The international symposium "New Trends in Allergy", held in Munich from July 13 to 15, 1990, brought together for the third time since 1980 some of the most experienced researchers working in the field of allergy. This volume comprises the papers presented at this meeting. All over the world, and not merely in the industrialized countries, allergy is becoming a cause of evermore serious diseases. In recent years, research in the field of allergy has provided numerous impor tant and fascinating results extending our knowledge considerably. Despite the new insights into basic mechanisms of allergic reactions, improved diagnostic methods, and new therapeutic approaches, how ever, many questions remain to be answered, including: Are allergies really increasing in frequency? If so, what are the reasons? Especially, does environmental pollution playa role? Which factors influence IgE synthesis? Can the IgE immune response be switched off? Does the nervous system interact with allergic reactions? If so, what are the mechanisms? Are new approaches in allergy prophylaxis and allergy therapy effi cient? What measures have proven useful and deserve to be employed in daily practice? In this volume, these questions and other current topics are dealt with. As each issue is covered by authors competent in the respective fields, the result is an extensive and critical review of the state of the art. Going through these papers, one comes to the conviction that allergy research is a multifacetted, explosively expanding, most stimulating field of work.

Epidemiology

Are Allergies Increasing?
Epidemiology of Various Allergic Reactions
Epidemiology of Contact Allergy
Allergens
Epitopes on Allergens
Cloning of Birch Pollen Allergens
Molecular Structure of Allergens
Characterization of Antigens and Allergens of Bird Feathers and Bird Sera
Hop Allergy: Cross-Reactivity to Birch Pollen
Immunoglobulin E Response
Possible Approaches to Controlling the IgE Antibody Response
Human Fc?RII/CD23 in the Regulation of the Allergic Immune Response
Inbred Strains of Guinea Pigs in Studies of Allergy
Multispecific Allergic Reactions
Loss of Fc?R2/CD23 Expression on T and B Lymphocytes During Rush Hyposensitization
Construction of Human Suppressor T Cell Hybridomas That Produce Glycosylation Inhibiting Factors from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Bee Venom Sensitive Patients
Anti-IgE Autoantibodies Hide Specific IgE and Are Mistaken for Specific IgG
Mast Cells and Mediator Release
In Vitro Growth of Human Mast Cells and Their Functions
Mast Cells and Fibroblasts: Partners or Neighbors?
Factors Promoting Histamine and Leukotriene Release
Cyclosporin A Inhibits IgE Receptor Mediated Exocytosis from Rat Basophilic Leukemia Cells Without Inhibiting Phosphatidylinositol Hydrolysis, Ca2+ Uptake, the Rise in Cytosolic Ca2+ Actin Polymerization or Arachidonic Acid Release
Prostaglandin D Synthetase is Localized in Antigen Presenting Cells and Mast Cells
Influence of Histamine H1, H2, and H3 Agonists and Antagonists on IgE Mediated Histamine Release from Human Basophils
Impact of Biophysical Plasma Membrane Properties on Leukocyte/Endothelium Interaction
Interleukin-3 and Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Change the Anaphylatoxin-Induced Basophil Mediator Release Pattern
Neuropeptides and Human Mast Cells
Neuronal Interaction with Mast Cells
Atopic Eczema
T Cells in Atopic Dermatitis
IgE Receptor Expression on Langerhans Cells
Contact Sensitivity to Pityrosporum ovale in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis
Irritable Skin in Atopic Eczema
Stigmata and Signs of Atopic Eczema
Patch Test with Immediate Type Allergens in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis
Chronobiological Aspects of Atopic Disease
Food Allergy
On the Diagnosis of Food Allergy in Adults - A Comparison Between DBPCFC and Intragastric Provocations
Gastric Reactivity to Flour Extracts and Helicobacter pylori Associated Gastritis in Patients with Flour Allergy
Immediate Contact Allergy to Foods: Skin Test Based on Contact Urticaria and IgE Tests in Children with Atopic Dermatitis
The Prevalence of Food Allergy in Children with Atopic Dermatitis
Computer System of Medical Information (KSIMPA) - Useful for an Allergological Outpatient Clinic
Drug Reactions
Drug Metabolism and Drug Allergy
Adverse Reactions to Quinolones
Drug Induced Photosensitivity
Angiotensin Peptides and Anaphylaxis
Granulocyte Mediator Release in Pseudo-allergic Reactions
Photocontact Dermatitis and Persistent Light Reaction from Olaquindox in Piglet Feed
Hyposensitization
Allergoids for Hyposensitization
Hymenoptera Venom Allergy
Safety of Hyposensitization
Trends in the Use of Specific Immunotherapy
Autoimmune Diseases
Autoantibodies Provide Insights into Antigens Driving Autoimmunity
The Diagnostic Significance of Antinuclear Antibodies
The Anticardiolipin Syndrome - A Clinical Study
Antibodies to Basement Membrane Antigens
Contact Dermatitis
Genetics of Contact Allergy
Atopy and Contact Allergy
Neutrophil-Activating Peptide 1/Interleukin 8
A Simple Method to Determine Permeation Resistance of Polymer Gloves
Age Dependence and Regional Anatomical Variability of Cutaneous Irritation
Immediate-Type Reactions to Rubber Products: IgE Mediated?
Mite Allergy
The Storage Mite Story
House Dust Mites in German Homes
House Dust Mites and Protective Measures - A Study on Solidified Benzyl Benzoate
Environmental Pollution and Allergy
Environment and Allergy
Allergens and Pollutants in the Air - A Complex Interaction
Platinum Salt Asthma
Induction of Mediator Generation in Human Inflammatory Cells by Polychlorinated Biphenyls
The "Clinical Ecology Syndrome" ("Eco-Syndrome"): Psychology or Allergy?
Prophylaxis and Therapy
Eicosanoid Metabolism and Antiallergic Strategies
Development of New Antiasthmatic Drugs from Traditional Medicine?
Ultraviolet Light and Suppression of Epidermal Immune Response
New Trends in Allergy Therapy
Index of Authors.