bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of IgE antibody to a radiocontrast medium
Authors: Mita H. , Tadokoro K. , Akiyama K. 
Published: May 2007

Background Very little is known about the mechanistns underlying adverse reactions to radiocontrast medium. On the basis of the clinical features of the adverse reactions, il has generally been considered that an IgE‐dependent mechanism is not involved in these adverse reactions, and only a few studies have demonstrated the presence of IgE antibody to radiocontrast medium iti patient sera. Methods We assayed for IgE antibody to ioxaglie acid (Hexabrix®), a representative radiocontrast medium, in the sera of patients who had developed adverse reactions to ioxaglie acid. A conjugate was prepared by coupling succinyl ioxaglie acid to human serum albumin. Enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay for the detection of IgE antibody to ioxaglie acid in patient sera were constructed by physical adsorption or by eovalent eoupling of the conjugate on solid supports. Results When the radioactivity or the absorbance exceeding the mean plus 3 SD for normal healthy subjects was regarded as positive, IgE antibody was detected in the sera of 47.1% of the patients who had a past history of adverse reactions to ioxaglie acid and 16.2% of those who had experienced adverse reactions to ioxaglie acid within 24 h before the blood collection, although the IgE antibody levels were low. On the other hand, IgE antibody to ioxaglie acid was not detected in the sera of patients with no history of adverse reaetions to ioxaglie acid. Inhibition experiments revealed the presenee of IgE antibody speeific to ioxaglie acid in the serum defined as positive for IgE antibody to ioxaglie acid. The presenee of IgE antibody to ioxaghe acid did not always eorrelate with the activation of mast eells due t o the occurrence of adverse reaelions to ioxaglie acid. Conclusions A small amount of IgE antibody to ioxaglie acid was detected n i the sera of some patients with a history of adverse reactions to ioxaglie acid, and these adverse reactions may be partly explained by the presence of IgE antibody in the serum of at least some patients.
In vitro lymphocyte proliferation in the diagnosis of allergy to phenoxymethylpenicillin
Authors: Cederbrant K. , Steiskal V. , Broman P. , Lindkvist L. , Sundell K. 
Published: May 2007

Background The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro lymphocyte proliferation in the diagnosis of allergy to phenoxymethylpenicillin (PcV), comparing chemically reactive PcV, added to cell cultures in unconjugated form, to a PcV‐PLL (poly‐L‐lysine) conjugate as antigens. Side‐chain specificity of lymphoproliferative responses was investigated with reactive benzylf)enicillin (PcG) and bacampicillin. Methods Seventeen patients with a history of hypersensitivity reactions in connection with PcV treatment were studied by means of the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT), the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). skin tests (prick and intracutaneous), and oral challenge with PcV. LTT was also performed in 20 control subjects exposed to PcV therapeutically, and in eight subjects with occupational exposure to this penicillin. Results Nine patients had a positive in vivo test to PcV (five by oral challenge, three by intracutaneous test, and one by both tests), and six were challenge‐negative. When reactive PcV was used as antigen in LTT, positive LTT responses were observed in five of the nine patients with a positive in vivo test, and two of them were also side‐chain specific. Positive LTT responses with reactive PcV also correlated with a positive RAST infiveof seven subjects. None of the six patients with a negative challenge test, and only one of the 28 controls showed a positive LTT result with reactive PcV. Thus, the specificity of LTT with reactive PcV was 96%. In contrast, when PLL‐conjugated PcV served as antigen, four challenge‐negative subjects and 11 controls were LTT‐positive. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that LTT with chemically reactive PcV could be useful as an in vitro complement in the diagnosis of PcV allergy and as a tool to reveal the side‐chain specificity of peripheral blood lymphocytes. A positive LTT to PLL‐conjugated PcV may be an indicator of immunization, but not necessarily allergy, to the penicilloyl structure.
Blood eosinophils from asymptomatic allergies have a reduced capacity to produce oxygen‐free radicals
Authors: Woschnagg C. , Rak S. , Venge P. 
Published: May 2007

Background The eosinophil granulocyte is an inflammatory cell that plays an active part in diseases such as asthma and rhinitis. This study aimed to investigate oxidative metabolism by blood eosinophils taken from allergic rhinitis patients, asthmatics, and nonallergic controls before and during the birch‐pollen season. Methods Twenty patients with allergy to birch pollen and seasonal symptoms of rhinitis, some of whom were also asthmatic, were followed before and during the birch‐pollen season in Sweden. The cells were purified using a Percoll gradient and the MACS system. Eosinophil purity in all samples was >95%. Oxidative metabolism was measured by a chemiluminescence (CL) assay, with luminol and lucigenin acting as enhancers, and PMA, serum‐treated zymosan (STZ), interleukin (IL)‐5. or RANTES as stimuli. Results The allergic subjects showed reduced luminol CL when activated before the season with PMA (P = 0.40) or STZ (P = 0.0055). This was not seen during pollen exposure. STZ‐activated lucigenin CL was also reduced before the season (P = 0.0027). The reduction was most evident in the group with asymptomatic rhinitis. In terms of eosinophil stimulation. IL‐5 and RANTES were equally effective in allergic and nonallergic subjects, both before and during the pollen season. Conclusions Blood eosinophils from asymptomatic allergies may have a lower capacity to produce oxygen‐free radicals than eosinophils from nonallergics.
Blood eosinophils and serum IgE as predictors for prognosis of interferongamma therapy in atopic dermatitis
Authors: Noh G.W. , Lee K.Y. 
Published: May 2007

Background Interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) therapy has been reported to be effective in atopic dermatitis. However, IFN‐γ therapy in atopic dermatitis has not yet been well established, ln this study, immunologic variables were evaluated as predictors for the prognosis of IFN‐γ therapy in atopic dermatitis Methods Sixty‐eight atopic dermatitis patients were each treated 18 times with 2 X 106 units/m2 IFN‐γ. Blood IgE level, eosinophil percentage, eosinophil count, and levels of IFN‐γ, interIeukin‐4 (IL‐4), IL‐5, and IL‐10 were investigated. According to clinical responses, patients were classified into three groups: patients with improved clinical severity scores of over 20% were included in group A; those with improved scores of 20% or less in group B; and those with no improvement in group C. Results Serum IgE levels and blood eosinophil percentages were the lowest n group A. Most atopic dermatitis patients with an eosinophil percentage over 9% and IgE level over 1500 lU/ml did not respond to IFN‐γ therapy. Initial IL‐10 levels were the highest in group A. IL‐4 levels in group A, and IL‐5 and IL‐10 levels in all groups were significantly decreased by IFN‐γ therapy. Conciusions WN‐y therapy may be recommended for atopic dermatitis patients with blood eosinophil percentages less than 9% and serum IgE levels less than 1500 lU/ml.
Sensory hyperreactivity – a possible mechanism underlying cough and asthma‐like symptoms
Authors: Millqvist E. , Bende M. , Löwhagen O. 
Published: May 2007

Background Investigations of patients referred for suspected asthma have revealed a little‐known group with symptoms suggesting hyperreactive airways in whom provocation with methacholine does not lead to bronchial obstruction. The underlying mechanisms are not known, and no objective diagnostic method has been available. Methods Provocations by inhalation of capsaicin solutions in stepwise increasing concentrations were used. Ten patients with asthma‐like symptoms after exposure to nonspecific irritating stimuli, but without IgE‐mediated allergy or demonstrable bronchial obstruction, were compared to 10 patients with verified bronchial asthma and 28 healthy controls. Results The patients with asthma‐like symptoms reacted with cough in a dose‐dependent way. The number of coughs was significantly greater than in asthmatic patients and healthy controls. The latter two groups did not differ significantly. Conclusions The capsaicin provocation test may be a valuable method for showing not only a greater cough sensitivity, but also asthma‐like symptoms. The pathophysiology underlying the symptoms may be related to increased sensitivity of free, overactive nerve endings in the respiratory mucosa. Therefore, we suggest that this overreaction in the lower airways be called “sensory hyperreactivity”.
Delayed‐type hypersensitivity to a nonionic, radiopaque contrast medium
Authors: Courvoisier S. , Bircher A. J. 
Published: May 2007

Background True allergic reactions to iodinated radiocontrast media are rare, and only a few well‐documented cases of delayed‐type hypersensitivity reactions caused by contrast media have been described. Methods We report a 61‐year‐old patient in whom percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed with iopamidol, a nonionic contrast medium. Seven days later, the patient developed generalized maculopapular exanthema. Repeated patch tests with several iodinated agents were performed. Results A first patch test with iopamidol was positive. Repetition of the patch tests showed positive results to iopamidol as well as to iohexol and ioversol. two other nonionic contrast media, but not to other iodinated substances. Three months later, PTCA was repeated, and iopamidol was used again. Despite premedication. pruritic macular exanthema developed 1 day later. Whether iopamidol or trometamol ‐ an additive substance in the contrast medium ‐ was causative could not be determined, since a third set of patch tests was negative. Conclusions Delayed‐type hypersensitivity reactions to iodinated contrast media are rare. We recommend that patients with delayed exanthematous reactions undergo patch or intradermal tests with different contrast media and their additives, and that readings be performed immediately and later at days 2 and 3.
Unstimulated basophils in atopic and nonatopic subjects express intracellular interleukin‐4: detection by flow cytometry
Authors: Kon O. M. , Sihra B. S. , Till S. J. , Corrigan C. J. , Kay A. B. , Grant J. A. 
Published: May 2007

Background IgE‐stimulated cultured basophils from atopic subjects are capable of secreting interleukin‐4 (IL‐4). We describe a flow‐cytometric technique which identified intracellular IL‐4 in unstimulated basophils unseparated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in both atopic (AT) and nonatopic (NC) volunteers. Methods Freshly isolated PBMC were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA). Surface staining with 22E7, a noncompetitive anti‐Fc‐a antibody, allowed identification of basophils. Permeabilization by 0.1 % saponin allowed staining of intracellular cytokines with specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Two series of experiments utilizing different protocols and anticytokine mAbs were performed. The first protocol required a two‐stage fluorochrome staining technique. The availability of fluorochrome‐conjugated mAbs allowed a simpler, one‐stage labelling procedure for the second protocol. Results With the first protocol, IL‐4 (but not IFN‐y), immunoreactivity was detectable in a majority (median 77%) of peripheral blood basophils from both AT and NC subjects (N = 8). Basophil IL‐4 immunoreactivity was again evident in experiment 2 but did not differ significantly between AT and NC subjects ‐ either evaluated as percentage of IL‐4+ basophils (AT median=66%, NC median=38.4%, P=0.41) or lL‐4‐specific mean fluorescence (AT median=0.85, NC median=0.3, P=0.07). Conclusions This simple technique allowed the study of intracellular cytokine expression in unstimulated blood basophils. It demonstrated constitutive basophil expression of lL‐4 (but not IFN‐y) in all subjects, with no significant increases in atopies.
Unmet needs in asthma: Global Asthma Physician and Patient (GAPP) Survey: global adult findings
Authors: Canonica G. W. , Baena‐Cagnani C. E. , Blaiss M. S. , Dahl R. , Kaliner M. A. , Valovirta E. J. ,   (The GAPP Survey Working Group)
Published: May 2007

Background:  The Global Asthma Physician and Patient (GAPP) Survey is the first global quantitative survey designed to uncover asthma attitudes and treatment practices among separate groups of physicians and patients, with the goal of identifying barriers to optimal management.Method:  A total of 5582 physician and patient interviews were conducted globally online, by telephone and face‐to‐face. This paper highlights key global findings from the adult arm (3559 interviews) conducted in 16 countries.Results:  Physician and patient responses were found to differ when respondents were asked the same set of questions. Perceptions of time spent on asthma education, the quality of physician–patient communications, awareness and experience of side effects and understanding and knowledge of treatment noncompliance were found to differ between these two sets of respondents.Conclusions:  The GAPP Survey not only defines an unmet need in asthma treatment, but also reveals that there is a direct relationship between the quality of physician–patient communication, the level of treatment side effects and the extent of patient compliance. These survey findings highlight a clear need for improved patient‐focused care in asthma.
Respiratory effects of exposure to methacrylates among dental assistants
Authors: Jaakkola M. S. , Leino T. , Tammilehto L. , Ylöstalo P. , Kuosma E. , Alanko K. 
Published: May 2007

Background:  Case reports of occupational asthma in dental personnel have been published, but there is little data on the risk of respiratory disorders related to occupational exposure to methacrylates in dental assistants. The objective of this study was to investigate the relation of exposure to methacrylates to occurrence of respiratory symptoms and diseases among dental assistants.Methods:  A cross‐sectional study of female dental assistants from the membership register of the Finnish Association of Dental Hygienists and Assistants was conducted in the Helsinki metropolitan area. A CATI was carried out to collect information on health and exposures. A total of 799 dental assistants participated (response rate 87%).Results:  Daily use of methacrylates was related to a significantly increased risk of adult‐onset asthma (adjusted OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.14–7.24), nasal symptoms (1.37, 1.02–1.84), and work‐related cough or phlegm (1.69, 1.08–2.71). Nasal symptoms showed a dose–response relation with increasing years of exposure to methacrylates, and those with >10 years of exposure had also increased risk of hoarseness, dyspnoea, and wheezing with dyspnoea. Dental assistants with a history of atopic diseases were particularly susceptible to exposure to methacrylates, the adjusted OR for adult asthma being in this group 4.18 (95% CI 1.02–28.55) and for nasal symptoms 2.11 (1.08–4.19).Conclusions:  This study provides new evidence that the risk of adult‐onset asthma, nasal symptoms and other respiratory symptoms increase significantly with daily use of methacrylates in dental assistants’ work. The results suggest that exposure to methacrylates poses an important occupational hazard for dental assistants.
Association of control and risk of severe asthma‐related events in severe or difficult‐to‐treat asthma patients
Authors: Sullivan S. D. , Wenzel S. E. , Bresnahan B. W. , Zheng B. , Lee J. H. , Pritchard M. , Kamath T. V. , Weiss S. T. ,   for the TENOR Study Group
Published: May 2007

Background:  Clinical tools for predicting poor outcomes in asthma patients are lacking. This study investigated the association of asthma control and subsequent severe asthma‐related healthcare events in The Epidemiology and Natural History of Asthma: Outcomes and Treatment Regimens (TENOR) study.Methods:  The extent of asthma control problems was determined from baseline values of the Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire (ATAQ). Patients self‐reported the presence of severe asthma‐related events at 6‐ and 12‐month follow up. Poisson regression models determined the adjusted association between baseline control and the likelihood of severe asthma‐related events.Results:  At baseline, 2942 patients (mean age, 49.6 years; female, 71.9%) had an ATAQ score (no control problems, 17.0%; 1 control problem, 20.0%; 2 control problems, 30.8%; 3 or 4 control problems, 32.2%) and at least one severe asthma‐related event. After adjustment, subjects with three or four control problems were at greater risk for unscheduled office visits [relative risk (RR) = 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.4–3.2], course of oral steroids (RR = 2.9; 95% CI: 2.5–3.3), emergency room visits (RR = 4.1; 95% CI: 2.7–6.2) or hospitalization (RR = 13.6; 95% CI: 7.4–24.9), vs no control problems. Progressively poorer levels of asthma control are associated with increasing risk of severe asthma‐related events.Conclusions:  This study provides evidence of an association between poor asthma control and future severe asthma‐related healthcare events. A validated questionnaire may help clinicians identify patients requiring intervention to prevent future severe asthma‐related events.
Detection of a Specific Transposon in Erysiphe necator from Grapevines in France
Authors: Bouscaut J. , Corio‐Costet M.‐F. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe biotrophic fungus, Erysiphe necator the causal agent of the grape powdery mildew, has two genetic groups A and B in European and Australian vineyards. A strain of group A was used to isolate a DNA sequence that exhibits high sequence homology to RNaseH of a non‐LTR (long tandem repeat) retrotransposon of Glomerella cingulata. PCR primers were designed and tested for their specificity to genetic group A of E. necator. This molecular tool is more efficient and sensitive than nested PCR based on polymorphism in the CYP51 and β‐tubulin genes.
Escherichia coli has multiple enzymes that attack TNT and release nitrogen for growth
Authors: González‐Pérez M. Mar , Van Dillewijn Pieter , Wittich Rolf‐M. , Ramos Juan L. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryThere has been a growing interest in the degradation of 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) over the last decade, ever since its removal from polluted sites was declared an international environmental priority. Certain aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms are capable of using TNT as an N source, although very few studies have proven the mineralization of this compound. An unexpected observation in our laboratory led us to discover that certain Escherichia coli bench laboratory strains have multiple enzymes that attack TNT. One of the NemA products is responsible for the release of nitrite from the nitroaromatic ring: among the metabolites observed in vitro include Meisenheimer dihydride complexes of TNT from which 2‐hydroxylamino‐6‐nitrotoluene is slowly formed during their rearomatization under concomitant release of nitrite. Furthermore, NemA, together with NfsA and NfsB reduce the nitro groups on the aromatic ring to the corresponding hydroxylamino derivatives, which probably results in the release of ammonium ions which can, in turn be used as a nitrogen source by E. coli for growth.
Evolution of γ‐butyrolactone synthases and receptors in Streptomyces
Authors: Nishida Hiromi , Ohnishi Yasuo , Beppu Teruhiko , Horinouchi Sueharu 
Published: May 2007

SummaryThe γ‐butyrolactone regulatory system triggers secondary metabolism and/or morphological development in the Gram‐positive, soil‐dwelling, filamentous bacterial genus Streptomyces. The representative of the γ‐butyrolactones is A‐factor in Streptomyces griseus. AfsA is an enzyme for A‐factor biosynthesis and ArpA is the A‐factor receptor protein that serves as a transcriptional factor by using A‐factor as the ligand. Analysis of evolutional relations between AfsA including its homologues and ArpA including its homologues, all of which are widely distributed in Streptomyces, revealed great differences in the topologies of their phylogenetic trees. Therefore, the combinations of AfsA homologues and ArpA homologues in a given Streptomyces strain appear to have changed during the evolution. Even if an afsA homologue and an arpA homologue locate adjacently on the chromosome, the evolutional history of the individuals was found to be different in some Streptomyces strains. In addition, the phylogenetic analyses suggested that the ancestral ArpA protein had existed and functioned as a DNA‐binding protein, not as a γ‐butyrolactone receptor, before the appearance of a γ‐butyrolactone receptor protein in the course of the bacterial evolution. Some Streptomyces strains have plasmids encoding AfsA/ArpA homologues, which suggests that plasmids have played an important role in the distribution of afsA/arpA homologues. During the evolution, once a Streptomyces strain acquired different afsA/arpA homologues, it may have developed a new γ‐butyrolactone regulatory system reconstructing the regulatory systems for secondary metabolism and/or morphogenesis. This idea is consistent with the diverged combination of AfsA homologues and ArpA homologues in a Streptomyces strain.
Contribution of Chloroflexus respiration to oxygen cycling in a hypersaline microbial mat from Lake Chiprana, Spain
Authors: Polerecky Lubos , Bachar Ami , Schoon Raphaela , Grinstein Mor , Jørgensen Bo Barker , De Beer Dirk , Jonkers Henk M. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryIn dense stratified systems such as microbial mats, photosynthesis and respiration are coupled due to a tight spatial overlap between oxygen‐producing and ‐consuming microorganisms. We combined microsensors and a membrane inlet mass spectrometer with two independent light sources emitting in the visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) regions to study this coupling in more detail. Using this novel approach, we separately quantified the activity of the major players in the oxygen cycle in a hypersaline microbial mat: gross photosynthesis of cyanobacteria, NIR light‐dependent respiration of Chloroflexus‐like bacteria (CLB) and respiration of aerobic heterotrophs. Illumination by VIS light induced oxygen production in the top ∼1 mm of the mat. In this zone CLB were found responsible for all respiration, while the contribution of the aerobic heterotrophs was negligible. Additional illumination of the mat with saturating NIR light completely switched off CLB respiration, resulting in zero respiration in the photosynthetically active zone. We demonstrate that microsensor‐based quantification of gross and net photosyntheses in dense stratified systems should carefully consider the NIR light‐dependent behaviour of CLB and other anoxygenic phototrophic groups.