bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of airway nitric oxide in allergic rhinitis: The effect of intranasal administration of l‐NAME
Authors: Palm J. P. , Alving K. , Lundberg J. O. 
Published: August 2003

Background:  Several studies have attempted to assess nasal nitric oxide (NO) levels in allergic rhinitis (AR). However, there seem to be differences in the results obtained. We therefore wanted to investigate this further by studying airway NO in AR and controls at several modalities, and also the effect of intranasal administration of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitorNG‐nitro‐l‐arginine‐methyl ester·HCl (l‐NAME).Methods:  Airway NO was determined through repeated measurements at three flow rates of air (0.5, 3, and 9 l/min), using a single‐breath method and a method of nasal aspiration, in 18 patients with birch pollen AR during season and in 18 controls.Results:  Patients with AR were characterized by no difference in nasal but higher orally exhaled NO and a larger interindividual spread in nasal and orally exhaled NO compared to controls. We also found a greater reduction in nasal NO after l‐NAME in patients compared to controls.Discussion:  These results indicate that several factors determine the levels of nasal NO in rhinitis. NO production in the nasal mucosa of patients with AR may be upregulated. On the other hand, this increase could be counteracted by swelling of the mucosa and secretions resulting in impaired NO diffusion from, for example, the paranasal sinuses, where particularly high levels of NO have been found. Also, the high background levels of NO from constitutive sources in the nose may blunt smaller increases in mucosal NO output.Conclusion:  It seems that the methods for measurement of nasal NO need to be improved and standardized before we can consider to use this test in monitoring inflammation in AR.
Lack of human IgE cross‐reactivity between mite allergens Blo t 1 and Der p 1
Authors: Cheong N. , Soon S. C. , Ramos J. D. A. , Kuo I. C. , Kolortkar P. R. , Lee B. W. , Chua K. Y. 
Published: August 2003

Background:  The group 1 mite allergens are the most significant indoor allergens and they belong to the papain‐like cysteine protease family. To date there is only one published report on the isolation and characterization of group 1 allergens from Blomia tropicalis mites. The aims of the study are to determine the cross‐reactivity between group 1 allergens and to evaluate their clinical importance in allergic patients.Methods:  The full‐length Blo t 1 gene was obtained by SMARTTM RACE cDNA amplification method using gene‐specific primers. The sequence alignment was performed using LOOK followed by three‐dimensional homology modeling. The cDNA was expressed in Pichia pastoris as a secretory protein. Identification of native Blo t 1 in crude mite and spent mite medium extracts was done by Western immunoblot using monoclonal antibody. Allergenicity of recombinant Blo t 1 and native Der p 1 was examined by human IgE ELISA with 80 asthmatic sera.Results:  The cDNA sequence consists of 1105 base pairs, including 5′‐ and3′‐untranslating regions, encoding an open reading frame of 330 amino acid residues. The predicted molecular weight of the deduced protein was approximately 38 kDa. Blo t 1 shared 53 and 34% nucleotide and amino acid, respectively, sequence homology with Der p 1. Native Blo t 1 was detected in both crude mite and spent mite medium extracts, and its estimated molecular weight was about 26 kDa. The recombinant Blo t 1 reacted positively with IgE in 90 and 65% of sera from asthmatic children and adults, respectively, indicating that it is a major allergen. The correlation of human IgE reactivity between Blo t 1 and Der p 1 was low in these sera.Conclusion:  The full‐length cDNA encoding group 1 Blomia tropicalis mite allergen (designated as Blo t 1) has been characterized and expressed from local mites in Singapore. This fecal allergen showed high frequency of human IgE reactivity with asthmatic sera in the tropics and there was a low correlation of IgE reactivity between Blo t 1 and Der p 1.
Role and interpretation of total serum IgE measurements in the diagnosis of allergic airway disease in adults
Authors: Kerkhof M. , Dubois A. E. J. , Postma D. S. , Schouten J. P. , de Monchy J. G. R. 
Published: August 2003

Background: While total IgE measurements are often used in clinical practice, it is unclear how they should be interpreted for the diagnosis of allergic disorders. We studied whether total IgE may be used to rule out or predict sensitization and whether there are age or gender differences.Methods: ROC curves were assessed in subjects with asthma or allergy symptoms from a general population sample. We studied predictive values and likelihood ratios. At least one positive skin test (Phazet®) or specific IgE measurement (CAP®) served as reference.Results: High negative predictive values, suitable to rule out sensitization, were not found. In younger subjects, high total IgE levels strongly increase the probability of sensitization. The relationship between monosensitization and total IgE was less strong, but meaningful positive likelihood ratios were found at higher levels of total IgE. The discriminating ability of total IgE was better in the age group 20–44 than 45–70 years and comparable in males and females.Conclusion: Total IgE is not useful to rule out sensitization to common inhalant allergens. High total IgE may indicate a high probability of sensitization and may be useful to decide whether further investigation is warranted in patients with negative specific allergy tests to a panel of common inhalant allergens.
Exposure to high doses of birch pollen during pregnancy, and risk of sensitization and atopic disease in the child
Authors: Kihlström A. , Lilja G. , Pershagen G. , Hedlin G. 
Published: August 2003

Background: The role of maternal allergen exposure during pregnancy in sensitization and development of atopic disease in the child remains controversial. In the spring of 1993, extremely high levels of birch pollen were recorded in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1994, the corresponding pollen levels were low. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of exposure during pregnancy to high/low doses of birch pollen on the risk of sensitization and development of atopic disease in children. In addition, a comparison was made with children exposed to birch pollen in early infancy.Methods: Three hundred and eighty‐seven children with atopic heredity, born in Stockholm in July–October 1993 or 1994 (mothers exposed during pregnancy), were investigated at age 4.5 years. The children were clinically examined and were skin prick tested (SPT) with inhalant and food allergens. IgE antibodies (RAST) against birch pollen and recombinant birch pollen allergen (rBet v 1) were analysed in serum. A comparison was made with a similar group of children exposed during the same incident, but in the first 3 months of life, in 1993.Results: The children of mothers high‐dose exposed during pregnancy in 1993 tended to be more sensitized (SPT ≥ 3 mm) to birch pollen than the children with low‐dose exposure during the corresponding period in 1994 (7.6 and 4.6%, respectively, OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 0.7–4.1). A similar but weak tendency was seen for positive RAST analyses (≥0.35 kU/l) against birch pollen and rBet v 1. Children of mothers high‐dose exposed during pregnancy were significantly less sensitized to birch pollen than the children high‐dose exposed in early infancy (17.9%, OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2–0.7). There was an overall trend towards a slightly increased prevalence of bronchial asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis in the group with mothers high‐dose exposed during pregnancy, compared to those with low exposure.Conclusion: Exposure of the mother during pregnancy to high levels of birch pollen resulted in a tendency towards increased risk of sensitization to the same allergen and symptoms of atopic disease in children with atopic heredity. Furthermore, our data indicate that exposure of the mother during pregnancy to inhalant allergens is less likely to result in sensitization in the child than exposure of the child in early infancy.
Association of an early respiratory syncytial virus infection and atopic allergy
Authors: Juntti H. , Kokkonen J. , Dunder T. , Renko M. , Niinimäki A. , Uhari M. 
Published: August 2003

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes postbronchiolitic wheezing but its role in allergic sensitization is controversial. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of an early RSV infection on allergic sensitization.Methods: Seventy‐six subjects were examined 6–10 years after hospitalization for RSV infection during the first year of life. Fifty‐one subjects (68%) attended clinical studies and 25 filled in a questionnaire. The study protocol included lung function, skin‐prick and blood tests. The controls were matched for birth date and sex.Results: Eight per cent of the subjects and 37% of the controls had at least one positive skin‐prick test (SPT) (difference −35%, 95% CI −50 to −19%, P < 0.0001). Allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and asthma occurred as often in both groups, but asthma had been diagnosed significantly earlier in the subjects than in the controls [mean age 3.0 years (SD 2.6) and 5.6 years (SD 3.0), difference 2.6 years, 95% CI 0.57–4.65, P = 0.014]. In a logistic regression analysis, RSV infection was associated with negative SPTs.Conclusions: An early RSV infection results in reduction of SPT positivity but not of occurrence of atopic diseases. This finding might explain why there is less atopic sensitization in countries with a greater probability of acquiring RSV infection at an early age.
15‐Year aeroallergen records. Their usefulness in Athens Olympics, 2004
Authors: Gioulekas D. , Damialis A. , Papakosta D. , Syrigou A. , Mpaka G. , Saxoni F. , Patakas D. 
Published: August 2003

Introduction: About 5–25% of 16 000 athletes involved in preparation for the Athens 2004 Olympics may encounter respiratory allergy (asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis) triggered by exposure to aeroallergens (pollen and fungi spores).Aim: Provide information about circulating aeroallergens in three Olympic cities and ensure safety for the allergic athletes who will visit Greece from January to September 2004.Methods: Aeroallergens were recorded using a Burkard volumetric trap. The most frequently implicated pollen (cypress, hazel, wall pellitory, plane, olive, grasses, goosefoot and mugwort) and fungi spores (Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp.) are presented. These data derive from a 15‐year database created by the Pulmonary Department, Thessaloniki, a 2‐year database (University of Heraklion‐Crete) and a 6‐year database by the Pediatric Department, Athens. The above data and the current aeroallergen counts will be continuously announced by the mass media and Internet during the Athens 2004 Olympics.Results: Are expressed as: (A) Presentation (Graphs, Tables) of the fluctuation of mean daily values of pollen grains or fungi spores/m3. (B) Presentation (Tables) of the start, peak and end time of aeroallergen circulation. Peak pollen concentrations were observed between March and May (athletes preparation time). During the 2004 Olympics (August–September) relatively high concentrations of goosefoot, mugwort, Alternaria and Cladosporium will be observed. Aeroallergens circulate in Athens 10–15 days earlier than in Thessaloniki and 10 days later than in Heraklion.Conclusions: The data presented in the study are expected to help allergic Olympic athletes achieve peak performance under prophylactic measures.
Relationship between cutaneous allergen response and airway allergen‐induced eosinophilia
Authors: Boulay M.‐E. , Lemieux M.‐C. , Deschesnes F. , Boulet L.‐P. 
Published: August 2003

Background: Determinants of changes in airway caliber after allergen challenge include nonallergic airway responsiveness, immune response and dose of allergen given. However, determinants of the airway inflammatory response to allergens remain to be determined.Aim: To assess the relationship between skin reactivity to airborne allergens and lower airway eosinophilic response to allergen exposure in asthma and allergic rhinitis.Methods: Forty‐two subjects with mild allergic asthma (mean age 24 years) and 14 nonasthmatic subjects with allergic rhinitis (mean age 25 years) had allergen skin prick tests and titration with the allergen chosen for subsequent challenge. On a second visit, 31 asthmatic subjects had a conventional challenge while 11 asthmatic subjects and all rhinitic subjects had a low‐dose allergen challenge over four subsequent days. Induced sputum samples were obtained at 6 and 24 h after the conventional challenge and at days 2 and 4 of the low‐dose challenge.Results: In the asthmatic group, there was a weak correlation between wheal diameter induced by the concentration used for challenge and increase in eosinophils 6 h postconventional challenge (r = 0.372, P = 0.05), but no correlation was observed following the low‐dose challenge. Rhinitic subjects showed a correlation between wheal diameter with the allergen dose used for bronchoprovocation and increase in eosinophils at day 2 of low dose (r = 0.608, P = 0.02).Conclusion: This study suggests that immediate immune responsiveness to allergen, assessed by the magnitude of the skin response, is a significant determinant of allergen‐induced airway eosinophilia and can help to predict the airway inflammatory response.
Diagnostic value of scratch‐chamber test, skin prick test, histamine release and specific IgE in birch‐allergic patients with oral allergy syndrome to apple
Authors: Osterballe M. , Scheller R. , Skov P. Stahl , Andersen K. E. , Bindslev‐Jensen C. 
Published: August 2003

Background: The aim of the study was to examine the diagnostic value of skin prick test (SPT), scratch‐chamber test (SCT), histamine release (HR) and specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in birch‐allergic patients with oral allergy syndrome to apple.Methods: Ten birch‐allergic patients with oral allergy syndrome to apple and 10 control subjects were included. All were tested with SPT, SCT, HR and specific IgE [CAP, Pharmacia, Sweden and Magic Lite (ML), ALK‐ABELLÓ, Denmark].Results: The SPT with apple, acetone extract of apple (A72) and commercial apple extract showed sensitivities of 0.80, 0.90 and 0.10, respectively.The SCT with the same extracts showed sensitivities of 0.30, 0.50 and 0.20, respectively. The sensitivity of specific IgE to apple were 0.90 (CAP) and 0.10 (ML).The sensitivity of the HR test was 90% (A72), and 25% using the commercial extract.Conclusion: The SPT and HR test with apple and A72 showed a good diagnostic value with a sensitivity of more than 70% and a specificity of 100%.The SCT showed a poor sensitivity to apple, A72 and commercial apple extract. The ML test was not suitable in detecting specific IgE to apple compared with the CAP test.In daily practice a detailed case history about symptoms of oral allergy syndrome combined with a SPT with fresh apple peel or A72 will be useful.
Area, altitude and aquatic plant diversity
Authors: Jones J. Iwan , Li Wei , Maberly Stephen C. 
Published: August 2003

Several explanations have been given for the decline in species richness with altitude. However, separating the influences of altitude, area, and isolation is difficult because of the conical shape of mountains. We used species lists of aquatic plants from >300 lakes in a small geographical area to investigate the influence of altitude on species richness. Altitude and/or surface area were better predictors of species richness than any measure of water chemistry. The surface area and depth of individual lakes were not related to altitude, neither was the degree of isolation from other waterbodies. Although species range size increased with altitude, range sizes of all but the rarer species (in the data set) encompassed the lowest altitudes, indicating species loss rather than turnover and no influence of the Rapoport rescue effect. Nevertheless we found a decline in species richness with altitude, additive to the effect of area. Species were ascribed to attribute groups according to an a priori classification based on morphological and life‐history traits. The number of attribute groups and number of species within each group increased with area, suggesting both increased diversity and coexistence within niches. With altitude, the number of attribute groups declined, but the number of species per group increased, consistent with a loss of richness and reduced competition. The species remaining at high altitudes were characterised by stress tolerant traits, associated with sites of low productivity.Our results suggest an absolute effect of altitude on species richness, irrespective of other influences and consistent with a decline in productivity.
Minichromosome maintenance 2 expression is correlated with mode of invasion and prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Kodani Isamu , Osaki Mitsuhiko , Shomori Kohei , Araki Kunio , Goto Eizo , Ryoke Kazuo , Ito Hisao 
Published: August 2003

AbstractBackground:  This study examined the immunohistochemical expression of cell‐cycle related molecules as well as cell proliferation and pathologic findings in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in order to clarify their pathobiologic and prognostic significance.Methods:  A total of 46 oral SCC specimens were analyzed using Ki‐67, minichromosome maintenance 2 (MCM2), p53, p27, p21, and TUNEL. Aspects including tumor differentiation, mode of carcinoma invasion, tumor metastasis, and patient prognosis were compared among the specimens.Results:  A significantly higher MCM2 labeling index (LI) was observed in the moderately differentiated SCCs when compared to the well‐differentiated SCCs (P < 0.05). The higher MCM2 LI was correlated with mode of invasion Grade 4 (infiltrative growth) and patient prognosis. In contrast, the LIs of Ki‐67, TUNEL‐signal, p53, p27, and p21 were not correlated with patient prognosis.Conclusion:  Higher MCM2 LI provides useful information for patient prognosis in oral SCCs.
Dentigerous cyst versus unicystic ameloblastoma – differential diagnosis in routine histology
Authors: Dunsche Anton , Babendererde Ortwin , Lüttges Jutta , Springer Ingo N. G. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractBackground:  Unicystic ameloblastomas (UAs) and dentigerous cysts (DCs) have an identical clinical and radiographic appearance. Some subtypes of UAs have a better prognosis than solid or multicystic ameloblastomas, and simple enucleation is the adequate treatment. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that UAs with small islands of ameloblastomatous epithelium may be misdiagnosed as a DC or keratocyst if no more than two histologic sections are examined.Methods:  A total of 101 resection specimens from 22 women and 73 men (mean age: 46.5 years) were selected, all showing the clinical and radiographic features of a DC. Only cysts with a minimum diameter of 15 mm in the panoramic X‐ray were considered for the present investigation. The histopathologic diagnosis had been routinely established by examining two sections. For our study, the specimens were investigated by step sections at 50 µm and by staining of 5 µm thin sections with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) at 1 mm levels. An average of 15 slides were evaluated per case.Results:  Microscopic examination of the step sections did not reveal ameloblastomatous epithelium in the cyst lining epithelium of the 101 cases. Thus, every primary diagnosis of a dentigerous cyst was confirmed. In four cases, additional rather large odentogenic cell nests were detected with palisading of basaloid cells, while there was a lack of other signs of ameloblastic differentiation. All lesions were completely resected, and no additional treatment was performed.Conclusions:  Step sectioning of larger DCs may reveal associated odontogenic cell nests in some cases but does not lead to the detection of formerly missed ameloblastic cells. Thus, unicystic ameloblastomas are not misdiagnosed if only two slides are prepared for routine diagnosis of DCs.
Endovascular papillary angioendothelioma (Dabska tumor) of the tongue: report of a case
Authors: Takaoka Kazuki , Sakurai Kazunari , Noguchi Kazuma , Hashitani Susumu , Urade Masahiro 
Published: August 2003

AbstractEndovascular papillary angioendothelioma (EPA), known as Dabska tumor, is a very rare vascular neoplasm that usually occurs in the skin or subcutis of infants and young children. There is no previous report of EPA appearing in the oral cavity. Here, we present an exceptionally rare case of EPA of the tongue in a 67‐year‐old man. A well‐defined, reddish tumor measuring 11 mm × 8 mm × 7 mm existed at the submucosal area of the left tongue margin. Microscopic examination of an excisional biopsy specimen revealed the endothelioid tumor cells showing a papillary growth pattern, such as blood vessel‐like structures. Immunohistochemical studies showed positive reactivities for CD31, CD34, α‐smooth muscle actin, and factor VIII‐related antigen in most of the tumor cells and CD68 in some tumor cells. Based on these observations, the tumor was diagnosed as an EPA.
Loss of heterozygosity at APC and MCC genes of oral cancer and leukoplakia tissues from Indian tobacco chewers
Authors: Sikdar Nilabja , Paul Ranjan Rashmi , Panda Chinmay K. , Banerjee Sanat K. , Roy Bidyut 
Published: August 2003

AbstractBackground:  Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at tumor suppressor genes, such as adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and mutated in colon cancer (MCC) genes, is one of the early events in carcinogenesis of oral tissue in Caucasian and Chinese patients. We wanted to check whether it is also true in Indian oral pre‐cancer and cancer patients.Methods:  Loss of heterozygosity at APC and MCC genes was investigated in 57 and 40 unrelated primary oral leukoplakia (a pre‐cancerous lesion) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), respectively, by polymerase chain reaction.Results:  In these samples, most of the leukoplakia patients had tobacco smoking habit whereas majority of cancer patients had tobacco chewing habit. LOH at APC gene was observed in 4 of 16 (25%) and 1 of 29 (3%) informative tumor and leukoplakia DNAs from tobacco chewers, respectively. LOH at MCC gene was not detected either in tumor or in leukoplakia DNAs.Conclusion:  This infrequent LOH at APC gene of pre‐cancer and cancer tissues suggests that it may not be an early event in oral carcinogenesis in these patients.
Maxillary odontogenic keratocyst with respiratory epithelium: a case report
Authors: Yamazaki Manabu , Cheng Jun , Nomura Tsutomu , Saito Chikara , Hayashi Takafumi , Saku Takashi 
Published: August 2003

AbstractWe report a case of odontogenic keratocyst with a respiratory epithelial lining and a malformed impacted tooth in the maxilla of a 39‐year‐old Japanese female who suffered from swelling symptoms for half a year. CT examinations revealed an air‐filled cystic lesion with an impacted tooth crown in the maxillary bone which expanded to the nasal cavity as well as to the maxillary sinus. Histopathologically, the surgically removed cyst wall consisted of fibrous granulation tissue with a lining of parakeratinized squamous epithelium as well as ciliated pseudostratified epithelium and with retention of desquamated keratin materials in the lumen. The impacted tooth was malformed lacking a root portion. We discuss the frequency of respiratory epithelium in odontogenic keratocysts.