Direct demonstration of delayed eosinophil apoptosis as a mechanism causing tissue eosinophilia.

Nasal polyps, which often occur in association with allergic rhinitis and asthma, are characterized by a marked infiltration of eosinophils. Using a method for detecting eosinophils with DNA strand breaks, we found direct evidence for inhibition of eosinophil apoptosis in this model of tissue eosinophilia. By using Southern blot analysis linked to reverse transcription-PCR, we detected a mRNA signal specific for IL-5 in all nasal polyps.

Microbiology of chronic sinusitis.

Much controversy still exists about the role of viruses, bacteria and fungi in sinusitis. Until recently, it was not really known that the sinuses take part in the infectious process of a common cold (viral rhinitis). Indeed, CT scans show that in the vast majority of otherwise healthy volunteers with a common cold, and without a previous history of recurrent or chronic sinusitis, the sinuses are involved too.

Inflammatory mechanisms in chronic sinusitis.

Apart from ventilatory and bacteriologic aspects, understanding the pathomechanisms of inflammation in chronic sinusitis and nasal polyposis seems crucial for further success in disease treatment. New insights into inflammatory processes became recently possible by investigating the pattern of cytokines and chemokines as well as adhesion molecules in different acute and chronic sinus diseases. The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6 and especially the neutrophil-chemoattractant IL-8 play a dominant role in acute sinusitis, as was shown before for viral and allergic rhinitis.

Risk factors for latex hypersensitivity in childhood.

As hypersensitivity to natural rubber latex (NRL) has become an increasingly recognized problem in children, identification of all groups at risk seems important. In this study hypersensitivity to NRL was evaluated in 337 children with potential risk factors. We identified by questionnaire children's underlying diseases, history of surgical procedures, evidence of atopy and patient's history of NRL-specific reactions.

Intranasal levocabastine provides fast and effective protection from nasal allergen challenge.

A total of 22 asymptomatic patients with a documented history of allergic rhinitis participated in this single-centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial undertaken to assess the efficacy and tolerability of levocabastine nasal spray (0.5 mg/ml) in the prevention of allergen-induced nasal symptoms. Objective assessment of nasal symptoms revealed that the severity of sneezing was significantly lower following treatment with levocabastine (p < 0.

Obstetric complications and autoantibodies in schizophrenia.

Our hypothesis stated that patients with schizophrenia who had obstetric complications (OC) were more likely to have autoimmune abnormalities than those without OC. OC were rated using a checklist. Anti-brain autoantibodies were measured in serum using an enzyme immunoassay.

Proinflammatory cytokines: measurement in nasal secretion and induction of adhesion receptor expression.

We recently demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 can be found in nasal secretions from allergic rhinitis patients under artificial and natural conditions. By ELISA measurements, significantly elevated baseline levels for IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8 were found in seasonal allergic compared to control subjects. Within the first 2 h after nasal allergen challenge, IL-1 beta and TNF are secreted, whereas IL-6 and IL-8 showed a slow increase over 6-8 h.

Elevated levels of interleukins IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8 in naturally acquired viral rhinitis.

We studied the cytokines IL(interleukin)-1 beta, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-8 in nasal lavage samples from 20 patients with naturally acquired viral rhinitis and 5 healthy controls without nasal complaints. IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8 levels in lavage fluid from the viral rhinitis patients were significantly elevated when compared to control subjects. IL-4 was not measurable in any of the samples.

Proinflammatory cytokines in allergic rhinitis.

Allergic diseases such as allergen-induced rhinitis represent an inflammatory reaction that is characterized by the chemotaxis and activation of various cell populations. A high degree of cell-to-cell communication is needed to orchestrate this inflammatory immune response. A variety of cytokines and adhesion receptors seem to play an important role in the allergic late phase reaction.

Oral antihistamine/decongestant treatment compared with intranasal corticosteroids in seasonal allergic rhinitis.

This international, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group trial was undertaken to compare the efficacy and tolerability of once-daily astemizole-D (10 mg astemizole plus 240 mg pseudoephedrine) with beclomethasone nasal spray (0.05 mg/ml) two puffs/nostril administered twice daily in a total of 204 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Treatment duration was 4 weeks.

Metachromatic, IgE-bearing and tryptase-containing cells on the nasal mucosal surface in provoked allergic rhinitis.

We studied the relationship between mast cells or basophils and symptoms in provoked allergic rhinitis. Nasal brush and lavage samples were obtained before nasal allergen challenge and every 2 h for 12 h after the challenge in 10 allergics and 3 controls. The cells were identified by their metachromatic staining properties (brush and lavage samples) or with immunohistochemical methods using specific antibodies to IgE and tryptase, a selective mast-cell marker (brush samples).

[The role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in recruiting inflammatory cells in the nose].

Cytokines and cell adhesion receptors play a pivotal role in the recruitment of cells from the peripheral blood into inflamed tissue. Allergic rhinitis has previously been described as an inflammatory reaction characterised by the migration of granulocytes into the nasal mucosa. Using this model, we investigated the release of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha TNF-alpha) and the expression of cell adhesion molecules (ELAM-1, ICAM-1 and LFA-1) in two studies involving biopsies as well as lavage and brush techniques.

[Partial tracheal rupture in a newborn infant. A rare traumatic birth complication or intubation sequela?].

The neonate was born with the help of vacuum extraction because of difficult delivery of the shoulders. After birth respiratory distress developed and endotracheal intubation and artificial ventilation became necessary. When the tube was changed in the intensive care unit the infant's clinical status suddenly deteriorated.

Influence of oral calcium medication on nasal resistance in the nasal allergen provocation test.

Although calcium has been used for several decades to treat allergic diseases of the skin and respiratory tract, controlled studies demonstrating the action of oral preparations in allergic rhinitis are lacking. This placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study shows that 1000 mg calcium administered orally significantly inhibits the allergen-induced swelling of the nasal mucosa in the allergen provocation test. Sneezing and secretion, which are allergic symptoms, were not reduced.

[Applied cytology in the differential diagnosis of rhinitis].

The pathogenesis of acute and chronic diseases of the nasal mucosa is multivariate. Cytological examination of nasal cells by conventional and immunocytochemical techniques helps to clarify the diagnosis. We present the morphology and functions of cell populations of interest, as well as typical cytological findings and their interpretation.

Possible role of macrophages in allergic rhinitis.

Mononuclear phagocytes have been investigated in biopsies taken from the nasal mucosa and in epithelial cell samples from 22 grass-pollen-allergic subjects before season, after allergen challenge and during season by means of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The cells were positive for CD68/EBM11 and HLA-DR, but failed to react with CD1 and CD23/BB10. The cells increased in number during season as well as after allergen challenge, especially in the upper part of the mucosa.

Macrophages on the nasal mucosal surface in provoked and naturally occurring allergic rhinitis.

Macrophages are the most common cell type residing in the lumen of the lower airways. However, very little is known about the presence and putative pathogenic implications of macrophages in the upper airways. Using specific immunohistochemical techniques, the presence of and changes in macrophage density were studied before and after allergen exposure in the laboratory and during natural allergen exposure of subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

[Immediate and late phases of allergic rhinitis].

The allergic reaction of the human nasal mucosa (Type I Coombs and Gell) can be divided in an immediate- and a late-phase reaction. The degranulation of IgE-bearing mast cells is crucial for the initiation of the immediate phase (app. 30 min).