bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cryptogenic pulmonary eosinophilias
Authors: McCARTHY D. S. , PEPYS J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn 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

SummaryThe 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

SummaryTotal 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

SummaryA 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

SummaryA 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

SummaryA 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

SummarySpecific 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

SummaryA 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

SummaryA 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

SummaryLymphoblast 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

SummaryThe 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

SummaryA 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

SummaryThe 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

SummaryMost 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

SummaryTwo 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

SummaryMycological 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

SummaryThe 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

SummaryThe 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

SummaryThe 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

SummaryIn 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.
Clinical investigation of agents with prophylactic anti‐allergic effects in bronchial asthma*
Authors: CRAPS L. , GREENWOOD C. , RADIELOVIC P. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryTo determine the efficacy of ketotifen as an oral anti‐asthmatic agent, experimental and therapeutic long‐term trials were carried out. Four models were used in the experimental therapeutic trials and the antihislaminic agent clemastine and disodium cromoglycate were used as comparative substances. It was demonstrated that ketotifen provides protection against bronchospasm induced by allergens, histamine and exercise, but not against that induced by acetylcholine.In the therapeutic long‐term trials, the efficacy and tolerance of ketotifen were compared with that of clemastine and disodium cromoglycate for a period of 6 months. In another study ketotifen was administered for 1 year, Ketotifen proved very effective in decreasing the frequency and duration of asthmatic attacks, concomitant medication could be reduced and the patients improved subjectively. From these trials it can be concluded that ketotifen is a safe and effective oral anti‐anaphylactic agent for use in the long‐term treatment of bronchial asthma.