bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evidence for haemoglobins as common allergenic determinants in IgE‐mediated hypersensitivity to chironomids (non‐biting midges)
Authors: TEE ROSEMARY D. , CRANSTON P. S. , DEWAIR M. , PRELICZ H. , BAUR X. , KAY A. B. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryChironomids (non‐biting midges) are known to cause IgE‐mediated hypersensitivity in man. This study compares the cross‐reactivity between the chironomid midge Cladotanytarsus lewisi (lgreen nimitti), a widespread cause of allergy in the Sudan and Chironomus riparius (=thummi, CTT) where larvae are used as pet fish food and where haemoglobins were previously shown to be major allergens. As with C. riparius, immature forms of C. lewisi also contain allergenic material since skin test responses to larval, pupal and adult extracts were obtained in Sudanese individuals. Crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis of the C. lewisi larval and pupal extracts indicate that they contain a higher proportion of the allergenic fractions than adults. Further evidence of common allergen determinants between C. lewisi and C. riparius were obtained by the demonstration of positive skin‐prick tests, in Sudanese patients, to extracts of larval, adult and isolated haemoglobin extracts of C. riparius. Cross‐reactivity between C. lewisi and C. riparius was also demonstrable by RAST inhibition studies. A dose‐dependent inhibition was observed using both the C. lewisi adult midge RAST and the C. riparius haemoglobin RAST, the two respective antigens, and sera from individuals hypersensitive to either C. lewisi or C. riparius. Due to the immunological cross‐reactivity found between these distantly related species, we conclude that chironomids should be seen as significant environmental and occupational allergens.
Selective 5‐HT2 receptor blockade in exercise‐induced asthma
Authors: SO S. Y. , LAM W. K. , KWAN S. 
Published: April 2006

SummarySeven young extrinsic asthmatics participated in an open, pilot study to determine the protective effect of a selective 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) blocking agent, ketanserin, on exercise induced asthma. ketanserin in a dose of 10 mg given intravenously 20 min before exercise altered the basal bronchomotor tone in only 1 of 6 subjects and offered partial protection against exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction in 1 of 5 asthmatics with no overall effect in the group. All patients experienced sleepiness after administration of ketanserin and one had bradycardia with hypotension. The ineffectiveness of ketanserin suggests indirectly that serotonin has a limited role in the pathogenesis of exercise‐induced asthma.
Effect of nedocromil sodium on the immediate response to antigen challenge in asthmatic patients
Authors: YOUNGCHAIYUD P. , LEE T. B. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn this double‐blind placebo controlled crossover study the protective effect of nedocromil sodium against bronchial allergen challenge was evaluated in ten asthmatic patients. Single doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg nedocromil sodium, administered as a pressurized aerosol 3 hr prior to challenge, were each significantly more effective than placebo in inhibiting allergen‐induced bronchoconstriction. The 1.0 and 2.0 mg doses of the active drug were significantly more effective than the 0.5 mg dose. No significant difference was demonstrated between the 1.0 and 2.0 mg doses. Duration of protection beyond 3 hr was not tested. The results suggest that nedocromil sodium may be a potentially useful therapeutic agent and is worthy of further evaluation for the treatment of reversible obstructive airways disease.
IgE antibody‐mediated shock reaction caused by topical application of chlorhexidine
Authors: OHTOSHI T. , YAMAUCHI N. , TADOKORO K. , MIYACHI S. , SUZUKI S. , MIYAMOTO T. , MURANAKA M. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA case of an anaphylactic shock following topical application of chlorhexidine preparation is reported. Specific skin‐sensitizing antibodies against chlorhexidine were demonstrated in the serum from the patient by a passive transfer test. IgE antibodies against chlorhexidine were also detected by radioallergosorbent technique (RAST). Paper discs conjugated with chlorhexidine‐HSA (human serum albumin) significantly bound the IgE antibodies. Furthermore, all of the sera from seven other patients with shock reactions following the topical application of chlorhexidine preparation also showed high RAST counts. Both chlorhexidine gluconate and chlorguanide which represents approximately half a molecule of chlorhexidine inhibited the reaction in a dose‐dependent fashion. It is suggested that the shock reactions following topical application of chlorhexidine are mediated by IgE antibodies against chlorhexidine and that chlorhexidine and chlorguanide share the same antigenic determinant.
Oral antihistamine or nasal steroid in hay fever: a double‐blind double‐dummy comparative study of once daily oral astemizole vs twice daily nasal beclomethasone dipropionate
Authors: WOOD S. F. 
Published: April 2006

SummarySeventy‐four patients with a well documented history of seasonal allergic rhinitis were randomly allocated to receive either astemizole 10 mg orally per day or beclomethasone 100 μg in each nostril twice daily on a double‐blind double‐dummy basis. The patients were studied in a general practice setting and were seen at entry, during the study and at the end of the study by a single observer, the author. Assessment was by diary card incorporating five 10 cm visual analogue scales related to the four symptoms of sneezing, rhinorrhoea, blocked nose and itchy eyes and an overall assessment of hay fever symptoms. Patients were asked if the medication had upset them in any way at each observer assessment. Symptom severity, as recorded by the visual analogue scales, was not significantly different for sneezing, rhinorrhoea, blocked nose or overall between the two groups but the symptom scores for itchy eyes were significantly better for the astemizole group. Adverse effects were minimal and of a minor nature only. There was no real difference between the two groups regarding adverse effects. The study suggests that oral astemizole is at least as good as nasal beclomethasone in the maintenance treatment of hay fever and that it offers the additional advantage of improved control of eye symptoms.
Effect of leukotriene D4 on nasal mucosal blood flow, nasal airway resistance and nasal secretion in humans
Authors: BISGAARD H. , OLSSON P. , BENDE M. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe possible role of leukotriene D4(LTD4)in nasal allergy was investigated in healthy volunteers. Nasal blood flow, nasal airway resistance, nasal discharge and nasal itching and sneezing were examined. LTD4 was found to induce a dose‐response related increase in nasal mucosal blood flow as measured by laser‐Doppler flowmetry. Histamine exhibited similar effects on blood flow in the same concentration range. Nasal airway resistance as recorded by rhinomanometry, increased in a dose‐related manner after topical LTD4. Nasal secretion was obtained by nasal lavage and estimated from a dilution principle. Topical LTD4 did not increase the amount of nasal secretion, whereas a dose‐related increase was found after topical histamine. LTD4 did not cause itching, sneezing or other irritative symptoms. In conclusion, LTD4 may play a role in nasal allergy by increasing blood flow and nasal airway resistance. Itching, sneezing and discharge, however, are apparently not caused by LTD4 but can be accounted for by the release of histamine or other mediators.
Sub‐class of IgG anti‐bee venom antibody produced during bee venom immunotherapy and its relationship to long‐term protection from bee stings and following termination of venom immunotherapy
Authors: URBANEK R. , KEMENY D. M. , RICHARDS D. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe IgG sub‐class antibody response to bee venom in the four sub‐classes was investigated in ten patients during and after venom immunotherapy. All patients tolerated a bee sting challenge 1, 2 and 3 years after the start of treatment as well as 1 and 2 years after treatment was stopped. Anti‐phospholipase A2 (PLA2) antibodies were of IgG1 and IgG4 sub‐class and rose early in treatment, IgG1 anti‐PLA2 fell to pre‐treatment levels after 3 years in contrast to IgG4 anti‐PLA2 levels, which remained high during maintenance therapy and declined relatively little in the 2 years after the termination of treatment. This data shows that IgG4 antibodies are maintained in the absence of monthly maintenance injections and suggests that they may provide long lasting clinical protection from insect stings.
Associations between asthma history, atopy, and non‐specific bronchial responsiveness in young adults
Authors: COOKSON W. O. C. M. , MUSK A. W. , RYAN G. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn 105 subjects taken from a student population and aged between 15 and 30 there was a strong positive association between the presence of the atopic state, defined by skin tests, and a high level of non‐specific bronchial responsiveness to methacholine (χ2= 10·5, d.f. = 2, P= 0·01). Regression analysis showed a history of asthma, and the symptom of wheeze, to be predominantly predicted by the degree of bronchial responsiveness (R2= 31%), with only a minor independent contribution from the degree of atopy (R2 a furthur 5%). The genetic or other reasons for the association between bronchial responsiveness and atopy may have importance in understanding the aetiology of allergic asthma.
Basidiospore allergens: determination of optimal extraction methods
Authors: LIENGSWANGWONG V. , SALVAGGIO J. E. , LYON F. L. , LEHRER S. B. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryFive methods were tested by RAST for allergen extraction from seven basidiospore species Armillaria tabescens, Chlorophyllum molybdites, Coprinus quadrifidus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Calvatia cyathiformis, Pisolithus tinctorius, and Scleroderma sp. With each basidiospore type, extracted allergen activity varied according to the method employed. In general, defatting of spores with ethyl ether, followed by homogenization in 0.125 m NH4HCO3 buffer, resulted in greatest allergen yield. In order to compare extracts from different isolates, batches of Pleurotus ostreatus spores obtained from different locations and over different time periods were analysed. Spores harvested from the same basidiomycete species in different areas varied in allergen (RAST) and protein (HPLC profile) content. The spores obtained from the same location over a 1–2 year period did not differ significantly. These results indicate that basidiospores can be stored for several years and that spore extracts from different locations can vary. These studies will help in the future to provide better characterized extracts for clinical studies.
Penicillin in milk—its importance in urticaria
Authors: ORMEROD A. D. , REID T. M. S. , MAIN R. A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryFifty patients with recurrent urticaria were tested by means of the RAST test for penicillin allergy. Fifteen patients had positive reactions and of these, thirteen received provocation tests with 0.1 U/ml of penicillin in milk. Four had definite positive reactions, three doubtful reactions and six had no reaction. Although there has been improvement in the purity of milk, penicillin residues remain a potential cause of urticaria even in very low amounts and could have contributed to the urticaria in at least 8% of our patients. Veterinary use of antibiotics and food quality should be strictly regulated to prevent contamination of our diet.
Allergic reaction of the human nasal mucosa studied with laser Doppler flowmetry
Authors: JULIUSSON S. , BENDE M. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe laser Doppler flowmeter is a new instrument that reflects a different physiological parameter other than rhinomanometry for examining the vascular bed of the nasal mucosa. Mucosal blood flow in allergic rhinitis may be an important, but so far little studied, factor. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to study nasal mucosal microcirculation in seven asymptomatic patients with allergic rhinitis. Topical provocation with birch pollen extract showed a statistically significant dose–dependent increase in blood flow. The method seems useful as an in–vivo model for studying allergic rhinitis.
Allergenicity of alum‐precipitated grass pollen extracts with different RAST activity
Authors: MALLING H.‐J. , TAUDORF E. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe biological potency of therapeutic allergen extracts is fundamentally important in terms of maximal security of immunotherapy, especially when changing batches. As regards pyridine‐extracted alum‐precipitated allergen preparations, the potency is commercially controlled by the RAST technique. In the present study, titrated intradermal tests were performed in thirty‐three adult grass‐pollen rhinitis patients with three ten‐fold dilutions of two batches of Allpyral® 5‐grass mix with different RAST activity. The difference in potency was estimated as the horizontal distance at the midpoint of the two dose–response curves after performing linear regression on the log‐dose/log‐weal area response, and as the concentration of each batch eliciting a weal equal to the histamine HCI 0.1 mg/ml reference. The difference in potency as estimated by RAST was a factor 5.0 vs a factor 8.3 and 7.2 (median) estimated by the horizontal distance and histamine‐equivalent reaction, respectively. Considering the biological variation, the RAST‐estimated difference in potency is in the same order as that found by skin test. It is. therefore, concluded that the routine control of new production batches by RAST is acceptable with the use of standardized reference sera as regards alum‐precipitated grass pollen allergen extracts.
Phadiatop—a novel IgE antibody screening test
Authors: MERRETT J. , MERRETT T. G. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe Phadiatop® test, which is based on a multi‐allergen allergosorbent, proved to be a test that is simple to perform in the laboratory and produces reliable results. When compared with the more conventional RAST atopy screening test for grass, mite and IgE antibodies it produced similar results, except in those rare instances of patients who were RAST‐positive only for moulds where the Phadiatop test was decidedly superior. The Phadiatop test disc contains only inhalant allergens and so it could not be used for screening infants and very young children whose IgE response, if any, is probably limited to foods.
Effect of homogenization and pasteurization on the allergenicity of bovine milk analysed by a murine anaphylactic shock model
Authors: POULSEN O. M. , HAU J. , KOLLERUP J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn a factorial design study a murine anaphylactic shock model was used to analyse the effect of homogenization, pasteurization, and fat content on the ability of bovine milk to induce anaphylactic reactions. Mice were sensitized by either oral or subcutaneous immunizations with various types of bovine milk. In spite of a significantly higher antibody titre in the mice sensitized subcutaneously, there was no difference in the sensitivity between orally and subcutaneously immunized mice with respect to anaphylactic reactions. Pasteurization did not seem to change the ability of milk to induce anaphylactic reactions. However, increasing fat contents in combinations with homogenization resulted in an increase of the ability of the milk to induce anaphylactic reactions.
Airway constriction by isocapnic hyperventilation of cold, dry air: comparison of magnitude and duration of protection by nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate
Authors: JUNIPER ELIZABETH F. , KLINE PATRICIA A. , MORRIS MARILYN M. , HARGREAVE F. E. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe protective effect of 1,2 and 4 mg of nedocromil sodium against airway constriction induced by hyperventilation of cold, dry air was compared with 10 mg sodium cromoglycate and placebo in a double‐blind randomized trial. On 5 days, twelve asthmatic subjects received one of the trial medications from a metered dose inhaler. Twenty minutes, 2.5 and 5 hr later, airway responsiveness to hyperventilation of cold, dry air was measured. At 20 min, there was significant protection by all four active medications when compared to placebo, with a trend towards a nedocromil dose relationship but there was no statistical difference between the four active medications. All four showed a similar progressive decrease in protection over 5 hr. The results of this study suggest that nedocromil gives protection against hyperventilation‐stimulated airway constriction and that the magnitude and duration of effect for all three doses is similar to 10 mg of cromoglycate.
Biological equilibration of allergen preparations: methodological aspects and reproducibility
Authors: DREBORG S. , BASOMBA A. , BELIN L. , DURHAM S. , EINARSSON R. , ERIKSSON N. E. , FROSTAD A. B. , GRIMMER Ø , HALVORSEN R. , HOLGERSSON M. , KAY A. B. , NILSSON G. , MALLING H.‐J. , SJÖGREN I. , WEEKE B. , VÅLA I.‐J. , ZETTERSTRÖM O. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA method for biological equilibration (BE) of allergen reference preparations using the skin‐prick test (SPT) method and histamine HCl 10 mg/ml as reference substance (reference method), was evaluated. The precision was low for weals less than 10 mm2. The slope (log weal area/log concentration) of allergen and histamine did not vary significantly between investigators and allergens. The median slopes were 0.39 (n= 384) and 0.34 (n= 397), for allergen and histamine, respectively (P < 0.01). The concentration of allergen eliciting a weal of the same size as that of histamine HCl 1 mg/ml (Chl) in the median sensitive patient, 1000 Biological Units/ml (BU/ml), did not vary significantly between clinics/geographical regions (grasses, mites and moulds). As BE is repeatable between regions. BUs estimated by this method are generally valid. A high correlation (r= 0.91, P < 0.001) was found between the median Chl as estimated with histamine 1 and 10 mg/ml as reference substance, respectively. Thus, this reference method for BE is valid. The precision of the SPT method with histamine HCl 1 mg/ml is not as good as with 10 mg/ml, which is therefore recommended as the reference concentration.
Comparison of nasal responsiveness to histamine, methacholine and phentolamine in allergic rhinitis patients and controls
Authors: VAN WIJK R. GERTH , DIEGES P. H. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn a selected group of rhinitis patients with an IgE‐mediated allergy to house dust mites the nasal response to insufflation of histamine chloride, methacholine and phentolamine was demonstrated to be higher than in a control group. With the methods used histamine chloride was better at discriminating between healthy subjects and patients than methacholine or phentolamine. This discrimination was shown by assessing the severity of reflex‐mediated symptoms such as the number of sneezes and the amount of secretion, and not by differences in nasal airway resistance.
Double phenotyping of immunoregulatory T cell subsets in patients with allergic asthma
Authors: KOCHMAN S. , BERNARD J. , CAZABAT ANNIE , LAVAUD F. , LORTON CLAIRE , LIEHN J. C. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn order to determine whether the dissection of helper/inducer (CD4 +) and suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8 +) lymphocyte subsets with Leu 8 reagent would reveal any differences between allergic asthma patients and non‐atopic controls, we compared in both groups the ‘true helper’ T cell subset (Leu 8 ‐ CD4 +), responsible for the major helper effect, and one of the suppressor T cell subpopulations (Leu 8 ‐ CD8 +). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from sixty‐nine individuals, including nineteen extrinsic asthmatics, fifteen intrinsic asthmatics, seventeen patients with chronic obstructive lung disease and eighteen healthy controls, were comparatively analysed. Although total CD4 + cells and total CD8 + cells were similar for all groups, we found in the extrinsic asthma patients group a significant increase in the number of ‘true helper’ T cell sublineage (Leu 8 ‐ CD4 +) and of suppressor cells expressing Leu 8 ‐ CD8 + phenotype. Such imbalances may be implicated in the pathogenesis of atopic asthma.
Allergy to mice. I. Identification of two major mouse allergens (Ag 1 and Ag 3) and investigation of their possible origin
Authors: PRICE JILL A. , LONGBOTTOM JOAN L. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryAn extract of dust from the outlet filters of a mouse isolator was used as a basis for determining the source of inhalant allergens for subjects sensitive to this species. The antigenic components, identified by crossed immunoelectrophoresis (XIE), were compared to those found in extracts of other mouse‐derived source materials, i.e. urine, fur, dander and saliva. Of the eight dust components, one (Ag 1) was identified as antigenically identical to the major urinary pre‐albumin whilst the others were detected in fur, and to a lesser extent dander and saliva. None of the dust antigens was detected as a component of food or bedding.Crossed radio‐immunoelectrophoresis (XRIE), performed using sera from a group of fifteen mouse‐allergic subjects (positive by RAST to mouse extracts), identified seven of the dust antigens as IgE‐binding components. Antigens 1 and 3 were reactive with all the sera tested and have, therefore, been termed the‘major’allergens. Varied responses were obtained to the other‘minor’antigens.Ag 1 (urinary pre‐albumin) and Ag 3 were detected in all samples of mouse dust studied. RAST and RAST inhibition also indicated the presence of urinary prealbumin. These findings suggest that the major mouse inhalant allergens may be derived predominantly from urine and secretions originating in the skin and present on the fur.
Clinical and socio‐professional fate of isocyanate‐induced asthma
Authors: ROSENBERG NICOLE , GARNIER R. , ROUSSELIN X. , MERTZ R. , GERVAIS P. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThirty‐one patients with isocyanate‐induced asthma were studied 6–54 months after diagnosis. Four had the same work conditions and unchanged or worse respiratory symptoms; seven had an alternative job or safer work conditions at the same workplace and suffered from mild to severe symptoms. The remaining twenty subjects were definitely removed from exposure; of these, ten (50%) remained symptomatic after being removed from exposure for an average of 19 months. Asymptomatic patients appeared to be younger and to have shorter durations of total and symptomatic exposures, while symptomatic patients were more reactive to acetylcholine at diagnosis. For patients removed from isocyanate exposure and for those re‐employed at the same work‐place, quality of the new work site seems to play a role in the evolution of isocyanate‐induced asthma.
Aspirin‐induced asthma as a viral disease
Authors: SZCZEKLIK A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA hypothesis is presented which states that aspirin‐induced asthma results from chronic viral infection. This type of asthma has, indeed, a highly characteristic clinical course, reminiscent of viral upper respiratory tract infection. It is suggested that, in response to a virus, a long time after the initial exposure, specific cytotoxic lymphocytes are produced. Their activity is suppressed by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) produced by pulmonary alveolar macrophages. Anti‐cyclo‐oxygenase analgesics block PGE2 production, and allow cytotoxic lymphocytes to attack and kill their target cells, i.e. the virus‐affected cells of the respiratory tract. During this reaction, toxic oxygen intermediates, lysosomal enzymes and mediators are released, which precipitate attacks of asthma. These acute attacks can be prevented by avoidance of all drugs with anti‐cyclo‐oxygenase activity, however, asthma continues to run a protracted course because of chronic viral infection.