bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dust from carpeted and smooth floors. I. Comparative measurements of antigenic and allergenic proteins in dust vacuumed from carpeted and non‐carpeted classrooms in Norwegian schools
Authors: DYBENDAL TURID , HETLAND TRUDE , VIK H. , APOLD J. , ELSAYED S.
Published: April 2006

Dust samples from fitted‐carpets and linoleum floors in 12 schools in Norway were collected by vacuum cleaning. The presence of antigens and allergens of alder (Alnus incana), birch (Betula verrucosa), timothy (Phleum pratense), mould (Cladosporium herbarum), house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae), cat and dog dander, codfish, hen egg white and human dander were investigated by crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), crossed radio‐immunoelectrophoresis (CRIE) and radio‐allergosorbent test (RAST) inhibition. No qualitative differences in allergen contents of dust from both types of floor tested were noted. Similarly, no relationship could be demonstrated between floor‐type and allergen concentration under identical experimental conditions. Antigens and allergens of both cat and dog were frequently demonstrated in dust extracts. All extracts included human dander and mould allergens. In addition, most dust samples from both carpeted and smooth floors contained hen egg white and codfish allergens. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that dust from smooth floors and fitted‐carpets was relatively free of mite and pollen from alder, birch and timothy.
Report on the 13th Meeting of the European Federation of Immunological Societies, Rome, 13–16 September 1988.
Authors: Frew A. J.
Published: April 2006

Knowledge of the interactions between T lymphocytes and other immunocompetent cells are central to understanding the pathogenesis of allergic disease. In recent years immunologists have made considerable progress towards delineating the mechanisms which regulate the production of IgE and which modulate the activity of non‐specific effector cells (eosinophils, neutrophils and monocytes). Papers on this subject were presented in several sessions at the recent EFIS meeting (held in September in Rome). In this report, Tony Frew summarizes the news from this meeting and explains why researchers in the field of allergy need to keep abreast of developments in T lymphocyte biology.
Defence against allergic sensitization in the healthy lung: the role of inhalation tolerance
Authors: HOLT P. G. , McMENAMIN C.
Published: April 2006

Experimental animal studies indicate that under normal steady‐state conditions, initial encounters with non‐pathogenic antigens (i.e. inert proteins, such as pollens) do not trigger immune responses, but instead activate antigen‐specific suppressor T cells which protect against subsequent allergic sensitization by inducing a state of immunological tolerance towards the inhaled antigen. This inhalation tolerance phenomenon appears analogous to the more familiar process of oral tolerance in the gastrointestinal tract, and is proposed to serve as the ‘last line of defence’ against sensitization to aero‐allergens which have evaded other levels of containment in the respiratory tract. It is postulated that this tolerance process plays a similar protective role in man, as the final component of a multi‐layer defence system centering upon the respiratory epithelium. Recent findings which indicate that both oral and inhalation tolerance mechanisms are relatively slow to develop postnatally, provides a possible basis for the increased risk of allergic sensitization recognized in infancy.
IgE‐mediated allergy in adults with severe atopic eczema
Authors: BARNETSON R. StC. , WRIGHT A. L. , BENTON E. C.
Published: April 2006

A study was carried out of 45 adults with atopic eczema sequentially admitted to the Dermatology wards in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. The clinical course of the eczema, the associated atopic conditions and the possible role of inhalant and food allergens were assessed. Most subjects had developed eczema in early childhood, but nine of the 45 developed it for the first time after the age of 15 yr. Eleven subjects outgrew their eczema around puberty only to experience recrudescence in their late teens. In 18 subjects the eczema was flexural until the late teens, when it became widespread. In this group of severely affected subjects, 25 had a history of asthma, 29 had either seasonal or perennial rhinitis, and 10 had current symptoms of food allergy. All but one had elevated total serum IgE concentrations (range 63–50 000 kU/1). Using dilutions of the subjects' serum in the radio‐allergosorbent test, an estimate of the specific IgE to 10 allergens (three inhalants, seven foods) was obtained, where 1 RAST unit is roughly equivalent to 1 IU total IgE. Most of the IgE was produced in response to the inhalant allergens tested (grass pollen, house dust mite and cat epithelium), 32 of the subjects having a RAST score of 3 or 4 to each of the three inhalant allergens, with the remaining 13 having a RAST score of 3 or 4 to at least one. The highest levels were to house dust mite, exceeding 1000 RAST units in 13 subjects. Thirteen subjects had a RAST score of 4 to at least one food allergen, with levels up to 1000 RAST units. Although this usually correlated with a history of allergy to the food (except in the case of wheat), some subjects with a positive RAST to a specific food could eat the food without problem. Overall these findings indicate that almost all subjects with severe atopic eczema have inhalant allergy, and produce high concentrations of IgE to inhalant allergens: roughly 25% of such subjects also have IgE‐mediated food allergy, and they have high IgE concentrations to certain food allergens. The role of inhalant and food allergy in adult atopic eczema remains questionable, but should be considered in the overall management of the subject.
The effect of histamine‐H1 receptor antagonism with terfenadine on concentration‐related AMP‐induced bronchoconstriction in asthma
Authors: PHILLIPS* G. D. , POLOSA R. , HOLGATE S. T.
Published: April 2006

Selective histamine‐H1 receptor antagonists inhibit adenosine 5′‐monophosphate (AMP)‐induced bronchoconstriction by > 80% when expressed as a percentage inhibition of the FEV1 time–response curve following inhalation of the provocation concentration of AMP required to produce a 20% decrease in FEV1 from baseline (PC20). To investigate this further we have determined that, in eight mild atopic asthmatic subjects, terfenadine (180 mg), administered 3 hr pre‐challenge, increases the geometric mean PC20 for histamine from 0.4 (range 0.03–3) mg/ml after placebo, to 20.2 (range 0.6–64) mg/ml following active treatment (P<0.0001). For AMP, the PC20 increased from 9.3 (range 1.0–113.3) mg/ml after placebo, to 150.2 (range 32.1–1177.7) mg/ml with terfenadine (P<0.0001). This 16.2‐fold (range, 5.5–47.9) displacement to the right of the AMP concentration–response curve by a selective histamine‐H1 receptor antagonist emphasizes the central role of histamine in the airways response to this nucleotide.
Effects of maternal diet during late pregnancy and lactation on the development of atopic diseases in infants up to 18 months of age—in‐vivo results
Authors: LILJA G. , DANNAEUS A. , FOUCARD T. , GRAFF‐LONNEVIG V. , JOHANSSON S. G. O. , ÖMAN H.
Published: April 2006

One hundred and sixty‐two women with respiratory allergy to animal danders and/or pollens were randomly allocated to a diet consisting of either a very low ingestion of hens' egg and cows' milk or a daily ingestion of one hens' egg and about 11 of cows' milk during the last 3 months of pregnancy. One hundred and sixty‐three infants were followed prospectively up to 18 months of age when the cumulated incidence of atopic disease in each child was evaluated blindly. No significant differences in the distribution of atopic disease were found among the infants in relation to the maternal diet during late pregnancy. The numbers of skin‐prick tests positive to ovalbumin, ovomucoid, β‐lactoglobulin and cows' milk were likewise not influenced by differences in the maternal diet during late pregnancy. Genetic factors rather than maternal diet during the perinatal period probably have a greater effect on the incidence of atopic diseases during early infancy.
Aspirin‐like effects of selected food additives and industrial sensitizing agents
Authors: WILLIAMS W. R. , PAWLOWICZ ANNA , DAVIES B. H.
Published: April 2006

A number of food additives and industrial chemicals, responsible for inducing symptoms of intolerance in some individuals, have been studied in tests measuring platelet activation by noradrenaline. All the investigated agents inhibited platelet aggregation and this was associated with inhibition of the cyclo‐oxygenase‐thromboxane pathway. Suboptimal inhibitory concentrations of the agents studied had additive inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation when they were tested in pairs, or when tested with salicylate or aspirin. The results support the theory that some food additives and industrial chemicals induce intolerance because of their aspirin‐like properties.
The subclass of IgG antibody in allergic disease: II. The IgG subclass of antibodies produced following natural exposure to dust mite and grass pollen in atopic and non‐atopic individuals
Authors: KEMENY D. M. , URBANEK R. , EWAN P. , MCHUGH S. , RICHARDS D. , PATEL S. , LESSOF M. H.
Published: April 2006

In an attempt to understand the role of the different IgG subclasses in allergic disease, we have studied the subclass of IgG antibody to dust mite (HDM) and grass pollen (GP) produced as a result of natural exposure. Studies were carried out on 40 atopic children and 100 atopic adults who had never received immunotherapy. Thirty‐two non‐atopic adult controls were also studied. The specificity of the assay for IgG antibodies to dust mite was confirmed by inhibition with the homologous extract but not mite culture medium or fetal calf serum. IgG1 antibodies to HDM could be detected in most atopics (94%) and non‐atopics (97%), and similar results were obtained for GP (81% and 100%, respectively). IgG4 antibodies to HDM were detected in more atopics (66%) than non‐atopics (53%) and the difference was more marked for GP (72% vs. 19%). While the levels of IgG1 antibodies were not significantly different in the two groups, the levels of IgG4 antibodies were much lower in the non‐atopics (P < 0.001, Mann–Whitney U‐test). These data show that all subjects were capable of recognizing and mounting an IgG1 antibody response to these inhaled antigens. Atopic individuals differed from normal subjects in the frequency with which they made IgG4 antibodies in response to natural exposure to both dust mites and pollen.
Pigeon breeders' disease: quantitative immunoelectrophoretic studies of pigeon bloom antigen
Authors: LONGBOTTOM JOAN L.
Published: April 2006

This study employed quantitative immunoelectrophoretic techniques, on sera from confirmed cases of pigeon breeders' disease (PBD), to investigate the antigenicity of a pigeon bloom extract, implicated as a sensitizing agent in this disease. On crossed immunoelectrophoresis the maximum number of antigenic components identified was 29 for the bloom compared to 10 for pigeon serum. A majorcomponent was shown to be closely related to pigeon IgA, and demonstrated partial crossreactivity to the pigeon IgG. This component also showed identity with the major component of a pigeon droppings extract, considered to be derived from intestinal IgA. Only trace amounts of serum albumin were detected and most other bloom components were not serum‐related. Although greater overall antigenic similarity was found to pigeon droppings extract, at least three of the bloom components appeared to be specific. The bloom extract also contained a low amount of an α‐techoic acid‐like component, causing some non‐specific reactivity. Pigeon feather dust or ‘bloom’, like pigeon droppings, is therefore a potent source of antigens associated with PDB–pigeon IgA being a major component of both antigens.
Histamine, antihistamines and atopic eczema
Authors: BEHRENDT H. , RING J.
Published: April 2006

Histamine is known to be a classical inducer of pruritus. In atopic eczema, itch is a prominent feature (regarded by some even as a‘primary lesion’!). One of the most potent chemical mediators of itch is histamine. Histamine, together with other mediators may play a role in the pathophysiology of atopic eczema: the increased release of histamine from basophil leucocytes of atopic patients has been described, as well as elevated histamine levels in plasma and skin during acute exacerbations of eczematous lesions. Therefore, application of H1 antagonists seems to be a rational regime in the symptomatic treatment of atopic eczema. Nevertheless, some controversy exists regarding the clinical efficacy of orally applied H1 antagonists in this disease, especially with regard to the newer non‐sedating compounds such as terfenadine, astemizole, loratadine and cetirizine. Review of the literature shows that there are studies demonstrating a clear‐cut antipruritic effect of non‐sedating H1 antagonists. Thus the sedative action does not seem necessarily to be connected with therapeutic efficacy in treating itch in atopic eczema. Newer studies show that cetirizine exerts an additional inhibitory effect on eosinophils. This may broaden the therapeutic spectrum of this H1 antagonist in diseases with eosinophil involvement.
Atopic dermatitis: a defect of intracellular secondary messenger systems?
Authors: HOLDEN C. A.
Published: April 2006

The clinical manifestations of atopie dermatitis comprise a complex mixture of pharmacological, physiological and immunological responses. Circumstantial evidence suggests that atopic disease may arise consequent upon the migration of bone marrow‐derived cells into the target tissue of skin or respiratory mucosa. Mediator release from such cells has been shown to be abnormal in atopic dermatitis, and itch, the hallmark of the disease, may be the result of chronic inflammatory mediator release into the skin. Abnormal release of mediators has been shown to correlate with inadequate nucleotide control of cell function. In particular, elevated cyclic AMP‐specific PDE activity causing cyelic AMP hyporesponsiveness has been found in peripheral blood mononuclear leucocytes in atopic dermatitis. Investigation of this pathway has led to the discovery of additional abnormalities of other secondary messenger systems, including abnor‐malities of protein kinase C activity and of inositol activation. The biochemical abnormalities may be a consequence of down‐regulation of the second messenger systems because of chronic exposure to low levels of inflammatory mediators, but may themselves subsequently permit further mediator release. They may provide a biochemical mechanism for many of the immunological abnormalities seen in atopic dermatitis. In particular, they offer a biochemical explanation for the paradox of increased type 1‐mediated immunity and diminished cell‐mediated immunity commonly observed in this complex disease.
The effect of an inhaled steroid on the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis‐which tests should be used?
Authors: HOLT P. R. , LOWNDES D. W. , SMITHIES ELIZABETH , DIXON G. T.
Published: April 2006

Inhaled corticosteroids may produce systemic effects which include decreased hypothalamic pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Four tests of HPA axis function were assessed in 12 healthy volunteers, during inhalation of two actuations of beclomethasone dipropionate (250 μg) aerosol four times daily for 15 days, to determine the most appropriate test for this effect of inhaled corticosteroids. Measurement of basal adrenal activity showed that both 24‐hr urinary free cortisol and 0900 hr plasma cortisol were decreased by the fourth day of steroid treatment. All 12 subjects had decreases in basal adrenal activity. Overall the 24‐hr urinary free cortisol showed the greater change, with mean pre‐steroid baseline values of 497 and 515 nmol/24 hr reduced to 167 nmol/24 hr on the ninth day of treatment (P < 0.001). The single‐dose metyrapone test showed marked changes in each of the six subjects tested. The mean 11‐deoxycortisol response was 96 nmol/l on the eleventh day of treatment, compared to baseline and eighth‐day post‐treatment values of 439 and 407 nmol/1 respectively (P < 0.001). In contrast, no consistent treatment‐related changes were observed with the short tetracosactrin test. Only two out of six subjects had an abnormal short tetracosactrin test, although all showed a decrease in basal adrenal activity. From these results, the 24‐hr urinary free cortisol and single‐dose metyrapone test at 0600 hr are recommended to assess the effect of inhaled glucocorticoids on the HPA axis. The short tetracosactrin test failed to detect an effect from the same dose of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate and cannot therefore be recommended to exclude the systemic effect of an inhaled steroid.
Effect of cetirizine in a conjunctival provocation test with allergens
Authors: SCHOENEICH MAGDALENA , PÉCOUD A. R.
Published: April 2006

Cetirizine is a new selective H1‐antagonist. In a double‐blind and placebo‐controlled study, 11 subjects underwent a conjunctival provocation test (CPT) with a grass pollen extract to determine the effect of cetirizine on allergen‐induced itching and redness of the eye. Results of CPTs were reproducible, as no difference was observed between the CPTs performed without any pre‐treatment and the CPTs after placebo. Compared to placebo, cetirizine administered orally (10 mg twice a day for 4 days) and in double‐blind fashion increased the conjunctival reaction threshold (P < 0.004) by inhibiting both redness and itching of the eye. Cetirizine should protect patients against allergic conjunctivitis.
Comparison of a multi‐allergen dipstick IgE assay to skin‐prick test and RAST
Authors: IWAMOTO I. , YAMAZAKI H. , KIMURA A. , OCHIAI K. , TOMIOKA H. , YOSHIDA S.
Published: April 2006

A multi‐allergen dipstick enzyme immunoassay ‘Quidel Allergy Screen’ (QAS) has recently been developed commercially for measuring IgE antibodies against nine allergens (house dust 1, house dust 2, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae, Japanese cedar, ragweed, cat dander, sweet vernal grass, and egg white) at one time. To assess whether this assay is useful in screening allergen‐specific IgE antibody, we compared the titres of IgE antibodies against the nine allergens measured by QAS to those in the skin‐prick test and by RAST in 93 atopic asthmatics and 22 normal subjects. We found a good overall agreement between the results of the skin‐prick test and the results of QAS (sensitivity = 47.1‐81.4%, specificity = 84.5‐100%, and agreement =78.9‐88.9%). The sensitivities against house dust I, D. pteronyssinus. and D. farinae ranged from 77.2 to 81.4%. However, the sensitivities against house dust 2, Japanese cedar, ragweed, and cat dander were low (47.1‐68.8%). We also found a good overall agreement between the results of RAST and the results of QAS, except for egg white (sensitivity = 46.2‐94.4%, specificity = 87.4‐100%, and agreement = 77.4‐96.5%). The sensitivities against house dust 1 and 2, D, pteronyssinus, D. farinae, and Japanese cedar ranged from 86.0 to 94.4%. The sensitivities against ragweed, cat dander, and sweet vernal grass were low (46.2‐52.6%). There were strong correlations between the titres of RAST and the titres of QAS except cat dander and egg white (r= 0.701 0.924 for the seven allergens). Thus, we conclude that QAS is useful in screening IgE antibodies against multiple allergens at one time. However, because the sensitivities against some allergens tested were low, further improvement of some allergen preparations seems to be necessary in the assay.
Ecology of house dust mites in Oxfordshire
Authors: HART B. J. , WHITEHEAD L.
Published: April 2006

In a survey of the mite fauna in 30 homes in Oxfordshire, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Euroglyphus maynei were found to be the most abundant species but D. farinae was absent. Of a total of 14 parameters investigated for their influence on mite numbers, relative humidity was apparently the most important factor. Bedrooms with humidities above 64% contained significantly more mites in mattresses than those with lower humidities. Bedroom humidity and thus mattress mite numbers were apparently related and were influenced by the bedroom minimum temperature, the age of the house and the use of central heating. These trends were not seen in the numbers of mites found in living‐room carpets. Atopic and non‐atopic participants involved in this study did not differ significantly in the numbers of mites found in their homes.
The role of activated T lymphocytes in gastrointestinal disease
Authors: MACDONALD T. T.
Published: April 2006

Activated T cells can be visualized in the intestinal lamina propria in a number of gastrointestinal diseases including food‐sensitive enteropathy (coeliac disease), inflammatory bowel disease and intractable diarrhoea of infancy. Experimental studies have shown that T‐cell activation in human intestinal lamina propria in vitro produces an increase in crypt cell proliferation, villous atrophy, increased HLA‐DR expression on enterocytes, increased intra‐epithelial lymphocyte numbers, and phenotypically, macrophage activation. All of these features are seen in human gastrointestinal disorders and it is proposed that T‐cell activation to wheat (in coeliac disease), milk (cows'milk‐sensitive enteropathy), and unidentified luminal antigens (Crohn's disease) plays a primary role in the pathogenesis of these disorders.
The inhibitory effect of terfenadine and flurbiprofen on early and late‐phase bronchoconstriction following allergen challenge in atopic asthma
Authors: HAMID M. , RAFFERTY P. , HOLGATE S. T.
Published: April 2006

We have studied the effect of cyclo‐oxygenase inhibition and H1‐receptor antagonism on the early and late bronchoconstrictor responses to inhaled allergen in mild atopic asthmatics. In the first phase of the study histamine inhalation challenge tests were performed in seven mild, atopic asthmatics 2 h after treatment with placebo or flurbiprofen (50, 100 or 150 mg). Flurbiprofen in these single doses had no effect on histamine reactivity. Ten atopic asthmatics participated in the second phase of the study in which the time course of the bronchoconstrictor response to inhalation of allergen was observed on four separate occasions after treatment with (a) placebo, (b) flurbiprofen, 150 mg, (c) terfenadine 180 mg, and (d) the combination of flurbiprofen and terfenadine. On each occasion subjects inhaled a concentration of allergen (Dermatagaphoide & pteronyssinus, grass pollen) that had previously been shown to produce a 30% fall in FEV1 (PC30 allergen). The mean maximum fall in FEV1 during the early reaction was 33·2 ± 3·3% from the post‐saline baseline value following placebo and this was reduced to 27·5 ± 5·3% after flurbiprofen (n.s.), 20·3 ± 3·2% after terfenadine (P < 0·05), and 23·1 ±2·3 after the treatment combination (P < 0·05). Seven subjects developed late asthmatic reactions (LAR) after placebo and in these subjects the mean maximum fall in PEFR during the LAR was reduced from 22·6 ± 3·1 % after placebo to 16·7 ± 3·2% after flurbiprofen (P < 0·05), 15·2 ± 2·3% after terfenadine (P < 0·05) and 11·5 ± 3·1% after the treatment combination (P < 0·01). Both terfenadine and flurbiprofen exhibited inhibitory effects on the early and late bronchoconstrictor responses to inhaled allergen implying roles for histamine and cyclo‐oxygenase products in both phases of the response. As the inhibitory effect of the drugs was not purely additive when administered in combination, this implies that the bronchoconstrictor actions of histamine and the prostaglandins are not independent following allergen challenge.
Symptoms of respiratory allergies are worse in subjects with coexisting food sensitization
Authors: FIORINI G. , RINALDI G. , BIGI G. , SIRONI D. , CREMONINI L. M.
Published: April 2006

Food sensitization was evaluated in 78 subjects with respiratory allergies, both by skin tests with commercial and fresh allergens, and by specific IgE determination. On the basis of the presence or absence of the latter the population was divided into two groups. The group with food‐specific IgE showed more severe features of respiratory allergy, including a greater number of positive skin tests and specific IgE. determinations, more class 3 and 4 reactions, and more symptoms. The hypothesis that early food sensitization can predispose to severe inhalant allergy is discussed.
Ketotifen reduces sneezing but not histamine release following nasal challenge with antigen
Authors: MAJCHEL A. M. , PROUD D. , KAGEY‐SOBOTKA ANNE , LICHTENSTEIN L. M. , NACLERIO R. M.
Published: April 2006

We evaluated the effect of pre‐treatment with 1 and 2 mg b.i.d. of ketotifen on the early response to nasal challenge in a double‐blind cross‐over trial. Weekly nasal challenges were performed in 10 allergic subjects after 1 hr and 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of ketotifen administration. The response to nasal challenge was monitored by counting the number of sneezes, the assessment of subjective symptoms, and by measuring the levels of histamine and TAME‐esterase activity in recovered nasal lavages. The number of sneezes diminished significantly after a single dose of drug with both the 1 and 2 mg doses. Prolonged pre‐treatment did not improve the results. The levels of histamine and TAME‐esterase activity in recovered nasal lavages were not changed significantly by either pre‐treatment at either dose. Although the number of subjects was small, our data suggest that ketotifen diminishes allergic symptomatology by its antihistaminic properties rather than by inhibiting histamine release from mast cells. As we did not look into the effects of ketotifen on other products generated by mast cells (prostanoids, leukotrienes and tryptase), we cannot fully rule out an effect on mast cells.
Profile of ragweed hay fever symptom control with terfenadine started before or after symptoms are established
Authors: BROOKS C. D. , KARL K. J. , FRANCOM S. F.
Published: April 2006

Forty‐two ragweed hay fever patients participated in a study which examined the profile of symptom relief provided by terfenadine, and the relative adequacy of symptom control with the drug given from the beginning of the season compared with treatment started after symptoms were well established. Compared with placebo, terfenadine effectively relieved sneeze, itch and eye symptoms. It had no effect on running, blowing and drainage. Subjectively perceived congestion benefited marginally. When the drug was begun after symptoms were well established, sneezing responded quickly and maximally. Eye discomfort lessened but not to the level experienced by those dosed from the beginning of the season. The pattern in other symptom categories was less clear. Overall, terfenadine improved all rhinitis symptoms except those related to hypersecretion. Some symptoms appeared to respond better when drug dosing commenced at the beginning of the season.
The prevalence of allergic disease and IgE antibodies to house dust mite In schoolchildren in Taiwan
Authors: TANG R.‐B. , TSAI L.‐C. , HWANG H.‐M. , HWANG B. , WU K.‐G. , HUNG M.‐W.
Published: April 2006

The prevalance of positive specific IgE antibodies to house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus: D. farinae) was determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 5097 (61%) volunteers of 8345 schoolchildren aged between 7 and 14 yr from two government schools, All of them filled out a questionnaire concerning allergic symptoms. Among them, 412 (8·1%) children showed a positive reaction to at least one of the two mite allergens, the range varying between 5·6 and 11·2% according to the child's age. Boys had higher prevalence of positive mite specific IgE than girls (9·8% vs. 6·4%, P < 0·01), with the overall male to female ratio 1·5:1. The prevalence of bronchial asthma in boys and girls was 5·3% and 3·3% respectively. The positive mite specific IgE antibody in children with asthma and allergic rhinitis was 52% (103 of 198) and 28·7% (193 of 673) respectively. The mean levels of mite specific IgE were not significantly related to the age of onset and severity of asthmatic symptoms (P > 0·1), but were significantly different among subjects with current and past asthma (P < 0·001). It is suggested that the mire‐specific IgE may play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma in children.
Mast cells in cutaneous mastocytosis: accumulation of the MCTC type
Authors: IRANI A. A. , GARRIGA M. M. , METCALFE D. D. , SCHWARTZ L. B.
Published: April 2006

Lesional (n= 15) and non‐lesional (n= 10) skin of subjects with mastocytosis was analysed for the distribution and concentration of trypase positive, chymase negative mast cells (MCT) and tryptase positive, chymase positive mast cells (MCTC) cells and compared to normal skin (n= 23) and non‐lesional skin of subjects with unexplained anaphylaxis or flushing episodes (n= 6). Skin biopsies were fixed in Carney's fluid and subjected to double immunohistochemical staining with biotinylated mouse monoclonal anti‐chymase antibody followed by alkaline phosphatase‐conjugated mouse monoclonal anti‐tryptase antibody. MCTC cells were the only type of mast cells seen in all specimens analysed and in each case were more numerous in superficial compared to deep regions of dermis. The concentration (mean ± s.d.) of mast cells in the superficial dermis of mastocytosis lesions (40985 ± 21772 mast cells/mm3) was significantly increased over that in corresponding areas of non‐lesional skin from subjects with mastocytosis (7178 ± 3607 mast cells/mm3), skin from subjects with idiopathic anaphylaxis or flushing episodes (6974 ± 3873 mast cells/mm3) and normal skin (7347 ± 2973 mast cells/mm3). The exclusive presence of MCTC cells in skin lesions of mastocytosis which are characterized by non‐malignant hyperplasia of mast cells suggests involvement of local tissue factors in mast cell recruitment and differentiation.
Determination of histamine in human plasma: the European external quality control study 1988
Authors: COSTING E. , NEUGEBAUER E. , KEYZER J. J. , LORENZ W.
Published: April 2006

There is an increasing interest in measuring human plasma histamine levels in various clinical conditions. A variety of ‘old’ and newly developed techniques are applied to meet this demand. However, the discrepancy between reported reference values for histamine in human plasma measured using this variety of techniques, suggests the existence of a certain degree of inaccuracy and imprecision. We therefore organized an external quality control study on the reliability of current histamine determinations in European laboratories. Three lyophilized plasma quality control samples, in duplicate, covering the normal and pathological range of histamine concentrations (0–45 nmol/l), two different aqueous histamine standard samples and one solvent sample were sent to 10 laboratories for the analysis of their histamine content. The following methods were used: gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (n= 2), enzymatic single isotopic assay (n= 1), fluorometric‐fluoroenzymatic assay (n= 3), radioimmunoassay (n= 3) and high performance liquid chromatography (n= 2). The study was performed and evaluated according to the approved recommendations (1983) of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC). The target values ±s.d. of the three plasma samples were: 39·5±4·6 nmol/1 (CV=ll·6%), 2·3 ± 2·2 nmol/1 (CV = 96%) and 8·9±1·5 nmol/1 (CV = 17%), respectively. The target values ±s.d. of the two aqueous samples were: 0·9±1·1 nmol/1 (CV = 120%; true value: 0·00 nmol/1) and 10·2 ± 0·5 nmol/1 (CV = 5·3%; true value: 10·0 nmol/1), respectively. A Youden plot of two unrelated plasma samples in the pathological range defined 7/11 results as accurate and precise. The Youden plot of the two unrelated aqueous samples only denned 6/11 results as accurate and precise. In general, estimating histamine concentrations within the normal range seemed to be the most difficult part of measuring histamine in human plasma samples. It is suggested to define reference standards, methods and laboratories for plasma histamine determinations.
Twelve hours' bronchodilating effect of inhaled formoterol in children with asthma: a double‐blind cross‐over study versus salbutamol
Authors: GRAFF‐LONNEVIG V. , BROWALDH L.
Published: April 2006

Thirteen children, mean age 10·9 yr, with perennial asthma, were studied with respect to the duration of the bronchodilating effect of formoterol, a new long‐acting β2 agonist for inhalation. The duration of action of formoterol metered dose aerosol (12 μg) was compared with salbutamol metered dose aerosol (200 μg) in a double‐blind cross‐over study. Formoterol was found to have significantly better bronchodilating effect 8 hr (P < 0·01) and 12 hr (P < 0·05) after inhalation of the drug. Formoterol (24 μg) was given single‐blindly on the third trial day and showed a tendency towards a better bronchodilating effect (n.s.) than formoterol (12 μg.). There was no difference between the treatments with regard to adverse reactions such as tremor, palpitations, raised heart rate or anxiety. Formoterol proved to be superior to salbutamol as a long‐acting bronchodilator in children with bronchial asthma.
Allergy to penicillin with good tolerance to other penicillins; study of the incidence in subjects allergic to betalactams
Authors: BLANCA M. , VEGA J. M. , GARCIA J. , CARMONA MARIA J. , TERADOS S. , AVILA MARIA J. , MIRANDA A. , JUAREZ C.
Published: April 2006

Two hundred and eighty‐eight subjects with a history of allergy to penicillin were studied for objective proof of their allergy. On the basis of skin tests, specific IgE antibody measurements and direct challenge tests, 64 patients (22%) were shown objectively to be allergic to one or more penicillins. The following tests were carried out: skin tests to benzyl‐penicilloyl poly‐L‐lysine (BPO‐PLL), minor determinant mixture (MDM), amoxycillin (AX) and ampicillin (AMP), in‐vitro IgE antibody measurement to benzyl‐penicilloyl (BPO) and AX and challenge with benzylpenicillin (BP), phenoxymethyl‐penicillin (PV) and amoxycillin. Forty‐four cases were found to respond to benzyl or phenoxymethyl‐penicillin, however, 20 were shown to be sensitive to amoxycillin and unresponsive to tests with other penicillins. The contribution that any individual test gave for establishing the diagnosis was 21·8% for skin testing with BPO‐PLL, 9·3% with MDM and 12·5% with AX, Nine point three per cent were RAST positive to BPO and 1·5% to AX; 7·8% developed a positive response after challenge to BP, 7·8% to PV and 14% to AX. In 16% of the 64 positive cases more than one test was found to be positive. The challenge tests suggested that not all the penicillin‐sensitive subjects had IgE‐mediated reactions implying other immunological mechanisms. These results clearly demonstrate the importance of side chain‐specific diagnostic reagents and challenge tests. Thirty‐one per cent of the positive group or 6·9% of the total group would have been missed in this study using benzyl or phenoxymethyl‐penicillin diagnostic reagents alone.
cDNA encoding the major mite allergen Der f II
Authors: TRUDINGER M. , CHUA K. Y. , THOMAS W. R.
Published: April 2006

cDNA encoding the major house dust mite allergen Der f II from Dermatophagoides farinae was amplified using the polymerasc chain reaction and cloned into E. coli. It encoded a 129‐residue protein with a calculated molecular weight of 14021 D and had the expected high homology (88%) with Der p II including the absence of N‐glycosylation sites and conserved cysteine residues. These results are consistent with the high degree of antibody crossreactivity and may help identify the differences in T‐cell epitopes revealed for these molecules so far.
Pigeon breeders' lung—the effect of loft litter materials on airborne particles and antigens
Authors: EDWARDS J. H. , TROTMAN D. M. , MASON O. F. , DAVIES B. H. , JONES K. P. , ALZUBAIDY T. S.
Published: April 2006

An Andersen sampler was used to collect different sized fractions of airborne dust within pigeon lofts. Antigens associated with pigeon breeders’ lung were then measured using an ELISA technique. Levels of soluble antigen in the 0.5–5 μm range correlated significantly with airborne particle concentrations in the same range, determined by particle size analysis. However, antigenic material was not soley confined to the 0.5–5 μm fraction and was detected in particles up to 11 μm in diameter. Using both particle size analysis and ELISA in local pigeon lofts revealed significantly increased particles (up to × 50) and antigens (up to × 10) in some lofts employing litter materials to dehydrate voided pigeon droppings, compared with lofts cleaned regularly with no litter agent. Paradoxically, ventilation did not influence particle or antigen concentrations under static conditions or during loft cleaning. The settling rate of loft dusts correlated significantly with that of the litter used, suggesting litter particles were a carrier for soluble pigeon dropping components, but differences in particle numbers generated from the litters and litter/dropping combinations showed that an interaction between voided droppings and litter agents had occurred. A change from litter systems to regular cleaning was undertaken in two lofts, resulting in a marked decrease in respirable particles and antigens.
Development and testing of a new measure of health status for clinical trials in rhinoconjunctivitis
Authors: JUNIPER ELIZABETH F. , GUYATT G. H.
Published: April 2006

The objective of this study was to develop and test a health‐related quality of life questionnaire for clinical trials in rhinoconjunctivitis. The Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) was developed by asking patients to identify areas of their lives affected by rhinoconjunctivitis. The resultant RQLQ was tested for reproducibility, responsiveness and validity in a randomized, double‐blind trial of regular versus ‘as required’ aqueous beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) nasal spray in ragweed pollen‐induced rhinoconjunctivitis. Eighty‐five patients from previous rhinoconjunctivitis studies participated in the developmental survey. Sixty ragweed‐sensitive patients, from previous trials and media notices, were enrolled in the clinical trial. Aqueous BDP (800 μg) nasal spray was administered regularly or ‘as required’ throughout the ragweed pollen season. The survey revealed that, in addition to local symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis, patients experienced impairment of quality of life through systemic symptoms, sleep disturbance, practical problems, activity limitations and emotional problems. The RQLQ includes 28 questions related to these dimensions. Repeated administration of the RQLQ demonstrated good reproducibility. During the clinical trial, the RQLQ proved responsive in its ability to distinguish between regular and ‘as required’ medication use. Validity was shown by moderate to strong relations between changes in symptom diary scores and changes in RQLQ scores. In conclusion the RQLQ is likely to prove useful as a measure of health‐related quality of life in clinical trials in both rhinoconjunctivitis and rhinitis.
Relationship between IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies to foods and the development of IgE antibodies to inhalant allergens. I. Establishment of a scoring system for the overall food responsiveness and its application to 213 unselected children
Authors: CALKHOVEN P. G. , AALBERS MARJA , KOSHTE V. L. , GRIFFIOEN R. W. , VAN NIEROP J. C. , VAN DER HEIDE D. , AALBERSE R. C.
Published: April 2006

To obtain reference levels for subsequent investigations, we analysed the IgG1 and IgG4 antibody levels to common foods in the sera of 213 unselected children (age 3 months to 14 years). The children were clustered into five age groups and tested on a broad screening panel of common foods. We used the IgG1 and IgG4 RAST with Sepharose‐coupled antigens: cows’ milk, hens’ egg white, banana, legumes (a mixture of soybean and peanut), grains (a mixture of wheat and rice), potato, orange and pork. In all age groups and all antigens, a considerable variability in the antibody response was found. As for some assays more than half of the sera were negative or borderline, statistics based on interval or ordinal scaling were considered inappropriate and we resorted to nominal classification. We decided to use, for each of the assays, the 75‐percentile of the age group as a cut‐off level. Each antibody titrc was thus converted into positive (more than the 75‐percentile of that age group) or negative; the number of positive tests was used as the score. This resulted in a ΣG1score and a ΣG4 score (summed scores for IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies, respectively). The results of the present study indicate that children with a high response to one food tend to have elevated responses to other non‐related foods, possibly explained by a defective mucosal barrier and/or a hyperactive immune system. This suggests that a high‐food responder phenotype may exist.
Relationship between IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies to foods and the development of IgE antibodies to inhalant allergens. II. Increased levels of IgG antibodies to foods in children who subsequently develop IgE antibodies to inhalant allergens
Authors: CALKHOVEN P. G. , AALBERS MARJA , KOSHTE V. L. , SCHILTE P. P. M. , YNTEMA J. L. , GRIFFIOEN R. W. , VAN NIEROP J. C. , ORANJE A. P. , AALBERSE R. C.
Published: April 2006

In the present investigation we have tested the hypothesis that children with a high IgG antibody response to foods have an increased risk of developing IgE antibodies to inhalant allergens. Sera from 106 children with an increased risk of developing IgE‐mediated allergy were analysed. During the follow‐up, in 54 of these children IgE antibodies to inhalant allergens appeared. A positive/negative IgG1 and IgG4 anti‐food score was determined as described previously: sera from age‐clustered unselected children were tested for the levels of IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies to common foods. For each IgG RAST and each age group, the 75‐percentile was chosen as cut‐off value. Each antibody level was thus converted into a positive (higher than the 75‐percentile of the age group) or negative value. The number of positive tests was used as the score. High‐risk children with a high IgG1 anti‐food score more often developed inhalant‐specific IgE antibodies than high‐risk children with low IgG1 titres: 50% of the children with a high IgG1 anti‐food score developed IgE antibodies to grass pollen, whereas only 16% of the children with a low IgG1 anti‐food score acquired IgE anti‐grass pollen. Fifty percent of the children with a high and 14% of the children with a low IgG1 anti‐food score developed IgE antibodies to cat dander. For the prediction of the development of IgE anti‐mite (house dust mite), the IgG4 anti‐food scores appeared less useful than the IgG1 anti‐food scores; 46% of the IgG4 high responders versus 22% of the IgG4 low responders acquired IgE anti‐mite, whereas for IgG1 these precentages were 73 and 19, respectively.
Sensitivity to common allergens: relation to respiratory symptoms and bronchial hyper‐responsiveness in children from three different climatic areas of Australia
Authors: PEAT J. K. , WOOLCOCK A. J.
Published: April 2006

In order to examine further the relation between atopy, as denned by skin‐prick tests, and respiratory illness, we studied three populations of schoolchildren aged 8–11 years and living in different climatic areas of New South Wales, Australia. Skin‐prick tests were performed using 13 commercial allergen extracts. Respiratory and allergic symptoms were assessed using a self‐administered questionnaire to parents and bronchial hyper‐responsiveness (BHR) was measured by histamine inhalation test. We defined current asthma as BHR together with symptoms of wheeze in the 12 months prior to study. Children with one or more positive skin weals of 3 mm had significantly more recent wheeze, hayfever, eczema and BHR than children with smaller weals (P<0.001). In each area, 95–97% of all atopic children were sensitized to one of the following seven allergens: house dust, Dermatophagoidesfarinae, D. pteronyssinus, cat dander, plantain, rye grass, and Alternaria tenuis. Thus, these seven selected allergen extracts and a skin weal of 3 mm could be used to detect clinically relevant atopy in these populations of children. Sensitivity to house dust mite had the strongest independent association with current asthma in all three areas. The associations of other allergen sensitivities with BHR or current asthma were area dependent, indicating the influence of local allergen levels on respiratory illness in children. The potency of house dust mite sensitivity in increasing the risk of children having BHR and current asthma is confirmed.
Unilaterality of obstruction after acute nasal allergen provocation. Relation of allergen dose, nasal reactivity and the nasal cycle
Authors: BROOKS C. D. , KARL K. J. , FRANCOM S. F.
Published: April 2006

We examined unilaterality of obstruction after acute bilateral nasal allergen provocation in two groups of pollen‐sensitive volunteers studied out of season. One group was challenged on one occasion with a threshold allergen dose and on another with placebo. We measured nasal airway resistance (NAR) unilaterally for 3.5 hr before the challenges and for 40 min after. Most subjects' noses had marked asymmetry of response. Over half showed marked obstruction on one side and none at all on the other side. The side which showed higher resistance and greater lability before challenge was typically more obstructed after. In a second group we compared responses to threshold and × 10) threshold doses. Threshold challenge produced results similar to those seen with the first group. After the higher allergen dose, there was some obstruction in the less responsive side and the rate of rise was much slower. Obstructive response after acute threshold allergen challenge is typically one‐sided. This pattern may be related to the stage of the nasal cycle in which the challenge was delivered. Higher allergen doses produce more obstruction in the less responsive side but the response is still asymmetrical.
Childhood asthma: clinical and immunological changes over a decade
Authors: HILL D. J. , HOSKING C. S. , SHELTON M. J. , TURNER M. W.
Published: April 2006

A group of 26 Australian asthmatic children with laboratory‐proven bronchial hyper‐reactivity to the allergens of rye grass pollen and/or the house dust mite has been studied over a 9‐year period. Clinical symptoms and drug scores were used to evaluate the severity of the patients' asthma and, wherever possible, blood samples were obtained before, during and after the rye grass pollen seasons. The cumulative symptom and drug scores for the 20 patients with bronchial hyper‐reactivity to rye grass pollen extract tended to increase during and fall after each pollen season but the peaks were of decreasing amplitude over the 9 years. Since a proportion of these patients underwent hyposensitization to rye grass during year 1, longitudinal comparisons were made between year 2 and year 9. Comparing the individuals at the same three seasonal time‐points revealed significantly lower drug scores in year 9 compared with year 2, and in parallel with this, significantly lower total IgE, IgE anti‐rye and IgG anti‐rye antibodies at all three assessment points. In the 14 patients with bronchial hyper‐reactivity to house dust mite the severity of the asthma and the median levels of IgE and IgG mite specific antibodies all decreased over the study period. Despite the progressive improvement in asthma and diminishing immune responses to both rye grass and house dust mite in the patients, no immunological feature could be identified that correlated significantly with clinical outcome.