Intestinal IgA-positive plasma cells are highly sensitive indicators of alloreaction early after allogeneic transplantation and associate with both graft-versus-host disease and relapse-related mortality.

Intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA) is strongly involved in microbiota homeostasis. Since microbiota disruption is a major risk factor of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), we addressed the kinetics of intestinal IgA-positive (IgA+) plasma cells by immunohistology in a series of 430 intestinal biopsies obtained at a median of 1,5 months after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) from 115 patients (pts) at our center. IgA+ plasma cells were located in the subepithelial lamina propria and suppressed in the presence of histological aGvHD (GvHD Lerner stage 0: 131+/-8 IgA+ plasma cells/mm2; stage 1-2: 108+/-8 IgA+ plasma cells/mm2; stage 3-4: 89+/-16 IgA+ plasma cells/mm2; P=0.

Evaluation of a 4-steps-1-day whole body challenge protocol for the diagnosis of occupational asthma due to diisocyanates.

Inhalative challenges are important in the diagnosis of occupational asthma due to diisocyanates. As existing protocols are time-consuming and costly, it was the aim of this study to develop a short duration whole body exposure protocol. Ninety three subjects with suspected occupational diisocyanate-induced asthma and verified current or previous occupational exposure to diisocyanates and ten control subjects without diisocyanate exposure but with bronchial hyperresponsiveness were investigated.

Survey of Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae) for Lacrosse encephalitis virus and West Nile virus in Lorain County, Ohio.

From June through September 2003, we conducted a survey of female Aedes triseriatus (Say) for infection with La Crosse encephalitis virus (family Bunyaviridae, genus Orthobunyavirus, LACV) and West Nile virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, WNV) at three locations in Lorain County, Ohio. To determine infection rate and seasonal variation of both viruses in the Ae. triseriatus population, Ae.

Abundance and temporal distribution of Ornithonyssus sylviarum Canestrini and Fanzago (Acarina: Mesostigmata) in gray catbird (Dumatella carolinensis) nests.

The northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum Canestrini and Fanzago, is a common ectoparasite of wild birds. Despite its ability to transmit eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus under laboratory conditions and potential for involvement in the natural EEE virus cycle, we know little about its abundance or temporal distribution in nature. From June to August 2000, we studied the abundance of O.