The production of the eosinophil proteins ECP and EPX/EDN are regulated in a reciprocal manner.

Previous studies showed that the biological activity and the eosinophil content of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP, RNase 3) are determined by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ECP (RNase3) gene. In this study, we report the prevalence of a common SNP in the eosinophil protein x/eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EPX/EDN, RNase2) and the association with the cellular contents of EPX/EDN and ECP. The genes were sequenced and the EPX/EDN405(G>C) rs2013109 SNPs were also determined by TaqMan 5′nuclease allelic discrimination assay.

PI3-kinase regulates eosinophil and neutrophil degranulation in patients with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma irrespective of allergen challenge model.

The PI3K pathway plays a major role in many vital cell processes. Our primary aim was to investigate signalling through PI3K for in vitro degranulation from allergen-primed eosinophils and neutrophils in allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma after seasonal and experimental allergen challenge. Nine patients with allergic rhinitis, eight with allergic asthma and four controls were studied during birch pollen season and after nasal and bronchial allergen challenge.

Patients with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma share the same pattern of eosinophil and neutrophil degranulation after allergen challenge.

Background: Patients with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma demonstrate comparable local and systemic eosinophil inflammation, and yet they present with different clinical pictures. Less is even known about the contribution of neutrophil inflammation in allergic diseases. The aim of the study was to examine the propensity and selectivity of granule release from primed systemic eosinophils and neutrophils in allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma after seasonal and experimental allergen exposure.

Experimental and seasonal exposure to birch pollen in allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma with regard to the inflammatory response.

Background And Aims: Seasonal allergy is an interesting model to study the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in allergic inflammation. However, experimental allergen exposure is easier to perform and standardise. The primary aim of this study was to compare the inflammatory responses to high-dose bronchial challenge and natural exposure during birch pollen season.

Systemic and local eosinophil inflammation during the birch pollen season in allergic patients with predominant rhinitis or asthma.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate inflammation during the birch pollen season in patients with rhinitis or asthma.

Methods: Subjects with birch pollen asthma (n = 7) or rhinitis (n = 9) and controls (n = 5) were studied before and during pollen seasons. Eosinophils (Eos), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and human neutrophil lipocalin were analysed.

Use of an oral diphtheria vaccine in human.

Starch microparticles have been shown to be effective as a particulate adjuvant carrier in oral vaccination. In mice, formulations with bacterial antigens have elicited both systemic and mucosal immune responses providing protection upon challenge with live bacteria. A vaccine formulation with formaldehyde-treated diphtheria toxin cross-reacting material, CRM197, optimised in mice, was tested in healthy volunteers in a booster design.

A (G->C) transversion in the 3' UTR of the human ECP (eosinophil cationic protein) gene correlates to the cellular content of ECP.

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a cytotoxic protein produced by and secreted from human eosinophil granulocytes. ECP may be involved in the injury of epithelial cells in allergic diseases such as asthma. The objectives were to determine the prevalence of the ECP gene polymorphism 562(G > C) in apparently healthy subjects and subjects with allergy and relate the prevalence to clinical disease and to serum and cellular levels of ECP.

Apoptotic eosinophils express IL-2R chains alpha and beta and co-stimulatory molecules CD28 and CD86.

Background: IL-2 and the IL-2 receptor are most commonly connected to lymphocytes and the proliferation of T-cells. In addition, the co-stimulatory molecules CD28, CD86 and CD40 are associated to lymphocytes and antigen processing. Under certain conditions, eosinophils are also able to express these antigens on their surface.

[Spontaneous pneumothorax--a study of medical records. High age is the most significant risk factor of prolonged length of stay].

In this retrospective study 53 consecutive in-hospital patients with spontaneous pneumothorax were studied. The most common initial treatments were tube drainage (n = 38) and needle drainage (n = 8). The median length of stay at hospital was 6 days, with increasing age as the strongest predictor.