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.
Oilseed rape sensitivity
OSR is a widespread atid ancient crop with evidence of cultivation in India (from 20(X) BC), and in China and Japan [1]. In Europe, oilseed rape and other Brassica seed crops have been cultivated since at least the 15th century [2], originally for the production of lamp oil. These crops were mainly cultivated in Northern latitudes where the climate would not support the growth of olives and sunflowers, the main sources of oil at that time. The word 'rape', as applied to these oilseed plants, is from the Latin rapum meaning tumip. Since the second world war, when edible oils were at a premium, there has been a policy to encourage home production of OSR because the oil contains a good nutritional balance, and since 1973 this crop has been subject to EEC/EU subsidy. The crop has increased in economic value and is now the most important oilseed crop in Western Europe, with about 6-10% of arable land in the UK given over to its cultivation. Two crops can be harvested in one season. One species, Brassica napus comprises about 95% of the crop and has two forms. One is sown in autumn, overwinters and characteristically flowers yellow in spring and the other is sown in spring and flowers in late summer. The small remaining proportion is B. campestris which is also spring sown. There are many varieties of these species which have been bred for speciflc characteristics, for example to eliminate toxic glucosinolates. The seeds are harvested and crushed to release oils which are used in the production of margarine, cooking oil and in food blending. The oils can be converted to a methylester which is an efficient diesel substitute. Some of the oils with long chain fatty acids, erucic acid (C22:1, cis-13) have suitable viscosity and are robust enough to use as machine oil, and as a base oil in the plastics industry, for example in the manufacture of cling-film. These oils have a great advantage over traditional oils in that they are readily biodegradable. After the oil has been extracted there is a high-protein seed meal residue which has increasing value as a vegetable source of animal feed. In addition, OSR is an excellent break crop, i.e. its use in crop rotation results in soil improvements. A more recent use of the OSR crop is for biotechnology, for example in the pharmaceutical industry OSR is used as a vehicle for recombinant hirudin (blood clotting factor) production. This crop is clearly of great economic importance and any associated public health concem should be investigated seriously.
Experimental reproduction of respiratory mold allergy
Abstract 1. In an effort to evaluate clinical mold sensitivity, 22 patients reacting to Alternariawere subjected to a mold room test with powdered Allernaria. Half of them developed hay fever or asthma (Table V). 2. Ten of 12 patients whose histories suggested mold allergy gave a positive mold room test, while only one of 10 doubtful mold cases developed a positive mold room test with Alternaria. 3. When powdered Alternaria was blown directly into the noses of patients reacting to Alternaria, 10 of 12 clinically positive mold cases reacted, but only one positive and one questionable positive reaction were obtained of 17 so-called doubtful mold cases. 4. A typical mold history probably indicates true clinical mold sensitivity in the presence of a positive scratch test. 5. The nasal test with Alternaria is simple, and if done outside the mold season, is a safe and reliable means of evaluating Alternaria sensitivity. 6. An interesting parallel between a positive scratch test to Alternaria and inhalation tests by either the nasal or mold room method is noted. 7. These experiments demonstrate the importance of Alternaria as an allergen.