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Biomedical subjects

R N Hamburger

Publications and source records attributed to R N Hamburger.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Effectiveness of dietary manipulation in the prevention of food allergy in infants.

The desire to alter the natural incidence of atopic illness has piqued physicians' imaginations for decades. Specifically, the phenotypic expression of IgE-mediated disorders, which appears regulated by multiple genetic factors and modulated by environmental experiences (allergen exposure, infection, and smoking), has been a target for preventive medicine since the 1920s when dietary intervention was espoused in infancy. To be successful, such intervention must overcome many patient factors that in concert markedly increase the risk for development of atopic disease (Table XII). During the past 60 years, much controversy has emerged from multiple clinical studies designed to evaluate the effect of dietary and other environmental exclusions on the subsequent manifestation of atopy. One may conservatively conclude, from critical evaluation of these conflicting studies, that sole breast feeding for about 6 months combined with delayed introduction of solid foods for at least 6 months may reduce atopic dermatitis and food allergy in early infancy. A randomized, prospective study of allergy prophylaxis during infancy is mandatory to determine definitely the benefits and feasibility of such a regimen and its long-term effects on the development of atopy. From our recent findings, which demonstrate the development of atopy in infants entered in a strict prophylactic protocol, it becomes apparent that monumental obstacles confront preventive efforts to overcome the strength of the allergic constitution. In the very near future, results from our prospective study of prenatally randomized allergy prophylaxis should be available for critical scrutiny of the effectiveness and feasibility of allergy prevention during infancy.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1984

Safety and efficacy of human IgE pentapeptide.

The safety, dosage and efficacy of human IgE pentapeptide (HEPP) was evaluated in 12 patients with IgE-mediated atopic disease. Statistically significant differences were observed in allergy symptom scores, allergy medication usage and skin test results between the HEPP treatment and placebo control groups. HEPP appears to be a safe, new therapeutic modality for the treatment of allergic disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Diagnosis of food allergies and intolerances in the study of prophylaxis and control groups in infants.

There is no definitive way to distinguish a true atopic IgE-mediated sign or symptom due to food from an intolerance reaction due to irritation, enzyme deficiency or other idiosyncratic cause. The presence of IgE-specific antibody against a food as demonstrated by an immediate wheal and flare skin test reaction or a positive RAST is presumptive evidence of a cause and effect relationship. The younger the patient, the more likely a positive RAST or skin test is to be significantly causally related to the illness. Nevertheless, in almost 100 infants at 4 months of age, five were observed to have both a positive skin test and a positive RAST to a food, with only two having any detectable allergic illness. This observation in a prospective study of the value of a prophylaxis regimen in the prevention or amelioration of atopic allergic disease in infancy, underlines the problem of the ascertainment of allergy. The problem is even greater when the suspected allergen is a food, for a positive laboratory test does not rule it in nor a negative test rule it out. Thus, the diagnosis of food allergy is dependent on a careful history, physical examination, elimination diets, food challenges and the cautious interpretation of skin tests and laboratory tests including a total serum IgE level and RAST. Under ordinary circumstances an individual with complaints, signs and symptoms of allergic disease consults the physician to help find the cause of the illness.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Tympanometric changes following nasal antigen challenge in children with allergic rhinitis.

Intranasal antigen provocation was used to study the relationship between allergic rhinitis and changes in middle ear pressure. Middle ear pressure was measured by tympanometry and nasal airway resistance by anterior rhinomanometry. Middle ear pressure became significantly more negative following antigen challenge as compared with control challenge. A subgroup of patients showed middle ear pressure changes of more than minus 50 mm water. This pressure change was rapid and was associated with increased nasal symptoms. These results indicate a role for allergy in the development of negative middle ear pressure, a key finding in otitis media with effusion.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMed1984

Antibody production following immunization with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids in children receiving chemotherapy during remission of malignant disease.

Twenty-seven children with various childhood malignancies who were in clinical remission and receiving maintenance chemotherapy were given diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) immunizations. Antidiphtheria and antitetanus titers were drawn before and 1 month after immunization. Only one child had no antibody response to either antigen. Two other children failed to develop any detectable antitetanus antibody titer but did mount a normal antibody response to inactivated diphtheria antigen. In fact, most children made good antibody responses to both immunizing antigens, irrespective of the nature of their disease or of the treatment given. These results show that children receiving long-term chemotherapy should not be denied the protection afforded by immunization with nonliving vaccines.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Nest-building behavior in two cerebellar mutant mice: staggerer and weaver.

Nest-building behavior was studied in two separate (different genes) but phenotypically similar autosomal recessive neurological (cerebellar) mutants, staggerer and weaver, as well as their wild-type siblings. None of the test animals or their parents had previous experience with the nesting materials used in these experiments. All of the mice, with the exception of the staggerer mutant, exhibited the nest-building behavior. This observation, coupled with other phenotypes expressed in this mutant, suggest the mutation may more generally affect neuroendocrine development and/or regulation rather than be restricted to cerebellar development.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Evolutionary relationship of thymopoietin to immunoglobulins and cellular recognition molecules.

The sequence of thymopoietin, a thymic hormone composed of 49 amino acids, was compared to sequences of immunoglobulins and related cellular recognition molecules. Maximum homology was found between an active site of thymopoietin and homologous regions of IgG, IgE, beta 2-microglobulin, HLA-B7 and the Thy-1 antigen predicted to mediate immunologic activities, including Fc receptor binding. These results suggest that thymopoietin may be derived from approximately one half of the ancestral domain common to immunoglobulins and related immune system molecules and provide further support for a general theory that predicts the location of active sites in molecules of the immune system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1980

The in vitro effect of levamisole on lymphocyte proliferation, polymorphonuclear leucocyte chemotaxis, basophil histamine release and platelet serotonin release in patients with atopic dermatitis.

The in vitro effect of levamisole (LMS) on lymphocyte, neutrophil, basophil and platelet function was investigated in patients with severe atopic dermatitis and hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E. Lymphocyte stimulation by several concentrations of PHA, con A and PWM, polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis and basophil histamine release were unaffected by LMS (10 micrograms/ml). Platelet serotonin release induced by iodipamide was decreased in patient and control groups by LMS but release induced by methacholine, epinephrine and thrombin was not.

Basophils↗
PubMed1979

Ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity in T and B lymphocytes from normal subjects and patients with congenital X-linked agammaglobulinemia.

Ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity was measured in lymphocyte subpopulations isolated from normal subjects and patients with congenital X-linked agammaglobulinemia. B lymphocytes from normal subjects have at least three times more ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity than T lymphocytes. Patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia have 56% of normal activity in their T cells, and lack a lymphocyte subpopulation high in nucleotidase activity. High activity of ecto-5'-nucleotidase may be a biochemical marker for mature surface immunoglobulin-bearing B cells.

Agammaglobulinemia↗