bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving the bioavailability of nutrients in plant foods at the household level
Authors: Gibson Rosalind S. , Perlas Leah , Hotz Christine
Published: April 2006

Plant foods are the major staples of diets in developing countries, in which the consumption of animal-source foods is often low because of economic and/or religious concerns. However, such plant-based diets are often associated with micronutrient deficits, exacerbated in part by poor micronutrient bioavailability. Diet-related factors in plant foods that affect bioavailability include: the chemical form of the nutrient in food and/or nature of the food matrix; interactions between nutrients and other organic components (e.g. phytate, polyphenols, dietary fibre, oxalic acid, protein, fat, ascorbic acid); pretreatment of food as a result of processing and/or preparation practices. Consequently, household strategies that reduce the content or counteract the inhibiting effects of these factors on micronutrient bioavailability are urgently needed in developing-country settings. Examples of such strategies include: germination, microbial fermentation or soaking to reduce the phytate and polyphenol content of unrefined cereal porridges used for young child feeding; addition of ascorbic acid-containing fruits to enhance non-haem-Fe absorption; heating to destroy heat-labile anti-nutritional factors (e.g. goitrogens, thiaminases) or disrupt carotenoid–protein complexes. Such strategies have been employed in both experimental isotope-absorption and community-based studies. Increases in Fe, Zn and Ca absorption have been reported in adults fed dephytinized cereals compared with cereals containing their native phytate. In community-based studies in rural Malawi improvements in dietary quality and arm-muscle area and reductions in the incidence of anaemia and common infections in young children have been observed.
Plant foods for human health: research challenges
Authors: Mathers John C.
Published: April 2006

Plants provide the major part of human food intake. Whilst advances in agronomic characteristics (improved yield and better pest and disease resistance) continue to be a very high priority, there is increasing opportunity to enhance the nutritional value of plant based diets by improving the nutritional quality of staple foods. We now have proof of principle that genetic engineering can be used to produce plant-derived human vaccines. In relation to plant foods for human health, the research challenges include understanding: (1) why certain foods cause adverse reactions in some individuals but not in others; (2) the mechanisms of action of apparently ‘protective’ foods such as fruits and vegetables. There is also a need to develop much more informative and robust methods for measuring dietary exposure to specific plant foods or food constituents, including both recent exposure, for which a metabolomics approach may be particularly helpful, and long-term exposure.
Method for identifying transcription factor binding sites in yeast
Authors: Tsai Huai-Kuang , Huang Grace Tzu-Wei , Chou Meng-Yuan , Lu Henry Horng-Shing , Li Wen-Hsiung
Published: April 2006

Motivation: Identifying transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) is helpful for understanding the mechanism of transcriptional regulation. The abundance and the diversity of genomic data provide an excellent opportunity for identifying TFBSs. Developing methods to integrate various types of data has become a major trend in this pursuit.

Results: We develop a TFBS identification method, TFBSfinder, which utilizes several data sources, including DNA sequences, phylogenetic information, microarray data and ChIP-chip data. For a TF, TFBSfinder rigorously selects a set of reliable target genes and a set of non-target genes (as a background set) to find overrepresented and conserved motifs in target genes. A new metric for measuring the degree of conservation at a binding site across species and methods for clustering motifs and for inferring position weight matrices are proposed. For synthetic data and yeast cell cycle TFs, TFBSfinder identifies motifs that are highly similar to known consensuses. Moreover, TFBSfinder outperforms well-known methods.

Availability:  

Contact:  whli@uchicago.edu

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available on Bioinformatics online.
Tissue‐Engineered Calcium Alginate Patches in the Repair of Chronic Chinchilla Tympanic Membrane Perforations
Authors: Weber David E. , Semaan Maroun T. , Wasman Jay K. , Beane Richard , Bonassar Lawrence J. , Megerian Cliff A.
Published: April 2006

Objective: Chronic tympanic membrane perforations are a common problem in the United States. A high number of these cases results from placement of pressure equalization tubes. These perforations may initially be treated with paper patch techniques and although safe and well tolerated, the procedure demonstrates poor efficacy. The ideal treatment for small perforations should be rapid, minimally invasive, and efficacious. Calcium alginate‐based tissue engineered tympanic membrane patches represent an attractive option, but in vivo data are required.

Methods: A controlled prospective study of tympanic membrane perforation repair using a well‐known chinchilla model of chronic tympanic membrane perforation was performed. Calcium alginate‐based tympanic membrane patches were created using computer‐aided design techniques. A previously described chinchilla model of chronic tympanic membrane perforations was used to create stable perforations ranging from 2 to 5 mm. Ears with chronic perforations were divided into three groups: control (no patch), paper patch, and calcium alginate plugs. At 10 weeks postimplantation, all animals were killed and inspected both grossly and histologically for healing.

Results: In the chinchilla model, the alginate grafts demonstrated significantly improved healing rates over both the untreated control group (spontaneous repair) and the paper patch group; nine of 13 healed in the alginate group versus two of nine healed in the paper patch group (P < .05) versus one of 11 healed in the control group (P < .05).

Conclusion: Calcium alginate tympanic membrane perforation patches offer a significant advantage in the repair of chronic perforations over traditional techniques in the chinchilla perforation model and may offer attractive opportunities in the clinical setting.
Inner Ear Hemorrhage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Sugiura Makoto , Naganawa Shinji , Teranishi Masaaki , Sato Eisuke , Kojima Sawako , Nakashima Tsutomu
Published: April 2006

A 33‐year‐old man had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with anticardiolipin antibody. At the age of 40 years, he experienced bilateral hearing deterioration. The three‐dimensional fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery of magnetic resonance imaging showed high signals bilaterally in the cochlea and vestibule. He was diagnosed with bilateral inner ear hemorrhage on the basis of the presence of anticardiolipin antibody. This is the first published case of inner ear hemorrhage in a patient with SLE. Our findings suggest that inner ear hemorrhage is associated with hearing deterioration in some patients with SLE.
Methylation of neutral endopeptidase 24.11 promoter in rat hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Uematsu Fumiyuki , Takahashi Masakazu , Yoshida Midori , Igarashi Maki , Nakae Dai
Published: April 2006

Neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP), a cell‐surface enzyme expressed by epithelial cells that cleaves and inactivates biologically active small peptides, is downregulated in various cancers. NEP is encoded by a gene that contains a CpG island in the promoter region, whose hypermethylation appears related to decreased expression. Altered expression of NEP has also been reported in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), suggesting its possible role in hepatocarcinogenesis. To elucidate the status of NEP in HCC, methylation in the promoter region of the gene that encodes NEP in male Fischer 344 rats with HCC, induced by a choline‐deficient, l‐amino acid‐defined diet, was investigated by methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction, combined bisulfite restriction analysis, and bisulfite genomic sequencing. These analyses together showed the promoter to be frequently methylated in HCC in contrast to its unmethylated status in normal liver, the degree of methylation being inversely related to the level of mRNA expression evaluated by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (P = 0.031). In two rat liver cell lines, RLC‐16 and RLC‐27, the promoter was heavily methylated and NEP mRNA expression was negative. However, administration of 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine caused NEP expression, suggesting that methylation of CpG is a factor regulating transcriptional expression. Together with the data from microarray analyses performed previously using the same animal model, the current results suggest that reduced expression of NEP or other ectopeptidases could impact on molecules involved in signal‐transducing systems, including G‐protein coupled receptors, via modified turnover of extracellularly active small peptides. (Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 611–617)
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: three novel MDR3 gene mutations
Authors: FLOREANI A. , CARDERI I. , PATERNOSTER D. , SOARDO G. , AZZAROLI F. , ESPOSITO W. , VARIOLA A. , TOMMASI A. M. , MARCHESONI D. , BRAGHIN C. , MAZZELLA G.
Published: April 2006

Background

The aetiology of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is unknown, but more than 10 different MDR3 gene mutations have recently been identified.

Aim

To evaluate the genetic contribution of the MDR3 gene in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in Italian subjects.

Methods

We performed a multicentre prospective case–control study, enrolling 80 women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy at the third trimester of pregnancy and 80 pregnant women without intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood leucocytes using standard procedures. The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify exon 14 of the MDR3 gene and the polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced using a Big Dye Terminator Cycle Sequencing kit.

Results

Three novel non‐synonymous heterozygous mutations in exon 14 were found (4%; E528D, R549H, G536R) among the 80 intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy patients, whereas the pregnant controls were all negative for exon 14 polymorphisms. The three patients involved had normal GGT and bilirubin, but high levels of both ALT and serum bile acids. One had cholesterol bile stones. The outcome of pregnancy was normal for two (with vaginal delivery), while foetal distress was recorded in the third.

Conclusions

These three novel mutations add further information on the involvement of the MDR3 gene in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. As in other studies, we found only heterozygous mutations that could cause an impaired transport protein function, not its absence (which is responsible for more severe liver disease). Different genetic backgrounds might justify the presence of novel MDR3 gene mutations.
Are rare diseases still orphans or happily adopted? The challenges of developing and using orphan medicinal products
Authors: Dear James W. , Lilitkarntakul Pajaree , Webb David J.
Published: April 2006

Orphan medicinal products (OMPs) are targeted at the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of rare diseases and have a special status in European law. This status brings incentives for pharmaceutical companies to invest in OMP development. The goal of the legislation is to encourage the development of more treatments for life‐threatening rare disorders, but increased availability of OMPs raises important issues surrounding the public funding of very expensive treatments by national health services. In this article we review OMPs and the incentives for their development and discuss the challenges presented by funding these treatments.
School attainment of children who have been in care
Authors: ESSEN JULIET , LAMBERT LYDIA , HEAD JENNY
Published: April 2006

SUMMARY
The paper presents data from the National Child Development Study which examine the relationship between being in care and school attainment. Children in care had lower test scores in both reading and mathematics than those never in care. The children who were not in care until after the age of seven had higher test scores than those first in care earlier, although before being received into care the former group already had lower scores than the children who were never in care. Between the ages of seven and eleven the progress of those who were in care before seven, but not of those only in care after seven, deteriorated relative to that of the children who were never in care. These results suggest that the relatively low attainment of children in care is associated with factors other than, or additional to, the experience of care itself.
Evaluation of progress using the context input process and product model
Authors: SIMS MARGARET , BRIDGMAN GEOFF
Published: April 2006

SummaryMost evaluations of programme effectiveness are based on process data (the data generated by the programme) and used for internal monitoring and service development. Context (the ecology of therapeutic systems), input (the identification of what is in fact different between two therapeutic systems) and product (the consequence of different inputs, taking account of context) evaluations are rarely, if ever, produced. In this paper (using input and product evaluations) the progress of twelve Down's syndrome and twelve multiply‐handicapped children attending, over a period of 18 months, two different therapeutic systems operated by the New Zealand Society for the Intellectually Handicapped (Auckland Branch/outside Auckland Branches) is assessed. The progress of the Auckland children is significantly better in a number of areas than for those outside Auckland. This improvement in progress can be attributed to input differences that reflect the Auckland Branch's policy of service development. The most important determinants of a successful programme are not staff/student ratios, time in class or specialist assistance, all of which favour the outside Auckland groups, but the degree of structure, detail of programmes and assessments, and quality of parent contact in which Auckland seems superior. The results for the Down's syndrome group compare favourably with those from other Down's syndrome programmes.
Vision testing of young children in the age range 18 months to 4½ years
Authors: EGAN DOROTHY F. , BROWN ROSEMARY
Published: April 2006

Summary
Four hundred and twenty‐five normal children in the age range 18 months to 4½ years have been studied to determine the percentage of children according to age who can be expected to cooperate in a letter‐matching vision test using a key card; to see whether the use of plastic letters to replace the key card lowers the age at which a letter‐matching test can be achieved, and to show that children in this age range can do a vision test at 20ft (6m). Acceptance of occlusion using a patch occludcr was also examined. The study shows that children effectively begin to cooperate in letter‐matching vision tests using a key card from 33 months of age. Replacement of the key card with plastic letters lowers the age to 30 months and thereafter there is a gain of some 25% of children up to 39 months. All children were successfully tested at 20ft (6m). The most difficult age for occlusion was in the age group around the second birthday.
Possible personality problems among 10‐year‐old spina bifida children
Authors: TEW BRIAN , LAURENCE K. M.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Forty‐four 10‐year‐old spina bifida children and 52 non‐disabled controls completed the Rogers Personal Adjustment Inventory and their teachers assessed their school behaviour on the Bristol Social Adjustment Guide. Spina bifida children and the controls had similar school adjustment scores but the former appeared to have significantly more emotional problems on the Rogers Inventory suggesting that they have private worries not revealed by characteristic behaviour in school. Factors associated with apparent emotional upset are considered and implications for support discussed
The value of a neuropsychiatric examination of children with complex severe epilepsy
Authors: HARVEY IAN , GOODYER IAN M. , BROWN STEPHEN W.
Published: April 2006

Summary
The feasibility and utility of a neuropsychiatric assessment in a cohort of severely impaired children with long‐standing epilepsy (n = 96) is tested. This assessment is described, and some results reported in this highly selected group. Substantial difficulties in coordination were present in nearly three‐quarters of the sample, and dysarthria identified in two‐thirds. Psychiatric interviewing identified cases of mood disturbance that altered overall treatment of that child, and a more systematic behavioural assessment permitted clearer management of behavioural problems already known to staff. This research supports previous findings that a full neuropsychiatric evaluation is both practical and has an important place in the early assessment and ongoing management of complex childhood epilepsy.
The relevance of parental involvement programmes in developing countries
Authors: O'TOOLE BRIAN
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe rationale for parent involvement programmes with handicapped children is presented and analysed from a third world perspective. The mothers’ reaction to the role is discussed. Potentially damaging consequences of adopting a teaching role are considered. The results of a questionnaire administered to 137 Guyanese mothers are presented. The questionnaire focused on the mothers’ understanding of the concept of child development, their belief in being able to help the child acquire certain developmental tasks and an analysis of the opportunities they had for teaching. The questionnaire revealed that the philosophy underlying parental involvement is relevant in a Guyanese context; however, certain practical constraints need to be appreciated.
Children with epilepsy and their families: needs and services
Authors: LAYBOURN ANN , HILL MALCOLM
Published: April 2006

Summary
Social factors play a major role in determining the impact of epilepsy on families. This paper reviews the literature on the need's of families and their social networks, and services proposed for them. The predominantly negative picture presented in the ‘expert’ literature is compared with the more positive one presented in first‐hand studies of families' views and in the literature on children with other disabilities. The implications of these differing perspectives for service provision are discussed.
Implications of a model of stress and coping for services to families of young disabled children
Authors: McCONACHIE HELEN
Published: April 2006

Summary
Much recent research on families bringing up a disabled child has explored their coping strategies to deal with stress. The major findings are reviewed, and possible implications for the structure and content of service delivery suggested. The paper emphasizes the importance of social support networks, including the relationship between the mother and father, and of quality services in enhancing parental adaptation.
Sleep problems in pre‐school children: a review of the literature
Authors: KERR S. , JOWETT S.
Published: April 2006

Summary
This paper reviews the literature on sleep problems in preschool children, aiming to raise awareness of the current knowledge in this field. The article begins with a discussion of the prevalence of sleep problems in young children. Disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep are by far the most common type of sleep problem in this age group, and are therefore the focus of this review. The effects of sleep disturbance are examined, focusing on how parents often feel desperate and in need of support outside the family. The causes of sleep problems are considered and the complexity in identifying causal factors is highlighted. The article continues with an exploration of the treatment of sleep problems, suggesting that much of the advice given to parents is contradictory. The literature demonstrates that the use of medication is common, but it appears that this method of treatment is of limited benefit. It seems that behaviour modification or a psychodynamic approach may be much more successful, and the use of self‐help manuals/booklets has been shown to be useful by some authors. Finally, preventative strategies are discussed highlighting the need for further research in this area.
Parents, partnership and education officers: a study of attributions
Authors: Bowers T
Published: April 2006

Summary
Thirty‐five parents of Children with special educational needs were interviewed to ascertain their experiences of dealing with education officers involved in the assessment and placement of their Children. They were found predominantly to make internal attributions for negative behaviours, and external attributions for positive behaviours. The implication of these results for new United Kingdom government initiatives to reduce conflict between parents and education authorities are examined.
Research into the lifeworld of physically disabled children
Authors: Mulderij Karel J.
Published: April 2006

Summary
This article presents a phenomenological study of the experiences of physically disabled children. The research focuses on elementary school aged children not suffering from additional intellectual disability. In previous research we noticed just how often the children we observed are considered and discussed from the point of view of professional expertise. There is, for instance, the medical account of the disorder, the paramedical view concerning the treatment of the physical limitations and the educational and psychological approach to learning disabilities. Our research aims to highlight the perspective of the disabled child him‐ or herself. We let the children speak for themselves on their three ‘favourite’ subjects: on their bodies, on friends and on parents and experts.
Race and ethnicity as determinants of child health: a personal view
Authors: Spencer N
Published: April 2006

Summary
‘Race’ and ethnicity are widely studied as explanatory variables in health research and their apparent independent effects are reported to explain many health variations between different groups within and between populations. Both, however, are associated with major problems of definition and confusion of socio‐cultural and biological concepts which call into question the validity of many of the ‘independent’ effects attributed to them. This paper seeks to unravel the basis of these concepts and explore their scientific validity using examples from the child health literature.
Immunoglobulin E antibodies to milk proteins
Authors: LETTER B. K , GERY I. , FREIER S. , NOAH Z. , DAVIES M. A.
Published: April 2006

Ninety‐eight sera of normal and hospitalized infants were tested for IgE antibodies against milk antigens. These antibodies were detected by the radioimmunodiffusion (RID) technique using rabbit anti‐human IgE and prick tests of the skin.

Immunoglobulin E antibodies were found in seven out of twenty‐six infants who were suspected of suffering from milk allergy. These antibodies were found also in one out of three coeliac patients and in two out of five suffering from recurrent aspiration. Other sera were negative. Most of the positive sera which were taken from milk allergic patients, reacted with beta‐lactoglobulin. Positive results in skin tests were more frequent than those obtained in the RID technique.

Oral challenge tests with alpha‐lactalbumin and bovine gamma‐globulin caused clinical symptoms in allergic infants whose sera lacked detectable amounts of IgE antibodies to these antigens.

There was complete correlation between IgE type antibodies to beta‐lactoglobulin and clinical symptoms after oral challenge in the six patients tested. Before definite conclusions can be drawn from this observation, however, more cases will have to be tested.
The relationship of a topic disease and immunoglobulin levels with special reference to selective IgA deficiency
Authors: COLLINS‐WILLIAMS C. , CHIU A. W. , VARGA E. A.
Published: April 2006

We have confirmed that the presence of IgE in selective IgA deficient patients does not give protection against increased susceptibility to infections. Atopic individuals with selective IgA deficiency may have higher levels of IgE than non‐atopic individuals. Immunoglobulin levels for G, A or M tend to be lower in atopic individuals than in normal individuals.
The role of infection in the morbidity of asthmatic children admitted to hospital
Authors: DISNEY M. E. , MATTHEWS R. , WILLIAMS J. D.
Published: April 2006

Two aspects of the role of infection in asthmatic attacks in children have been investigated. Virus isolations from children admitted to a paediatric department during 1968 showed close correlation with the incidence of admissions with upper respiratory tract infection and with lower respiratory tract infection. The peaks of virus isolation corresponded to the peaks of respiratory infection admissions. There was a clear dissociation between virus isolations and admissions with acute asthma. Fifty‐one children admitted with clinical acute attacks of asthma were investigated more thoroughly. Only three viruses were isolated from these case? compared to eleven viruses isolated from a control group of children with respiratory infections. The incidence of bacterial pathogens was similar in both groups. Serological evidence of virus infection was obtained in two out of twenty‐six children with asthma and in four out often children with respiratory infections. Our results indicate that bacterial or viral infections are not responsible for the autumn peak of asthma admissions.
Platinum sensitivity: treatment by specific hyposensitization
Authors: LEVENE G. M. , CALNAN C. D.
Published: April 2006

An analytical chemist developed respiratory tract and cutaneous allergy to complex salts of platinum in the course of his work.

Specific hyposensitization was achieved by means of intradermal injections of allergen given in increasing doses. During the course of injections he developed symptoms and signs suggestive of a serum‐sickness reaction.

The immunological significance of these phenomena was investigated.
Studies on vasculitis
Authors: PARISH W. E.
Published: April 2006

Antibodies to protein and polysaccharide antigens of streptococci in persons with cutaneous vasculitis following streptococcal pharyngeal infection have no special ability to form tissue‐damaging complexes, when compared with antibody from patients without vasculitis though convalescent from similar infection.

Antibodies from patients with vasculitis were less effective than those from patients without vasculitis in fixing complement, in mediating erythrocyte immune‐adherence, formed complexes releasing less acid phosphatase and acid protease from monkey or human neutrophils, and induced smaller vascular lesions in guinea‐pig skin.

Similarly, antibodies to staphylococci from persons with and without vasculitis were equally effective in fixing complement or mediating immune‐adherence.

Examination of the properties of antibodies in a patient's serum cannot be used to determine his susceptibility to vasculitis, which depends as much on the release of sufficient antigen to form tissue‐damaging complexes.
Immunological aspects of respiratory allergy in budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) fanciers
Authors: FAUX J. A. , WIDE L. , HARGREAVE F. E. , LONGBOTTOM J. L. , PEPYS J.
Published: April 2006

Precipitins against budgerigar serum proteins were not found in subjects without budgerigars or in healthy budgerigar fanciers. In budgerigar fanciers with respiratory disease, precipitins were found in sixteen out of nineteen suffering from allergic alveolitis, in four out of fourteen with asthma and two others in whom other respiratory diseases had been diagnosed. Specific IgE to budgerigar serum proteins was present in the atopic subjects with asthma due to budgerigar allergen but not in the nonatopic subjects with allergic alveolitis. Haemagglutination tests corresponded with the precipitin tests. Radio‐immunoelectrophoretic tests showed that the precipitins belonged in the IgG, IgM and IgA classes. The presence of precipitins in budgerigar fanciers was closely associated with the presence of respiratory disease.
Detection of penicillin allergy of the immediate type by radioimmunoassay of reagins (IgE) to penicilloyl conjugates
Authors: WIDE LEIF , JUHLIN LENNART
Published: April 2006

Reaginic antibodies (IgE) to penicilloyl were detected by an in vitro method, a radioimmunological technique (RAST), in the sera of nine patients out of eleven with a recent history of penicillin hypersensitivity of the immediate type. Provocation tests in two patients with negative RAST were negative as well as in twelve patients having had a possible penicillin hypersensitivity reaction 7 months to 14 years ago. Results from skin tests and RAST agreed. Skin tests and RAST reactions were negative for thirty‐two patients with a history of penicillin reactions of the delayed type. The results of this study indicate that the RAST is a valuable alternative to the more dangerous intracutaneous test with penicilloyl‐polylysine for‐detection of penicillin hypersensitivity of the immediate type.
Clinical trial of topical disodium cromoglycate in vernal kerato‐conjunctivitis
Authors: EASTY D. L. , RICE N. S. C. , JONES BARRIE R.
Published: April 2006

The results of a double blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial of topical administration of disodium cromoglycate drops to one eye and placebo drops to the other eye in the treatment of vernal kerato‐conjunctivitis in twenty‐two patients indicates that the drug has a significant therapeutic effect. Patients vary in the degree of their response, but nearly all are helped. From long‐term uncoded administration of the drug to both eyes in sixty‐one patients, it has been found that supplementation with topical steroid may be required for short periods to control acute exacerbations of the disease. However, it is now possible to reduce or avoid the use of steroids in many cases, and thus greatly reduce the dangers of steroid‐induced glaucoma or steroid‐enhanced herpetic keratitis. No side effects have been noted other than occasional irritation apparently due to thiomersal, the bacteriostatic agent used in the trial preparation. This irritancy, which was not detected in preliminary animal experiments, or in trials in volunteers, occurred only during periods of exacerbation of vernal disease. The findings suggest that there is an important Type I hypersensitivity phenomenon in the pathogenesis of the disease, and although other mechanisms are probably also involved, modification of this Type I reaction is of therapeutic benefit.
Mites and house dust allergy
Authors: BILIOTTI G. , PASSALEVA A. , ROMAGNANI S. , RICCI M.
Published: April 2006

279 patients, most of whom had perennial asthma or perennial rhinitis, were tested intradermally with extracts of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae in order to ascertain the incidence of positive skin reactions. The great majority of house dust sensitive patients had positive skin reactions to both mite extracts. However, the concordance between house dust and mite extract positive skin reactions, though statistically significant, did not reach the extent found in other countries.

Of the three extracts employed, D. pteronyssinus appeared to contain the most potent allergen while its culture medium extract yielded a low percentage of positive skin reactions. These results suggest that, in italy also, mites seem to represent the most important allergenic source of house dust.
Asthma due to inhaled chemical fumes—amino‐ethyl ethanolamine in aluminium soldering flux
Authors: PEPYS J. , PICKERING C. A. C.
Published: April 2006

Three patients with asthma due to the fumes of aluminium soldering flux containing amino‐ethyl ethanolamine were tested by occupational type exposures to the fumes of the flux and the amino‐ethyl ethanoiamine. Typical late asthmatic reactions not inhibited by disodium cromoglycate were produced, one patient also giving an immediate asthmatic reaction which was inhibited by disodium cromoglycate.
Asthma due to inhaled wood dusts—Western red cedar and Iroko
Authors: PICKERING C. A. C. , BATTEN J. C. , PEPYS J.
Published: April 2006

Occupational type exposure tests with wood dusts provoked specific late asthmatic reactions to Iroko or cedar wood dust in two asthmatic woodworkers respectively. Aqueous extracts gave immediate reactions only to Iroko in the Iroko sensitive patient, who also had precipitins only to the Iroko extract. No skin or serological or inhalation test reactions were given in non‐exposed subjects.
Allergenic and biological activities of melittin from honey bee venom
Authors: MACKLER B. F. , RUSSELL A. S. , KREIL G.
Published: April 2006

Patients sensitive to bee stings had immediate weal‐and‐flare (WF) and painful late reactions when skin tested with purified melittin, the main toxin of bee venom. The WF reactions were immunologically non‐specific, as melittin is a potent histamine‐releasing agent. The late reactions which persisted after 4–5 hr appeared to result from immunological hypersensitivity to bee stings since normal patients had no late reactions. Reaginic and precipitable antibodies against melittin were not found in the sera from any of the bee sting sensitive patients. Cellular hypersensitivity against melittin was not detected by the leucocyte migration inhibition test.

The haemolytic and leucocyte migration inhibition activities of melittin were associated with the intact molecule and not the carboxy‐terminal heptapeptide.
Clinical and immunological responses to enzymes of Bacillus subtilis in factory workers and consumers
Authors: PEPYS J. , WELLS I. D. , D'SOUZA M. F. , GREENBERG M.
Published: April 2006

Skin (prick) and serological tests were made with enzyme preparations of Bacillus subtilis in exposed factory workers and potential ‘consumers’. Prick tests with these materials at 10 mg/ml gave positive immediate reactions in twenty‐six out of sixty‐five factory workers. Eighteen of the factory workers were classified as atopic because of allergy to common allergens and fifteen gave positive reactions to the enzymes compared with eleven out of forty‐seven non‐atopic workers. A group of eleven of the factory workers had consistent ventilatory impairment on repeated examination; all were prick test positive and seven were atopic, and four non‐atopic.

Of 2500 patients attending for investigation of respiratory allergy, 40% were highly atopic, 40% moderately atopic and 20% non‐atopic. 80% were consumers of biological detergents. Only two gave weak, not clinically relevant, prick test reactions to the enzyme preparations.

In radioallergosorbent (RAST) tests for specific IgE antibody against the enzyme preparations, counts in the present investigation of 600/30 sec or more corresponded best with prick test positivity, such values being found in twelve of the fifteen prick test positive atopics and in eight of the eleven workers with ventilatory impairment.

Comparison of the RAST counts on sera from cord blood and from the patients who included non, light and heavy consumers showed increasingly higher specific IgE counts in these groups, although these counts were almost all below the level of 600/30 sec, which corresponded with skin test reactions and clinical relevance.

Radioimmunodiffusion (RID) and radioimmunoelectrophoretic (RIEP) tests with enzyme preparations gave positive reactions only in the factory workers, of whom forty‐three had IgG and twenty‐one IgA antibody, none having only IgE antibody.
Changes in challenge tests following hyposensitization with mite extract
Authors: ASSEM E. S. K. , McALLEN MONICA K.
Published: April 2006

The changes in a wide variety of in vivo and in vitro tests following a long course of low antigen dosage hyposensitization therapy in fifteen asthmatic patients with house dust mite allergy are reported.

Evidence of clinical improvement was shown by decreased bronchodilator requirement. Bronchial challenge testing showed a significant increase in bronchial tolerance to mite antigen. Nasal and skin tests with mite extract, however, did not show a significant change.

In contrast to the development of bronchial tolerance and to the clinical improvement, some of the in vitro tests seemed to provide evidence of hypersensitization. The leucocyte test, for example, showed increased sensitization to the mite antigen, as well as an increase in histamine release by anti‐IgE serum. Total serum IgE was also increased, but this was apparently due to non‐allergen specific IgE.

Although the leucocyte test showed increased sensitization to mite antigen, serum reaginic activity as measured by the passive sensitization of human lung did not show any increase. Thus, there seemed to be a difference in the affinity of allergen‐specific IgE for leucocytes as compared with lung tissue. It also appeared that leucocyte response to antigen bore no relationship to sensitization of other tissues, particularly the bronchial tree.

The mechanism of clinical hyposensitization by low dosage immunotherapy is discussed. It is suggested that apart from the development of blocking antibodies, other mechanisms seem likely. Among these are a change in the affinity of IgE antibodies for different tissues, and a competition between non‐specific IgE (produced in excess as a result of immunotherapy) and allergen‐specific IgE.
The radioallergosorbent test with a purified allergen from codfish
Authors: AAS K. , LUNDKVIST U.
Published: April 2006

The radioallergosorbent test (RAST) was performed with a purified allergen (DS 22) from cod, coupled to CNBr‐activated cellulose discs. A 100% correlation was found between a positive RAST and the presence of clinical allergy to cod in fifty‐six children as compared to a negative RAST in all sera from fifty‐six allergic children tolerating fish. Positive results were obtained with discs treated with DS 22 in a concentration as low as 0.4 ng/ml.
Measurement of resistance to air flow in the nose in a trial with sodium cromoglycate (BP) solution in allergen‐induced nasal stenosis
Authors: JENSSEN ARNE O.
Published: April 2006

A new method for measuring nasal resistance is presented by which it is possible to record reproducible and consistent data on nasal flow and resistance. This method was applied to a double blind trial of 2% solution of sodium cromoglycate. Ten adult patients with allergic rhinitis due to grass pollen were assessed during the winter. One nostril was challenged 1 hr after the administration of sodium cromoglycate or placebo given in random order. Eight patients showed significant protection with sodium cromoglycate.
The importance of mites in house dust sensitivity in Barbadian asthmatics
Authors: PEARSON R. S. BRUCE , CUNNINGTON A. M.
Published: April 2006

House dust sensitivity is a common precipitating cause of naso‐respiratory allergy in Barbados. A high degree of correlation between skin tests to house dust and to mite extracts was found. The pyroglyphid species Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus occurred in high densities in samples of mattress and bedroom dust. Twenty‐two other species of mites were identified in the dust samples and in certain cases some of these species were more abundant than D. pter. Skin tests were positive in a high proportion of dust sensitive asthmatics tested with extracts prepared from five species of mite in addition to D. pter. and D. farinae. There appears to be a relationship between the density of D. pter. in mattress dust and allergy to house dust.
Uptake of disodium cromoglycate in obstructive airways disease
Authors: BENSON M. K. , CURRY S. H. , MILLS G. G. D'A. , HUGHES D. T. D.
Published: April 2006

The urinary excretion of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) was used as an index of the amount reaching the lungs in nine normal subjects and in fifteen patients with obstructive airways disease. Vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and peak inspiratory flow rate (PIF) through the spinhaler were also measured. The amount of DSCG detected in urine varied considerably. It was correlated with the physiological measures and with age. The usual DSCG excretion pattern was of a declining excretion rate from 0 to 3 hr following the dose, but certain individuals showed a rise to the second hour, before a fall occurred in the third hour. The occurrence of a rise was associated with a very low reading in the first hour, which in turn was associated with severe obstructive airways disease. Overall, the lowest excretion rates, and the poorest scores for VC, FEV1 and PIF were recorded in a sub‐group of five chronic bronchitics, who were also the oldest group. In one chronic bronchitic no drug was detected. The highest excretion rates and best physiological scores were recorded in the normal subjects, who were also the youngest group.
Cell mediated hypersensitivity in skin reactions to drugs (except contact dermatitis)
Authors: SAURAT J. H. , BURTIN C. J. , SOUBRANE C. B. , PAUPE J. R.
Published: April 2006

The leucocyte migration test (LMT) was used in thirty patients with skin reactions to drugs (except contact dermatitis) together with other diagnostic tests: lymphocyte transformation test (LTT), specific IgE, passive haemagglutination and patch‐tests.

The optimal concentrations of drugs for the use of LMT were determined. In all cases in this series, sensitization to the drug considered responsible was confirmed by a positive LTT or by specific IgE. On the contrary, LMT was positive only four times. The value of LMT in detecting allergic reactions to drugs is therefore limited. Out of four positive LMT, three were obtained in patients with bulla formation, showing a definite mononuclear cell infiltration of the basal membrane, suggestive of a cellular mediated mechanism in such drug reactions.
Adrenergic mechanisms and immediate‐type allergy
Authors: ASSEM E. S. K.
Published: April 2006

There is evidence to suggest that the autonomic nervous system has an influence on various immunological mechanisms, and that it may possibly modulate allergic reactions by interfering with the different steps of these reactions. Adrenergic mechanisms seem to play an important role in immediate‐type and delayed‐type (cell‐mediated) immune reactions. Although cholinergic mechanisms may also play some role in the regulation of immediate‐type allergy, as suggested by the potentiation of antigen‐induced mediator release by cholinergic drugs, a great deal of work is required in order to assess their importance.
Heat studies with human IgE: A simple method for rapidly distinguishing sera with high total IgE levels
Authors: BALDO B. A. , WELLS I. D. , PEPYS J.
Published: April 2006

Human sera, covering a wide range of total IgE concentrations, were subjected to mild heat treatment for varying periods of time and then examined for their abilities to bind to an Fc‐specific, radioactively labelled rabbit anti‐human IgE serum. As a result of the heat treatment, aggregation of the serum IgE occurred and the aggregated material reacted significantly with the labelled antiserum. Experiments with a standard human IgE serum and over 100 different human serum samples from normal and allergic patients showed that this simple heat method can distinguish high, medium and low levels of IgE in serum. Provided that sufficient examinations are undertaken, the method offers a simple means of rapidly examining large numbers of serum samples and distinguishing those sera with elevated levels of IgE.

Differences observed between individual serum samples may indicate physico‐chemical differences in the IgE molecules present in the sera. Such differences may be a further reflection of the heterogeneity of human IgE. The stability of human skin‐sensitizing antibodies is briefly reviewed.
Asthma due to inhaled chemical agents: ampicillin, benzyl penicillin, 6 amino penicillanic acid and related substances
Authors: DAVFES R. J. , HENDRICK D. J. , PEPYS J.
Published: April 2006

Three out of four workers from an antibiotic‐producing factory developed late asthma and eosinophilia on inhalation challenge testing with ampicillin and related substances. The chemicals to which each worker reacted varied, suggesting differences in the clinically important allergens for each individual.

The taking by mouth of ampicillin in one patient, and benzyl penicillin in another in therapeutic doses led to the development of late asthma accompanied by skin and gastro‐intestinal disturbances.

The inhalation of 200 μg of beclomethasone dipropionate before in one case, and before and 3‐hourly after provocation challenge in the other, blocked the late asthmatic reaction. 40 mg sodium cromoglycate similarly given failed to inhibit the reactions. In one patient, 04416–0.24 mg of isoprenaline sulphate inhaled 10 min before or 60 min after inhalation testing prevented the development of late asthma, and when given during the asthmatic reaction led to its rapid reversal.
Serum and cell bound IgE in chronic urticaria
Authors: GREAVES M. W. , PLUMMER V. M. , McLAUGHLAN P. , STANWORTH D. R.
Published: April 2006

Basophil leucocyte‐bound IgE has been investigated in patients with chronic urticaria by the method of reversed anaphylaxis. In this reaction basophil‐bound IgE behaves as an antigen, the amount present being inversely proportional to the concentration of anti‐IgE producing maximum histamine release. Dose‐response curves in which histamine release was plotted against the concentration of anti‐IgE failed to reveal any substantial difference in the optimum concentration of anti‐IgE for maximum release from basophils of urticarial subjects compared with control subjects, thus suggesting there is no quantitative abnormality of basophil bound IgE in chronic urticaria. However, the magnitude of maximum histamine release by anti‐IgE from basophils of urticarial subjects was reduced compared with controls and this was not related to serum IgE concentrations since the mean serum IgE concentration was slightly higher in the urticaria group. Studies of spontaneous and compound 48/80‐evoked histamine release in the two groups did not reveal any differences in stability of histamine stores or in the biochemical histamine release mechanism over a wide range of concentrations of 48/80. These results raise the possibility of a qualitative abnormality of basophil bound IgE in chronic urticaria.
Emergence of basophils at sites of local allergic reactions using a skin vesicle test
Authors: KIMURA IKURO , TANIZAKI YOSHIRO , TAKAHASHI KIYOSHI , SAITO KATSUYOSHI , UEDA NOBUO , SATO SHUICHI
Published: April 2006

Vesicular exudate, produced by the application of cantharides plaster over normal skin and sites of intradermal allergen injection, was examined for the presence of basophils and eosinophils in normal subjects and patients with bronchial asthma. In comparison with the normals, the asthmatic group demonstrated a high rate of basophil appearance in vesicular fluid derived from areas of untreated skin. Basophil appearance was even more prominent in vesicular fluid from skin injected intradermally with various allergens. Modest numbers of basophils appeared at skin sites injected with house dust, but relatively large numbers appeared in areas injected with Candida, ragweed or tuberculin extracts. Patients with severe, intractable asthma frequently demonstrated large numbers of basophils in vesicular exudates. Intradermal injections of anti‐IgE caused the greatest number of basophils to appear in the vesicular fluid, The numbers of eosinophils migrating into such vesicular lesions were not statistically significant though their numbers were proportional to those of the basophils. A significant correlation was shown to exist between both basophil and eosinophil blood counts and the numbers of these cells appearing in cutaneous vesicular fluid.

This study demonstrates that basophil leukocytes, together with eosinophils, migrate from blood into extravascular tissues at sites of allergic reaction—especially reaginic hypersensitivity. The skin vesicle technique described is simpler than the skin window technique and may be of use in detection of allergens and evaluation of allergic disease states.