bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The evaluation of a cell dispersion method of sputum examination
Authors: POPOV T. , GOTTSCHALK R. , KOLENDOWICZ R. , DOLOVICH J. , POWERS P. , HARGREAVE F. E. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn recent studies, sputum smear cell counts were found to be reproducible and usefully applied to research in asthma and other airway conditions. However, cell definition on the smears is poor, and the procedure is tedious and has limited utility. The objective of this study is to improve the methods of sputum examination. The subjects used in this study were people with bronchitis or asthma from whom sputum could be obtained. By inverted microscopy, portions of fresh sputum were selected to exclude salivary contamination. These portions were exposed to different volumes of dithiothreitol for varied lime intervals. We used the resulting cell suspensions to perform total cell counts and prepare cytospins for differential cell counts and immunohistochemical stains for GM‐CSF, EG2, TNFα and IL‐8. Cytospins were compared with smears for differential cell counts on the same sputum specimens. Excellent cell dispersion and definition in cytospins could be observed. The time required for differential cell counting on cytospins was reduced and cytospin counts were more reproducible than smears. Greater duration of treatment of sputum with dithiothreitol tended to increase total cell counts and significantly decreased EG2 staining hut had no effect on differential cell counts or the cytokine cell components. Therefore the proposed method of sputum examination involving cell dispersion and use of cytospins overcomes a number of the disadvantages of the examination of smears.
Polymerase chain reaction quantification of cytokine messenger RNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with acute exacerbations of asthma: effect of glucocorticoid therapy
Authors: DOI S. , GEMOU‐ENGESAETH V. , KAY A. B. , CORRIGAN C. J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryWe have measured the expression of messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) (mRNA) encoding inlerleukin‐5 (IL‐5), IL‐4. IL‐2 and interteron‐γ (IFN‐γ) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 10 patients with acute exacerbations of asthma and nine non‐asthmatic controls. Measurements were repealed in seven of the asthmatics following 7 days of oral glucocorticoid therapy. Total RNA was extracted from the PBMC, reverse transcribed using oligo‐(dT) primers and aliquots of the resulting complementary DNA (cDNA) amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the presence of cytokine‐specific primers under non‐saturating conditions. PCR products were quantified on a relative basis after Southern blotting and probing with radiolabelled internal oligonucleotide probes by computer assisted densitometry of blot autoradiographs. The relative amounts of IL‐5 mRNA in PBMC from the asthmatic patients prior to glucocorticoid therapy were greater (P < 0.01) than those in PBMC from non‐asthmatic controls. In contrast, there were no differences in the relative amounts of IL‐4. IL‐2 and IFN‐γ mRNA. In the asthmatics, the relative amounts of IL‐5 mRNA correlated with the peripheral blood eosinophil counts (P= 0.02). After oral glucocorticoid therapy of the asthmatics, lung function improved and the relative amounts of PBMC IL‐5 mRNA were reduced (P= 0.04) and no longer differed from those in PBMC from non‐asthmatic controls. Glucocorticoid therapy was not associated with significant changes in the relative amounts of PBMC IL‐4. IL‐2 and IFN‐γ mRNA. PBMC from alopic subjects contained significantly greater quantities of IL‐4 mRNA (P ‐ 0.04) but not IL‐5, IL‐2 and IFN‐γ mRNA compared with non‐atopic subjects regardless of their asthmatic status. We conclude that PBMC of patients with acute exacerbations of asthma demonstrate elevated expression of mRNA encoding IL‐5, but not IL‐2, IL‐4 and IFNγ and that the clinical improvement associated with glucocorticoid therapy is associated with a reduction of IL‐5 mRNA expression. We further conclude that elevated expression in PBMC of mRNA encoding IL‐4 is a feature of atopy but not of asthma. These observations suggest that IL‐5 synthesis by activated T‐lymphocytes may be relevant to the pathogenesis of asthma, and that inhibition of this release by glucocorticoids may at least partly explain their therapeutic effect in this disease.
Do nasal mast cells release histamine on stimulation with substance P in allergic rhinitis?
Authors: BRAUNSTEIN G. , BUVRY A. , LACRONIQUE J. , DESJARDINS N. , FROSSARD N. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe effects of nasal administration of increasing doses of exogenous substance P have been studied in patients with allergic rhinitis treated with placebo or with the H1 antagonist certirizine (10 mg twice daily for 3 days). Responses to substance P were assessed by posterior rhinomanometry (measuring nasal airway resistance) and by measure of histamine. protein and albumin production and cell recovery in nasal lavage fluids before and after challenge. Substance P induced a dose‐dependent increase in nasal airway resistance which was similar after treatment with either cetirizine or placebo (maximal increase in nasal airway resistance was 4‐2‐fold greater than the baseline with the placebo and 4‐7‐fold greater than the baseline with cetirizine). No histamine release was observed. Similar increases in protein and albumin production were observed after stimulation with substance P along with the placebo (protein: from 0.35±0.11 to 3.31±0.62 mg and albumin: from 0.09±0.04 to 2.08±0.39 mg) and when combined with cetirizine treatment (proteins: from 0.42±0.09 to 3.62±0.77 and albumin: from 0.17±0.04 to 2.19±0.51 mg). After stimulation with substance P, percentages of neutrophils recovered in nasal fluids increased from 26.2±11.5 to 54.5±9.5 with the placebo and from 35.5±11.0 to 53.6±9.5 with cetirizine. Eosinophils were inconsistently found after substance P stimulation during both treatments. In conclusion, nasal response lo substance P is not modified by cetirizine which suggests that the effect of substance P is not secondary to histamine release in the nose in man.
Comparison of a new antihistaminic and antiallergic compound KW 4679 with terfenadine and placebo on skin and nasal provocation in atopic individuals
Authors: HAMILTON S. A. , DUDDLE J. , HERDMAN M. J. , TRIGG C. J. , DAVIES R. J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe effects of three oral doses of a new compound KW 4679 thought to have both antihistaminic and antiallergic properties were compared with terfenadine and placebo in a double‐blind cross‐over trial in 15 volunteers with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Comparison of the effect of the treatments with either 2.5, 5 or 10mg b.i.d. of KW 4679, 60 mg b.i.d. of terfenadine or placebo was made on the response to histamine and grass pollen skin‐prick testing. Nasal provocation testing with grass pollen was performed on the eighth day of treatment. Nasal airway resistance (NAR) was measured using active posterior rhinomanometry and the dose of grass pollen which caused a 200% increase in NAR was determined. The number of sneezes in the first 12min was counted. Compared with placebo all doses of KW 4679 and terfenadine significantly inhibited the skin weal response to histamine and grass pollen (P < 0.001). The inhibitory effect of KW 4679 on both histamine and allergen induced skin weals was significantly greater than that of terfenadine (P= 0.001 and P= 0.049 respectively). The results of nasal challenges with grass pollen showed that all doses of KW 4679 and terfenadine were effective in reducing sneeze counts (P < 0.001), though there were no significant effects on allergen induced increase in NAR. All three doses of KW 4679 were generally well tolerated. Drowsiness was reported by some of the volunteers on KW 4679 and one volunteer reported drowsiness whilst taking placebo. Slight and reversible rises in AST and ALT concentrations were observed; these were not considered clinically significant.
Comparative study between European and American species of Polistes using sera from European sensitized subjects
Authors: SANCHEZ F. , BLANCA M. , FERNANDEZ J. , MIRANDA A. , TERRADOS A. , TORRES M. J. , DEL CANO A. , GARCIA J. J. , JUAREZ C. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryAlthough the different vespid species of the genus Polistes are found all over the world, studies about allergy sensitization to these species have been made mainly in North America. We studied the specific IgE in a large group of sera from patients sensitized to Polistes dominulus (PD) and determined the crossreactivity with another important European Polistes (P. gallicus [PG]) and with five American relevant species of this genus: P. exclamans (PE), P. fuscalus (PF), P. metricus (PM), P. annularis (PAN) and P. apachus (PAP). Studies indicated that 96.7% of sera with IgE positive to PD were positive to PG. No case positive to just PG was found. The comparison of these two European species with the American relatives indicated that most cases were positive to all the insects although there were significant differences in the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) value. These results were confirmed by RAST inhibition studies, and indicate that although the European and American species are closely related, species specific allergenic differences exist. These data suggest that in vivo studies should be carried out in order to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the European venoms compared with the American species.
Portable dehumidifiers in the control of house dust mites and mite allergens
Authors: CUSTOVIC A. , TAGGART S. C. O. , KENNAUGH J. H. , WOODCOCK A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryHumidity is a decisive limiting factor for house dust mite (HDM) population growth and decreasing humidity may be the control method of choice. This study investigates the effects of portable dehumidifiers on the mite counts and concentration of the HDM allergen Der p I in the homes in northwest England. Mite counts and Der p I were measured in the paired dust samples collected by vacuuming a I m2 area of bedroom carpet, living room carpet, mattress and sofa for 2 min in six houses supplied with the dehumidifier and six control houses, before and 1, 2 and 3 months after the instalment of dehumidifier. Temperature and relative humidity were recorded daily. There was no difference in mite counts in either of the groups throughout the study. Der p I decreased significantly in both groups and in all sampling sites, but no significant differences in the levels of reduction between the groups were found. Condensation was decreased in the dehumidifier group, but the level of indoor humidity capable of retarding mite population growth was not achieved. A single portable dehumidifier placed centrally in the house is unable to decrease indoor humidity to the level capable of retarding mite population growth and decreasing HDM allergens in the type of houses predominantly found in the northwest of England.
House dust mite allergen levels in dust from schools with smooth and carpeted classroom floors
Authors: ZOCK J. P. , BRUNEKREEF B. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA study was conducted to investigate the levels of house dust mite allergenDer pI in classroom floor dust from 49 schools with smooth (n= 18) or carpeted (n= 31) floors. Schools were located in the city of Rotterdam (n= 29) and in a number of small communities in the Province of Gelderland (n= 20). Data on building characteristics of the schools were obtained. Dust samples were analysed forDer pI content, the major allergen of the house dust miteDermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The results showed that in schools with carpeted classroom floors, larger amounts of settled dust and higherDer pI levels either expressed as concentrations (in ng/g) or loadings (in ng/m2) were found than in schools with smooth classroom floors. However, the levels ofDer pI were considerably lower than in dust collected from floors in homes. Although theDer pI levels were low, effects of several building characteristics on the levels were found. Age of the floor cover, the number of classrooms in the school and the presence of damp spots in the building were related toDer pI concentrations and loadings mainly on carpeted floors. Remarkably, schools in the rural area contained significantly more dust andDer pI than schools in the urban area. We conclude that dust from carpeted classroom floors contains more house dust mite allergen than dust from smooth classroom floors, but much less than dust from floors in homes.
Inhalant allergy to fresh asparagus
Authors: ENG P. A. , YMAN L. , MAANINEN E. , WüTHRICH B. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryBackground
Two patients experienced itehing conjunctivitis, running nose, tightness of the throat and coughing during preparation of fresh asparagus. Eating asparagus after cooking did not provoke any allergie symptoms. Both patients were atopic. sensitized additionally to pollens of grasses and trees as well as to onion. Objective To assess the hypersensilivity reactions to Iresh and heated asparagus and to investigate any crossreactivities among the allergens.Methods
Skin‐prick tests were perfonned with commercial allergens and native asparagus and the patienls were tesled with Pharmacia CAP system for specific IgE antibodies against asparagus, onion, garlic, birch pollen, mugwort pollen and two recombinant birch pollen allergens, Bet v I and profilin. Inhibition of IgE antibody binding to solid phase homologous and unrelated allergens by increasing doses of liquid allergens (inhibitors) was studied.Results
Skin‐prick tests with native green and white asparagus were strongly positive, but negative with cooked asparagus. Both patients had measurable levels of IgE antibodies against asparagus (3.0 and 6.2kU/L respectively) and several other allergens. One patienl was highly sensitive to birch and Bet v I. Both were positive to profilin, mugwort and onion. In all cases the antibody uptake could be extensively and specifically inhibited by homologous allergen. The asparagus‐specific IgE antibodies of the two patients could only be inhibited by asparagus. No inhibition was obtained after heating of the asparagus extract to 100°C.Conclusions
The patients were speeifically sensitized by asparagus. No immunological crossreactions could be observed. The measurements of IgE antibodies to other allergens were also specific, representing parallel multiple sensitivity. Profilin inhibited profilin‐specific IgE binding but did not react with the asparagus‐specific IgE antibodies of these patients. The asparagus allergen recognized by the specific IgE antibodies of these patients was thermolabile.
The clinical spectrum of anaphylaxis in north‐west England
Authors: PUMPHREY R. S. H. , STANWORTH S. J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryObjective
To assess the clinical spectrum of anaphylaxis with a view to developing management guidelines and as a foundation for an epidemiological study.Methods
Study of the reaction histories and investigations of 172 patients, including children and adults, referred because of anaphylactic reactionsResults
Over 700 reactions occurred in 172 patients from age 5 months to 69 years. There were equal numbers of males and females; when ranked by age at worst reaction, the youngest quartile (0–4 years) was 75% male and the oldest quartile (40+ years) was 74% female. The severity of reactions graded continuously from fatal to mild. One hundred and twenty of 172 had two or more reactions; the worst reaction was the first in 33, midsequence in 35 and the most recent in 52. Suspected causes of each patient's worst reaction associated with positive allergy tests include peanuts (42), tree nuts (23), other foods (25, in five associated with exercise), venoms (six bee, 22 wasp), muscle relaxants (seven) and latex (six). Twenty were classified as idiopathic and, in a further 13, investigation of the suspected cause proved negative. There was doubt about the nature of some of the ‘reactions’ reported even though these had been treated as for anaphylactic reactions.Conclusion
The clinical spectrum of anaphylaxis has been defined for the area served by our unit. Management guidelines and future epidemiological studies will have to address the continuous distribution of severity of reactions, the wide age range and the multiplicity of causes.
Increased expression of histamine H1 receptor mRNA in allergic rhinitis
Authors: IRIYOSHI N. , TAKEUCHI K. , YUTA A. , UKAI K. , SAKAKURA Y. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryBackground
Histamine plays an important role in producing nasal symptoms via histamine H1 receptor (H1R) in allergic rhinitis. It is reported that the minimum histamine concentration that induces sneezing is lower in allergic patients than in normal control subjects. Previous studies by binding assay on H1R gave divided results on whether the number of H1Rs is increased in allergic rhinitis or not.Objective
The objective of this study was to examine if H1R mRNA expression is increased in patients with allergic rhinitis compared with normal healthy volunteers.Methods
We extracted RNA from scrapings of inferior turbinate mucosa of 10 patients suft'ering from allergic rhinitis and 10 control subjects. As the H1R gene lacks introns. we treated RNA pellets by DNase to distinguish RNA from contaminating genomic DNA. Since amplification of H1R and β‐actin mRNA remained in an exponential phase at 35 cycles. H1R and β‐actin mRNAs were amplified for 35 cycles by reverse transcHption‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). The PCR products were hybridized with internal probes and band intensities were quantitated by a densitometer.Results
The mean ± sd of H1R/β‐actin ratio was 0.88 ± 0.62 for the patients with allergic rhinitis and 0.29 ± 0.17 for the normal subjects; the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01).Conclusions
These data suggest that expression of H1R mRNA is increased in the nasal mucosa of the patients with allergic rhinitis.
Authentic 17kDa tumour necrosis factor α is synthesized and released by canine mast cells and up‐regulated by stem cell factor
Authors: THOMAS P. S. , PENNINGTON D. W. , SCHRECK R. E. , LEVTNE T. M. , LAZARUS S. C. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryBackground
Previous studies have suggested varying molecular weights for mast cell derived tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) and little data exist upon the factors which may regulate the control of this cytokine in these cells.Objective
To determine the molecular weight of canine mastocytoma‐derived TNFrt. to determine whether it is pre‐formed within the granule and whether its expression could be up‐regulated by stem cell factor (SCF).Methods
Molecular sizing was assessed by immunoblot. The cellular localization of the TNFα was determined by immunocytochemistry before and after stimulation by A23187 and passive sensitization. Subcellular localization was performed by immuno‐gold immunocytochemistry. Changes in the level of mastocytoma mRNA for TNFα in response to stimulation with SCF or fibroblast conditioned media for up to 12 weeks were studied using Northern analysis and changes in the level of TNFα protein expression on immunoblot and immunocytochemistry.Results
Mast cells contained authentic 17 kDa TNFα as identified by immunoblotting. Immunocytochemical studies demonstrated preformed TNFα which was released by stimulation with antigen after passive sensitization. or by the calcium ionophore A23187. Further confirmation of the preformed nature of this TNFa was provided by immunogold electron microscopy which localized this cytokine to the granule of the inactive mast cell. Northern blotting revealed a constitutive message for TNFα. which increased in response to fibroblast conditioned media (FCM) and to recombinant human SCF. Immunocytochemical studies of mast cells cultured long‐term with FCM or with recombinant SCF showed increased expression of TNFa over the course of 12 weeks incubation with these stimuli.Conclusion
Mastocytoma derived—TNFα is a preformed, granule—associated 17 kDa cytokine which is released on stimulation with A23187 or passive sensitization. It is up‐regulated by stem cell factor and by FCM over the course of 12 weeks.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferative responses in the first year of life in babies born to allergic parents
Authors: MILES E. A. , WARNER J. A. , JONES A. C. , COLWEEL B. M. , BRYANT T. N. , Warner J. O. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryBackground
Raised peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) proliferative responses to food allergens have been demonstrated in children with established atopic dermatitis.Objective
In this report we investigate the PBMC proliferative responses to inhalant and food allergens from babies at birth, 6 months and 1 year of age, born to atopic and non‐atopic parents.Methods
PBMCs, separated by density gradient centrifugation. were cultured for 6 days with autologous plasma and a range of allergens (house dust mite [HDM], cat, grass pollen, tree pollen, betalactoglobulin and ovalbumin). Proliferative responses were measured by the uptake of [3H] thymidine added for the final 18 h of culture.Results
At birth, infants born to atopic parents who developed allergic disease by 1 year of age had significantly more positive responses (stimulation index ± 2 with a value of ± 1000 cpm above background) to HDM (P = 0.0091), betalactoglobulin (P= 0.0166) and ovalbumin (P = 0.0035) than newborns who did not develop allergy. Tnfants who developed allergy also had significantly more positive responses to HDM (P ‐ 0.03) and ovalbumin (P = 0.0057) than babies, born to non‐atopic parents, who did not develop allergies. At 6 months of age a significant fall in response to HDM (P = 0.003) and cat fur extract (P = 0.006) was seen in infants who developed allergic disease by 1 year of age. A similar pattern was seen for proliferative responses to betalactoglobulin and ovalbumin (P = 0.0006. P= 0.004). Conversely, proliferations to grass and tree pollen extracts increased at 6 months (P = 0.04. P = NS) and 1 year (P= NS. P= 0.01) compared with birth which was significant for infants who did not develop allergic disease.Conclusion
Proliferative responses to seasonal allergens increased over the first year of life whilst those to perennial allergens, both inhalant and food, fell. This suggests either the induction of a systemic immune tolerance by perennial exposure to antigens or movement of sensitized cells to target organs where allergen exposure occurs. This process may be independent of the development allergic disease.
Sensitization to Alternaria and Cladosporium by the age of 4 years
Authors: TARIQ S. M. , MATTHEWS S. M. , STEVENS M. , HAKIM E. A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryOf 1218 children born on the Isle of Wight in 1989/90, and followed for atopy at age 4 years, 981 were skin‐prick tested witha battery of allergens. Of these 61 (6%) reacted positively to Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium herbarum (47 to Alternaria, 21 to Cladosporium and seven to both). Twenty‐four (39%) were asymptomatic (latent atopy) of which 12 had a single positive reaction either to Alternaria or Cladosporium. Asthma was the most common disease in children sensitized to moulds, Alternaria sensitization correlated positively with clinical diagnosis of asthma (P < 0.01), eczema (P <0.001) and rhinitis (P <0.05), Likewise, Cladosporium sensitivity correlated with a diagnoses of asthma, eczema and rhinitis (all P <0.05). Age of the house correlated with reported damp and lack of central heating (both P <0.001), but not with sensitization to moulds. An association between the presence of damp or age of the house and mould allergy was confounded by 21 children moving house in the first 4 years. Exposure to pets, passive tobacco smoking and season of birth had no bearing on mould sensitivity. At 4 years of age Alternaria and Cladosporium were the third most common causes of sensitization, i.e. after house dust mite and grass pollen.