Specific subcutaneus immunotherapy by a birch extract absorbed onto calcium phosphate

Background. Allergic rhinitis is a common disease, affecting 25-35% of the population. Birch pollen is a significant cause of immediate hypersensitivity among sensitive subjects, affecting about 80% of the population in the central part of Russian Federation. Specific subcutaneus immunotherapy (SCIT) is the only treatment producing lasting clinical improvement in patients with allergy. The aim, of the study was to investigate the efficacy of one - year SCIT for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis for birch pollen using the Average Rhinoconjunctivitis Total Symptom Score (ARTSS) and Average Rescue Medication Score (ARMS). Materials and methods. 54 subjects with IgE-mediated seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis with/without seasonal asthma were enrolled; 47 patients with pollen allergy were included in a control group. All patients were sensitized to birch pollen-allergens. SCIT was performed during 9 months 2009-2010 years by a birch extract standardized in IR and absorbed onto calcium phosphate (Phostal, France). Patients were asked to complete diary during the birch pollination season (from 1 April to 1 June). Pollen grains were counted daily during the pollen seasons by standardized protocol and the amount of pollen was expressed as the number of pollen grains/m3 air. The ARTSS was derived from individual symptom scores for nasal and eye symptoms during the pollen season. In addition there was a daily score for the use of rescue medication (ARMS). Rescue medication allowed included Hl-antihistamines, nasal steroids, oral steroids; each puff, drop (nostril/eye), tablet counted as one point. Results. The seasonal pollen counts and the duration of the pollen season had differed in 2009 and in 2010. Reduction in ARTSS of 29% and decrease in ARMS of 28,9% were found in the birch pollen season for subjects treated with the SCIT compared with controls after one year of treatment. The immunotherapy after the end of the treatment was not effective in 3 patients (5%). Conclusion. Immunotherapy by Phostal shows clinical effect on development of seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis. The decrease in ARTSS for Phostal-treated patients that occurred in parallel with a marked reduction in their requirement for ARMS provides additional evidence for the efficacy of SCIT over and above usual pharmacotherapy for rhinitis.

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Prophylactic and acute treatment with the homeopathic medicine Betula 30c for birch pollen allergy: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of consistency of VAS responses

British Homeopathic Journal ◽

10.1054/homp.1999.0471 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 90 (02) ◽

pp. 73-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

S Aabel

Keyword(s):

Visual Analogue Scale ◽

Analogue Scale ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Allergy ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Double Blind ◽

Homeopathic Remedy ◽

Birch Pollen Allergy ◽

One Year

AbstractA study of the consistency of responses by allergic patients in repeated studies of the homeopathic remedy Betula 30c or placebo against birch pollen allergy, was made. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed including participants with a known allergy to birch pollen. Allergy symptoms were assessed on a visual analogue scale (VAS) by patients or parents each day during a 20-day period during two different pollen seasons. The work was carried out in Oslo, Norway during May 1995, 1996 and 1997. There were 51 patients ranging in age from 7 to 50 y. The homeopathic remedy Betula 30c or placebo was given as tablets, both as a prophylactic agent, once a week for 4 weeks before the pollen season started, and as an acute remedy during the pollen season. The mean value of the symptom scores on the visual analogue scale, for all registration days from each patient was the main outcome. The patient groups that received either placebo or Betula 30c for two successive years showed a consistent response (r=0.75, P=0.01 and r=0.70, P=0.003, respectively). No such correlation was found in the two groups that changed remedy from one year to another (either from placebo to Betula or vice versa). Subjective assessment of allergic symptoms to birch pollen differed more from one year to another when different regimens (placebo or homeopathic) had been administered these two seasons, than when the same treatment had been given.

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Priming of eosinophil adhesion in patients with birch pollen allergy during pollen season: Effect of immunotherapy

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ◽

10.1016/s0091-6749(97)70084-8 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 99 (4) ◽

pp. 551-562 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

L HAKANSSON ◽

C HEINRICH ◽

S RAK ◽

P VENGE

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Allergy ◽

Birch Pollen Allergy

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Ash pollen season in Poland in 2019

Alergoprofil ◽

10.24292/01.ap.154181219 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 17-22

Author(s):

Małgorzata Puc ◽

Daniel Kotrych ◽

Agnieszka Lipiec ◽

Kazimiera Chłopek ◽

Dariusz Jurkiewicz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Pollen Allergy ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Cross Reactivity ◽

Pollen Allergen ◽

Airborne Concentration ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Annual Total ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

Seasonal Pollen

Pollen grains are one of the most important groups of atmospheric biological particles that cause allergic processes. Meteorological factors affect the occurrence of pollen allergen release in the air. In order to shed light on this phenomenon this study compares the ash pollen seasons in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Sosnowiec, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Opole, Olsztyn, Szczecin, Warsaw and Lublin in 2019. The investigations were carried out using the volumetric method (Hirst type pollen sampler). Seasonal Pollen Index (SPI) was estimated as the sum of daily average pollen concentrations in the given season. The ash pollination is mainly observed in April. Diagnosis of ash pollen allergy is made difficult due to an overlapping pollination period with Betulaceae and some cross-reactivity with allergens from Betulaceae. It is not clear whether ash pollen is a primary cause of sensitization or whether it is implicated through cross-sensitization to other pollens. In 2019 the pollen season of ash started first in Opole, on the March 9th. At the latest, a pollen season ended in Bialystok, after mid may. The differences of pollen seasons duration were very considerable, from 28 to 50 days. The highest airborne concentration of 190 pollen grains/m3 was noted in Lublin on the April 21st. The maximum values of seasonal pollen count in Polish cities occurred between April 4th and 22nd, most often between April 18th–22nd. The highest ash pollen allergen hazard occurred in 2019 in Lublin, Warsaw, Piotrkow Trybunalski and Bydgoszcz, and was at least three times higher than in other cities. The highest variability in the analysed seasons was found in the peak value and annual total.

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An analysis of grass (Poaceae) pollen seasons in Lublin in 2001-2008

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2009.030 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 91-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Agnieszka Dąbrowska

Keyword(s):

Grass Pollen ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Gravimetric Method ◽

Pollen Allergy ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Air Humidity ◽

Maximum Wind ◽

Relative Air Humidity ◽

Pollen Seasons

Grass pollen allergens are a frequent cause of pollen allergy in Poland and other European countries. The research on aeroplankton conducted in Lublin since 2001 allows characterization of the course of grass pollen seasons and estimation of the effect of maximum and minimum temperatures, relative air humidity, precipitation and maximum wind velocity on the taxon's pollen concentration. The gravimetric method was used in the study. During the eight-year research period, the pollen season usually started in the first or second decade of May and, as a rule, it lasted till the end of August, and quite exceptionally, in 2002 and 2008 till mid-August. The mean length of the pollen season was 107 days. The highest grass pollen risk was observed in the 26th and 27th week. The highest annual counts reaching over 3600 pollen grains × cm-2 were noted in 2008, while in the other study years they ranged from 741 to 1909. The date of the pollen season onset and its course were highly dependent on weather conditions, which was confirmed by the statistical analysis. The greatest significant influence on the pollen season was exerted by maximum temperature, relative air humidity and the maximum wind.

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The threat of allergenic airborne trees pollen to pollinosis sufferers in a rural area (Western Pomerania, Poland)

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2015.039 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 325-331 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aleksandra Kruczek ◽

Małgorzata Puc ◽

Alina Stacewicz ◽

Tomasz Wolski

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Daily Maximum ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Diurnal Distribution ◽

Annual Total ◽

Total Pollen ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

The Village

The aim of the study was to investigate the concentration of Alnus L., Corylus L. and Betula L. pollen in the village of Gudowo (Western Pomerania, Poland) in the years 2012–2014 in order to estimate the threat of allergenic tree pollen in this rural region. Measurements were performed using the volumetric method (VPPS Lanzoni 2000 pollen sampler). The duration of the pollen season was determined by the 98% method, taking days on which, respectively, 1% and 99% of the annual total pollen grains appeared as the beginning and end of the season. Pollen grains from hazel occurred in the air as the first ones, before pollen grains from alder and birch. The earliest beginning of the hazel pollen season was recorded in 2012, whereas alder and birch pollen seasons started the earliest in 2014. Daily maximum pollen concentrations of the investigated taxa were recorded in 2014. Birch pollen allergens posed the largest threat to pollinosis sufferers. In the years 2012–2014, pollen concentrations equal or higher than threshold values, at which people with pollinosis show allergic symptoms, were recorded most frequently for birch, hazel, and alder (25, 19, and 14 days, respectively). The highest hourly alder pollen concentration was recorded at 16:00 and in the case of hazel at 15:00. The diurnal distribution of birch pollen concentrations does not show any distinct peaks.

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The influence of weather conditions on the course of pollen seasons of alder (Alnus spp.), hazel (Corylus spp.) and birch (Betula spp.) in Lublin (2001-2006)

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2008.006 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 53-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Agnieszka Dąbrowska

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Thermal Conditions ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Air Humidity ◽

Relative Air Humidity ◽

Beginning Of Flowering ◽

Pollen Seasons

The start and rate of florescence of Alnus, Corylus and Betula are dependent on meteorological conditions. In the present paper we have analysed the effect of mean, maximum and minimum temperature, relative air humidity and precipitation on the onset of the pollen season as well as on its length and annual count of pollen grains in alder, hazel and birch. The measurement of pollen fall was done by the gravimetric methods with the use of Durham sampler. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the determined characteristics of the pollen season and weather conditions. In the six-year research period 2001-2006 it was observed that low temperatures in January produced a delayed start of the pollen season in alder, hazel and birch. The beginning of flowering in these taxa was also influenced by thermal conditions prevailing directly before the season (ca. 10 days). The pollen season of the trees in question tended to be prolonged alongside with the increase in relative air humidity, but it was shortened due to higher temperatures. The volume of alder and hazel pollen release increased together with the rise in relative air humidity and precipitation. The annual counts of birch pollen increased along with rising temperature and decreasing relative air humidity and precipitation in the season.

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Effect of pollen with different predator release ratios on biological control of Tetranychus urticae by the predaceous mite Kampimodromus aberrans

Systematic and Applied Acarology ◽

10.11158/saa.24.7.13 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (7) ◽

pp. 1310-1318

Author(s):

Ismail Kasap

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Tetranychus Urticae ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Control Group ◽

Kampimodromus Aberrans ◽

Low Levels ◽

The Impact ◽

Predator Release

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of birch pollen (Betula pendula Roth.) on the efficacy of the predatory mite Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as a biological control agent for the two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) at different predator release ratios. The experiments were conducted on apple cv. Golden Delicious at 1:5, 1:15 and 1:30 predator-prey release ratios in a climate room (25±2°C, 65±10% RH and 16:8 L:D). The predatory mites were also offered pollen grains daily (0.5-0.10 mg/leaf) on the apple seedling during the experiments. One week after the release of K. aberrans, significant reductions in T. urticae density were observed at a ratio of 1:5; and the density remained at low levels thereafter, especially in the pollen experiments. The highest mean numbers of T. urticae in the control group (no predator release) were observed in week 3 with 4067 mites per leaf and 4922 mites per leaf, respectively for the pollen and no pollen application plots. This study demonstrates the potential of K. aberrans to effectively control T. urticae at ratios of 1:5 and 1:15 within three weeks, especially at a ratio of 1:5 when the pollen was added. Furthermore, releasing K. aberrans at the appropriate time and ratio enabled more successful control of T. urticae populations and plant damage, and subsequently kept the mites at low levels.

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The Patient's Hay-fever diary: users feedback can improve pollen information

10.5194/ems2021-112 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anja Simčič ◽

Andreja Kofol Seliger ◽

Tom Koritnik ◽

Tanja Cegnar

Keyword(s):

Grass Pollen ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Allergy ◽

Hay Fever ◽

The Public ◽

Grass Pollen Season ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Preventive Behaviour ◽

The Impact

Background: Pollen information is crucial for effective preventive behaviour of pollen allergy sufferers. In addition to the results of pollen monitoring and weather conditions, feedback from allergic people plays an important role in generating information for the public. A useful tool that gives us an insight into the burden of pollen allergy is the patient&#8217;s hay fever diary (PHD), developed by the Vienna Medical University. PHD is freely available online, users enter their location, general well-being, pollen symptoms and medication use.Methods: This study is based on two databases: 1- PHD data for symptom load index (SLI) calculations, only daily entries from Slovenia were used; 2- National pollen database for three measuring stations: Ljubljana, Maribor and Izola. A five-year period (2014-2018) was analysed. We reviewed the number of monthly entries as an indicator of the time span when most people need pollen information. The focus was on three high allergenic pollen types; birch (Betula), grass (Poaceae) and ragweed (Ambrosia). Annual pollen load (APL) allows us to compare results between years.Results: 60 % of yearly entries were recorded from March to May, when users reported the most problems with pollen-induced symptoms. In parallel the monthly pollen totals were high. Birch pollen season typically occurs from late March to end of April with May marked by grass pollen season. The highest SLI values were calculated for birch pollen (4,79 &#8211; 7,68), with the maximum in the year 2016 when the highest APL was also recorded. SLI for grass pollen season varied from 3,92 to 4,80 and is mostly lower than SLI for birch. SLI slowly decreased after May and rose again in August and September, when ragweed pollen occurs. Results for this non-native species show that SLI was increasing from 2,48 (2014) to 4,55 (2018).Conclusion: Pollen information is most sought after in the spring, when the highest daily concentrations are recorded. Birch pollen seems to have the highest impact on allergy sufferers, followed by grasses. In the case of ragweed we have noticed that the impact on health was increasing during the analyzed period. A comparison of the calculated SLI with the level of exposure to different pollen types may explain the fluctuations in the occurrence of allergic disease during the course of pollen seasons. Preventive behaviour of allergic persons is only possible with quick and accurate pollen information. Therefore, we started releasing preliminary results with a three-color scale to keep the public informed about the current state of allergens in the atmosphere. &#160;

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Plane tree pollen season in Poland and Hungary in 2019 – why are the plane trees planted in cities so much?

Alergoprofil ◽

10.24292/01.ap.161310320 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 15-20

Author(s):

Małgorzata Puc ◽

Donát Magyar ◽

Orsolya Udvardy ◽

Agnieszka Lipiec ◽

Piotr Rapiejko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Pollen Allergy ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Cross Reactivity ◽

Tree Pollen ◽

Plane Tree ◽

Airborne Concentration ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

Seasonal Pollen

Allergic diseases are considered as important human health issues as they substantially restrict many allergic people. Trees such as the plane tree can pose a certain threat to allergy sufferers. Due to the frequent planting of these trees in large cities, their pollen can affect the increase in the frequency of local allergy symptoms. This study compares the plane tree pollen seasons in Poland, in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Warsaw, Zielona Gora, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Opole, Olsztyn, Szczecin and in Hungary, in Budapest, Debrecen, Gyor, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nyiregyhaza and Pecs in 2019. The investigations were carried out using the volumetric method (Hirst type pollen sampler). Seasonal Pollen Index (SPI) was estimated as the sum of daily average pollen concentrations in the given season. The season ranges from March to May, depending on the geographical latitude. Diagnosis of plane tree pollen allergy is made difficult due to some cross-reactivity with birch, but also alder, hazel, hornbeam, oak, beech, sweet chestnut, and to some extent with grass pollen. In 2019 the pollen season of Platanus started first in Hungary, in Pecs on the April 1st; in Poland the pollen season started in Szczecin and Zielona Gora on the April 4th. At the latest, a pollen season ended in Poland, in Warsaw and Bydgoszcz until May 11th–12th, similarly in Hungary – until May 11th in Budapest and Kaposvar. The differences of pollen seasons duration were very considerable, from 15 to 40 days. Also the differences of the highest airborne concentration especially between both countries were extremely considerable (2105 pollen grains/m3 in Nyíregyháza and 3 pollen grains/m3 in Białystok. The maximum values of seasonal pollen count in Polish cities occurred between April 24th and May 1st, and in Hungarian cities between April 9th and 16th. The highest plane tree pollen allergen hazard occurred in 2019 undoubtedly in Hungary: in Pecs, Kaposvar and Nyiregyhaza, and was ten times higher than in Poland. The highest variability in the analysed seasons was found in the peak value and annual total.

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The course of birch pollen seasons in Sosnowiec (Southern Poland) in 1997–2020 in relation to meteorological conditions

Aerobiologia ◽

10.1007/s10453-021-09734-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Katarzyna Dąbrowska-Zapart ◽

Tadeusz Niedźwiedź

Keyword(s):

Wind Speed ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Meteorological Conditions ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Synoptic Situation ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

The Impact

AbstractThe study's main objective was to specify the extent to which weather conditions were related to the course of birch pollen seasons in the years 1997–2020. The impact of atmospheric conditions on the daily concentrations of birch pollen grains, the Annual pollen integral (APIn), and the length of pollen seasons were studied. The dependency between each meteorological condition and various features of the birch pollen season was determined using Spearman’s rho correlation, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and cluster analysis with the k-means method. It has been shown that the duration of sunshine and average air temperature occurring within 14 days preceding the season has the most significant influence on the beginning of a birch pollen season. The value of daily birch pollen concentrations in Sosnowiec showed a statistically significant positive correlation with the duration of sunlight and the average and maximum wind speed. The daily concentration also depended on the synoptic situation: the mass airflow direction, the type of air mass inflow, and the type of weather front. The near-ground temperature influenced the APIn of birch pollen grains during the period of 14 days before the beginning of the season and the meteorological conditions occurring in the summer of the preceding year such as the maximum temperature, duration of sunlight, the maximum and average wind speed, and the relative air humidity. It was concluded that the length of birch pollen seasons decreased year by year.

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