bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms and patient compliance of dust‐mite avoidance regimens in dwellings of mite‐allergic rhinitic patients
Authors: KNIEST F. M. , WOLFS B. J. , VOS H. , DUCHEINE B. O. I. , VAN SCHAYK‐BAKKER M. J. , DE LANGE P. J. P. , VOS E. M. P. , VAN BRONSWIJK J. E. M. H. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryWe report on the mechanisms, the environmental changes and patient compliance with regard to conventional and new dust and mite avoidance measures to prevent allergic symptoms caused by mite allergens, taking into account both allergen contamination and the developmental success of pyroglyphid Acari. Twenty patients with persisting rhinitic complaints were selected and matched. Although the patients had performed some conventional dust and mite avoidance measures (patient compliance was 90%), the dwellings proved to be a stimulus for mite development. Moisture problems due to faulty construction and excessive moisture production were common. Since humidity conditions could not be changed at short notice, the 20 homes were subjected to the new variants of mite allergen avoidance based on intensive cleaning without (control) and with an acaricide incorporated (acaricidal cleaner [Acarosan]). After the carrying out of conventional avoidance measures, these patients still had allergic symptoms, and dust from only 23 to 52% of their textile objects was under the proposed guanine (mite faeces indicator) risk level. Only the acaricidal cleaner was able to decrease the allergenic mite load (and the burden of the patients) significantly in this 12 month period. With respect to mite‐extermination, acaricidal cleaning was 88% better than intensive cleaning. Reduction of guanine was 38% better in the Acarosan treatment group.Clinical results have been reported elsewhere. A significant difference in favour of the acaricidal cleaning was seen in both subjective (as regards symptoms) and in objective data (total IgE). Another 50 patients were questioned. About 90% were willing to spend two weekends (70%), or at the most one weekend (20%) per year sanitizing the dwelling by cleaning it with the whole family.The authors of this report consider acaricidal cleaning to be a significant improvement in the management of mite‐allergic diseases, such as rhinitis. Compared with the replacement of home textiles, this treatment is less expensive and more effective. Patient compliance is acceptable, but depends on acceptance by physicians and the initial motivation and consequent burden on the patient.
Respiratory allergies (bronchial asthma and rhinitis) due to sensitization of type I allergy to red spider mite (Panonychus ulmi KOCH)
Authors: KROIDL R. , MAASCH H. J. , WAHL R. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe inhabitants of a fruit growing area often report spontaneously of sensitization to the red spider mite (RSM) (Panonychus ulmi KOCH). These are for the most part sensitizations with low clinical symptoms (rhinitis, conjunctivitis and erythema). Severe clinical developments with bronchial asthma have been observed. We investigated six patients working in a fruit growing area sensitized by RSM. The sensitizations corresponded to a Type I allergy. Skin tests and provocation tests (nasal as well as bronchial) with RSM showed immediate reactions and RAST positive results were obtained using RSM allergen disks. RAST measurements of sera from nine house‐dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergic patients using RSM allergen disks showed RAST‐class > 1 for eight patients. RAST inhibition and immunoprint suggest a possible cross‐reaction between RSM and D. pteronyssinus.
Anti‐inflammatory effects of nedocromil sodium: inhibition of alveolar macrophage function
Authors: BORISH L. , WILLIAMS J. , JOHNSON S. , MASCALI J. J. , MILLER R. , ROSENWASSER L. J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe IgE‐dependent activation of mononuclear phagocytic cells through their capacity to express low affinity IgE receptors (FcεRII) has been proposed as a mechanism for the development of airways inflammation in allergic asthma. This FcεRII expression leads to the IgE‐dependent production of the potent pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and TNF‐α. Expression by monocytes of FcεRII is regulated by several cytokines including interleukin‐4, γ‐ and α‐interferons, and granulocyte‐macrophage and macrophage colony stimulating factors. An anti‐inflammatory effect of nedocromil on monocytes has been proposed as a possible mechanism for its anti‐asthma activity. We therefore investigated the capacity of nedocromil to modulate mononuclear phagocyte FcεRII expression and cytokine production. We used an anti‐FcεRII antibody and flow cytometric analysis to assess the capacity of nedocromil to modulate cytokine‐induced FcεRII expression in normals and asthmatics. Monocytes, THP‐1 monocyte leukaemia cells, and alveolar macrophages were exposed to varying concentrations of these cytokines for 48 hr at 37°C with or without the additional presence of nedocromil (1–10 μm) and the per cent of monocytes expressing FcεRII was determined. No changes in FcεRII expression were observed. Subsequently, we investigated the capacity of nedocromil to affect the capacity of IgE plus anti‐IgE complexes, allergen, and LPS (16 hr/37°C) to stimulate IL‐1β and IL‐6 production. No changes were observed when nedocromil was applied concomitant with the stimulus. However, pre‐treatment (30 min) with nedocromil was associated with a 59.5±5.6% inhibition of IL‐6 production stimulated by allergen and 34.5±5.1% by anti‐IgE. In conclusion, nedocromil does not modulate mononuclear phagocytic cell FcεRII expression but does suppress IgE‐dependent cytokine production. This may represent an important anti‐inflammatory action of nedocromil in the treatment of reactive obstructive airways disease.
Month of birth and allergic disease at the age of 10*
Authors: WJST M. , DOLD S. , REITMEIR P. , STIEPEL E. , VON MUTIUS E. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe relationship between month of birth and asthma, hay fever and skin sensitization to mixed grass pollen was analysed in a population‐based cross‐sectional study in Munich and Bavaria 1989–1990 of 6535 10‐year‐old children. The relative risk of developing atopic disease is calculated by comparing the prevalence in a single month with the prevalence of all other months. A slightly increased risk of developing allergic skin sensitization for grass pollen (n= 1128) was found for February (odds ratio, 1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.0–1.6), May (1.4, 1.1–1.8) and June (1.3, 1.0–1.6). For hay fever (n= 379) an increase was found for May (1.5, 1.0–2.1) and for allergic asthma (n= 271) for August (1.4, 1.0–2.1). A protective effect was observed for certain months of birth; September for allergic sensitization (0.8, 0.6–1.0), October for asthma (0.6, 0.3–1.0) and November for hay fever (0.6, 0.3–0.9). The occurrence of hay fever and positive prick test is explained by the seasonal variation of atmospheric grass pollen and the peak in August of asthmatic patients by house dust. Date of birth appears therefore to slightly influence the risk of developing an allergic sensitization and allergic diseases.
Divergent immune responses to respiratory and contact chemical allergens: antibody elicited by phthalic anhydride and oxazolone
Authors: DEARMAN R. J. , KIMBER I. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn previous studies we observed that exposure of mice to the contact allergen 2,4‐dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and the respiratory allergen trimellitic anhydride (TMA) resulted in qualitatively different immune responses characteristic of selective Th1 ‐ and Th2‐type T helper cell activation respectively. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether the effects recorded with DNCB and TMA are characteristic of immune responses to contact and respiratory chemical allergens in general. Experiments have been performed with phthalic anhydride, a known human respiratory sensitizer, and with oxazolone, a potent contact allergen. Under conditions of exposure where both chemicals elicited an IgG anti‐hapten antibody response, only phthalic anhydride caused an increase in the serum concentration of IgE. Furthermore, like TMA, phthalic anhydride preferentially induced IgG2b rather than IgG2a antibody. In contrast, oxazolone, like DNCB, induced a markedly stronger IgG2a than IgG2b antibody response.These data provide confirmatory evidence that chemical respiratory allergens and chemical contact allergens elicit qualitatively different immune responses which reflect their clinical effects in man.
Topical vasoconstrictor (oxymetazoline) does not affect histamine‐induced mucosal exudation of plasma in human nasal airways
Authors: SVENSSON C. , PIPKORN U. , ALKNER U. , BAUMGARTEN C. R. , PERSSON C. G. A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryMucosal exudation of almost unfiltered plasma proteins, plasma‐derived mediators and fluid has recently been advanced as a major respiratory defence mechanism. Oxymetazoline chloride is a commonly used decongestant agent. By reducing blood flow it may reduce mucosal exudation and thus compromise the mucosal defence capacity. This study examines the effect of topically applied oxymetazoline on histamine‐induced plasma exudation into human nasal airways. Twelve normal volunteers participated in a double‐blind, randomized, cross‐over and placebo‐controlled study with pretreatment with a single dose oxymetazoline chloride (5 μg or 50 μg; a dose previously known to reduce nasal mucosal blood flow by almost 50%) prior to the histamine challenge sequence. Nasal lavages were performed every 10 min for 140 min, and three histamine challenges were performed at 30‐min intervals during this period. The concentrations of two exudative indices, N‐alpha‐tosyl‐l‐arginine methyl ester (TAME)‐esterase activity and albumin, were measured in the nasal lavage fluids. Nasal symptoms (sneezing, nasal secretion and blockage) were assessed by a scoring technique.Histamine induced all three symptoms with correlatively raised levels of the biochemical markers for plasma exudation. Oxymetazoline chloride caused a significant decrease in nasal stuffiness, but did not influence the other nasal symptoms or the histamine‐induced plasma exudation. It is concluded that histamine‐induced plasma exudation is not influenced by topical oxymetazoline. Thus, an important airway defence reaction such as plasma exudation may be little affected by topical α‐adrenoreceptor‐mediated vasoconstriction. It is further suggested that the antiblockage effect of oxymetazoline can be utilized in nasal research without interfering with the exudative indices which appear on the mucosal surface as a quantitative reflection of the airway tisue involvement in inflammatory processes.
Importance of house dust mite and Alternaria allergens in childhood asthma: an epidemiological study in two climatic regions of Australia
Authors: PEAT J. K. , TOVEY E. , MELLIS C. M. , LEEDER S. R. , WOOLCOCK A. J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe relation of house dust mite allergen levels to asthma and allergy was examined in two population samples of children aged 8–11 years in northern New South Wales. We studied 805 children in Lismore (a hot, humid, coastal region) and 770 in Moree/ Narrabri (a hot, dry inland region). Respiratory symptoms were measured by questionnaire, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) by histamine inhalation test, and allergy by skin‐prick tests. Current asthma was defined as the presence of both wheeze in last 12 months and BHR. Der p I levels were measured in dust from the bed and floors in the homes of 57 randomly selected children in the coastal region and of 74 inland children. Der p I levels were significantly higher by the coast (83.0 vs 11.2 μg/g, P < 0.001). House dust mite sensitivity was of similar prevalence in both regions (28.6 vs 26.4%, n.s.) but Alternaria sensitivity was higher inland (4.0 vs 15.2%P < 0.001). Bronchial responsiveness was more severe in coastal children sensitized to house dust mites and in inland children who were sensitized to Alternaria. The adjusted odds ratios for current asthma in children sensitized to house dust mites were 21.3 (95% CI 10.5, 43.2) by the coast and 2.7 (95% CI 1.3, 5.4) inland, and in children sensitized to Alternaria were 3.4 (95% CI 1.3, 9.1) in the coastal region and 5.6 (95% CI 3.1, 10.1 inland. These studies suggest that high house dust mite allergen levels in a humid, subtropical region act to significantly increase bronchial responsiveness in sensitized children, and that Alternaria allergens have a similar but less potent action in a dry, rural region.
Familial occurrence of atopic disease: genetic versus environmental factors
Authors: ÅBERG N. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryCumulative life prevalence of atopic disease (any of reported symptoms of asthma/ wheezy bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, eczema and urticaria) was studied by means of a questionnaire in 19814 (7‐, 10‐ and 14‐year‐old) Swedish school children and their parents. Maternal history was found to be twice as common as paternal history. The children of affected mothers contracted atopic disease in the same proportion as the children of affected fathers yielding twice as many affected children with affected mothers than with affected fathers. The strongest parental influence on childhood disease was seen for multiple symptoms and for congruent symptoms with both parents. The number of children with both parents affected was 1.6 times larger than expected. A possible dose‐response effect in polygenic inheritance is discussed as well as assumed impact of environmental factors with a tendency to familial clustering.
IgG and IgA subclass antibodies against Aspergillus umbrosus in farmer's lung disease
Authors: KAUKONEN K. , SAVOLAINEN J. , VIANDER M. , KOTIMAA M. , TERHO E. O. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryFifty patients with farmer's lung disease (FL), 20 asymptomatic exposed farmers, and 18 healthy controls were investigated for total IgG and total IgA, as well as subclass antibody levels against Aspergillus umbrosus, the most common fungus to which FL patients in Finland have been exposed. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed significantly elevated levels of specific total IgG and IgA antibodies in the sera of patients during the acute phase of the disease. Both IgG1 and IgG2 subclass antibodies and both IgA1 and IgA2 subclass antibodies were significantly associated with the disease. The antibody levels decreased during the first 3 months, when mould exposure was avoided and when an oral 6‐week steroid treatment was administered. During the next 12 month follow‐up, the mean antibody levels continued to decrease, even though re‐exposure might have occurred. The results (with sensitivity 94% and specificity 95%) imply that in addition to the measurement of A. umbrosus‐specific IgG, determination of both A. umbrosus‐specific IgG1 and IgA might also be useful in the scrodiagnosis of acute stage of FL.
Identification of basophils by immunohistochemistry in the airways of post‐mortem cases of fatal asthma
Authors: KOSHINO T. , TESHIMA S. , FUKUSHIMA N. , TAKAISHI T. , HIRAI K. , MIYAMOTO Y. , ARAI Y. , SANO† Y. , ITO K. , MORITA Y. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThere is increasing evidence for the role of basophils in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. To examine the presence of basophils in the airways of patients with fatal asthma by immunohistochemistry, we stained lung tissues from four post‐mortem cases who had died from severe asthmatic attacks and four controls with a monoclonal antibody raised against tryptase (AA‐1) and anti‐IgE. Mast cells and basophils were identified in the bronchioles as A A‐1‐ and anti‐IgE‐positive cells, and anti‐IgE‐posilive cells, respectively. Airway mast cells were found beneath the basemenl membrane, near blood vessels in the submucosa, and adjacent to the submucosal glands, and scattered throughout the muscle bundles. There was a significant increase of mast cells in the asthma group compared with the control group (203.5 ± 84.6/mm2, mean ± s. d. vs 37.7 ± 8.7/mm2, P < 0.05, n= 4). In contrast, basophils were observed in the airway lumen, in the bronchial epithelium and in the submucosa. The number of basophils in the bronchioles was 81.8 ± 55.5/mm2 (n= 4); however, basophils were not found at all in the airways of the control group. Although eosinophils, B lymphocytes and macro‐phages bear low affinity IgE receptors and could react with anti‐IgE, the location of these cells in the close sections did not correspond closely with basophils. The presence of basophils in lung tissues obtained from fatal asthma patients supports the view that basophils play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.
The effectiveness of a peripatetic allergy nurse practitioner service in managing atopic allergy in general practice—a pilot study
Authors: BRYDON MARY 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe effectiveness of an allergy nurse practitioner service operating within community health care was evaluated in terms of symptom improvement and reduction in allergy related general practitioner consultations and prescribed medication. A postal questionnaire survey of 53 allergy patients, identified from three general practices in the Norwich area during a pilot scheme, was carried out concurrently with a survey of the patients' case records at the surgeries. The questionnaire included questions concerning allergy status, general practitioner visits and the number of prescribed medications supplied. The main outcome measures were the number of general practitioner consultations and prescribed medications before and after the allergy nurse practitioner consultation and the patient's reported level of symptoms. The results showed that the intervention of an allergy nurse practitioner consultation produced significant reductions in the outcome measures. The number requiring a general practitioner consultation fell by 40% (from 133 to 80, P < 0.001) and the number of prescribed medications fell by 42% (from 153 to 89, P < 0.001). Twenty‐seven (69%) of the 39 patients who responded to the questionnaire reported an improvement in symptoms, whilst 26% (n= 10) remained the same and 5% (n= 2) were worse. An additional study of 23 of the +ve skin‐tested patients, over an extended period, showed greater reductions in general practitioner consultations and prescribed medication (71%, P < 0.001 and 59%, P < 0.004 respectively). In conclusion, it is apparent that the application of developed skills and expertise in allergy assessment by a nurse coupled with time can lead to improvement in symptom level in allergy patients. Such a service also has the possibility of providing savings within the National Health Service. Simply prescribing drugs without a system of self‐management and avoidance measures is unlikely to improve the care available to allergy patients.
Comparative IgE responses to extracts of five species of house dust mite, using Western blotting
Authors: HILL M. R. , NEWTON M. R. , HART B. J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIgE responses towards extracts of Demotopkagoides pteronysssinus, D. farinae, D. microceras, Euroglyphus maynei and Gymnoglyphus longior have been evaluated with sera from a mite sensitive population and the international reference pool of sera, NIBSC 82/528, using Western blotting. Using mite body and faecal extracts 21 of 29 mite protein bands responded to by sera were common to all five species of mite. All sera were unique with respect to proteins bound and species recognized. Mite proteins bound by more than 40% of sera included the Group II and FFI main allergens and protein bands 14 (MW 40.4 kD) and 21 (MW 27.8 kD), all of which were found in every mite species studied. The Group I allergen, found in all species, was bound by 29.4% of sera. Similar response profiles between mite species suggest that human specific IgE may bind predominantly to crossreactive determinants on mite allergens.
Natural history of cows' milk allergy in children: immunological outcome over 2 years
Authors: HILL D. J. , FIRER M. A. , BALL G. , HOSKING C. S. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn this investigation 98 children (median age 24 months) with cows' milk allergy (CMA) were studied over a median period of 2 years to see whether acquisition of clinical tolerance to cows' milk was associated with the changes in levels of IgG and IgE anti‐cows' milk antibodies, and skin test reactivity to a cows' milk extract. Two groups of CMA patients were examined. The first were IgE sensitized and responded rapidly to small volumes of cows' milk with urticaria, and/or exacerbations of eczema, and/or wheeze, and/or vomiting (n= 69). The second, a late reacting group (n= 29) demonstrated coughing, diarrhoea, eczematoid rashes, and/or a combination of these which developed more than 20 hr after commencing normal volumes of cows' milk. Significant immunological changes were confined to the 69 IgE sensitized immediate‐reacting‐group of patients. Of these, there were 15 children who achieved clinical tolerance to cows' milk and they showed a significant fall in the levels of skin test reactivity to cows' milk over the study period (P <0.01). In addition, these 15 children had lower serum IgE antibodies to cows' milk proteins both at the outset and the final follow‐up compared with the 54 patients whose CMA persisted. No consistent change in the IgG antibody responses to cows' milk proteins was seen in either group of patients over the study period. The findings suggest patients with immediate type hypersensitivity to cows' milk proteins whose disease persists for more than 2 years have a more severe dysregulation of IgE synthesis to cows' milk proteins from the outset. The role of humoral immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of late reacting CMA remains unclear.
Allergen avoidance in the homes of atopic asthmatic children: the effect of Allersearch DMS
Authors: WARNER J. A. , MARCHANT J. L. , WARNER J. O. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryAllersearch DMS (an alcohol based purified benzyltannate complex) is an acaricide with allergen denaturing properties. The living rooms in the homes of 16 atopic asthmatic children were thoroughly cleaned and treated with Allersearch DMS and the effect on allergen concentrations in carpet and soft‐furnishing dusts was determined. The skintest reactivity of the children to their own dust, collected before and after treatment, was compared. In 13 of the 16 homes the concentration of major house dust mite allergen Der p I was reduced in the carpet dust after treatment (P< 0.001) and in 11 homes major cat allergen Fel d I was reduced (P= 0.03). Changes in allergen concentrations in soft‐furnishing dusts were not significant. Control homes, which were cleaned but not treated, showed no significant difference in allergen concentrations. There were highly significant reductions in skin‐test reactivity to both types of dust after treatment (P<0.004, P< 0.008) suggesting an effect of the compound on allergens other than those individually monitored. The change in skin‐test response to soft‐furnishing correlated significantly (P< 0.05) with the number of individual sensitivities detected in each child. Controlled clinical trials of the effect of Altersearch DMS as part of an allergen avoidance study are now necessary.
Immediate and delayed allergy to nickel with contact urticaria, rhinitis, asthma and contact dermatitis
Authors: ESTLANDER T. , KANERVA L. , TUPASELA O. , KESKINEN H. , JOLANKI R. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA 27‐year‐old woman had for 2 years performed manual grinding of metal castings that contained nickel. She had previously had allergic contact dermatitis from nickel but started to get contact urticaria, rhinitis and asthmatic attacks at work. The symptoms disappeared at weekends and on holiday. Scratch chamber tests, open tests, specific IgE determinations (RAST), and RAST‐inhibition test indicated that she had developed an IgE‐mediated allergy to nickel; the bronchial provocation reaction with NiSO4was, however, a late one. Patch tests confirmed her allergic contact dermatitis to be caused by nickel. This is the first patient, to the best of our knowledge, reported to have developed allergic contact dermatitis, allergic contact urticaria, rhinitis and asthma from nickel.