Fruit is a kind of plant food which is rich in nutrients and immune-regulating ingredients. A meta-analysis has demonstrated that fruits have a protective effects against asthma. On the other hand, clinical syndromes of allergic reactions to fruits manifest as an oral allergy syndrome. We aimed to investigate the patterns and associated factors of fruit allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) sensitization among patients with suspected clinical symptoms. Data were extracted from the Chang Gung Research Database. Fruit sensitization in Taiwan was evaluated using the presence of IgE antibodies against specific fruits. The overall prevalence of positive sIgE responses to fruit allergens in Taiwan, in order of decreasing importance, was pineapple, kiwi, banana, and papaya. Children aged 0–18 had a higher positive rate of allergic responses to pineapple, kiwi, banana, and papaya than adults over the age of 18. Positive specific IgE for kiwi, banana, or papaya was more frequent in younger than in older children and children with a higher total IgE of both logarithmic (log) and arithmetic values. The analysis of log IgE for pineapple positive vs. negative children determined an optimal cutoff value, log IgE 2.2, with both sensitivity (0.9) and specificity (0.5). Dermatitis was significantly more prevalent in children with positive IgE for pineapple, kiwi, banana, and papaya than negative specific IgE. The highest positive rate of sIgE against fruits was pineapple among children. Even in older children, the positive rate of pineapple allergens was high. IgE discriminates with and without sIgE for pineapple, with an optimal cutoff of 158.5 U/mL.

Currently, the prevention, assessment, and management of procedural pain in neonates continues to challenge clinicians and researchers. Objective. To investigate the analgesic effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) during heel lance compared to breast milk (BM) feeding in healthy term neonates. In this randomized controlled trial, healthy term neonates who underwent heel lance were randomly assigned to an LLLT or a BM group. The LLLT group received laser therapy to the heel lance site for 20 s before heel lance. The BM group received 5 mL expressed BM via a syringe before heel lance. The primary outcomes were behavioral responses. The secondary outcomes were physiological responses and levels of salivary cortisol and α-amylase. A total of 125 neonates were included, of whom 55 in the LLLT group and 59 in the BM group completed the study. There were no significant differences in latency to first cry and cry duration between the two groups. The squeeze time was significantly shorter in the LLLT group than in the BM group (p = 0.047). There were no significant differences in pain scores, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure before and after heel lance between the two groups. There were no significant differences in salivary cortisol and α-amylase levels in the LLLT group before and after heel lance; however, the differences were significant in the BM group. These findings suggest that the analgesic effect of LLLT is similar to that of BM during heel lance in healthy term neonates. LLLT has potential as an analgesic treatment.

Background: Patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) are at a significantly increased risk of allergic diseases. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is an immunoglobulin that mediates allergic sensitization to various allergens and is related to various allergic diseases. However, few studies have analyzed specific IgE on allergy biomarkers after KD is diagnosed. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the pattern of specific IgE levels against food and inhalant allergens. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in Taiwan to identify patients admitted with KD. A subset of 453 admitted KD children younger than or equal to five years of age with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was followed up at our clinic with available specific IgE data. Results: The most common allergens were Dermatophagoides farina or pteronyssinus, house-dust, and cockroach mix. Positive specific IgE for Dermatophagoides farina or pteronyssinus was less common in children diagnosed with KD who were two years old or younger (p = 0.028). KD patients with higher basophils before IVIG (p = 0.010 and 0.018 for two different mites) and higher C-reactive protein (CRP, p = 0.030 and 0.028) after IVIG were at higher risk of mite sensitization. Integrated mite sensitization demonstrated higher basophils before IVIG, age at KD diagnosis, and the male sex to be clinically meaningful after logistic regression models. Conclusions: This study is the first to suggest that specific IgE in KD patients may be correlated with age at KD diagnosis, as well as basophils. Further longitudinal prospective studies are warranted to clarify the unique profile of specific IgE in KD patients.

Food sensitization in early life identifies children at risk of developing allergic diseases. We investigated the sensitization to cow milk (CM), egg whites, and wheat. Newborns and infants under 3 years of age with available specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) data were identified. A retrospective survey was conducted using data from the Chang Gung Research Database. Perinatal characteristics, such as singleton or multiples in a single pregnancy, parity, meconium staining, maternal age, spontaneous delivery or cesarean section, meconium passage, weeks of gestation, birth length, body weight, head and chest circumferences, and season, were obtained. The data on sIgE were collected, and a logistic regression model was used to determine the odds of sensitization. Positive sIgE for CM and egg whites was more likely to occur in boys than in girls. Early-life egg white and wheat sensitization was associated with increased birth body length and weight. A multivariate analysis indicated an association between egg white sIgE positivity and logarithmic total IgE. Higher total IgE levels and younger age were associated with egg white sensitization, and elevated weight and length at birth were linked to food sensitization, particularly to egg whites and wheat.