Effects of hypoxic stimulation in experimental animals and in children with bronchial asthma]

Inhalations using hypoxic mixture of 12-15% O2 were tested in 40 rats (daily for 20 min. during 1-4 months) and in 200 children with light and mid-serious forms of bronchial asthma (for 5-10 min. 2-4 times with 5 min. break, course-10 days). Stimulation effect in animals was observed for 1-2 months and then depression came. The immunological and allergological indices were observed to distinctly improve, whereas the indices of the pulmonary function remained practically unchanged. The clinical indices in most patients improved and the similarity of this method and effects of other nonmedicamental methods was noted.     

Polymorphic blood systems in children with bronchial asthma

Predisposition to bronchial asthma depends to a large extent on the genotype norm of the children organism reaction, associates with the phenotype of blood group A and haptoglobin Nr 2-2. Persons with blood group B and haptoglobin Nr 1-1 are predisposed to the development of inflammation in the lungs to a greater extent than persons with other blood groups of the ABO system and haptoglobin.     

The mycoplasma infection rate in children with bronchial asthma

A total of 167 children with bronchial asthma (BA) have been examined for the mycoplasma infection rate. Among investigated patients 62,8% were infected with one or more mycoplasma species. The prolonged persistence in patient body as well as biological properties of mycoplasmas give grounds to consider these agents as a risk factor in the development of the allergy-infection-borne BA and its relapses.     

Sensitization to mites in house dust among children suffering bronchial asthma]

The results of studying allergy to domestic dust in 168 patients suffering from bronchial asthma are presented. The diagnosis was made by means of the domestic dust allergen (10000 PNU), fraction E extracted from the whole allergen by Berrens and Young's method, and with lyophilized extract from D. pteronussinus, farinae and Glycyphagus ticks isolated from domestic dust by Voohorst and Spieksma's method. In parallel, IgE was determined in the blood serum of the patients under study by the radio-allergo-sorbent test; IgG was also determined. Microticks proved to be not the only factor determining the activity of domestic dust. Results of diagnosis in vivo and in vitro were found to correlate. The authors believe that the activity of domestic dust allergen formed on account of the reactions of the Maillard's type, in which a significant role was played by the "lysine-sugar) compounds.     

IgE-containing immune complexes in bronchial asthma]

Level of circulating immunological complexes and their immunoglobulin content have been determined in 36 asthmatic patients, including 15 patients with atopic asthma and 21 patients with infectious asthma. A technique of staphylococcal protein A binding has shown, that the level of the circulating immunological complexes is increased in patients with infectious bronchial asthma. An amount of IgE in these complexes has been increased in both atopic and infectious bronchial asthma. However, a level of IgE-containing immunological complexes has been higher in the atopic asthma, then that in infectious form of the disease. An increased IgA content in the immunological complexes has been noted in the infectious asthma.     

Ten years of experience with specific desensitization in children with bronchial asthma

Hundred eighty five children, aged between 6 and 15 years, with bronchial asthma and diagnosed allergy to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were followed-up for 2-3 years between 1978 and 1988. Children were treated with HDM vaccine Bencard. Administered doses were increased gradually at the beginning of therapy whereas they remained the same for further 1-3 years. Excellent and favourable results were achieved in 78.4% of cases. The treatment as postponed in 36 children (19.4%) because of the lack of improvement after one year of the follow-up. Easily manageable adverse reactions and complications were seen in 4 patients (2.2%).     

Association between C3 complement types and bronchial asthma

A statistically significant association was found between the C3F gene and bronchial asthma. The relative risk for bronchial asthma among individuals carrying the C3F gene was 4.0.     

Isolation and identification of Neisseria in bronchial asthma]

A study was made of 29 strains of neisseria isolated from the mucosa of the pharynx and the bronchi of patients suffering from infectious-allergic bronchial asthma of different severity. Comparison of the strains by 22 tests (including the assessment of the morphological, biochemical and other signs) permitted to establish the species of neisseria with some probability. The species reference was determined in 23 cultures. N. perflava was isolated in 10 cases, N. subflava--in 6, N. flava--in 3 cases and N. sicca--in 4 cases, 2 strains corresponded to apigmentary N. cinerea. The species was not established in 4 cultures. There was found no connection between a definite microbial association and the species of neisseria and the severity of the disease. Pigment species of neisseria should be tested as diagnostic allergens.     

Polymorphic genes of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes associated with bronchial asthma in genetically predisposed children

The frequencies of the CYP1A1 valine allele, homozygous deletions of GSTM1 and GSTT1, and two point mutations of the NAT2 gene, (C481-->T) and S2 (G590-->A), were compared in healthy children and children having bronchial asthma. The S1 mutation was associated with resistance, and all of the other traits, with predisposition to the disease. In families of patients with diseased progenitors and in those with healthy progenitors, the estimates of the asthma risk were similar. In both groups, parameters of the trait association with the disease depended on passive smoking. At passive smoking, a trend to an overrepresentation (high odds ratio, OR) of the GSTM1 null genotype and S2 mutation of the NAT2 gene was observed, whereas the odds ratio of the GSTT1 null genotype decreased, and those of the CYP1A1 and S1 mutation of the NAT2 gene remained unchanged. The highest OR = 36.25 (P < 0.01) was characteristic of the GSTT1 null genotype in nonsmoking hereditary burdened patients. The results obtained suggest an important role of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in development of bronchial asthma.     

Analysis of the cough sound frequency in adults and children with bronchial asthma

It is well known that the frequency distribution of cough sound varies in different pathological conditions. Its identification could have diagnostic value. In this study the cough sound frequency in adults (n=20, 51.7 +/- 11 yrs), children (n=21, 11.8 +/- 0.4 yrs) asthmatics and healthy volunteers (n=25, 21 yrs) was explored. All patients were suffering from bronchial asthma. They were on a stable therapeutic regime and in a quiet status. Voluntary cough sound was recorded by a microphone and a tape recorder an ddigitally processed. Overlapping technique and Fast Fourier Transform were used to estimate the sound spectra. The records were smoothed by the method of Pascal triangle. They demonstrate the mean values of cough sound spectra. The registered pseudo three-dimensional plots of cough sound frequency (1 K spectra as function in time) of adults showed that the intensity of frequencies increased from 100 to 900 Hz in 3-4 waves. These frequencies afterwards decreased and between 1 to 2 kHz a smaller elevation was present. The spectra of children resembled to the spectrum of adults but had a smoother course. The spectra of asthmatics had some specificity and differed from the spectrum of healthy volunteers.