bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of effect of nedocromil sodium on clinical and inflammatory parameters of asthma in children allergic to dust mite
Authors: Stelmach I. , Jerzynska J. , Brzozowska A. , Kuna P. 
Published: March 2003

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical effect of nedocromil sodium and its relationship with serum levels of inflammatory mediators by monitoring lung function and noninvasive markers of airway inflammation, such as eosinophil blood counts; serum ECP, sIL‐2R, IL‐4 and sICAM; and total IgE. Anti‐inflammatory medications cause a reduction in the markers of airway inflammation, decrease the intensity of airway hyperresponsiveness, and improve clinical symptoms of asthma. Among the available choices is nedocromil sodium, which is favored in the treatment of asthmatic children due to its very mild side‐effects. It has been previously shown to improve the clinical parameters of asthma, but there are limited data on its effect on inflammatory mediators in the serum of asthmatic children. Methods: In this double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled 8‐week trial, 39 children, aged 9–16 years, with moderate atopic asthma were randomly allocated to receive either nedocromil sodium, two puffs twice daily, 0.002 g/puff, or placebo, two puffs twice daily. The primary end points were the clinical parameters of asthma measured by asthma symptom score, FEV1, and PC20H. Other end points included the serum levels of various inflammatory markers – ECP, sIL‐2R, IL‐4, sICAM, and IgE. Results: Clinical and inflammatory parameters improved with the use of nedocromil sodium, compared with placebo. Nedocromil significantly decreased serum levels of inflammatory markers, as shown in the following table. No correlation was found between any of the measured parameters. Conclusions: Nedocromil sodium provided effective anti‐inflammatory treatment for children with moderate atopic asthma.
Trichophyton sensitivity in allergic and nonallergic asthma
Authors: Mungan D. , Bavbek S. , Peksari V. , Çelik G. , Gügey E. , Mısırlıgil Z. 
Published: March 2003

Background: Although the role of inhaled fungi in inducing asthma has been repeatedly confirmed, there are few reports about the association of asthma with dermatophyte sensitivity and the causal role of Trichophyton allergy in asthma. The objective was to investigate the presence of Trichophyton sensitivity among patients with allergic and nonallergic asthma in combination with tinea, and to compare the situation with several control groups in order to evaluate the factors determining Trichophyton sensitivity. Methods: A total of 86 subjects (55 female, 31 male) with a mean age of 38.6±11.1 years were included in the study. The patients were divided into five groups:1) nonallergic asthma plus tinea (n=19)2) allergic asthma plus tinea (n=15)3) asthma without tinea (n=22)4) tinea without asthma (n=17)5) healthy controls (n=13).Skin tests with standardized extracts of T. rubrum and specific IgE measurements were performed in all subjects. All patients were also subjected to microscopic evaluation and fungal culture for dermatophyte infection. Results: The skin test positivity rate to Trichophyton extract of groups 1 (63.1%), 2 (46.7%), and 4 (47.1%) was higher than that in groups 3 (4.4%) and 5 (7.7%) (P<0.05). Although not significant, the rates of sensitivity to T. rubrum (63.1%) and of severe asthma (31.6%) were higher in the group with nonallergic asthma with tinea (group 1) than in other groups. Among 51 patients in whom direct microscopic evaluation revealed dermatophyte infection, 60.8% had positive fungal cultures for T. rubrum (58.1%), T. mentagrophytes (35.5%), and Candida (6.4%). Conclusions: According to our data, the presence of fungal infection seems to be an important determinant in hypersensitivity to Trichophyton whether or not the subject is asthmatic and/or allergic. Since a greater proportion of patients with nonallergic asthma – in whom the rate of severe asthma was also higher – showed positive skin tests to Trichophyton extracts in this study, we believe that patients with severe, intrinsic asthma should be examined for signs of fungal infection and tested to determine immediate hypersensitivity to dermatophyte antigens.
Three cases of childhood nocturnal asthma due to buckwheat allergy
Authors: Lee S. Y. , Lee K. S. , Hong C. H. , Lee K. Y. 
Published: March 2003

Background: Buckwheat flour (BF) is known as a potent food allergen. Sensitization to it usually occurs by ingestion but also by inhalation in occupational or domestic exposure. Buckwheat chaff‐stuffed pillows (BCP) can be contaminated with BF during the process of pilling, and many Korean children and adults use BCP for health reasons. Methods and Results: We here present three cases of BF allergy in children using BCP, who had been treated as nonatopic asthmatics after undergoing the routine allergy skin tests and serologic tests. We took careful clinical histories, and performed skin prick tests (SPT), the radioimmunoassay (RIA) for specific IgE, the BCP‐elimination test, the BF bronchial provocation test, and IgE Western blot. All three children showed positive skin reactions to BF, but none of them had positive reactions to house‐dust mites. Nocturnal asthmatic symptoms were improved during 7 days of BCP elimination, and asthmatic responses were observed by bronchial provocation tests with homemade BF extract. Serum BF‐specific IgE antibodies and several IgE‐binding proteins were detected by RIA and Western blot analysis, respectively. Conclusions: Thus, a small amount of BF attached to BCP can induce BF sensitization, and BCP should be considered a main cause of childhood nocturnal asthma in those asthmatics exposed to these pillows.
Olive allergen‐specific IgE responses in patients with Olea europaea pollinosis
Authors: Quiralte J. , Florido F. , Arias de Saavedra J. M. , Gómez A. , Sáenz de San Pedro B. , González E. , Rodríguez R. 
Published: March 2003

Background Olive tree (Olea europaea) pollen is an important cause of pollinosis in the countries of the Mediterranean area.Objective This work aimed to study the IgE‐binding frequency of Ole e 1, Ole e 2, Ole e 3, Ole e 6 and Ole e 7 from O. europaea pollen in a large population of olive pollen‐allergic patients.Methods We studied: 119 consecutive patients with seasonal rhinitis and/or asthma and a positive skin prick test to O. europaea pollen extract; 10 atopic patients without history of pollinosis and a negative skin prick test to O. europaea; and 10 healthy controls. Allergens were purified from O. europaea pollen extract by reverse phase HPLC and characterized by N‐terminal amino acid sequencing, MALDI analysis, and specific IgE immunodetection. Skin prick tests and ELISA titration against above mentioned purified olive pollen allergens were performed in all pollinic patients and controls.Results One‐hundred and seven (90.7%) patients had a positive skin response to Ole e 1; 88 (74.6%) reacted to Ole e 2; 57 (47.9%) reacted to both Ole e 6 and Ole e 7; and 43 (37.8%) reacted to Ole e 3. The allergenic activity determined by ELISA to Ole e 1 was found in 84%; to Ole e 2 in 61.3%; to Ole e 3 in 31.9%; to Ole e 6 in 39.4%; and to Ole e 7 in 41.2% of patients. All patients had positive skin responses to at least one of the allergens tested, However, a combination of Ole e 1 and Ole e 2 together with a minor allergen Ole e 6 or Ole e 7, disclosed the same diagnostic value that was obtained with the use of crude olive pollen extract. The nonatopic and atopic control subjects did not react to any purified allergens on the skin prick test.Conclusions These results indicate that Ole e 1 and Ole e 2 are major allergens in patients with O. europaea pollinosis in our population. A combination of a few olive pollen allergens can substitute the crude extract for in vivo as well as in vitro diagnostic purposes.
Cockroach sensitivity in Norway: a previously unidentified problem?
Authors: Lødrup Carlsen K. C , Carlsen K. H. , Buchmann M. S. , Wikstrøm J. , Mehl R. ,   GAIN
Published: March 2003

Background: Little is known about cockroach sensitization in Scandinavia, whereas cockroaches are implicated in allergic diseases throughout large parts of the world. In association with the Genetics of Asthma International Network (GAIN) study, we report sensitization to cockroaches and possible association with IgE‐mediated diseases in Norway. Methods: 100 Norwegian families (426 subjects) of 7–35‐year‐old sibling‐pairs with asthma and their parents underwent questionnaire/interview (medical and exposure history), skin prick test (SPT) to common local inhalant allergens and German cockroach, and IgE specific to mites, mosquito, shrimp and cockroach. Cockroach sensitization was defined as positive if there was a positive (≥ 3 mm) skin prick test and/or presence of IgE antibody of class 2 or more. Results: Thirty‐one subjects (7.5%) were sensitized (five monosensitized) to cockroach (27 by skin prick test and seven by IgE antibody, all with additional inhalant allergy). Co‐sensitization was most common to grass (in 61%), cat (48%), dog (48%) and mites (42%). Reported allergic diseases in cockroach‐sensitized subjects were asthma and rhinitis (n = 10), asthma only (n = 9), rhinitis only (n = 2) and neither asthma nor rhinitis (n = 10). Conclusions: Since cockroach sensitization was relatively frequent in Norwegian atopic families, albeit with unclear clinical implications, we suggest that cockroach allergy should be considered in atopic subjects with respiratory disease.
Expression and localization of heat shock proteins in rat basophilic leukemia cells: differential modulation by degranulation, thermal or oxidative stress
Authors: Bachelet M. , Marchand F. , Souil E. , François D. , Mariéthoz E. , Weyer A. , Polla B. S. 
Published: March 2003

Background: Rat basophilic leukemia (RBL‐2H3) cells are well characterized in terms of morphological and biochemical changes upon activation, and have been extensively used as a model system for studying the mechanisms of the immediate hypersensitivity reaction. To investigate whether overexpression of heat shock/stress proteins (HSP) is involved in the mast cell‐dependent reactivity, we examined the adaptive responses of RBL‐2H3 cells to classical stress conditions such as heat shock or oxidative injury produced by an aqueous extract of tobacco smoke.Methods: HSP were determined by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry. Degranulation was confirmed as the release of β‐hexosaminidase, determined spectrophotometrically, and by electron microscopy experiments.Results: We found that RBL‐2H3 cells respond to heat shock or oxidative injury by the synthesis of both the inducible 72 kDa HSP (Hsp70), and the oxidation‐specific 32 kDa heme oxygenase (HO)‐1. Heat shock induced mainly Hsp70 in a cell growth‐dependent manner, whereas oxidative stress induced mainly HO‐1 in a cell growth‐independent manner. However, heat shock or oxidative stress had no significant effects on degranulation.Conclusion: Stress‐mediated synthesis of HSP was not associated with RBL‐2H3 degranulation and likewise, degranulation did not induce HSP.
Cutaneous field stimulation of sensory nerve fibers reduces itch without affecting contact dermatitis
Authors: Wallengren J. 
Published: March 2003

Background: A new technique, cutaneous field stimulation (CFS), which activates electrically unmyelinated C‐fibers, is used to treat localized itch. Its action is similar to that of capsaicin, the pungent agent in hot peppers, which enhances delayed allergic reactions. The aim of the study was to investigate how experimental contact dermatitis responds to CFS.Methods: Twelve patients with contact dermatitis in response to nickel were treated by CFS for 1 h each for four consecutive days. A flexible plate containing electrodes was applied to a test area on the upper arm and was stimulated by a constant current (0.8 mA). On the fifth day, patients were provoked by epicutaneous application of nickel sulfate (allergic contact dermatitis) and benzalkonium chloride (irritant contact dermatitis), and by intradermal tuberculin (delayed immunologic reaction). Twelve other patients with IgE‐mediated allergy were treated by CFS on the lower arm for 1 h and were then pricked with histamine and allergen extracts (wheal volume was measured) and were tested using benzoic acid (nonimmunologic contact urticaria; closed test). Ten of these patients were also treated by CFS for four days, and experiments were performed on the fifth day.Results: Test reactions to nickel, benzalkonium, and tuberculin were found to be unaffected by CFS treatment. Although allergic prick test reactions were enhanced (by 28%) after a single CFS treatment, the associated itch was significantly reduced both after single and repeated CFS treatments (by 65% and 38%, respectively).Conclusions: Repeated use of CFS to reduce itch has no adverse effects on contact dermatitis.
Birch and ragweed pollinosis north of Milan: a model to investigate the effects of exposure to “new” airborne allergens
Authors: Asero R. 
Published: March 2003

Background: The effects of sudden and massive exposure of the general population to novel airborne allergens are not known. This study aimed to investigate the clinical effects of two “new” allergens, ragweed and birch, in an area north of Milan during the last 15 years.Methods:  We reviewed the records of 2571 monosensitized patients seen during the last 10 years in two allergy units north of Milan. Data included age at onset of allergic symptoms, and family history of allergic diseases. In this sample, 500 were allergic to grass, mite, birch, and ragweed; 293 to pellitory; 167 to mugwort; 100 to Alternaria; and 11 to plantain.Results: Birch pollen‐allergic patients and ragweed pollen‐allergic patients showed a similar mean age at onset (35.3 years vs. 35.1 years; P = NS), but were significantly older than all other groups of patients (P < 0.001). Patients allergic to ragweed and birch pollen, 304 and 323 respectively, were >30 years at the onset of allergic symptoms. A family history of allergic disorders among first degree relatives was far less frequent among patients allergic to birch pollen (29%) or ragweed pollen (27%) than among patients sensitive to all other airborne allergens, except those allergic to mugwort pollen (P < 0.001). In both ragweed and birch groups, a positive family history was significantly more common among subjects < 30 years than in those > 30 years at onset of respiratory allergy (81/196 (41%) vs. 54/304 (18%), P < 0.001 for the ragweed group; 80/177 [45%]vs. 65/323 (20%), P < 0.001 for the birch group).Conclusion: Exposure of the general population of this area to two new airborne allergens resulted in the onset of respiratory allergy in many older people who lacked any relevant predisposing factor. Although we cannot exclude the possibility that those who became allergic had been exposed to birch or ragweed pollen elsewhere, a more likely explanation is a specific susceptibility that remains viable until the subject encounters the “right” allergen.
Genetic landmarks through philately: Luís Morquio 1867–1935
Authors: Chudley AE , Chakravorty C 
Published: March 2003

Chudley AE. Genetic landmarks through philately: Luís Morquio 1867–1935.  Clin Genet 2002: 62: 438–439. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2002Morquio syndrome, also known as Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IV, is well known to pediatricians and geneticists, although it is rare. Many do not know much about the physician who first described this lysosomal disorder. In this brief review, the person and the disease are described, along with philatelic illustrations that have been issued to honor this famous Latin American medical hero.
Characterization of partial trisomy 9p due to insertional translocation by chromosomal (micro)FISH
Authors: De Pater JM , Ippel PF , Van Dam WM , Loneus WH , Engelen JJM 
Published: March 2003

de Pater JM, Ippel PF, van Dam WM, Loneus WH, Engelen JJM. Characterization of partial trisomy 9p due to insertional translocation by chromosomal (micro)FISH.  Clin Genet 2002: 62: 482–487. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2002We describe a family with an insertion 12;9 translocation occurring in a balanced form in a mother and two sons, but in an unbalanced form in the proband, resulting in trisomy of chromosome region 9p22→9p24. The proband manifests typical features of trisomy 9p; the clinical signs were mental and growth retardation, microcephaly, epicanthus, low‐set ears, micrognathia, clinodactyly and hypoplastic phalanges of the fifth fingers, hypoplasia or absence of toenails, and extremely small genitals. The GTG‐banded findings were confirmed using (micro)FISH. Intriguingly, the mother and the two carrier sons exhibited major learning difficulties that were not present in the non‐carrier sister of the mother: this may be due to a gene disruption or induction of abnormal expression. Dysmorphic features were not present in the three carriers. We compare our clinical and cytogenetic findings with other cases of partial trisomy 9p reported in the literature.
Adhesion molecules in patients after lung transplantation
Authors: Bewig B , Tiroke A , Böttcher H , Padel K , Hirt S , Haverich A , Cremer J 
Published: March 2003

Leukocyte adhesion molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1 and its ligands, are involved in inflammatory processes of the lung. For ICAM‐1, differential expression during different kinds of complications after transplantation has been proposed.We analyzed the role of ICAM‐1, CD18, CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c during episodes of rejection or infection in patients after lung transplantation and compared the results to episodes without apparent complication. A total of 98 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples and 90 serum samples were analyzed.ICAM‐1, CD18, CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c expressions were detected immunocytochemically on alveolar macrophages. Soluble ICAM‐1 was quantified in serum and BAL. In the control group, 49.8±18% of macrophages stained positive for CD11b. During rejection, the mean of cells showing CD11b on the surface was significantly higher (64.6±11.4%), with no difference compared to episodes of infection (59.7±22.7). All other epitopes were not expressed differently with regard to a normal clinical course or episodes of infection and rejections.In summary, assessment of ICAM‐1 and corresponding ligands did not allow for a reliable discrimination between episodes of rejection or infection in lung transplantation.
Insight into illness in patients with mania, mixed mania, bipolar depression and major depression with psychotic features
Authors: Dell'Osso Liliana , Pini Stefano , Cassano Giovanni B , Mastrocinque Concettina , Seckinger Regine Anna , Saettoni Marco , Papasogli Alessandra , Yale Scott A , Amador Xavier F 
Published: March 2003

Dell'Osso L, Pini S, Cassano GB, Mastrocinque C, Seckinger RA, Saettoni M, Papasogli A, Yale SA, Amador XF. Insight into illness in patients with mania, mixed mania, bipolar depression and major depression with psychotic features. Bipolar Disord 2002: 4: 315–322. © Blackwell Munksgaard 2002
Background:
Poor insight into illness is a common feature of bipolar disorder and one that is associated with poor clinical outcome. Empirical studies of illness awareness in this population are relatively scarce with the majority of studies being published over the previous decade. The study reported here sought to replicate previous report findings that bipolar patients frequently show high levels of poor insight into having an illness. We also wanted to examine whether group differences in insight exist among bipolar manic, mixed and unipolar depressed patients with psychotic features.
Methods:
A cohort of 147 inpatients with DSM‐III‐R bipolar disorder and 30 with unipolar depression with psychotic features, were evaluated in the week prior to discharge using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐III‐R‐Patient Edition (SCID‐P), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Scale to assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD).
Results:
Insight into specific aspects of the illness was related to the polarity of mood episode: patients with mania showed significantly poorer insight compared with those with mixed mania, bipolar depression and unipolar depression. A linear regression analysis using SUMD score as the dependent variable and symptoms of mania as the independent variable found that specific manic symptoms did not account for level of insight. Similar results were obtained when the mean insight scores of patients with and without grandiosity were contrasted.
Conclusions:
We hypothesize that the lack of association between level of insight and total number of manic symptoms or with specific manic symptoms may be related to the persistence of subsyndromal symptoms in patients remitting from a manic episode.
Right prefrontal TMS versus sham treatment of mania: a controlled study
Authors: Kaptsan Alex , Yaroslavsky Yuri , Applebaum Julia , Belmaker RH , Grisaru Nimrod 
Published: March 2003

Objective:  Left prefrontal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been reported to have ECT‐like effects in depression and we therefore planned a study of TMS in mania. Sixteen patients completed trial of right versus left prefrontal TMS at 20 Hz, 2‐sec duration per train, 20 trains per day for 10 treatment days. Mania was evaluated using the Mania Scale, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Clinical Global Impression. Significantly more improvement was observed in patients treated with right prefrontal TMS than with left prefrontal. We now report a follow‐up study of right active TMS versus right sham TMS with the same indications and parameters.Methods:  Twenty‐five patients entered and 19 completed right TMS versus sham right TMS.Results:  Right TMS was no more effective than sham TMS.Conclusions:  It is possible that the previous results were due to an effect of left TMS to worsen mania. Alternatively, it is noted that the present patient group had much more psychosis than the previous study of TMS in mania, and depression studies have reported that psychosis is a poor prognostic sign for TMS response.
A new bipolar spectrum concept: a brief review
Authors: Angst Jules , Gamma Alex 
Published: March 2003

Angst J, Gamma A. A new bipolar spectrum concept: a brief review.  Bipolar Disord 2002: 4(Suppl. 1): 11–14. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2002Research on the broad bipolar spectrum is dependent on the definition of hypomania. We recently proposed a new, softer syndromal definition with clinical validity. This broadens the diagnosis of bipolar II (BP‐II) disorder at the expense of major depressive disorder (MDD). There is evidence for a third group of suspected BP‐II manifesting major depression plus hypomanic symptoms. The two bipolar‐II groups together are as prevalent as MDD. A new concept of minor bipolar disorder embracing dysthymia, minor and recurrent brief depression with hypomanic syndromes and symptoms is discussed. Some methodological pitfalls of research on drug‐induced hypomania as an element of the bipolar spectrum are also summarized.