Contact allergies can protect against a small number of cancers

Contact allergies can protect against a small number of cancers, Danish researchers write.

Men and women was found inverse association between contact allergy and non-melanoma skin cancer, and breast cancer. Women with a contact allergy was found to reverse the trend of brain cancer.

However, the authors have also identified positive associations between contact allergy and bladder cancer.

Inverse associations support the theory of immunological surveillance, in which allergic symptoms - a negative impact hyperimmune, according to a report published in the online edition of «BMJ Open» on July 11.

The reason for these associations remains unclear, and they are not necessarily the result of a causal relationship. "Our study - the research, and it is difficult to make recommendations directly to clinicians based on a single study," - said Dr. Kaare Engkild (National Allergy Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark).

"I would not recommend the reduction of screening for breast cancer, non-melanoma skin cancer, or cancer of the brain, although the emergence of such associations should lead to further research", - said Dr. Engkild.

Using the registration data, Dr. Engkild and colleagues identified 16 922 patients with dermatitis who underwent tests for contact allergy from November 1984 to December 2008. Of this group, 6065 (35.8%) tested positive for at least 1 allergen, at least in one case. The authors note that the prevalence of contact allergy was higher in women than in men (41.4% vs. 26.1%).

The data were linked with the Danish Cancer Registry, and 3200 patients (18.9%) with dermatitis has been identified as having a benign tumor and / or malignant cancer diagnosis, 1207 (37.7%) of them also had positive test results for contact allergy .

Approximate analysis of the data showed "a confident and significant association" between contact allergy and the presence in the Register of Cancer (odds ratio 1.1). Odds ratios for different groups of cancer were calculated using logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for age and sex.

Breast cancer (odds ratio 0.80) and non-melanoma skin cancer (odds ratio 0.83) in both sexes, were found to inversely and significantly associated with contact allergy. Bladder cancer is positively and significantly associated with contact allergy (odds ratio 1.44).

The authors also studied the interaction between the different subtypes of cancer and sex, and only found a link to brain cancer / central nervous system. Following a standardized regression in women with dermatitis between brain cancer / central nervous system and contact allergy to reverse the trend of association (odds ratio 0.36).

Further studies, standardized by environmental factors such as smoking and socio-economic background needed to understand the role of contact allergy in the development of cancer, the scientists conclude.

Intestinal bacterium Helicobacter pylori protects the body from allergic asthma

At the conclusion of Immunology of the University of Zurich, an intestinal bacterium Helicobacter pylori protects the body from allergic asthma.

In a joint study with the University of Mainz allergists of Johann Gutenberg (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) found a strong case to support the hypothesis that the incidence of allergic diseases in developed countries is associated with the rapid disappearance of certain microorganisms, which in most cases asymptomatic organisms live in each of the second person on the planet.

Almost an epidemic prevalence of allergic asthma in recent decades due to traditionally pollution, smoking, hygiene hypothesis, and the widespread use of antibiotics. According to the hygiene hypothesis, reduced exposure to bacterial antigens in early childhood and lack of immune stress leads to increased risk of developing allergies and autoimmune diseases.

Researchers have shown that the increase in asthma cases may be due to the disappearance of gastric bacteria Helicobacter pylori in developed societies of the West. These bacteria can survive in the acidic environment of the stomach. Most Helicobacter pylori strains not pathogenic to humans and their small concentration does not lead to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

However, in certain circumstances, in particular, the weakening of the immune system, infection can cause gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer. Therefore, doctors often prescribe prophylactic antibiotics, which destroy Helicobacter pylori, even those patients who have no complaints.

During the experiment it was shown that Helicobacter pylori infection early in life protects against asthma. In the experimental mice infected with the bacteria in a few days after birth, there was a immunulogic tolerance to Helicobacter pylori and the almost total lack of response to allergens that cause asthma. Animals that are at an early age have not been infected with Helicobacter pylori, were exposed to an allergy to a much greater extent.

Avian Flu in Egypt

November 2, 2011 Ministry of Health of Egypt has informed World Health Organization of the case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1).

September 17 at the year-old boy developed symptoms. September 21 he was hospitalized. The child was treated, recovered and 25 September he was discharged from the hospital.

Investigations into the source of infection showed that the boy had contact with poultry is contained near his home.

The case was confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratories and the Egyptian National Influenza Center under the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance.

Of the 152 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 52 have been fatal.

Paracetamol and antibiotics increase the risk of atopic dermatitis

As shown by a study by Spanish scientists, when taking infants paracetamol and antibiotics increases the risk of atopic dermatitis in older age.

Dr. Luis Garcia-Marcos of the University of Murcia, say that at present the accuracy is unknown whether the increased risk of drugs called themselves of infection, in which they are used, or something else .

The link between paracetamol and asthma is shown for both children and adults, but previous attempts to figure out how to influence the development of atopic dermatitis receiving paracetamol and antibiotics, have produced conflicting results. "It also is complicated by the fact that children who are given paracetamol from the heat, often simultaneously receive and antibiotics," - says Dr. Garcia-Marcos.

We used data from 13 900 children aged 6-7 years who participated in the International study of allergic reactions and asthma in children (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) in Spain. Of these, 7% had atopic dermatitis place.

It was found that children who received the first year of life acetaminophen, the risk of atopic dermatitis increased by 56%, and those receiving antibiotics - up to 66%, and the results did not depend on whether one child at the same time, and other drugs.

It is curious that in children with asthma or seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis results were somewhat different. If in infancy they were given paracetamol, but not antibiotics, the risk of atopic dermatitis did not increase, but the reception and paracetamol, and antibiotics increased the risk even more than children not suffering from these diseases.

"Nevertheless, we can not exclude the possibility that this reaction does not provoke the antibiotics and the infection," - said Dr. Garcia-Marcos.

"Paracetamol - a very safe drug, it is used for many years, not watching with serious side effects, but the parents, fearful of atopic dermatitis, can replace it with ibuprofen," - he said.

"In order to estimate the risk more precisely controlled, randomized trials would be required - adds the scientist. - In the meantime, the main conclusion we can draw from the study is this: the events occurring in early childhood may have consequences later."