Measuring allergen-specific IgE: where have we been and where are we going?

About 40 yr ago, two groups of investigators identified a new class of immunoglobulins, IgE. By exchanging their results and reagents, they proved that the immunoglobulin responsible for immediate hypersensitivity was IgE. From that day forward the science of allergy was greatly advanced.

Complement split products C3a and C4a are early markers of acute lyme disease in tick bite patients in the United States.

Background: Current laboratory markers do not readily detect acute Lyme disease. We assessed the utility of complement and its split products as markers of Lyme disease in patients shortly after a tick bite.

Methods: Thirty-one consecutive acute Lyme disease patients, 14 with and 17 without erythema migrans (EM) skin rash, seen by a physician within 96 h of a tick bite were matched with 24 consecutive tick bite patients without Lyme disease symptoms and 46 healthy control subjects.

Links between pollen, atopy and the asthma epidemic.

Pollen allergy has been found in 80-90% of childhood asthmatics and 40-50% of adult-onset asthmatics. Despite the high prevalence of atopy in asthmatics, a causal relationship between the allergic response and asthma has not been clearly established. Pollen grains are too large to penetrate the small airways where asthma occurs.

Identification and possible disease mechanisms of an under-recognized fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans.

Background: Investigations into the occurrence and health effects of yeast-like fungi in the outdoor air in the US have been limited. We sought to identify a respirable-sized fungus common in the Pasadena air, locate a major source for the emissions and investigate its relevance to allergic disease.

Methods: Yeast-like fungi sampled from the environment were isolated, microscopically examined and sequenced.

Complement determinations in human disease.

Objective: To define techniques used for complement measurements and examine the clinical relevance of alterations of complement determinations in disease.

Data Sources: Data have been assembled from the authors' research, original articles, and reviews, as well as chapters and complete books on complement.

Study Selection: Studies were chosen for inclusion by the opinions of the authors, relevant complement reviews, publications, and books.