We studied the effects of adding washed human platelets or platelets with nonintact glutathione redox cycles to endothelial cell monolayers treated with glucose oxidase to initiate oxidant stress and increase permeability. Changes in 125I-labeled albumin transmonolayer movement were used as the index of monolayer permeability. Washed human platelets attenuated oxidant-induced increases in albumin flux. Platelets treated with 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosurea, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, or buthionine sulfoximine to inhibit selective enzymatic steps in the glutathione redox cycle decreased permeability to a lesser degree. We conclude that 1) washed human platelets attenuate monolayer permeability defects in aortic endothelial monolayers exposed to glucose oxidase and 2) the protective effects of platelets are partially dependent on an intact platelet glutathione redox cycle.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

The respiratory effects of reduction of mite allergen in the bedrooms of asthmatic children--a double-blind controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Inhalation of house dust mite (HDM) allergen may provoke attacks of asthma. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether a double-blind placebo-controlled community-based study aimed at reducing the HDM allergens in the bedrooms of HDM sensitive asthmatic children using the best methods available would prove beneficial to the children's health. METHODS: The children (mean age 9.9 years, 34 boys) were recruited by a questionnaire submitted to 7386 families in a geographically-defined area of the UK. Subjects were chosen to take part in the double-blind placebo-controlled trial if they were asthmatic, skin sensitive to mites, and had mite allergen in their mattresses. Seventy children were randomly allocated to groups. In the active group, the children's bedrooms were treated with an acaricide (Acarosan) and the mattresses, pillows and duvets were encased in exclusion covers. The control group received placebo treatments. RESULTS: Forty-nine complete data sets were obtained. Applying bedding covers and Acarosan led to a median reduction of 480 ng (100%) in mite allergen on the mattress vs 215 ng (53%) reduction in placebo-treated group by 6 weeks. No evidence was found that the acaricide reduced mite allergen level. A change in bronchial reactivity to histamine was observed in the children after 6 weeks. This was not associated with any change in thrice-daily records of peak expiratory flow rate. By 24 weeks, the actively-treated children had improved forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) and fewer required bronchodilator therapy or reported asthmatic symptoms than did the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that mite removal procedures may modestly improve mite-sensitive asthmatics and could perhaps be of value in exceptionally mite-sensitive and/or highly mite-exposed individuals whose response to the attempted removal should be measured.

Allergens↗

PubMed1995

A combined approach to reduce mite allergen in the bedroom.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a common chronic disease of childhood. House dust mite (HDM) are known to be a major source of allergen affecting atopic asthmatics. No single control method has been demonstrated to consistently reduce asthma. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of a combination of two methods of HDM allergen control on HDM allergen content in the bedding and carpets of asthmatic children. METHODS: This was a double-blind placebo-controlled trial treating the bedrooms of 56 mite-sensitive asthmatic children. The carpet and the mattress, duvet and pillows (bedding) in the bedroom of children of the active group were treated with the acaricide Acarosan (benzyl benzoate). The bedding was then encased in vapour permeable waterproof fabric (Intervent--cotton coated with polyurethane) for 24 weeks. The carpet and bedding of the control group were treated with placebo and the bedding encased in cotton covers for 24 weeks. Dust samples were collected from all these items in a standard manner at regular intervals and Der p I content analysed. RESULTS: The group with active treatment had a median reduction of 480 ng (100%) in mite allergen from the mattress vs 215 ng (53%) reduction in placebo-treated group by 6 weeks. The Der p I content of the active group's bedding was always less than the placebo group after treatment (P < 0.01). The acaricide applied to the carpets or inside the mattress covers was ineffective in reducing allergen content. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the effectiveness of encasing covers in reducing the mite allergen exposure but indicates there is no further advantage in applying acaricide simultaneously.

Allergens↗

PubMed1993

Early inflammatory response of minocycline and tetracycline on the rabbit pleura.

The histopathologic findings were compared from 20 mg/kg intrapleural tetracycline hydrochloride (TCN) and three doses of intrapleural minocycline hydrochloride (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) (MCN) in New Zealand white rabbits. Both TCN and MCN produced an early neutrophilic predominant pleural effusion that became mononuclear over 48 h. There was no difference in pleural fluid accumulation, number of adhesions, or histologically measured visceral and parietal pleural thickness between TCN and MCN (all p = ns). The TCN, 20 mg/kg, produced more visceral pleural plaque than MCN, 5 mg/kg (p < 0.05). Increasing MCN doses resulted in greater pleural fluid neutrophil accumulation. With higher dose MCN, greater mesothelial cell desquamation and fibroblast proliferation was evident compared to the 5 mg/kg dose. The MCN and TCN produce similar histopathologic condition in the rabbit pleura which suggests that MCN should cause a similar clinical response in humans.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1992

Childhood cancer, intramuscular vitamin K, and pethidine given during labour.

OBJECTIVE: To assess unexpected associations between childhood cancer and pethidine given in labour and the neonatal administration of vitamin K that had emerged in a study performed in the 1970 national birth cohort. DESIGN AND SETTING: 195 children with cancer diagnosed in 1971-March 1991 and born in the two major Bristol maternity hospitals in 1965-87 were compared with 558 controls identified from the delivery books for the use of pethidine during labour and administration of vitamin K. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds ratios for cancer in the presence of administration of pethidine or of intramuscular vitamin K. Both logistic regression and Mantel-Haenszel techniques were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Children of mothers given pethidine in labour were not at increased risk of cancer (odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval 0.7 to 1.5) after allowing for year and hospital of delivery, but there was a significant association (p = 0.002) with intramuscular vitamin K (odds ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 3.0) when compared with oral vitamin K or no vitamin K. There was no significantly increased risk for children who had been given oral vitamin K when compared with no vitamin K (odds ratio 1.15, 95% confidence interval 0.5 to 2.7). These results could not be accounted for by other factors associated with administration of intramuscular vitamin K, such as type of delivery or admission to a special care baby unit. CONCLUSIONS: The only two studies so far to have examined the relation between childhood cancer and intramuscular vitamin K have shown similar results, and the relation is biologically plausible. The prophylactic benefits against haemorrhagic disease are unlikely to exceed the potential adverse effects from intramuscular vitamin K. Since oral vitamin K has major benefits but no obvious adverse effects this could be the prophylaxis of choice.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Allergen levels in airborne and surface dust.

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Air↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nurses at work: a day in the life of...

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Child↗