Association of PPAR polymorphisms with cytokine levels in allergic rhinitis.

Our aim was to study the association of Pro12Ala and exon6 C161T polymorphisms of PPARgamma and intron7 G/C polymorphisms of PPAR-alpha with clinical symptoms, peak nasal inspiratory flow values, serum soluble TNF-alpha, TNF-R1, Fas, Fas ligand and IgE concentrations in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis during and after pollen season. We performed a follow-up study of 66 Hungarian patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and 180 healthy referent subjects. We used PCR-RFLP technique and ELISA.

Association of TLR-4 and TNF-alpha polymorphisms with clinical symptoms and cytokine levels in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Our objective was to determine the frequency of TNF-alpha -238, -308 G/A promoter and TLR-4 299 D/G and 399 T/I polymorphisms in healthy population and in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, and to examine its influences on serum TNF-alpha, TNF receptor-1, Fas, Fas-ligand, IgE levels and on clinical symptoms. A pilot study was performed in 66 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis to ragweed pollen and 161 non-allergic subjects using PCR-RFLP technique and ELISA. Carriers of the -238A and -308G alleles have significantly higher TNF-alpha and IgE levels, clinical score values and lower peak nasal flow (PNIF) values during and after ragweed pollen season.

Depressive symptoms amongst asthmatic children's caregivers.

We wanted to find out, whether the number of depressive symptoms is higher amongst asthmatic children's caregivers, compared to international data, to the Hungarian population average, and to parents of children with chronic renal disease. Are these depressive symptoms connected to the children's psychological status, asthma severity or current asthma symptoms? One-hundred and eight, 7- to 17-yr-old asthmatic children were enrolled, who have been treated at the Semmelweis University, First Department of Pediatrics. Children were suffering from asthma for at least 1 yr, with a median of 8 yr (1-16 yr), they started to develop asthmatic symptoms between the age of 0.

[Depression, anxiety and quality of life in pediatric asthma].

Aims: The study's objective was to examine depression, anxiety and quality of life according to age and asthma status in pediatric asthma in a pediatric university department.

Methods: 108 patients, age: 11.75 +/- 3.

Seasonal changes of proapoptotic soluble Fas ligand level in allergic rhinitis combined with asthma.

The function of apoptosis is to eliminate unnecessary or dangerous cells. The balance between production and death is important in the control of cell numbers within physiological ranges. Cells involved in allergic reactions may have altered apoptosis.

The history of bronchial asthma from the ancient times till the Middle Ages.

The aim of the paper is to give an overview of the knowledge on asthma through the history of mankind. The text begins with ancient China and it is finished with the medicine of Middle Age. During this time, a lot of theories came and this appeared about the etiology and therapy of the disease.

The history of bronchial asthma from the Renaissance till the beginning of the twentieth century.

The aim of the paper is to give an overview of the history of knowledge on asthma from the Renaissance till the beginning of the 20th century. During this period the clinical picture of bronchial asthma and some etiological factors--like familiarity of the disease, the role of the pollen, psychological factors were cleared. The disease was relatively rare in these periods--the epidemiological explosion came only in the second half of the 20th century.

Bronchial asthma and the short-term quality of life: follow-up study of childhood bronchial asthma in Hungary.

The aim of our study is to determine and describe the current short-term health-related quality of life of recent adult patients who had bronchial asthma in childhood. Our objective was to investigate if symptom control in bronchial asthma could be in conflict with general quality of life. We made a follow-up study of 152 patients (105 male, 47 female) over the age of 30 (31-55 yr) who were allergic asthmatics in childhood.

[Therapy of bronchial asthma in childhood].

The aim of the study is to summarize the up-to-date therapy of bronchial asthma in childhood. Many children in the world (1-30%) suffer from this disease. The essence of it is the special allergic inflammation of the bronchi, so the chief aim of the therapy is the diminution of this inflammation and the ceasing of the actual symptoms.

Relationship between the tumor necrosis factor system and the serum interleukin-4, interleukin-5, interleukin-8, eosinophil cationic protein, and immunoglobulin E levels in the bronchial hyperreactivity of adults and their children.

The aim of the study was to investigate the activation of inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-8; immunoglobulin E (IgE); and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and to evaluate the regulatory role of the tumor necrosis system (TNF) system in bronchial hyperreactivity. Adults who had suffered from bronchial asthma in childhood but who had been symptom free for at least 3 years were examined together with their children who did not have asthma. The serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, soluble TNF receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), TNF-R2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, ECP, and IgE were studied in symptom-free adults (n = 22) and their children (n = 22) with bronchial hyperreactivity.

Fluticasone propionate in asthma: a long term dose comparison study.

Background: Few dose ranging studies have investigated optimal dosing with inhaled corticosteroids in children with asthma.

Aims: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of fluticasone propionate 100 or 200 microg twice daily in children with moderate to severe asthma for one year.

Methods: One year, randomised, double blind, parallel group, multicentre study.

[Role of the TNF system in the pathomechanism of bronchial asthma].

Introduction: The activation of the TNF system during asthmatic attack has already been proved.

Aims: The aim of the study was to reveal the role of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) system in the pathomechanism of bronchial asthma.

Patients/methods: Childhood asthmatic lately symptom-free adults (n:39) and their non-asthmatic offspring were examined (n:42).

The prognosis of bronchial asthma in childhood in Hungary: a long-term follow-up.

The aim of this study was to determine the prognosis of bronchial asthma in childhood in Hungary. One hundred and forty five adults (96 men and 49 women) with a clinical history of childhood bronchial asthma were examined at the age of 28 years or above (mean age 37.6, SD 5.

Slight decrease in bone mineralization in cow milk-sensitive children.

Background: Patients with cow milk allergy (CMA) are potentially at risk for osteopenia because their milk-free diet usually contains a low calcium content. In our study, different parameters of bone mineralization in children with CMA were investigated.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-seven CMA patients (mean age, 4.

Serum immunoglobulin E, IgA, and IgG antibodies to different cow's milk proteins in children with cow's milk allergy: association with prognosis and clinical manifestations.

Diverse pathogenic mechanisms elicit different clinical manifestations in cow's milk allergy (CMA). Our aim was to determine the concentration of serum immunoglobulin levels to different cow's milk proteins in patients with CMA and to determine how these values were related to clinical symptoms and prognosis. Fifty children (mean age 10.

Budesonide aqueous nasal spray is an effective treatment in children with perennial allergic rhinitis, with an onset of action within 12 hours.

Background: Budesonide aqueous nasal spray is a topical corticosteroid which at doses of 64 to 256 microg once daily has been found to be effective in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and children.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of budesonide aqueous nasal spray, 128 microg once daily, in children with perennial allergic rhinitis.

Methods: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter study compared the efficacy and safety of budesonide aqueous nasal spray, 128 microg once daily intranasally, with placebo in 202 patients (aged 6 to 16 years) with perennial allergic rhinitis.

Role of TNF-alpha and its 55 and 75 kDa receptors in bronchial hyperreactivity.

The pathophysiological role of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) system was studied in adults (n=37) and children (n=43) non asthmatic offspring of asthmatic parents with and without bronchial hyperreactivity proved by methacholine airway challenge test. SerumTNFalpha and its soluble receptors (sTNF-R1 and R2) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Significantly elevated TNFalpha (adults: mean +/- SD=5.

[Changes in the symptoms of bronchial asthma and associated allergic disorders from childhood to adult age].

The aim of the study was to determine the prognosis of bronchial asthma. 145 adults (96 men, 49 women) with bronchial asthma during childhood were examined above age of 28 years (mean age was 37.6, SD: 5.

Complement activation in the nasal mucosa following nasal ragweed-allergen challenge.

The aim of this study was to explore complement activation in the nasal lavage following a nasal ragweed-allergen challenge. The study was carried out with 15 adolescents who were allergic to ragweed and with six non-allergic healthy volunteers. Following the baseline measurement after the symptoms were registered, subjects were given increasing doses of ragweed allergen.

Higher serum eosinophil cationic protein levels in children with cow's milk allergy.

Background: In the pathogenesis of cow's milk allergy, abnormal immunologically mediated reactions play a basic role. Eosinophil activation also participates in the development of several allergies. The purpose of this study was to characterize the degree of this activation by measuring the serum level of eosinophil cationic protein (sECP) and establishing whether it is a useful parameter in monitoring oral cow's milk allergy.

[Serum eosinophil cationic protein (sECP) level after cow's milk challenge test in allergic children].

The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) level in the sera is higher in allergic diseases. The change of the ECP level in the sera of patients with cow milk allergy was examined during the cow's milk challenge test after a long cow's milk free diet period. The sECP level of 35 milk sensitive patients was determined by a fluoroimmunoassay (Pharmacia CAP System ECP FEIA) before the milk challenge test, as well as 2 and 24 hours after it.

[Current view on the etiology of childhood bronchial asthma].

In the last decades atopic diseases and among them the incidence of atopic asthma has increased significantly worldwide, first of all in countries of higher technical civilization. In many places the incidence has doubled in 10-20 years compared to the previous period. The investigations have provided a lot of new data about genetic alterations in the background of the disease but the modifications in the genetic material cannot be responsible for the increased frequency of the disease in such a short time.

Is it possible to prevent asthma?

Atopic diseases and among them bronchial asthma seem to be the worldwide epidemic of the end of the 20th century and this tendency may continue even in the 3rd millenium. The main factors and periods which are important in the genesis of bronchial asthma are the following: genetic influences; intrauterine sensitization; factors in the perinatal life; influences in infancy; environmental factors in childhood; bronchial asthma and "western lifestyle"; prevention of further developing of atopic diseases.