bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Need for theophylline in severe steroid‐requiring asthmatics
Authors: BRENNER MANON , BERKOWITZ R. , MARSHALL NANCY , STRUNK R. C. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryConcern about side‐effects of theophylline prompted us to investigate whether this drug could be eliminated from the multi‐medication regimen of severe asthmatics. We studied patients with a demonstrated requirement for systemic steroids who were taking most other available anti‐asthma medications in an attempt to reduce systemic steroids while maintaining clinical stability. Five in‐patients, 12–15 years old, completed a double‐blind, cross‐over trial of theophylline vs placebo. All were stable for 4 weeks prior to the study with normal spirometry and mildly elevated lung volumes. Regular medications consisted of long‐acting theophylline with levels between 12 mcg/ml and 16 mcg/ml, and prednisone 10–30 mg on alternate days. In addition, they were all taking inhaled metaproterenol, cromolyn sodium, atropine sulphate, and beclomethasone dipropionate four times daily (qid). Patients received either theophylline or placebo during two drug periods. All other medications were unchanged. Parameters measured were symptom score, number of extra respiratory treatments (prn RTs), increase in steroid dosage, and daily spirometry. During the placebo period, all five patients required increased steroids, daily spirometry decreased and three patients developed severe exacerbations unrelated to viral infection. A marked increase in symptom score occurred within 48 hr of discontinuing theophylline in all. These findings emphasize that theophylline is beneficial in a subset of severe asthmatics who cannot be controlled with all other available bronchodilators, cromolyn, and inhaled and systemic steroids.
Tryptase from human mast cells does not activate purified human Hageman Factor
Authors: ALTER S. C. , LÄMMLE B. , GRIFFIN J. H. , SCHWARTZ L. B. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe effect of tryptase, a neural protease released from human lung mast cell secretory granules, on purified human Hageman Factor(Factor XII) was examined. No increase in Hageman Factor enzymatic activity was detected after incubation with tryptase at 37°C; activation of Hageman Factor by bovine trypsin served as a positive control. Furthermore, pre‐incubation of Hageman Factor with tryptase did not diminish the subsequent activation of Hageman Factor by trypsin. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was also performed to show that incubation with tryptase does not alter the molecular weight of Hageman Factor. Therefore, tryptase neither activates nor destroys human Hageman Factor.
Nasal response to allergen and hyperosmolar challenge
Authors: KRAYENBUHL M. C. , HUDSPITH B. N. , SCADDING G. K. , BROSTOFF J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryRhinitis causes both clinical and social discomfort to patients, and in clinical practice is often underdiagnosed. We have examined a simple method for the assessment of a positive nasal provocation test to help in the diagnosis of rhinitis. In patients with histories suggestive of house dust mite (HDM) sensitivity and positive skin‐prick tests or specific IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, there was a fall in nasal inspiratory peak flow (NIPF) following nasal challenge with allergen. This was not seen in control subjects or in pollen‐sensitive patients when challenged with house dust mite. Frequency of sneezing and degree of rhinorrhoea increased in these patients following challenge, and based on these findings we propose a simplified scoring system for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. We examined non‐specific nasal reactivity using hyperosmolar solutions as a challenge system and found that allergic subjects responded with a fall in NIPF, although the clinical response was not identical to that seen with allergen. Control subjects did not respond to hyperosmolar challenge.
Allergenicity and cross‐reactivity of cat and dog allergenic extracts
Authors: BOUTIN Y. , HÉBERT H. , VRANCKEN E. R. , MOURAD W. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThis study aims to confirm that cat allergen 1 (CAT‐1) is a major allergenic determinant in cat‐sensitive patients, and to further define the role of other determinants, as well as to identify the determinants responsible for the cross‐reactivity between cat and dog extracts. Firstly, the allergenic determinant with an electrophore‐tic mobility of 18 kD (corresponding to CAT‐1) is indeed a major allergenic determinant being recognized by the majority (75%) of cat‐sensitive subjects. Secondly, the cross‐reactivity between the two species was confirmed by RAST inhibition. Cat and dog soluble allergens could inhibit, to variable degrees, the binding of serum IgE from cat‐ and dog‐sensitive patients to insolubilized allergens. Binding of serum IgE from subjects sensitive only to cats was inhibited by cat extracts only. These observations suggest the presence of determinants common to the two sources of extracts, and others specific for each species. These data were confirmed by immunoblot analysis. Indeed, an allergenic determinant of 69 kD was found in both cat and dog extracts. Conversely the allergenic determinants with an electrophoretic mobility of 18 and 32 kD were found only in cat extracts, and those at 22 and 24 kD were dog specific. However, surprisingly, serum IgE antibodies from patients sensitive only to cats reacted on immunoblot differently from those of both cat‐ and dog‐allergic subjects. Indeed, the 18 kD determinant was the only one recognized by serum IgE antibodies from subjects sensitive to cats only, as opposed to the patients allergic to both species: then, the 69 kD determinant was strongly recognized and the 18 kD only slightly recognized. If these observations confirmed that CAT‐1 is a major allergen in cat‐sensitive subjects, they also showed a different profile of reactivity in patients sensitive to cats only and those sensitive to both cats and dogs, which could have diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
Identification of allergens and antigens of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) pollen by immunoblot analysis
Authors: SHEN HORNG‐DER , WANG S. R. , TANG R. B. , CHANG ZO‐NAN , SU S. N. , HAN S. H. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryAllergens and antigens of Bermuda grass pollen fractionated by SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes were identified using twenty‐one sera of Bermuda grass pollen‐allergic patients. The IgE‐ and IgG‐binding pollen components transferred to nitrocellulose were detected by reaction with enzyme‐labelled anti‐human IgE and anti‐human IgG, respectively. There was heterogeneity in both IgE‐ and IgG‐binding patterns of the allergic sera tested. Fourteen pollen components, ranging in molecular weight from 16000 to 88000 daltons, bound to IgE antibodies. Only two of the fourteen allergens identified reacted with IgE antibodies of more than 50% of the twenty‐one allergic sera. The pollen component with a molecular weight of 32000 daltons showed by far the highest frequency of IgE binding, being recognized by sixteen (76%) of the twenty‐one sera examined. Fifteen (71 %) of the twenty‐one sera tested had IgE antibodies that reacted with more than one of the fourteen allergenic components identified. Pollen components recognized by IgE antibodies also reacted with IgG antibodies, and there were components only recognized by IgG antibodies. Results obtained from this study should be useful both clinically and in research.
Nasal secretory response to allergen provocation
Authors: COHEN R. A. , BRESTEL E. P. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryNasal provocation with ragweed pollen extract was performed on ragweed‐sensitive and non‐atopic subjects. Nasal lavage fluids were collected 15 min after saline and allergen challenges, and assayed for total protein, albumin, potassium, lysozyme activity and peroxidase activity. There was no statistically significant increase in any of these lavage fluid constituents in non‐atopic subjects after allergen provocation, compared with after saline provocation. The lavage fluids of ragweed‐sensitive subjects had significant rises in each of the constituents following allergen provocation. This method provides a simple mechanism for quantitating the nasal secretory response to allergen provocation.
A study of allergens in celery with cross‐sensitivity to mugwort and birch pollens
Authors: VALLIER PAULETTE , DECHAMP CHANTAL , VIAL ODILE , DEVILLER P. 
Published: April 2006

SummarySixty‐one sera with positive RAST to mugwort pollen (Artemisiae vulgaris) were submitted to RASTs for birch pollen (Betula verrucosa) and celery (Apium graveolens). In 36 cases RAST results were positive for celery. In addition, 23 sera presented specific IgE to birch pollen. The binding of specific IgE to individual allergens in celery, mugwort pollen and birch pollen was studied by the immunoblotting technique. This involved electrophoretic separation of allergenic extracts, electrotransfer of proteins onto nitrocellulose sheets and sensitive immunoenzymatic detection. Eighteen sera had specific IgE binding to two celery components of molecular weight around 15 kD. All these sera also detected a 15 kD allergen in mugwort and two allergens in birch of 14 kD and 16 kD molecular weight. The sera that did not detect the 15 kD bands in celery failed to react with both the 15 kD mugwort component and the 14 and 16 kD birch components. Specific cross‐inhibitions of the detection of these allergens on immunoblots were obtained by pre‐incubation of the sera with crude extract of the three species. These results strongly suggest that such allergens display some structural identity and that they could be at the origin of some cases of crossed hypersensitivity to celery, mugwort pollen and birch pollen.
City spore concentrations in the European Economic Community (EEC). VII. Oleaceae (Fraxinus, Ligustrum, Olea)
Authors: D'AMATO G. , MULLINS J. , NOLARD N. , SPIEKSMA F.Th.M. , WACHTER R. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn this paper we present the results of volumetric sampling of the airborne pollen grains of the Oleaceae family (Fraxinus, Ligustrum and Olea) in some European towns, in the period from 1982 to 1986. The sampling and appraisal of pollen content in the air is of particular interest to clinicians and allergic patients in order to assess exposure to the various pollen types in relation to allergy. In the Oleaceae family, the most allergenic pollen is produced by Olea europaea, the olive tree, which in the Mediterranean area has a pollination period lasting from May to the end of June and sometimes causes severe symptoms of pollinosis. In Northern and Central Europe, where there are no olive trees, there are two other commonly occurring genera of the Oleaceae family, namely Fraxinus and Ligustrum, but these have a low frequency of allergic sensitization.
Late asthmatic reactions and bronchial variability after challenge with low doses of allergen
Authors: IHRE ELISABETH , AXELSSON I. G. K. , ZETTERSTRÖM O. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryLate allergic inflammatory reactions are probably of major importance for the development of asthma. In order to study the occurrence of early and late asthmatic reactions after challenge with different doses of allergen, inhalation provocation tests were performed in 13 patients with mild or moderate symptoms of allergic asthma. The provocation series was started with a low allergen dose (0.1–10 BU), which was then increased in successive ten‐fold increments at intervals of 1 week until a pronounced bronchial reaction developed. Three different reaction patterns were observed. Six patients showed an isolated late reaction to relatively low doses of allergen. In four patients an immediate reaction was followed by a late reaction—a so‐called dual response, and in three patients only an immediate reaction occurred. In four of the six patients who showed only a late reaction a higher allergen dose was given and this resulted in dual reactions in all four. One patient was challenged with an even higher dose, to which she reacted with an immediate response alone. After a late reaction, bronchial variability with low PEF values was observed over a period of several days. It is thus possible for an isolated late asthmatic reaction to be provoked by a low dose of inhaled allergen. This can be of clinical importance, repeated small doses of allergen may be unnoticed but still give bronchial inflammation and asthmatic symptoms.
The relationship between viral infections and onset of allergic diseases and asthma
Authors: BUSSE W. W. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe pathogenesis of both allergic diseases and asthma remains an unsolved mystery. Of considerable interest, and perhaps insight, into this problem are clinical observations that viral illnesses play an important role in the allergic diathesis. Conclusive evidence to establish a relationship linking viral illnesses to clinical allergy has yet to be established. Nonetheless, recent observations in this arena are intriguing to scientist and clinician alike. The following discussion reviews recent investigations that evaluate the relationship between viral illnesses and development of allergic disease and asthma.
Inhaled lignocaine does not alter bronchial hyperresponsiveness to hyperventilation of dry cold air in asthmatic subjects
Authors: CAIRE N. , CARTIER A. , GHEZZO H. , L'ARCHEVÊQUE J. , MALO J.‐L. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIt has been hypothesized that bronchoconstriction due to exercise and hyperventilation is caused by the stimulation of irritant receptors in the upper airways. However, controversial results have been reported on the effect of lignocaine, which can inhibit the stimulation of these receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inhaled lignocaine on bronchial responsiveness to hyperventilation of cold dry air in asthmatic subjects. Eight adult asthmatic subjects in a clinical steady state came on four different days (two placebo and two active days in random order) with a maximum interval of 3 weeks. After assessment of forced expiratory flow rates, inhalation of either phosphate‐buffered saline (placebo) or lignocaine solution (40 mg) was carried out in a single‐blind fashion. The technician was not aware which medication was being inhaled, but the asthmatic subject knew which drug it was by the sensation in his or her throat. Forced expiratory flow rates were reassessed 15 min after the nebulization; then, the subjects were asked to inhale cold dry air (−20°C) in progressively increasing levels of ventilation (7.5, 15, 30 and 60 1/min and maximum voluntary ventilation). PD20 was interpolated from the dose‐response curve, relating the dose of cold air on a noncumulative logarithmic scale on the abscissa and the percentage change in FEV1 on the ordinate. There were no significant changes in FEV1 and PD20 after inhalation of lignocaine as compared to the placebo. We conclude that inhaled lignocaine does not significantly alter bronchial hyperresponsiveness to hyperventilation of cold air in asthmatic subjects. It is therefore unlikely that receptors in the upper airways could modulate this type of bronchoconstriction.
The clinical efficacy of budesonide in hay fever treatment is dependent on topical nasal application
Authors: LINDQVIST N. , ANDERSSON M. , BENDE M. , LÖTH S. , PIPKORN U. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryDuring the last decade topical glucocorticoids have been established as the first hand choice for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Although they are clinically effective, their precise mode of action has not been sufficiently clarified. In order to evaluate whether the clinical effect is dependent on the topical administration a randomized, double‐blind, double‐dummy study was performed. Ninety‐eight patients with allergic rhinitis due to birch pollen were recruited at two centres in southern Sweden. The patients received one of the following three treatment alternatives: 200 μg of nasally applied budesonide twice daily, 250 μg of budesonide given orally twice daily or a placebo. The selection of the doses was based on previous pharmacokinetic studies giving almost equal plasma levels of the nasally and orally administered budesonide. To evaluate the possible clinical efficacy of the treatment, the patients kept a diary in order to register symptoms according to a 0–4 scale. After a run‐in week with no treatment the patients entered the treatment period which lasted for 3 weeks. A total of 96 patients completed the study. The symptom data showed that topically applied budesonide was clinically effective with a pronounced reduction in all the nasal symptoms registered and compared with placebo treatment there was a statistically significant difference in favour of the budesonide treatment (P < 0.001). The nasal symptoms of the patients receiving oral budesonide did not differ from those receiving placebo. Intranasally administered budesonide proved to be significantly more effective than orally applied budesonide (P < 0.01). Thus, this study clearly demonstrates that the clinical effect of budesonide in recommended doses for hay fever treatment is dependent on the nasal application.
A prospective study of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and respiratory symptoms in a population of Australian schoolchildren
Authors: PEAT J. K. , SALOME C. M. , SEDGWICK C. S. , KERREBIJN J. , WOOLCOCK A. J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryTo examine the relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and respiratory symptoms associated with asthma, we studied a sample of 380 schoolchildren on three occasions at 2‐yr intervals. The age of the children at the first study was 8–10 yr. Respiratory symptoms history was assessed by questionnaire, BHR was measured by a histamine inhalation test and atopy was assessed by skin‐prick tests to 13 allergens. The cumulative prevalence of BHR in this sample was 27%. The severity of BHR was categorized as severe, moderate, mild or slight. The distribution of severe, moderate and mild BHR was similar at each of the studies. At the third study, when the children were aged 12–14 yr, the prevalence of slight BHR decreased. Children with severe or moderate BHR at age 8–10 yr were atopic, reported current symptoms during the 4 yr of the study and had a high prevalence of severe or moderate BHR in later studies. In this group, 87% of children had current respiratory symptoms and 73% were using asthma medication at age 12–14 yr. In children with mild or slight BHR when first studied, the prevalence of atopy, continuing respiratory symptoms and medication use was much lower. We conclude that severe or moderate BHR is an important risk factor for ongoing morbidity and that comparisons of the prevalence of this severity of BHR in populations may be more informative than comparisons of BHR defined by present criteria.
The incidence of IgE and IgG antibodies to chlorhexidine
Authors: LAYTON G. T. , STANWORTH D. R. , AMOS H. E. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIgE antibodies to the antiseptic agent chlorhexidine have recently been detected in the majority of sera from a small group of predominantly Japanese individuals showing anaphylactic‐type adverse reactions towards chlorhexidine. In this study the prevalence of IgE and IgG antibodies with specificity for chlorhexidine was investigated in groups of Japanese and British individuals. The RAST data, using a better defined semi‐chlorhexidine‐HSA antigen than previously employed, revealed that chlorhexidine‐specific IgE was only detected in Japanese individuals who had experienced anaphylactic‐type reactions and was not detected in groups of Japanese nurses and patients, or in groups of British nurses and hospital staff, all in regular contact with chlorhexidine. A group of British blood donors was also negative. In contrast, IgG antibodies were detected not only in sera from chlorhexidine‐sensitive Japanese patients, but also in several sera from Japanese nurses, non‐sensitive Japanese patients and several British individuals. The possible reasons for these observations are discussed.
The human skin mast cell
Authors: BENYON R. C. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe abundance of mast cells in human dermis, together with their ability to release a variety of vasoactive and pro‐inflammatory mediators following cross‐linkage of their cell‐surface receptors for IgE, enables these cells to provide an effective defence mechanism within this organ. A similar defensive function is attributed to mast cells of other human organs such as intestine and lung which are in contact with the external environment and therefore susceptible to infiltration by foreign allergens and microorganisms. However, mast cells of the skin apparently differ from those present in lung and intestine in being activated for histamine release by a variety of endogenous neuropeptides which stimulate the rapid release of histamine in the virtual absence of eicosanoids. This would provide a mechanism of neurogenic control of a variety of homeostatic functions such as blood flow, angiogenesis and fibroblast proliferation. Such processes would aid in the remodelling of tissue during wound healing, and increased numbers of mast cells have been noted around healing wounds of rat skin [57] and areas of developing fibrosis [146]. Neuropeptides modulate the activity of a variety of immuno‐competent leucocytes including macrophages, monocytes and lymphocytes [147–149]. The findings that skin mast cells are activated by neuropeptides suggest that these cells may also be included amongst those involved in neuro‐immune interactions. Activation of skin mast cells by non‐immunological stimuli may contribute to the aetiology of some forms of skin disease. Patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria appear to have enhanced vascular responsiveness to intradermal injections of the histamine liberator codeine [139] suggesting that this disease may involve hyper‐responsiveness of their mast cells to endogenous non‐immunological stimuli. The findings of large increases in histamine accompanied by small increases in PGD2 in venous effluent of thermally challenged limbs of patients with cold‐ or heat‐induced urticaria [94,95] may suggest that their mast cells had been activated by a non‐immunological stimulus. However, the interpretation of results gained using such relatively complex in‐vivo systems are difficult, as the cellular origin of the detected mediators is by no means clear. However, it is hoped that in the future the alliance of newly developed in‐vitro techniques to investigate mast cell function together with in‐vivo methods to investigate their interaction with elements in their tissue environment will greatly increase our understanding of the role of the human skin mast cell in health and disease.
The relative risks of sensitivity to grass pollen, house dust mite and cat dander in the development of childhood asthma
Authors: SEARS M. R. , HERBISON G. P. , HOLDAWAY M. D. , HEWITT C. J. , FLANNERY ERIN M. , SILVA P. A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe associations between skin sensitivity to various common allergens and the development of childhood asthma were ascertained in a longitudinal study of a birth cohort of New Zealand children up to the age of 13 years. Of 714 children skin‐tested, 45.8% were sensitive to at least one of 11 allergens, the most common responses being to rye grass pollen (32.5%), house dust mite (30.1%) and cat dander (13.3%). Allergen‐specific relative risk analysis, controlled for the effect of sensitivity to other allergens, demonstrated that sensitivity to house dust mite and to cat dander were highly significant independent risk factors associated with the development of asthma (whether defined as recurrent typical respiratory symptoms, increased airway responsiveness, or the concurrent presence of both), whereas grass sensitivity was not a significant independent risk factor for asthma.