摘要:

SummaryThe pathogenesis of both allergic diseases and asthma remains an unsolved mystery. Of considerable interest, and perhaps insight, into this problem are clinical observations that viral illnesses play an important role in the allergic diathesis. Conclusive evidence to establish a relationship linking viral illnesses to clinical allergy has yet to be established. Nonetheless, recent observations in this arena are intriguing to scientist and clinician alike. The following discussion reviews recent investigations that evaluate the relationship between viral illnesses and development of allergic disease and asthma.

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1989.tb02336.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1989.tb02337.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryThe inhibitory effects of topical glucocorticosteroid treatment on the immediate dermal allergic reaction were studied in 10 patients in a double, randomized, placebo‐controlled fashion. The aim was to study whether a prolongation of the treatment time would enhance the inhibitory effect beyond the 30–40% reduction previously reported after I week of treatment, and whether any changes in skin reactivity were accompanied by changes in the level of mast cells or histamine at the challenge site. Allergen and histamine skin‐prick tests were performed on both forearms before the start of the study and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment with placebo cream on one forearm and with 0.05% clobetasot‐17‐propionate cream on the other. Punch biopsies from the skin treated actively and with placebo were taken after 4 weeks in eight of the patients. The specimens were used for the light‐microscopic evaluation of mast cell density and for the measurement of histamine and protein content. After 4 weeks of treatment we found a reduction in the allergen‐induced weal (72%;P<0.001) and flare (62%;P<0.05) response. There was also a minor reduction in the histamine‐induced weal (38%;P<0.05) but not the flare response, suggesting that the glucocorticoid treatment induced a reduced mediator release at allergen challenge. This could be partially explained by the finding of a reduction in the number of detectable skin mast cells (85%; from 0.78 to 0.11 mast cells per unit area) and in the histamine content of the skin as related to the tissue wet weight (36%;P<0.05). There was also an increase in the protein content of the skin in relation to tissue weight (37%;P<0.05), which was presumably partly caused by a reduction in the water content of the skin, further enhancing the reduction of histamine when related to tissue protein content to 56% (P<0.01). These findings of a glucocorticosteroid induced reduction in the mast cell density of the skin differ from the results of our previous study of airway mucosa, where the mast cell density was not reduced by topical glucocorticoid treatment in a dosage which effectively inhibits the immediate allergic response after allergen challenge. These differences can be interpreted as being due to differences in the steroid responsiveness of different mast cell populations, but may also depend on differences in the pharmacokinetics of the glucocorticosteroids when applied locally to the skin as opposed to the airway mucosa. The present results emphasize the role of the mast cell and histamine in the pathogenesis of the immediate dermal allergic reaction, but also stress that the effects of glucocorticosteroids are largely dependent not only on dosage but also on treatment times. Results fromin‐vitroand other studies involving short‐term treatment with glucocorticosteroids should therefore be inter

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1989.tb02338.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryAtopic/allergic manifestations and skin‐prick tests (SPT) to egg white, cow's milk (CM) and fish were evaluated during the first 18 months of life in two matched groups of infants with a family history of atopy/allergy. In one group (n= 65) the mothers had a diet free from eggs, CM and fish during the first 3 months postpartum, whereas the mothers in the other group (n= 50) consumed an ordinary diet. The diet of the infants was similar in both groups, i.e. CM was not supplied until 6 months of age, and eggs and fish not until 9 months of age. The incidence of atopic dermatitis was significantly lower in the maternal diet group during the first 6 months postpartum (10.8 and 28%, respectively) but not after that age. Other atopic/allergic manifestations did not differ and the number of positive SPT to egg white, CM or fish at 9 months of age was similar in both group

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1989.tb02339.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryCold urticaria is a rare condition characterized by abnormal wealing following exposure to cold. It has been suggested that lipid‐derived mediators may be involved in the pathogenesis of this condition. We have investigated whether the inflammatory reaction in cold urticaria is associated with the release of cysteinyl‐leukotrienes. Leukotriene E4(LTE4; a stable metabolic product of LTC4and LTD4) and histamine were measured in the blood draining the site of a cold‐challenge in five patients with clinical histories of cold urticaria. Three of the patients showed a typical clinical response to the challenge, and this was associated with an increase in the concentration of LTE4and histamine. No increase in LTE4or histamine levels were observed following cold challenge in the non‐responding indi

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1989.tb02340.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryWe studied the ability of monocytes to metabolize [3H]arachidonic acid (AA) provided exogenously by activated T cells, and the extent to which dexamethasone suppressed eicosanoid production by normal and atopic cells.[3H]AA metabolites were identified using a reverse‐phase high pressure liquid chromatography system (HPLC). Unstimulated and PHA‐stimulated T cells from normal and atopic subjects exhibited a similar uptake and time‐dependent release of radiolabel, 90% of which was identified as free AA. The addition of autologous normal and atopic monocytes to these cultures enhanced the release of radiolabel, even in the absence of stimulation with mitogen. Atopic T cell/monocyte cultures released significantly (P= 0.046) more radiolabel than normal cells when stimulated with PHA. Furthermore, the monocytes from both normal and atopic subjects metabolized T cell derived [3H]AA into cyclo‐oxygenase (CO) and lipoxygenase (LO) products. Under unstimulated conditions, atopic cells produced significantly (P= 0.04) less CO products than normal cells. In contrast, under PHA and calcium ionophore‐stimulated conditions, the atopic cells produced significantly (P= 0.048) more prostaglandins than normal donor cells. Furthermore, although the total release of radioactivity was comparable in both groups, significantly less (P= 0.02) free AA remained in ionophore‐stimulated culture supernatants from atopic cells. In order to study the regulation of AA release by normal and atopic T cells, dexamethasone (1 μm) was added to T cell cultures. Dexamethasone inhibited the release of [3H]AA from normal T cells to a significantly (P= 0.003) greater extent than it did to atopic cells. Our studies suggest that mononuclear cells from atopic subjects have abnormalities both in AA metabolism and the regulation of its release, supporting the hypothesis that allergic individuals exhibit disordered cellular immunoregulation and enhanced inflammato

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1989.tb02341.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryA group of pigeon fanciers with Pigeon Breeder's Lung wore a positive pressure respirator with a full mask and hood when working with pigeons. Serial measurements of specific IgG antibody to pigeon globulin (ELISA) were made in 22 subjects. Thirteen wore a respirator (monitored over 14 months) and nine did not (monitored over 3 months). Following introduction of the respirator, the serum antibody to pigeon globulin significantly decreased when compared with the non‐respirator group. This fall in antibody persisted over 14 months reflecting the reduction in antigen inhalation. Although circulating antibody decreased in all those wearing respirators, the remaining levels were still within the range that can be associated with clinical symptoms possibly because of inward leakage of antigen bypassing the filte

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1989.tb02342.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryIn 47 atopic subjects, skin‐prick testing to 10 common allergens was performed, and specific IgE to the same allergens was assessed by the multi‐allergosorbent chemiluminescent assay (MAST‐CLA). Overall agreement between the tests was 66.4% for conventionally positive skin tests (weal diameter 3 mm), rising to 78.5% when a positive skin test was defined as having a weal diameter greater than or equal to 5 mm. Agreement between the tests was statistically significant for all allergens exceptAlternaria.A history was obtained from each subject of the presence or absence of allergic symptoms on exposure to cats, and whether there was a history of grass pollen allergy. MAST‐CLA testing for specific IgE to cat dander predicted a history of cat allergy with an efficiency of 74.5%, while a positive MAST‐CLA test for Cocksfoot grass predicted a history of grass pollen allergy with an efficiency of 85.1%. Similar results were obtained on skin testing for these allergens. We conclude that MAST‐CLA gave results comparable to those obtained by skin‐prick testing, and correlated equally well with the history of alle

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1989.tb02343.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryNasal hyperreactivity occurs quite frequently while reading newspapers. This study consisted of 15 patients with vasomotor rhinitis with such problems and six asymptomatic volunteers. All subjects were exposed to printing ink and paper dust from newspapers. The effect was registered by nasal symptom score and rhinomanometry. Patients with vasomotor rhinitis reacted upon exposure to paper dust but not to printing ink. This exposure had no effect on the control group. The results indicate that paper dust is the causative agent in hyperreactivity to newspapers.

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1989.tb02344.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SummaryThe computer records of Swedish conscript examinations in 1971 and 1981 were analysed regarding the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis. The material comprised ∼ 55 000 18‐year‐old males in each cohort. During the 10‐year period the prevalence of asthma increased from 1.9 to 2.8% and of allergic rhinitis from 4.4 to 8.4%. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was already higher in the northern than in the southern part of the country in 1971. The increase in both diseases was higher in the northern parts of Sweden, giving double prevalence figures in the northern part of the country compared to the southern part in 1981. The distribution of the prevalence was similar to the temperature pattern in the country, the higher prevalence being associated with a colder outdoor climate. Both diseases were more prevalent in urban than in rura

ISSN:0954-7894    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1989.tb02345.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY