RAPE POLLEN ALLERGY
In 1948 Juhlin-Dannfelt published his investigation of the occurrence of different types of pollen allergy in Sweden. According to Urbach (1937) and Hansen (1940), certain regions of Europe have only one pollen season. Juhlin-Dannfelt showed that there are two pollen seasons in Sweden, one in spring in which catkin bearing trees play an important role, and the other in June and July, months in which the grass pollens predominate. Juhlin-Dannfelt also reported hypersensitivity to other types of pollen, especially from some Compositae, particularly the oxeye daisy. He also described isolated instances of allergy to pollen from the genera of Taraxacum, Rumex, Plantago and Chenopodium. Recently a man presented himself at the department of allergy complaining of asthma and pollinosis, which on investigation proved to be due to hypersensitivity to rape pollen. As a search of the literature failed to reveal any reports of hypersensitivity to pollen from plants belonging to the Cruciferae family, a brief description of the case observed was considered justified.
Prevalence of sensitisation to oilseed rape and maize pollens in France: a multi-center study carried out by the Allergo-Vigilance Network.
BACKGROUND
Oilseed rape and maize crops represent a large part of agriculture fields in European countries.


OBJECTIVE
To establish the actual prevalence of sensitization to oilseed rape and maize pollen, and to determine if this is correlated to the amount of exposure as well as to the patient's history of atopy or asymptomatic atopy.


METHODS
The study was conducted by 69 allergists belonging to the Allergo-Vigilance Network, in collaboration with the French Agency for Safety of food, and compiles the results of skin prick-tests using oilseed rape and maize pollens and seeds, as well as common aeroallergens. The patients were classified into 3 groups: nonatopic, asymptomatic atopy, and actual atopic diseases.


RESULTS
Among the 5372 subjects studied (2515 children, 2857 adults), 62.3% had an atopic disease, 10.2% had an asymptomatic atopy, and 27.5% were non-atopic. The level of sensitization was higher in the subjects with atopic disease, as compared to those with asymptomatic atopy: oilseed rape pollen: 11.8% vs 8%, maize pollen, 26% vs 19%, oilseed rape seeds, 7.7% vs 6.9%, corn seeds: 8.3% vs 4.8% (p < 0.001). The rate of sensitization was significantly increased in those living in high crop density regions. The association of an atopic disease with a high rate of exposure yielded a higher rate of sensitization of 13.8% and 21.3% for rapeseed pollen, and 22.9% and 30.7% for maize pollen in both children and adults, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of sensitisation to rapeseed and maize pollen is positively correlated to the level of exposure. This prevalence is higher in patients with actual atopic disease as compared to those with asymptomatic atopy. The frequency of sensitization confirms the allergenicity of these plants destined for food supply and demonstrates the importance of monitoring for respiratory allergies to these pollens, not only in workers exposed to these types of crops, but also in atopic patients living in regions that contain a high density of rapeseed and maize fields. Cross-reactivities between pollens and seeds could potentially elicit cross-reacting food allergies.
Relationship between level of internet addiction and time management skills among nursing students.
PURPOSE
This study investigated nursing students' levels of internet addiction (IA) and time management (TM) skills.


DESIGN AND METHODS
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 400 nursing students of a university in Turkey. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, IA Scale, and TM Inventory.


FINDINGS
The IA scale and TM inventory mean scores were 40.83 ± 14.81 and 81.34 ± 11.91, respectively. A significantly negative relationship between students' level of IA and TM skills was found (p <0.05).


PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
The concept of effective time management should be used in interventions for promoting students' conscious internet use.