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Biomedical subjects

C E Reed

Publications and source records attributed to C E Reed.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Guinea-pig-derived allergens. Clinicoimmunologic studies, characterization, airborne quantitation, and size distribution.

Of 20 serum samples from laboratory workers who experienced allergic symptoms after exposure to laboratory animals, 9 contained elevated IgE antibodies to guinea pig urine, pelt, or albumin by the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Skin testing documented allergenic activity with all 3 guinea pig allergens. The cross-reactivity of these 3 guinea pig allergens was studied in RAST inhibition assays. Guinea pig pelt extract and urine produced dose-related inhibition in all 3 assays, but guinea pig albumin was inhibitory in only the homologous assay. Characterization by gel filtration, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and isoelectric focusing demonstrated heterogeneity of the allergens. Air filter samples were taken in a guinea pig housing room, a research laboratory, and a library, using a high volume air sampler. An outdoor air filter sample was also taken. Guinea pig urine allergen activity was detected in all indoor air filter samples by RAST inhibition. Guinea pig pelt allergen activity was detected in all air filter samples, except the library and outdoors. Guinea pig albumin was not detected in any air filter sample. Sizing of airborne particles demonstrated that most guinea pig allergen activity was associated with particles of a diameter greater than 5 mu and less than 0.8 mu. Urine appears to be the major source of guinea pig allergens, and it is present in airborne particles small enough to penetrate the lower respiratory tract when inhaled.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1984

Immunologic aspects of asthma.

Asthma often, but not always, is the result of an IgE-mediated allergic reaction to an airborne antigen. The chain of biochemical reactions is now fairly well defined. These reactions generate an immediate smooth muscle bronchoconstriction and a late inflammation 4 to 24 hours later. This article describes the most important allergens in the community, home and workplace, and discusses procedures for diagnosis and management.

Allergens↗
PubMed1983

Surgical cure of hypoglycemia associated with cystosarcoma phyllodes and elevated nonsuppressible insulin-like protein.

A woman with a large, benign cystosarcoma phyllodes of the breast was found to have recurrent, profound hypoglycemia. Plasma levels of nonsuppressible insulin-like protein were increased (15.18 micrograms/ml; normal = 1 to 4 micrograms/ml), whereas levels of insulin and nonsuppressible insulin activity soluble in acid ethanol were normal. Surgical excision of the tumor resulted in immediate and lasting correction of the metabolic abnormalities, although nonsuppressible insulin-like protein levels did not completely return to normal. Surprisingly, preoperative nonsuppressible insulin-like protein levels were highest in blood distant from the tumor site.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

IgE and IgG-immune mechanisms do not mediate occupation-related respiratory or systemic symptoms in hog farmers.

To determine the frequency and possible immunologic etiology of respiratory and other symptoms after hog barn exposure, we studied 41 hog farmers and their family members. Participants completed questionnaires and provided serum samples for measurement of IgE and IgG antibodies to hog-derived antigens, hog feed, and hog barn dust. Symptoms after hog barn exposure were reported by 85% of participants. Elevated IgE antibody levels to hog pelt, hog urine, and hog serum were found in only one individual; however, skin tests with these materials were negative. By radioimmunoassay, elevated IgG antibody levels to hog barn dust and/or hog feed were found in seven individuals; two of these sera contained precipitating antibodies to hog barn dust and hog feed. In no case could the presence of IgE or IgG antibodies be correlated with symptoms. Thus it appears that neither IgE nor IgG humoral immune mechanisms mediate respiratory or other symptoms in hog barn workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Immunochemical quantitation of airborne short ragweed, Alternaria, antigen E, and Alt-I allergens: a two-year prospective study.

We conducted a 2 yr prospective study to measure atmospheric short ragweed and Alternaria allergens by RAST inhibition analysis of eluates from filter sheets exposed in air samplers. In both years ragweed pollen and Alternaria spore counts, obtained with a rotoslide sampler, correlated significantly with immunochemically measured airborne ragweed and Alternaria allergenic activity. Airborne levels of the purified allergens AgE and Alt-I were successfully quantitated; these levels correlated closely with total airborne ragweed and Alternaria allergenic activities, respectively, and also with ragweed pollen and Alternaria spore counts. Eluates from filter sheets exposed during late summer and fall produced positive wheal-and-flare skin tests in patients with fall hay fever. In both years immunochemical measurements of allergenic activity due to airborne short ragweed correlated closely with mean symptom score indices in groups of short ragweed-sensitive individuals. Measurable levels of atmospheric ragweed allergenic activity were noted before and after the ragweed pollination season, and at these times we noted small increases in mean symptom score indices in the short ragweed-sensitive groups. Thus immunochemical analyses provide important information concerning levels of environmental allergens.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1983

Measurement of IgG antibody and airborne antigen to control an industrial outbreak of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

An outbreak of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a textile plant was attributed on epidemiological grounds to a chilled water air-conditioning system where a slime was growing in the chilled water sump and on demister vanes. All of the patients and about 80% of their asymptomatic co-workers had strongly positive precipitin tests to extracts of the slime. An adaptation of a radioiodinated staphylococcal protein A solid-phase radioimmunoassay was applied to monitor antigen and specific antibody. To control the outbreak, a variety of cleaning and water treatment measures were taken between 1977 and 1979 to reduce the amount of antigen in the water and in the air. The amount of slime in the water was greatly reduced though the antigen content per gram of slime did not change. Airborne antigen in the affected work areas decreased progressively.

Air Conditioning↗
PubMed1982

Occupational asthma in a florist caused by the dried plant, baby's breath.

A 34-year-old gift shop owner with a history of virus-induced bronchospasm and seasonal allergic rhinitis developed daily asthma when he began working with dried plants. Extracts were made from these dried plants, including baby's breath. German statice, leather leaf fern, and eucalyptus. Intradermal skin tests with these extracts were positive for the dried plant, baby's breath (Gypsophilia panniculata). The patient's serum contained elevated levels of IgE antibody to baby's breath extract, his leukocytes released histamine after challenge in vitro with the baby's breath extract, and bronchial challenge with baby's breath extract produced greater than 20% fall in his FEV1 from baseline. He recovered fully after avoiding the plant. This is the first report of a case of IgE-mediated occupational asthma involving the dried plant, baby's breath.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Study of unaided cross-eyed stereopsis.

The learning of the skill of unaided cross-eyed stereopsis was investigated on a group of young adults. Both pictorial and random-dot stereograms were used; small stereograms were viewed at normal reading distance and large projected stereograms were viewed in an auditorium. The results suggest that this direct stereoscopic technique can be learned within a few minutes by almost everyone in the population represented by the test group. The calculated eye-convergence angles for various conditions of cross-eyed stereoscopic viewing indicate that little eye discomfort is caused by this factor when the stereograms are located at a sufficient distance from the viewers. The comments of subjects support this conclusion. The unexpected prevalence of the aptitude for this skill should have practical application in the unaided three-dimensional visualization of computer-generated stereograms.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMed1982

Mechanisms of hyperreactivity of airways in asthma.

The airway obstruction is asthma results not only from bronchospasm but also from inflammatory edema, desquamation of ciliated epithelium and plugs in the lumen of airways. A final explanation for the characteristic hyperreactivity of the airways will include not only an explanation for the bronchospasm but also for this exuberant inflammation. One hypothesis to explain the hypersensitivity is a defect in stimulus-response coupling that renders not only smooth muscle cells but other cells overreactive. Isolated leukocytes have been used as a model to identify and begin to characterize possible abnormalities in stimulus-response coupling. Information thus for available indicates that leukocytes from patients with asthma respond poorly to agonists that activate adenylate cyclase and that a similar abnormality arises in normal cells exposed in vitro to supernates of respiratory virus infected tissue cultures.

Asthma↗
PubMed1981

Immunotherapy with short ragweed fraction A:D-glutamic acid:D-lysine polymer in ragweed hay fever.

We report the first human trial of immunotherapy employing the nonimmunogenic carrier, D-glutamic acid:D-lysine linked to short ragweed (SRW) fraction A (fraction A:D-GL). Twelve SRW-sensitive patients with no immunotherapy during the previous 19 yr received a 2-mo (7/79 to 9/79) course of fraction A:D-GL (average dose 49.5 mg, range 21 to 78 mg). We compared their symptom scores and serologic changes with two control groups of SRW-sensitive patients. Patients receiving fraction A:D-GL demonstrated at least a tenfold decrease in skin-test sensitivity to SRW and had statistically lower mean seasonal symptom scores (p less than 0.02) than untreated controls. Mean seasonal symptom scored did not differ statistically from those of control patients on year 4 of immunotherapy. In contrast to the expected suppression of IgE, we found that fraction A:D-GL stimulated both IgE and IgG responses to SRW and SRW-antigen E. These increases in IgE and IgG antibodies were significantly greater than in the control groups and appeared to be due largely to injection of fraction A:D-GL. Though fraction A:D-GL was generally well tolerated, we noted mild generalized urticaria in three patients, and large local reactions in five others. The difference between our results and the earlier results in mice may reside in the particular characteristics of this preparation of fraction A:D-GL.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Short-term efficacy trial and twenty-four-month follow-up of flunisolide nasal spray in the treatment of perennial rhinitis.

Seventy-eight patients with perennial rhinitis underwent a double-blind, placebo-controlled. 12-wk trial with flunisolide nasal spray, a new potent topical steroid. Eighteen of these patients were followed in an open study and evaluated at intervals for side effects and dosage of spray used. Baseline and plasma cortisol concentrations were performed before and at the end of the 12-wk, double-blind period. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation testing was performed on six patients after 1 yr of flunisolide therapy at 300 micrograms/day or less. Flunisolide was found to be safe and effective over a short period. Over a 2-yr follow-up there were no serious side effects or evidence of adrenal suppression. Ten patients with perennial rhinitis continue to obtain subjective benefit after 2 yr of therapy with flunisolide nasal spray.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1981

An immunochemical method to measure atmospheric allergens.

Because particulate aeroallergens may exist in amorphous form as well as in pollen grains and fungal spores and because symptoms of allergic diseases presumably correlate with the total amount of allergen exposure, an immunochemical method of assay of aeroallergens would be useful. We report such a method based on (1) capture of airborne pollen, fungal spores, and amorphous particles 0.3 micrometer in diameter on fiberglass sheets with a high-volume air sampler; (2) elution of the sheets with buffered saline; and (3) analysis of eluate allergen content by radioallergosorbent test (RAST) inhibition assays. In preliminary indoor experiments we applied various quantities of short ragweed (SRW) pollen or dry Alternaria powder to the sheets while airflow was maintained at 1.19 m3/min. We compared techniques for extraction of allergen from the sheets, including homogenization, cutting and soaking, and descending elution of sheets. Although all three methods successfully extracted allergen from the sheets, an 8-hr descending elution procedure was optimal from the standpoint of yield and convenience. Eluates from filters exposed to as little as 4 mg of SRW pollen or Alternaria powder produced satisfactory RAST inhibition curves. When the sampler was operated outdoors continuously we could measure the atmospheric allergenic activity for both Alternaria and SRW from July to September. This allergenic activity was highly correlated with the traditional morphologic counts of airborne ragweed pollen and Alternaria spores.

Allergens↗
PubMed1981

Occupational asthma: a challenge in patient management and community care.

Occupational exposure to irritants accounts for 2% to 15% of all cases of asthma. Most of the offending agents evoke an IgE allergic reaction, but some seem to act through pharmacologic rather than immunologic pathways. Usually, symptoms are worse during working hours and improve in the evening and over the weekend, but in some cases onset is delayed. Symptoms may persist for weeks after exposure ceases. Skin tests or serologic tests for IgE antibody are helpful in diagnosis. Bronchial challenge with the suspected agent is valuable research procedure that occasionally is clinically useful in diagnosis. Management requires the cooperation of the medical and industrial communities. It consists of identifying asthmatic workers, removing them from exposure to the affecting environment, and treating their symptoms; preventing exposure of susceptible people through preemployment screening; and setting and adhering to reasonable occupational safety standards.

Asthma↗