bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RAST in the diagnosis of hypersensitivity to horse allergens.
Authors: LEEGAARD J. , ROTH A.
Published: April 2006

Case history, skin tests and RAST were compared in a group (n= 40) of children with a history suggesting allergy to horses and in a group (n= 43) in whom there was no suspicion of hypersensitivity to horses.

There was an agreement of 91% between case history and prick test. The same magnitude of agreement was found between case history and RAST (89%), and the agreement between RAST and prick test was 90%.

The results of this investigation are clearly in contrast to earlier reports, in that there was a very good correlation between prick test, RAST and case history.

The results suggest that: (a) a proper evaluation of the skin test is of critical importance for the degree of correlation with other diagnostic tests; and (b) RAST is as reliable as carefully performed and evaluated skin tests.
A study of lung‐specific, cell‐mediated immunity in chronic pulmonary diseases
Authors: DILL J. , FOX R. , LANDRIGAN P. , MACSWEEN M. , OSBORN D. , RAJARAMAN R.
Published: April 2006

Lung‐specific, cellular hypersensitivity was studied in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases. To do this, a leucocyte migration inhibition assay was performed using patient and control leucocytes incubated in the presence and absence of a soluble lung extract. Control antigens consisted of liver and kidney extracts. The immunological reactivity of these control antigens was tested by measuring migration, subsequent to incubation of leucocytes from patients with hepatic or renal disease with the liver and kidney extracts, respectively. As a second in vitro test of cell‐mediated immunity, a lymphocyte cytotoxicity assay was performed, using as target cells normal chromium‐labelled human lung cells.

Leucocyte migration inhibition was produced by the lung extract in four out of six patients with chronic bronchitis, five out of seven patients with tuberculosis, one out of five patients with sarcoidosis and in the single patient studied with rheumatoid lung disease. Inhibition did not occur with the leucocytes from control subjects. Neither was migration inhibited when leucocytes from the patients with lung disease were incubated with the control antigens. The reactivity of these control antigens was confirmed by the fact that leucocyte inhibition occurred in two out of three patients with hepatic disease, studied using the liver extract, and in two out of three patients with renal disease, studied with the kidney extract. The cytotoxic potential of anti‐lung lymphocytes was demonstrated by the fact that significant target cell cytotoxicity occurred using lymphocytes from two out of four patients with chronic bronchitis, four out of five patients with tuberculosis and in two out of four patients with sarcoidosis.
Treatment of ragweed hay fever with intranasally administered disodium cromoglycate*
Authors: CRAIG S. , RUBINSTEIN E. , REISMAN R. E. , ARBESMAN C. E.
Published: April 2006

In a double‐blind study the therapeutic effect of a 4% disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) nasal solution was evaluated in thirty‐nine patients with acute symptoms of ragweed hay fever. Patients were randomly assigned to the DSCG or placebo group as they presented with allergic rhinitis. Overall, the DSCG was not more effective than placebo in controlling the symptoms of rhinitis or in decreasing the need for concomitant antihistamines or corticosteroids. Among patients with the highest pretreatment serum ragweed‐specific IgE (RW IgE) levels, drug‐treated patients had some reduction in symptoms as compared to their placebo controls during the peak of the ragweed pollen season. DSCG treatment did not influence the usual seasonal rise in RW IgE. Side effects from both the active and placebo aerosols were frequent but mild.

We conclude that DSCG nasal solution used for the treatment of seasonal ragweed allergic rhinitis is relatively ineffective.
A study of serum antibodies to isolated milk proteins and ovalbumin in infants and children
Authors: MAY C. D. , REMIGIO LINDA , FELDMAN JOAN , BOCK S. A. , CARR R. I.
Published: April 2006

Serum antibodies to cow milk proteins and ovalbumin were measured quantitatively. Food hypersensitivity of the immediate type was determined to be present or absent by skin tests and double‐blind food challenges. Elevated levels of antibodies to milk proteins in sera characteristic of infants fed cow milk were found to decline with age, so that sera from children who were 6 to 15 years of age (inclusive), not hypersensitive to food, had significantly lower levels than the infants. In contrast, sera from age‐matched children, who were shown to have hypersensitivity to some food, were found to have levels of antibodies to milk proteins as elevated as in infancy. Hypersensitivity was not necessarily to milk but often to some other food. This persistence of greater antibody production to milk throughout childhood in those hypersensitive to some food indicates a fundamental difference from those without hypersensitivity to food, either in permeability, in immunological reactivity of the gut or in development of immunological unresponsiveness. Implications for pathogenesis of clinical disorders are discussed.
Respiratory disease in workers exposed to solder flux fumes containing colophony (pine resin)
Authors: BURGE P. S. , HARRIES M. G. , O'BRIEN I. M. , PEPY J.
Published: April 2006

Twenty‐one patients are described who developed asthma, or evidence of a peripheral airways reaction, while working in the electronics industry and exposed to solder flux fumes containing colophony (pine resin). This selected group contained five patients with pre‐existing asthma. Fourteen patients had never smoked. Prick‐testing with common environmental antigens gave one or more positive reactions in nine patients. The diagnosis was confirmed by occupational‐type provocation tests in all workers with colophony‐based cored solder, and reproduced by exposure to the fumes of heated colophony alone. Control subjects did not react to the test with colophony. The clinical findings and provocation test reactions have features of a hypersensitivity reaction, although so far specific antibodies have not been found.
Immediate‐type hypersensitivity to reactive dyes
Authors: ALANKO K. , KESKINEN H. , BJÖRKSTÉN F. , OJANEN S.
Published: April 2006

Reactive dyes have gained extensive use in recent years. This paper reports four cases of immediate‐type occupational allergy to these compounds. All the patients had had symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis, and had been weighing dyes for a minimum of 2 years. The skin prick tests were positive, and nasal and bronchial provocation challenges also produced positive immediate reactions. A high serum titre of specific IgE could be demonstrated for at least one dye by the radioallergosorbent test. The identification of specific IgE shows that the mechanism of the hypersensitivity is immunological, reactive dyes acting probably as haptens.
HLA antigen frequencies in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: FLAHERTY D. K. , SURFUS J. E. , GELLER M. , ROSENBERG M. , PATTERSON R. , REED C. E.
Published: April 2006

The frequency of HLA antigens in twenty‐two Caucasian patients with allergic broncho‐pulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and sixty‐nine unrelated Caucasian controls was determined. The results indicated that there was no increased frequency of a specific HLA antigen in patients with ABPA. Moreover, studies in thirteen families of ABPA patients also demonstrated that, within families, there was no consistent association between a specific haplotype and asthma, allergies or hay fever.
The seasonal symptoms of hyposensitized and untreated hay fever patients in relation to birch pollen counts: correlations with nasal sensitivity, prick tests and RAST
Authors: VIANDER M. , KOIVIKKO A.
Published: April 2006

A 2 year prospective study of thirty‐eight birch pollen‐sensitive hay fever patients under specific immunotherapy and of nineteen untreated control patients showed a significant correlation between the total seasonal symptom scores of the patients and their clinical sensitivities assessed by the RAST and a graded nasal test. The agreement between a positive nasal test and a positive RAST was 74%. In the early season with low pollen counts the onset of symptoms was significantly associated with high sensitivity of the patients, while many patients showed symptoms in the late season irrespective of their nasal and RAST sensitivity. About 90% of both the treated and the untreated patients reported mild symptoms when the pollen count exceeded 80/m3in the early season. 80% of them still had symptoms when the count was below 30/m3in the late pollen season. Although hyposensitization therapy had no effect on the occurrence of the mild symptoms, the treated patients had severe symptoms significantly less often than the untreated ones on days with high pollen counts.
A comparative study of an aqueous grass pollen extract and glutaraldehyde‐treated grass pollen‐tyrosine adsorbate in the treatment of pollenosis
Authors: VERSTRAETEN J. M , WHEELER A. W.
Published: April 2006

Hyposensitization therapy gave a subjective improvement in 84% of grass pollen‐sensitive patients receiving an eighteen dose course of aqueous pollen extract (SDV) and in 69 % of patients receiving a three dose course of glutaraldehyde‐treated pollen‐tyrosine adsorbate (Pollinex). Systemic reactions to treatment were considerably more frequent with the aqueous course, but virtually absent with the short adsorbate course, which seems therefore more convenient for the patient. The SDV treatment induced a more pronounced IgG antibody response both in patients and in guinea‐pigs receiving the clinical dosage schedule. The Pollinex treatment showed a tendency to enhance the IgE antibody response in new patients.
Comparison between ketotifen and DSCG in bronchial challenge
Authors: PAUWELS R. , LAMONT H. , VAN DER STRAETEN M.
Published: April 2006

A double‐blind cross‐over study showed that orally taken ketotifen and inhaled DSCG have a comparable protective effect on allergen‐induced bronchoconstriction. Both drugs significantly inhibit the immediate bronchial reaction after a 3 day treatment with either 1 mg ketotifen or 20 mg DSCG four times daily. Late reactions, which occurred in three out of the ten patients, were inhibited in two of the three patients by ketotifen as by DSCG.
Response to bronchial provocation and exercise in children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: PRICE J. F. , WELLER P. H. , HARPER S. A. , MATTHEW D. J.
Published: April 2006

Ten of fifteen cystic fibrosis children with positive skin prick tests to common antigens gave an immediate bronchial reaction to the antigen inhaled, five of them also gave a late reaction; however only one gave a history of asthma. The antigen most commonly eliciting a positive skin reaction in cystic fibrosis patients is Aspergillus fumigatus. In six children tested to this antigen the bronchial response varied, two were negative, one gave an immediate reaction and three gave a dual (immediate and late) reaction. None of the children showed the characteristic pattern of response to exercise seen in asthmatic patients, an initial rise in Peak Expiratory Flow Rate followed by a fall of greater than 14% below the resting level. Two patients showed an abnormal rise in Peak Expiratory Flow Rate during exercise, a pattern described previously in cystic fibrosis.

The results suggest that bronchial allergy, immediate or late does not completely explain susceptibility to asthma, and that other factors including perhaps the type of bronchial reactivity shown by bronchoconstriction after exercise may be required. However the majority of the children tested had bronchial allergy and anti‐allergy therapy such as inhaled sodium cromoglycate may have a place in the management of selected patients with cystic fibrosis.
Clinical correlations between long‐term (IgE) and short‐term (IgG S‐TS) anaphylactic antibodies in atopic and ‘non‐atopic’ subjects with respiratory allergic disease
Authors: PEPYS J. , PARISH W. E. , STENIUS‐AARNIALA B. , WIDE L.
Published: April 2006

The sera of atopic and non‐atopic persons with allergic pulmonary disorders were examined for long‐term sensitizing, IgE and short‐term sensitizing heat‐stable (S‐TS) antibodies which were present separately or together in the sera of some patients sensitive to antigens such as budgerigar serum proteins and Aspergillus fumigatus.

In fourteen atopic patients with extrinsic asthma, six had both types of antibody to common allergens, and of nine non‐atopic patients with cryptogenic (intrinsic) asthma, four had only heat‐stable short‐term sensitizing antibodies. The sera of atopic subjects with type I prick test reactions and positive RAST's, showed specific IgE antibody by baboon PCA tests to budgerigar serum proteins, A. fumigatus, Timothy grass pollen extract and hen egg extract, and not to Dermatophagoides farinae, possibly because of naturally occurring mite antibodies in the baboon.

The sera of non‐atopic asthmatics, who had given negative prick test but positive immediate, dual or late intracutaneous tests, and only late asthmatic reactions, contained precipitins in most cases and gave little or no RAST reaction. On baboon PCA these sera contained either, S‐TS antibody alone, or S‐TS plus long‐term sensitizing antibody, or long‐term sensitizing antibody alone. Some of the sera with long‐term sensitizing antibody contained blocking antibody which could diffuse away in the 24 hr delay for the baboon PCA test and could also be responsible for the negative RAST.

Tests with insoluble anti‐IgE immuno‐adsorbents on two sera from persons sensitive to aspergillus confirmed that the S‐TS activity was not due to IgE, and on two sera with negative RAST and negative prick tests to budgerigar serum antigens confirmed that the 24 hr monkey PCA responses were due to IgE.
Recognition of food‐allergic patients and their allergens by the RAST technique and clinical investigation
Authors: WRAITH D. G. , MERRETT J. , ROTH A. , YMAN L. , MERRETT T. G.
Published: April 2006

Sera from 119 patients with possible food allergies were tested against a panel of thirteen food allergens by the RAST technique. The results were compared with in vivo tests. 79% of foods causing symptoms gave a positive RAST to the specific food. Symptoms were grouped according to their time of appearance after taking the food; ‘immediate’ up to 1 hr and ‘non‐immediate’ more than 1 hr afterwards. Almost all those with ‘immediate’ symptoms were already aware of the foods causing them and there was a 100% correlation of the RAST result with these. Only a few of those with ‘non‐immediate’ symptoms were previously aware that these foods were responsible, and 64% of these gave a positive RAST. The majority of patients with a positive RAST result had total IgE in excess of 300 u/ml, had specific IgE antibodies against one or more common inhalant allergens, were under the age of 30 years and had a combination of asthma and eczema.

We found the RAST method a useful and safe guide upon which to base a clinical investigation of food allergy, especially for patients whose symptoms appeared more than 1 hr after the food and in whom the relationship between their symptoms and food was not apparent. The RAST technique was surprisingly successful in identifying the foods which caused these ‘non‐immediate’ symptoms.
An anomalous effect of allergen concentration on weal size elicited by skin testing for immediate hypersensitivity
Authors: HUGGINS K. G. , BROSTOFF J.
Published: April 2006

We report the finding of anomalous responses in the skin of atopic individuals when prick tested with serial dilutions of cocksfoot grass pollen extracts. Each pollen extract was standardized using RAST inhibition activity related to the WHO standard for IgE. 75% of the patients gave a larger weal area with an allergen concentration of 1:105 than with the next higher concentration, i.e. 1:104.

Possible mechanisms whereby a larger skin weal is elicited with a lower concentration of allergen are discussed. This is not a rare finding and can be observed in patients undergoing routine skin testing in the clinic, even where extracts are diluted over a relatively narrow concentration range.
Quantification of serum IgE in patients with burns
Authors: GLEICH G. J. , DUNNETTE S. L. , VOLENEC F. J. , MANI M. M.
Published: April 2006

IgE levels in the serum of individuals with burns were sequentially measured and compared to IgE levels in normal control blood donors. Following a burn, the levels of IgE protein showed a significant, although modest, increase, usually evident between days 14 and 22. In an occasional patient, the IgE levels rose by as much as five times in value during this period. Because of the complexity of the clinical situation associated with the burn patients, we cannot ascribe these elevations of IgE to the burn per se, but must consider the possibility of other factors, especially those involved in the treatment of the burn as well as the infection. The magnitude of the elevation of IgE in the burn patients (geometric mean = 272 ng/ml) was considerably lower than the magnitude of the elevations seen in atopic dermatitis and generalized neurodermatitis (geometric means = 2265 and 2071 ng/ml, respectively). Thus simple trauma to the skin is not a sufficient explanation for the elevated serum IgE levels in atopic dermatitis and generalized neurodermatitis.
Clinical and immunological studies of venom immunotherapy
Authors: REISMAN ROBERT E. , ARBESMAN CARL E. , LAZELL MARY
Published: April 2006

Clinical and immunological studies were conducted in fifty insect‐sensitive patients receiving bee and yellow jacket venom immunotherapy. All patients had had anaphylactic reactions and had elevated serum levels of venom‐specific IgE (RAST) prior to therapy. Venom injections were given weekly starting at a dose of about 0.001 μg and aiming for a maximum of 50 μg or greater. Maintenance injections were administered monthly.

In the majority of patients, venom‐specific IgG was produced by immunizing doses above 1 μg. Highest titres were related to higher doses. Almost all patients receiving doses of 50 μg of venom had an IgG antibody response.

Sequential measurements of venom‐specific IgE were done in thirty‐seven patients. Twenty‐two had a declining titre, ten had a persistently elevated titre and five patients had a rise in antibody titre. There was no relationship between IgE and IgG antibody titres except for four patients who had a marked rise of both antibodies following venom therapy. Ten of the fifty patients received subsequent stings with no reactions. At the time of the subsequent uneventful sting, all but one had detectable serum IgG antibodies.

These studies suggest: (1) venom immunotherapy appears effective for immunization of insect‐sensitive individuals; and (2) considerable variability in individual immunological response to therapy and thus the probable need to individualize the degree and extent of venom therapy.
Occupational asthma due to inhaled carmine
Authors: BURGE P. S. , O'BRIEN I. M. , HARRIES M. G. , PEPYS J.
Published: April 2006

Two patients are described with occupational asthma due to carmine, a natural dye extracted from the insect Coccus cactus. Both had dual asthmatic reactons after carmine inhalation. Oral challenge provoked gastrointestinal symptoms in one patient, and asthma in them both, perhaps accounting for their continuing symptoms. One patient worked extracting carmine from the insects and the other used carmine as a cosmetic colouring agent.
Immunological parameters and α1‐antitrypsinin chronic urticaria
Authors: CHODIRKER W. B. , BAUMAN W. , KOMAR R. R.
Published: April 2006

Serum immunoglobulins, complement and α1‐antitrypsin were assayed in forty‐eight patients with chronic urticaria. Thirteen cases had chronic cold urticaria and thirty‐two had chronic idiopathic urticaria. Elevated mean serum IgM was found in chronic cold urticaria. Seven patients had partial immunoglobulin deficiencies. IgE was elevated in sixteen cases of chronic idiopathic and in two with chronic cold urticaria. Eight patients had depressed serum total haemolytic complement activity. Low C3 and normal C4 serum protein concentrations in four cases suggested alternative complement pathway activation. Twenty of forty‐six patients were atopic, although specific allergies responsible for the urticaria were not identified in any of them. α1‐antitrypsin levels were normal in all patients. The data suggest that the aetiology and pathogenesis of chronic urticarias in this study are heterogeneous. No evidence of abnormality of the protease inhibitor system in either chronic idiopathic or chronic cold urticaria was found.
‘Barn allergy’: asthma and rhinitis due to storage mites
Authors: CUTHBERT OLAF D. , BROSTOFF JONATHAN , WRAITH DEREK G. , BRIGHTONS WILLIAM D.
Published: April 2006

The differential dignosis of asthma in farm workers is between a type I hypersensitivity to a pollen or dust allergen and a type III hypersensitivity to mould antigens.

We describe asthma and rhinitis, and not farmer's lung, in a farming population due to the non‐pyroglyphid grain storage mite.

Before a diagnosis of farmers' lung due to mouldy hay is made in any patient whether or not precipitins to Micropolyspora faeni are present, skin tests for storage mite should be made. If these are positive a diagnosis of ‘barn allergy’ should be considered and a trial of sodium cromoglycate be given.
Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgG and IgE antibodies to protein and polysaccharide antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: SEPULVEDA R. , LONGBOTTOM JOAN L. , PEPYS J.
Published: April 2006

ELISA has emerged as a useful alternative to other more costly and complex tests. Polystyrene microhaemagglutination plates have been used as solid phase to absorb Aspergillus fumigatus protein and polysaccharide components for detection of specific antibodies in patients with various forms of pulmonary aspergillosis. IgG and IgE antibodies to the polysaccharide as well as the protein allergens have been found. For the IgE test a double antibody technique has been developed, which is more sensitive than the conventional indirect ELISA.
Natural history of allergy to Hymenoptera
Authors: SETTIPANE G. A. , CHAFEE F. H.
Published: April 2006

One hundred and nineteen patients who had a generalized reaction to a bee sting and who subsequently had a history of being re‐stung before desensitization were studied. The reaction, in these 119 patients was as follows: 44.5% had an improved grade of reaction, 42.9% had the same grade of reaction and 12.6% had a worse grade of reaction. Of these 119 patients, 39.5% had only a local reaction to their re‐sting. Those patients who were re‐stung within 2 weeks (anergic period) or over 5 years after a generalized reaction to a sting had significantly improved response. Results of pretreatment RAST to venoms of hornet, yellow jacket, wasp, honey bee and to phospholipase A appeared to correlate with the clinical signs and symptoms of the previous sting in 75% of cases.
Allergic reactions, including asthma, to the pineapple protease bromelain following occupational exposure
Authors: BAUR X. , FRUHMANN G.
Published: April 2006

A 58‐year‐old pharmaceutical worker regularly developed asthma and rhinitis when handling bromelain, a purified protease of pineapple (Ananas comosus), at her workplace, where she had been employed for about 10 years. RAST and prick test showed strong positive reactions to bromelain. Both inhalation test with 0.03 mg bromelain and peroral challenge by ingestion of 190 g pineapple resulted in asthmatic reactions; the latter challenge was accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms. Five of six workers sensitized to papain, showed positive RAST and skin test results to bromelain, two of them also showed immediate asthmatic reactions after bronchial challenge with bromelain. Out of sixty asthmatics not exposed to airborne proteases but probably to these as constituents of foods, two had positive skin test results and eight had positive RAST results to bromelain; but in no case was there clear evidence for clinical sensitization.

The presented data prove conclusively that bromelain is capable of inducing IgE mediated respiratory and gastrointestinal allergic reactions. Furthermore, there is evidence for immunological cross‐reaction between the two plant proteases bromelain and papain in human subjects.
Angioedema responding to antiprotease treatment but without abnormalities of the complement system
Authors: FREED D. L. J. , BUISSERET P. D. , LLOYD MARY J. , PUMPHREY R. S. H. , GARRETTS M.
Published: April 2006

Four patients suffered from chronic or recurrent angioedema, of sudden onset in adult life, associated with visceral pain and impossible to control by dietary means. In spite of normal complement function they respond very well to tranexamic acid therapy. Antiprotease drugs need not be restricted to cases of ClsINH deficiency.
Aerobiological studies based in Galway. A comparison of pollen and spore counts over two seasons of widely differing weather conditions
Authors: MCDONALD M. S. , O'DRISCOLL B. J.
Published: April 2006

A comparison was made of the pollen and spore counts at Galway in relation to the varying weather conditions of the summers of 1977 and 1978 in an attempt to explain the low incidence of allergies in that area during the summer of 1978. The phenomenon was attributed to the change in the dominant wind direction, which, from May to September 1978 was mainly over sea. Correlations were made between changes in pollen and spore catches and variations in particular meteorological factors for both seasons investigated.
Skin tests with tuberculin (PPD) Candida albicans and Trichophyton spp. in cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis and asbestos related lung disease
Authors: PIERCE R. , TURNER‐WARWICK M.
Published: April 2006

Delayed skin hypersensitivity responses were elicited in patients with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA) (twenty‐eight), asbestosis (eight), mesothelioma (eight) and a ‘control’ group, having miscellaneous lung diseases not normally believed to be associated with T cell deficiency (twenty). Three antigens, Candida albicans, trichophyton and purified protein derivative (PPD) in a range of doses were used.

There was no evidence of impaired cellular immunity in CFA or in mesothelioma, indeed there was a significantly increased frequency of reactions to PPD in both of these conditions (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively). There was, however, a trend of decreased responsiveness in the group with asbestosis.

The dosage regimen used rarely gave completely negative results (only one of thirty‐two completed tests), and may provide a basis for a simple and standard regimen for screening patients suspected of having defective T cell responses.
Activation of the alternative complement pathway by extracts of cotton dust
Authors: WILSON M. R. , SEKUL A. , ORY R. , SALVAGGIO J. E. , LEHRER S. B.
Published: April 2006

Extracts of cotton dust were tested for their ability to activate the alternative complement pathway in fresh normal human serum (NHS). Alternative pathway activation was determined by a haemolytic assay utilizing glutathione‐sensitized human erythrocytes, consumption of alternative pathway components in terms of alternative pathway CH50 units and an immunoelectrophoretic assay to detect split products of activation of factor B. All assays were performed under conditions that have been shown to block the initial steps of classical pathway activation but permit activation of the alternative complement pathway. Results demonstrate that the cotton dust extracts could consume alternative complement pathway proteins in a dose‐response manner. The complement activating factor is probably endotoxin since a cotton dust extract obtained by an extraction method for endotoxin yielded the greatest activity.
Anaphylaxis to wine
Authors: CLAYTON D. E. , BUSSE W.
Published: April 2006

Anaphylaxis following the ingestion of wine was found in a non‐atopic woman. The reaction occurred within 15 min of wine ingestion but did not follow other alcoholic beverages. An immediate skin test response to the offending wine was found but specific IgE levels could not be measured by radioallergosorbent testing.
Occupational asthma in a research centre breeding locusts
Authors: BURGE P. S. , EDGE G. , O'BRIEN I. M. , HARRIES M. G. , HAWKINS R. , PEPYS J.
Published: April 2006

The prevalence of work‐related asthma, rhinitis and urticaria was measured in a scientific establishment working with locusts. Twenty‐six percent of those handling the locust in the research centre had work‐related wheeze or breathlessness, and one‐third had work‐related rhinitis and urticaria. Work‐related symptoms were uncommon in scientists exposed to locusts in the field, and in other employees at the centre. Antigens were prepared from the locusts, Schistocerca gregaria and Locusta migratoria, as well as the moth, Chilo partellus, which was also bred at the centre. Skin prick testing with the locust antigens showed positive reactions in 55% of the atopic workers at the centre, but were also present in 43% of unexposed atopic workers. In this latter group there was a correlation between positive reaction to locust and dermatophagoides antigens. Atopic workers handling the locusts developed occupational asthma more often and more quickly than similarly exposed non‐atopic workers. IgG and IgE antibodies to the locust antigens were found to correlate significantly with both the degree of exposure and the presence of disease.
Hypersensitivity to chemicals. Correlation of tartrazine hypersensitivity with characteristic serum IgD and IgE immune response patterns
Authors: WELIKY N. , HEINER D. C.
Published: April 2006

A radioimmunoassay inhibition test (CARIAT) has been developed to measure human anti‐tartrazine IgD and IgE antibodies. Graphical analysis of the data obtained has shown that patients with clinically identified tartrazine hypersensitivity can be distinguished from controls by singular characteristics of their IgD but not their IgE antibody patterns. Clinical diagnoses of tartrazine hypersensitivity correlate with relative levels of serum IgD antibody specific for a soluble conjugate of tartrazine with rabbit serum albumin (TZ‐RSA). These tartrazine sensitive patients, however, have lower levels of ‘nonspecific’ IgD than controls, i.e., IgD that reacts with cellulose discs conjugated to phenylsulphonic acid antigenic determinants but does not react with TZ‐RSA. Although it is significant that the observations demonstrate an association of raised specific IgD levels in patients relative to controls, the possible presence in controls of IgD antibodies against other tartrazine antigenic determinants which may play a role in ameliorating or preventing allergic responses should be considered.

Anti‐tartrazine IgD or IgE antibody was determined by assay of the IgD or IgE binding to paper discs coupled to a tartrazine antigen analog (AP‐discs). Each result was compared with the amount of antibody binding if the patient's or control serum was preincubated with a free soluble tartrazine‐protein conjugated antigen, before being tested on the discs coupled with antigen (AP‐discs). Reduction of the amount of IgD or IgE binding to the disc‐coupled antigen, when the sera were preincubated with free soluble antigen, indicated specificity of the antibodies for tartrazine antigenic determinants.

The specificity of the serum anti‐tartrazine antibodies assayed appears to be the phenylsulphonic moiety, suggesting that the sensitizing agent responsible need not have been tartrazine but could have been one or more of the many other synthetic environmental chemicals with a sulphonated benzene ring. The results obtained suggest that diagnostic tests may be developed for tartrazine hypersensitivity and for hypersensitivity to other chemicals.
Circulating IgE levels in the over‐seventies
Authors: MERRETT T. G. , BURR M. L. , LEGER A. S. St , MERRETT J.
Published: April 2006

In a normal population aged over 70 years the geometric mean IgE value of 30.6 u/ml was not significantly different from that obtained previously in a similar epidemiological survey of a population aged 20–44 years. However, in the older population we have noted a significant sex difference–38.6 u/ml for males against 27.2 u/ml for females–which was only apparent in the atopic subjects of the younger population. There have been some other reports that IgE levels decrease with age, and possible reasons for these differences with our own results are discussed.
Double‐blind crossover trial comparing beclomethasone dipropionate and sodium cromoglycate in perennial allergic rhinitis
Authors: TANDON M. K. , STRAHAN E. G.
Published: April 2006

A double‐blind crossover trial comparing the clinical efficacy of intranasal beclomethasone dipropionate and intranasal sodium cromoglycate was carried out in fourteen patients with perennial rhinitis due to animal danders. Intranasal beclomethasone dipropionate was significantly more effective than intranasal sodium cromoglycate in relieving nasal obstruction, nasal discharge and sneezing. Eleven patients reported preference for beclomethasone dipropionate and three had no preference for either drug.
The isolation of an allergen from extracts of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus using a murine IgA myeloma with a specificity for phosphorylcholine
Authors: STEWART G. A. , McWILLIAM A. , TURNER K. J.
Published: April 2006

The presence of a high molecular weight glycoprotein component bearing the hapten phosphorylcholine (Pc) has been demonstrated in some but not all extracts of house dust mite using a phosphorylcholine specific IgA myeloma protein (S107). The Pc bearing component was isolated from house dust mite extracts by precipitation at equivalence using whole myeloma serum and the isolated fraction was found to be allergenic as judged by a direct RAST assay using a highly house dust mite allergic human serum pool. RAST inhibition studies using free hapten and direct RAST studies using pneumococcal polysaccharide C‐substance indicated that the Pe moiety did not contribute significantly to the immunodominant portion of the isolated allergen. Further studies indicated that the S107 isolated material was immunochemically different from the tridacnin reactive material and the con A reactive material previously isolated from extracts of house dust mite.
A critical evaluation of RAST to venoms of Hymenoptera
Authors: SETTIPANE G. A. , CARLISLE C. C.
Published: April 2006

RAST to venoms were done on 108 sera. Positive RAST to one or more venoms of Hymenoptera found in 51% (41/80) patients with a generalized reaction to the sting of Hymenoptera and in 7% (2/28) of normal controls were critically evaluated. RAST determinations for each sera were done in duplicate and results averaged. The laboratories were not told which sera belonged to patients with allergy to Hymenoptera and which belonged to controls. In ten patients, one half of the original sera were saved and RAST to venoms were repeated approximately 1 years later. Of our positive RASTs, 49% (20/41) had positives to more than one type of venom. The most frequent positive RAST was to yellow jacket followed by hornet, wasp, and honey bee. A high degree of cross‐reactivity occurred between venoms of hornet, wasp, and yellow jacket. The frequency of positive RAST was similar in pre‐treatment and post‐treatment sera from patients on immunotherapy with whole body extract. Specific IgE (RAST) results to venoms did not correlate with the degree of clinical severity of the sting. However, IgG anti‐venom antibodies were not considered. Elevated RAST titres were associated with increased total IgE levels in sera of non‐atopic patients. A positive RAST to venoms is frequently found in sera of patients stung within 5 years. RAST scores of 2 to 4 were remarkably reproducible, while scores of 1 were not consistently reproducible. RAST results should be interpreted in conjunction with the clinical history.
Management of chronic idiopathic urticaria by the identification and exclusion of dietary factors
Authors: GIBSON ANNE , CLANCY R.
Published: April 2006

The role played by dietary chemical factors in the pathogenesis of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) was assessed in seventy‐six patients by challenge. Stable remission was first established by using an empirically established ‘exclusion diet’. A diet modified to exclude those chemicals giving a positive response to challenge was demonstrated to be of therapeutic value for time periods of up to 18 months. Re‐testing twelve patients at 12 months indicated that most patients positive to salicylate or benzoate challenge retained this pattern of reactivity.
Potentiation by polymyxin B of the bronchoconstriction following allergen inhalation in patients with atopic asthma
Authors: ROZNIECKI J. , GORSKI P. , POLANSKA Z.
Published: April 2006

The effect of a single inhalation of allergen on bronchial reactivity to polymyxin B was studied in eight patients with hay fever. In winter the reaction to polymyxin B before and after inhalation of pollen allergen is measured by the FEV. In all patients bronchial reactivity to polymyxin B increased under the influence of allergen.
Cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity in atopic dermatitis
Authors: HÉNOCQ E. , GAILLARD J.
Published: April 2006

The infiltration by basophils into delayed hypersensitivity skin lest sites was examined in patients with atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and in normal healthy persons.

Atopic dermatitis patients, with large amounts of IgE, injected intradermally with staphylococcal antigens showed reactions that were more transient and erythemaious than those of normal persons. On hislological examination there were numerous, degranulating basophils among the perivascular mononuclear cells. Normal persons, with small amounts of IgE showed typical mononuclear cell infiltration and few basophils. Patients with contact dermatitis, one with much IgE, responded to patch tests to potassium dichromate or to nickel sulphate by delayed type reactions, but on histology, two of the four patients showed a significant infiltration by basophils.

It is considered that the erythematous response to the antigen in atopic dermatitis patients is related to the basophil infiltration.
Flow‐cytometric analysis of human basophil degranulation
Authors: NAKAGAWA T. , STADLER B. M. , HEINER D. C. , SKVARIL F. , DE WECK A. L.
Published: April 2006

Quantification of human basophil degranulation induced by anti‐IgE, anti‐IgG4, and by ionophore was performed using a flow‐cytometric system. It was shown that these antibodies and ionophore can degranulate basophils in a dose‐dependent manner, and that there is a wide variation in the response of basophils obtained from different individuals to these stimuli. A significant correlation was observed between the degree of degranulation induced by anti‐IgE and anti‐IgG4, while this was not the case for anti‐IgE and ionophore. It was also shown that IgG4 myeloma protein can passively sensitize basophils. In general, degranulating efficacy was in the order of ionophore > anti‐IgE >anti‐IgG4, both in allergic and non‐allergic individuals.
Differences in response to anti‐IgE and to anti‐IgG in basophils from patients with bronchial asthma
Authors: KIMURA I. , TANIZAKI U. , SATO S. , TAKAHASHI K.
Published: April 2006

Peripheral blood basophils of thirty‐eight patients with bronchial asthma were examined for their reactivity to anti‐IgE and anti‐IgG antisera. Basophils of patients with serum IgE levels of more than 1001 i.u./ml reacted strongly to anti‐IgE. Basophils of patients with serum IgE levels of less than 100 i.u./ml had a tendency to react more strongly to anti‐IgG. An index (basophil ratio) was devised to compare the patient basophil reactivity to anti‐IgE and anti‐IgG. This basophil ratio was lower (IgE dominant) in the atopic cases which usually exhibited a high serum IgE level. Most cases with low serum IgE exhibited a high basophil ratio (IgG dominant). The basophils of seven intractable patients reacted more strongly to anti‐IgG than to anti‐IgE regardless of the serum IgE level.
Supravital observation of in vitro basophils in immunological reactions
Authors: KIMURA I. , TANIZAKI Y. , SATO S. , TAKAHASHI K. , SAITO K. , UEDA N.
Published: April 2006

The migration velocity and morphology of basophils in vitro were examined after the addition of anti‐immunoglobulin (anti‐lgE or anti‐IgG). In atopic asthma patients with high serum IgE levels (more than 1000 i.u./ml) basophils showed increased migration velocity and showed pear‐shaped and palmate processes after the addition of anti‐lgE, but on the addition of anti‐IgG, these basophils did not show increased migration velocity or morphological changes. In intractable asthma patients with low serum IgE levels, these changes occurred with anti‐IgG but not with anti‐IgE. These in vitro findings suggest a basophil reactivity to anti‐IgE and anti‐IgG in individual patients and support our previous differentiation of asthma patients according to basophil reaction.
Type I allergy in mushroom soup processors
Authors: SYMINGTON* I. S. , KERR J. W. , McLEAN D. A.
Published: April 2006

Eight workers employed in a food manufacturing factory presented with symptoms of rhinorrhoea, dyspnoea and wheezing, originating during the preparation of dried mushroom soup. Five had positive immediate skin tests to dried mushroom extract and in four the FEV1 fell by over 30% following a bronchial challenge with mushroom dust. The features detected were those of a type I allergic response, without evidence of the extrinsic allergic alveolitis described in ‘mushroom worker's lung’.
Miller moth asthma
Authors: STORMS W. W. , BERRY C. , WITHEE W.
Published: April 2006

The characteristics of the allergen producing asthma caused by inhaled miller moth particles were investigated by skin testing and by Sephadex fractionation. No major difference in skin test reactivity was found between the wings and the bodies of the moths. Two fractions of the moth extracts were found to contain allergic reactivity. The importance of detailed history‐taking in order to discover such causes of asthma is stressed.
Complement consumption in eggwhite and fish sensitivity
Authors: BERRENS L. , VAN DIJK A. G. , WEEMAES C. M. R.
Published: April 2006

A case of eggwhite allergy and a case offish allergy, where complement‐fixation by thermostable IgG‐class antibody was positive at extremely high antigen dilutions are described. The antibody in eggwhite allergy was of the precipitating variety and the C‐fixation phenomenon was not related to the presence or absence of IgE antibody.
The effect of complement depletion on hypersensitivity pneumonitis lesions induced by Micropolyspora faeni antigen
Authors: WILSON M. R. , SCHUYLER M. R. , CASHNER F. , SALVAGGIO J. E.
Published: April 2006

Animals sensitized by intratracheal administration of particulate Micropolyspora faeni antigen and subsequently challenged with the antigen intratracheally developed lesions of hypersensitivity pneumonitis histologically similar to those observed in man with this disease. Animals sensitized with antigen but depleted of complement with cobra venom factor prior to challenge with the antigen manifested a significant reduction in mean lesion indices when compared to a group of control animals that were not complement‐depleted. These data indicate that complement is necessary for the development of pulmonary lesions of experimental hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the rabbit.
Eczema and infant diet
Authors: KERGUSSON D. M. , HORWOOD L. J. , BEAUTRAIS A. L. , SHANNON F. T. , TAYLOR B.
Published: April 2006

The relationship between parental atopy, breast‐feeding, early solid food diet and the rate of eczema was studied in a birth cohort of 2‐year‐old children. Rates of eczema varied significantly with parental atopy and solid feeding: children of atopic parents given solid food during the first 4 months had over two‐and‐a‐half times the rate of eczema of children not given solid food and who had non‐atopic parents. Further, rates of eczema increased in almost direct proportion to the number of different types of solid food that the child had been given during the first 4 months. Breast‐feeding had no significant effect on rates of eczema.

The results suggest that both parental atopy and diversity in early diet are factors which contribuie towards rates of childhood eczema.
Analysis of green coffee bean and castor bean allergens using RAST inhibition
Authors: LEHRER S. B. , KARR R. M. , SALVAGGIO J. E.
Published: April 2006

Coffee workers with occupational allergic symptoms and positive skin tests to green coffee bean and factor dust antigens have elevated serum IgE antibodies (by radioallergosorbent test–RAST) to green coffee and castor bean allergens. These antibodies were used in a RAST inhibition assay to analyse coffee and castor allergens. Bean allergens were extracted by homogenization in PBS, centrifugation and concentration of supernates by ultrafiltration. Green coffee bean allergens, fractionated by gel filtration and Pevikon block electrophoresis, were shown to be very heterogeneous with a molecular weight range of 50 000 to 500 000 daltons. Castor allergens were more homogeneous with a molecular weight of 14 000 daltons and were partially purified by Pevikon block electrophoresis, gel filtration and isoelectrofocusing. Chemical analysis showed that protein was the major component in both allergen extracts. However, proteolytic enzymes could only partially destroy allergenic activity. Such isolation and characterization of these allergens should result in better methods of diagnosis and treatment of coffee workers with occupational allergic disease.
A double‐blind trial comparing disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), and ketotifen in extrinsic asthmatic children
Authors: SCHUHL J. F. , DE CUESTA D. HOLGADO
Published: April 2006

A double‐blind non crossover trial comparing disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), with ketotifen, was carried out in twenty‐seven extrinsic asthmatic children over 12 weeks. Assessment was made using symptom score and drug score charts. Both drugs showed a similar protective effect in the group studied. None of the subjects had to withdraw from the trial and no side‐effects were noted in weight‐curve, arterial pressure and pulse rate. PEFR values remained unchanged for both drugs throughout the trial. A non‐significant tendency for additional corticosteroid support in the Ketotifen group was noted.
A controlled trial of oxatomide in the treatment of asthma with or without perennial rhinitis
Authors:   BROMPTON HOSPITAL/MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL COLLABORATIVE TRIAL
Published: April 2006

A double‐blind study comparing oxatomide, a new oral drug with anti‐allergic properties, with placebo in the treatment of patients with asthma with or without perennial rhinitis has been undertaken. Sixty‐two patients were followed up to 28 weeks and fifty‐two to 52 weeks. On admission to the study the great majority of the patients were receiving inhaled steroids and about a third sodium cromoglycate for their asthma. The results of the study suggest that oxatomide has some activity but have failed to show that it is substantially better than placebo in this group of patients. For the first time weight‐gain is reported as a side effect of oxatomide.
Lymphocytes with receptors for IgG and IgM in atopic eczema and their relationship to serum IgE levels
Authors: CAMPBELL M. A.
Published: April 2006

Twenty patients with atopic eczema were compared with twenty non‐atopic healthy controls. The atopic patients had significantly reduced percentages of lymphocytes bearing receptors for the Fc fragment of IgG (EAγ) in the peripheral blood. Percentages of lymphocytes with receptors for the Fc fragment of IgM (EAγ) did not differ significantly between the atopics and the controls. Serum IgE levels were significantly raised in the patient group and overall serum IgE levels were significantly inversely correlated with percentage EAγ. Although significant (P=0.007), this correlation was not strong (r=0.43) and the relevance of this to atopic disease is discussed.