ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00516.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00517.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00518.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00519.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryBackgroundSensitization and exposure to mile allergens is a major risk factor for asthma. Little is known about the rate of build‐up of allergens in the mite microhabitats.ObjectivesTo investigate the rate of increase in mite allergen levels in new mattresses.MethodsDer p 1 was measured in the dust samples collected from six identical new single mattresses over a period of 2 years.ResultsDer p 1 increased significantly at 4 months as compared with baseline level (P<0.01), but no difference was found between the concentrations at 4. 8, 12 and 24 months. There was a significant correlation between Der p 1 concentration in mattresses at 4.8, 12 and 24 months and Der p 1 levels in the bedroom carpet at the beginning of the study.ConclusionsNew mattresses can become a significant source of exposure to mite allergens after a short period of time (<4 months). There is little justification for advising mite sensitive patients to replace their mattresses as a part of avoidance regim

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00520.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryBackgroundSensitization and exposure to indoor allergens are the major risk factors for asthma. It is possible that significant exposure to domestic allergens occurs outside the home.ObjectivesTo investigate the levels of Can f 1 and Bla g 2 in the dust from carpeted floors and upholstered seats in public buildings and public transport and the airborne concentrations of Der p 1, Fel d 1, Can f 1 and Bla g 2 in schools and offices.MethodsCan f 1 and Bla g 2 were measured in the dust collected by vacuuming a I m2area of carpet, as well as upholstered seats in five schools, six hotels, four cinemas, six pubs, three buses and two trains. Dust was also collected from the bedroom carpet, living room carpet, mattress and sofa in 20 homes with and 20 homes without a dog in the same area. Personal airborne sampling (2 L/min) was conducted for 8 h in offices(n= 16) and classrooms(n= 9). In addition, airborne samples in schools were collected using a high volume pump (60 L/min) for 1 h in three classrooms immediately after the children vacated the school. Can f 1, Bla g 2, Der p 1 and Fel d 1 were assayed using a two–site monoclonal antibody–based ELISA.ResultsCan f 1 was detected in all dust samples from public places, ranging from 0.2 to 52.5 μg/g, Significantly higher levels were found in upholstered scats (geometric mean – GM 9.4 μg/g) than in carpets (GM 1.5 μg/g;P10 μg/g were found in 40% of upholstered seats in public places. Can f 1 was significantly higher in upholstered seats in public places than in sofas in homes without a dog (GM 1.8 μg/g;P<0.001). Detectable levels of Bla g 2 were found in all of the schools (GM 2.4 U/g, range 0.8–4.4 U/g). Bla g 2 concentration greater than 2U/g (provisional threshold level representing risk of sensitization) was measured in 65% of the classrooms sampled. Der p 1 and Bla g 2 were below the detection limit in all airborne samples. However, airborne Fel d 1 and Can f 1 were detected in schools and offices, albeit in low concentrations.ConclusionsUpholstered seats from public places constitute a reservoir for the accumulation of dog allergen, and a source of exposure to Can f 1 inside public buildings or on public transport. Exposure to cockroach allergens in schools may be important for cockroach sensitized asthma

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00521.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryBackgroundInjective immunotherapy is a well‐known and recognized treatment for allergic diseases, but its safety has been questioned during recent years. Alternative administration routes have been proposed and there is a growing interest and experience in sublingual therapy. The safety of alternative routes is nonetheless a real advantage, so long as it is not counterbalanced by a loss of clinical benefit.ObjectiveWe have compared the efficacy of the same biologically standardized grass pollen extract administered through the injective or the sublingual route, in a group of 20 patients followed for two pollen seasons.MethodsBoth therapies were administered for 12 months according to a double‐blind (double‐dummy) plan; at the end of the trial the cumulative dosage of the sublingual therapy was 2.4 times higher than that of the injective therapy. Data about skin reactivity, symptoms and drugs scores during the pollen season, as well as total specific IgG and specific IgG4, during and after the trial, were obtained.ResultsOur data show that sublingual and injective therapy are equally effective according to subjective clinical parameters, with a statistically highly significant reduction of symptoms and drugs (P= 0.002 for symptoms and drugs in SLIT‐treated patients;P= 0.002 for symptoms andP= 0.0039 for drugs in patients given injections). On the other hand, objective parameters (total specific IgG, specific IgG4, skin reactivity) changed only in patients treated with active injective therapy, withP<0.001,P<0.001 andP= 0.021, respectively.ConclusionsThe discrepancies observed could be interpreted as a consequence of different mechanisms of action of the two therapies or to the lack of close relationships between the clinical and the objective parameters which were consider

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00522.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryBackgroundAllergy to both house dust and storage mites is well established, but information about other species of mites is seant.ObjectiveOne hundred and fifty patients directly exposed to an occupational environment were studied to assess whether spider mites (Tetranychidue) caused their allergic symptoms. We also studied a group of 50 patients from an urban environment, who were not occupationally exposed to spider mites, with a strong sensitization toDermatophagoides pteronyssinus(RAST class 4).MethodsCase history (including questions about work‐related symptoms), skin tests, RAST and conjunctival provocation tests were performed in both groups usingTetranychus urticaeandPanonychus citriextracts as allergens. Cross‐reactivity between spider mites andD. Pteronyssinuswas determined by RAST inhibition.ResultsFifty‐four of 150 rural workers were positive toTetranychidaeand in all cases there was an associated sensitization toD. pteronyssinus. All individuals belonging to the urban group were positive to spider mites. RAST inhibition demonstrated a significant cross‐reactivity betweenTetranychidaeandD. pteronyssinus. Five of fifty‐four rural workers sensitized to spider mites developed symptoms only when they handled plants or fruits infested with spider mites and they became asymptomatic when exposure ceased.ConclusionIn the rural population studied. 36% of workers were found to be sensitized to spider mites and 10% had symptoms associated with occupational exposure. Since specific IgE antibodies to spider mites could not be detected in the absence of the specific IgE antibodies toD. pteronyssinus, and as all the affected workers were RAST positive toD. pteronyssinus, prior sensitization to house dust mites may be a risk factor for occupational allergy to spi

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00523.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryBackgroundSeasonal allergic rhinitis constitutes an excellentin vivomodel of an allergic mucosal inflammatory reaction. This offers the opportunity of studying the fundamentals of allergic inflammation in addition to improvement of knowledge on the basal pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease. So far, monitoring methods of disease activity and treatment efficacy have mainly been based upon subjective assessments, illustrating the impact of introducing reliable objective methods.ObjectiveTo investigate the allergic inflammatory reaction of seasonal rhinitis through different objective methods and evaluate these as indicators of disease activity and treatment efficacy.MethodsFunctional parameters, i.e. acoustic rhinometry and nasal metacholine challenge, and biological markers, i.e. blood eosinophil count, eosinophil cationic protein in serum (s‐ECP) and nasal lavage fluid (n‐ECP), were assessed before and at peak pollen season in 27 patients with grass pollen induced rhinitis. Patients were randomized to either nasal corticosteroid or placebo treatment and recorded nasal symptom scores.ResultsAcoustic rhinometry revealed a significant difference in favour of steroid treatment (P<0.05) comparing nasal volumes before and during season. This difference primarily relied upon a decrease in the placebo group (P= 0.05). A reduction from baseline of s‐ECP in the steroid group (P<0.01) was obtained. N‐ECP demonstrated a difference between treatment groups, although not significant. Symptom scores increased in all patients during the pollen season, although this was only significant in the placebo treated patients (P<0.01). The remaining methods applied did not demonstrate further differences, either within or between treatment groups.ConclusionOur results demonstrate acoustic rhinometry to be a sensitive and objective method of assessment of nasal obstruction. Furthemore, acoustic rhinometry and s‐ECP reflect the impact of nasal steroid therapy on seasonal allergic

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00524.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryBackgroundAt present, severalin vitrotests for immunoglobulin E (lgE)‐mediated food allergy are available. An estimation of the diagnostic accuracy of the various tests used in predicting clinical sensitivity to codfish in a well‐characterized allergic material is necessary.ObjectivesTo compare the diagnostic value of four specific IgE tests, and histamine release from basophils (HR) in identifying clinical type I allergy to codfish. As a true diagnosis, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled food challenges (DBPCFC) were employed.MethodsEight clinically codfish‐allergic adult patients were investigated together with 30 codfish‐tolerant control subjects for evidence of codfish‐specific reactivity by Phadebas RAST® (PHA). Pharmacia CAP System RAST® (CAP), Magic® Lite (ML) and HR. To characterize the diagnostic properties of a freshly prepared raw codfish extract, experiments were conducted employing an in‐house radioallergosorbent test (RAST). the Maxisorp RAST (MAXI) and HR. Finally, protein profile and IgE‐reacting allergens were detected by means of sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel elcctrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and immunoblotting.ResultsThe sensitivities of HR with commercial extract and the three commercially available specific IgE analyses were 0.83 and 1.00 respectively. Specificities were 1.00 (H R) and 0.87‐1.00 (specific IgE tests). Ereshly prepared codfish extracts improved the sensitivity of HR. SDS‐PAGE revealed ∼29 bands (<14.3‐200 kDa) including a band of 12‐13 kDa. and in immunoblotting 18 sera identified 17 IgE‐binding bands. The protein migrating at 12‐13 kDa was identified in the fresh codfish extract tested with gen from all clinical codfish allergies, while no significant reaction was seen in the control subjects.ConclusionBased on the small number of adult patients included in our study, thein vitroassays with commercial and fresh extracts have high sensitivity and are acceptable for screening for codfish allergy. Specificity of Phadebas. CAP. and our in‐house RAST was less than unity, whereas ML and strong binding of IgE to a 12‐13kDa protein completely matches DBPCFC results, and thus seems

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00525.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY