The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Sep 2003
Ciliary beat pattern is associated with specific ultrastructural defects in primary ciliary dyskinesia.
The main symptoms of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) are nasal rhinorrhea or blockage and moist-sounding cough. Diagnosis can be difficult and is based on an abnormal ciliary beat frequency, accompanied by specific abnormalities of the ciliary axoneme. It is unknown whether determining ciliary beat pattern related to specific ultrastructural ciliary defects might help in the diagnosis of PCD. ⋯ Different ultrastructural defects responsible for PCD result in predictable beat patterns. Recognition of these might help in the diagnostic evaluation of patients suspected of having PCD.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Aug 2003
Impulse oscillometry provides an effective measure of lung dysfunction in 4-year-old children at risk for persistent asthma.
Objective lung function measurements are routinely used to diagnose and manage asthma, but their utility for young children has not been defined. ⋯ IOS bronchodilator responses are remarkably abnormal in 4-year-old children, who are most likely to have persistent asthma. IOS is a useful diagnostic tool in early asthma development and might be a helpful objective outcome measure of early interventions.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Aug 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effects of an anti-CD11a mAb, efalizumab, on allergen-induced airway responses and airway inflammation in subjects with atopic asthma.
Efalizumab is a humanized IgG(1) mAb against the lymphocyte function antigen-1 (LFA-1) alpha chain, CD11a. Blocking of LFA-1/intercellular adhesion molecule interactions could inhibit asthmatic inflammation by blocking adhesion and activation of LFA-1-positive leukocytes. ⋯ Blocking of LFA-1/intercellular adhesion module interactions by efalizumab inhibits the development of allergen-induced cellular inflammatory responses measured in induced sputum and might attenuate the late asthmatic response. Larger studies are needed to confirm this.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jun 2003
Comparative StudyNative Art v 1 and recombinant Art v 1 are able to induce humoral and T cell-mediated in vitro and in vivo responses in mugwort allergy.
Mugwort pollen is an important allergen source in hay fever and pollen-related food allergy. Little is known about the clinical relevance of the major mugwort allergen Art v 1 and its importance in allergy. ⋯ Art v 1, either in its native or recombinant form, is able to induce allergic reactions in patients with mugwort allergy. rArt v 1 induced comparable humoral and cell-mediated responses in vitro but showed reduced in vivo allergenicity compared with biochemically purified nArt v 1.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · May 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAnti-inflammatory effect of itraconazole in stable allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: a randomized controlled trial.
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) complicates chronic asthma and results from hypersensitivity to the fungus Aspergillus fumigatu s, causing an intense systemic immune response and progressive lung damage. ⋯ Itraconazole treatment of subjects with stable ABPA reduces eosinophilic airway inflammation, systemic immune activation, and exacerbations. These results imply that itraconazole is a potential adjunctive treatment for ABPA.