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Measuring Individual Pollen Exposure
Abstracts AB79
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL VOLUME 131, NUMBER 2
Measuring Individual Pollen Exposure Torsten Sehlinger1, Klaus Boehm2, Frank Goergen1, KarlChristian Bergmann3; 1Bluestone Technology GmbH, Woerrstadt, Germany, 2Univeristy of Applied Science Mainz, Mainz, Germany, 3Charite Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany. RATIONALE: The efficacy for immunotherapy with pollen extracts in clinical trials is calculated in relation to pollen counts which are measured in stationary pollen traps. Normally, these traps are situated many miles away from the home or workplace of each clinical trial’s subject. METHODS: A personal pollen sampler, collecting the pollen at a defined flow rate near to the upper and lower airways, should mirror each subjects actual, thus real exposure to pollen. Therefore, a wearable pollen sampler was developed, enabling qualifying and quantifying a subject’s chronological pollen exposure. The device was also equipped with GPS and sensors for monitoring temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and UV-A and UV-B radiation to allow for further studies on correlations of environmental data and pollen counts. RESULTS: The newly developed device is counting pollen in the daily habitat of individuals. In comparison to Burkard or Hirst pollen traps, the personal pollen sampler collects the same amount of pollen. CONCLUSIONS: The personal pollen sampler is able to count pollen in the air surrounding individuals which take part in clinical studies on immunotherapy and will reduce the number of subjects in these studies because of a more realistic exposure measurement than the use of extrapolated pollen exposure data based on measurements from stationary pollen traps miles away from the home of subjects.
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Myxomycete Spores: Unrecognized Aeroallergens? Michelle B. Lierl, MD, FAAAAI; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH. RATIONALE: Myxomycete spores are prevalent in the outdoor air, but have never been studied for allergenicity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms are sensitized to myxomycete spores. METHODS: Myxomycete spores were collected in the field. For each species, one gram of spores was extracted in 10 mL of 50% glycerol / PBS for 48 hours. The suspension was centrifuged; the supernatant was injected through a 0.2 micron syringe filter into a sterile vial. Protein content of each extract was measured by BCA assay. Protein electrophoresis was done. Subjects with a history of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms were enrolled. Allergy skin prick testing was performed. RESULTS: Nine species of myxomycetes were collected and identified: Arcyria cinerea, Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa, Fuligo septica, Hemitrichia clavata, Lycogala epidendrum, Metatrichia vesparium, Stemonitis nigrescens, Tubifera ferruginosa, and Trichea favoginea. Protein content of the extracts ranged from 1.05 to 5.8 mg/mL. Protein bands were seen at 10 250 kD. Allergy prick testing was performed on 70 subjects. 41% of the subjects had positive prick test results for at least one myxomycete extract, with 9% to 21% reacting to each extract. Of 58 subjects who were also tested with a standard panel of 40 aeroallergens, 5 subjects (9%) had positive prick tests for myxomycetes and tested negative for the other aeroallergens. CONCLUSIONS: 42% of subjects with allergic rhinitis are sensitized to myxomycete spores. These spores are present in the outdoor air and might be significant aeroallergens.
286
Shifting Trends of Ragweed (Ambrosia) Measurements During a 22 Year Period in Northern and Southern New Jersey (NJ) Jonathan Maik1, Leonard Bielory, MD, FAAAAI2; 1Yeshiva University, 2 STARx Allergy and Asthma Center, Springfield, NJ. RATIONALE: Ragweed is a clinically significant aeroallergen. Total pollen production (TPD), pollen season start dates (PSSD), peak dates (PPD), season duration (PSD), count annual mean (PCAM), and peak values (PPV) for Ragweed changed over a 22 year period. METHODS: Ragweed pollen was collected from Northern (Newark; [N]) and Southern (Cherry Hill; [CH]) New Jersey regions using a volumetric
sampling device according to the NAB standard. TPD5 count values for a given year; PSSD5 date in which 5% of pollen production of that year had been reached (n5days into year). PPD5 date with highest pollen count, (n5days into year). PSD5 amount of days between start date and end date for each species. (End dates5 day in which 95% of pollen production was reached). PCAM5 arithmetic mean of pollen count values from the entire year. PPV5 highest pollen count value for the entire year. RESULTS: Over the 22 year span; the arithmetic mean of the last five years was compared to the arithmetic mean of the first five years (N:CH). TPD decreased 76.6% vs 44.0%; PSSD decreased .1% vs 2.7%; PPD increased 2% vs 3.7%; PCAM decreased 70.9% vs 54.8%; PPV decreased 50.4% vs 23.9%; PSD decreased 21.8% vs an increase of 19.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Ambrosia in two locations NJ (70 miles apart) demonstrated similar decreasing trends for TPD, PCAM, PPD, PSSD, and PPV while PSD demonstrated a dichotomy.
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The Effect of Local Temperature, Wind Velocity and Rain On Aerobiology Sampling; Ten Year Study (2001-2011), Sarasota, Fl Gregory Michael Cowan, MD1, Neetu Talreja, MD2, Jennifer E. Fergeson, DO3, Mary Jelks, MD1, Dennis K. Ledford, MD, FAAAAI2, Richard F. Lockey, MD2; 1University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 2Morsani College of Medicine University of South Florida and James A. Haley Veteran Hospital, 3University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL. RATIONALE: Pollen and fungal spores are associated with atmospheric bio-pollution and trigger allergic respiratory diseases in sensitive individuals; little is known about alterations in weather patterns and its effect on pollen and fungal spores. METHODS: Ragweed, cedar, oak, grasses, Alternaria and Cladosporium were sampled daily between January 2001 to December 2011 in Sarasota, Fl using a Burkard volumetric trap. The same person (MJ) identified the pollen and fungal spores based upon morphological structure. Weather data for Sarasota were obtained from the National Climatic Data Center. Daily averages of temperature, rain and wind speed were used to investigate alterations in pollen and fungal spore concentrations in relation to meteorological parameters. Linear multivariate regression analysis, with meteorological parameters as independent variables, was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Ragweed, cypress, grasses, Alternaria and Cladosporium were positively associated with increased temperatures. Oak was negatively related to increased temperatures. Ragweed and grasses were negatively associated with rain and wind velocity. Alternaria and Cladosporium were positively related to wind velocity (p <0.05 for all observations). CONCLUSIONS: These observations indicate that weather patterns affect pollen and fungal spore counts.
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J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL VOLUME 131, NUMBER 2
Measuring Individual Pollen Exposure Torsten Sehlinger1, Klaus Boehm2, Frank Goergen1, KarlChristian Bergmann3; 1Bluestone Technology GmbH, Woerrstadt, Germany, 2Univeristy of Applied Science Mainz, Mainz, Germany, 3Charite Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany. RATIONALE: The efficacy for immunotherapy with pollen extracts in clinical trials is calculated in relation to pollen counts which are measured in stationary pollen traps. Normally, these traps are situated many miles away from the home or workplace of each clinical trial’s subject. METHODS: A personal pollen sampler, collecting the pollen at a defined flow rate near to the upper and lower airways, should mirror each subjects actual, thus real exposure to pollen. Therefore, a wearable pollen sampler was developed, enabling qualifying and quantifying a subject’s chronological pollen exposure. The device was also equipped with GPS and sensors for monitoring temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and UV-A and UV-B radiation to allow for further studies on correlations of environmental data and pollen counts. RESULTS: The newly developed device is counting pollen in the daily habitat of individuals. In comparison to Burkard or Hirst pollen traps, the personal pollen sampler collects the same amount of pollen. CONCLUSIONS: The personal pollen sampler is able to count pollen in the air surrounding individuals which take part in clinical studies on immunotherapy and will reduce the number of subjects in these studies because of a more realistic exposure measurement than the use of extrapolated pollen exposure data based on measurements from stationary pollen traps miles away from the home of subjects.
285
Myxomycete Spores: Unrecognized Aeroallergens? Michelle B. Lierl, MD, FAAAAI; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH. RATIONALE: Myxomycete spores are prevalent in the outdoor air, but have never been studied for allergenicity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms are sensitized to myxomycete spores. METHODS: Myxomycete spores were collected in the field. For each species, one gram of spores was extracted in 10 mL of 50% glycerol / PBS for 48 hours. The suspension was centrifuged; the supernatant was injected through a 0.2 micron syringe filter into a sterile vial. Protein content of each extract was measured by BCA assay. Protein electrophoresis was done. Subjects with a history of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms were enrolled. Allergy skin prick testing was performed. RESULTS: Nine species of myxomycetes were collected and identified: Arcyria cinerea, Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa, Fuligo septica, Hemitrichia clavata, Lycogala epidendrum, Metatrichia vesparium, Stemonitis nigrescens, Tubifera ferruginosa, and Trichea favoginea. Protein content of the extracts ranged from 1.05 to 5.8 mg/mL. Protein bands were seen at 10 250 kD. Allergy prick testing was performed on 70 subjects. 41% of the subjects had positive prick test results for at least one myxomycete extract, with 9% to 21% reacting to each extract. Of 58 subjects who were also tested with a standard panel of 40 aeroallergens, 5 subjects (9%) had positive prick tests for myxomycetes and tested negative for the other aeroallergens. CONCLUSIONS: 42% of subjects with allergic rhinitis are sensitized to myxomycete spores. These spores are present in the outdoor air and might be significant aeroallergens.
286
Shifting Trends of Ragweed (Ambrosia) Measurements During a 22 Year Period in Northern and Southern New Jersey (NJ) Jonathan Maik1, Leonard Bielory, MD, FAAAAI2; 1Yeshiva University, 2 STARx Allergy and Asthma Center, Springfield, NJ. RATIONALE: Ragweed is a clinically significant aeroallergen. Total pollen production (TPD), pollen season start dates (PSSD), peak dates (PPD), season duration (PSD), count annual mean (PCAM), and peak values (PPV) for Ragweed changed over a 22 year period. METHODS: Ragweed pollen was collected from Northern (Newark; [N]) and Southern (Cherry Hill; [CH]) New Jersey regions using a volumetric
sampling device according to the NAB standard. TPD5 count values for a given year; PSSD5 date in which 5% of pollen production of that year had been reached (n5days into year). PPD5 date with highest pollen count, (n5days into year). PSD5 amount of days between start date and end date for each species. (End dates5 day in which 95% of pollen production was reached). PCAM5 arithmetic mean of pollen count values from the entire year. PPV5 highest pollen count value for the entire year. RESULTS: Over the 22 year span; the arithmetic mean of the last five years was compared to the arithmetic mean of the first five years (N:CH). TPD decreased 76.6% vs 44.0%; PSSD decreased .1% vs 2.7%; PPD increased 2% vs 3.7%; PCAM decreased 70.9% vs 54.8%; PPV decreased 50.4% vs 23.9%; PSD decreased 21.8% vs an increase of 19.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Ambrosia in two locations NJ (70 miles apart) demonstrated similar decreasing trends for TPD, PCAM, PPD, PSSD, and PPV while PSD demonstrated a dichotomy.
287
The Effect of Local Temperature, Wind Velocity and Rain On Aerobiology Sampling; Ten Year Study (2001-2011), Sarasota, Fl Gregory Michael Cowan, MD1, Neetu Talreja, MD2, Jennifer E. Fergeson, DO3, Mary Jelks, MD1, Dennis K. Ledford, MD, FAAAAI2, Richard F. Lockey, MD2; 1University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 2Morsani College of Medicine University of South Florida and James A. Haley Veteran Hospital, 3University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL. RATIONALE: Pollen and fungal spores are associated with atmospheric bio-pollution and trigger allergic respiratory diseases in sensitive individuals; little is known about alterations in weather patterns and its effect on pollen and fungal spores. METHODS: Ragweed, cedar, oak, grasses, Alternaria and Cladosporium were sampled daily between January 2001 to December 2011 in Sarasota, Fl using a Burkard volumetric trap. The same person (MJ) identified the pollen and fungal spores based upon morphological structure. Weather data for Sarasota were obtained from the National Climatic Data Center. Daily averages of temperature, rain and wind speed were used to investigate alterations in pollen and fungal spore concentrations in relation to meteorological parameters. Linear multivariate regression analysis, with meteorological parameters as independent variables, was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Ragweed, cypress, grasses, Alternaria and Cladosporium were positively associated with increased temperatures. Oak was negatively related to increased temperatures. Ragweed and grasses were negatively associated with rain and wind velocity. Alternaria and Cladosporium were positively related to wind velocity (p <0.05 for all observations). CONCLUSIONS: These observations indicate that weather patterns affect pollen and fungal spore counts.
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