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Biomedical subjects

J Dolovich

Publications and source records attributed to J Dolovich.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Asthma caused by occupational exposure to a furan-based binder system.

A 50-yr-old mold maker developed severe asthma a few weeks after commencing work with a furan binder. Asthma recurred within hours of subsequent exposure and was confirmed by measurements every 2 hr of peak flow rate. The molds were prepared by mixing sand with a resin (containing furfuryl alcohol, paraformaldehyde, and xylene) and a catalyst (containing sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and butyl alcohol). Occupation-type exposure in the laboratory to the resin mixed with catalyst, and to pure furfuryl alcohol mixed with sulfuric acid or butyl alcohol, provoked late asthmatic responses and heightened nonallergic bronchial responsiveness to inhaled histamine. No changes were produced by the same exposures in an asthmatic volunteer with a similar degree of histamine bronchial responsiveness, or in the worker after exposure to resin alone and catalyst alone. Avoidance of exposure was followed by clearing of symptoms and return of histamine bronchial responsiveness towards normal. The findings identify the occurrence of specific bronchial responsiveness to volatile reaction product(s) of furfuryl alcohol following reaction with sulfuric acid or with butyl alcohol. The incidence of this problem needs investigation, especially since furan-based binder systems are replacing traditional methods.

Albuterol↗

The use of radioactive isotopes for analysis of cutaneous allergic responses.

Local exudation at the sites of allergic and histamine-induced cutaneous reactions, was measured with an in vivo double-labelling procedure, based upon local serial simultaneous measurements of indium-113 m (113mIn) labelled transferrin and technitium-99m labeled red blood cells (99mTc RBC). Analyses depended upon the reaction index i.e. comparison of the ratio of 113mIn/99mTc counts at the reaction site with the ratio of 113mIn/99mTc at the corresponding unreacted site in the skin of the opposite arm. Reaction indices were initially significantly elevated at the sites of histamine and allergic reactions. After the first hour, there was a progressive reduction at histamine sites indicating a tapering of the local accumulation of indium-labelled transferrin. By contrast allergic reaction sites showed a continuing increase in the reaction index after one hour. During the first hour the curves were comparable, but they diverge and were significantly different after one hour (0.05 greater than P greater than 0.02). This is consistent with the known occurrence of late cutaneous reponses at the site of allergic but not histamine reactions.

Dermatitis, Contact↗

Stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes of children by influenza vaccine.

Cell cultures were performed with the blood of children, adults and umbilical cords in an examination of the effects of influenza vaccines. Commercially prepared whole virus vaccines containing swine +/- human virus antigens had a stimulatory effect upon peripheral blood lymphocytes of children but not adults. The stimulatory effect was shown to be retained by a fraction of whole influenza virus vaccine, but not subunit virus vaccine, is known to stimulation of blood lymphocytes by commercial subunit vaccines of either monovalent swine influenza or a trivalent composition. Immunization with whole influenza virus vaccine, but not subunit virus vaccine, is known to produce a high incidence of generalized reactions in children but not adults. The lymphocyte stimulation observed here may represent an in vitro counterpart of the in vivo reactions.

Aging↗

Human sensitization to Ganoderma antigen.

Continuous air sampling with a Hirst volumetric spore trap over 3 yr has identified basidiospores of Ganoderma applanatum, a bracket fungus, as the most numerous fungal spores in two southern Ontario locations. The particle size is small and the calculated total spore mass approximates that of the spores of Cladosporium and Alternaria. Extracts of Ganoderma applanatum bracket fungus and spores in w/v, 1:10 concentration were prepared after collection of samples of the fungus from local woods. Skin prick tests with the extracts were performed in 294 consecutive children and adults attending two chest/allergy clinics. Of these patients, 182 (61.9%) reacted to 1 or more of the common inhalant allergen extracts and 24 (8.2%) reacted to Ganoderma antigen. There was no consistent relationship between reactivity to Ganoderma antigen and any of the common inhaled allergens. IgE-dependent sensitization to Ganoderma was confirmed by the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Rabbit antisera to Ganoderma antigen preparations did not appear to cross-react with preparations of the various clinically important allergens. The findings indicate that Ganoderma antigen is commonly encountered, can induce human sensitization, and has unique antigenicity among common allergens of clinical importance.

Allergens↗

Allergy to a product(s) of ethylene oxide gas: demonstration of IgE and IgG antibodies and hapten specificity.

Patient D.H., on chronic hemodialysis, developed severe allergic reactions after exposure to articles such as plastic tubing and hemodialysis supplies which had undergone cold sterilization with ethylene oxide (EO) gas. It was shown that human serum albumin (HSA) exposed to EO (EO-HSA) in the usual sterilization procedure selectively elicited positive skin tests and in vitro histamine release. It is now demonstrated that D.H. serum reacts selectively in a radioallergosorbent test (RAST) which utilizes discs coated with HSA and exposed to EO gas. In addition, D.H. serum contained IgG antibodies reactive with EO-HSA. This antibody activity was not detected in the sera of 27 normal subjects and 25 chronic hemodialysis patients. EO-HSA and ragweed RAST inhibition tests with a number of proteins in native form and after exposure to EO demonstrated the EO hapten specificity of the IgE antibody.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗

Sodium cromoglycate in ragweed-allergic conjunctivitis.

Sodium cromoglycate (SCG), in a 4% solution instilled into each eye 4 times daily, was compared with placebo in a double-blind, noncrossover trial in 30 matched patients with troublesome ragweed pollen-induced conjunctivitis. In the SCG group, eye symptom scores were significantly less (p = 0.05), and all patients judged that their symptoms were improved over the previous year (p less than 0.05). Less antihistamine was used by the SCG group but the difference was not significant. It was concluded that SCG was effective in the treatment of ragweed-induced seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Relative refractory state for late cutaneous allergic responses.

The late cutaneous allergic response (LCAR) is a usual sequel to the wheal-and-flare (early) response in sufficiently intense cutaneous allergic reactions. Allergic reactions with early and late components were produced in the skin of the forearm by the intracutaneous injection of anti-IgE or allergen. One week later, these sites, which were normal in gross appearance, and separate control sites on the opposite forearm, were injected. At the sites of repeat reactions, the wheal diameter of the early response was the same but the LCAR was considerably smaller than at simultaneously injected control sites. This local relative refractory state for LCAR is immunologically nonspecific in the sense that it was manifest even when the antigen injected the second time had no evident immunologic relationship with the antigen injected initially. The refractory state for LCAR was present at 2 wk after the initial reaction, but it was no longer demonstrable after 3 wk. This local relative refractory state for LCAR may represent an inhibitory control mechanism for allergic reactions in man.

Allergens↗

Beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol in perennial rhinitis.

Beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol (BDA), 50 mug four times daily sprayed into each nostril, was compared with placebo in a double-blind crossover trial in 26 patients with perennial rhinitis. Patients received BDA for 3 weeks and placebo for 3 weeks; the order of administration was randomized. Response was assessed with daily symptom score cards and twice weekly measurements of nasal airway inspiratory resistance at a standard flow rate of 0.4 L/sec. Symptom score and nasal resistance during BDA treatment were significantly lower than those duirng placebo treatment (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.05, respectively) in the third week. Eighteen of the patients expressed a preference for BDA, 6 for placebo, and 2 for neither (p less than 0.05). Acceptable symptomatic improvement (moderate or marked) was achieved by 54%. Mild side effects were noted by 5 patients; these included nasal irritation and bleeding in 2, aerosol-induced sneezing in 2, and headache in 1. These side effects occurred in 3 patients who used BDA, 1 who used placebo, and 1 who used both. After a 6-mo follow-up period, in which the dose of BDA was adjusted and concurrent initial oral prednisone was administered to patients who were treatment failures, 73% of the patients obtained moderate or marked symptomatic improvement. No further side effects were noted during this time. Results in those in whom a possible allergic component could be identified were not different from those of the whole group. We conclude that BDA is a useful addition to the therapy of perennial rhinitis.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Allergen-induced increase in non-allergic bronchial reactivity.

Non-allergic bronchial hyper-reactivity is a feature of most patients with asthma. We have measured non-allergic bronchial reactivity to inhaled histamine and methacholine in thirteen asthmatic subjects before and after allergen inhalation in the laboratory. The allergen inhalation produced mild early asthmatic responses (19-40% FEV1 fall) in all thirteen, additional definite late asthmatic responses (17-29% FEV1 fall) in four, and equivocal late asthmatic responses (5-11% FEV1 fall) in five. Following allergen inhalation, non-allergic bronchial reactivity increased in seven for up to 7 days. The seven included all four with definite late asthmatic responses and three of the five with equivocal late asthmatic responses. We conclude that allergens make asthma worse, partly through non-allergic mechanisms, and that avoidance of allergens is important in reducing non-allergic bronchial hyper-reactivity.

Allergens↗

Dimethyl ethanolamine-induced asthma.

Progressively severe sneezing, rhinorrhea, cough, wheezing, and dyspnea developed in a spray-painter, apparently in relation to exposure to a particular spray paint. A monitoring of exposure at work revealed the development of symptoms and a decrease in peak flow rates. Subsequent challenges in the laboratory performed under conditions resembling occupational exposure resulted in dual asthmatic responses on exposure to the whole paint (98 per cent methyl methacrylate emulsion and 2 per cent dimethyl ethanolamine solution) and to dimethyl ethanolamine solution (2 per cent) alone. Water, methyl methacrylate emulsion, and 1,4 dioxane (0.6 per cent) used as a thinner in the dimethyl ethanolamine did not produce a response in the airways. Allergy skin tests with dimethyl ethanolamine and a mixture of dimethyl ethanolamine and human serum albumin were negative. To our knowledge, this is the first report of asthma and/or rhinitis induced specifically by dimethyl ethanolamine. The mechanism of the specific reactivity is not known.

Adult↗

Characteristics of the macrophage uptake of proteinase-alpha-macroglobulin complexes.

Complexes formed between labelled proteolytic enzymes (trypsin, subtilopeptidase A) and the alpha-macroglobulins of plasma are rapidly and selectively taken up by rabbit alveolar macrophages. The uptake occurs over a narrow zone of pH. Kinetics of the uptake is affected by temperature; in particular, incubation of macrophages at 37 degrees C before the addition of the labelled complex reduces the capacity to take up complexes. EDTA prevents the association of labelled complexes with macrophages, and can dissociate previously bound label. The effect of EDTA is reversed by the addition of calcium or magnesium or both. Iodoacetamide does not prevent the uptake of complexes but causes them to remain available for dissociation from the cells by EDTA. Incubation of complexes with macrophages at 37 degrees C with no iodoacetamide results in the appearance of trichloroacetic acid soluble products of the enzyme in the supernatant fluid. These observations indicate that the selective uptake of proteinase-alpha-macroglubin complexes by rabbit alveolar macrophages can be resolved into three phases: (1) membrane binding which depends upon divalent cations and is pH sensitive, (2) endocytosis inhibitable by iodoacetamide and (3) temperature-dependent hydrolysis of the contained labelled enzyme.

Animals↗

Inhibition by prednisone of late cutaneous allergic responses induced by antiserum to human IgE.

Dual cutaneous allergic responses can be induced in human subjects by the intracutaneous injection of antiserum to human IgE (AHIGE). Adrenocortical steroid fails to inhibit the AHIGE-induced early wheal-and-flare response but does inhibit the late allergic response. This pattern of inhibition by adrenocortical steroid resembles that known to pertain to allergen-induced dual cutaneous allergic responses.

Humans↗