PurposeThe AdvanSure™ AlloScreen assay is an advanced multiplex test that allows for simultaneous detection of specific IgE (sIgE) against multiple allergens. For precise identification of causative allergens in allergic patients, we compared this new multiplex sIgE assay with the ImmunoCAP assay, which is currently the gold-standard method for sIgE detection.Materials and MethodsSerum samples from 218 Korean allergic disease patients were used to compare the ImmunoCAP and AlloScreen assays with respect to the following 13 allergens: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, cat and dog dander, Alternaria, birch, oak, ragweed, mugwort, rye grass, and food allergens (egg white, cow's milk, peanuts).ResultsA total of 957 paired tests using the 13 allergens were compared. The total agreement ratio ranged from 0.74 (oak) to 0.97 (Alternaria). With respect to class association analyses, the gamma index ranged from 0.819 (rye grass) to 0.990 (Alternaria). The intra-class correlation coefficients for house dust mites, cat and dog dander, Alternaria, birch, ragweed, egg white, cow's milk, and peanut sIgE titers were >0.8.ConclusionThe AlloScreen and ImmunoCAP assays exhibited similar diagnostic performance. However, due to methodological differences between the two systems, careful interpretation of their results is needed in clinical applications.

PurposeCD93 is receiving renewed attention as a biomarker of inflammation. We aimed to evaluate the potential for serum sCD93 to serve as a novel biomarker for allergic inflammation.Materials and MethodsWe enrolled 348 subjects with an allergic disease [allergic rhinitis (AR), chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), or bronchial asthma (BA)], including 14 steroid-naïve BA patients who were serially followed-up.ResultsThe serum sCD93 levels (ng/mL) in patients with exacerbated AR (mean±standard deviation, 153.1±58.4) were significantly higher than in patients without AR (132.2±49.0) or with stable AR (122.3±42.1). Serum sCD93 levels in exacerbated CSU (169.5±42.8) were also significantly higher than those in non-CSU (132.4±51.6) and stable CSU (122.8±36.2). This trend was also seen in BA. Serum levels in patients with ICS-naïve BA (161.4±53.1) were significantly higher than those in healthy controls without BA (112.2±30.8), low- and medium-dose ICS users. Serum sCD93 levels in high-dose ICS users (72.2±20.6) were significantly lower than those in low- and medium-dose users. The serum sCD93 levels in steroid-naïve patients with BA (195.1±72.7) decreased after ICS use for 4 weeks (134.4±42.8) and 8 weeks (100.7±13.4), serially.ConclusionElevated serum sCD93 levels reflected exacerbated status of allergic diseases, including CSU, AR, and asthma. ICS use significantly diminished serum sCD93 levels in steroid-naïve patients with BA. This result may suggest sCD93 in serum as a therapeutic marker for allergic inflammation.

Hypersensitivity reactions were observed more frequently than expected, although no previously unrecognized reactions were observed. Adverse reactions occurred more frequently in children and in elderly patients. Close monitoring of adverse reactions to therapeutic mAbs is therefore warranted because these can potentially cause serious medical conditions or death. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an aerobic Gram-negative coccobacillus that causes nosocomial pneumonia in patients on mechanical ventilation or previously treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Nevertheless, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by A. baumannii, especially multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains, is rare. We experienced the first case of CAP caused by MDR A. baumannii in Korea in a 78-year-old man. This case shows that MDR A. baumannii can cause CAP in Korea.