bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specific IgE antibodies in workers with occupational asthma due to western red cedar
Authors: TSE K. S. , CHAN H. , CHAN‐YEUNG MOIRA
Published: April 2006

The presence of specific IgE antibodies in the serum of patients with occupational asthma resulting from exposure to western red cedar (RCA) was studied by a radioallergosorbent test (RAST). The antigen matrix used in the RAST was either a conjugate of Sepharose particles with antigens in a crude cedar extract or with plicatic acid, the major haptenic component of cedar antigens. Of eighteen patients with clinical RCA and positive reaction to antigenic bronchoprovocation, eight were found to have abnormal RAST values. By appropriate absorption experiments, the serum RAST activity was shown to represent cedar antigen‐specific IgE antibodies. No significant RAST activity was detected in the serum specimens from sixteen control subjects or from ten patients with negative bronchoprovocation‐reaction to antigenic challenge. These results suggest that IgE antibody‐mediated allergic reaction may be an important pathogenetic factor in RCA.
Cross‐reactivity between Acacia (wattle) and rye grass pollen allergens
Authors: HOWLETT B. J. , HILL D. J. , KNOX R. B.
Published: April 2006

Immunoglobulin E (IgE), directed against components of Acacia (wattle) pollen, has been detected by radioallergosorbent tests (RAST) in the sera of some children and adults who develop allergic symptoms in the presence of flowering Acacia trees in Australia. All these subjects also had high levels of IgE directed against Lolium perenne (rye grass) pollen. Inhibition by RAST showed that most of the IgE molecules which bound to Acacia pollen components also bound to L. perenne pollen extracts, and to Glycoprotein I, the major allergen of L. perenne pollen. In these assays, the allergens have been immobilized on polyvinyl chloride microtitre trays: the sensitivity of this approach is compared to that of commercial RAST kits.
Site of action of inhaled histamine in asymptomatic asthmatic patients
Authors: SCANO G. , STENDARDI L. , BRACAMONTE M. , de COSTER A. , SERGYSELS R.
Published: April 2006

Histamine inhalation provocation‐tests were performed in twenty‐two young asthmatics with normal lung‐function tests with progressive, increasing doses of a pressurized aerosol of histamine phosphate. Airway resistances (Raw) and N2 washout‐curves were recorded. Two different types of response have been observed: (1) in thirteen cases, there was an increase of both flaw and the N2 phase III slope; and (2) in eight cases, there was only an increase in Raw (in one subject there was an increase in the N2 phase III slope only). Comparing the two groups of patients there was no difference in the inhalation procedure, the dose of histamine delivered or the smoking habits and lung‐function data, except a slightly higher residual volume/total lung capacity (RV/TLC) ratio in the first group. The histamine‐induced changes could not be related to any of the control lung‐function data. We conclude that histamine inhalation may induce either peripheral bronchoconstriction only, or central broncho‐constriction with or without peripheral bronchoconstriction. A local and/or peripheral vagal‐mediated bronchoconstrictor effect could account for the different site of airway response.
Prophylactic antihistamines in the management of radiographic contrast reactions
Authors: SMALL P. , SATIN R. , PALAYEW M. J. , HYAMS B.
Published: April 2006

Two hundred and twenty consecutive patients, referred for intravenous pyelography, weré assessed for adverse reactions. The effect of prophylactic antihistamines was evaluated. Patients were divided randomly into control, saline or chlorpheniramine treated groups. Changes in serum total haemolytic complement (CH50) and immune complexes (IC) at times 0, 1, 5, 10 and 20 min after injection of radiocontrast material were assayed. Forty‐two of the 220 patients suffered reactions, classified clinically into allergic and non‐allergic types.

There was no difference in the incidence of allergic reactions between control and saline groups. However, significantly less (P < 0.05) allergic reactions were noted in the antihistamine pre‐treatment group. Depressed CH50 occurred in forty‐three, of eighty‐eight patients tested and persisted for at least 20 min in twenty‐two. There was no correlation between CH50 depressions and clinical symptoms. The IC remained unchanged throughout. In conclusion, prophylactic antihistamines may diminish the incidence of allergic reactions. Complement activation occurs in a large number of patients, unrelated to symptomatology, and does not appear to be the only factor responsible for adverse reactions.
Linear growth of chronic asthmatic children: the effects of the disease and various forms of steroid therapy
Authors: CHANG K. C. , MIKLICH D. R. , BARWISE G. , CHAI H. , MILES‐LAWRENCE R.
Published: April 2006

The effects of asthma per se and of various oral steroid‐treatment schedules on linear growth in 231 children with chronic severe asthma (6.2‐16.2 years of age) were evaluated.

Asthmatic children who had never received steroids, and those who received occasional steroids, had comparable growth retardation, averaging approximately 1 standard deviation (s.d.) below their age‐ and sex‐specific predicted means. Children who had been treated for 2 years or longer with alternate‐day or daily steroids also did not differ from each other, with both groups averaging approximately 2 s.d. below their predicted means. Growth stunting, intermediate in severity, was found in children treated with frequent intermittent steroids. For groups with steroid medication‐histories of never, occasional, intermittent, alternate‐day and daily, the percentage of children with 2 or more s.d. below their predicted heights were 25, 17.4. 28, 50 and 45.5 respectively. The duration and dosage of daily steroid‐treatment correlated positively with severity of growth retardation. In addition to norms, the children were also compared with a healthy, same‐sex sibling and with predictions from their parents' heights. Regardless of the comparison used, the results were similar. Since genetic and socio‐economic factors are controlled by the latter two comparisons, the data indicate that these factors played no role in growth retardation in these children. Growth retardation in asthma appears to be due to the disease itself, and is accelerated by steroid therapy.
Influence of type of feeding on lymphocyte function and development of infantile allergy
Authors: JUTO P. , MÖLLER C. , ENGBERG S. , BJÖRKSTÉN B.
Published: April 2006

Symptom scores indicating infantile allergy were recorded longitudinally in a group of infants during the first year of life. The symptom scores were related to duration of breast‐feeding. Lymphocyte function, measured as the proliferative responsiveness to PHA‐stimulation, was related to feeding with breast‐milk or cow's milk. Babies with a short duration of breast‐feeding; i.e. 1 month or less had significantly higher symptom scores at the ages of 1 month (P < 0.05), 3 months (P < 0.05), 6 months (P < 0.001) and 12 months (P < 0.05), than babies who were breast‐fed for more than 1 month. The lymphocyte responsiveness to PHA was significantly higher at 3 and 6 months in babies who were fed cow's milk compared with those who were solely or partially breast‐fed (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). There was no correlation between symptom scores and lymphocyte responsiveness. It is concluded that infantile allergy is more common in babies with a short duration of breast‐feeding and that feeding with cow's milk, compared to breast‐feeding, causes a changed lymphocyte reactivity to PHA, which latter finding indicates an altered T‐cell function between the two feeding groups.
Detection of Aspergillus antigen and anti‐Aspergillus precipitating antibodies by a new method: the radial immunoelectro‐osmophoresis (RIEOP)
Authors: LLOPIS F. , SÁNCHEZ‐CUENCA J. M. , GONZÁLEZ‐MOLINA A. , BASOMBA A.
Published: April 2006

A new method of Immunoprecipitation‐in‐gel, the Radial Immunoelectro‐osmophoresis (RIEOP) has been applied to detect precipitating anti‐Aspergillus fumigatus antibodies and to study the antigens present in various antigenic extracts of this fungus.

The results obtained with this method have been compared with those obtained when applying the Comparative Double Diffusion (CDD) and the Immunoelectroosmophoresis (IEOP).

The data presented prove that the RIEOP method is more sensitive than CDD and the IEOP in: (1) detecting precipitating anti‐Aspergillus antibodies, since (a) precipitating bands are detected with higher serum dilutions, and (b) when using undiluted serum, the number of precipitating bands obtained by RIEOP is higher: and (2) studying antigens present in the antigenic extracts, since (a) the number of antigens detected by RIEOP is higher than that by CDD, and (b) identity/non‐identity reactions can be studied among the antigens present in the various extracts.
An epidemiological study on total and specific IgE levels in Japanese schoolchildren
Authors: KAGAMIMORI S. , NARUSE Y. , WATANABE M. , NOHARA S. , OKADA A.
Published: April 2006

Total serum IgE, and sped lie serum IgE against mites, Ascaris and Japanese cedar pollen were surveyed in 251 schoolchildren by a radioimmunoassay method. These children, aged from 10 to 13 years and living in a rural Japanese town, were selected according to one‐third random population sample. A high concentration of total serum IgE (700 u/ml or more) was found in thirty‐one children (12.3%). The sex ratio of these children, boys to girls, was 2.1:1. The cross‐sectional and 6‐year follow‐up study of total IgE levels showed that they decreased with advancing age.

Total IgE levels were significantly related to each of three specific IgE species investigated in this study. The levels of these three specific IgE's were also significantly releated to each other. Schoolchildren with high specific IgE levels against mites have had significantly more asthmatic histories compared to children with low specific IgE levels. Such a relationship was not observed for total IgE levels and another two specific IgE species.
Release of histamine from leucocytes and its determinants in vitro in rotation to bronchial responsiveness to inhaled histamine and exercise in vivo
Authors: NEIJENS H. J. , RAATGEEP H. C. , DEGENHART H. J. , KERREBIJN K. F.
Published: April 2006

The hypothesis studied is that increased responsiveness in asthma is not limited to the airways. Forty asthmatic children were analysed for their bronchial responsiveness (BR) to exercise. Twenty patients revealed bronchial obstruction after exercise while the remainder did not. These observations were compared with the responsiveness of leucocytes, which was determined by their histamine ‘releasability’. Twenty healthy children served as controls. Release of histamine induced by calcium ionophore‐aided calcium influx was significantly higher in both groups of asthmatics than in the healthy children (P < 0.005). Similar findings were obtained by induction of microtubule aggregation due to deuterium oxide (D2O). The S‐shaped dose‐response relationship with D2O was shifted to the left in the patients with BR to exercise compared to patients without (P < 0.025). The slope was increased in both patient groups compared with the healthy children (P < 0.01). It is concluded that the mean ‘releasability’ of histamine release due to both stimulants correlated well (P < 0.01). This suggests that the ‘releasability’ is determined by the responsiveness of the microtubules. This may also apply to allergen‐induced histamine release, as was revealed from studies with anti‐IgE. The differences in histamine release found in relation to BR due to exercise were also present if the patients were divided according to BR due to histamine. A significant relationship existed between the degree of BR to histamine and the responsiveness of the microtubules (P < 0.02).
The effect of sodium cromoglycate delivered by Spinhaler and by pressurized aerosol on exercise‐induced asthma in children
Authors: BUNDGAARD A. , BACH‐MORTENSEN N. , SCHMIDT A.
Published: April 2006

Sixteen children completed a randomized placebo‐controlled double‐blind study comparing the efficacy of pre‐treatment with (1) 20 mg sodium cromoglycate (SCG) powder delivered by Spinhaler, (2) 2 mg SCG delivered by pressurized aerosol and (3) placebo. The drug was administered 15 min before the 6 min of treadmill‐running performed at the same time of day on 3 consecutive days in a climate chamber with a temperature of 23°C and a relative humidity of 40%,. All the patients, none of whom were taking systemic steroids, had shown a post‐exercise fall in peak expiratory flow (PEF) of more than 15% from baseline when tested one day prior to the study. On the day with no pre‐treatment the average post‐exercise fall in PEF was 46% (±4) (mean ± s.e.mean). After pre‐treatment with SCG powder the average fall in PEF was 21%, (±3), after pre‐treatment with SCG aerosol the fall was 22% (±3) and after placebo a post‐exercise fall of 31% (±5) was seen. Both forms of SCG were significantly better than pre‐treatment with placebo. Comparing no pre‐treatment with pre‐treatment with placebo revealed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) indicating a placebo effect. It is concluded that this study design has a marked placebo effect. Both pre‐treatment with 2 mg SCG delivered by pressurized aerosol and 20 mg delivered by Spinhaler is superior to placebo in conferring protection against exercise‐induced asthma (EIA). No bronchodilating effect was seen in the first 15 min after administration of the drug.
Reproducibility of prick skin tests to five common allergens
Authors: CLARKE C. W. , MITCHELL J. , NUNN A. J. , PEPYS J.
Published: April 2006

Thirty‐five asthmatic patients had prick skin tests to the common allergens Candida aibicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, grass pollen, horse dander and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus performed on a regular basis from Autumn 1973 to Autumn 1975. Specific IgE to the same allergens (except C. albicans) was determined at the time of skin testing for the first five seasons.

It was found that the position on the volar aspect of the forearm on which the test was performed did not affect the reaction. There was a significant variation in the percentage of patients with positive skin tests to A. fumigatus, grass pollen and horse dander with the latter showing a significant decrease with time. There was evidence of variation in weal size for all but C. albicans, and for grass pollen, horse dander and D. pteronyssinus there were reductions in weal size with time.

Significant differences were found for results of Log specific IgE for grass pollen and D. pteronyssinus over the study, but there was no trend. A good correlation between weal size and Log specific IgE for grass pollens and D. pteronyssinus was observed. For the four allergens, the coefficient of concordance between IgE levels within patients for the five seasons was highly significant.
Latent anaphylactic sensitivity of infants to cow's milk proteins
Authors: McLAUGHLAN P. , COOMBS R. R. A.
Published: April 2006

Approximately 25% of infants tested released >9% of their blood basophil histamine content in the presence of cow's milk proteins, indicating a degree or level of latent anaphylactic sensitivity to these allergens. Approximately 10% of infants show a considerably higher level of sensitivity (14‐63% histamine release). These findings fulfil an essential tenet of the modified anaphylactic hypothesis for cot‐death.
Absence of IgG antibodies to TDI‐HSA in a radioimmunological study
Authors: PAGGIARO P. L. , FILIERI M. , LOI A. M. , ROSELLI M. G. , CANTALUPI R. , PARLANTI A. , TOMA G. , BASCHIERI L.
Published: April 2006

Sera of ninety‐one workers with respiratory symptoms related to occupational exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) were tested by a solid phase radioimmunoassay using polyvinyl plates, in an attempt to demonstrate specific IgG antibodies to a conjugate of TDI with human serum albumin (TDI‐HSA). Different conjugates were prepared. In our radioimmunoassay a TDI‐HSA 1600 (1600 μg TDI/ mg HSA), obtained at alkaline pH with borate buffer, was used; this conjugate was immunologically reactive and did not contain protein macro‐aggregates.

No difference in percent of binding of radiolabelled anti‐human IgG to TDI‐HSA coated on plastic plates was found between exposed workers (asthmatic and non‐asthmatic) and fifteen normal subjects. This may suggest that either TDI‐induced bronchial asthma is not mediated by IgG antibodies, or TDI‐HSA conjugate is unsuitable to be detected by anti‐isocyanate IgG.
Modified rapid venom desensitization
Authors: CLAYTON W. F. , REISMAN R. E. , MUELLER U. , ARBESMAN C. E.
Published: April 2006

The clinical and immunologic response to a modified rapid (r) regimen of venom immunotherapy was evaluated and compared to a traditional (t) therapeutic regimen. Nineteen patients in the r group received a starting dose of 0.01 μg and reached a maintenance dose of 50 μg in 7 weeks. Twelve patients in the t group received an average of twenty‐one injections on a weekly basis, reaching the same maintenance dose. The age and sex distribution and pre‐treatment venom‐specific IgE titres (RAST) of both groups were comparable.

There were thirteen local reactions to venom therapy in both groups and no systemic reactions. Following therapy, most patients developed a rising titre of serum venom‐specific IgG (V‐IgG). Serum venom‐specific IgE (V‐IgE) changes were similar in the two groups; over half of the patients had a falling titre when on maintenance dose.

Twelve patients were re‐stung after reaching maintenance dose. Only one developed a mild systemic reaction, an individual who failed lo show a V‐IgG response with rapid therapy. Five of nine patients did not have an anamnestic V‐IgE response.

This rapid method of venom immunotherapy appears to be safe, clinically effective, and comparable to traditional dosing without additional adverse reaction.
Asthma due to grinding epoxy resin cured with phthallic anhydride
Authors: WARD M. J. , DAVIES D.
Published: April 2006

A man developed asthma after grinding epoxy resin moulds made from bisphenol‐A, with phthallic anhydride as a hardener. He was shown to have a dual asthmatic response after the inhalation of phthallic anhydride fumes. It is postulated that his asthma was caused by the release of phthallic anhydride during the grinding of cured mouldings.
Budgerigar fancier's lung
Authors: LEE T. H. , WRAITH D. G. , BENNETT C.O. , BENTLEY A. P.
Published: April 2006

Forty‐eight budgerigar fanciers have been studied and twenty‐five (52%) of these lost their serum budgerigar precipitins after cessation of avian exposure. Twenty (80%) subjects lost their precipitins within 2 years. The lung function was assessed serially in seventeen patients with allergic alveolitis and correlated with the persistence of their serum precipitins. There was no difference in the lung function at presentation or in the incidence of complete recovery between the ten subjects, whose precipitins persisted for longer than 2 years, and the seven individuals in whom the precipitins had disappeared within this time. These observations suggest that budgerigar precipitins do not have a major role to play in the continuing pathogenesis of allergic alveolitis.
Lymphocyte transformation studies in suspected hypersensitivity to trimethoprim‐sulphamethoxazole
Authors: WARRINGTON R. J. , SAUDER PATRICIA J. , McPHILLIPS SWAWN
Published: April 2006

In a group of patients with suspected and probable adverse skin reactions to trimethoprim‐sulphamethoxazole, the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) was positive in approximately 60% of subjects tested. Levels of stimulation in the majority of cases were low, probably reflecting either use of inappropriate stimulatory forms of the drug or lack of marked reactivity. Since there appeared to be a correlation between peak stimulatory index and duration of the rash, the latter explanation appeared more likely.
Persistent nausea and food aversions in pregnancy
Authors: BAYLIS JUDITH M. , LEEDS A. R. , CHALLACOMBE D. N.
Published: April 2006

In a retrospective study the mothers of twenty‐one children with well‐defined cow's milk allergy and an equal number of matched controls were asked about their health and diet in pregnancy and the pattern of feeding of their children in infancy. Corroborative evidence was obtained from the medical notes. Nausea in pregnancy was found to be more persistent and atopic disease more common among the mothers of the milk allergic children; in this group food aversions during pregnancy were also more common particularly to dairy produce. The milk‐allergic infants had been breast‐fed for longer and had cow's milk introduced into feeds later than the control group. It is suggested that nausea in pregnancy may be a physiological response to foetal sensitization by dietary antigens such as cow's milk protein, due to impaired placental permeability in atopic pregnant women. A larger prospective study is indicated to substantiate this hypothesis.
Effect of prolonged venom immunotherapy on serum venom‐specific IgE and IgG
Authors: CLAYTON W. F. , REISMAN R. E. , GEORGITIS J. W. , WYPYCH J. I. , ARBESMAN C. E.
Published: April 2006

Serum venom‐specific IgE and IgG were monitored in twenty‐three patients receiving venom immunotherapy for more than 3 years. Two response patterns of IgE antibody were found. Following initiation of therapy, seven patients had a rise in serum venom‐specific IgE, peaking at one year, then decreasing. Sixteen patients had a persistent fall in IgE antibody titres following initiation of therapy. At the end of 3 years, levels of serum venom‐specific IgE in both groups were comparable. The presence of atopy may have influenced the rising IgE antibody response.

Serum venom‐specific IgG either rose or remained elevated if the pretreatment titres were high. After several years of therapy, there was generally a decrease in serum venom‐specific IgG.
Exercise‐induced anaphylaxis
Authors: SONGSIRIDEJ VANEE , BUSSE W. W.
Published: April 2006

Anaphylaxis can pose a life‐threatening situation for many patients. A recent report has added exercise to the stimuli which can provoke an anaphylactic reaction. In this report, we review nine cases of anaphylaxis with exercise and the characteristics of this response. These cases represent additional evidence that exercise‐induced anaphylaxis is not rare but can be misdiagnosed in some patients.
Cellular immunity and IgE levels in asthmatic children
Authors: WANG S. S. M. , McGEADY S. J. , MANSMANN H. C.
Published: April 2006

Several reports have suggested that asthmatic children may be particularly vulnerable to viral respiratory infections, in addition to this, abnormal cellular regulation has been suggested as an explanation for the increased IgE levels in atopy. Despite such evidence there have been few studies evaluating cellular immune function in asthmatic children. This study has examined in vivo and in vitro aspects of cellular immune function in twenty‐six atopic asthmatic children and compared them with nineteen age‐matched non‐atopic control subjects. In vivo cellular immunity was assessed by quantitating the cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity (CDH) response to four ubiquitous antigens. Lymphocyte responsiveness to three polyclonal mitogens was measured in vitro. The serum IgE level was determined in all study subjects. The results indicate that CDH to Candida antigen is signifxicantly diminished among the asthmatic subjects and lessened to streptokinase/streptodornase. Lymphocyte mitogen response did not differ significantly between the study groups. No correlation could be shown between in vitro lymphocyte responsiveness and IgE level. These studies suggest that a subtle cellular immune defect may exist in asthmatic children and support the need for further studies of this question.
A method for evaluating therapy for hay fever
Authors: D'SOUZA M. F. , EMANUEL M. B. , GREGG J. , CHARLTON J. , GOLDSCHMIDT J.
Published: April 2006

This study was undertaken in order to develop a method for comparing the value of different forms of treatment for hay fever. A cross‐over trial was carried out in sixty‐one patients, comparing four treatments: topical corticosteroids, topical cromoglycales, placebo tablets and oxatomide (a new oral treatment with antihistamine and cromoglycate‐like properties). Three methods were used to compare these treatments: (1) post‐treatment symptom questionnaires; (2) daily analogue line scores of symptoms; and (3) nasal FEV1. Of these, daily analogue line diary scores, with an analysis which took into account variation in pollen count, proved to be the most sensitive.

By employing this diary method, it was shown that all three active treatments were significantly better than placebo and that topical corticosteroids were significantly better than topical cromoglycates. The activity of oxatomide was found to be not significantly different from that of steroids or cromoglycate, but it was associated with more frequent side‐effects. It is suggested that daily diaries, combining symptom relief and freedom from side effects into a single score of ‘usefulness’ adjusted for pollen count, are suitable means for comparing treatments for hay fever.
Specific desensitization in ‘aspirin‐sensitive’ urticaria; plasma prostaglandin levels and clinical manifestations
Authors: ASAD S. I. , YOULTEN L. J. F. , LESSOF M. H.
Published: April 2006

Six out of eight patients with a history of aspirin‐provoked urticaria/angioedema responded with adverse reactions, including urticaria and bronchospasm, to provoking doses of oral aspirin from 30‐515 mg. The other two patients did not react to 1.2 g of aspirin on three occasions. Five of the six patients who had reacted became desensitized after their initial aspirin reaction, tolerating 650 mg on the second day. They then took 650 mg day−1 of aspirin for three weeks, during which time the ingestion of foods which had previously caused a variety of moderate or severe reactions caused no symptoms. The resting plasma PGF2α in ten ‘aspirin‐sensitive’ urticaria patients (24.89 + 2‐79 pg m−1) was significantly higher than the levels in ten normal subjects (6.75 + 1‐1 pg ml−1) (P < 0.01). In the patient group the lowest levels of PGF2x were found in the two patients who subsequently did not experience a positive reaction after aspirin provocation. The PGF2α/PGE2 ratio in ‘aspirin‐sensitive’ urticaria patients (1‐83 + 0.026) was significantly higher than that in normal subjects (0‐63 + 0.14) (P < 0.01).
Induction of benzylpenicilloyl specific antibodies, including IgE, by long‐term administration of benzylpenicillin
Authors: DE HAAN P. , KALSBEEK G. L.
Published: April 2006

Using the ELISA and passive haemagglutination test we investigated the humoral immune response induced by long‐term administration of benzylpenicillin in patients. After the second week of the course in twenty‐four out of sixty‐one patients, synthesis of benzylpenicilloyl (BPO) specific IgG, IgA, IgM and/or IgE could be demonstrated. BPO‐specific IgE was always found in combination with BPO‐specific IgG and/or IgM. No difference in the humoral immune response was found between patients who developed clinical hypersensitivity reactions and those who did not.

In a follow‐up study the disappearance of BPO‐specific immunoglobulins of all classes was observed. Results of the epicutaneous tests showed that a long‐term course of benzylpenicillin did not evoke delayed hypersensitivity. However intracutaneous tests with benzylpenicilloyl‐polylysine or benzylpenicillin showed positive immediate type reactions. From the results it can be concluded that a BPO‐specific IgE response is not necessarily associated with the development of a clinical hypersensitivity reaction.
A collaborative study on RAST inhibition using a common method
Authors: SEAGROATT VALERIE , FORD ANNETTE
Published: April 2006

A collaborative study was carried out to determine the reproducibility of the inhibition form of the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Seven laboratories were provided with three coded extracts of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) pollen. All laboratories used a common method of RAST inhibition and were supplied with all reagents required to carry out the assays. In addition, four laboratories used local methods of RAST inhibition. Potency estimates were in reasonable agreement between laboratories when the study method was used but insufficient data were available to assess reproducibility when local methods were used.

Two extracts prepared from the same source material were found to have parallel log dose‐response lines but the line for the unrelated extract was steeper in all but one of the assays. This finding was an indication that the third extract differed qualitatively from the other extracts.

It was concluded that the use of a study method of RAST inhibition resulted in good agreement between potency estimates obtained by different laboratories.
Protection by ipratropium bromide and metaproterenol against methacholine and histamine bronchoconstriction
Authors: NAIR N. , TOWNLEY R. G. , WATT G. , SCHLANGER S. , BEWTRA A. K. , STEKOLL L. H.
Published: April 2006

To establish relative protection against methacholine and histamine, 40 μg of ipratropium bromide, an anticholinergic compound, 1.3 mg of metaproterenol or placebo aerosols were administered by metered‐dose inhaler prior lo inhalation challenge with methacholine or histamine in nine asthmatic subjects. Double‐blind, randomized challenges were performed. Subjects required a mean methacholine dose of l.72 ± 0.73 and 2.46 ± 0.72 (Ln inhalation units), and mean histamine dose of 2.l6 ± 0.65 and 2.68 ± 0.49, to cause a drop of 20% and 35% respectively in the FEV1 following the placebo. In the methacholine challenges, both ipratropium bromide and metaproterenol had significant protection as compared to placebo (P<0.001). There was no statistical difference in the degree of protection against methacholine between ipratropium bromide and metaproterenol. In histamine challenges, metaproterenol had significant protection as compared to the placebo, while ipratropium bromide did not protect against histamine.
Plasma of normal, but not atopic persons reducing basophil degranulation induced by anti‐IgE
Authors: MIADONNA A. , TEDESCHI A. , ZANUSSI C.
Published: April 2006

The response to anti‐IgE serum of basophils from allergic and normal persons in the presence of whole plasma or as washed cells in Tyrode solution was examined to detect any inhibiting activity of human plasma. A factor reducing the potential of anti‐IgE serum to degranulate basophils was present in plasma of normal but not of allergic persons. It is considered that this property of plasma could contribute to homeostatic control in immediate hypersensitivity.
The diversity of allergens involved in bakers' asthma
Authors: SUTTON R. , SKERRlTT J. H. , BALDO B. A. , WRIGLEY C. W.
Published: April 2006

Sera from 35 individuals with suspected allergies to inhaled flour were screened for the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE) specific for wheat‐flour proteins. Sera from nine asthmatic bakers with high wheat RAST scores were selected for further study with the aim of purifying the allergen(s) involved in bakers’ asthma and related conditions. However, each of the different techniques applied–ion exchange chromatography, preparative isoelectric focusing and the electrophoretic transfer, or‘Western blotting’ technique, showed that serum IgE from different individuals have markedly different specificities and bind to numerous wheat proteins. When three purified wheat proteins were tested–wheat germ agglutinin; a fraction purified using a concanavalin‐A affinity column and a putative trypsin inhibitor–all were identified as allergens for some but not all of the allergic bakers.
Intestinal permeability in healthy and allergic children before and after sodium‐cromoglycate treatment assessed with different‐sized polyethyleneglycols (PEG 400 and PEG 1000)
Authors: FÄLTH‐MAGNUSSON KARIN , Kjellman N.‐I. M. , Magnusson K.‐E. , Sundqvist T.
Published: April 2006

Gastrointestinal permeability was investigated in twenty‐two children on two occasions, before and after treatment with sodium cromoglycate. The children were between 8 and 10 years old; half of them were classified as allergic according to history and laboratory tests, and half of them as healthy. The 6‐hr urinary recovery of different‐sized polyethyleneglycols (PEG 400 and PEG 1000) in combination with a mathematical model was used to assess the intestinal permeability barrier.

No significant differences were seen in the first PEG test between healthy and allergic children, although those with gastrointestinal allergy showed a slightly lower, and those with other allergies a slightly higher recovery of the smaller PEGs than seen in the healthy individuals. After treatment with sodium cromoglycate. however, there was a significant decrease in uptake by allergic children, which could indicate that the permeability properties had returned to normal.

The PEG method offers a simple, harmless and reproducible method to measure intestinal permeability properties. The change in permeability observed after sodium cromoglycate corresponds well with the clinical experience of usefulness of the drug in some children with food allergy.
Tests for allergy to housedust
Authors: GUERIN B. , LELIEVRE D. , PELLEGRIN A. , LEYNADIER F. , LEBEL B. , DRY J. , HEWITT B. E.
Published: April 2006

In an attempt to find a satisfactory combination of method and antigen extract for tests of hypersensitivity to housedust, variations of skin test, RAST, histamine release and basophil degranulation tests have been used to test efficacy of five commonly used extracts of housedust or its components.

The Lincoln Multitest for skin prick tests in its present form induced too much trauma for type‐I hypersensitivity tests, though it has advantages for comparison of several extracts. Histamine release and two versions of basophil degranulation tests all gave good results but not consistently. RAST gave the best correlation between all extracts, but neither the in vivo nor in vitro tests gave perfect concordance with sensitivity in all patients and all extracts.
Effect of exercise on isoprenaline‐induced lymphocyte cAMP production in atopic asthmatics and atopic and non‐atopic, non‐asthmatic subjects
Authors: CUNDELL DIANA , DANKS JANE , PHILLIPS M. J. , DAVIES R. J.
Published: April 2006

The effect of exercise on isoprenaline‐induced cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production was studied in peripheral‐blood lymphocytes obtained from ten patients with atopic asthma, seven subjects who were atopic but did not have asthma and eight non‐atopic, non‐asthmatic control subjects. The asthma in the atopic subjects was mild only requiring intermittent treatment with inhaled β adrenoceptor agonists, none of which were taken in the 48 hr prior to the study. Exercise consisted of a standardized 6‐min run on a treadmill sufficient to raise the subject's pulse rate to > 160 bpm and respiratory function was measured before and at 5,10,15,20,30 and 60 min after the test. Blood samples were taken 5 min before and at 10 and 60 min after exercise, lymphocytes were separated by density gradient centrifugation and cAMP measured by a competitive radioimmunoassay. Exercise led to a significant decrease (27%) in the forced expiratory volume in I sec (FEV1) in the ten atopic asthmatic subjects but no change (< 3%) in the non‐atopic and atopic non‐asthmatics. There was no significant difference in the unstimulated cAMP levels before exercise in the three groups, but stimulation with isoprenaline caused a significantly greater rise in cAMP in the non‐atopic, non‐asthmatic subjects when compared to both the atopic asthmatics and the atopic subjects without asthma. Exercise led to a significant elevation of cAMP in all three groups of subjects, but the same differences between the groups remained. These results suggest that there are differences in lymphocyte β receptor function not between patients who are asthmatic or non‐asthmatic but between individuals who are atopic as opposed to non‐atopic.
Collaborative clinical assay of the biological potency of allergen skin‐test extracts
Authors: CARREIRA J. , RUBIO M. , HERRERO T. , HORAK F. , BUSINCO L. , WÜTHRICH B. , DE PRADA V. BEARZI , BERRY J. B. , LISCHKA G. , BRIGHTON W. D.
Published: April 2006

A multicentre collaborative clinical trial has been made at one centre in each of six countries to decide if the potency of allergen extracts can be determined satisfactorily by skin‐prick tests in man.

Although there was considerable variation in potency of antigen when determined in different patients, if a sufficiently large group (n=54) of persons were tested, it was shown to be feasible to compare potencies of sequential batches of the same specificity, and also of antigens of different specificities.

It was shown that batches of mite extract were weaker than that of a grass pollen, but it proved to be a simple matter to adjust the concentration to give the same biological potency.
Suppressor T cells and soluble suppressor factors in allergy: effect of immunotherapy
Authors: KESARWALA H. H. , MACCIA C. , AMARAM N. , SZEP ROSALIA , PAPAGEORGIOU P.
Published: April 2006

Suppressor‐cell activity of Concanavalin‐A‐stimulated lymphocytes was studied in allergic patients by inhibition of one‐way mixed lymphocyte culture reactions before and after allergy immunotherapy. This activity was compared with twelve healthy controls. In preliminary experiments, six out of eight allergic patients had no detectable T suppressor activity. In the second prospective group, eight out of eleven patients had much reduced suppressor‐cell activity before immunotherapy, and seven out of eleven patients had much reduced activity after immunotherapy. The data suggest that non‐specific T suppressor‐cell activity is reduced in allergic patients but immunotherapy does not restore such activity.
Aspirin intolerance and asthmal induction of a tolerance and long‐term monitoring
Authors: DOR P. J. , VERVLOET D. , BALDOCCHI G. , CHARPIN L
Published: April 2006

Acetylsalicylic‐acid (ASA) intolerance is well recognized as a possible cause for exacerbating asthma. It has been postulated that if this could be overcome, long‐term aspirin administration could improve asthma symptoms and enable reduction of the use of other anti‐asthmatic drugs.

We succeeded in inducing an ASA tolerance in nine corticosteroid‐dependent asthmatics, and this tolerance lasted at least 1 month and at most 1 year. Progressive deterioration in lung function was seen, however, in all patients taking ASA for more than 1 month, unless the corticosteroid intake was increased. These results suggest that ASA long‐term treatment is of no help to severe corticosteroid‐dependent, ASA‐sensitive asthmatics. This conclusion differs from other reports on ASA intolerance in asthma.
Effect of antigen stimulation on antigen‐specific IgE‐plaque‐forming cells from peripheral‐blood lymphocytes of atopics
Authors: PERELMUTTER L. , POTVIN L. , HÉBERT J.
Published: April 2006

In the present study, it was shown that allergen challenge in vitro produced an increase in the number of antigen‐specific IgE‐plaque‐forming cells of peripheral‐blood lymphocytes from grass‐ or ragweed‐allergic patients. Thus, the blood lymphocytes of all twelve (four rye grass I and eight AgE) sensitive donors responded whereas the blood lymphocytes of five non‐atopic controls were unresponsive to antigen challenge. Allergen challenge doses of 10−10−10−12 g/ml were found to give the greatest number of plaque‐forming cells whereas the number of plaque‐forming cells at challenging doses between 10−9 and 10−7 g/ml were either the same or less than those obtained with unchallenged cells. The results are discussed as to whether this in vitro model system represents in vivo response to allergen of the allergic patient.
Deficient Concanavalin‐A‐induced suppressor‐cell activity in patients with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis
Authors: HWANG KUNG‐CHAN , FIKRIG SENIH M. , FRIEDMAN HOWARD M. , GUPTA SUDHIR
Published: April 2006

Concanavalin‐A (Con‐A)‐induced suppressor activity against the proliferative response of autologous lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was examined in the peripheral‐blood lymphocytes from fourteen patients with bronchial asthma, ten patients with allergic rhinitis and eleven patients with atopic dermatitis and compared with eleven simultaneously studied healthy normals. Eight of fourteen patients (57%) with bronchial asthma, eight of ten patients (80%) with allergic rhinitis and five of eleven patients (45%) with atopic dermatitis demonstrated deficient Con‐A‐induced suppressor function. Abnormal suppressor‐cell functions could play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic states.
Skin test, RAST and clinical reactions to peanut allergens in children
Authors: KEMP A. S. , MELLIS C. M. , BARNETT D. , SHAROTA E. , SIMPSON J.
Published: April 2006

One‐hundred‐and‐four children were skin‐tested with four peanut‐allergen preparations, a commercial extract, extracts of raw and roast peanuts prepared by NH4HCO3 extraction, and a wheatgerm lectin‐reactive glycoprotein obtained by affinity chromatography. The presence of symptoms after ingestion of peanut or peanut products was also recorded. The roast allergen extract provided the greatest specificity with eight symptomatic children having a positive skin test and only one positive skin‐test reaction in an asymptomatic child in the group of 104 children tested. Despite differences in the incidence of skin‐test reactions there was a strong correlation between raw, roast and commercial RAST suggesting common allergens were being identified by circulating IgE. Clinical sensitivity was observed particularly in younger children with 75% of the children being under 4 years of age. A positive roast skin test or a RAST test adds confirmation to the clinical history of allergic reactions to peanuts.
Cross‐allergenicity between extracts of hair from different dog breeds and cat fur
Authors: WÜTHRICH B. , GUERIN B. , HEWITT B. F.
Published: April 2006

Skin tests and RAST determinations with breed‐specific dog allergen extracts and a cat allergen preparation were made on forty‐four atopic patients divided into three groups.

Group 1 were twenty dog‐owning atopic patients without clinical signs of dog sensitivity. Group 2 contained twenty‐one patients with a clinical history that suggested allergy to dogs, and Group 3 contained ten atopic patients who were sensitive to cats. In neither the in vivo nor the in vitro tests was there any evidence for dog breed specificity, nor was dog albumin found to be a major allergen in the population studied, though a few individuals showed strong RAST activity to albumin. Furthermore, a cat fur extract inhibited the reaction between dog hair and anti‐dog serum, and a dog hair extract inhibited the reaction between cat fur extract and anti‐cat serum.
Isolated late asthmatic reaction due to nickel sulphate without antibodies to nickel
Authors: MALO J. L. , CARTIER A. , GAGNON G. , EVANS S. , DOLOVICH J.
Published: April 2006

A worker with occupational exposure to nickel developed asthma a few months after starting work. Skin prick tests to nickel sulphate were negative. Inhalation challenge with nickel sulphate, at a concentration of 10 mg/ml for 30 min induced a late asthmatic reaction, starting 3 hr after the end of exposure leading to severe nocturnal attack. Tests for antibodies with nickel reactivity were negative.
Asthma and urticaria induced by seminal plasma in a woman with IgE antibody and T‐lymphocyte responsiveness to a seminal plasma antigen
Authors: BLAIR H. , PARISH W. E.
Published: April 2006

A patient with asthma urticaria and angioedema induced by allergy to seminal plasma was examined at intervals for 10 years. Before treatment her anaphylactic susceptibility to seminal plasma was manifested by very strong prick‐test responses, IgE antibody to an allergenic fraction of seminal plasma determined by RAST, and by antigen‐induced histamine release from her blood leucocytes. The skin test and in vitro lymphocyte tests indicated concomitant delayed hypersensitivity to the same allergen. The patient's lymphocytes treated with seminal plasma allergen fraction showed much increased incorporation of thymidine, and also synthesis of a product (NIF) that inhibited migration of neutrophils from a normal donor. The allergen fraction of seminal plasma had about five components in the range of 20000–40000 daltons molecular weight; the major fraction binding IgE appeared to be a glycoprotein.

The patient was successfully desensitized by injections of her husbanďs seminal plasma. Desensitization was not associated with persistent amounts of antigen‐specific IgG antibodies.
Detection of class‐specific antibodies against Micropolyspora faeni antigens in farmers’lung
Authors: HUIZFNGA M. , BERRENS L.
Published: April 2006

Micropolyspora faeni antigens were used for specific IgA, IgG and IgM determination with an ELISA technique, and for specific IgE antibodies by means of RAST in eighteen patients with farmer's lung, in nineteen farmers with other chest conditions, and in twenty‐nine controls. The farmers’lung group had significantly higher IgG antibody levels than the controls, while specific IgA levels were elevated in ten cases. Specific IgE and‐except for three cases IgM levels did not differ from the controls. In the group of farmers with other lung diseases, only three had increased levels of specific IgG antibody.

The correlation (0. 89) between IgG by ELISA and a complement‐fixation test indicated that C activation by M. faeni antigens is mediated by IgG antibodies.
Skin‐test reactivity to egg protein—exposure by inhalation compared with ingestion
Authors: EDWARDS J. H. , McCONNOCHIE K. , DAVIES B. H.
Published: April 2006

Of two hundred and sixty‐seven subjects exposed to egg by ingestion only, forty‐eight were skin (prick)‐test positive to egg material. All forty‐eight subjects also reacted to other allergens on skin testing, forty‐seven (98%) to allergens associated with respiratory allergy.

Of thirteen subjects exposed to egg by inhalation in their workplace (and ingestion) two were skin‐test‐positive to egg, both also reacting to respirable allergens.

Thus, inhalation of egg antigen does not greatly influence skin‐test reactivity to eggs as determined by comparing the ratio of egg skin‐test‐positives to total skin‐test‐positives in the egg groups ingesting and inhaling egg antigen, i.e. 48:218 vs 2:6.

In terms of the pulmonary response to inhaled eggs there were equal numbers of symptomatics with positive skin tests to common allergens as there were symptomatics with negative skin tests. Thus, an allergic predisposition shown by a positive skin test to common allergens does not predict nor preclude development of a pulmonary reaction to inhaled egg material.
Effect of disodium cromoglycate on anti‐IgE induced early and late skin response in humans
Authors: GRÖNNEBERG R. , ZETTERSTRÖM O.
Published: April 2006

The effect of the anti‐allergic drug disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) on immediate and late responses to anti‐human IgE was examined in thirteen healthy subjects. DSCG, 250 μg, applied intradermally together with anti‐IgE had no effect on the immediate flare and weal response, whereas the following late phase response, 1–24 hr, was attenuated by 15% (P>0 05, at 6 hr p>0.01). This effect varied between individuals (p>0.01) and was reproduced in a second trial in DSCG‐responders and non‐res‐ponders (P> 0.01, n=8). The results support the view that DSCG has no effect on the immediate mast cell derived response in human skin but can inhibit the development of late reactions. This mechanism might account for some of the anti‐allergic effects of the drug.