bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immunological cross‐reactivity between lipid transfer proteins from botanically unrelated plant‐derived foods: a clinical study
Authors: Asero R. , Mistrello G. , Roncarolo D. , Amato S. , Caldironi G. , Barocci F. , Van Ree R. 
Published: March 2003

Background: Lipid transfer proteins (LTP) are highly conserved and widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom. Recent studies demonstrated immunological cross‐reactivity between LTP from many botanically unrelated fruits and vegetables and concluded that LTP are pan‐allergens. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of such cross‐reactivity in a group of subjects monosensitized to LTP.Methods: Twenty LTP‐hypersensitive patients were selected from a population of about 600 subjects with history of Rosaceae allergy by means of: 1) negative skin prick test (SPT) with a commercial birch pollen extract; 2) positive SPT with a commercial plum extract, rich in LTP but virtually lacking both Bet v 1‐like proteins and profilin; 3) in‐vitro IgE reactivity to the 9–10 kDa fraction of peach peel or immunoblot with peach peel showing a single band at 10 kDa; and 4) total inhibition of reactivity to whole peach extract (containing Bet v 1‐related allergen, profilin, and LTP) by purified peach LTP on enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA). Allergy to foods other than Rosaceae was ascertained by careful interview and analysis of medical recordings. SPT with a large series of plant‐derived foods were carried out as well. The cross reactivity between LTPs from botanically unrelated plant‐derived foods was assessed by ELISA inhibition tests using walnut and peanut extracts as substrate, and peach LTP as inhibitor.Results: All patients reported allergic reactions after the ingestion of at least one from a large number of vegetable foods other than Rosaceae, and in several cases clinical reactions were very severe (anaphylaxis, asthma, urticaria/angioedema). Nuts and peanuts were the most frequently reported causes of allergic reactions (80% and 40% of patients, respectively). All patients showed positive SPT to several non‐Rosaceae food extracts. SPT with nuts, peanut, legumes, celery, rice, and corn were positive in the majority of patients. In ELISA inhibition studies, absorption of sera with peach LTP caused complete inhibition of IgE reactivity to walnut and peanut in all cases.Conclusion: LTP is a clinically relevant pan‐allergen. Most Rosaceae‐allergic, LTP‐hypersensitive patients experience adverse reactions after ingestion of botanically unrelated plant‐derived foods as well. In view of the high prevalence and severity of the allergic reactions induced, hazelnut, walnut, and peanut should be regarded as potentially hazardous for these patients.
The effect of storage on allergen and microbial agent levels in frozen house dust
Authors: Fahlbusch B. , Koch A. , Douwes J. , Bischof W. , Gehring U. , Richter K. , Wichmann H.‐E. , Heinrich J. 
Published: March 2003

Background: House dust samples collected for exposure studies are often stored for variable time periods until analysis. However, there is currently no information on the effects of dust storage on the content of biocontaminants. Therefore, associations were analysed between the levels of mite allergens (Der p 1, Der f 1), cat allergen (Fel d 1) and microbial components (endotoxin, β(1→3)‐glucan) on the one hand and the storage duration of dust samples at −20°C on the other hand.Methods: Within the framework of a study on the influences of INdoor factors and Genetics on Asthma (INGA), dust samples were collected from living room floors between June 1995 and August 1998 and extracted according to a standardized protocol. The concentrations of Der p 1, Der f 1, Fel d 1 and β(1→3)‐glucan were determined with specific enzyme immunoassays. Endotoxin content was quantified using a chromogenic kinetic Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) test. All concentrations were expressed per gram of dustResults: Dust samples (n = 1236) were obtained from 655 homes in Hamburg, Hettstedt, Zerbst and Bitterfeld. Storage duration (range 8–298 days) was grouped into four categories (≤ 60 d; 61–90 d; 91–120 d; > 120 d). After adjustment for city of residence and season of dust sampling, means ratios comparing categories 2–4 to the first category were not statistically significant for Der p 1, Der f 1, endotoxin and β(1→3 glucan). However, Fel d 1 concentrations significantly declined with increased storage times of dust samples.Conclusions: Storage of house dust at −20°C for up to 10 months has no effect on mite allergen, endotoxin and β(1→3)‐glucan levels. A potential loss of Fel d 1 during storage of frozen dust samples needs further investigations by repeated measurements of allergen in identical dust samples.
A comparison of different allergometric tests, skin prick test, Pharmacia UniCAP® and ADVIA Centaur®, for diagnosis of allergic diseases in children
Authors: Ricci G. , Capelli M. , Miniero R. , Menna G. , Zannarini L. , Dillon P. , Masi M. 
Published: March 2003

Background:  The diagnosis of allergic disease is performed by skin prick tests (SPT) or through the demonstration of specific IgE in a blood sample via an in vitro test. The measurement of IgE concentration against allergens provides critical information in clinical allergy. Standardized and reproducible methods contribute to the quality of diagnosis and treatment of allergic disease.Methods:  In this study we evaluated the performance of a new specific IgE method, developed by ALK‐Abellò for Bayer Diagnostics to run on their ADVIA Centaur immunoassay system. One hundred and fifty‐one children with allergic diseases (both food and inhalant allergies) were tested for specific IgE (sIgE) via SPT and in vitro tests (UniCAP system, Pharmacia, and ADVIA Centaur immunoassay system, Bayer Diagnostics) and the test results were correlated with the clinical data.Results:  Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between the two in vitro tests compared with clinical history. The sensitivities and specificities are similar, but the UniCAP system method has higher sensitivity. In the children with cow's milk allergy, the UniCAP system has sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 70%; the ADVIA Centaur immunoassay has sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 74%. In hen's egg allergy, UniCAP system has 94% sensitivity and 64% specificity, and the ADVIA Centaur system has 88% sensitivity and 52% specificity. In inhalant allergies, the two methods show statistically similar performances for both grass pollen allergies (UniCAP sensitivity 100%, specificity 73%; ADVIA Centaur sensitivity 95%, specificity 79%) and in the dust mites allergies (UniCAP sensitivity 91%, specificity 62%; ADVIA Centaur sensitivity 86%, specificity 64%). In cat allergies, the systems showed equivalent results (UniCAP sensitivity 100%, specificity 71%; ADVIA Centaur sensitivity 100%, specificity 70%). Using the UniCAP system, the geometric mean of sIgE values in children with clinical allergy is significantly higher than in sensitized ones. The ADVIA Centaur system shows a similar trend with the exclusion of cow's milk and Dermatophagoides farinae allergens. With this last method the mean value of sIgE is higher in sensitized than in symptomatic children.Conclusion:  The new ADVIA Centaur method compares favorably with the results obtained on the UniCAP system. If other studies continue to confirm this data, then the advantages are numerous: the use of only a small quantity of serum (25 µl per allergen), rapid turnaround time, minimal hands‐on time, and no interference from IgG.
Inherited factor H dysfunction and complement‐associated glomerulonephritis in renal grafts of first and second transplantations
Authors: Watanabe Seiji , Yamaguchi Yutaka , Suzuki Toshiaki , Ikezoe Masaya , Matsumoto Naoko , Chikamoto Hiroko , Nagafuchi Hiroyuki , Horita Shigeru , Hattori Motoshi , Shiraga Hiroshi , Tokumoto Tadahiko , Tanabe Kazunari , Toma Hiroshi , Ito Katsumi 
Published: March 2003

Watanabe S, Yamaguchi Y, Suzuki T, Ikezoe M, Matsmoto N, Chikamoto H, Nagafuchi H, Horita S, Hattori M, Shiraga H, Tokumoto T, Tanabe K, Toma H, Ito K. Inherited factor H dysfunction and complement‐associated glomerulonephritis in renal grafts of first and second transplantations. Clin Transplantation 2001: 15 (Supplement 5): 45–50. ©Munksgaard, 2001A 38‐yr‐old man with factor H dysfunction and unknown glomerular disease received first and second renal transplantations (Tx) from living‐related donors. His examination showed a low percentage activity of factor H (31%). Factor H dysfunction has been known to be associated with type II or III membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), haemolytic uraemic syndrome and IgA GN. The first graft from his mother showed diffuse mesangial deposit of IgA. His son has had IgA GN and his data also revealed a low percentage activity of factor H (33%). He and his son both showed a low activity of C3. Moreover, his father, who was the donor of the second Tx, had a low percentage activity of factor H (25%), and presented with mild glomerular deposit of C3 at operation, while he has been healthy through his entire 67 yr of life. Each of them had a low percentage activity of factor H. These findings through three generations suggested the inheritance of factor H dysfunction. The patient presented with proteinuria 3 months after the first Tx. At the first biopsy 30 months after the first Tx, light microscopy revealed minor glomerular abnormalities with electron dense deposits in subepithelial, intramembranous and mesangial regions, while immunofluorescence showed massive glomerular deposits of C3. In the second biopsy 51 months after the first Tx, the glomerulonephritis developed mesangial proliferation and crescent formation, accompanied by more massive C3 deposit and intramembranous, mesangial and subepithelial dense deposits. He then required redialysis. At the second and third biopsies within 2 months after the second Tx, the renal graft showed similar findings to the first biopsy after the first Tx. He perhaps presented with a recurrence of complement‐associated GN, showing an atypical form of MPGN after Tx. These findings suggest that factor H dysfunction may play an important role of a certain pathogenesis of GN.
A multicenter, open‐label, comparative trial of two daclizumab dosing strategies vs. no antibody induction in combination with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids for the prevention of acute rejection in simultaneous kidney–pancreas transplant recipients: interim analysis
Authors: Stratta Robert J , Alloway Rita R , Hodge Ernest , Lo Agnes ,   for the Pancreas Investigators Vital Outcomes Trial (PIVOT) Study Group
Published: March 2003

Introduction: The safety and efficacy of daclizumab (1 mg/kg/dose every 14 d for five doses) has been established in kidney and heart transplant recipients. Alternative dosing regimens based on pharmacokinetic simulation and limited clinical trials are being investigated. The purpose of this ongoing multicenter study is to determine the safety and efficacy of two dosing regimens of daclizumab as an adjunctive immunosuppressive agent compared with no antibody induction in simultaneous kidney–pancreas transplant (SKPT) recipients receiving tacrolimus (TAC), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and steroids as primary immunosuppression.Methods: This is an interim report of a multicenter, prospective, open‐label, randomized study with a target enrolment of 290 patients. Eligible SKPT patients were randomized to one of three groups: daclizumab 1 mg/kg/dose every 14 d for five doses (Group I), daclizumab 2 mg/kg/dose every 14 d for two doses (Group II), and no antibody induction (Group III). The primary endpoint of the study is a composite of the incidence of presumed or biopsy‐proven kidney or pancreas rejection, graft loss, or death within the first 6 months post‐transplantation.Results: A total of 166 patients were randomized into the three groups [Group I (n=70), Group II (n=74), Group III (n=22)]. Demographic and transplant characteristics were similar among the groups. At a minimum follow‐up of 3 months, patient, kidney and pancreas graft survival rates were similar among the three groups. However, the rates of acute renal allograft rejection were 18% (Group I), 8% (Group II), and 36% (Group III), p < 0.05. The probabilities of either kidney or pancreas allograft rejection were 22% (Group I), 8% (Group II), and 38% (Group III). At 3 months, the actuarial event‐free survival (no acute rejection, allograft loss, or death) rates were 67, 81 and 50% in Groups I, II, and III, respectively. There were no differences in the incidence of infectious complications among the groups and no serious adverse events associated with daclizumab were observed.Conclusions: The two‐dose regimen (Group II) appears to be as effective as the five‐dose regimen (Group I) in preventing acute rejection after SKPT and is associated with the lowest acute rejection rates and the highest rate of event‐free survival (no rejection or graft loss). However, the benefits of daclizumab compared with no antibody induction await larger sample size accrual.
The effect of angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism on chronic allograft dysfunction in living donor renal transplant recipients
Authors: Yildiz Alaattin , Yazici Halil , Çine Naci , Akkaya Vakur , Kayacan S Mehmet , Sever Mehmet Sükrü , Erginel‐Ünaltuna Nihan 
Published: March 2003

Background. Chronic allograft dysfunction (CAD), the major cause of the failure of kidney allografts, may be caused by immunological and non‐immunological haemodynamic factors. Renin–angiotensin system has been implicated in the development of intraglomerular hypertension and has a central role on progression in chronic renal disease. Polymorphism in 16th intron of the ACE gene has been reported to predict the circulating angiotensin II levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the both recipient and donor angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) genotype on the development of CAD in renal allograft recipients.Patients and methods. A total of 143 renal transplant recipients (95 male, 48 female, mean age 32 ± 10 yr) were included. In order to exclude the effect of cold ischaemia, only patients transplanted from living donors were selected. Factors analysed in the development of CAD were donor and recipient age, past history of acute rejection, presence of hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia, serum uric acid level and ACE gene polymorphism.Results. Forty of the patients (28%) had CAD. Homozygous deletion type ACE gene polymorphism was detected in 59 renal transplant recipients (42%) and in 31 donors of the patients (37%). On comparing patients with and without CAD, donor age, rate of acute rejection and hypertension and serum uric acid levels were significantly higher in CAD (+) groups. Neither recipient nor donor ACE genotype was associated with time to CAD. Cox regression analysis revealed donor age (p < 0.001), presence of hypertension (p=0.002) and serum uric acid levels (p=0.009), but neither donor nor recipient ACE genotype as independent factors for predicting development of CAD.Conclusion. Donor age, presence of hypertension and serum uric acid levels was independent factors. Donor and recipient ACE genotype seemed to have no influence on the development of CAD in living donor transplanted patients.
The oxidative metabolism of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in pediatric liver graft recipients
Authors: Ganschow R , Albani J , Rogiers X , Burdelski M 
Published: March 2003

Background: Data on the oxidative metabolism of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) after solid organ transplantation are very limited. We hypothesized that immunosuppressive agents reduce the capacity of PMN to produce reactive oxygen species, such as O2−, H2O2, OH, and OCL−leading to an increased susceptibility to infectious complications after liver transplantation.Methods: A lucigenin‐enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) assay was used with soluble and particulate stimuli to study the oxidative metabolism of PMN in pediatric liver graft recipients. Sixteen patients (median age: 2.4 yr) were enrolled in a prospective study and integrated CL response was compared with the CL activity of 29 healthy controls.Results: In the second week post‐transplant, we found a significantly reduced CL activity. Pre‐operatively, and after lowering steroids and cyclosporin A (CsA) the oxidative burst was normal.Conclusions: Our data suggest that CsA and steroids may not only influence T and B cells but also PMN, which may be a relevant factor for the incidence of infectious complications in pediatric liver graft recipients.
Calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity: reduction in dose results in marked improvement in renal function in patients with coexisting chronic allograft nephropathy
Authors: Pilmore Helen L , Dittmer Ian D 
Published: March 2003

Background: Calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) have significantly reduced the incidence of acute rejection. Nephrotoxicity however, may contribute to long‐term allograft dysfunction.Methods: Forty‐six biopsies from patients who had been transplanted for more than 6 months were examined. Sixteen biopsies had evidence of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) alone, 21 biopsies had evidence of coexisting CAN in addition to histological evidence of calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity (CNIN) while nine had neither evidence of nephrotoxicity nor CAN. Patients with evidence of nephrotoxicity underwent a reduction in dose of CNI while those with CAN alone had no change in therapy. Renal function was followed for a mean of 17.4 months after biopsy.Results: The serum creatinine at the time of diagnostic renal biopsy was comparable between those with CAN alone (mean 0.25 ± 0.18 mmol/L) and those with coexisting CNIN (mean 0.23 ± 0.05 mmol/L, p=0.33).The patients with CNIN however, had a rapid improvement in renal function within 1 month after dose reduction. This was sustained for the duration of follow‐up (mean serum creatinine 0.162 ± 0.038 mmol/L at 1 yr after dose reduction; p=0.001). In comparison, those with CAN alone had a gradual decline in renal function with a serum creatinine at 1 yr after biopsy of 0.31 ± 0.187, p=0.01.Conclusion: Reduction in the dose of CNI in those with histological evidence of nephrotoxicity resulted in a sustained improvement in renal function.
Nocardiosis in tropical renal transplant recipients
Authors: John George T , Shankar Viswanathan , Abraham Abi M , Mathews Mary S , Thomas Paulose P , Jacob Chakko K 
Published: March 2003

Background: The epidemiology of nocardiosis in the tropics among renal transplant recipients has not been reported.Methods: An evaluation of nocardiosis for 30 yr in one of the large transplant centres in South Asian region.Results: Of the 1968 patients who received primary renal allografts at Christian Medical College & Hospital, 27 patients developed nocardiosis over 30 yr. Early nocardiosis (≤ 2 yr) was associated with chronic liver disease and the use of cyclosporin (CsA) as compared with its later occurrence (>2 yr). Seventeen patients (63%) had two or more associated post‐transplant infections, of whom 10 had tuberculosis. Mortality in these patients was associated with chronic liver disease.Conclusions: Nocardiosis manifests earlier (<2 yr) in CsA treated patients who have chronic liver disease. Among renal transplant recipients of the tropics nocardiosis is a marker of a high susceptibility to tuberculosis and other infections, the association with tuberculosis is stronger in those developing early nocardiosis (<2 yr). Chronic liver disease is a risk factor for death in patients with nocardiosis especially when associated with tuberculosis. This report constitutes the largest single centre experience among renal transplant recipients.
Role of anti‐β 2 glycoprotein 1 antibodies in ESRD patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
Authors: Vaidya S , Daller J , Gugliuzza K 
Published: March 2003

Vaidya S, Daller J, Gugliuzza K. Role of anti‐β 2 glycoprotein 1 antibodies in ESRD patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Clin Transplant 2002: 16: 362–367. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2002Introduction. End stage renal disorder (ESRD) patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APAS) are at high risk for the development of post‐transplant renal thrombosis. Positive titre of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) is considered a major characteristic of APAS. However, several studies have suggested that ACA in patients with APAS do not bind to phospholipids alone. Beta 2 glycoprotein 1 (β2gp1), a 40‐kD plasma protein is required. In this study, we have tested a hypothesis that significant portions of our ESRD patients with APAS have antibodies only to β2gp1.Methods: Serum samples from each of 169 ESRD patients waiting for cadaver renal transplant in August 2000 were tested for ACA and anti‐β 2gp1 antibodies by enzyme‐linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) method. Twenty‐four of these patients had clotting disorders that met the criteria established by the Eighth International Symposium on Antiphospholipid Antibodies (). They included frequent areterio–venous (a–v) shunt thrombosis, cerebrovascular thrombosis, lupus, frequent abortions and microrenal angiopathy.Results: Thirty‐three of the patients (20%) had positive titre of either ACA or β2gp1 or both. Twenty‐eight patients had ACA antibodies, of which eight had no evidence of clotting disorder while remaining 20 patients had various clotting disorders. Fourteen of these 20 patients with APAS had the positive titre of ACA only; the remaining six patients had both the antibodies, i.e. anti‐β2gp1 as well as ACA. There were four patients with APAS that had positive titres of only β2gp1 antibodies. In total there were 11 patients with β2gp1 antibodies, 10 of which had APAS, the remaining one did not. The sensitivity and the specificity of ACA test were 83 and 94%, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity of β2gp1 antibody test were 71 and 99%, respectively. The chi‐square analysis demonstrated that there was statistically significant correlation between positive titres of both the antibodies and the presence of APAS.Conclusion: The APAS in the ESRD patients should be characterized by not only the positive titre of ACA but also the positive titres of anti‐β2gp1 antibodies in association with history of clotting disorder.
Initial report of bladder carcinoma following combined bladder‐drained pancreas and kidney transplantation
Authors: Highshaw Ralph A , Tunuguntla Hari SGR , Perez Richard V , Gandour‐Edwards Regina , Evans Christopher P 
Published: March 2003

Highshaw RA, Tunuguntla HSGR, Perez RV, Gandour‐Edwards R, Evans CP. Initial report of bladder carcinoma following combined bladder‐drained pancreas and kidney transplantation. Clin Transplant 2002: 16: 383–386. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2002Although long‐term survival of a functional allograft requiring long‐term immunosuppressive therapy is responsible for higher incidence of non‐urothelial cancers in renal allograft recipients than in normal population, the incidence of bladder cancer is uncommon and carcinoma of the bladder in the setting of combined kidney–pancreas transplantation has not been reported to date. We herein report a case of poorly differentiated invasive adeno‐squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder following renal and bladder‐drained pancreatic transplantation in a 44‐yr‐old lady with long‐standing insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, which necessitated radical extirpation. Management implications are reviewed.