bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human basophil histamine release is differently affected by inhibitors of calmodulin, diacylglycerol kinase and peptidyl prolyl cis‐trans isomerase in a secretagogue specific manner
Authors: Bergstrand H. , Lundquist B. 
Published: May 2007

Bergstrand H, Lundquist B. Human basophil histamine release is differently affected by inhibitors of calmodulin, diacylglycerol kinase and peptidyl prolyl cis‐trans isomerase in a secretagogue specific manner.To assess the role of calmodulin in human basophil histamine release, we triggered leukocytes with different secretagogues in the presence of putative inhibitors of calmodulin. Calcium ionophore‐induced histamine release was reduced or blocked by calmidazolium, CGS 9343B, felodipine, metofenazate, and Ro 22–4839. H 186/86, a felodipine‐related dihydropyridine derivative, blocked A23187‐but not ionomycin‐triggered histamine release, suggesting a difference in the mode of action of these ionophores. In contrast, leukocyte histamine release triggered by the purported protein kinase C (PKC) activator, l, 2‐isopropylidene‐3‐decanoyl‐sn‐glycerol (IpOCOC9), was enhanced by calmidazolium, CGS 9349B and metofenazate but not affected by felodipine or Ro 22‐4839, whereas the response triggered by 4β‐phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐aeetate (PMA) was reduced by metofenazate and Ro 22‐4839 but not consistently affected by calmidazolium, CGS 9343B or felodipine. The PMA‐induced histamine release was enhanced by H 186/86. Anti‐IgE‐ and Fmlp‐induced responses were either unaffected or slightly enhanced by the examined calmodulin antagonists. In comparison with the calmodulin antagonists, R 59022, an inhibitor of diacylglycerol kinase, failed to reduce calcium ionophore‐triggered histamine release, whereas FK506, an inhibitor of peptidyl prolyl cis‐trans isomerase (PPI), reduced both anti‐IgE‐ and ionophore‐triggered responses. These results indicate that calmodulin constitutes an obligate link in signal transduction pathways leading to human leukocyte histamine release if the trigger is a calcium ionophore but not when responses are induced by anti‐IgE, Fmlp or PMA; a calmodulin‐dependent component may rather balance responses induced by IpOCOC9. We also conclude that most employed stimuli, including IpOCOC9, trigger human basophil histamine release through partly distinet pathways.
The major allergen content of allergenic preparations reflects their biological activity
Authors: Dreborg S. , Einarsson R. 
Published: May 2007

The content of major allergens in biologically standardized allergenic preparations of birch, mite (Der p), cat, Alternaria (Alt a) and ragweed (Amb e) was determined. It was found fairly constant between species, i.e. varied within a factor of 2, with the exception of Alt a 1 in Alternaria alternata extract. This variation is allowed by authorities between different batches prepared from the same species of allergen. The method for biological standardization (BS) prescribed in the Nordic Guidelines has, for common inhalant allergens, been shown to give reproducible results between regions of Europe. However, it is difficult to define patients suitable for BS of most food allergens as well as less common inhalant allergens. Therefore we propose that, in the future, BS is replaced by determination of well‐established major allergens and that 1 ng of major allergen is given the value of 1 Biological Unit. Clinical aspects Clinicians have had difficulties in understanding differences and similarities between units used by manufacturers for labelling of allergenic extracts. Biological standardization is time‐consuming and expensive. Probably therefore, and to avoid comparison with extracts prepared by other manufacturers, most manufacturers have used their own units and few of them have used the biological units as defined by the Nordic Guidelines or FDA. Determination of the amount of major allergen by ELISA is simple and cheap. However, the biological relevance of major allergen content has not been established. Our results clearly indicate the possibility of replacing biological units by major allergen content, provided the composition of allergens is adequate. The major allergen content can easily be declared by all manufacturers. In the future, manufacturers should be forced to declare the major allergen content, thus making it easier for clinicians to compare extracts from different suppliers.
Mite allergens during 18 months of intervention
Authors: Wickman M. , Nordvall S. L. , Pershagen G. , Korsgaard J. , Johansen N. , Sundell J. 
Published: May 2007

Wickman M, Nordvall SL, Pershagen G, Korsgaard J, Johansen N, Sundell J. Mite allergens during 18 months of intervention.In Stockholm, Sweden, 17 children with newly diagnosed sensitization to house‐dust mites (HDM) and 11 children with previously diagnosed HDM‐sensitization were included in a study of HDM‐allergen avoidance. Mattress dust was collected on repeated occasions during 18 months and assayed for concentration of major HDM allergens. During the first 12 months, the parents of the intervention group were instructed to intensify cleaning and airing of the child's bedroom. During the last 6 months of the study, the mattresses and pillows of seven children in the intervention group and sibling controls were encased in semipermeable polyurethane covers. The homes exhibited a high absolute indoor humidity throughout the year, and even during the winter the mean levels exceeded 7 g/kg. No mite allergen reduction was seen in the intervention group during the first year. However, among the newly diagnosed HDM‐sensitized children, there was a mean reduction of the mattress mite allergen concentration of 83% (P= 0.02), and this was most pronounced in the homes with low humidity. At the end of the mattress encasement period, an average difference of 98% (P< 0.001) was found between the vacuumed amount of mite allergen on top of the covers and that underneath.
Salmeterol compared with slow‐release terbutaline in nocturnal asthma A multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, double‐dummy, sequential clinical trial
Authors: Brambilla C. , Chastang C. , Georges D. , Bertin L. ,   French Multicenter Study Group, Desfougeres Dr Jean‐Luc 
Published: May 2007

Brambilla C, Chastang C, Georges D, Bertin L. Salmeterol compared with slow‐release terbutaline in nocturnal asthma. A multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, double‐dummy, sequential clinical trial.The aim of the multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, double‐dummy, parallel‐group clinical trial with a 2‐week treatment period was to compare the efficacy and safety of salmeterol (50 ug twice daily) with slow‐release (SR) terbutaline (5 μg orally, twice daily) in nocturnal asthma. A total of 159 asthmatic adults (FEV, 50‐90% of predicted value; sex ratio: 0.87) with at least two nocturnal awakenings during a 7‐d run‐in period was included in the study. Patients were centrally randomized with a national computer network (Minitel®). The main variable (number of awakening‐free nights during the last week of treatment) was analyzed according to a sequential method with the one‐sided triangular test. The number of awakening‐free nights (± SD) was significantly higher in the salmeterol group: 5.3 ± 2.4 vs 4.6 ± 2.3 (P= 0.006). Salmeterol was significantly more effective than SR‐terbutaline in the following factors: number of patients without any awakening during the last week of treatment (50%vs 27%, P = 0.003), mean morning PEF (351 ± 1091/min‐1vs 332 + 105 I/min‐1, P= 0.04), PEF diurnal variation 6 ± 10%vs 11 ± 12%, P= 0.01), overall assessment of efficacy by the patient and the investigator (P= 0.001 and 0.005, respectively), and daily rescue salbutamol intakes (P=0.004). In the salmeterol group, significantly fewer patients reported adverse events (16%vs 29%, P= 0.04). This study confirms that salmeterol, 50 μg twice daily, is particularly useful in controlling nocturnal symptoms of asthma: as compared with the control group, twice as many salmeterol‐treated patients were totally free of nocturnal symptoms after 2 weeks of treatment.
Avocado hypersensitivity
Authors: Blanco C. , Carrillo T. , Castillo R. , Quiralte J. , Cuevas M. 
Published: May 2007

The avocado (Av) is a fruit that belongs to the Lauraceae family. We report 17 patients with immediate hypersensitivity to avocado. Clinical manifestations in relation to avocado ingestion were as follows: systemic anaphylaxis in seven patients, angioedema/urticaria in six, vomiting in two, bronchial asthma in one, and rhinoconjunctivitis in one. Skin prick test (SPT) with fresh avocado was positive in all patients with the Strong avocado variety (SAv) and in 14 patients with the Hass avocado variety (HAv). Our patient‐associated sensitizations were as follows: 10 to latex, eight to chestnut, eight to banana, four to kiwi, and four to walnut. Avocado‐sensitized patients with latex allergy were typically middle‐aged women, professionally exposed to latex, who also exhibited frequent associated sensitizations to chestnut, banana, and other fruits. Specific IgE against avocado was demonstrated in 11 of our patients, by both commercial CAP and RAST with avocado extract coupled to nitrocellulose disks. Despite its lower protein content, SAv seems to be more allergenic than HAv, both in vivo and in vitro. On incubating a pool of sera from our patients with avocado, latex, chestnut, and banana extracts, a progressive RAST inhibition was obtained, with SAv‐ and chestnut‐marked disks. This suggests the existence of common antigenic determinants among these allergens.Blanco C, Carrillo T, Castillo R, Quiralte J, Cuevas M. Avocado hypersensitivity.
Variations in airborne pollen antigenic particles caused by meteorologic factors
Authors: Pehkonen E. , Rantio‐Lehtimäki A. 
Published: May 2007

Pehkonen E, Rantio‐Lehtimäki A. Variations in airborne pollen antigenic particles caused by meteorologic factors.High birch pollen antigenic activities in outdoor air samples were found in all particle sizes studied (>7.2, 2.4–7.2, <2.4 μm and molecular size class, with an ELISA modification). Sampling was done with a low‐volume, size‐selective bioaerosol sampler (SSBAS) simulating the human respiratory tract in both volume and fractionation. Airborne birch pollen counts for comparisons were obtained from a Burkard trap. No correlations were obtained between antigen concentrations in any particle size fraction and airborne pollen counts. The meteorologic factors studied differed clearly in their effect on antigenicity, depending on the size class studied. Likewise, the effect of meteorologic factors differed among the three study periods (period I, 4 weeks before the peak pollen season; period II, during the season; and period III, 4 weeks after the season). During the peak pollen period, temperature and relative humidity were the most important meteorologic factors. Before the season, large and very small particles predominated, medium‐sized particles being totally absent. The largest size class studied (containing all intact pollen grains) clearly reacted to changes in meteorologic factors; for smaller size classes, these factors were found to be less important, a fact which may make the forecasting of antigen concentrations in the air on the basis of meteorologic data impossible.
Evaluation of the prevalence of skin prick test positivity to Alternaria and Cladosporium in patients with suspected respiratory allergy
Authors: D'Amato G. , Chatzigeorgiou G. , Corsico R. , Gioulekas D. , Jäger L. , Jäger S. , Kontou‐Fili K. , Kouridakis S. , Liccardi G. , Meriggi A. , Palma‐Carlos A. , Palma‐Carlos M. L. , Aleman A. Pagan , Parmiani S. , Puccinelli P. , Russo M. , Spieksma F. Th. M. , Torricelli R. , Wuthrich B. 
Published: May 2007

D'Amato G, Chatzigeorgiou G, Corsico R, Gioulekas D, Jäger L, Jäger S, Kontou‐Fili K, Kouridakis S, Liccardi G, Meriggi A, Palma‐Carlos A, Palma‐Carlos ML, Pagan Aleman A, Parmiani S, Puccinelli R Russo M, Spieksma FThM, Torricelli R, Wüthrich B. Evaluation of the prevalence of skin prick test positivity to Alternaria and Cladosporium in patients with suspected respiratory allergy. A European multicenter study promoted by the Subcommittee on Aerobiology and Environmental Aspects of Inhalant Allergens of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology.This trial was undertaken to study, in several geographically spread European countries, the prevalence of skin prick test (SPT) positivity to Alternaria (A) and Cladosporium (C) in subjects with nasal and/or bronchial symptoms of suspected allergic cause. Each patient completed an anamnestic questionnaire and underwent SPT with a panel of common inhalant allergens and also A and C supplied by three different laboratories, to allow for manufacturer bias. Specific scrum IgE determination was carried out only in subjects with SPT positivity to A and/or C with an immunoassay system. In nine European allergology centers, a total of 877 subjects was enrolled in the trial; 83 of them showed SPT positivity to A and/or C; only nine patients showed monosensitization to A, and none to C The highest percentage of positive subjects was found in Spain (20%); the lowest in Portugal (3%). In the other seven centers, the variation was 7–10%. The age range of mold‐positive subjects was 5–60 years. Rhinitis was by far the most common symptom, whether associated or not with asthma and/or conjunctivitis.
Cross‐reactivity between IgE‐binding proteins from Anisakis German cockroach, and chironomids
Authors: Pascual C. Y. , Crespo J. F. , Martin S. San , Ornia N. , Ortega N. , Caballero T. , Muñoz‐Pereira M. , Martin‐Esteban M. 
Published: May 2007

Pascual CY, Crespo JF, San Martin S, Ornia N, Ortega N, Caballero T, Munoz‐Pereira M, Martin‐Estaban M. Cross‐reactivity between IgE‐binding proteins from Anisakis German cockroach, and chironomids. Anisakis simplex larvae parasitize animals used as seafood and can produce a specific immune response in man. The ingestion of seafood contaminated with stage three of A. simplex larvae can induce a specific IgE response with clinical symptoms, usually urticaria, even if the fish is cooked before ingestion and the invasive infestation power destroyed by heating. Our preliminary studies showed a strong association of A. simplex sensitization with Ascaris lumbricoides, Daphnia chironomid spp., Atlantic shrimp ‘Pandalus borealis’ and German cockroach ‘Blattella germanica’. We conducted the cross‐reactivity study with cockroach, a ubiquitous insect, and Chironomidae ‘red mosquito larvae’, a work‐related allergen, without any possibility of Anisakis contamination. Serum samples were collected from 60 pediatric patients, with serum specific IgE to A. simplex. Both specific‐IgE and immunoblot‐inhibition studies, with a serum pool from 18 patients, were performed to determine whether the association of sensitizations to nematodes and arthropods was due to immunologic cross‐reactivity. In addition, serum samples from 21 of 60 patients who showed also sensitization to German cockroach were used for individual immunoblot studies. In the serum pool, dose‐dependent inhibition of B. germanica and Chironomus spp. was observed after preincubation with the A. simplex extract. Immunoblot of Anisakis inhibited with Chironomus and German cockroach, yielded a partial blot inhibition but mainly on bands below 41 kDa. Blot inhibition of German cockroach and Chironomus with Anisakis was dose related. The band patterns in individual blots were heterogeneous, but most of them had bands of 30–43 kDa. None of these sera recognized allergens in the 14–kDa area. In our study, CAP‐inhibition and immunoblot‐inhibition analysis of Anisakis showed that several IgE‐binding components could be shared by the three allergens.
Physical capacity and dyspnea in patients with asthma‐like symptoms but negative asthma tests
Authors: Ringsberg K. C. , Wetterqvist H. , Löwhagen O. , Sivik T. 
Published: May 2007

Ringsberg KC, Wetterqvist H, Löwhagen O, Sivik T. Physical capacity and dyspnea in patients with asthma‐like symptoms but negative asthma tests.Ten female patients with asthma‐like symptoms but negative asthma tests ‘study group’ were compared with 10 female asthmatics in an exercise test with and without pretreatment with β2‐stimulants. The aim was to determine whether the asthma‐like symptoms in the patients of the study group could be explained by bronchoconstriction, circulatory abnormalities, or physical unfitness when provoked physically, and whether the exercise test could be used to distinguish these patients from asthmatics. Without pretreatment, the asthma group reacted with bronchoconstriction, as indicated by postexercise systematic changes in PEFR, FEV1, FVC, and Sao2, which were not seen in the study group. The groups differed in the ratings of “difficulty in getting air”, as only the asthma group had significantly lower ratings when pretreated. The study group's mean test performance was 94 W; the asthma group's was 106 W. The low performance was not explained by disturbances in heart rate, electrocardiogram, or blood pressure or physical unfitness. The exercise test was found to distinguish between the groups, especially for bronchoconstriction, oxygen saturation, and ratings of dyspnea. It could be used complementary to lung function tests to eliminate bronchoconstriction, circulatory abnormalities, and physical unfitness as a cause of the asthma‐like symptoms.
Periodate treatment of Anisakis simplex allergens
Authors: Moneo I. , Audicana M. T. , Alday E. , Curiel G. , del Pozo M. D. , Garcia M. 
Published: May 2007

Moneo I, Audicana MT, Alday E, Curiel G, del Pozo MD, García M. Periodate treatment of Anisakis simplex allergens.Anaphylactic reactions after parasitized fish consumption are mediated by an IgE response. However, positive skin tests and specific IgE can also be found in many asymptomatic subjects who recognize a single medium mol.‐wt. antigen by IgE immunoblot. The study aimed to find out whether this unspecificity was due to the carbohydrate moieties of parasite antigens. Sixty‐two patients with suspected parasite allergy, 51 blood donors, 18 bakers, and 38 atopic patients were studied by blotting. Parasite proteins were treated with periodate. Several selected sera were inhibited with a crude wheat extract and fungal amylase. Twelve patients ‘19%’, eight donors ‘16%’, six bakers ‘33%’, and one atopic patient ‘3%’ recognized a single mediummol.‐wt. band in blotting and should be considered false‐positive. This band was periodate‐sensitive, but specific IgE to this allergen could not be inhibited by a wheat extract nor by fungal amylase and was clinically irrelevant. Diagnosis of Anisakis simplex hypersensitivity by skin tests and/ or specific IgE values should always be confirmed by specific IgE immunoblotting in order to detect the presence of clinically unrelated antibodies directed to periodate‐sensitive allergens. These allergens are probably not a carbohydrate moiety of a parasite glycoprotein.
Cyclosporin A treatment and airways inflammation in corticosteroid‐dependent asthma
Authors: Redington A. E. , Hardinge F. M. , Madden J. , Holgate S. T. , Howarth P. H. 
Published: May 2007

Cyclosporin A is a potent immunosuppressive agent which inhibits activation of T cells and other inflammatory ceils. It has been shown to be of clinical benefit in patients with corticosteroid dependent asthma, but there are no data on its in vivo effects on airways inflammation. In this report, we describe the case of a 47‐year‐old man with chronic severe corticosteroid‐dependent asthma who made a dramatic clinical response to therapy with cyclosporinA. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and endobronchial biopsy were performed before and after a 12‐month period of treatment with cyclosporin A and demonstrated a concomitant reduction in airway inflammatory indices.
Eosinophil leukocyte degranulation in response to serum‐opsonized beads: C5a and platelet‐activating factor enhance ECP release, with roles for protein kinases A and C
Authors: Egesten A. , Malm J. 
Published: May 2007

Background Eosinophils have a typical content of granule‐bound, cytotoxic, cationic proteins which may. when released to the external milieu, play roles i n diseases such as asthma and parasitic infestation. Therefore, we have investigated possible mechanisms by which their release is regulated in eosinophils. Methods The enzyme‐linked immunosorhent assay (ELISA) was used to detect released eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). Release of ECP was induced by serum‐opsonized, nonphagocytosable Sephadex beads (SOS). Results The complement fragment C5a and platelet‐activating factor (PAF) were found to enhance ECP release in response to SOS in a dose‐dependent fashion, and, contrary to previous reports, they were not found to act as secretagogues themselves on eosinophils in suspension. The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in eosinophil degranulation has been controversial. We found that ECP release induced by SOS was inhibited by the PKC inhibitors staurosporine and calphostin C. Activation of protein kinase A (PKA). by raising cAMP, also inhibited ECP release. Furthermore, pertussis toxin decreased ECP release on opsonized beads, indicating the involvement of pertussis‐toxin‐sensitive G proteins. Conclusions C5a. and PAF enhance granule release, rather than acting as secretagogues themselves. PKC and PKA have opposing roles in the regulation of ECP release in response to SOS.
Prevalence of occupational asthma among automobile and furniture painters in the center of Eskisehir (Turkey): the effects of atopy and smoking habits on occupational asthma
Authors: Ucgun I. , Özdemir N. , Metintaş M. , Metintaş S. , Erginel S. , Kolsuz M. 
Published: May 2007

Background Occupational asthma (OA) is a respiratory disorder characterized by airway hyperreactivity caused by agents present in the workplace. For determination of the prevalence of OA among car and furniture painters exposed to isocyanate in the center of Eskisehir, Turkey, a clinical and epidemiologic prospective study in three phases was done, incorporating 312 (89.4%) of the painters. Methods Of these subjects, 190 (61%) were furniture painters and 122 (39%) automobile painters. In the first phase of the study, a modified questionnaire and pulmonary function test (PFT) were done. During the second phase, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was monitored in 52 subjects whose complaints were confirmed and who agreed to a month of such monitoring. In the third phase, nonspecific bronchial provocation tests (NSBPT) with histamine were done on 23 of the PEFR‐monitored workers. Results Finally, through questionnaire, typical history, PFT, PEFR monitoring, and NSBPT. 30 workers (9.6%) were diagnosed as having OA. Smoking habits and atopy in the OA‐diagnosed workers were found to be statistically significantly high in comparison to the other workers. Conclusions It was concluded that OA is a common disorder among automobile and furniture painters, and smoking habits and atopy were seen t o have a significant effect on OA occurrence.