Impact of environmental factors on the epidemiology of eosinophilic esophagitis in southwestern Europe (2007-2020)

Background

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a disease characterized by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and at least 15 eosinophils/hpf in the esophagus. Other systemic and local causes of esophageal eosinophilia should be excluded.

Objectives

The study objectives were to examine the annual epidemiology of EoE for 14 consecutive years, investigate whether there is a relationship between the count of aeroallergens and the incidence of EoE for 12 years, evaluate whether there are family ties between the patients with EoE, and determine whether there are cases of EoE that are triggered or exacerbated by pollens.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, descriptive, and analytic study in patients with EoE for 14 years (2007-2020). The study variables were age, sex, relatives with EoE, time of evolution of the symptoms until diagnosis of the disease, and symptoms. We examined incidence and prevalence, annual counts of aeroallergens for 12 years, and number of diagnoses per year (in 2007-2020). We studied patients with active EoE (in April-July) and EoE in remission (in August-March) for 2 consecutive years. Exacerbations were investigated by measuring symptoms using a visual analog scale of 1 to 10.

Results

Of the 366 patients with EoE (studied from 2007 to 2020), 83.5% were atopic, with respiratory allergy and 28% had a food allergy. Their mean age was 35 years. The time of evolution of the symptoms was more than 6 years. Only 11% of the patients had a degree of kinship. Of the 366 patients, 87% had dysphagia, 27% had had impactions, and 12.5% had other symptoms of esophageal dysfunction. We found a positive correlation between the incidence of EoE and Platanaceae pollens. We did not detect any case of EoE triggered or exacerbated by pollens.

Conclusions

The epidemiology of EoE in southwestern Europe continues to grow. We have corroborated the relevant impact of the environment on genetics. Future studies will clarify the possible relevance of Platanaceae pollens in the increased epidemiology of EoE. The role of grass and Oleaceae pollens in triggering EoE is limited by having a short pollination in time.

Quantifying the effect of shade on cuticle morphology and carbon isotopes of sycamores: present and past

PREMISE

Reconstructing the light environment and architecture of the plant canopy from the fossil record requires the use of proxies, such as those derived from cell wall undulation, cell size, and carbon isotopes. All approaches assume that plant taxa will respond predictably to changes in light environments. However, most species-level studies looking at cell wall undulation only consider "sun" or "shade" leaves; therefore, we need a fully quantitative taxon-specific method.

METHODS

We quantified the response of cell wall undulation, cell size, and carbon isotopes of Platanus occidentalis using two experimental setups: (1) two growth chambers at low and high light and (2) a series of outdoor growth experiments using green and black shade cloth at different densities. We then developed and applied a proxy for daily light integral (DLI) to fossil Platanites leaves from two early Paleocene floras from the San Juan Basin in New Mexico.

RESULTS

All traits responded to light environment. Cell wall undulation was the most useful trait for reconstructing DLI in the geological record. Median reconstructed DLI from early Paleocene leaves was ~44 mol m^-2  d^-1 , with values from 28 to 54 mol m^-2  d^-1 .

CONCLUSIONS

Cell wall undulation of P. occidentalis is a robust, quantifiable measurement of light environment that can be used to reconstruct the paleo-light environment from fossil leaves. The distribution of high DLI values from fossil leaves may provide information on canopy architecture; indicating that either (1) most of the canopy mass is within the upper portion of the crown or (2) leaves exposed to more sunlight are preferentially preserved.

Phytochemical study and biological evaluation of chemical constituents of Platanus orientalis and Platanus × acerifolia buds

One flavonol glycoside, two O-isoprenylated flavonols, one α,α-dimethylallyl flavonol, one dihydrochalcone, two furanocoumarins and one terpenoid previously undescribed, along with 42 known compounds were isolated from the buds of two European Platanaceae, Platanus orientalis and Platanus × acerifolia. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including homonuclear and heteronuclear correlation NMR (COSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC) experiments, as well as HRMS data. The estrogen-like and antiestrogen-like activity of dichloromethane and methanol extracts of P. orientalis and P. × acerifolia buds and isolated compounds was evaluated using estrogen-responsive cell lines. The potency of selected estrogen agonists to regulate gene expression through ERα and/or ERβ was compared with their in vitro osteoblastogenic activity. Kaempferol and 8-C-(1,1-dimethyl-2-propen-1-yl)-5,7-dihydroxyflavonol displayed osteoblastogenic as well as ERα-mediated estrogenic activity similar to estradiol.

Two novel prenylated kaempferol derivatives from fresh bud's fur of Platanus acerifolia and their anti-proliferative activities

Two novel prenylated kaempferol derivatives (1, 2), together with seven known metabolites were isolated from ethanol extract of fresh Platanus acerifolia bud's fur by multistep chromatographic processing. Structure of compounds 1 and 2 was confirmed by 1D, 2D NMR spectra and HR-ESI-MS. In addition, compound 1 was further analysed by X-ray crystallography. Anti-proliferative activities in vitro against human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep-G2) cell lines for compound 1, 2 and 8 were evaluated. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxic activity towards MCF-7 and Hep-G2 cell lines with the IC₅₀ values 38.2 and 39.5 μM, respectively. Moreover, compound 2 showed weak cytotoxic activities against the two cell lines.

Antinociceptive study of extracts of Platanus orientalis leaves in mice

Platanus orientalis L. (Platanaceae) is a medicinal tree used in Iranian folklore and traditional medicine as a pain and inflammation reliever. In this study, the polyphenolic and total extract of P. orientalis leaves were prepared and their antinociceptive effects were studied in mice using the acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin and light tail flick tests. Both hydroalcoholic and polyphenolic extracts of P. orientalis at a dose of 2 g/kg significantly (P<0.05) reduced acetic acid-induced abdominal writhes. These extracts were also effective in suppression of formalin-induced pain behavior but they did not show any significant analgesia in light tail flick test. It is concluded that P. orientalis extracts have moderate analgesic effect and further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism and active constituents.