Voelker, Dayne

Purpose of review Anaphylaxis is a severe type 1 hypersensitivity reaction which is the result of mast cell degranulation causing multiorgan dysfunction. Currently, the most accepted biomarker measurement for mast cell mediated anaphylaxis is serum tryptase measurement. Serum tryptase measurement has limitations including an ideal window of collection during anaphylaxis and must be obtained by venipuncture collection. Urinary mast cell mediators are emerging mast cell biomarkers that can be used for evaluation of mast cell mediated anaphylaxis and mast cell activation. This review will highlight biomarker measurement with urinary mast cell mediators in anaphylaxis. Recent findings This review will highlight biomarker measurement of urinary mast cell mediators including N-methylhistamine, leukotriene E4, and 2,3-dinor-11beta-prostaglandin F2 alpha and their role in anaphylaxis. Summary Urine mast cell mediator collection obtained during acute anaphylaxis and compared to baseline measurements are emerging biomarkers for the detection of mast cell mediated anaphylaxis. Further research is needed to validate the utility of urinary mast cell mediators in anaphylaxis.

Pollen exposure drives allergic disease in millions of Americans, yet no standardized, publicly available national pollen dataset has existed until now. We describe the first nationally standardized and publicly available dataset of pollen season timing and airborne pollen concentrations. The data were derived from the National Allergy Bureau™ (NAB™), the only pollen and mold measuring network in the United States certified by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), and curated, processed, and disseminated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The 2003–2024 dataset provides standardized measures of (1) taxa-specific historical average main pollen season (MPS) concentrations and timing (e.g., start dates, peak dates, end dates, season length); (2) taxa-specific yearly MPS concentrations and timing; (3) grouped weekly MPS concentrations, levels, and timing; and (4) grouped daily pollen levels and MPS timing. Pollen concentrations are reported as pollen grains per cubic meter (PPCM). MPS timing is computed using a 3-day consecutive method: season start occurs after the first occurrence of three consecutive days with concentrations > 1.0 PPCM; season peak is the day of maximum concentration; and season end occurs after the first occurrence of three consecutive days with concentrations < 1.0 PPCM after the peak. Historical average timing is calculated in a 365-day-of-year format and converted to calendar dates using 2024 as a reference year for display and consistency. By combining long-term data from monitoring sites across the country, this dataset shows how pollen levels vary over time and across geographic locations. This resource supports tracking pollen trends, linking pollen with weather and climate factors, and informing public health action, clinical care, and communication about population exposure and the impact to allergic diseases such as asthma and hay fever.