Distribution of Dermatophagoides mite (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) antigens in homes of allergic patients in Japan

Dust samples collected in 61 homes of patients with mite allergies and 11 homes of non-allergic people as controls were examined for antigen levels of Dermatophagoides farinae Hughes and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Trouessart) to reveal the current distribution of allergenic mites in homes in Japan. Patient homes had higher antigen levels than control homes in comforters and pillows but not in futons, earpets, tatamis and wooden floors. Samples with antigen levels of 10 g m^-2 were more frequent in and around summer (approximately April-October) than other seasons of the year in most materials and the differences between patient and control homes in comforters and pillows observed in yearly totals was also observed during this period. Wooden structures showed higher antigen levels than concrete structures in comforters, futons, pillows, carpets and tatamis in patient homes. Mite contamination in patient homes in relation to environmental factors was discussed.     

IL-12和支气管哮喘

支气管哮喘是一种气道慢性炎症性疾病。越来越多的事实表明,哮喘的发生与内源性IL-12生成不足有关。IL-12无论单独应用还是作为免疫佐剂,均可逆转哮喘动物模型体内Th1/Th2失衡和抑制气道变态反应性炎症。该文综述了IL-12的生物学效应、IL-12与哮喘的关系、IL-12在哮喘治疗中的作用及其应用。     

Seasonal allergic asthma and non-specific bronchial responsiveness

Summary Bronchial responsiveness to methacoline (PD20 FEV1 mcg) was measured in 64 non smoker asthmatic patients with baseline FEV190% predicted. Patients underwent skin prick tests (SPT) and RAST.Allergic patients had: SPT3+ and RAST-score>II class to the same antigen and correlation with asthmatic symptoms; non allergic patients had negative SPT and RAST. We divided patients in four groups: 1st) allergic seasonal asthmatics before pollen season; 2nd) allergic seasonal asthmatics during pollen season; 3rd) allergic perennial asthmatics; 4th) non-allergic perennial asthmatics.A significant difference in log PD20 was observed between 1st and 2nd group (p<0.0005); between 1st and 3rd group (p<0.0005); between 1st and 4th group (p<0.0005). In allergic seasonal asthmatics before pollen season 10/20 subjects were non-responsive to methacholine (PD201600 mcg), while in 2nd, 3rd and 4th group no subjects were non-responsive.The authors conclude that non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacoline is not constant in seasonal allergic asthmatics out of pollen season.     

Assessment of some oxidative stress parameters in patients with bronchial asthma after selenium supplementation

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of selenium deficit replenishment in patients with bronchial asthma (BA) on manifestations of oxidative stress and conditions of the antioxidant system (AOS). The need of correction of selenium deficit in BA-patients is determined by increased requirements in antioxidants due to chronic inflammatory process responsible for pathogenesis of BA. Latvia as well as Eastern Finland, Byelorussia, some regions of Ukraine, North-Western Russia, and New Zealand belong to the endemic areas with marked selenium deficit in soils and foodstuff. Twenty patients (7 men and 13 women) with selenium deficit and verified diagnosis of BA have been examined. In addition to basic therapy all patients received organic selenium as SelenoPRECISE (PharmaNord) 200 μg daily for 16 weeks. This caused statistically significant increase of plasma selenium from 50.94 ± 7.58 to 63.59 ± 10.87 μg/l (p < 0.001), the increase of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (from 38.64 ± 10.72 U/g Hb to 58.57 ± 14.64 U/g Hb, p = 0.01). Treatment of patients with selenium also normalized the parameters characterizing oxidative stress (chemiluminescence), significantly exceeded normal values before this treatment. The use of selenium in addition to basic therapy allows to abolish or reduce oxidative stress by correcting the antioxidant system.     

银杏叶提取物对豚鼠哮喘模型血红素氧合酶-1表达的影响

目的探讨银杏叶提取物(Egb761)对豚鼠哮喘模型血红素氧合酶-1(HO-1)表达的影响.方法 将30只豚鼠随机分为3组(n=10)(1)正常组;(2)哮喘组;(3)治疗组.测定全血一氧化碳血红蛋白(COHb)的百分比含量、气道阻力并观察气道壁嗜酸性粒细胞(EOS)浸润情况, 用免疫组织化学染色方法观察HO-1在豚鼠肺组织中的表达变化.结果各组气道上皮细胞HO-1阳性表达的平均吸光度分别为 0.170±0.020、0.707±0.058、0.397±0.034.哮喘组HO-1的表达水平显著高于正常组(P<0.01).治疗组HO-1的表达水平显著低于哮喘组(P<0.01). 结论银杏叶提取物能显著抑制哮喘豚鼠气道壁内上皮细胞HO-1的表达,提示银杏叶提取物抑制HO-1的表达可能是银杏叶提取物治疗哮喘的作用机制之一.     

Longitudinal increase in total IgE levels in patients with adult asthma: an association with poor asthma control

Background

Immunoglobulin (Ig) E is well-known to play a critical role in allergic diseases. We investigated the association between longitudinal change in total IgE level and the asthma control in patients with adult asthma.

Methods

For this retrospective study, 154 patients with asthma aged 21–82 years were recruited from the allergy and pulmonary units of the Showa University Hospital. Data on longitudinal changes in IgE over the preceding 10 years were collected and logarithmically transformed. Associations between longitudinal change in IgE and clinical characteristics including asthma control test (ACT) score, asthma control, pulmonary function test, and antigen specific IgE, were assessed.

Results

Patients with increased IgE tended to have significantly higher mean age, more episodes of acute exacerbation within a year, lower ACT scores, and used oral corticosteroids more frequently than those with decreased or unchanged IgE. The prevalence of uncontrolled asthma was higher in patients with increased IgE than in those with decreased or unchanged IgE. Mean %FEV₁ and FEV_1% were lower in patients with increased IgE than in those with decreased or unchanged IgE. Moreover, the prevalence of Aspergillus-specific IgE was higher in patients with increased IgE than in those with decreased or unchanged IgE.

Conclusions

These data suggest that a longitudinal increase in total IgE is associated with both poor asthma control and Aspergillus-specific IgE in patients with adult asthma.     

Occurrence of fungal spores in the respiratory tract and homes of patients with positive skin test to fungi

The occurrence of fungal spores in the upper respiratory tract and in the homes of 86 patients with allergic manifestations and positive skin tests for fungi has been investigated.Alternaria tenuis andCladosporium herbarum have been more frequently found to give positive reactions, followed byAspergillus mix,Candida albicans andPenicillium notatum. Cladosporium andAlternaria represented also the most common moulds isolated from nasal specimens. The prevalent fungi isolated from patients' environments wereCladosporium, Penicillium andAlternaria, occurring respectively in 93%, 78% and 72% of the homes sampled. An examination of individual cases have revealed a surprisingly close correlation, in 47 out of 86 patients, between positive skin test response and presence in high amount of the same fungi in patient's respiratory tract and home. In the majority of cases the fungi involved wereAlternaria and/orCladosporium.     

Occurrence of fungal spores in the respiratory tract and homes of patients with positive skin test to fungi

The occurrence of fungal spores in the upper respiratory tract and in the homes of 86 patients with allergic manifestations and positive skin tests for fungi has been investigated.Alternaria tenuis andCladosporium herbarum have been more frequently found to give positive reactions, followed byAspergillus mix,Candida albicans andPenicillium notatum. Cladosporium andAlternaria represented also the most common moulds isolated from nasal specimens. The prevalent fungi isolated from patients' environments wereCladosporium, Penicillium andAlternaria, occurring respectively in 93%, 78% and 72% of the homes sampled. An examination of individual cases have revealed a surprisingly close correlation, in 47 out of 86 patients, between positive skin test response and presence in high amount of the same fungi in patient's respiratory tract and home. In the majority of cases the fungi involved wereAlternaria and/orCladosporium.     

染料木黄酮对哮喘豚鼠肺部炎症和气道重塑的预防作用

目的：研究蛋白酪氨酸激酶（PTK）抑制剂染料木黄酮对哮喘豚鼠肺部炎症和气道重塑的作用。方法：成年雄性豚鼠30只,随机分成3组（n=10）：对照组（C组）、哮喘组（A组）和染料木黄酮干预组（B组）,以腹腔内注射联合雾化吸入卵蛋白复制哮喘模型。测支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中细胞总数及其分类数,测细支气管炎症细胞浸润及支气管重塑指标,免疫纽化方法测磷酸化酪氨（p-tyrosine）在肺组织中的表达。结果：A组BALF中细胞总数、嗜酸性粒细胞分类与C组比较明显增加,B组与A组比较明显降低,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;A组细支气管嗜酸性粒细胞（E）数和淋巴细胞（L）数较C组明显增多,B组与A组比较明显降低,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;B组细支气管重塑较A组明显减轻（P〈0．01）,与C组比较,差异无统计学意义（P〈0．05）;免疫组化显示p-tyrosine在支气管平滑肌、支气管上皮、血管滑平滑肌及炎性细胞均有表达,尤其以支气管和血管平滑肌及炎性细胞明显,A组比C组表达明显增高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）,而B组与C组比较,无明显差别（P〉0．05）。结论：PTK对哮喘豚鼠肺部炎症和支气管重塑具有促进作用：PTK抑制剂染料木黄酮对哮喘豚鼠肺炎症和支气管重塑具有预防和抑制作用。     

Correlation of exhaled breath temperature with bronchial blood flow in asthma

In asthma elevated rates of exhaled breath temperature changes (Δe°T) and bronchial blood flow (Q_aw) may be due to increased vascularity of the airway mucosa as a result of inflammation.We investigated the relationship of Δe°T with Q_aw and airway inflammation as assessed by exhaled nitric oxide (NO). We also studied the anti-inflammatory and vasoactive effects of inhaled corticosteroid and β₂-agonist.Δe°T was confirmed to be elevated (7.27 ± 0.6 Δ°C/s) in 19 asthmatic subjects (mean age ± SEM, 40 ± 6 yr; 6 male, FEV₁ 74 ± 6 % predicted) compared to 16 normal volunteers (4.23 ± 0.41 Δ°C/s, p < 0.01) (30 ± 2 yr) and was significantly increased after salbutamol inhalation in normal subjects (7.8 ± 0.6 Δ°C/ s, p < 0.05) but not in asthmatic patients. Q_aw, measured using an acetylene dilution method was also elevated in patients with asthma compared to normal subjects (49.47 ± 2.06 and 31.56 ± 1.6 μl/ml/min p < 0.01) and correlated with exhaled NO (r = 0.57, p < 0.05) and Δe°T (r = 0.525, p < 0.05). In asthma patients, Q_aw was reduced 30 minutes after the inhalation of budesonide 400 μg (21.0 ± 2.3 μl/ml/min, p < 0.05) but was not affected by salbutamol.Δe°T correlates with Q_aw and exhaled NO in asthmatic patients and therefore may reflect airway inflammation, as confirmed by the rapid response to steroids.     

Occurrence of mites and fungi in the homes of patients with allergic manifestations

This survey was carried out to evaluate mites and moulds concentrations in the homes of patients with allergic manifestations and positive skin-test for mites and/or fungi. The home environments of 277 patients were evaluated by questionnaire, by sampling of airborne fungal spores and by determining the occurrence of mites and moulds in dust samples. Among the 277 patients examined, 83% reacted positively to house dust mites. The fungal allergen most frequently responsible for skin positivity was Alternaria tenuis. The prevalent airborne fungi were Cladosporium, Penicillium and Alternaria, followed by Aspergillus and Aureobasidium. The other genera were found in less than 50% of the homes. The presence of domestic mites in dust was documented in more than 85% of the homes sampled. The occurrence of fungi in dust was generally higher than in the air. The most common genera recovered were Penicillium, Candida, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Alternaria and Cladosporium. The homes investigated were divided into two groups, damp and dry, on the basis of the reported presence of wet or damp spots on inside surfaces and moulds growing inside the home. Our results showed that the concentration of mites and moulds in dust was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in damp homes as compared to dry ones.In general, a good agreement between skin positivity and presence of the same allergens in patients' home environment was observed for mites and, among fungi, for Alternaria, Cladosporium and Aspergillus. Our results seem to confirm that the study of mycoaeroflora and the quantification of mites and moulds in dust samples of allergic patients' homes could lead to more precise diagnoses and therefore to better prophylactic and therapeutic programs for each individual patient.     

2007～2011年鄂州市气传致敏真菌调查及其与支气管哮喘的相关性

目的 探讨2007年5月～ 2011年4月鄂州市气传致敏真菌和支气管哮喘关系,以了解该地区支气管哮喘情况.方法 运用暴片调查法和暴皿调查法统计和记录鄂州市气传致敏真菌的种类及数量.选择该时期内鄂州市100例支气管哮喘患者采用真菌变应原浸液作过敏原皮试发现有35例患者皮内试验阳性,将35例发作期患者和40例稳定期支气管哮喘患者行曲霉特异性IgE测定.结果 100例支气管哮喘患者皮内实验组阳性35例,阳性率为35％,而在35例患者中IgE阳性有31例,检测符合率为88.58％,稳定期患者中阳性反应例数2例,阳性率为5％,两组阳性率比较差异具有显著性（P＜0.05）.结论 鄂州市气传致敏真菌和支气管哮喘密切相关,主要致病菌为曲霉,是支气管哮喘的致敏原之一,需要注意环境卫生以减少气传致敏真菌的数量.     

Th22细胞与支气管哮喘

支气管哮喘是一种临床上常见的呼吸道疾病,研究发现CD4＋T细胞在哮喘的发病过程中起重要作用。Th22细胞是最近发现的一类CD4＋T细胞功能亚群之一,其主要效应因子IL-22在炎症性疾病、组织修复、创口愈合及自身免疫性疾病中起重要作用,但其具体机制尚未完全清楚。从Th22的细胞因子来源、生物学特性、分化和调控出发,简要探讨Th22细胞与哮喘之间的可能关系。     

真菌过敏性哮喘的治疗研究进展

真菌过敏性哮喘是由环境中真菌致敏原暴露诱导的一种呼吸道慢性炎症性疾病。真菌过敏哮喘患者肺部炎症细胞、结构细胞及细胞组分间有复杂的相互作用,使得患者气道壁重塑并伴渐进性肺功能障碍,表现为喘息、胸闷、呼吸困难等症状,对患者的工作和生活造成严重影响,而目前糖皮质激素及抗菌药物等传统疗法对其治疗效果欠佳。近年来,很多研究开始致力于对真菌过敏性哮喘新的治疗方法进行积极探索,使得真菌过敏性哮喘的治疗除应用糖皮质激素等传统方法外,在抗真菌感染及其免疫学治疗控制真菌过敏性哮喘方面取得一定新进展。     

Effect of Fructus schisandrae syrup on bronchial asthma mice model

Purpose

To investigate the effect of Fructus schisandrae syrup on bronchial asthma mice model.

The two faces of mast cells in food allergy and allergic asthma: The possible concept of Yin Yang

The purpose of this review is to discuss the role of mast cells in allergic inflammation. We have focused on inflammation associated with allergic asthma and food allergy. Mast cells are ‘first line of defense’ innate/adaptive immune cells and are widely distributed in tissues in surfaces exposed to the environment. Especially in allergic settings mast cells are extensively studied, as they can be activated to release a wide range of mediators by allergen-IgE specific triggers. In addition, in allergic inflammation mast cells can also be activated non-allergic triggers. Recent studies revealed that mast cells, besides the classical role of pro-inflammatory effector cell, have also emerged as modulators of allergic sensitization and down-regulators of allergic inflammation. Therefore, mast cells can be regarded as ‘Ying Yan’ modulators in allergic responses in intestinal tract and airways. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mast Cells in Inflammation.     

A lack of influence of permethrin treatments of wool carpet on habitation by house dust mites

Wool carpet samples, untreated and treated with commercial levels of permethrin, were placed on a mite-inhabited carpet in a Melbourne house for 14 months. The levels of live house dust mites in the samples were found to be high at the end of this period and to exhibit no differences according to the presence of permethrin in the carpets.     

House dust mite allergens in domestic homes in Cheonan, Korea

House dust mites produce inhalant allergens of importance to allergic patients. We measured the major group 1 allergens, Der p 1 and Der f 1, from the house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farina, respectively in 100 randomly selected domestic homes from Cheonan, Korea. Dust samples were collected by vacuuming from the living room floor and 1 mattress in each home. Der p 1 and Der f 1 were measured by double monoclonal ELISA. Der p 1 levels were very low, with geometric mean levels for floors and mattresses being 0.11 microgram/g (range: 0.01-4.05) and 0.14 microgram/g (range: 0.01-30.0), respectively. Corresponding levels of Der f 1 were higher, 7.46 microgram/g (range: 0.01-262.9) and 10.2 microgram/g (range: 0.01-230.9) for floors and mattresses, respectively. D. farinae appears to be the dominant house dust mite in Cheonan.     

Mould biodiversity in homes I. Air and surface analysis of 130 dwellings

Summary Air and surface sampling to quantify and identify fungi were conducted over a 10-year period in 130 Belgian homes, including flats and houses. Homes were selected based on the medical files of allergic, mostly asthmatic patients to assess possible mould responsibility in the aetiology of the disease. Air sampling was done with Reuter centrifugal air sampler using different sampling times and incubation temperatures to detect mesophilic and thermotolerant or thermophilic fungi. More than 50 genera were detected, withCladosporium, Penicillium andAspergillus being the most common. The main species detected wereAspergillus versicolor, several species ofPenicillium, Cladosporium sphaerospermum andCladosporium herbarum. Surface sampling was conducted concomitant with air sampling. Surfaces with and without visible mould growth were tested equally by Rodac contact plates or swabs. AlthoughCladosporium herbarum was shown to be a common species in indoor environments by air sampling, it was not detected by surface sampling from visible mould growth. This finding suggests that its presence in dwellings is from an outdoor origin and not indicative of indoor proliferation.Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium sphaerospermun, andPenicillium chrysogenum were the most common species isolated from surfaces showing visible mould growth.     

The effect of sub-floor heating on house-dust-mite populations on floors and in furniture

It is well known that dehydrating conditions for house dust mites can be created by simply raising the temperature, causing loss of body water and eventually death. Thus, it can be expected that conditions for dust mites are less favourable on floors supplied with sub-floor heating. This was examined in a study of 16 houses with sub-floor heating and 21 without. The pattern of changes in air humidity and temperature on the floors was investigated and compared to known data of the tolerance of dust mites. Also the resident mite populations were compared. Floors with sub-floor heating had, on average, fewer mites, but the difference with unheated floors was small. It was remarkable that mite numbers were also lower in upholstered furniture. Another important observation was that some houses with sub-floor heating had high mite numbers, indicating that this type of heating is compatible with a thriving mite population. Temperature and humidity conditions of heated floors may allow mites not only to survive, but also to remain active in winter. A moderate increase in temperature, a moderate decrease inf (absolute) air humidity, or a combination of both, will suffice to keep the humidity all winter below the Critical Equilibrium Humidity, the level of air humidity that is critical for mite growth and reproduction, hence for allergen production. However, it is argued that measures to suppress allergen production by house dust mites are likely to be far more effective if taken in summer rather than in winter. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.