Topical tacrolimus for the management of acute allergic conjunctivitis in a mouse model.

Background: Acute allergic conjunctivitis is a constantly challenging condition that often requires steroids for effective management. Alternative treatment options are needed due to the potential side effects of steroids. Tacrolimus has been used for vernal/atopic conjunctivitis.

Expression of Th17 and Treg lymphocyte subsets in hypertrophied adenoids of children and its clinical significance.

Adenoid hypertrophy is the most common cause of upper airway obstruction and sleep-disordered breathing in children, yet its pathogenesis remains unclear. The identification of the novel helper T cell subsets, Th17 cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) could provide new insight into our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the development of this condition. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the adenoidal lymphocyte subsets to describe the percentage of various lymphocyte subsets in hypertrophied adenoids and correlate them with symptom severity.

Sensitization to Dermatophagoides, Blomia tropicalis, and other mites in atopic patients.

Background: House dust mites (HDMs) are important causes of persistent allergic diseases, such as asthma and rhinitis. Various types of mites are found in the house dust of many countries, including Israel.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of sensitization to various HDMs in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Efficacy of the Plasma Cluster device in asthmatic and/or allergic rhinitis patients with house dust mite allergy: a prospective observational pilot study.

Background: Mite allergy is an indoor allergen responsible for most respiratory allergies in the western world. Environmental control can modify disease activity in these patients.

Objectives: To examine the benefit of the Plasma Cluster device (Sharp, Japan) for inactivating and removing mites from the environment of patients diagnosed with either mite-sensitive perennial allergic rhinitis or mite-sensitive allergic asthma.

[Asthma and scuba diving: can asthmatic patients dive?].

Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) diving has grown in popularity, with millions of divers enjoying the sport worldwide. This activity presents unique physical and physiological challenges to the respiratory system, raising numerous concerns about individuals with asthma who choose to dive. Asthma had traditionally been a contraindication to recreational diving, although this caveat has been ignored by large numbers of such patients.

Eosinophilia: A study of 100 hospitalized patients.

Background: Eosinophilia accompanies a large number of diseases and conditions, but information is lacking about the clinical characteristics of patients who are hospitalized due to this abnormality. Our aim was to determine the clinical profile and most informative diagnostic tests in patients hospitalized in a tertiary hospital because of hypereosinophilia.

Methods: A retrospective review was done of the medical records of all patients hospitalized in a large urban medical center due to hypereosinophilia.

Effect of montelukast on basophil releasability in patients with asthma.

Background: The anti-inflammatory effect of montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, in patients with bronchial asthma is not entirely clear. Basophils can release a variety of mediators, including histamine and leukotriens, which most likely play an active role in the late allergic response.

Objectives: To study the effect of montelukast (10 mg/day) on histamine and cysteinyl leukotriene release from basophils taken from 12 mild atopic asthmatic patients who took the drug for 4 weeks.

Knowledge and expectations of patients receiving aeroallergen immunotherapy.

Background: Patients receiving aeroallergen immunotherapy frequently have poor knowledge and unfounded expectations of various important aspects of their treatment.

Objective: To evaluate patients' knowledge about the content, benefit, and risk related to the aeroallergen immunotherapy that they were receiving.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all patients older than 16 years who had undergone aeroallergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis at 3 university-affiliated allergy clinics.

Middle cerebral artery flow velocity decreases and electroencephalogram (EEG) changes occur as acute hypercapnia reverses.

Objective: To define the changes in middle cerebral artery flow velocity (Vmca) and the electroencephalogram (EEG) during rapid reduction in arterial carbon dioxide (PCO2) from acute hypercapnia. DESIGN. Human volunteer study.