Falls are the leading cause of injuries in women across all ages. While yoga has been shown to increase balance, it has also been associated with injuries due to falls during practice. This study aimed to analyse whether regular yoga or meditation practice is associated with the frequency of falls and fall-related injuries in upper middle-aged Australian women.Women aged 59–64 years from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) were queried regarding falls and falls-related injuries; and whether they regularly practiced yoga or meditation. Associations of falls and falls-related injuries with yoga or meditation practice were analysed using chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression modelling.Of 10,011 women, 4413 (44.1%) had slipped, tripped or stumbled, 2770 (27.7%) had fallen to the ground, 1398 (14.0%) had been injured as a result of falling, and 901 (9.0%) women had sought medical attention for a fall-related injury within the previous 12 months. Yoga or meditation was practiced regularly by 746 (7.5%) women. No associations of falls, fall-related injuries and treatment due to falls-related injury with yoga or meditation practice were found.No association between yoga or meditation practice and falls or fall-related injuries have been found. Further studies are warranted for conclusive judgement of benefits and safety of yoga and meditation in relation to balance, falls and fall-related injuries.

BACKGROUND:Differences between major allergens from distinct grass species remain to be investigated, both in terms of structure and antigenicity.METHODS:Group 1 and 5 allergens purified from five common Pooideae species were analysed by mass spectrometry (MS). Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-restricted T cell epitopes were identified using predictive algorithms and human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-binding assays. CD4+ T cell reactivity and IgE binding were assessed based on the induction of CD154 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and using competitive ELISA assays, respectively.RESULTS:MS analysis of group 5 pollen allergens reveals considerable intra- and inter-species variability in amino acid sequence, with 30-50 predominant isoforms found for each species. Differences in the amino acid sequence as well as N- and O-glycosylation contribute to the variability of group 1 allergens, yielding 5-10 main isoforms, depending on the species. Out of 14 MHC class II-restricted T cell epitopes identified within group 1, only one is conserved among the five grass species. Significant differences in binding affinities for HLA-DR molecules result in variable CD4+ T cell recognition of group 1 and 5 allergens purified from the various species. Up to 38% and 85% of patients exhibit seric IgE responses to species-restricted (or semi-restricted) epitopes associated with group 1 or 5 allergens, respectively.CONCLUSION:Major pollen allergens from distinct grass species bear both shared and species-restricted T and B cell immune epitopes. When compared with single extracts, a five grass pollen extract is thus more suitable for specific immunotherapy, as it contains a broader repertoire of the IgE epitopes to which patients are sensitized.

SummaryIn Germany, specific pollen extracts are currently used for immunotherapy of rye (Secale cereale) allergy. Like most common grasses, S. cereale belongs to the Pooideae subfamily. Using sera from grass pollen‐allergic patients, immunoblotting and ELISA inhibition studies demonstrate that a five‐grass allergenic extract from Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis and Phleum pratense inhibits over 90% of IgE binding to rye allergens. This result confirms the high degree of homology between allergens from S. cereale and common grass species. We conclude that a five‐grass pollen mixture is appropriate for desensitization of patients who are allergic to rye pollen without the need for additional rye pollen extracts.

In Germany, specific immunotherapy of patients with allergy against rye pollens (Secale cereale) is frequently done with different grass pollen extracts. We reassess the practice of applying rye allergens as single extract or in an individual allergen mixture in the context of the availability of a 5-grass tablet vaccine as speciality based on Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis, Phleum pratense. Phylogenetically, Secale cereale shows a strong similarity to the most frequent grasses in Northern and Middle Europe. This similarity applies also to the allergen profile. In 3 studies with 256 grass pollen-allergic patients, the sensitization against rye as well as against other in Northern or Middle Europe frequently found grasses could be shown in all patients. Using sera from 15 grass pollen-allergic patients, it could be shown by immunoblot and ELISA inhibition studies that a 5-grass extract inhibits > 90% of IgE binding to rye allergens. The high cross-immunogenicity between Secale cereale and common grasses is reflected in medical practice in many European countries. Patients with rye allergy are treated with grass pollen extracts. According to the high cross-reactivity between grasses and rye-specific immunotherapy of rye allergy seems to be feasible also with a grass pollen extract. Related to existing data this is independent whether the therapeutic extract includes a single grass, a mixture of 5 grasses or other mixtures.

In Germany, specific immunotherapy of patients with allergy against rye pollens (Secale cereale) is frequently done with different grass pollen extracts. We reassess the practice of applying rye allergens as single extract or in an individual allergen mixture in the context of the availability of a 5-grass tablet vaccine as speciality based on Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis, Phleum pratense. Phylogenetically, Secale cereale shows a strong similarity to the most frequent grasses in Northern and Middle Europe. This similarity applies also to the allergen profile. In 3 studies with 256 grass pollen-allergic patients, the sensitization against rye as well as against other in Northern or Middle Europe frequently found grasses could be shown in all patients. Using sera from 15 grass pollen-allergic patients, it could be shown by immuneblot and ELISA inhibition studies that a 5-grass extract inhibits > 90% of IgE binding to rye allergens. The high cross-immunogemcity between Secale cereale and common grasses is reflected in medical practice in many European countries. Patients with rye allergy are treated with grass pollen extracts. According to the high cross-reactivity between grasses and rye-specific immunotherapy of rye allergy seems to be feasible also with a grass pollen extract. Related to existing data this is independent whether the therapeutic extract includes a single grass, a mixture of 5 grasses or other mixtures.