bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preventive effect of ketotifen, a new antiallergic agent, on histamine‐induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatics
Authors: MATTSON K. , POPPIUS H. , NIKANDER‐HURME R. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe preventive effect of ketotifen, a new drug with anti‐histaminic and antiallergic properties, on histamine‐induced bronchoconstriction was studied by open assessment in twenty‐four adult patients with extrinsic asthma. A single oral dose of 1 mg ketotifen reduced the post‐histamine mean drop in peak expiratory flow from 33 to 16% of the basal values (P<0.001). After a 4 weeks' regimen of 1 mg ketotifen twice daily the post‐drug histamine‐induced fall in PEF was further significantly reduced (P<0.001). Tests performed after 8 and 12 weeks of treatment showed no additional decrease in bronchial reactivity to histamine. Tests performed 1 week after cessation of treatment showed return of bronchial reactivity to the pretreatment level. The results suggest that a single dose of ketotifen has a marked preventive effect on histamine‐induced bronchoconstriction and that this effect is enhanced during continued treatment.
HLA haplotypes and hayfever: a possible protective role
Authors: GWYNN C. M. , MACKINTOSH PAULINE 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe HLA haplotype frequencies of European asthmatic children and their immediate families were studied, and a disassociation between haplotype A1‐B8 and skin sensitivity to grass pollens was found, suggesting that within this allergic population, possession of the haplotype A1‐B8 conferred possible protection against grass pollinosis. There was no association between A1‐B8 and clinical asthma or between it and skin sensitivity to the house dust mite.
Epithelial or dandruff allergen for the diagnosis of dog allergy by RAST?
Authors: MERRETT T. G. , MERRETT J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryWhen used for screening by the RAST technique, dog epithelium provided too few positive results (29.2%) compared with dog dandruff (58.8%), cat epithelium (53.6%) and horse dandruff (52.2%). However, dog dandruff can provide an unexpectedly high incidence of positive RAST results (45.2%) in sera from patients with an allergic history to cat or horse, but not to dog. Dog dandruff allergens were found to cross‐react with some cat or horse serum proteins in about 25% of such patients.We conclude that dog dandruff is preferable to epithelium for screening by the RAST technique, but if emotional issues involving a family pet arise then confirmation by a trial separation is likely to be more convincing than a provocation test with a possibly non‐specific allergenic extract.
Studies on the specificity of human IgE‐antibodies to the plant proteases papain and bromelain
Authors: BAUR X. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe sera of seven patients clinically hypersensitive to papain—in one case also to bromelain—and the sera of sixty asthmatic patients with allergies to other inhalant and food allergens were investigated for IgE antibody activity to the plant proteases papain and bromelain and to common allergens by RAST, confirmed in some sera by RAST inhibition.There seems to be a relation between the antibody reactions to papain and bromelain, in several cases also between the reactions to these proteases and to grass pollen and flour. Studies by RAST inhibition showed that papain, bromelain, wheat flour, rye flour, grass pollen and birch pollen mutually inhibit IgE antibody to each antigen; but the degree of inhibition varies among the different sera and allergens.Our results suggest that these allergens from various plants, besides having specific antigenic determinants, also possess similar or even identical antigenically active regions, leading to immunological cross‐reactivity.
Failure to detect circulating immune complexes in allergic patients on injection therapy
Authors: KEMLER B. J. , FRANKLIN W. D. , ALPERT E. , BLOCH K. J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryInjection therapy for allergic diseases may create an environment conducive to circulating immune complex formation. Therefore, we examined the sera of eleven patients receiving injection therapy for the presence of circulating immune complexes. A sensitive Raji cell radioimmune assay was used to examine the sera prior to and 4, 8 and 24 hours after allergenic injection. Levels measured in these sera were compared to values obtained from forty‐two healthy controls. Ten of eleven allergic patients receiving injection therapy had values within the normal range prior to maintenance injection. These ten patients also had normal values for circulating immune complexes at each interval after maintenance injection. The data suggest that circulating immune complexes are not a routine consequence of injection therapy for allergic disease.
Asthma in Asian immigrants
Authors: PARTRIDGE M. R. , GIBSON G. J. , PRIDE N. B. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryAdult Asian immigrants to the United Kingdom attending an asthma clinic have been compared with a control group of non‐immigrant Caucasian asthmatic patients of similar age distribution. The Asian immigrants had a later age of onset of asthma than their non‐immigrant controls. Comparison with studies of asthmatic patients in India suggests that this may be an intrinsic ethnic difference but an effect of migration in early adult life is not excluded. Despite a later age of onset, the frequency of positive skin prick tests to common allergens was similar in the immigrant and control groups and 71% of the Asians had positive reactions to the house dust mite. Most other clinical features, the variability of airways obstruction and the requirements for treatment showed no significant differences between the two groups.
IgE antibodies against penicillin as determined by Phadebas RAST
Authors: BASOMBA A. , VILLALMANZO I. G. , CAMPOS A. , PELÁEZ A , BERGLUND ASTA 
Published: April 2006

SummarySerum samples from eighty‐one patients with suspected penicillin allergy were investigated with Phadebas RAST using the penicillin derivatives Benzylpenicilloyl‐human serum albumin (PBO‐HSA) and Phenoxymethylpenicilloyl‐human serum albumin (PMPO‐HSA) and the results were compared with skin test results and clinical data.Of the sixty‐one patients who had anaphylactic shock and/or urticaria as a possible consequence of penicillin administration, reagins against PBO‐HSA and PMPO‐HSA could be detected in thirty‐four cases (56%). Five per cent of these patients, with positive RAST results, showed negative skin tests; in the other 95% both RAST and skin tests were positive. All, except eight, of the RAST‐negative patients had had their adverse reactions at least 2 years prior to the blood sampling and in some of these cases skin tests were also negative. RAST and provocation test results agreed in 80% of the cases where exposition was performed. It is concluded that the RAST technique is a valuable diagnostic tool for the detection of immediate type hypersensitivity to penicillin.
Hereditary angio‐oedema and C3 nephritic factor—HL‐A study
Authors: SEIGNALET C. , BERTHOUX F. , SEIGNALET J. , MICHEL F. B. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn one family of twenty‐four members hereditary angio‐oedema was present in the family for six generations. The protein C1 esterase inactivator found in nine patients proved to be non‐active in a functional test. Another anomaly found in the complementary system was labelled C3 nephritic factor without any renal, or other clinical symptoms.Study of HL‐A haplotypes did not show any linkage with the loci A, B and C.Hereditary angio‐oedema is a disease arising from a specific defect in the inactivator of the C1 esterase (CĪ INA) which is a regulating component of the complement system (Donaldson & Evans, 1963). This system is of current interest because of its interaction with other mechanisms of inflammation. Moreover, some links have been discovered recently between HL‐A and hereditary defects of complement.This paper reports new findings in a family with hereditary angio‐oedema
The use of radioactive isotopes for analysis of cutaneous allergic responses
Authors: JAN K. , NAHMIAS C. , COATES G. , HARGREAVE F. E. , DAVIS C. , DOLOVICH J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryLocal exudation at the sites of allergic and histamine‐induced cutaneous reactions, was measured with an in vivo double‐labelling procedure, based upon local serial simultaneous measurements of indium‐113 m (113mIn) labelled transferrin and technitium‐99m labelled red blood cells (99mTc RBC). Analyses depended upon the reaction index i.e. comparison of the ratio of 113mIn/99mTc counts at the reaction site with the ratio of 113mIn/99mTc at the corresponding unreacted site in the skin of the opposite arm.Reaction indices were initially significantly elevated at the sites of histamine and allergic reactions. After the first hour, there was a progressive reduction at histamine sites indicating a tapering of the local accumulation of indium‐labelled transferrin. By contrast allergic reaction sites showed a continuing increase in the reaction index after one hour. During the first hour the curves were comparable, but they diverge and were significantly different after one hour (0.05 > P > 0.02). This is consistent with the known occurrence of late cutaneous responses at the site of allergic but not histamine reactions.
Detection of castor allergens in castor wax
Authors: LEHRER S. B. , KARR R. M. , MÜLLER D. J. G. , SALVAGGIO J. E. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe presence of castor bean allergens in castor wax products was determined by in vivo and in vitro analysis of castor wax extracts. Allergens were detected in one extract of castor wax by the PCA reaction in mice, the RAST inhibition reaction, and skin prick test in castor bean sensitive individuals. However, these allergens in the wax were of much lower potency than those in the bean, and were not detectable in a deodorant product utilizing castor wax.
Antibodies in different immunoglobulin classes to Candida albicans in allergic respiratory disease
Authors: EDGE G. , PEPYS J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryMeasurements by radiometric assay of specific IgE, IgA, IgM, igD and IgG antibodies, in fifty‐six patients with asthma, fifty‐six with rhinitis and twenty with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), showed differences in the patterns of antibody response between the three patient groups, both in terms of levels of class specific antibodies and the proportion of patients giving positive results.Specific IgE antibody values were similar in all three groups and positive results were found in three‐quarters of the patients in each group. No other class of antibody to Candida albicans gave values which were similar in all three patient groups.Specific IgG and IgA antibody values were highest in ABPA and lowest in rhinitis; specific IgM antibody values were highest in asthma and lowest in ABPA; specific IgD antibody values were higher in rhinitis than asthma and very low in ABPA.Specific IgG1 and lgG2 antibodies to C. albicans were higher in rhinitis than in asthma, whereas specific IgG3 and lgG4 values were significantly higher in asthma than in rhinitis.There was a greater number of positive results for IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 in patients with ABPA than in the other two patient groups where values for IgG1 and IgG2 antibody to C.albicans were mainly negative. Positive IgG3 antibody results occurred with greatest frequency in patients with asthma, half of them giving values greater than the mean + 2 s.d. of the control value; positive specific IgG4 antibody values occurred more frequently in asthma than in rhinitis.
A prospective national study of the safety of immunotherapy
Authors: VERVLOET D. , KHAIRALLAH E. , ARNAUD A. , CHARPIN J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA prospective study was made in France to determine the frequency, nature, causes and consequences of systemic reactions occurring during specific immunotherapy. One hundred and fifty five reactions were recorded in 151, 997, injections given to 19,739 patients; a percentage of 0.1. It was higher with pollen extracts (0.2%) and practically nil with other extracts (house dust, Dermatophagoides, insect body, bacteria). Asthma, spasmodic rhinitis and urticaria were the most frequent, 80% of systemic reactions. In 59% no explanation could be found. The main known causes of adverse reactions were excessive doses of antigen, improper timing of treatment or incorrect technique of injection. After appropriate treatment the immunotherapy was continued in nearly 90% of the cases. Specific immunotherapy with the majority of extracts now being used, namely adsorbed extracts, is not dangerous but it must be precisely and cautiously done because errors are responsible for nearly 50% of the recorded systemic reactions.
A comparative trial of flunisolide and beclomethasone dipropionate in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis
Authors: SAHAY J. N. , CHATTERJEE S. S. , ENGLER C. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryAn open, parallel comparison of flunisolide and beclomethasone dipropionate nasal sprays is described. Sixty patients entered the study of whom fifty‐six completed the full 4 weeks' therapy. The dosage of flunisolide was two actuations (25 μg/actuation) into each nostril twice a day (total 200 μg). The dosage of beclomethasone dipropionate was one actuation (50 μg) in each nostril four times a day (total 400 μg).Both drugs produced statistically significant improvements compared with admission values in sneezing, stuffiness, runny nose, nose blowing and post‐nasal drip. Both drugs significantly decreased the interference by symptoms with routine life and sleep. At the end of the trial both treatment groups showed total or good control of symptoms in the majority of patients. No statistically significant difference was shown between the effects of the two drugs.Side‐effects did not cause withdrawal from the trial in any patient and were mostly confined to minor headache and nose and throat complaints, in neither treatment group was there any evidence of adrenal suppression or growths of Candida from nasal swabs.
An epidemic of extrinsic allergic alveolitis caused by tap water
Authors: MUITTARI A , KUUSISTO P. , VIRTANEN P. , SOVIJÄRVI A. , GRÖNROOS P. , HARMOINEN A. , ANTILA P. , KELLOMÄKI L. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn an industrial community, Linnavuori, (population 1000) over 100 people developed fever, cough, and dyspnoea 3 to 6 hours after sauna or bathing. This epidemic began in August of 1978 and ended gradually in December. The water source of the community was a small (0.4 km2) lake; in November it was found that the water was contaminated with several bacteria, fungi, and algae. Precipitating antibodies to these bacterial and fungal antigens were not found in the sera of symptomatic patients. To show that tap water, purified by the local waterworks, had provoked the symptoms, four clinically typical patients were each twice challenged. Two of the patients visited their usual public sauna, the two others took a bath at home. Two patients inhaled home tap water aerosol, one inhaled lake water vapor and one home tap water vapor in hospital. Three to six hours after seven of the eight challenges the patients showed two or more of the following symptoms and signs: chills, fever, dry cough, dyspnoea, and inspiratory crepitant râles. Six provocations increased the amount of segmented neutrophils and in each case the lung diffusion capacity decreased significantly. Although the clinical picture resembles extrinsic allergic alveolitis, it is possible that bacterial endotoxins have induced alternative pathway complement activation and release of leukocyte pyrogens.A respiratory syndrome much resembling exogenous allergic alveolitis, and caused by micro‐organism‐contaminated water from air humidifiers and ventilation systems, has become more commonly diagnosed in the 1970's. This disease is also called hypersensitivity pneumonitis or humidifier fever. Banaszak, Thiede & Fink (1970) described four office clerks whose symptoms were shown to be caused by contamination of the office ventilation system by a thermophilic actinomycete. Inhalation tests with the homologous antigen provoked similar symptoms. Fink et al. (1971) found
Frequency of occurrence of IgG (S‐TS)
Authors: BRIGHTON W. D. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA group of eighty‐four sera from a selected population of patients suspected of hypersensitivity to food and environmental allergens was examined by both RAST and passive transfer in monkeys for IgE and IgG (S‐TS) antibodies respectively. A high proportion (26%) showed IgG (S‐TS) to milk, and this was more than four times the frequency (6%) for IgG (S‐TS) to any other of the antigens tested. IgE and IgG (S‐TS) antibodies behaved as independent biological systems.
Clinical significance of total serum IgE determination in screening of Iranian Russian thistle pollen hypersensitive individuals
Authors: SHAFIEE A. , JAMALI F. , BAYAT B. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryTotal serum IgE concentrations of normal and Russian thistle (Salsola pestifer) pollen hypersensitive individuals were determined in an Iranian population, using the solid phase radioimmunoassay technique. The mean values were 963.7 and 885.3 ng/ml, respectively, which are much higher than normal values given for non‐Iranian populations. In addition, no significant differences were found between observed values (P= 0.1) for normal and allergic individuals. The effect of common parasitic infestation in the Iranian population in causing high serum IgE levels is discussed.
Assessing the value of skin prick tests
Authors: LESSOF M. H. , BUISSERET P. D. , MERRETT J. , MERRETT T. G. , WRAITH D. G. 
Published: April 2006

SummarySkin test materials vary in their potency and specificity. Although 3 mm reactions are often regarded as diagnostic of a type I allergy, a study based on 100 allergy clinic patients with food intolerance showed that thirteen out of fifteen patients with a 3 mm reaction to common inhalant allergens had no RAST‐detectable allergen‐specific IgE.Three millimetre reactions were significant for milk and egg extracts. Food intolerance was clinically demonstrable in six out of seven patients giving a 4 mm skin reaction and in ten out of thirteen with a 3 mm reaction. There was, however, a ‘clinically false positive’ reaction of 3 mm or more in 3.8% of allergy clinic patients for milk and 2.8% for egg.In fifteen out of nineteen patients with a clinical diagnosis of fish allergy, the diagnosis was supported by a skin test reaction of 5 mm or more. However, seven patients with no history of intolerance to fish gave a 4 mm reaction to the same extract. Reactions of less than 5 mm were thus unhelpful clinically.
PGF2α challenge test in asthma and chronic bronchitis
Authors: PARANTAINEN J. , RITALA K. , LAHDENSUO A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryPGF2SaL challenge tests were performed in twenty‐three patients with bronchial asthma and six patients with chronic bronchitis; two patients with allergic rhinitis and four healthy volunteers also participated in the trial. FEV1 measurements were used in assessing the reactions. PGE2α challenge proved safe and practical in clinical use. A wide scattering in PGF2α reactivity was seen, but sensitivity to PGF2α did not correlate to several clinical criteria. Comparison with an ordinary histamine challenge revealed that the sensitivity of the patients to PGF2α and histamine was not uniform.
Comparison of a low and high dose ACTH gel in the treatment of hay fever
Authors: PARR E. J. , DAVIES B. H. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe present data show that in fourteen patients treated with 200 iu Acthar gel, hay fever symptoms were less during the period of peak pollen challenge during June, than those experienced by an equivalent group treated with 80 iu. Analysis of the data showed that in the seven worst sufferers in both groups the difference between treatments was statistically significant (P= 0.033, estimated by analysis of covariance of the symptom scores over the period of peak pollen challenge). No serious side effects were noted in patients from either group.
A comparative trial of intra‐nasal beclomethasone dipropionate and sodium cromoglycate in patients with chronic perennial rhinitis
Authors: HILLAS JENNIE , BOOTH R. J. , SOMERFIELD S. , MORTON R. , AVERY J. , WILSON J. D. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA double‐blind crossover study has compared intra‐nasal sodium cromoglycate (SCG) with beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), and both drugs with placebo, in fifty‐two chronic perennial rhinitis patients, BDP was significantly more effective in relieving symptoms than SCG (76.9% and 50% of the patients improved respectively, P<0.01). Both drugs were more active than placebos but while BDP was very clearly more effective (P<0.0005) SCG was only marginally better than its placebo (P<0.05, Fisher; P=0.068, χ2). BDP was selected by 56% of the patients as the best agent for continuing therapy at the end of the trial. By contrast SCG was preferred by the same number of patients as chose the two placebos (11.5%).
The effect of proxicromil, a new oral chromone derivative, in antigen challenge tests in asthmatic patients
Authors: GIRARD J. P. , SULLIVAN T. J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryProxicromil is a compound shown in biological tests to have anti‐allergic properties. It is well absorbed in humans after oral administration. In order to assess its anti‐allergic activity in humans, experiments were carried out in asthmatic patients to investigate its inhibitory effects upon the bronchoconstrictor response to antigen challenge.Two controlled experiments were carried out according to randomized double blind crossover designs, in each of which ten selected patients were pretreated orally with proxicromil before being challenged with inhaled doses of antigen. Inhibition of the immediate response to antigen challenge by single and repeated doses was measured by intermittent recordings of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) for 30 minutes after challenge. The duration of action of proxicromil and studied by varying the time between administration of the last dose given and inhalation of the antigen.The results showed that proxicromil significantly protected patients against the immediate response to challenge, and possessed a long duration of action of at least 12 hours.
Extrinsic and intrinsic asthma: influence of classification on family history of asthma and allergic disease
Authors: SIBBALD BONNIE 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe distributions of asthma, hay fever and eczema were examined in the first degree relatives of 516 asthmatics grouped according to atopic status, history of hay fever/eczema and history of asthma provoked by pollens, dust or animals. The prevalences of both asthma and eczema in relatives were strongly correlated with the presence of hay fever/eczema in probands and to a lesser extent with their atopic status. The prevalence of hay fever in relatives was strongly correlated with both the presence of hay fever/eczema and the degree of atopy in probands. In contrast, allergic provocation of asthma in probands did not influence the prevalences of asthma, hay fever or eczema.These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that there is an increased risk of asthma in relatives of atopic asthmatics which may arise from the enhanced susceptibility to asthma of individuals who inherit both a predisposition to asthma and a predisposition to atopy.