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IgE-antibodies against venoms and wholebody extracts of bees and wasps and hemagglutinins against phospholipase A were determined in patients with allergy to insect stings before and during hyposensitization therapy. The results show that venoms are superior to wholebody extracts for diagnosis and therapy of insect sting allergy.
The authors report a case of limited inferior myocardial infarction in a young man following a bee sting. Coronary angiography, performed following the acute phase, showed angiographically healthy coronary arteries and minimal sequelae of myocardial necrosis in the inferior territory. The pathogenic role of the bee sting in myocardial necrosis was suggested by the timing of the events. The probable mechanism responsible for this myocardial infarction was severe coronary arterial spasm (partly mediated by psychological stress related to the intensity of the anaphylactic reaction) with secondary in situ thrombosis probably facilitated by cardiovascular collapse. The role of anaphylaxis, generating acute coronary insufficiency, is discussed in the light of this clinical case.
A clinical picture indistinguishable fro, but not therefore identical with, myasthenia gravis (ocular form) developed within 24 hours of a wasp sting. Because of the close temporal association of events, operative mechanisms may be either an immediate hypersensitivity reaction to some components of wasp venom or a direct toxic effect of these substances on acetylcholine synthesis, release, or degradation. Theoretical considerations from the literature and the lack of immunologic abnormalities in the patient suggest that the latter may be correct. Unique host conditions must have been present at the time of the sting, implying latent or subclinical myasthenia gravis.
Fifty-nine beekeepers who had been practicing apiculture for more than 2 years were selected in order to determine the distribution of bee venom specific IgG subclasses using ELISA. The assays were standardized into arbitrary units. For comparison, IgG subclasses were determined in eight individuals allergic to bee stings who did not receive specific treatment. No correlation was detected between beekeeping time and specific IgG1, IgG2 or IgG4 levels. There was a correlation between IgG2 levels and mean number of stings per month received by the beekeepers. Twenty-five percent of the beekeepers presented bee venom specific IgE class II or more in an ELISA assay. The IgG1 levels detected in beekeepers were similar to those detected in allergic individuals. IgG2 and IgG4 levels were significantly higher in beekeepers than in allergic individuals. IgG3 was not detected in any group studied. In conclusion, the maintenance of high levels of bee venom specific IgG2 and IgG4 represents a characteristic of beekeepers. These subclasses may be related to a modulatory effect of IgG on allergic reactions.
Two cases of bilateral facial palsy after hymenoptera sting are presented. In both cases, the neurological examination is otherwise normal, a lymphoplasmocytic reaction is present in the CSF, no other etiology is found, and the recovery is complete. The neurological complications of hymenoptera sting and the differential diagnosis of bilateral facial palsy are discussed.
Phytotherapy of BPS has a long tradition in Germany; nevertheless, data referring to single phytotherapeutic agents are rare. We therefore performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study for 1 year with Bazoton uno (459 mg dry extract of stinging nettle roots) with 246 patients. The IPSS decreased on average from 18.7+/-0.3 to 13.0+/-0.5 with a statistically significant difference compared to placebo (18.5+/-0.3 to 13.8+/-0.5; p=0.0233). The median Q(max) increased by 3.0+/-0.4 ml/s in comparison to 2.9+/-0.4 ml/s (placebo), thus not statistically significantly different, as well as the median volume of residual urine, which changed from 35.5+/-3.4 ml before therapy to 20.0+/-2.8 ml and from 40.0+/-4.0 ml to 21.0+/-2.9 ml under placebo application. The number of adverse events (29/38) as well as urinary infections etc. (3/10 events) was smaller under Bazoton uno therapy compared to placebo. Treatment with Bazoton uno can therefore be considered a safe therapeutic option for BPS, especially for reducing irritative symptoms and BPS-associated complications due to the postulated antiphlogistic and antiproliferative effects of the stinging nettle extract. A strong increase of Q(max) or reduction of residual urine are not to be expected.
The incidence of early anaphylactic reactions to scorpion antivenom given i.v. after Tityus serrulatus scorpion sting was evaluated in 103 children aged up to 15 years in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Patients without adrenergic manifestations (Group 1, n = 28) were compared with those who presented systemic involvement that included adrenergic manifestations (Group 2, n = 75). Data were recorded on a proforma and the presence or absence of early anaphylactic reaction was cross-tabulated according to clinical features, sex, age and volume of antivenom used in the treatment. Unpaired Student's t-test was used to calculate significance of differences in age and volume of antivenom used. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the effects of clinical features and volume of antivenom as predictors of early anaphylactic reaction to antivenom treatment. Twelve (42.9%) of 28 children included in Group 1 presented early anaphylactic reactions compared with 6 (8%) of 75 children of Group 2 (OR = 8.63; 95% CI: 2.88, 25.7). The reactions were more severe in Group 1. There were no significant differences with respect to age and sex. After adjusting for clinical form, volume of antivenom was not significantly associated with presence of reactions (OR = 1.11; 95% CI: 0.70, 2.80 for each 5.0 ml of antivenom administered). The results show that children with adrenergic manifestations after T. serrulatus scorpion sting had significantly lower anaphylactic reactions to antivenom than those without these manifestations.
The intranuclear organization of the inferior olivary nucleus (ION) was studied in the red sting ray, using the rapid Golgi method. The ION neurons had polygonal, triangular or spindle cell bodies which generated 3-5 primary dendrites. These dendrites were relatively straight, sparsely spinous, and distributed mainly within the ION. The axons of the ION neurons extended medially and joined fiber bundles which ran transversely in the ION. Three groups of olivary afferents were distinguished: fibers derived from the tegmental area travelled ventrally and ended totally in the ION, composing a dense fiber plexus; collaterals of fibers which extended in a longitudinal direction in and around the ION distributed mainly in the lateral portion of the ION; and collaterals of fibers which ran transversely in the ION also ended in the ION. Some fibers from these 3 afferent groups converged to form pericellular baskets. Thus, the fundamental organization of the ION in the red sting ray was similar to that of the ION in mammals.
1. The hemoglobin of the sting-ray, Dasyatis sabina, is both polymorphic and heterogeneous; three components predominate. 2. One major component has two kinds of polypeptide chain, of which one, presumably an alpha-chain, has a blocked NH2-terminus and an arginyl COOH-terminus, whereas carboxypeptidases A and B release tyrosine and histidine from the COOH-terminus of the beta-chain. 3. The amino acid sequence of the beginning NH2-terminal segment of the beta-chain of the major component has been determined. 4. The hemoglobin of the sting-ray, Dasyatis sabina, is highly resistant to urea and does not dissociate readily into subunits. 5. Oxygen binding by the hemoglobin is not affected by organic phosphates or high concentrations of either NaCl or urea. 6. The hemoglobin does not polymerize beyond tetramers. 7. Cooperativity, as monitored by n in the Hill equation, is pH-dependent and maximal between pH 8.5 and 9.0. 8. The hemoglobin has a large Bohr effect; the oxygen affinity is 16 times higher at pH 10 than at pH 6.5.
BACKGROUND: Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) often have increased skin sensitivity and this symptom often worsens during stress. OBJECTIVE: We sought to find out whether patients with AD had stinging, and to identify the pathocausal neuroimmune mechanisms, including the role of stress. METHODS: In all, 25 patients with AD with histories of stress worsening were tested using a stinger test. Skin biopsy specimens were processed for immunohistochemistry. Stress inquiries and salivary cortisol tests were performed. RESULTS: In all, 16 patients were stinger-positive and 9 were negative. The stinger-positive papillary dermis had an increased number of mast cells, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive fibers, and a tendency to a higher number of substance P-positive nerve fibers, but a decrease of calcitonin gene-related peptide fibers. Patients who were stinger-positive had a tendency to lower salivary cortisol. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with AD experience stinging. Substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and mast cells may have a pathocausal role, as might chronic stress.
Seventeen patients stung by Tityus serrulatus scorpion were classified as mild (pain at the site of the sting, n = 6), moderate (local pain and one of the following manifestations: vomiting, psychomotor agitation, prostration, sweating, tachypnea, tachycardia and mild arterial hypertension, n = 10) and severe cases (equal moderate cases plus cardiac failure, pulmonary edema and shock, n = 1). Venous blood was sampled for biochemical and hematological analysis and for IL-1alpha, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and GM-CSF ELISAs at the time of hospital admission, 6 h (moderate and severe cases), and 12, 18, 36 and 72 h (severe case) later. Ten age-matched healthy volunteers were used as control. Increased serum levels of IL-1alpha was noticed in all patients, high levels of IL-6, IFN-gamma and GM-CSF were observed only in a patient with severe envenomation. Our data suggest that a systemic inflammatory response-like syndrome is triggered during severe envenomation caused by T. serrulatus sting and that release of cytokines may be involved in this response.
In the present study the activity of a 20% methanolic extract of stinging nettle roots (Urtica dioica L., Urticaceae) on the proliferative activity of human prostatic epithelial (LNCaP) and stromal (hPCPs) cells was evaluated using a colorimetric assay. A concentration-dependent and significant (p < 0.05) antiproliferative effect of the extract was observed only on LNCaP cells during 7 days, whereas stromal cell growth remained unaltered. The inhibition was time-dependent with the maximum of growth reduction (30%) at a concentration of 1.0E-6 mg/ml on day 5 compared to the untreated control. On day 4 and 6, the reduction in proliferation of LNCaP cells showed the minimal effective dose at 1.0E-9 mg/ml. No cytotoxic effect of ME-20 on cell proliferation was observed. The antiproliferative effect of ME-20 of stinging nettle roots observed both in an in vivo model and in an in vitro system clearly indicates a biologically relevant effect of compounds present in the extract.
In addition to the Hymenoptera, less common arthropods, such as spiders and reduviids, can inflict injuries of medical importance. Identification of the source of the bite or sting may be difficult but is essential to proper treatment. Part 1 of this article describes recognition and treatment of the bites of various spiders; part 2, beginning on page 107, considers bites and stings of other arthropods.
The sting mutation, caused by a P element inserted into polytene region 32D, was isolated by a screen for male sterile insertions in Drosophila melanogaster. This sterility is correlated with the presence of crystals in spermatocytes and spermatids that are structurally indistinguishable from those produced in males carrying a deficiency of the Y-linked crystal (cry) locus. In addition, their morphology is needle-like in Ste+ flies and star-shaped in Ste flies, once again as observed in cry- males. The sti mutation leads to meiotic drive of the sex chromosomes, and the strength of the phenomenon is correlated with the copy number of the repetitive Ste locus. The same correlation is also true for the penetrance of the male sterile mutation. A presumptive sti null allele results in male sterility and lethal maternal effect. The gene was cloned and shown to code for a putative protein that is 866 amino acids long. A C-terminal domain of 82 amino acids is identified that is well conserved in proteins from different organisms. The gene is expressed only in the germline of both sexes. The interaction of sting with the Ste locus can also be demonstrated at the molecular level. While an unprocessed 8-kb Ste primary transcript is expressed in wild-type males, in X/Y homozygous sti males, as in X/Y cry- males, a 0.7-kb mRNA is produced.
In an evaluation of the safety of new chemicals, of products containing them, or of novel formulations of existing chemicals which may come into contact with the skin, it is important to incorporate an assessment of specially susceptible sub-populations. Such a group is represented by those who are more likely to experience sensory effects such as stinging. Since these individuals are easily and rapidly identifiable, we investigated whether they represented a group who were also more susceptible to the effects of an irritant. The primary purpose was to discover whether 'stingers' might represent an easily and rapidly identifiable sub-population with a more generally increased tendency to give skin responses. The response to a 0.3% sodium dodecyl sulphate patch test was assessed in a group of 25 'stingers' and compared to the response in 25 'non-stingers'. There was no difference in either the pattern or strength of the irritant response assessed by subjective erythema and dryness scores. Thus the data suggest that there is no correlation between the susceptibility of an individual to a skin stinging response and an irritation reaction.
BACKGROUND: The integration of many aspects of protein/DNA structure analysis is an important requirement for software products in general area of structural bioinformatics. In fact, there are too few software packages on the internet which can be described as successful in this respect. We might say that what is still missing is publicly available, web based software for interactive analysis of the sequence/structure/function of proteins and their complexes with DNA and ligands. Some of existing software packages do have certain level of integration and do offer analysis of several structure related parameters, however not to the extent generally demanded by a user. RESULTS: We are reporting here about new Sting Millennium Suite (SMS) version which is fully accessible (including for local files at client end), web based software for molecular structure and sequence/structure/function analysis. The new SMS client version is now operational also on Linux boxes and it works with non-public pdb formatted files (structures not deposited at the RCSB/PDB), eliminating earlier requirement for the registration if SMS components were to be used with user's local files. At the same time the new SMS offers some important additions and improvements such as link to ProTherm as well as significant re-engineering of SMS component ConSSeq. Also, we have added 3 new SMS mirror sites to existing network of global SMS servers: Argentina, Japan and Spain. CONCLUSION: SMS is already established software package and many key data base and software servers worldwide, do offer either a link to, or host the SMS. SMS (Sting Millennium Suite) is web-based publicly available software developed to aid researches in their quest for translating information about the structures of macromolecules into knowledge. SMS allows to a user to interactively analyze molecular structures, cross-referencing visualized information with a correlated one, available across the internet. SMS is already used as a didactic tool by some universities. SMS analysis is now possible on Linux OS boxes and with no requirement for registration when using local files.
Skin often becomes vulnerable in incontinent patients or following the use of aggressive adhesive tapes and dressings. Until recently the only products available for use on such skin have been ointments, creams and alcohol-based products. 3M Health Care has launched a range of no sting barrier film applicators that provide skin protection in many scenarios, but in a product that does not sting or cause pain on application.
Inflammatory joint diseases are characterized by enhanced extracellular matrix degradation which is predominantly mediated by cytokine-stimulated upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression. Besides tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) produced by articular chondrocytes and synovial macrophages, is the most important cytokine stimulating MMP expression under inflammatory conditions. Blockade of these two cytokines and their downstream effectors are suitable molecular targets of antirheumatic therapy. Hox alpha is a novel stinging nettle (Urtica dioica/Urtica urens) leaf extract used for treatment of rheumatic diseases. The aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of Hox alpha and the monosubstance 13-HOTrE (13-Hydroxyoctadecatrienic acid) on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1, -3 and -9 proteins (MMP-1, -3, -9). Human chondrocytes were cultured on collagen type-II-coated petri dishes, exposed to IL-1beta and treated with or without Hox alpha and 13-HOTrE. A close analysis by immunofluorescence microscopy and western blot analysis showed that Hox alpha and 13-HOTrE significantly suppressed IL-1beta-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1, -3 and -9 proteins on the chondrocytes in vitro. The potential of Hox alpha and 13-HOTrE to suppress the expression of matrix metalloproteinases may explain the clinical efficacy of stinging nettle leaf extracts in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. These results suggest that the monosubstance 13-HOTrE is one of the more active antiinflammatory substances in Hox alpha and that Hox alpha may be a promising remedy for therapy of inflammatory joint diseases.