Increases in allergen-specific IgE in BAL after segmental allergen challenge in atopic asthmatics.

IgE is important in both early and late allergic responses. Increases in the numbers of RNA transcripts coding for IgE have been observed in the bronchial mucosa of asthmatics and in the nasal mucosa of hay fever patients both during natural allergen exposure and after nasal allergen challenge, suggesting that IgE may be synthesized locally in the mucosa. In this study we have examined bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) taken before and 24 h after bronchoscopic segmental allergen challenge from 18 atopic asthmatic patients, looking for evidence of increases in IgE protein.

Persistent IgE synthesis in the nasal mucosa of hay fever patients.

The location of IgE synthesis has been a longstanding controversy, with previous evidence favoring either the mucosa or lymphoid tissue in the region of allergen entry. The evidence for IgE synthesis in mucosal tissues has always been circumstantial. We have developed a novel explant culture system, using ELISA and radioactive amino acid incorporation, to measure de novo IgE protein synthesis in the nasal mucosa of hay fever patients.

Survey of symptoms, respiratory function, and immunology and their relation to glutaraldehyde and other occupational exposures among endoscopy nursing staff.

Objectives: To find the nature and incidence of symptoms experienced by a large sample of hospital endoscopy nurses. To find whether nurses in endoscopy units develop asthma under current working conditions in endoscopy units. To obtain analytically reliable data on exposure concentrations of glutaraldehyde (GA) vapour in endoscopy units, and to relate them to individual hygiene and work practices.

The prevalence of immunoglobulin E antibodies to the proteins of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) latex and grass (Phleum pratense) pollen in sera of British blood donors.

Background: Although there have been many studies of the prevalence of latex allergy in populations deemed to be at risk, little is known of the potential allergic susceptibility to latex products prevailing in the general population.

Objective: To assess the possible prevalence of allergy to latex goods in a population of blood donors by measurement of specific antilatex immunoglobulin (Ig) E in blood, to relate this to prevalence of antigrass IgE in the blood donations, and to assess the prevalence of antibodies to grass, house dust mite and cat allergens in those donors having antilatex IgE antibodies.

Methods: Sera from two groups of donations obtained in the English West Midlands were assayed.

Effect of systemic beta-agonist therapy on IgE production in allergic subjects in vivo.

Background: Although beta2-adrenoceptor agonists are widely used in the treatment of asthma, a number of studies have suggested that their long-term use may exacerbate the condition. One possible mechanism for this stems from the in vitro observation that beta2-agonists increase IgE synthesis by human blood mononuclear cells.

Objective: We sought to examine the effect of regular beta2-agonist therapy on IgE production in vivo in human volunteers.

The development of allergy in high-risk children.

Background: It is uncertain as to what extent the development of allergic disease in childhood is predictable during early infancy. A number of environmental factors have been suspected of increasing the risk of acquiring allergy, but the evidence is conflicting.

Objective: To observe the development of atopy and allergic disease in a cohort of high-risk children so as to determine the importance of certain environmental factors and to study the relationship between early and later manifestations.

Feather mites are potentially an important source of allergens for pigeon and budgerigar keepers.

Background: Previous studies on allergy to feathers have not addressed whether organisms living on feathers (mites, lice, moulds) are a source of allergens.

Objective: To investigate whether feather mites produced allergens of clinical relevance to bird keepers.

Methods: We examined serum IgE responses of 96 pigeon breeders to an extract of feather mites from pigeons (predominantly Diplaegidia columbae), using Western blotting, specific IgE assay using AlaSTAT EIA and RAST inhibition.

The use of domestic steam cleaning for the control of house dust mites.

Background: Control of dust mites using extremes of temperature is an alternative to the use of acaricides. In the past we have attempted control by freezing with liquid nitrogen. The present paper deals with the opposite extreme, the use of steam.

Infant feeding, wheezing, and allergy: a prospective study.

The determinants of wheezing and allergy were investigated in 453 children with a family history of allergic disease. A randomised controlled trial examined the effects of withholding cows' milk protein during the first three months of life and replacing cows' milk with soya milk. The children were followed up to the age of 7 years.

Management of service personnel with a history of penicillin allergy: discussion paper.

A false label of penicillin allergy may have important consequences for wartime medical evacuation. This article outlines the antibiotic protocol for war wounds, the current status of tests to diagnose true penicillin allergy and suggests a strategy for the management of personnel with a history of such allergy.

House dust mite sensitivity: interaction of genetics and allergen dosage.

Pairwise analysis of siblings from 21 families showed that house dust mite (HDM) sensitive children were exposed to higher concentrations of Der p I allergen in their mattress (P = 0.005) and bedding (P = 0.04), but not bedroom floor (P = 0.

Effectiveness of an acaricide in management of house dust mite allergy.

The effects of treating the environment of 25 dust mite-allergic patients with an acaracide are reported. Remarkable symptomatic improvements in asthma, eczema, or rhinitis were observed. Many patients could reduce or stop medication, and these benefits have persisted for up to a year after using Acarosan once only.

Environmental factors and symptoms in infants at high risk of allergy.

Study Objective: To identify environmental determinants of six symptoms associated with allergic disease in infancy.

Design: Infants were participants in a prospective randomised controlled trial of feeding practices in families with a history of atopy.

Setting: Infants were recruited in two maternity hospitals in S Wales and followed up in the community for 1 year.

Infant feeding and allergy: 12-month prospective study of 500 babies born into allergic families.

This investigation studied 487 babies for symptoms of allergic disease during their first year of life. Because of their positive family histories all the babies are at high risk of becoming allergic. The babies were randomly divided such that cows' milk was deliberately withheld from one group; infants in this group were fed with a soya substitute where required.

Infant feeding and allergy.

The effect of withholding cows' milk was examined in 487 infants at high risk of allergic disease. Before birth they were randomly allocated either to a control group, most of whom received cows' milk preparations, or to an intervention group, who were offered a soya based substitute. Eczema and wheezing occurred to a similar extent in the two groups during the first year of life, although napkin rash, diarrhoea, and oral thrush were commoner in the intervention group, especially during the first three months.

Prevalence of atopy is unrelated to presence of inflammatory bowel disease.

The prevalence of atopy (assessed by prick testing and serum IgE measurement), and of symptoms associated with atopy, has been defined in 122 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and 103 age-matched controls. History analysis for atopic symptoms, and serum IgE levels, showed no differences between controls and IBD patients, or IBD subgroups (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, ulcerative proctitis). Both in controls and in IBD patients, the prevalence of positive skin tests was higher in young people (aged less than 30) than in others; taking account of age distribution within the groups, there were no differences between controls and IBD patients, or subgroups, in the prevalence of positive skin tests.

Clinical, histological and immunological studies in 50 patients with bullous pemphigoid.

Fifty patients with bullous pemphigoid were investigated over periods of up to 7 years. Sequential studies of circulating basement membrane zone (BMZ) antibody titres revealed two groups of patients: 44% had a high initial titre (greater than 1:160) and 56% had a low initial titre (less than 1:160). Subjects with titres greater than 1:160 continued to have high titres, whereas in those with lower titres the BMZ antibodies usually became undetectable after 4 months.

Phadiatop--a novel IgE antibody screening test.

The Phadiatop test, which is based on a multi-allergen allergosorbent, proved to be a test that is simple to perform in the laboratory and produces reliable results. When compared with the more conventional RAST atopy screening test for grass, mite and IgE antibodies it produced similar results, except in those rare instances of patients who were RAST-positive only for moulds where the Phadiatop test was decidedly superior. The Phadiatop test disc contains only inhalant allergens and so it could not be used for screening infants and very young children whose IgE response, if any, is probably limited to foods.

IgE antibodies to foods are not a feature of cystic fibrosis.

It has been suggested that patients with cystic fibrosis have abnormal immune responses to foods. We have measured IgE antibodies to inhalants and foods (by RAST) in 105 patients with cystic fibrosis aged between 8 months and 28 years. Serum IgE was elevated (greater than 180 kU/l) in 21 patients.