bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Airway neutrophil inflammation in nonasthmatic patients with food allergy
Authors: Wallaert B. , Gosset P. , Lamblin C. , Garcia G. , Perez T. , Tonnel A. B. 
Published: March 2003

Background: Patients with food allergy (FA) have been recently shown to develop bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), despite the absence of any concomitant asthmatic manifestation. In order to explain this observation, we sought to examine the presence of a bronchial inflammation in induced sputum of nonasthmatic patients with FA. Methods: Twelve nonasthmatic patients with FA (urticaria, digestive symptoms, anaphylaxis) were included in the study. Results were compared to these obtained from eight asthmatic patients without food allergy and eight healthy controls. Diagnosis of FA was based on double‐blind placebo‐controlled challenge. Sputum cells and fluid‐phase eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) were measured in induced sputum. BHR was evaluated using methacholine inhalation. Results: Sputum from asthmatics, in comparison with the sputum of healthy subjects and patients with FA contained a higher proportion of eosinophils and higher levels of ECP (< 0.001). In marked contrast, patients with FA exhibited an increased proportion of neutrophils and IL‐8 in comparison with asthmatics and controls (P < 0.05 for neutrophils and P < 0.001 for IL‐8). There was a significant correlation between sputum neutrophils and IL‐8 (r = 0.68, P < 0.001). MPO levels were not different between the groups. There was a trend toward higher levels of IL‐8 and ECP in food allergic patients with BHR in comparison with patients with FA without BHR. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that a subclinical neutrophil airway inflammation is present in patients with food allergy free of clinical respiratory symptoms and that IL‐8 may be an important mediator of this neutrophilia.
Alternative medicine in allergies – prevalence, patterns of use, and costs
Authors: Schäfer T. , Riehle A. , Wichmann H. –E. , Ring J. 
Published: March 2003

Background:  There is evidence that the use of alternative medicine (AM) for allergies has increased. However, little is known from population‐based studies about what determines its use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the patterns of use of AM for allergies. Methods:  A population‐based nested case‐control study was conducted in 2000–01 using computer‐assisted telephone interviews. Three hundred and fifty‐one adults participated (median age 46 years) with allergies including hay fever, asthma, atopic eczema, and food hypersensitivity. Information was obtained on demographics, prevalence, motivation, information, type of AM, provider, costs, willingness to pay, and subjective assessment of AM. Results:
26.5% of participants used AM because of their allergies. Compared to nonusers, this group of users was significantly younger (median age 43
vs
47;
p
=0.004) and better educated (school education > 8 year
vs
≤ 8 year; odds ratio (OR) 2.17, 1.28–3.67) and was mostly motivated by the assumption of few side‐effects (78.3%), by a wish to try everything (71.7%), and by unsatisfying results from conventional therapy (66.3%). Users also had more experience with conventional therapy than nonusers (94.6%
vs
63.6%; OR 10.10, 4.00–25.72). Four procedures accounted for almost the entire usage: homeopathy (35.3%), autologous blood injection (28.1%), acupuncture (16.6%), and bioresonance (10.0%). The AM were mostly promoted (40.2%) and provided (60.9%) by medical doctors, and produced median costs for single and entire treatment of 4 € (15–205) and 205 € (15–1278)e. Reimbursement from insurance companies was received by 52.3%, in full (37.8%) or partial (14.5%). Most subjects (55.4%) admitted that they would pay more (median 153e) for the achieved result. Users scored the efficacy of conventional therapy significantly lower (
p <0.001) than nonusers, and assessed the results of AM as very good (28.6%) or rather good (53.8%). Conclusions:  AM is used widely for allergies by the general population and is associated with considerable costs. This has implications for the health care system and health policy.
Asthma and atopy – a total genome scan for susceptibility genes
Authors: Haagerup A. , Bjerke T. , Schiøtz P. O. , Binderup H. G. , Dahl R. , Kruse T. A. 
Published: March 2003

Background:  Allergic asthma is an increasingly common disease of complex inheritance. Several studies have suggested candidate regions, but genetic heterogeneity, ethnic differences and varying study designs may in part explain the lack of identified and confirmed susceptibility genes. Investigation of different populations will further clarify the topic. We therefore evaluated allergic asthma and increased total and specific IgE in 39, 45 and 57 sib‐pairs from 100 Danish allergy families. Methods:  Affected sib‐pairs meeting a narrow phenotype definition were selected for the three phenotypes atopy, allergic asthma and increased total IgE. We performed a total genome scan using 446 microsatellite markers and obtained nonparametric linkage results from the MAPMAKER/SIBS computer program. Results:  Our study revealed four candidate regions (MLS > 2) on chromosome 1p36, 3q21–q22, 5q31 and 6p24–p22, and 15 candidate regions (1 < MLS < 2) that may contain susceptibility genes for asthma and atopy. We did not find linkage to the candidate genes TNF‐β, FcER1β and Il4R‐α, except for weak support for linkage of the asthma phenotype to TNF‐β (MLS = 1.18). Conclusions:  We found evidence for two new asthma and atopy loci, 1p36 and 3q21–q22, and supported linkage in the Danish population to seven previously reported candidate regions.
Rapid release of Ole e 1 from Olive pollen using different solvents
Authors: Carnés J. , Fernández‐Caldas E. , Boluda L. , Casanovas M. , Sastre J. , Bernal M. Lluch , Blanca M. 
Published: March 2003

Background:  Solubility is an important characteristic of allergenic molecules. The aim of this study was to investigate the solubility of Ole e 1, a major allergen of Olea europaea, using different solvents.Material and methods:  Olea europaea pollen was placed in a glass column and extracted using three different solvents: deionized water, phosphate buffer 0.01 M (PBS) and normal saline (NaCl 0.9%). Several fractions were collected after extraction with each solvent and pooled based on individual protein content. Each fraction corresponded to a different elution profile, as determined by linear regression analysis. After 130 min of extraction, the pollen that remained in the column was further extracted overnight. A control olive pollen extract was also prepared with each solvent. The antigenic and allergenic profiles of all the eluted and pooled fractions were analysed by SDS‐PAGE and inmmunoblots. Protein and Ole e 1 content and the amount of protein needed to produce 50% inhibition were also calculated. Ten patients were skin prick tested with the fractions obtained with deionized water.Results:  Four elution profiles were obtained using deionized water as the extracting solution and three with the two other solvents. The three solvents produced different kinetics of allergen release. Ole e 1 was rapidly released when water was used, obtaining a total of 256 µg of Ole e 1/ml after only 7 min of extraction (fraction EC1). Using PBS, or NaCl 0.9%, the release of Ole e 1 started after 4 and 9 min of extraction, respectively. The highest amount ofOle e 1 was eluted after 44 and 26 min, with a total concentration of 162 and 203 µg of Ole e 1/ml, respectively. The presence of Ole e 1 in each phase was verified by SDS‐PAGE and immunoblot analyses.Conclusions:  The extracting solution seems to determine the antigenic profile of olive pollen extracts. Ole e 1 is rapidly released from the pollen grain after extraction in deionized water. The solubility seems to be affected by the use of other solvents. These techniques could be used to manipulate the Ole e 1 content in O. europaea extracts.
The importance of maximal airway response to methacholine in the prediction of wheezing development in patients with cough‐variant asthma
Authors: Koh Y. Y. , Park Y. , Kim C. K. 
Published: March 2003

Background: A significant proportion of patients diagnosed with cough‐variant asthma eventually manifest classic asthma signs, such as wheezing and dyspnea. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the degree of airway hypersensitivity and/or the level of maximal airway response can predict the development of wheezing in subjects with cough‐variant asthma.Methods: At study initiation, a high‐dose methacholine inhalation test was performed to measure provocative concentration causing a 20% fall (PC20) in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and maximal airway response. Each person was evaluated regularly every 3 months for 4 years and also on the occasion of wheezing being perceived for the first time.Results: Of the 48 patients available in the follow‐up period, 21 (Group 1) developed clinical wheezing, while 27 (Group 2) did not. There was no significant difference in PC20 levels between the two groups. The level of maximal airway response, however, was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2. The score test for trend revealed a significant association between the future development of wheezing and the level of maximal airway response (P = 0.007), but not the level of methacholine PC20 (P = 0.423).Conclusions: The level of maximal airway response, rather than the degree of airway hypersensitivity, may be an important risk factor for the future development of classic asthma in patients with cough‐variant asthma.
Allergologic exploration of germins and germin‐like proteins, a new class of plant allergens
Authors: Jensen‐Jarolim E. , Schmid B. , Bernier F. , Berna A. , Kinaciyan T. , Focke M. , Ebner C. , Scheiner O. , Boltz‐Nitulescu G. 
Published: March 2003

Background:  Germins and the related germin‐like proteins (GLPs) are glycoproteins expressed in many plants in response to biotic and abiotic stress. To test the potential impact of germins and GLPs, recombinant germin from Triticum aestivum (tGermin) and GLPs from Arabidopsis thaliana (tGLP), both produced in transformed tobacco plants, were used.Methods:  Sera from 82 patients with type I allergy to birch, grass or mugwort pollen and/or wheat were tested in immunoblot for IgE binding to tGermin and tGLP, and the IgE reactivity after chemical and enzymatic deglycosylation was analysed. The biological activity of tGermin and tGLP was determined in a histamine release assay and in skin prick testing (SPT).Results:  In an immunoblotting assay, 24 out of 82 tested sera (29.26%) from allergic patients showed IgE‐binding to tGermin, and 18 of these sera (21.95%) displayed also IgE‐binding to tGLP. The deglycosylation experiments indicated that glycan moieties contribute significantly to the IgE‐binding of tGermin and tGLP. Both tGermins and tGLP induced specifically histamine release in an invitro assay as well as in SPT.Conclusion:  Our in vitro and in vivo findings demonstrate that germin and GLPs are capable to bind IgE most likely via carbohydrate determinants, and represent allergenic molecules.
Urinary metabolites of histamine and leukotrienes before and after placebo‐controlled challenge with ASA and food additives in chronic urticaria patients
Authors: Di Lorenzo G. , Pacor M. L. , Vignola A. M. , Profita M. , Esposito‐Pellitteri M. , Biasi D. , Corrocher R. , Caruso C. 
Published: March 2003

Background: The recovery of mediator metabolites from urine has the potential to provide a rapid, safe, and easily available index of release of mediators. We aimed to determine urinary metabolites of both histamine and leukotrienes (LTs) in patients affected by chronic urticaria (CU).Methods: Twenty patients with CU were studied. They were selected on the basis of double‐blind placebo‐controlled challenge (DBPC) with acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) and food additives. Ten patients (group B) were negative to both challenges. Ten patients (group C) presented urticaria and/or the appearance of angioedema during or 24 h after challenge, with reactions to ASA (five patients) or food additives (five patients). We recruited 15 healthy volunteers as controls (group A). During a second challenge, groups B and C were challenged double‐blind with a single dose of ASA, or a specific food additive, or placebo. The healthy group was challenged only with a placebo (talc capsule). Patients in groups B and C were challenged twice: with placebo (as groups B1 and C1) and with ASA (groups B2 and C2) or food additives (C2). Four samples of urine were collected; one during the night before the specific or sham challenge (baseline), and three at 2, 6 and 24 h after the challenge. Urinary methylhistamine (N‐MH) and LTE4 were analyzed and normalized for urinary creatinine.Results: For urinary N‐MH at baseline, there was a significant difference only between group A and groups B1, B2, C1 and C2 (A vs. B1, P < 0.0001; A vs. B2, P < 0.0001; A vs. C1, P < 0.0001; A vs. C2, P < 0.0001). We detected a significant variation in urinary methylhistamine excretion only in group C2 after 2 h, 6 h and 24 h (P < 0.0001). However, no variations were observed in N‐MH excretion rate in the other groups (A, B1, C1) after challenge with placebo, and in B2 after challenge with ASA 20 mg. For urinary LTE4 at baseline no differences were found between the mean values for the different groups. After specific challenge, only C2 patients showed significantly increased excretion rates of urinary LTE4 compared with the other groups challenged with placebo (A, B1, C1), or ASA (B2) (P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was seen between urinary LTE4 and methylhistamine excretion rate in any patients.Conclusion:  Our results show that urinary excretion of N‐MH and LTE4 is different for CU patients without ASA or food hypersensitivity, compared to those with CU with ASA or food additive hypersensitivity after specific challenge.
ERASM, a pharmacoepidemiologic survey on management of intermittent allergic rhinitis in every day general medical practice in France
Authors: Demoly P. , Allaert F.‐A. , Lecasble M. ,   PRAGMA
Published: March 2003

Background: The actual management of intermittent allergic rhinitis is still little known about, despite the disease being very prevalent. We used a cross‐sectional survey to address this issue in everyday general medical practice in France. Methods: A total of 1321 general practitioners enrolled 3026 patients consulting for a spring exacerbation of allergic rhinitis. Both doctors and patients filled out a specific questionnaire on allergic rhinitis. Results: These patients consulted their doctor two‐and‐a‐half weeks, on average, after the onset of their symptoms. They were bothered for an average of six days per week (5.9 ± 1.7 days) and for two months per year (8.7 ± 7.7 weeks) by symptoms which largely exceed the ENT (ear, nose and throat) field, with ocular symptoms (51.7%), pharyngeal irritation (39.0%), cough (30.8%), or respiratory discomfort (17.9%). Of these patients 79.2% had some impairment of their professional life and 91.8% of their daily life. Fifty percent of patients knew to what allergens they were allergic; only 11.1% had additional laboratory tests and 10.3% had subsequent specialist consultation (for most this was with an allergologist). Prescribed drugs were oral antihistamines (92.4%) and nasal glucocorticosteroids (45.2%). Prescriptions were written for a duration of six weeks on average. Seventy‐nine percent of patients considered that the information they had received was adequate and easy to understand, but 58.2% of patients would have liked more advice. Furthermore, only 54.7% followed their doctor's prescription scrupulously, and 44% used frequent self‐medication. Conclusions: Intermittent allergic rhinitis is a real health problem because of its increasing prevalence, the induction of impaired quality of life and loss of performance, especially at work. General practitioners play a major role in this disorder; they make the diagnosis, start the treatment, give the relevant information, and monitor most of the patients.
HLA‐DR‐dependent increased mannan‐induced lymphoproliferative response in atopic eczema dermatitis syndrome
Authors: Savolainen J. , Kosonen J. , Kortekangas‐Savolainen O. , Yssel H. , Bousquet J. 
Published: March 2003

Background: In yeast‐sensitive atopic eczema dermatitis syndrome (AEDS), yeast mannan induces highly elevated specific IgE levels and lymphoproliferative responses. In healthy individuals the involvement of both human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐dependent T‐cell activation and non‐HLA‐dependent activation, e.g. by crosslinking of the cell surface mannose receptors, has been suggested. In the present study the HLA dependence and the role of crosslinking in the lymphoproliferative response to mannan in AEDS has been analyzed.Methods: Twenty patients with AEDS and 12 controls with no history of allergic diseases were included in the study. Mannan from Candida albicans was prepared according to the Cetavlon method. Following isolation using Ficoll‐Hypaque, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were incubated with the mannan preparation in the absence and presence of different concentrations of neutralizing anti‐HLA antibodies and α‐methylmannoside for 6 days and proliferative responses were measured by 3H‐thymidine incorporation and scintilloradiography.Results: In AEDS patients with elevated mannan‐specific serum IgE, the C. albicans mannan induced lymphoproliferation. Mannan‐induced lymphoproliferative responses could be inhibited, dose‐dependently, by neutralizing anti‐HLA‐DR, but not anti‐HLA‐DQ antibodies in AEDS patients and healthy controls. The addition of α‐methylmannoside, that blocks binding to mannose receptors, inhibited lymphoproliferative responses in a dose‐dependent way by 50% only in healthy controls, but not in AEDS patients. Levels of inhibition of the proliferation by α‐methylmannoside correlated inversely with the yeast‐ and mannan‐specific IgE levels.Conclusions: These results show that in healthy subjects yeast mannan activates lymphocytes both in an HLA‐DR‐dependent manner and as a result of direct crosslinking of the cell surface. However, in AEDS the elevated lymphoproliferative response is HLA‐DR‐dependent, although only a slight proportion of this response results from direct crosslinking.
IgE‐binding and cross‐reactivity of a new 41 kDa allergen of codfish
Authors: Das Dores S. , Chopin C. , Romano A. , Galland‐Irmouli A.‐V. , Quaratino D. , Pascual C. , Fleurence J. , Guéant J.‐L. 
Published: March 2003

Background:  A 41‐kDa IgE‐reactive protein (p41) was purified from raw cod extract. This protein is homologous to an aldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (APDH). The present study aims to evaluate the IgE‐binding and the cross‐reactivity of this protein in 13 patients allergic to codfish.Methods:  IgE binding of sera from 13 patients allergic to codfish was tested by Sepharose RIA and by Western blot.Results:  Among the 13 patients, only 4 had specific IgE to APDH detected by APDH‐Sepharose RIA. The two patients who had the highest level of specific IgE to human APDH also had a class 5–6 CAP‐RAST IgE level to codfish, but two other patients with a class 5 had a negative APDH‐Sepharose IgE‐RIA. Relative content of APDH was higher in extracts of commercial nonfrozen fish, compared to pre rigor mortis, post rigor mortis and frozen commercial codfish. A high homology of codfish APDH was found with the corresponding human enzyme. A significant inhibition of APDH‐Sepharose by human and, to a lesser extent, by rabbit APDH was observed. Western blot of APDH codfish extract showed two bands at 41 and 36 kDa, respectively.Conclusions:  We have characterized a new allergen from codfish, which had a high level of homology in different species. The p41 relative content of extracts from nonfrozen codfish was higher than in the other samples assessed.
Dysmorphic phenotype and neurological impairment in 22 retinoblastoma patients with constitutional cytogenetic 13q deletion
Authors: Baud Olivier , Cormier‐Daire Valérie , Lyonnet Stanislas , Desjardins Laurence , Turleau Catherine , Doz François 
Published: March 2003

We describe the facial dysmorphic phenotype and the neurological development of a series of 22 retinoblastoma patients sharing a cytogenetically detectable 13q deletion in a retrospective and longitudinal study. In most of the cases, high‐resolution banding analysis, morphological analysis, and assessment for neurodevelopmental outcome, as well for organ malformations, were performed.Chromosomal rearrangement involving the RB1 gene included 20 13q interstitial deletions (including 16 de novo deletions) and two de novo translocations. The most prominent dysmorphic abnormalities were anteverted ear lobes (90%), a high and broad forehead (85%), and a prominent philtrum (65%). This phenotype was associated with severe mental retardation and/or motor impairment at age 2 years in 69% of patients and correlated with the size and the location of the 13q deletion. The survival rate of our series (91%) was not different from that usually seen in retinoblastoma patients.
Spinal muscular atrophy in black South Africans: concordance with the universal SMN1 genotype
Authors: Wilmshurst J M , Reynolds L , Van Toorn R , Leisegang F , Henderson H E 
Published: March 2003

Only one study has reported on the genetic basis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in South African subjects. This was conducted in the Johannesburg region and has suggested that black South Africans only (indigenous Africans) differ from the norm. We have explored this further by DNA studies in 30 unrelated and racially diverse patients who reside in the Western Cape, and who were assessed as SMA subjects according to the internationally accepted inclusion criteria for SMA. These subjects were seen at the neurology clinic at Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town during the period 1980–2001. Four had the type 1 form of SMA, 16 had type 2 and 10 had type 3. All patients were found to be homozygous for the loss of either exon 7 or exons 7 and 8 of the SMN1 gene.Six additional patients had anterior horn cell disease but were negative for the SMN1 gene deletion. All six had exclusion features listed in the international guidelines.This study shows that all patients from the Western Cape, which included 12 black South Africans, are no different genetically or phenotypically from the internationally recognized form of typical SMA.