Shielding property of natural biomass against gamma rays.

Algae and cyanobacteria are capable living under harsh conditions in the natural environments and can develop peculiar survival processes. In order to evaluate radiation shielding properties of green algae; Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus obliquus, and cyanobacteria; Synechococcus sp., Planktothrix limnetica, Microcystis aeruginosa, Arthrospira maxima, Anabaena affinis, Phormidium articulatum, and Pseudoanabaena sp.

Association of Fallot Tetralogy with Carney's complex.

The Carney complex is an inherited, autosomal disease of multicentric tumors in many organs. Some components of Carney's complex are cardiac myxoma, spotty pigmentation, and endocrine overactivity. Primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical dysplasia (PPNAD) is an exceedingly rare cause of Cushing's syndrome in infants, children, and young adults.

Comparison of the efficacy of subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy in mite-sensitive patients with rhinitis and asthma--a placebo controlled study.

Background: The efficacy of therapy with sublingual allergen extracts is unproven.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and immunologic outcome of sublingual immunotherapy and to compare the results with subcutaneous immunotherapy and placebo in 36 patients with rhinitis and asthma due to mite allergy.

Method: Thirty-six patients with rhinitis and asthma due to mite allergy were randomly divided into three groups in order to receive subcutaneous injections with allergenic extracts, sublingual drops with solutions of purified standardized allergen preparations, or sublingual placebo for a period of 1 year.

Bronchial hyperreactivity and immunoglobulin E in Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease in a multisystem panvasculitis of unknown etiology. Pulmonary manifestations are rare, and there is no specific test to establish the inflammation for the precise differentiation between the active and inactive cases. Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) measured by methacholine challenge test and serum total IgE concentrations were investigated in 31 patients who were followed at Behçet's Center in hospital clinic and ten healthy controls.

Effect of allergen specific immunotherapy (IT) on natural killer cell activity (NK), IgE, IFN-gamma levels and clinical response in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Allergen specific immunotherapy (IT) has been widely used for many years as a specific treatment of allergic diseases. A variety of changes in immunological parameters have been described but it still remains uncertain as to which of them is responsible for the improvement of symptoms. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of IT on natural killer (NK) cell activity, IL-4, IFN-gamma, IgE levels and skin test reactivity in addition to clinical efficacy.

Light and electron microscope study in allergic rhinitis patients (ARP) with or without bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR).

Little is known about the pathogenesis of bronchial hyperreactivity associated with allergic rhinitis. For this purpose, bronchial biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage from 6 allergic rhinitis patients with bronchial hyperreactivity, 5 allergic rhinitis patients without bronchial hyperreactivity and 3 healthy, normoreactive control subjects were obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscope and investigated with light and transmission electron microscope. Varying degrees of morphological alterations were observed in all groups; however, the intensity of the epithelial shedding, goblet cells, basement membrane thickness, stromal collagenous fibers and smooth muscle cells appeared to be increased in allergic rhinitis patients with bronchial hyperreactivity.

The mechanism of bronchial hyperreactivity in allergic rhinitis patients. A light microscopic study on BAL and bronchial biopsy.

Epidemiological data indicated that allergic rhinitis often coexists with and may precede the development of reactive airway disease. In particular, ARP with BHR are more likely to develop asthma. However, the pathogenesis of BHR associated with allergic rhinitis is still remains uncertain.

The effectiveness of benzyl benzoate and different chemicals as acaricides.

Several observations have indicated that house-dust mites (HDM) play an important role in allergic diseases. Thus, the primary form of treatment should aim at reducing exposure to HDM for these patients. Allergen-avoidance measures in homes have been demonstrated to be beneficial in decreasing the risk of sensitization, severity of symptoms, bronchial reactivity, and basophil sensitivity.

Serum and pleural fluid selenium, copper, zinc, and magnesium levels in malignant and nonmalignant pleural diseases.

In the present study, selenium (Se), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and magnesium (Mg) levels in serum and pleural fluid from patients with malignant and nonmalignant pleural diseases were measured and compared with serum concentrations in healthy subjects. Serum/pleural fluid ratios were also calculated for each element. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of trace metals, especially Se, in neoplastic and nonneoplastic pleural diseases.

Cyclosporin in steroid dependent asthma.

Cyclosporin A(CsA) is an immunosupressive drug which inhibits predominantly T lymphocyte dependent immune responses. In recent years, CsA is reported to have significant steroid sparing effect in severe asthma. We used CsA top treat 12 steroid dependent asthmatic patients who had been on systemic steroids for an average of 8.

Increased chemotactic responses of neutrophils in intrinsic and mixed asthmatic patients.

Neutrophils are thought to contribute actively in the pathogenesis of asthma since they infiltrate into the lung tissue. The aim of this study is to compare the chemotactic responses of neutrophil granulocytes from 10 intrinsic, 13 extrinsic and 10 mixed type asthmatic patients with each other and chemotactic response of neutrophil granulocytes from 26 healthy individuals. All patients were free of infection and not receiving systemic corticosteroids.