New Trends in Allergy V' is the fifth volume of a series focussing on new trends in experimental and clinical allergology. The interdisciplinary character is documented by articles from such different fields as basic immunology, chemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, epidemiology, pneumology, dermatology, otolaryngology, pediatrics and psychosomatic medicine. Special emphasis is given to the role of both anthropogenic (pollutants) as well as natural environmental factors in the development of allergy. Among new pathophysiological concepts, dendritic cells, lymphocyte interactions, mast...

There is no doubt among experts that the prevalence of allergic diseases has increased in many industrialized countries in recent years. The rea sons for this increase are unknown; only suppositions exist. Many people focus on environmental influences. However, the assumption that air pollution alone is responsible for this increase seems to be too simple: many other influences, including the genetic predisposition of individual patients, allergen exposure, and possibly socioeconomic factors, also have to be taken into consideration. Although our understanding of the complex mechanisms of...

New Trends in Allergy V' is the fifth volume of a series focussing on new trends in experimental and clinical allergology. The interdisciplinary character is documented by articles from such different fields as basic immunology, chemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, epidemiology, pneumology, dermatology, otolaryngology, pediatrics and psychosomatic medicine. Special emphasis is given to the role of both anthropogenic (pollutants) as well as natural environmental factors in the development of allergy. Among new pathophysiological concepts, dendritic cells, lymphocyte interactions, mast...