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Biomedical subjects

J K Sarsfield

Publications and source records attributed to J K Sarsfield.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Controlled trial of house dust mite avoidance in children with mild to moderate asthma.

Twenty-six asthmatic children participated in a controlled trial of house dust mite avoidance. Group A (n = 14) had 12 weeks' avoidance, provided that they had not deteriorated at the end of the first 6 weeks. Group B (n = 12) had an initial 6 weeks' observation period followed by 6 weeks' avoidance. Mite numbers were extremely variable and often low. There was a significant fall in mite numbers in the first, but not the second, 6-week period in group A. In group B there was a significant fall in mite numbers in both the first (observation) and second (active avoidance) periods. Active avoidance produced highly significant falls in total serum IgE. There were no significant changes in IgE during the observation period. This impressive immunological effect was not associated with any changes in the radio-allergo-sorbent assay (RAST) to house dust mite, or symptom scores; peak expiratory flow rates or histamine induced bronchial reactivity. More rigorous avoidance procedures in more severely affected asthmatic patients warrants further investigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Steroid-responsive and nephrotic syndrome and allergy: clinical studies.

Eighty-four children with steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome who had been shown to have, or were believed to have, minimal change histology were investigated to study the relationship between steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome and allergy. They were found to have a greater incidence of the standard atopic disorders--asthma, eczema, recurrent urticaria, and hay fever. Their 1st-degree relatives had an increased incidence of these atopic disorders too. A nasal discharge was a frequent precursor or an accompaniment of nephrotic syndrome, but an overt atrophic disorder at the same time was rare. Such disorders, related to relapse, occurred in only 5 children; in none was it a consistent or recurrent happening at the time of each relapse. No example of pollen hypersensitivity nephrotic syndrome was found, and no particular allergen could be identified with certainty as responsible for a child's nephrotic syndrome. No association was found between the time of relapse and the season of the year, or the season in which the child was born. Children with nephrotic syndrome had a greater incidence of positive skin tests to common antigens, the comparative frequency of positive reactions to different antigens being similar to that found in children with asthma, although the total frequency was about half that of children with asthma. Despite the increased incidence of clinical features of atopy, measures to reduce the frequency of relapse of nephrotic syndrome by allergen avoidance, the use of sodium cromoglycate, and the use of a new oral antiallergic drug were unsuccessful.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome and allergy: immunological studies.

Immunological studies were performed on 84 children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome as part of an investigation of the relationship between steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome and allergy. Serum total IgE levels tended to be raised, particularly in children who had frequent relapses of nephrotic syndrome. Ten children had extremely high levels (greater than 1500 IU/ml) and several of them had neither a history of atopy nor any other identifiable cause. 25% of the children had at least one positive test for specific IgE antibody. IgE was not detected by immunofluorescence in renal biopsy tissue from 25 children, regardless of whether the child was in remission or relapse at the time of biopsy. Serum IgG and IgA levels were depressed particularly at the time of a relapse. Serum IgM tended to be raised and to remain so, even in children who had been in remission for more than a year. No clinically useful relationship was found between the frequency of HLA antigens and the occurrence or course of the syndrome, whether or not accompanied by atopy. Clinical and immunological features of atopy are more common in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. This may be a causal or non-causal association. Pollen sensitivity is a rare cause of nephrotic syndrome; careful search for provocative agents may show other causes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Flunisolide nasal spray for perennial rhinitis in children.

Twenty-seven children with perennial rhinitis entered a double-blind cross-over study comparing nasal sprays of flunisolide---a new topical corticosteroid---and placebo. Symptoms were assessed over two consecutive monthly periods with each treatment. Weekly diary cards, monthly clinical assessments, and end-of-trial preferences all favoured the active drug. At the end of the trial 20 patients preferred the treatment month with flunisolide, four preferred the placebo month, and two rated the periods equally. Side effects were mild, the commonest being transient nasal stinging. Seventeen children who derived benefit from flunisolide continued with the treatment for a six-month open-study period. Many reduced the dosage from three times to twice or once daily without losing benefit. The effect of flunisolide on the pituitary-adrenal axis was assessed in seven children by measuring the 0900 blood cortisol concentrations at two-month intervals over the six months. No effect was observed. The results show that flunisolide is effective and safe for the treatment and prophylaxis of perennial rhinitis in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Wheezing children.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1976

Pet sensitivities in asthmatic children.

A history of pet contact and/or apparent clinical sensitivity was obtained in 65 (55%) of 118 unselected asthmatic children. These 65 children were skin tested and their sera examined for specific IgE using the radioallergosorbent test. Those children who had apparent clinical sensitivities had larger skin test reactions and were more likely to have positive specific IgE results than those without apparent sensitivities. Positive skin tests were very common (80%), but the larger the skin test reaction (weal diameter greater than 4 mm diameter) the more likely was there to be a positive history or a positive specific IgE result. Hence a large skin test reaction can provide a helpful pointer to animal allergy of clinical importance. Commercially available animal extracts have limitations for diagnostic tests. A questionnaire survey of 150 day schools emphasized the potential opportunities for contact with animal allergens at school.

Allergens↗
PubMed1975

Negative sweat tests and cystic fibrosis.

Two brothers are described with chronic suppurative pulmonary disease. One has classical cystic fibrosis with complete pancreatic involvement and abnormal sweat test. The other had incomplete pancreatic disease with repeatedly normal sweat tests. The implications of a negative sweat test in patients with cystic fibrosis are discussed.

Amylases↗