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Cutaneous manifestations of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) are identical to type 1 hypersensitivity reactions. The daily occurrence of rash from occupational allergy could be misinterpreted as CSU exacerbation. We aim to report a nurse with concomitant CSU suffering from latex-induced anaphylaxis. Skin tests, specific IgE using ImmunoCAP, and gloves challenge were performed. A 27-year-old nurse with CSU suffered from several episodes of severe urticarial flare. H1-antihistamine up-dosing and oral corticosteroid burst were given. Unfortunately, she developed 3 episodes of anaphylaxis during her routine nursing care work on a medical ward, leading to allergist consultation. She had positive latex-specific IgE (6.86 kUA/L) and positive gloves challenge test. Concomitant CSU treatment might hinder the recognition of latex allergy by masking or delaying skin manifestations. IgE-mediated allergy should be suspected if there was a change in severity or frequency of previously controlled CSU or the presence of systemic symptoms.

Natural rubber (NR) films with different natural networks—concentrated NR (CNR), deproteinized NR (DPNR), and small rubber particles (SRP)—are investigated to explore the relationship between network structure and film properties using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanics (QNM) mode. Nitrogen content, gel content, and particle size distribution analyses reveal distinct network topologies in each latex type. Mechanical testing shows variations in tensile strength and crosslink density. AFM analysis provides insights into the crosslink network structures within the pre‐vulcanized latex film. It is found that DPNR and CNR films have a uniform distribution of crosslink networks, with DPNR exhibiting higher Young's modulus values. In contrast, SRP shows varying Young's modulus values, suggesting poor coalescence arising from a harder particle surface and a softer rubber core in an inhomogeneous network structure intrinsic to the non‐rubber components (NRCs) make‐up of SRP latex. This study highlights the pivotal role of natural network structures formed by NRCs in determining the ultimate properties of latex films, which has significant implications for the rubber industry, particularly in the production of latex‐dipped products, medical devices, and bioengineering applications.

Key features for authors include the ability to track their manuscript's progress through the peer review and production process, full support for LaTeX submissions, a vastly improved interface, and single username and password login for all submissions.

Key features for authors include the ability to track their manuscript's progress through the peer review and production process, full support for LaTeX submissions, a vastly improved interface, and single username and password login for all submissions.

Key features for authors include the ability to track their manuscript's progress through the peer review and production process, full support for LaTeX submissions, a vastly improved interface, and single username and password login for all submissions.

Natural rubber (NR) latex derived from Hevea brasiliensis is a complex colloid comprising mainly rubber hydrocarbons (latex particles) and a multitude of minor non-rubber constituents such as non-rubber particles, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and soluble organic and inorganic substances. NR latex is susceptible to enzymatic attack after it leaves the trees. It is usually preserved with ammonia and, to a lesser extent, with other preservatives to enhance its colloidal stability during storage. Despite numerous studies in the literature on the influence of rubber proteins on NR latex stability, issues regarding the effect of protein hydrolysis in the presence of ammonia on latex stability during storage are still far from resolved. The present work aims to elucidate the interplay between protein hydrolysis and ammoniation in NR latex stability. Both high- and low-ammonia (with a secondary preservative) NR latexes were used to monitor the changes in their protein compositions during storage. High-ammonia (FNR-A) latex preserved with 0.6% (v/v) ammonia, a low 0.1% ammonia/TMTD/ZnO (FNR-TZ) latex, and a deproteinized NR (PDNR) latex were labeled with fluorescence agents and observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy to determine their protein composition. Protein hydrolysis was confirmed via sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The results revealed that protein hydrolysis increased with the storage duration. The change in protein composition accompanying hydrolysis also allows the spatial distribution of allergenic proteins to be estimated in the latex. Concurrently, the latex stability increased with the storage duration, as measured by the latex’s mechanical stability time (MST) and the zeta potential of the latex particles. As monitored by AFM, the surface roughness of the NR latex film increased markedly during extended storage compared with that of the DPNR latex, which remained smooth. These results underscore the pivotal role of ammonia in bolstering NR latex stability brought on by protein hydrolysis, which greatly impacts latex film’s formation behavior. NR latex stability underpins the quality of latex-dipped goods during manufacturing, particularly those for medical gloves.

Key features for authors include the ability to track their manuscript's progress through the peer review and production process, full support for LaTeX submissions, a vastly improved interface, and single username and password login for all submissions.

Introduction: During COVID-19 pandemic, the massive use of Personal Protective Equipment could provoke severe adverse reactions in latex allergy patients and could negatively affect their quality of life. Methods: Trough a survey the study aimed: (a) to evaluate the incidence of allergic reactions in patients with latex allergy during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic; (b) to evaluate the protective role of continuous latex sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) during this period; and (c) to evaluate quality of life of natural rubber latex allergy (NRLA) patients during the pandemic. Results: 67 patients (9 males and 58 females, mean age of 45.9 ± 11.4 years) suffering from latex allergy were included in the present study. We recorded among our patients 13 cases (34.2%) of urticarial/angioedema (U/A), 9 cases (23.6%) of respiratory symptoms (dyspnoea, shortness of breath and wheezing) and 7 cases (18.4%) of anaphylaxis. In patients who underwent continuous SLIT, we observed less cases of U/A (p < 0.001), respiratory symptoms (p < 0.001), anaphylaxis (p = 0.003), hospitalizations (p = 0.014) and a lower therapy administration. We compared the results of SF-36 questionnaire in patients who underwent continuous and not-continuous SLIT with a significance differences score between these two groups. Conclusions: Our study is the first that investigated the clinical and quality of life effects of COVID-19 pandemic in NRLA patients.

As a general rule, plants defend against herbivores with multiple traits. The defense synergy hypothesis posits that some traits are more effective when co-expressed with others compared to their independent efficacy. However, this hypothesis has rarely been tested outside of phytochemical mixtures, and seldom under field conditions. We tested for synergies between multiple defense traits of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) by assaying the performance of two specialist chewing herbivores on plants in natural populations. We employed regression and a novel application of random forests to identify synergies and antagonisms between defense traits. We found the first direct empirical evidence for two previously hypothesized defense synergies in milkweed (latex by secondary metabolites, latex by trichomes) and identified numerous other potential synergies and antagonisms. Our strongest evidence for a defense synergy was between leaf mass per area and low nitrogen content; given that these “leaf economic” traits typically covary in milkweed, a defense synergy could reinforce their co-expression. We report that each of the plant defense traits showed context-dependent effects on herbivores, and increased trait expression could well be beneficial to herbivores for some ranges of observed expression. The novel methods and findings presented here complement more mechanistic approaches to the study of plant defense diversity and provide some of the best evidence to date that multiple classes of plant defense synergize in their impact on insects. Plant defense synergies against highly specialized herbivores, as shown here, are consistent with ongoing reciprocal evolution between these antagonists.