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Biomedical subjects

Z Misirligil

Publications and source records attributed to Z Misirligil.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The effectiveness of benzyl benzoate and different chemicals as acaricides.

Several observations have indicated that house-dust mites (HDM) play an important role in allergic diseases. Thus, the primary form of treatment should aim at reducing exposure to HDM for these patients. Allergen-avoidance measures in homes have been demonstrated to be beneficial in decreasing the risk of sensitization, severity of symptoms, bronchial reactivity, and basophil sensitivity. Various chemical methods, as well as physical measures, have been tried to eliminate mite allergens from house dust. However, none have gained wide acceptance because of the lack of effectiveness and safety, and the high cost. It is clear that new approaches are required for effective long-term control of HDM allergens. This study compared the acaricidal activities of phenyl salicylate, tea leaf extract (high tannic acid content), and essential oils (eucalyptus and laurel) with that of benzyl benzoate. The contact, short-duration persistence, and residual effects of various concentrations of these chemicals and benzyl benzoate were assessed in laboratory conditions with specially designed wells. Our data suggest that benzyl benzoate may not be effective when applied according to the manufacturer's instructions, but may be effective when applied more frequently (i.e., three to four times a year) and for longer periods (up to 24 h) even with lower concentrations (0.4%). Essential oils were shown to have little acaricidal activity, but virtually no effect was observed with tea. Among the chemicals used, phenyl salicylate seems to be promising as an alternative acaricide.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[The levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin in the periapical cyst lesions].

Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) is a serum protease inhibitor, with a well established role in bodily defense against destructive inflammatory disease. In order to investigate the role of this protease inhibitor in the periapical lesions, 13 patients were investigated. Serum alpha-1-antitrypsin levels of 13 patients were 871.8 +/- 73.6 mg/dl whereas 296.6 +/- 32.6 mg/dl in the control group. Difference was important between both groups (P less than 0.01). Alpha-1-antitrypsin levels were 40.2 +/- 13.7 mg/dl in the cyst fluid. Although the alpha-1-antitrypsin levels in the patients serum were elevated, it was not found in sufficient levels in the cyst fluid. This results suggest that, the regulation of proteolytic activity afforded by AAT, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of periapical lesions.

Humans↗
PubMed1985

[Relation between serum and salivary IgA and oral aerobic bacterial flora in patients with chronic bronchitis].

Serum and salivary IgA and oral bacterial flora was determined in specimens collected from 28 patients with chronic bronchitis and 7 healthy persons. However, in serum IgA levels, the difference between the patients and controls was not found statistically significant, the mean salivary IgA level was significantly higher in the patients with spastic bronchitis than in infectious bronchitis and controls (p less than 0.01). The mean salivary IgA level was significantly higher in the patients from whom Haemophilus influenzae was isolated, it was lower in the specimens in which gram negative bacilli were isolated (p less than 0.01).

Bronchitis↗
PubMed1984

[Effects of storage conditions on the rate of disappearance of bacterial contamination of toothbrushes].

This investigation was made to show the effects of storage conditions on the decrease rate of bacterial contamination of tooth brushes. Tooth brushes were soaked into the broth cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, and then kept either in closed containers or in free circulating room air. The germ counts were made 24, 48 and 72 hours later and found that the decreases were much more rapid in brushes who kept in free air.

Bacteria↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of alternative medicines by allergic patients in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Although complementary and alternative medicines are frequently used in Turkey, no studies with large series have yet been published. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the prevalences of the use of various types of complementary and alternative medicines in patients with asthma, seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and chronic urticaria (CU) and the relationship between the use of these substances and patients' social, economic and demographic characteristics. METHODS: All patients completed a questionnaire about the use of complementary and alternative medicines, including herbal products, animal products, acupuncture, yoga, massage therapies, Turkish-baths, speleotherapy, and psychoreligious methods for curing their diseases. RESULTS: The overall use of complementary and alternative medicines was 38 %. The most common alternative therapy treatment was herbal therapy (30.5 %). The prevalence of the use of these therapies was higher in asthmatics than in patients with SAR and CU. In all patients, variables associated with the use of these therapies were older age and having asthma. Among asthmatics, the use of these therapies within the previous 12 months was higher in patients with hospitalization and acute attacks than in those without hospitalization or acute attacks. In this group important covariates in the use of complementary and alternative medicines were older age and severe disease. Approximately half of the patients and 41.2 % of asthmatics discontinued pharmacological therapy during alternative treatment or had not yet started it. CONCLUSION: Because of the high prevalence of the use of complementary and alternative medicines and the tendency to discontinue drug therapy during these treatments, patients should be educated about the importance of pharmacological therapies.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of montelukast on eosinophil apoptosis: induced sputum findings of patients with mild persistent asthma.

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis may be important in limiting airway eosinophilia. Treatment with leukotriene antagonists decreases the number of eosinophils in both peripheral blood and sputum. AIM: To assess the effect of montelukast on eosinophil apoptosis in a group of patients with mild persistent asthma (MPA) and to compare this effect with the apoptotic effect of fluticasone propionate (FP). METHODS: Randomly selected patients with MPA (n = 22) who had not taken anti-inflammatory therapy within the preceding 12 months were included in the study. The sputum induction procedure was performed and the patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 10) received FP 250 microg/day and group 2 (n = 22) received montelukast 10 mg/day orally for 4 weeks. Sputum induction was repeated after the treatment period. The resulting cytospin slides were stained by Wright's stain and morphologic changes in apoptotic eosinophils were assessed by the use of light microscopy by two blinded expert pathologists. Serum soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) concentrations were measured by an ELISA method at baseline and after treatment in both groups, as well as in a group of healthy subjects. RESULTS: In within-group comparisons, the apoptotic ratio (AR) increased at the end of the study period in group 1 (p = 0.05). In the group treated with FP the ratio of sputum eosinophils significantly decreased (p = 0.02), and the AR significantly increased (p < 0.005). No differences were found in the two study groups in serum sFasL levels at the end of the treatment period compared with baseline values (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that 4 weeks' treatment with a CysLT receptor antagonist (montelukast) resulted in an increase in eosinophil apoptosis comparable to that produced by FP, suggesting that induction of apoptosis may be a potential mechanism for the mode of action of CysLT receptor antagonists in asthma.

Acetates↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Atopic status of an adult population with active and inactive tuberculosis.

The rise in allergic disorders over the past three decades has been suggested to be related to the decrease in infectious diseases. Recently, a negative association between tuberculin responses and atopic disorders has also been reported. We planned to investigate the effect of natural exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis on atopic status in patients with active tuberculosis and to compare the findings with the data of patients with inactive disease. A total of 97 subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1, patients with proven active pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 66); group 2, subjects who had a history of previous tuberculous disease, with negative bacteriologic studies and no clinical and/or roentgenographic evidence of current disease (n = 31). Current history of allergic diseases was recorded by a physician with the use of a questionnaire adapted from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS), and skin-prick tests (SPTs) were performed using a standardized panel. Total IgE and Phadiatop were measured by the Pharmacia uniCAP system. The rate of one or more positive SPTs was significantly lower in the patients with active tuberculosis than the inactive group (15% versus 48.4%, p < 0.001). The current history of atopic diseases was 7.6% and 29% in the active and inactive tuberculosis groups, respectively (p = 0.002). The rate of positive skin tests to inhalant allergens in patients with inactive disease was higher than the rate of healthy adult Turkish people (48.4% versus 25%, p = 0.001). Geometric mean of total IgE levels were lower in patients with inactive disease than patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (74.97 kU/L versus 106.3 kU/L, p = 0.05). The ratios of Phadiatop positivity were 21% and 38.7% in the active and inactive tuberculosis groups, respectively (p = 0.008). We found lower atopy rates in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis than subjects with inactive disease. Although our data support the hypothesis that M. tuberculosis may prevent the development of atopic disorders by inducing the production of cytokines antagonistic to Th2 development, we believe prospective and experimental studies are needed before attributing a direct cause-effect link to this association.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased chemotactic responses of neutrophils in intrinsic and mixed asthmatic patients.

Neutrophils are thought to contribute actively in the pathogenesis of asthma since they infiltrate into the lung tissue. The aim of this study is to compare the chemotactic responses of neutrophil granulocytes from 10 intrinsic, 13 extrinsic and 10 mixed type asthmatic patients with each other and chemotactic response of neutrophil granulocytes from 26 healthy individuals. All patients were free of infection and not receiving systemic corticosteroids. Significant differences were not found in random migration between all of the groups. However, chemotactic activity with zymosan activated serum was significantly elevated in intrinsic and mixed asthmatic patients (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the present investigation demonstrated increased chemotactic responses of neutrophils from asthmatic patients except extrinsic type.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cyclosporin in steroid dependent asthma.

Cyclosporin A(CsA) is an immunosupressive drug which inhibits predominantly T lymphocyte dependent immune responses. In recent years, CsA is reported to have significant steroid sparing effect in severe asthma. We used CsA top treat 12 steroid dependent asthmatic patients who had been on systemic steroids for an average of 8.5 years. During the baseline period lasting 3 months, therapy was standardized with inhaled beclamethasone, salbutamol and aminophylline and minimal necessary dose of steroid for each patient was determined. Treatment period lasted three months with 3 mg/kg/day CsA orally, the mean CsA whole blood level through the study was 77.25 ng/ml. In patients the daily dose of prednisone could be reduced from mean 31.43 mg to mean 8.57 mg (p < 0.01), while an average 34% improvement was observed in FEV1 values. However in one patient attempts to taper steroid doses were unsuccessful. Four patients were withdrawn from the study due to side effects of CsA. We suggest that CsA in steroid dependent severe asthma can reduce the requirement for systemic corticosteroids, however side effects of the drug must be weighed against its possible benefits.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Light and electron microscope study in allergic rhinitis patients (ARP) with or without bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR).

Little is known about the pathogenesis of bronchial hyperreactivity associated with allergic rhinitis. For this purpose, bronchial biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage from 6 allergic rhinitis patients with bronchial hyperreactivity, 5 allergic rhinitis patients without bronchial hyperreactivity and 3 healthy, normoreactive control subjects were obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscope and investigated with light and transmission electron microscope. Varying degrees of morphological alterations were observed in all groups; however, the intensity of the epithelial shedding, goblet cells, basement membrane thickness, stromal collagenous fibers and smooth muscle cells appeared to be increased in allergic rhinitis patients with bronchial hyperreactivity. In the mucosa and submucosa, the numbers and activation of lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages were lower in allergic rhinitis patients with bronchial hyperreactivity than in the control group and in allergic rhinitis patients without bronchial hyperreactivity. In accordance with these findings, bronchoalveolar lavage showed increased numbers of lymphocytes and surface alterations of phagocytic cells in allergic rhinitis patients without bronchial hyperreactivity. As a result, we could not find evidence of inflammation accompanying bronchial hyperreactivity in allergic rhinitis patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The mechanism of bronchial hyperreactivity in allergic rhinitis patients. A light microscopic study on BAL and bronchial biopsy.

Epidemiological data indicated that allergic rhinitis often coexists with and may precede the development of reactive airway disease. In particular, ARP with BHR are more likely to develop asthma. However, the pathogenesis of BHR associated with allergic rhinitis is still remains uncertain. Therefore we designed the study on ARP with/without BHR. The aim of this study were to investigate the presence of an inflammatory process in lower respiratory tract in ARP and to relate these changes to airway responsiveness Eleven ARP with BHR (Group I), eleven ARP without BHR (Group II) and two control patients (Control group) were studied. All of the ARP were judged atopic on the basis of positive skin prick test to common inhalant allergens. Bronchial challenges were performed with increasing concentration of M. All the subjects underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy, BAL and bronchial biopsies were obtained for pathologic examination. The mean total cell and the mean percentage of macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils in BAL fluid were in normal range in all groups without any significant differences between the groups. There weren't any correlation between PC20 to M and the total cell counts and percentage counts of these cells. In bronchial biopsy samples, the absolute numbers of lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and mast cells in the submucosa showed no differences between the three groups. The epithelial shedding was more extensive in ARP than control subjects (p = 0.05). The thickness of the epithelium was prominent in Group I (p < 0.05) but there was no significant differences in the basement membrane thickening between the three groups. We could only find an inverse correlation between PC20 to M and the mast cell counts in the submucosa (r xy:-0.815 p < 0.05). In conclusion, we couldn't observe any prominent morphological changes which indicate that may cause of BHR in ARP except the increased epithelial shedding in Group I. However, the increased epithelial shedding is not a reliable criterion to comment because of the possibility of mechanical damage of bronchial biopsies caused by the forceps.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of allergen specific immunotherapy (IT) on natural killer cell activity (NK), IgE, IFN-gamma levels and clinical response in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Allergen specific immunotherapy (IT) has been widely used for many years as a specific treatment of allergic diseases. A variety of changes in immunological parameters have been described but it still remains uncertain as to which of them is responsible for the improvement of symptoms. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of IT on natural killer (NK) cell activity, IL-4, IFN-gamma, IgE levels and skin test reactivity in addition to clinical efficacy. Thirty-one patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma were selected according to positive history, skin prick tests to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) or grass pollens, presence of specific IgE antibodies in sera and clinical findings, and were submitted to one year of placebo-controlled IT. Total IgE, specific IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma levels were measured by using ELISA method. Standard chromium 51 release assay was used to measure NK cell cytotoxic activity against the human leukemic cell line, K562 target cells. Mean symptom and medication scores, skin test reactivity and histamine sensitivity were significantly decreased in the patients given IT at the end of the first year when compared with the placebo group. However, there was neither a significant reduction in total and specific IgE levels nor a significant increase in IFN-gamma levels at the first year of IT. IL-4 levels were only measured at the beginning of the study because of the very low levels. A decrease in NK cell activity was found in patients treated with grass pollen extracts after 12 months when compared with Der p and placebo group. No signs of major local or systemic side effects due to IT were seen in patients during the study. Although significant clinical efficacy of specific IT with standardized extracts has been demonstrated in allergic rhinitis and asthmatic patients at the end of the first year of IT, no significant changes in immunological parameters were observed. However we conclude that a decrease in NK cell cytotoxic activity during IT has to be taken into account in the follow-up of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Endoscopic scoring system in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Visual inspection of the airways in patients with chronic bronchitis and asthma by fiberoptic bronchoscopy and the relation of these findings to bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid analysis or some clinical parameters have been reported previously. In this study, we have attempted to assess and grade airway inflammation in allergic rhinitis patients (ARP) by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. During the procedure, BAL was obtained and visual inspection of airways done by the method used by Thompson et al. Ten ARP with bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) (Group 1), 10 ARP without BHR (Group 2) and 2 nonatopic, healthy subjects (Control Group) were studied. The fluid recovery and differential cell concentration were similar in the three groups. The inflammatory scores were 11.0 +/- 7.0, 13.8 +/- 6.9, 15.0 +/- 4.2 in group 1, group 2 and control group, respectively, without showing any significant differences between the groups. There was no correlation between the inflammatory score and PC20 to methacholine. This indicates that BHR in ARP will need explanations other than the inflammation within airways.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recurrent pneumonitis in a 10-year-old girl with pigeon breeder's disease.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is an allergic disease resulting from sensitization to inhaled organic dust, usually manifest with recurrent bouts of cough, dyspnea and fever. Most of the reported cases concern the adult population. The disease is rarely seen in the pediatric age group, as stated by most of the reviews on the subject. In this article, a case with hypersensitivity pneumonitis is described. Precipitating antibodies to avian protein were demonstrated in serum from a girl with recurrent bouts of pneumonitis which was otherwise unexplained.

Acute Disease↗