bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the nutritional status of Nigerian rural children and mothers' perceptions of quality of life
Authors: OJOFEITIMI E. O.
Published: April 2006

Summary
One hundred and fourteen preschool school children and their 30 mothers from three selected villages in Ile‐Ife, Nigeria were assessed for nutritional status using selected and sensitive anthropometric techniques. The mothers' dietary patterns, their perceptions as to components of a good quality of life, infants' immunization status and major cause of infant death were also examined. Approximately 56% of the children and 80% of the women were identified to be suffering from mild to moderate malnutrition. The major cause of infant death as reported by the mothers was high fever and convulsion. Practically all the children under 3 years had not received any form of immunization. Ability to have plenty of children, good health and money, were highly perceived as measures of essential components of quality of life by all the mothers, while 20% listed good feeding, housing, clothing, and only 7% listed potable water. The need for effective health services, regular home visits, supplementary feeding programmes for school children and an effective health education campaign on the importance of immunization and nutrition for rural people are discussed. The training of agricultural extension workers in the use of simple anthropometric techniques to identify covert malnutrition is also highlighted.
Beyond the milestone model—a systems framework for alternative infant assessment procedures
Authors: GAUSSEN TERENCE , STRATTON PETER
Published: April 2006

SummaryRecent theoretical and methodological advances in developmental psychology offer new possibilities in the assessment of developmentally disordered infants which carry significant advantages over current procedures. It is argued that infant competence is not solely a quality inherent within the individual, but is a function of a particular individual within a particular environment. The understanding of early developmental processes as being based upon infantenvironment transactions, requires an assessment methodology which can take account of complex and changing relationships, and can recognize the role of the infant in determining characteristics of the caregiving environment. It is proposed that systems theory offers a useful framework on which to construct new assessment procedures. Different levels of the infant environment system are identified, and examples of the ways in which recently developed procedures may be incorporated into the model are described.
Mothers' experiences on the postnatal ward
Authors: EISER CHRISTINE , EISER J. RICHARD
Published: April 2006

Summary
Interviews were conducted with 60 primiparous women about their experiences of labour and delivery, and education about child care received on the postnatal ward. The results indicated that many had misgivings and unanswered questions about their labour and delivery. Teaching of child care was apparently unsystematic. It is concluded that many opportunities for educating women about child care are lost on the postnatal ward.
Similarities and differences in behaviour between mentally handicapped and normal preschool children during play
Authors: TURNER IRENE F. , SMALL JENNIFER D.
Published: April 2006

Summary
when 12 normal preschool children and 12 mentally handicapped children of similar mental age were individually observed during peer group play, more similarities than differences were found in the incidence of 28 behaviours. However, the behaviours for which significant differences were found included those likely to be most relevant to social acceptance. Mutual social involvement of normal and handicapped children during integrated play may require not only attention to the constitution of the groups but also manipulation of the conditions and environment.
Behaviour modification in the treatment of sleep problems occurring in young children: a controlled trial using health visitors as therapists
Authors: WEIR I. K. , DINNICK S.
Published: April 2006

Summary
A controlled trial of behaviour modification in the treatment of sleep problems is described. The subjects were 51 children aged 4 months to 41/2 years (mean 20 months) recruited from the community by health visitors (specialist nurses based in the community). In the experimental procedure health visitors were trained and supported in the use of behaviour modification. At 6 months follow‐up both control and experimental groups showed equally marked improvement. Reasons for the failure to demonstrate an effect are discussed.
The behaviour of 3‐year‐old children who were born preterm
Authors: WALKER JUDY
Published: April 2006

Summary The behaviour of 3‐year‐old children born preterm was compared with that of full‐term children of the same age. The preterm group were born between 32 and 37 weeks gestation, and weighed between 1500 g and 2500 g at birth, and thus (in comparison to even earlier, lower birth weight babies) comprised a ‘low risk’ group. The children and their mothers were interviewed at home and information obtained about the following: behaviour, the number of accidents requiring medical attention, language development, maternal mental health and demographic data, the preterm group did not show an excess of behaviour problems overall but they did show significantly more problems when certain individual behaviours were considered, namely sleep related problems, tempers and dependence. The preterm group had also had significantly more accidents. The nature of the behavioural differences suggested they represented styles of parental management rather than neurological impairment in the preterm group. There was no evidence of language delay in either group and no significant association between child behaviour and maternal mental health. This study showed that consideration of socioeconomic factors is important. Children from manual socioeconomic groups showed significantly more behaviour problems than children from non‐manual groups, and mothers from manual groups had significantly poorer mental health.
A survey of microcytic anaemia in paediatric inpatients
Authors: MILLS ANDREW F.
Published: April 2006

Summary The prevalence of anaemia and microcytosis was studied retrospectively in 662 children aged 6 months to 8 years, admitted to hospital over a 10‐month period. Anaemia (haemoglobin < third centile) was found in 23% of children under the age of 2, 18% of those between 2 and 5 years and 10% between 5 and 8 years. Non‐Caucasians (mainly Pakistani) were more commonly anaemic than Caucasians and showed a peak prevalence (31%) in the 3rd, 4th and 5th years. Microcytosis was found in 12% of non‐Caucasians but only 2% of Caucasians and also showed a fall in prevalence with increasing age. These data suggest that iron deficiency anaemia may be common in preschool children, especially in the immigrant community. Health workers designing a programme to screen for iron deficiency anaemia should be aware of this age distribution.
Theory and research in practice: an opportunity group for young children with developmental difficulties
Authors: CAMPION JEAN , WOHLFARTH RUDOLFINA
Published: April 2006

Summary Recent research demonstrates, if demonstration be needed, the close relationship between social, emotional and cognitive development and the development of speech and language during the early years of life. This suggests the need for careful consideration of children's social and emotional experiences as part of any process of diagnosis/treatment/education offered to children whose development gives cause for concern particularly when there is no major physical disability to explain the difficulties. The paper describes eight 3‐4‐ year‐old children with delayed development, disordered behaviour and difficulties in speech and language who were helped by a method based primarily on understanding and meeting their social developmental needs. Parents were involved, and their own social contact with their children encouraged as part of the programme of help. About 9 months later, only two of the children were regarded as having special educational needs, with the rest making good progress in mainstream nursery or reception classes in local schools.
Service needs of families of children with severe physical disability
Authors: SLOPER PATRICIA , TURNER STEPHEN
Published: April 2006

Summary
Service contacts, perceived helpfulness of services and needs for help were investigated in a sample of 107 families of young children with severe physical disability. Many families were in contact with a multiplicity of different services and overall frequency of contact was high. Despite this, there was evidence of considerable unmet need, particularly in the provision of information to families. Families with the highest levels of unmet need were likely to have experienced high levels of strain from life events and to have children with mental retardation as well as physical disability, fathers in those families were more likely to be unemployed and mothers were more likely to use passive optimism in coping with child problems. The findings indicate the importance of services which are easily accessible to parents, the provision of information to parents about such services, the co‐ordination of services through a ‘link’ person and the accurate and individual assessment of family needs.
Clumsiness in children: a defect of kinaesthetic perception?
Authors: SMYTH T. R.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Abnormal clumsiness in otherwise normal children has been recognized for many years, but the causes of this disorder are heterogeneous or unknown. Although equivocal, there is some evidence from reaction time studies suggesting that clumsiness is associated with a defect in perception of movement in the kinaesthetic modality and of motor programming. In this experiment clumsy children and matched controls performed simple and choice kinaesthetic reaction time tasks with either simple or complex responses. The requirement to discriminate between kinaesthetic stimuli was found to increase reaction time more for clumsy than for control children, but increasing response complexity had no significant effect on the reaction time of either group. These results were interpreted as suggesting that clumsiness is associated with a perceptual defect in the kinaesthetic modality, but providing no support for an association of clumsiness with a defect of motor programming.
Parental psychiatric disorder: clinical prevalence and effects on default from treatment
Authors: DOVER S. J. , LEAHY A. , FOREMAN D.
Published: April 2006

Summary
In a retrospective case note study, 36% of 253 consecutive cases seen and treated at a community child and adolescent clinic had at least one caretaker with a concurrent psychiatric disorder. The most common diagnosis in caretakers was depression (20% of the sample). Both, psychiatric disorder in general, and depression in particular, were significantly related to default from treatment. The relevance of these results to all aspects of child health care is discussed. It is concluded that more research into the impact of parental psychiatric disorder on the treatment of children across various clinical settings is needed.
Early detection of childhood autism: a review of screening instruments and rating scales
Authors: VOSTANIS P. , SMITH B. , CHUNG M. C. , CORBETT J.
Published: April 2006

Summary
The detection and diagnosis of autism may be delayed until middle childhood, 3–4 years after its onset. This is more likely in high‐functioning autism and in cases of co‐morbidity with mental retardation. Such delays have serious effects on children and their families as well as on the provision of clinical and educational resources. In addition to greater awareness among professionals and to the development of comprehensive services, early detection could be facilitated by screening for early signs and symptoms of autism. The instruments that have been developed to rate autistic behaviours, particularly in pre‐school children, are reviewed in this paper. Although the majority of these observational or informant‐based measures were not initially designed for screening purposes, previous research findings from their application could be useful in the future development of such a screening instrument. Relevant research findings are discussed and suggestions are made for further evaluation in appropriate populations.
The development of communication in blind and in deaf infants—similarities and differences
Authors: Preisler G M
Published: April 2006

Summary
Results from two longitudinal studies of blind infant—sighted mother and of deaf infant‐hearing mother/deaf mother interaction, are summarized in this paper. The aim is to shed light on the role of visual and auditory stimulation in the development of communication. Video‐recorded Interactions taken during infancy were transcribed in a systematic, objective and detailed way. The development of communication is described with a focus on pre‐verbal abilities, exploration of toys, social and symbolic play, communicative intent and sharing of experiences, The results show a delay in the development of communication in the blind infants compared with the deaf infants, indicating a more critical role of visual stimulation compared with auditory stimulation during the infancy period to this development.
Masturbation in prepubescent children: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Finkelstein E , Amichai B , Jaworowski S , Mukamel M
Published: April 2006

Summary
A 10‐year‐old girl observed to have episodes of flushing, pallor and weakness, was referred for investigation of possible carcinoid syndrome. The cause of these episodes was masturbation. Masturbation occurs at all ages and in most cases is considered normal behaviour. Lack of recognition of this phenomenon in children may lead to unnecessary investigations and treatment.
Detection of reaginic and short‐term sensitizing anaphylactic or anaphylactoid antibodies to milk in sera of allergic and normal persons
Authors: PARISH W. E.
Published: April 2006

Sera of 50% of persons extremely sensitive and of 30% of persons moderately sensitive to milk had heat‐labile reaginic antibodies conferring passive cutaneous anaphylactic sensitivity on monkeys for 24 hr. More persons in each group had IgE antibodies that bound radio‐isotope labelled β‐lactoglobulin and passively sensitized monkey basophils for anaphylactic degranulation.

These tests, however, are not certain evidence of clinical allergy, because of the sera of nineteen topic children, three mediated monkey PCA tests and five had γE anti‐$bt‐lactoglobulin antibodies detected by antigen binding or basophil degranulation, though the serum donors were not clinically allergic to milk. Similarly few normal, milk‐tolerant adults also had γE anti‐β‐lactoglobulin antibodies.

Sera of nine children with milk‐induced gastroenteritis occurring 12–36 hr after exposure had no anti‐milk reagins, and only one had γE binding β‐lactoglobulin. This allergy may be mediated by heat‐stable IgG antibodies, because three sera conferred milk sensitivity on monkey skin for 4 hr and two others for 2 hr. The three sera had high titres of IgG agglutinins, one to β‐lactoglobulin, one to α‐lactalbumin and one to casein. All three fixed complement in the presence of milk, and one had precipitins. They did not passively sensitize human mast cells or monkey basophils for anaphylactic degranulation, but they prepared human lung for anaphylactic release of hist‐amine, though in small amounts compared to that released from lung prepared with reagins.

The sera of two of three cases of cot death had IgG antibodies with similar properties.
Changes in nasal airways resistance on antigenic challenge in allergic rhinitis
Authors: TAYLOR GEOFFREY , SHIVALKAR P. R.
Published: April 2006

The nasal airways resistance changes occurring after challenge with graded doses of antigen have been measured in sixty‐five sensitive subjects. The degree of nasal sensitivity has been compared with skin sensitivity and no clear positive quantitative correlation was found. This lack of correlation is considered to indicate the importance of local IgE production in allergic rhinitis. Some subjects show evidence of local desensitization after several antigen challenges. Possible mechanisms are discussed.
Disodium cromoglycate: laboratory studies and clinical trial in allergic rhinitis
Authors: TAYLOR GEOFFREY , SHIVALKAR P. R.
Published: April 2006

The ability of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) to block allergic responses in the nasal airways was investigated in two ways. The effect of DSCG on antigen‐induced airways resistance changes in sensitive subjects was investigated in the laboratory. DSCG in a dose of 10 mg applied to each nostril was shown to block the expected reaction in 71 % of subjects and a 1 mg dose in 47%. Protection was conferred against antigen challenge for a period of about 6 hr by the 10 mg dose. A clinical trial of DSCG (10 mg) in seasonal allergic rhinitis was carried out using a double‐blind cross‐over design. Analysis of the results showed significant DSCG protective effects against lower respiratory tract symptoms and a significant antihistamine sparing effect. Analysis of part of the trial period when antigen challenge was uniformly high showed significant DSCG protective effects against sneezing, nasal discharge and nasal obstruction. Nasal application of DSCG is considered to be a promising alternative therapeutic approach in allergic rhinitis.
The effect of disodium cromoglycate on pulmonary function in extrinsic bronchial asthma over 12 months
Authors: PATEL K.R. , KERR J. W. , WADE I. M.
Published: April 2006

Fourteen patients with extrinsic type bronchial asthma had pulmonary ventilation, lung volume and gas transfer measurements at rest and on exercise, carried out during a control period and again at 2 weeks and 12 months whilst on disodium cromoglycate. A significant improvement in forced expiratory volume, vital capacity and the ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity and in the exercise gas transfer, was observed at 12 months. The improved pulmonary function measurements agree with the clinical assessment of the improvement obtained in these patients whilst on disodium cromoglycate.
Hereditary angio‐oedema: a review with particular reference to pathogenesis and treatment
Authors: HADJIYANNAKI KATHERINE , LACHMANN P. J.
Published: April 2006

Hereditary angio‐oedema (HAE) is a rare disease associated with, and caused by, an inherited deficiency of the inhibitor of the activated first component of complement (C1‐inhibitor). The disease is readily diagnosed in the laboratory by measuring C1‐inhibitor levels.

Very uncharacteristically for an inherited deficiency, genetic transmission is as an autosomal dominant. The patients are therefore heterozygotes and their deficiency is incomplete; many having up to 20% of the normal amount of inhibitor.

It appears most probable that attacks are precipitated by exhaustion of local inhibitor as a result of its consumption by any of the plasma enzymes (plasmin. kininogenase, P.F./Dil as well as C1)with which the inhibitor can react. Thus, conditions associated with increased generation of any of these enzymes may predispose to relapse in HAE. In the absence of all inhibitor C1 activation proceeds autocatalytically and reacting with its substrates C4 and C2 produces a kinin‐like peptide from C2 which appears to be the main mediator of the disease.

Attacks of the disease have been successfully treated by replacement of inhibitor using fresh frozen plasma as source. Effective prophylactic treatment has been obtained with ɛ‐aminocaproic acid and its derivatives. These drugs inhibit the activation of the plasma proteases with which the inhibitor reacts and will thus produce an ‘inhibitor sparing’ effect in addition to themselves inhibiting CT activation.
Exercise induced asthma: response to disodium cromoglycate in skin‐test positive and skin‐test negative subjects
Authors: SILVERMAN M. , TURNER‐WARWICK MARGARET
Published: April 2006

Thirty‐nine asthmatic subjects, aged 5‐50 and each with a history of exercise‐induced asthma, were classified according to their skin response to prick tests using nineteen common antigens. Ten had negative skin tests, four responded only to D. farinae and twenty‐five had multiple positive responses. Each patient then carried out three exercise tests on a treadmill, each test on a separate day. A control test was followed, in random order, by an exercise test after administration of disodium cromoglycate or of a placebo.

In all groups, the mean fall in peak expiratory flow rate was less after disodium cromoglycate than after placebo, but the difference was significant only for the skin‐test positive groups. Similarly, positive skin‐test groups had a higher incidence of drug responders than did the negative skin‐test group.

These observations are discussed.
Observations on the safety of disodium cromoglycate in long‐term use in children
Authors: SMITH JOHN MORRISON , PIZARRO YVONNE ARABELLA
Published: April 2006

A group of eighty‐two children aged 6–18 years were investigated specifically for evidence of toxic or allergic effects from the use of disodium cromoglycate (‘Intal’) for 3 years or more by:

Radiological examination of the lungs.

Records of growth.

Haemoglobin estimations.

White blood counts.

Serum transaminase estimations.

Urine examinations.

Skin tests by the prick method.

Inhalation tests with disodium cromoglycate and lactose powder.

There was no evidence of drug‐induced toxic or allergic effects.

Random urine samples from 186 patients on treatment with disodium cromoglycate were examined for the quantity of the drug excreted. These suggested that 13·4% were not taking the treatment as instructed and another 16% may not have been using the spinhaler effectively. The failure to take the treatment properly has been noted in other conditions requiring long continued treatment, such as tuberculosis, and must affect both the results and, to some extent, the possibility of toxic effects. It is concluded that disodium cromoglycate treatment is remarkably free of toxic or allergic effects but that an important problem in long‐term management is supervision of the patient's use of the treatment prescribed.
Asthma due to inhaled chemical agents—piperazine dihydrochloride
Authors: PEPYS J. , PICKERING C. A. C. , LOUDON H. W. G.
Published: April 2006

An occupational type exposure to the dust from a mixture of piperazine dihydrochloride and lactose provoked late (3–4hr) asthmatic reactions in two sensitized subjects. These reactions were completely inhibited by disodium cromoglycate.
Clinical significance of total IgE and of specific IgE to Dermatophagoides spp., grass pollen and other common allergens II. Relationship to clinical manifestations
Authors: STENIUS B. , WIDE L. , SEYMOUR W. M.
Published: April 2006

The relationships of total and specific IgE levels to the clinical manifestations and atopic status of ninety‐two subjects, suffering from asthma, rhinitis and infantile eczema in varying combinations, were examined. No significant correlations were found between specific IgE levels to Dermatophagoides spp. and grass pollen or between total IgE levels, and the age of the patient, nor the age of onset, duration, severity and frequency of symptoms. A highly significant correlation was found between total IgE levels and the numbers of skin test reactions to a battery of twenty routine tests and to the sum total of the graded sizes of the reactions in each subject.
Threadworms and IgE in allergic asthma
Authors: JARRETT ELLEN E. E. , KERR J. W.
Published: April 2006

A high incidence of infection with the threadwormEnterobius vermicularishas been demonstrated in a group of children with allergic asthma, but also in a non‐allergic group. There was no evidence of infection with any other helminth parasites. Presence or absence of threadworm infection was not clearly correlated with differences in total serum IgE level in either allergic or non‐allergic children although levels of this immunoglobulin were raised in the former group. Some of the allergic children gave positive skin reactions following intradermal injection of an antigen extracted fromE. vermicularis.The suggestion is therefore put forward that hypersensitivity toE. vermicularisallergen absorbed from the bowel might contribute to the allergic symptoms. The results are also discussed in relation to recently discovered experimental evidence that helminth infection may non‐specifically potentiate unrelated IgE antibody responses.
Respiratory allergy to exotic wood dust
Authors: EATON K. K.
Published: April 2006

Three cases are presented showing nasal and respiratory allergy to cocabolla (Dalbergia retusa) an exotic timber which is a member of the rosewood family, and also to other wood dusts. They gave positive immediate reactions on patch testing, which became negative after injections of aqueous extracts. There were suggestions in this limited study of clinical improvement.

A possible relationship of this allergy to a quinone named dalbergiones present in cocabolla exists, but further work is necessary to confirm this.
Cryptogenic pulmonary eosinophilias
Authors: McCARTHY D. S. , PEPYS J.
Published: April 2006

In the U.K. allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is the cause of pulmonary eosinophilia (PE) in about 80% of the instances. The purpose of this paper is to describe distinctive clinical, immunological, radiological and respiratory functional changes in twenty‐seven cases of PE in whom an aetiological diagnosis was not possible (cryptogenic pulmonary eosinophilia) and contrast the findings with those of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. In the cryptogenic pulmonary eosinophilias the degree of eosinophilia of blood and sputum was more marked than in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, females were more frequently affected and there was no seasonal predilection. Cough and sputum was not prominent, plugs were rarely seen in the sputum, A. fumigatus was rarely cultured, and secondary bacterial infection was uncommon. Corticosteroids were effective in treating both varieties of PE. In contrast to bronchopulmonary aspergillosis where Type I and Type III immunological responses were elicited following skin, inhalation and serological tests, immunological mechanisms could not be demonstrated in cryptogenic PE. Radiologically, diffuse often bilateral low density and peripheral shadowing were typical in the latter while recurrent perihilar shadows, bronchiectasis, lobar shrinkage, and atalectasis were encountered in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Functionally, the severity of airway obstruction and defect in carbon monoxide transfer tended to be less severe than in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Finally systemic periarteritis nodosa developed in two patients with cryptogenic pulmonary eosinophilia but was not encountered in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
The incidence of asthma, hay fever and infantile eczema in an East London Group Practice of 9145 patients
Authors: BLAIR HENRY
Published: April 2006

The incidence of asthma, ‘hay fever’ and infantile eczema alone, or in any combination, in a group practice of 9145 registered patients in an East London suburb, was on analysis found to be 7.2%.
A detailed investigation of circulating IgE levels in a normal population
Authors: NYE LYNN , MERRETT T. G. , LANDON J. , WHITE R. J.
Published: April 2006

Total circulating IgE levels were measured in a carefully selected normal population, using a highly sensitive double antibody assay. The mean level of 36.3 u/ml found in this group is much lower than that reported in all previous studies. No circadian rhythm was evident, but IgE levels varied slightly from day‐to‐day. IgE levels in 100 serum samples were compared using the double antibody assay and the Phadebas lest kit. based on a solid phase technique. A poor correlation was obtained with values below 100 u/ml, however, there was an excellent correlation for samples with IgE levels above this figure.
Nasal hyposensitization and hay fever
Authors: MEHTA S. B. , SMITH J. MORRISON
Published: April 2006

A clinical trial of pre‐seasonal hyposensitization with intra‐nasal grass pollen extract was carried out in forty‐two patients. Results were assessed subjectively, by clinical examination during the pollen season, and by measurements of nasal air flow. Useful relief of symptoms was considered to have occurred in fifteen out of twenty‐one patients who had pre‐seasonal treatment with pollen extract and in live out of twenty‐one patients who had similar treatment with carbol saline as a placebo. Of twelve patients who were symptom free in the pollen season ten had nasal hyposensitization. It is concluded that this simple and safe method of treatment gives results comparable with those of pre‐seasonal injections.
Immunological features of asthma (Part II)
Authors:   A REPORT TO THE RESEARCH COMMITTEE OF THE BRITISH THORACIC AND TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION
Published: April 2006

A serological comparison was made of two groups of 120 matched asthmatic and healthy subjects, between the ages of 20 and 49 years and matched for age and sex, in terms of serum total levels of IgG, IgM, IgA. IgD and IgE and of specific antibody levels in each immunoglobulin class to five common UK allergens. The relationship of clinical features to the serological tests was also examined in the asthmatic subjects.

The following statistically significant findings were shown. The patients had higher levels than the controls of total globulins and of IgG, IgA and IgD but not IgM. In both patients and controls the females had higher IgM levels than the males. The total IgE levels were higher in patients than in the controls and the male patients had higher levels than the female patients. Total IgE levels were also related, to the numbers of first degree relatives with asthma, hay fever and eczema, to the severity of hay fever and to the amount of time off work in the male patients. In those male patients with exercise induced asthma the total IgE levels were lower than in those not showing this reaction.

As for the other iminunoglobulins, the only significant differences were a higher [gG level in patients with FEV, or PFR>50% predicted and a higher IgD level in patients with hay fever. Radio‐immunodiffusion tests for specific precipitins were positive for Dermatophagoldes pteronyssinus in comparable numbers of asthmatics (25.8%) and controls (21.7%). Positive precipitin tests were uncommon in tests with extracts of grass pollen, Aspergillus fumigatus, cat and dog hair in the patients and even less so in the controls. Positive RAST tests for specific IgE antibodies were obtained in patients and controls respectively, against D. pteronyssinus 59% and 11% grass pollen 37.0 and 12%, and A. fumigatus 6% and 4%.

The male patients showed the closest significant relationship of specific IgE to D pteronyssinus and the history of house dust allergy, positive skin test and nasal test. in the females only the skin and specific IgE tests were related. Both sexes showed a significant association between specific IgE to grass pollen and positive skin tests and nasal tests, but only the males showed an association with the history. The size of skin test weal to D. pteronyssinus were related to the levels of specific IgE antibody, Correspondence: Professor J. Pepys, Cardiothoracic Institute, Brompton, London SW3 6HP.

No differences were found between the four skin test groups and between the asthmatics and the control subjects in the incidence of bacterial precipitins and auin‐antibodies.
RAST, skin and nasal tests and the history in grass pollen allergy
Authors: PEPYS J. , ROTH A. , CARROLL K. B.
Published: April 2006

A comparison of the RAST (Phadebas®), skin prick test, nasal test and a history of hay fever was made in 141 subjects, eighty‐seven being prick test positive, with three concentrations of extracts of Sweet vernal (Anthoxanthumodoratum), Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomeratd), Meadow fescue (Festuca elatior), Rye (Lolium perenne), Timothy (Phleum pratense), Meadow (Poa pratensis). In adequate concentration any of the species extracts would have sufficed for skin tests, with Cocksfoot pollen the most potent. Correlations found were: positive RAST/prick test, 98%; positive prick test/ RAST, 89%; positive RAST/nasal test, 75%, and the higher the RAST the closer the correlation and the higher the nasal sensitivity; nasal test positive/RAST negative, 17%; positive history/RAST, 91%; positive history/prick test, 92%.
Sources and incidence of airborne Aspergillus fumigatus (Fres)
Authors: MULLINS J. , HARVEY R. , SEATON A.
Published: April 2006

Specific surveys of the air for Aspergillus fumigatus were carried out in rural and urban situations over a 2‐year period. Overall, low concentrations of spores were recorded with a higher incidence during the ‘winter’ months. Counts in the open air and in a hospital ward showed similar fluctuations, the indoor counts being consistently lower. Plant debris in the form of compost heaps and stacks of hay and straw baled with a high moisture content in which self‐heating occurs, produces large numbers of spores which may be liberated into the air causing high but localized counts if disturbed. The widespread distribution of decaying leaves following leaf fall represents a potential source of smaller concentrations of spores but over a much larger area. This availability of decaying plant debris with high water content fulfils the growth requirements of Aspergillus fumigatus and is the probable explanation of its winter seasonality.
The SIgA system and hypersensitivity in patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: WALLWORK J. C. , McFARLANE H.
Published: April 2006

A number of investigations have been used for the first time to examine the secretory IgA (SIgA) system in different body fluids from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Free J‐chain was detected in all the sputum specimens examined. The isolated free secretory component (SC) from CF sputum differed in electrophoretic mobility from the SC isolated from normal human colostrum. In addition the free SC from some CF saliva formed precipitin lines of partial identity with normal human saliva or colostrum. A higher proportion of CF sera (33%) than of normal sera (10%) contained free SC. These investigations suggest that there may be some defect in the synthesis and/or the assembly of the SIgA immunoglobulins, which if confirmed, may help to explain the impaired Type I and Type III allergic manifestations in patients with CF.
Chronic hypersensitivity lung disease with recurrent episodes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to a contaminated central humidifier
Authors: MILLER MICHAEL M. , PATTERSON ROY , FINK JORDAN N. , ROBERTS MARY
Published: April 2006

A child with a 4‐year history of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms of unknown aetiology was investigated for hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Lung disease due to inhalation of material from a contaminated central humidifier was suggested by the clinical history, the presence of precipitating antibodies in the serum against the humidifier water, a pulmonary response to challenge with the humidifier water, and marked improvement after removal of the humidifier. No fungi were cultured from the humidifier nor were antibodies against a number of fungal antigens identified by radioimmunoassay inhibition techniques. Antigenic material was found in the humidifier water and the household water prior to its reaching the humidifier. This antigenic material was not found in laboratory tap water supplied from the same general source (Lake Michigan) but from a different pumping station. Three of the child's siblings gave histories suggestive of a single concurrent episode of acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis and one sibling had a history suggestive of chronic hypersensitivity lung disease. No association could be found between HLA‐haplotypy and disease in the patient and the siblings.
Value of lymphoblast transformation test in cow's milk protein intestinal intolerance
Authors: SCHEINMANN P. , GENDREL D. , CHARLAS J. , PAUPE J.
Published: April 2006

Lymphoblast transformation tests were carried out in the presence of α‐lactalbumin and β‐lactoglobulin. In patients with cow's milk protein intestinal intolerance in seventeen of forty‐five (37·8%) the lymphoblast transformation tests were positive. Sensitization in the first month of life seemed to favour lymphoblast transformation. In control children in only four of forty‐three (9·5%) the lymphoblast transformation tests were positive, the difference from intolerant patients being significant 0·01 < P < 0·001. Lymphoblast transformation tests were negative in the seven children with active coeliac disease. Although a negative test does not exclude cow's milk protein intolerance, lymphoblast transformation tests can be considered a useful aid in diagnosis because of its specificity.
Allergenic potency of bee antigens measured by RAST inhibition
Authors: ARBESMAN C. E. , REISMAN R. E. , WYPYCH J. I.
Published: April 2006

The potency of various bee antigens including bee venom, several whole bee body extracts and fractions of bee venom was studied using the RAST inhibition method. As compared to whole bee body extract, bee venom was a much more potent inhibitor of both bee venom and whole body RAST, suggesting that venom has a greater capacity to bind specific bee IgE antibodies. Whole body extracts also varied substantially in their inhibiting activity. Phospholipase A and hyaluronidase were the most potent of the bee venom fractions suggesting their potential use as an assay for standardization of insect extracts.
Respiratory allergy and month of birth
Authors: PEARSON D. J. , FREED D. L. J. , TAYLOR GEOFFREY
Published: April 2006

A total of 476 patients with respiratory allergy were interviewed to establish whether the season of birth influenced the type of allergy experienced. Patients with perennial symptoms did not differ from the general population of the U.K. in the distribution of their months of birth. Patients with summer seasonal symptoms attributable to grass pollen sensitivity were more likely to have been born in December to February than in August to November. This trend was most significant in female patients who did not have associated perennial symptoms and who developed symptoms early in life. Other significant differences were also noted between groups of patients complaining of the same symptoms. More males than females had summer seasonal symptoms whereas more females than males had perennial symptoms. Patients who had both perennial symptoms and summer seasonal exacerbations had a higher incidence of a positive family history of atopy and developed symptoms earlier in life than those patients who had summer seasonal or perennial symptoms only.
IgE mediated hypersensitivity in ageing
Authors: DELESPESSE G. , DE MAUBEUGE J. , KENNES B. , NICAISE R. , GOVAERTS A.
Published: April 2006

The serum IgE concentration is significantly lower in aged as compared with young people. This is more pronounced in males than in females (P<0.05). In fifteen aged (>70 years) compared with fifteen young subjects (<40) the specific IgE antibody response to an injection of diphtheria toxoid was significantly reduced (P<0.01). The minimum concentration of anti‐IgE antibody able to induce a weal and flare reaction when injected intradermally, was comparable in the two age groups. However, the diameter of the weal reaction was significantly reduced in the aged. It is concluded that the reduced incidence of atopic symptoms in old people might be secondary to an anomaly of both the immune system and the mast cells.
Immediate and late onset asthma from occupational exposure to soybean dust
Authors: BUSH R. K. , COHEN M.
Published: April 2006

Most patients sensitive to soybean experience gastrointestinal symptoms, urticaria, angioedema, and asthma after ingestion. However, we report here a previously non‐allergic patient who developed immediate and late onset asthma after breathing soybean flour used in the manufacture of food supplements. She exhibited positive immediate and late skin test sensitivity as well as a positive bronchial challenge to a soybean flour extract. In contrast to another patient with an anaphylactic response after soybean ingestion, the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) to soybean antigen was negative in our patient.
IgE, parasites and asthma in Tanzanian children
Authors: CARSWELL F. , MERRETT J. , MERRETT T. G. , MEAKINS R. H. , HARLAND P. S. E. G.
Published: April 2006

Two rural Tanzanian primary schools were surveyed to test the hypothesis that parasitic infestation prevents the development of asthma. 242 pupils were interviewed to determine the prevalence of pupils with recurrent episodes of wheezing. The nineteen pupils so discovered had more exercise‐induced bronchial lability than equivalently exercised controls. More girls (12.8%) than boys (3.3%) had asthma. In one school, 77% of the controls had faecal parasites, mainly Ascaris spp., and in the other school 55% of the controls had Schistosoma haematobium in their urine. Parasites were found in similar proportions in the asthmatics. The mean serum IgE for the whole population was 3174 u/ml with no demonstrable difference between the asthmatics and controls. There was no difference in immediate cutaneous hypersensitivity to twenty‐two allergens between the asthmatics and controls. These findings suggest that parasitic infestation does not prevent the development of asthma.
Fungal antigens as a source of sensitization and respiratory disease in Scottish maltworkers
Authors: BLYTH W. , GRANT I. W. B. , BLACKADDER E. S. , GREENBERG M.
Published: April 2006

Mycological and serological studies were carried out as part of a survey of respiratory disease in Scottish maltworkers. 70% of stained sputum smears from 574 workers showed the presence of higher plant cells and/or mycelia, and the spores of common environmental fungi. Penicillium spp. (90/%), Rhizopus stolonifer (48%) and yeasts (53%) were the dominant fungi in 699 sputum cultures, and showed a similar proportional distribution in 327 samples of grain, malt, culms and dusts from fifty‐six makings.

57% of 711 men were serologically positive for fungi, 22% for Aspergillus fumigatus, 20% for A. clavatus, 10% for A. niger, 16% for Cladosporium herbarum and over 3% for Rhizopus stolonifer. 6% of 132 men were positive for Penicillium cyclopium. No precipitating antibodies to antigens from Alternaria tenuis, Aureobasidium pullulans, Candida albicans, Geotrichum candidum, Rhodotorula glutinis or Trichoderma viride were detected in tests of forty sera.

Sera from the 5.2% of men with symptoms of extrinsic allergic alveolitis showed increased reactivity to mycelial antigens from Aspergillus clavatus. The fungus was cultured from 21 % of maltings, 7% of all environmental samples and from the sputa of 8% of maltworkers.
The diagnosis of hypersensitivity to ingested foods
Authors: AAS K.
Published: April 2006

The diagnostic reliability in food allergy of skin prick tests (SPT) and the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) was investigated in pasdiatric patients with respiratory and skin allergies. SPT and RAST were found to be reliable for the diagnosis of allergy to codfish, peas, nuts, peanuts and egg white. Positive SPT and RAST to cereals were common, but were most often without clinical significance or were correlated with respiratory allergy to the inhalation of flour dust. SPT and RAST were only partly reliable with regard to allergy to cow's milk, and were mostly reliable when used together and showing corresponding results. Experimental allergosorbents for RAST with soy beans and white beans were not reliable. The study shows the need to improve the diagnostic materials and to establish the diagnostic reliability of the material and tests used for each food item in question.
Influence of ageing on IgE‐mediated reactions in allergic patients
Authors: HANNEUSE Y. , DELESPESSE G. , HUDSON D. , DE HALLEUX F. , JACQUES J. M.
Published: April 2006

The influence of age and sex has been evaluated in 326 allergic patients on the following parameters: total serum [gE concentration, serum concentration of specific IgE antibodies against seventeen common allergens, mean number of positive allergens, absolute numbers of circulating eosinophils, corticosteroid dependence and response to sodium cromoglycate (DSCG). The results indicate that age and sex significantly influence the IgE antibody production in these patients. The data strongly suggests the appearance during ageing of a progressive natural desensitization. This contrasts with the increased frequency of corticosteroid‐dependent cases during ageing. There is an inverse relation between age and response to DSCG therapy.
Double‐blind trial comparing flunisolide and placebo for the treatment of perennial rhinitis
Authors: SCHULZ J. I. , JOHNSON J. D. , FREEDMAN S. O.
Published: April 2006

The effectiveness of a new topical steroid, flunisolide, was evaluated for the treatment of patients with perennial rhinitis. The sixty‐nine patients in this 8 week double‐blind parallel trial received either 300 γg/day of flunisolide or placebo. The flunisolide group showed statistically greater improvement than the placebo group in such symptoms as the duration of sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose and nose blowing. 63% of the flunisolide group compared with 39% of the placebo group felt the test spray had provided substantial or total control of their nasal symptoms (P= 0·0026).

When those patients who were skin test‐positive (allergic) were considered separately from those who were skin test‐negative (non‐allergic), differences in responsiveness were noted. While those patients who had negative skin tests received greater relief of their symptoms with flunisolide than with placebo, patients who had positive skin tests showed a greater responsiveness to flunisolide and reported a higher incidence of significant or total control of their symptoms.

Careful monitoring of plasma cortisol levels revealed no evidence of adrenal suppression in any of the patients in this trial. This lack of suppression may be due to two factors: (a) flunisolide is rapidly metabolized into a metabolite with a low degree of activity and (b) a very low dose of corticosteroid is administered.
Allergy to penicillin unsuccessfully treated with a haptenic inhibitor (benzyl‐penicilloyl‐N2‐formil‐lysine; BPO‐Flys)
Authors: BASOMBA A. , PELÁEZ A. , VILLALMANZO I. G. , CAMPOS A.
Published: April 2006

In a patient with a past history of allergy to penicillin and requiring treatment, skin tests with penicillin and penicilloyl‐polylysine (PPL) were positive, and a penicilloyl RAST was strongly positive, although the Prausnitz‐Kiistner test to penicillin and PPL were negative. The hapten BPO‐Flys was administered together with penicillin to try to prevent reactions. An anaphylactic reaction occurred on the fifth day, and treatment was stopped. Serum total IgE values increased markedly after the reaction and PK titres to penicillin and PPL reached values of 1/256. The skin test reaction to PPL was negative the day after the clinical reaction, but became strongly positive again a few days later. The penicilloyl RAST remained strongly positive throughout. The authors consider that there was hypersensitivity to a penicillin metabolite other than the penicilloyl group, e.g. to minor determinants, and for this reason the hapten inhibitor failed.