1
UI  - ML893-0005
AU  - Kang BC
AU  - Johnson J
AU  - Veresthorner C
TI  - ATOPIC PROFILE OF INNER-CITY ASTHMA WITH A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON
      THE COCKROACH-SENSITIVE AND RAGWEED-SENSITIVE SUBGROUPS
SO  - Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.  92(6):802-811, 1993 Dec.
IS  - 0091-6749
MH  - Inner-city asthma
MH  - Aeroallergens
MH  - Cockroach allergy
MH  - Ige antibody
MH  - Indoor allergen
MH  - Bronchial-asthma.  House dust.  Allergic-asthma.  Serum ige.  Mite. 
MH  - Children.  Antigens.  Cat.  Prevalence.  Population
AB  - Background: Inner-city asthma is well known for its high risk of
      mortality. To better understand urban asthma, we examined clinical
      characteristics and aeroallergen sensitivities of 592 of 680
      consecutive urban Chicago residents with asthma.

      Methods: A total of 227 male and 453 female subjects who met the
      criteria for the study were registered. A comprehensive clinical
      evaluation was followed by allergy skin testing (prick and
      intradermal testing) with 10 groupings (5 indoor and 5 outdoor) of
      common aeroallergens. Serum total IgE and selective antigen-specific
      IgE levels, including cockroach-specific IgE, were routinely
      measured. A total of 592 (196 male and 396 female) subjects with an
      average age of 35 years were skin tested The average duration of
      asthma was 12 6 years, and 31% of the population was receiving
      corticosteroids.

      Results: Aeroallergen sensitivity was noted in 85%, and 94 subjects
      (15%) were nonallergic. House dust sensitivity (76%) was most
      prevalent, distantly followed by sensitivity to cockroach (48%),
      ragweed (45%), other weeds (42%), cat (40%), and dust mite (24%).
      The average number of aeroallergen sensitivities detected was 4 of
      10 groupings of both    and outdoor allergens. Twenty percent of
      subjects were allergic to only indoor allergens, whereas 4% were
      allergic to outdoor allergens only. Serum IgE was 245 +/- 17.3 IU/ml
      (geometric mean + SEM), and 74% of 444 serum samples assayed showed
      IgE antibody levels greater than or equal to 100 IU/ml. A
      cockroach-sensitive subgroup (283 subjects) had longer duration of
      asthma (p < 0. 0001) and fewer additional aeroallergen sensitivities
      (p < 0.0001) than the ragweed-sensitive subgroup (264 subjects).

      Conclusion: The results indicate that a great majority (85%) of
      inner-city Chicago residents with asthma have atopic asthma, as
      demonstrated by highly elevated IgE levels and multiple aeroallergen
      sensitivities. Sensitivity to indoor allergens is more prevalent
      than sensitivity to outdoor allergens. The subjects with
      cockroach-sensitive asthma appear to be a distinctive subgroup
      characterized by chronicity and elevated serum IgE antibody levels
      with fewer aeroallergen skin test sensitivities. [References: 46]
LG  - English
PT  - Article
SB  - Current Contents/Life Sciences
      Current Contents/Clinical Medicine
IN  - Reprint available from:
      Kang BC
      UNIV KENTUCKY
      KENTUCKY CLIN
      DEPT MED
      K528
      LEXINGTON, KY 40536
      USA
      
      MT SINAI HOSP
      RUSH MED SCH
      CHICAGO, IL
      USA

2
UI  - ML341-0009
AU  - Michils A
AU  - Casimir G
AU  - Yernault JC
AU  - Gossart B
AU  - Duchateau J
TI  - A DIFFERENT PROFILE OF EPITOPIC DOMINANCE IN THE IMMUNOGLOBULIN-G
      RESPONSE TO BOVINE BETALACTOGLOBULIN IN LUNG CANCER
SO  - Cancer.  72(12):3607-3613, 1993 Dec 15.
IS  - 0008-543X
MH  - Bovine betalactoglobulin
MH  - Pepsin hydrolysis
MH  - Immunoglobulin-g antibody
MH  - Epitopic dominance
MH  - Lung cancer
MH  - Cathepsin-b.  Proteinase.  Immune.  Invasion
AB  - Background. The authors previously documented a quantitative defect
      in the immunoglobulin G (IgG) response toward bovine
      betalactoglobulin (BLG), the major cow's milk antigen, and antigen
      pi of the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p1),
      in patients with lung cancer. In the Der pi model, the authors
      documented at the IgG level an epitope specificity that differed
      between patients with lung cancer (preferential specificity for
      cryptic epitopes) and healthy control subjects and patients with
      mite allergy. The current study investigated whether this varying
      specificity might be extended to the IgG response toward BLG.

      Methods. The authors compared the IgG binding to native BLG (nBLG)
      and its products of pepsin hydrolysis (dBLG) in a solid-phase
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using
      peroxidase-conjugated protein A in 120 patients with lung cancer, 52
      patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who were
      closely matched for age, sex, and smoking habits with the patients
      with cancer, and 120 healthy control subjects (blood donors).

      Results. Expressing the ratio between optical densities observed for
      dBLG and nBLG, respectively, the authors documented two groups:
      patient with lung cancer with higher levels of binding on dBLG (mean
      ratio +/- SD, 1.66 +/- 0.26) and healthy control subjects and
      patients with COPD with similar levels of retention for dBLG and
      nBLG (mean ratios +/- SD, 1.00 +/- 0.10 and 1.01 +/- 0.07,
      respectively). Influence of population characteristics could be
      excluded. The histologic type of cancer and its extent had no
      influence on the defined ratio.

      Conclusion. These results suggest a preferential recognition of
      epitopes unmasked by pepsin hydrolysis (cryptic epitopes?) by lung
      cancer IgG, contrasting with the preferential specificity of IgG
      from healthy control subjects and patients with COPD for structural
      epitopes unaffected by the proteolysis. These findings are similar
      to those observed previously with Der pi and indicate a varying, and
      possibly specific, profile of epitopic dominance in the IgG response
      to antigens naturally presented at the mucosal level in patients
      with lung carcinoma, a model of mucosal cancer. [References: 29]
LG  - English
PT  - Article
SB  - Current Contents/Life Sciences
      Current Contents/Clinical Medicine
IN  - Reprint available from:
      Michils A
      UNIV BRUSSELS
      ERASME HOSP
      DEPT CHEST
      ROUTE LENNIK 808
      B-1070 BRUSSELS
      BELGIUM
      
      FREE UNIV BRUSSELS
      ST PIERRE HOSP
      DEPT IMMUNOL
      B-1050 BRUSSELS
      BELGIUM

3
UI  - ML242-0009
AU  - Vanhagehamsten M
AU  - Harfast B
AU  - Johansson SGO
TI  - DUST MITE ALLERGY - AN IMPORTANT CAUSE OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN
      FARMERS
SO  - American Journal of Industrial Medicine.  25(1):47-48, 1994 Jan.
IS  - 0271-3586
MH  - Lepidoglyphus destructor
MH  - Storage mites
MH  - Occupational asthma
MH  - Organic dusts
MH  - Storage mites.  Lepidoglyphus-destructor.  Farming population
AB  - In 2,578 Swedish farmers, 6.2% were found to have an allergy to
      storage mites. The storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor has been
      identified by both RAST and bronchial challenges as a significant
      cause of occupational asthma in rural environments.
      Immunohistochemical studies of L. destructor disclosed that at least
      one L. destructor allergen is associated with digestion. (C) 1994
      Wiley-Liss, Inc. [References: 12]
LG  - English
PT  - Note
SB  - Current Contents/Clinical Medicine
IN  - Reprint available from:
      Vanhagehamsten M
      KAROLINSKA HOSP
      DEPT CLIN IMMUNOL
      BOX 60500
      S-10401 STOCKHOLM
      SWEDEN

4
UI  - MJ029-0005
AU  - Massey DG
AU  - Fourniermassey G
AU  - James RH
TI  - MINIMIZING ACARIANS AND HOUSE DUST IN THE TROPICS
SO  - Annals of Allergy.  71(5):439-444, 1993 Nov.
IS  - 0003-4738
MH  - Acaricide.  Mites
AB  - Dust collection and mite isolation by Furumizo's method occurred in
      33 homes on days 0 and 14. The first application of Paragerm AK (23
      homes) or placebo aerosol (ten homes) was done after vacuuming on
      day 14. The second (final) spraying occurred on day 28, immediately
      after vacuuming. Vacuum collections without spraying were done on
      days 56 and 84 in this randomized double-blind trial.

      With Paragerm, dust volume fell to 80.3% of initial levels by day
      28, remained low at 8 7.9% (P < .05) on day 56, and then rose to
      115.9% by day 84. In control homes, comparative dust values were
      89.0%, 103.7%, and 109.9%. With Paragerm, mite concentration
      decreased to 70.8% by day 28 (P < .01), to 65% at day 56 (P < .025),
      and continued to fall to 47.7% by day 84 (P <. 05). With control
      aerosol, mite numbers rose compared with initial values: 119.1% at
      day 28, 22 7.2% at day 56, and 125.1% at day 84.

      No adverse effects were observed in Paragerm homes besides odor (70%
      complained). The two asthmatic occupants improved symptomatically
      and took less medication following the Paragerm.

      In conclusion, Paragerm, used over 40 years in Europe, is an
      effective, nontoxic acaricide in Hawaii, acting promptly and for at
      least 2 months. It was also associated with diminished dust volume,
      important in nondust allergy. [References: 24]
LG  - English
PT  - Article
SB  - Current Contents/Clinical Medicine
IN  - Reprint available from:
      Massey DG
      KUAKINI MED CTR
      347 N KUAKINI ST
      HONOLULU, HI 96817
      USA
      
      JOHN A BURNS SCH MED
      HONOLULU, HI
      USA

5
UI  - MJ029-0010
AU  - Piazza I
AU  - Bizzaro N
TI  - HUMORAL RESPONSE TO SUBCUTANEOUS, ORAL, AND NASAL IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR
      ALLERGIC RHINITIS DUE TO DERMATOPHAGOIDES-PTERONYSSINUS
SO  - Annals of Allergy.  71(5):461-469, 1993 Nov.
IS  - 0003-4738
MH  - Igg subclass antibodies.  House dust mite.  Hay-fever. 
MH  - Hyposensitization.  Extract.  Desensitization.  Interleukin-4. 
MH  - Children.  Efficacy.  Asthma
AB  - We investigated variations in total IgE, and specific IgE, IgG, and
      IgG4 for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in 5 7 Patients with
      perennial rhinitis due to house dust mite allergy in an open
      controlled study: 43 subjects received immunotherapy (17
      subcutaneous, 14 sublingual, and 12 local immunotherapy) and 14 were
      controls. The results were compared with the clinical course to
      determine possible associations between serum and clinical changes.
      Subcutaneous, but not sublingual and nasal, immunotherapy induced a
      significant clinical benefit (P < .001). Specific antibody behavior
      in patients receiving subcutaneous immunotherapy was similar to
      literature reports. Specific IgE levels fell starting from the 6th
      month of therapy, and specific IgG and IgG4 levels rose
      significantly, but there was no correlation with the clinical
      course. The other two forms of immunotherapy did not induce
      significant specific antibody modifications. We conclude that the
      specific IgG4 rise induced by subcutaneous immunotherapy was the
      most important variation observed. This change, however, was not
      correlated with the clinical outcome. [References: 37]
LG  - English
PT  - Article
SB  - Current Contents/Clinical Medicine
IN  - Reprint available from:
      Piazza I
      VIA MONTE PIANA 9
      I-30027 SAN DONA DI PIAVE
      ITALY
      
      HOSP SAN DONA PIAVE
      DEPT INTERNAL MED
      VENICE
      ITALY
      
      HOSP SAN DONA PIAVE
      CLIN PATHOL LAB
      VENICE
      ITALY

6
UI  - ME356-0003
AU  - Peat JK
AU  - Tovey E
AU  - Mellis CM
AU  - Leeder SR
AU  - Woolcock AJ
TI  - IMPORTANCE OF HOUSE DUST MITE AND ALTERNARIA ALLERGENS IN CHILDHOOD
      ASTHMA - AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY IN 2 CLIMATIC REGIONS OF AUSTRALIA
SO  - Clinical & Experimental Allergy.  23(10):812-820, 1993 Oct.
IS  - 0954-7894
MH  - Dose-response slope.  Respiratory symptoms.  Bronchial
MH  - hyperresponsiveness.  Grass-pollen.  Serum ige.  P-i.  Children. 
MH  - Population.  Exposure.  Responsiveness
AB  - The relation of house dust mite allergen levels to asthma and
      allergy was examined in two population samples of children aged 8-11
      years in northern New South Wales. We studied 805 children in
      Lismore (a hot, humid, coastal region) and 770 in Moree/Narrabri (a
      hot, dry inland region). Respiratory symptoms were measured by
      questionnaire, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) by histamine
      inhalation test, and allergy by skin-prick tests. Current asthma was
      defined as the presence of both wheeze in last 12 months and BHR.
      Der p I levels were measured in dust from the bed and floors in the
      homes of 57 randomly selected children in the coastal region and of
      74 inland children. Der p I levels were significantly higher by the
      coast (83.0 vs 11.2 mug/g, P<0.001). House dust mite sensitivity was
      of similar prevalence in both regions (28.6 vs 26.4%, n.s.) but
      Alternaria sensitivity was higher inland (4.0 vs 15.2% P<0.001).
      Bronchial responsiveness was more severe in coastal children
      sensitized to house dust mites and in inland children who were
      sensitized to Alternaria. The adjusted odds ratios for current
      asthma in children sensitized to house dust mites were 21.3 (95% CI
      10.5, 43.2) by the coast and 2.7 (95% CI 1.3, 5.4) inland, and in
      children sensitized to Alternaria were 3.4 (95% CI 1.3, 9.1) in the
      coastal region and 5.6 (95% CI 3.1, 10.1 inland. These studies
      suggest that high house dust mite allergen levels in a humid,
      subtropical region act to significantly increase bronchial
      responsiveness in sensitized children, and that Alternaria allergens
      have a similar but less potent action in a dry, rural region.
      [References: 36]
LG  - English
PT  - Article
SB  - Current Contents/Life Sciences
      Current Contents/Clinical Medicine
IN  - Reprint available from:
      Woolcock AJ
      ROYAL PRINCE ALFRED HOSP
      INST RESP MED
      ALLEN & HANBURYS EPIDEMIOL UNIT
      SYDNEY
      NSW 2050
      AUSTRALIA
      
      ROYAL PRINCE ALFRED HOSP
      INST RESP MED
      ALLEN & HANBURYS EPIDEMIOL UNIT
      SYDNEY
      NSW 2050
      AUSTRALIA
      
      UNIV SYDNEY
      DEPT MED
      SYDNEY
      NSW 2006
      AUSTRALIA
      
      WESTMEAD HOSP
      DEPT COMMUNITY MED
      SYDNEY
      AUSTRALIA

7
UI  - LZ170-0005
AU  - Steurich F
TI  - ALLERGY TO MIDGES (CHIRONOMIDS) AND BLOODWORMS [German]
SO  - Allergologie.  16(9):374-378, 1993 Sep.
IS  - 0344-5062
MH  - Allergy to fish food
MH  - Chironomidae
MH  - Insect dust as inhalant allergen
AB  - Chironomidae species exist worldwide. They occur close to water
      bodies as non-biting midges in ''dancing swarms''. Dust particles of
      these insects are part of the airborne dust (<10 mum in diameter)
      and represent a widespread inhalant allergen. Blood-worm larvae are
      red coloured because of their high haemoglobin content. They are
      used as bait and are sold freeze-dried as fish food for aquariums.
      Their common and very potent antigen are low molecular fractions of
      haemoglobin (erythrocruorine). Two patients are described with an
      extreme hypersensitivity to aquarium fish food based on chironomids.
      In the anamnesis of allergic persons it is absolutely necessary to
      ask explicitly for aquariums, fishing hobbies, fish food and bait.
LG  - German
PT  - Article
SB  - Current Contents/Clinical Medicine
IN  - Reprint available from:
      Steurich F
      FRIEDRICH EBERT STR 40
      D-66763 DILLINGEN
      GERMANY