RESUMEN
Allergen avoidance is regarded as an important approach to management of atopic asthma. The effect of Intervent bed covering systems on house dust mite (HDM) allergen exposure, asthma symptoms and markers of inflammation was investigated in 31 HDM sensitive asthmatic children. Dust concentrations of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen 1 (Der p 1) were monitored before and after covering the mattress, duvet and pillow with active and placebo covers for 3 months, in a single-blind, cross-over trial. Twice daily peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), daily symptom scores and treatment schedule were recorded. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was monitored by histamine challenge (provocative concentration of histamine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (PC20)), and inflammation by measuring eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil protein X (EPX), eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in serum. There was a significant reduction in Der p 1 when the mattress, duvet and pillow were covered with the active bedding. There was no significant improvement in symptoms of asthma, PEFR, bronchodilator usage of PC20. Also, ECP, EPX, sIL-2R concentrations did not change for either treatment. EPO concentrations were significantly lower in the active compared to the placebo period. The active bed covers reduced retrievable Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen 1 (Der p 1) from the bedding, with short term clinical benefit.
Asunto(s)
Alérgenos , Asma/fisiopatología , Ropa de Cama y Ropa Blanca , Ácaros , Hipersensibilidad Respiratoria/fisiopatología , Ribonucleasas , Adolescente , Animales , Antígenos Dermatofagoides , Asma/sangre , Asma/terapia , Proteínas Sanguíneas/análisis , Hiperreactividad Bronquial , Pruebas de Provocación Bronquial , Niño , Preescolar , Estudios Cruzados , Polvo/análisis , Proteínas en los Gránulos del Eosinófilo , Peroxidasa del Eosinófilo , Neurotoxina Derivada del Eosinófilo , Eosinófilos , Femenino , Glicoproteínas/análisis , Histamina , Humanos , Mediadores de Inflamación/análisis , Masculino , Ápice del Flujo Espiratorio , Peroxidasas/análisis , Receptores de Interleucina-2/sangre , Hipersensibilidad Respiratoria/sangre , Hipersensibilidad Respiratoria/terapia , Método Simple CiegoRESUMEN
Levamisole (Ketrax), and anthelmintic drug commonly used in the tropics, has been found to restore the impaired spontaneous rosette-forming lymphocytes and delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions in experimentally malnourished rats. It, however, has no effects on plaque-forming cells. The drug was also found to reconstitute the histologic integrity of the thymus in malnutrition.
Asunto(s)
Levamisol/uso terapéutico , Desnutrición Proteico-Calórica/inmunología , Linfocitos T/inmunología , Animales , Peso Corporal/efectos de los fármacos , Células Cultivadas , Hipersensibilidad Tardía/inmunología , Inmunidad Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Técnicas In Vitro , Recuento de Leucocitos , Masculino , Tamaño de los Órganos/efectos de los fármacos , Ratas , Formación de Roseta , Piel/inmunología , Bazo/patología , Estimulación Química , Timo/patologíaRESUMEN
Plasma cholesterol, plasma and white blood cell ascorbic acid concentrations were estimated in 30 untreated, 32 salbutamol-treated patients with bronchial asthma and in 57 normal controls. Treated and untreated asthmatics had significantly higher plasma cholesterol but lower plasma and white cell ascorbic acid levels than normal controls. A negative correlation was found between white cell ascorbic acid level and plasma cholesterol concentration in both treated and untreated asthmatics. These findings are discussed.
Asunto(s)
Ácido Ascórbico/sangre , Asma/sangre , Leucocitos/análisis , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Albuterol/uso terapéutico , Asma/tratamiento farmacológico , Peso Corporal , Colesterol/sangre , Humanos , Recuento de LeucocitosRESUMEN
This review is a critical evaluation of the various methods of assessing the nutritional state of a community. Greater emphasis has been placed on the more recently developed and highly sensitive immunochemical and immunobiological methods because biochemical and immunological changes occur long before any anthropometric abnormality can be detected. Of the serum proteins the transferrin level would appear to be the most sensitive (and most practical) index of nutritional state. The immunochemical estimation of this protein is therefore recommended in the assessment of nutritional status. When adequate precautions are taken in the handling of specimens complement (C3) levels may also yield valuable information. Of the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) would appear to be the most sensitive as an index of nutritional state. For the rapid monitoring of nutritional programmes it is important that facilitates for these procedures be made as rapidly and widely available as possible.