing duration were significantly increased in HIV(+) as compared to HIV(-) patients (2.5, 14 and4-fold, respectively). Patients with HIV infection exhibited lower serum Leishmania-specific IgG levels and decreased IL-6 and IL-8. Most importantly, dramatically decreased numbers of CD4(+) T cells (approximately eightfold), but not CD8(+) cells, to…

Comparison and interpretability of the available urticaria activity scores

The urticaria activity score (UAS) is the gold standard for assessing disease activity in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Two different versions, the UAS7 and UAS7TD , are currently used in clinical trials and routine care. To compare both versions and to obtain data on their interpretability, 130 CSU patients applied both versions and globally rated their disease activity as none, mild, moderate, or severe. UAS7 and UAS7TD values correlated strongly (r = .90, P < .001). Interquartile ranges for UAS7 and UAS7TD values for mild, moderate, and severe CSU were 11-20 and 10-24, 16-30 and 16-32, and 27-37 and 28-40. UAS7 values were slightly, but significantly lower as compare…

Effects of topical treatment with the raft modulator miltefosine and clobetasol in cutaneous mastocytosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Mastocytosis is characterized by the accumulation and activation of mast cells in different organs, most commonly the skin. Miltefosine, a raft modulator, has recently been shown to inhibit the activation of mast cells and to reduce mast cell-driven skin inflammatory responses. Objectives To study the safety and efficacy of topical miltefosine treatment of skin lesions in patients with mastocytosis. Methods Thirty-nine adult patients with mastocytosis with skin involvement were treated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial with topical miltefosine and clobetasol for 2 weeks. Treatment areas were analysed for changes in skin lesions and symptoms following mechanica…

Mast cells promote homeostasis by limiting endothelin-1-induced toxicity

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a 21-amino-acid peptide, derived from vascular endothelial cells, with potent vasoconstrictor activity. ET-1 has been implicated in diverse physiological or pathological processes, including the vascular changes associated with sepsis. However, the factors that regulate ET-1-associated toxicity during bacterial infections, or in other settings, are not fully understood. Both the pathology associated with certain allergic and autoimmune disorders, and optimal host defence against bacterial and parasitic infections are mediated by mast cells. In vitro, mast cells can produce ET-1 (ref. 11), undergo ET-1-dependent and endothelin-A receptor (ET(A))-dependent activation, a…

C1 Inhibitor for Routine Prophylaxis in Patients with Hereditary Angioedema: Interim Results from a European Registry Study

The Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (AE-QoL) - assessment of sensitivity to change and minimal clinically important difference

Background The Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (AE-QoL) has recently been developed and validated as the first specific patient-reported outcome tool to assess quality of life (QoL) impairment in recurrent angioedema patients. As of yet, its sensitivity to change and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) have not been established. Methods Recurrent angioedema patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria or hereditary angioedema were repeatedly asked to complete the AE-QoL along with the SF-12 and other anchors for QoL impairment and disease activity during routine care visits. The sensitivity to change of AE-QoL was determined by correlating changes in its scores over time …

Taking Online Search Queries as an Indicator of the Public Agenda

Recently, several studies suggested that the amount of online search queries can be used as an indicator of the public agenda. Based on former research by the authors, this article discusses the role of public uncertainty as another factor influencing search queries. Therefore, the influence of media coverage on Wikipedia searches concerning two issues is compared: one issue with uncertainty (the Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli [EHEC] epidemic), and one without uncertainty (unemployment). Analyses show much stronger correlations in the case of EHEC, which suggests that online search behavior may especially be used as an indicator of the public agenda in case public uncertainty exists.

Substance P is upregulated in the serum of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Omalizumab in patients with symptomatic chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria despite standard combination therapy

Patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria/chronic spontaneous urticaria (CIU/CSU) often continue to experience symptoms despite receiving standard-of-care therapy with H1-antihistamines along with 1 or more add-on therapies.We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 24 weeks of treatment with omalizumab in patients with persistent CIU/CSU despite treatment with H₁-antihistamines at up to 4 times the approved dose plus H₂-antihistamines, leukotriene receptor antagonists, or both.In this phase III study patients were randomized to receive 6 subcutaneous injections at 4-week intervals of either 300 mg of omalizumab or placebo, followed by a 16-week observation period. The primary object…

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Phase 4 (2018): Change management in allergic rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity using mobile technology

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) has evolved from a guideline by using the best approach to integrated care pathways using mobile technology in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma multimorbidity. The proposed next phase of ARIA is change management, with the aim of providing an active and healthy life to patients with rhinitis and to those with asthma multimorbidity across the lifecycle irrespective of their sex or socioeconomic status to reduce health and social inequities incurred by the disease. ARIA has followed the 8-step model of Kotter to assess and implement the effect of rhinitis on asthma multimorbidity and to propose multimorbid guidelines. A second c…

Responsiveness and minimal important difference of the urticaria control test

This study demonstrates the responsiveness of the Urticaria Control Test (UCT). Changes of its score by 3 points or more reflect a clinically relevant change of disease control (minimal important difference).

Fazit: Die Bedeutung nonverbaler Kommunikation in der Politik

In diesem Kapitel fassen wir die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse des Lehrbuchs noch einmal zusammen und leiten daraus Folgerungen fur die politische Kommunikationspraxis ab.

Inszenierte Schlüsselereignisse: Die Medienresonanz der Verkehrssicherheitskampagne Runter vom Gas!

Auch wenn gros angelegte Kampagnen wie beispielsweise die Verkehrssicherheitskampagne Runter vom Gas! von einem erheblichen Teil der Bevolkerung direkt wahrgenommen werden (siehe Klimmt und Maurer in diesem Band), ist das Ausmas der medialen Berichterstattung uber eine Kampagne aus mehreren Grunden eine wichtige Erfolgsgrose fur deren Wirkung. Zum einen steigt mit der Menge und Frequenz medialer Berichterstattung die Gesamtsumme der Kontakte der Bevolkerung mit der Botschaft der Kampagne (Multiplikatorenrolle der Massenmedien). Zum anderen gewinnt die Kampagne durch journalistische Berichterstattung fur die Bevolkerung an Konkretheit und Seriositat: Die Medien konstruieren die an sich wenig…

Quality of life in patients with chronic urticaria is differentially impaired and determined by psychiatric comorbidity

Summary Background  Chronic urticaria (CU), one of the most common skin disorders, is characterized by spontaneous recurrent bouts of weals and pruritus and associated with severely impaired quality of life (QoL). Objectives  To determine what aspects of life quality are affected and to characterize the factors that impact on QoL in CU patients. Subjects and methods  This interdisciplinary interview/questionnaire-based study included 100 patients admitted to a University Hospital Dermatology Department for the identification of underlying causes of CU; 96 healthy subjects matched for age and sex were used as controls. QoL was assessed using Skindex-29, a validated instrument to measure the …

Die Wirkungen verbaler und nonverbaler politischer Kommunikation im Vergleich

In diesem Kapitel wollen wir abschliesend die Wirkung nonverbaler politischer Kommunikation mit der Wirkung verbaler politischer Kommunikation vergleichen, um die bislang prasentierten Befunde besser einordnen zu konnen. Dazu diskutieren wir zunachst, warum man auch von einem erheblichen Einfluss verbaler Kommunikationselemente auf die politische Meinungsbildung ausgehen kann. Im Anschluss daran erlautern wir unterschiedliche Untersuchungsdesigns, mit deren Hilfe die relativen Effekte verbaler und nonverbaler Kommunikation auf die politische Meinungsbildung verglichen werden konnen. Wir diskutieren die Befunde der entsprechenden Studien und fuhren sie auf das jeweils gewahlte Untersuchungsd…

Cabbage and fermented vegetables: from death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

International audience; Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1 R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance …

Wytyczne EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO dotyczące definicji, klasyfikacji, rozpoznawania i leczenia pokrzywki: weryfikacja z 2013 roku z poprawkami

Streszczenie Niniejsze wytyczne są wynikiem systematycznego przeglądu piśmiennictwa dokonanego w oparciu o metodologie GRADE ( Grading Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation ) oraz dyskusji przeprowadzonych w trakcie konferencji dotyczącej pokrzywki, ktora odbyla sie 28 i 29 listopada 2012 roku w Berlinie. Konferencja ta byla wspolną inicjatywą kilku organizacji ( Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology [EAACI], EU-funded network of excellence, Global Allergy and Asthma European Network [GA 2 LEN], European Dermatology Forum [EDF], World Allergy Organization [WAO]) i wzieli w niej udzial delegaci z 21 towarzystw zarowno krajowych, jak i…

Biomarkers and clinical characteristics of autoimmune chronic spontaneous urticaria: Results of the PURIST Study.

Background: Autoimmune chronic spontaneous urticaria (aiCSU) is an important subtype of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in which functional IgG autoantibodies to IgE or its high-affinity receptor (FcεRI) induces mast cell degranulation and subsequent symptom development. However, it has not been tightly characterized. This study aimed to better define the clinical and immunological features and to explore potential biomarkers of aiCSU. Methods: This was a multinational, multicenter study of 182 CSU patients. The clinical features studied included: urticaria activity and impact (UAS7 and quality of life); autologous serum skin test (ASST); IgG anti-FcεRI and IgG anti-IgE; IgG-anti-thyrop…

17. Mainzer Allergie-Workshop

Icatibant, a New Bradykinin-Receptor Antagonist, in Hereditary Angioedema

BACKGROUND Hereditary angioedema is characterized by recurrent attacks of angioedema of the skin, larynx, and gastrointestinal tract. Bradykinin is the key mediator of symptoms. Icatibant is a selective bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist. METHODS In two double-blind, randomized, multicenter trials, we evaluated the effect of icatibant in patients with hereditary angioedema presenting with cutaneous or abdominal attacks. In the For Angioedema Subcutaneous Treatment (FAST) 1 trial, patients received either icatibant or placebo; in FAST-2, patients received either icatibant or oral tranexamic acid, at a dose of 3 g daily for 2 days. Icatibant was given once, subcutaneously, at a dose of 30 mg. …

Das fragmentierte Selbst

Journalisten nehmen wie die Angehorigen aller Berufe verschiedene soziale Positionen ein (vgl. zum Folgenden Dahrendorf 2006; siehe auch Popitz 1975). Sie sind freie oder angestellte Journalisten, Schatzmeister von Vereinen, Vater/Mutter usw. Jede dieser Positionen ist unabhangig von den Individuen denkbar, wird aber von konkreten Individuen eingenommen. So gibt es die Positionen der Chefredakteure, Schatzmeister und Eltern auch ohne Herrn Maier und Frau Muller, aber Herr Maier und Frau Muller konnen die Positionen einnehmen. Die Positionen mussen von den Rollen unterschieden werden, die die Positionsinhaber spielen. Ihre Ursachen sind Rollenerwartungen. Als Inhaber von Positionen sind Jour…