Manipulating grain processing method and roughage level to improve feed efficiency in feedlot cattle.

The effects of feeding finishing diets containing whole corn with no roughage on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers were evaluated in 6 trials conducted at commercial research facilities (Bos Technica Research Services Inc., Salina, KS) in the Southern Plains of the United States. One hundred and two feedlot pens containing 6,895 steers were represented.

Comparison of different immunochemical methods for the detection and quantification of hazelnut proteins in food products.

Hazelnuts are widely used in the food industry owing to their nutritive value and taste. The amount of hazelnut present in a recipe is usually considered as a mark of quality. On the other hand, contamination of foods that normally do not contain hazelnuts is a threat for patients with a hazelnut allergy.

[Immunology in medical practice. V. Constitutional eczema].

Constitutional eczema (late atopic dermatitis) is a frequent condition: some 30% of the skin diseases seen by the GP involve constitutional eczema. A number of links with (external) factors have meanwhile been established. Patients with constitutional eczema often suffer from food allergy (over 60% of the children with the eczema) and many are allergic to airborne allergens (especially housedust mite allergen).

Clinical improvement after unusual avoidance measures in the home of an atopic dermatitis patient.

A 27-year-old female office clerk with widespread atopic dermatitis (AD) since infancy appeared to be highly sensitized and exposed to molds, storage mites, and chicken feathers and moderately sensitized to house-dust mites and grass and birch pollens. Hardly any textiles were present in her home; that is, only 28 m2, which is less than 25% of the Dutch national average. The causal relationship between eczema and molds plus storage mites in this case of AD was strengthened by the positive effect of an unusual, multidisciplinary home-sanitation program involving cleaning of mineral surfaces and ventilation improvement.

IgE antibodies to Pityrosporum ovale in atopic dermatitis.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to assess serum IgE antibodies directed against Pityrosporum ovale in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), atopic patients with allergic respiratory disease (ARD: rhinitis or asthma) but without eczema, and in healthy controls. IgE binding to P. ovale extract was demonstrated in 49% (35/72) of AD patients.

Clinical evaluation of a double-blind dust-mite avoidance trial with mite-allergic rhinitic patients.

Inheritance and allergen exposure are key factors in the development and the course of atopic allergy, expressed as conjunctivitis, rhinitis, asthma or dermatitis. This study concerns the clinical significance of mite and mite-allergen avoidance measures based on intensive cleaning with acaricide (solidified benzylbenzoate) added (10 dwellings), and without biocidal activity (10 other homes) as a control in a double-blind trial with matched pairs. Twenty subjects with persisting rhinitic complaints were selected.

Cross-reactivity among the pollen proteins of birch and apple trees.

In the spring of 1986, the pollen were collected from apple trees in full blossom, and were investigated for their allergenicity. The patients selected for study were subjects with a combined inhalant allergy to birch pollen and an oral allergy to apple fruit. The apple pollen extract yielded about the same percentage of nondialysable substance as obtained from birch pollen.

Blood groups ABO and grass-pollen hayfever.

The frequency distribution of the blood group phenotypes ABO was examined in retrospect in a selected group of 241 Patients with grass pollen hayfever. A relative deficiency in blood group O was found, with a shift toward an over-represented B-phenotype as compared to the general population. This shift appeared to be largely due to the contribution from the female patients with pollinosis.

Intracutaneous tests with pityrosporon extract in atopic dermatitis.

In patients with atopic dermatitis and in a control group prick and intracutaneous tests were performed with Pityrosporon extracts. Moreover, specific IgE against Pityrosporon was determined in these patients. Significant differences existed between the results obtained with these methods in both groups of patients.

Cow's milk allergy in an adult patient.

A 22-year-old female patient is described who was repeatedly hospitalised on account of severe asthmatic attacks presumably due to the ingestion of cow's milk or milk-containing products. There were no signs of gastrointestinal disturbance, but some urticaria and angioedema occurred. Strongly positive RASTs were observed in the blood serum against the proteins in cow's milk, bovine serum, egg white, cod fish, and house dust.

Animal dander allergy.

In a group of twenty-three atopic patients skin tests were performed with the dander allergens of horse, cat and guinea-pig, and with house dust and Timothy pollen allergens. A good agreement was observed between positive skin reactions and the results of RAST with these various allergens. In a number of cases, positive skin reactions were not related to the clinical histories.

Specific and non-specific skin test reactions with animal dander extract.

Intradermal skin tests have been performed in atopic patients with allergenic extracts of different animal danders at uniform concentration. A high incidence of positive test was recorded which could not be related to the clinical histories, especially with the allergens of horse, cow and dog dander (NR). Better correlation was observed with guinea pig and cat allergens (R).