In vitro suppression of lymphocyte activation in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and pollen-related asthma by cetirizine or azelastine in combination with ginkgolide B or astaxanthin.

Novel strategies are evaluated for management of allergic rhinitis and asthma in patients co-afflicted with both disorders. It is hypothesized that the platelet activating factor receptor antagonist ginkgolide B (GB) and the carotenoid antioxidant astaxanthin (ASX) interact with antihistamines cetirizine dihydrochloride (CTZ) and azelastine (AZE) to potentiate their ability to downregulate potentially pathological immune activation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from asthmatics and healthy subjects, cultured 24 hours with 50 μg/ml phytohemaglutinin (PHA) or PHA plus each drug are analyzed by flow cytometry for expression of CD25+ or HLA-DR+ by CD3+ (T cells).

Factors responsible for asthma and rhinitis among Kuwaiti schoolchildren.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren and to determine the level house dust mites in Kuwaiti homes and its role in asthma and rhinitis.

Subjects And Method: The International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children questionnaire was distributed to schoolchildren in the age group of 5-7 years, after random sampling from all the five governorates of Kuwait. The questionnaires were completed and initiated by parents with the help of the investigator and parents.

Demographic pattern and clinical characteristics of patients with smear- positive pulmonary tuberculosis in kuwait.

Objective: The aim of this study was to document various clinical factors that are likely to be of help in the control of tuberculosis in Kuwait.

Subjects And Methods: Details of patients with sputum positive for acid-fast bacilli in the period from January 1998 to December 2000 were collected retrospectively from the case records and population statistics from government sources. The data were then tabulated and analyzed.

HLA-DR binding prediction and experimental evaluation of T-cell epitopes of mycolyl transferase 85B (Ag85B), a major secreted antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Objective: To identify T-cell epitopes of Ag85B by analysis of its sequence for prediction to bind HLA-DR alleles and evaluate the predicted peptides for recognition by T cells in antigen-induced proliferation assays.

Materials/subjects And Methods: The complete sequence of Ag85B was analyzed for HLA-DR binding prediction to 51 HLA-DR alleles by using a virtual matrix-based prediction program (ProPred). Synthetic peptides covering the sequence of mature Ag85B were also analyzed for binding to HLA-DR alleles, and evaluated for recognition in antigen-induced proliferation assays with Ag85B-specific T-cell lines established from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 10 HLA-DR-heterogeneous tuberculosis patients.