Overall, the model explains 49% of the variance in the average questionnaire score.

Background: Aeroallergens and the environment play an important role in the pathogenesis of respiratory allergies. In a 12-year study carried out in Northern Italy (geographic area of Parma), the effects of airborne pollen and meteorological conditions on the incidence of allergic asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis were evaluated. Patients and Methods: Among 9,060 subjects examined for respiratory pathologies at our Allergy Unit, Parma Hospital, Italy, from 1992 to 2003, only 1,054 positive to only one type of inhalant allergen in the skin prick test were studied, to avoid bias of cross-reactivity. Allergy and clinical aspects were compared with the duration of the pollination period, and peaks and total concentrations of airborne pollen. Results: Our data showed a significantly growing trend of allergy to mites, pets and birch pollen and a significant increase in asthma, and a significantly decreasing trend of positive reactions to grasses and a decrease in rhinoconjunctivitis. At the same time, there was a significant decrease in total pollen counts, concentration peaks and pollination period of grasses. A significant increase was only observed in ragweed and ash-olive total and peak pollen concentrations. Conclusions: Significant correlations between the increasing incidence in asthma and allergy to mites, pets and birch pollen are shown. The decrease in the total pollen count and concentration peaks of grass pollen was correlated to the decreasing trend of rhinoconjunctivitis. The trend of increasing concentrations of ash-olive and ragweed pollen was not accompanied by an increase in the related allergy.

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Between 1987 and 1991, the prevalence of IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was determined by ELISA in 28,247 serum samples belonging to 19,432 subjects of the area of Parma (Italy). The overall prevalence was 48.5%. The correlation of infection with age, performed on 420 sera, showed a significant increase of positivity until 30-40 approximately years. In consecutive sera obtained from 172 subjects, the IgG and IgM production was analyzed for about 8 months, and four different patterns were delineated which were comprehensive of the wide range of immunological responses to Toxoplasma gondii exposure observed. Among pregnant females the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was 48.7%, and 5 cases of seroconversion during the pregnancy were observed (0.27%) from which two cases of congenital toxoplasmosis originated.

Studies investigating the effect of different factors on the skeletal system require characterization of an appropriate animal model. Rabbits are among the most commonly studied animals for medical research, being used in about 35% of musculoskeletal research studies. The present dynamic cross-sectional histomorphometric study quantitatively determined mineral apposition rates (MARs) in the distal femoral epiphysis in four regions of interest (ROIs) in New Zealand white rabbits. ROIs included the craniolateral (CrL), caudolateral (CaL), craniomedial (CrM) and caudomedial (CaM) areas, using a reference height at different stages of skeletal maturity corresponding to experimental ages of 6, 7 and 8 months old (M6, M7 and M8). We evaluated whether a correlation exists in MARs between the times and the regions examined. Such data could be used in studies on growth of the rabbit's femur, on biomaterials for bone integration or regeneration and on growth disturbances produced by various pathologic factors. We found no interaction at the experimental times; thus, M6, M7 and M8 are considered homogeneous in terms of MARs. The velocity profiles of the MARs were statistically significantly different among the considered ROIs. For all experimental times, the CrM region had a higher MAR than the other ROIs. Both the CrM and CaM ROIs had higher MARs than the corresponding lateral ROIs. Our results indicate that bone formation is not constant within the cross-section, but is statistically different between the ROIs considered.