Ausência de efeito da memória imunológica e antígenos micobacterianos sobre a produção de IgE e citocinas em resposta a Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / No effect of mycobacterial antigens and immunological memory on the production of cytokines and IgE in response to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

Introdução: As doenças respiratórias alérgicas, tais como rinite e asma, afetam elevada proporção da população brasileira. Estima-se que mais de 58 mil pessoas foram afetadas por alguma destas condições no Brasil em 2002-2003. Estudos realizados em humanos e animais sugerem que a exposição ambiental ao Mycobacterium tuberculosis ou imunização com o M. bovis (vacina BCG), podem estar relacionadas à proteção contra doenças alérgicas. Objetivo: Investigar a influência da resposta Th1 a antígenos micobacterianos sobre a modulação da resposta do tipo Th2 ao ácaro Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Derp). Métodos: O estudo compreendeu duas fases. Para avaliar o efeito da resposta à revacinação com o BCG sobre a modulação de uma resposta do tipo Th2 ao Derp, foi realizado um estudo de intervenção randomizado com coorte prospectiva, e os voluntários que participaram compuseram a Amostra 1. Para avaliar o efeito da resposta à infecção latente com M. tuberculosis sobre a modulação de uma resposta do tipo Th2 ao Derp, foi feito um estudo de caso-controle e os voluntários que participaram compuseram a Amostra 2. A população foi composta por adultos jovens com idade entre 19 a 33 anos. Todos responderam ao questionáro ISAAC...

Introduction: Allergic respiratory diseases such as asthma and rhinitis, affecting a high proportion of the Brazilian population. More than 58.000 people have been affected by some of these conditions in Brazil in 2002-2003. Studies in humans and animals suggest that environmental exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis or immunization with Mycobacterium bovis (BCG), may be related to protection against allergic diseases. Objective: To investigate the influence of Th1 response to mycobacterial antigens on the modulation of Th2-type response to aeroallergen Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Derp). Methods: The study comprised two phases. To evaluate the effect of the response to revaccination with BCG on the modulation of a Th2-type response to Derp, we conducted a randomized intervention study with prospective cohort, and the volunteers composed the Sample 1. To evaluate the effect of latent response to infection with M. tuberculosis on the modulation of a Th2-type response to Derp, a study was made of case-control and the volunteers composed the Sample 2. The population consisted of young adults aged 19 to 33 years. All responded to questionnaire ISAAC...

[Survey of airborne fungi spores in Qazvin [Mar-Jun 2007]]

Fungal air Spores can play a significant role in several allergic manifestations. Respiratory allergy to environmental molds is relatively common. Allergy to airborne fungi can cause rhinitis and severe asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate airborne fungal spores at Qazvin. This descriptive study was conducted by Petri-dish trapping technique. 25 different locations selected. The data were analyzed by the chi-square and t-tests. Totally, 2652 fungus colonies were counted from 150 Petri dish. The most common fungi were CLadosporium spp, Penicillium spp, Aspergillus spp. Alternaria spp. Our results seem to confirm that fungal air spores, because of its quantity and variety, can represent a serious problem for human health .Reducing these indoor fungi is necessary to improve the health of individuals with fungal-induced diseases like asthma

Allergic fungal sinusitis: Radiological and microbiological features of 59 cases

Allergic fungal sinusitis [AFS] is a relatively newly recognized entity consisting of a pansinusitis with allergic mucinous infiltrates in all involved sinuses. Historically mistaken for a paranasal sinus tumor, AFS is believed to be an allergic reaction to aerolized environmental fungi, usually of dematiaceous and Aspergillus species, in an immunocompetent host. We determined the occurrence of AFS in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis [CRS] to identify accurate preoperative parameters for AFS, as well as to identify the common fungi causing AFS in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 406 cases of CRS undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery from 2001 to 2005. Data regarding patient demographics, presenting symptoms, ENT examination, laboratory and radiological features, histopathological features and fungal culture was collected and analyzed. Fungal cultures were positive in 69 [16.9%] cases of CRS. Based on radiological features, histopathologic findings and culture results, AFS was diagnosed in 59 [14.5%] cases. Nasal polyposis was present in 56 [94.9%] cases; multiple sinuses were affected in all cases. Aspergillus species was the commonest causative fungal pathogen, being isolated in 40 [67.8%] cases, whereas dematiaceous fungi were isolated in 19 [32.2%] cases. AFS has been an underdiagnosed clinical entity. Only increased awareness among physicians of fungal involvement will increase accuracy of diagnosis

Entendiendo la relación entre la infección por Helicobacter pylori y enfermedades alérgicas en niños y adultos / Understanding the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and allergies in children and adults

La infección por Helicobacter pylori afecta a más del 50 por ciento de la población mundial, asociándose a gastritis histológica, úlcera duodenal y gástrica, así como también a cáncer gástrico. Abundante literatura reciente sugiere una relación entre H. pylori y las enfermedades alérgicas, las cuales han presentado un sostenido aumento en su incidencia en los últimos años. Considerando que ambas enfermedades (H. pylori y alergias), presentan respuestas Th polarizadas y opuestas, se revisan los aspectos claves de esta infección y su respuesta inmune polarizada a Th1, la cual, siendo inefectiva para erradicar H. pylori, es el elemento característico subyacente de la gastritis crónica histológica. Junto con ésto se analiza la respuesta inmune de tipo Th2 sistémica asociada a alergias cutáneas, respiratorias y alimentarias, para así comprender mejor su posible interacción. Algunos estudios plantean que la erradicación de H. pylori beneficiaría la remisión de enfermedades tales como urticaria crónica,asma y alergias alimentarias entre otras. Por el contrario, una fuerte línea de investigación se apoyanen la teoría de higiene y plantean que la erradicaciónde microrganismos como H. pylori, Toxoplasma gondii y virus de hepatitis A aumentaría la incidencia de alergias por un desbalance hacia Th2. En la mayoría de los estudios, la falta de grupo control o protocolos ciegos dificultan la posibilidad de llegar a una conclusión.

Helicobacter pylori’s infection affects more than 50% of the world’s population, inducing a histologic chronic gastritis, which can develop to a duodenal and gastric ulceration, as well as gastric cancer. Recent literature suggests a possible relationship between H. pylori and allergic diseases, which have also shown an increase in their incidence these last years. Considering that both diseases, H. pylori and allergies, have polarized and opposite immune responses, we wanted to examine the important aspects of this infection and it’s immune response (Th1), which is ineffective in eradicating H. pylori, and is a characteristic element in the histologic chronic gastritis. We also wanted to review the immune response linked to skin, food and respiratory allergies (Th2) so we can understand the interaction between allergic diseases and H. pylori. Many of the studies conclude that the eradication of H. pylori would benefit the remission of chronic urticaria, asthma and food allergies among others. However, other studies mention the hygiene hypothesis where the eradication of microrganisms such as H. pylori, Toxoplasma gondii and hepatitis A virus could increase the incidence of allergic diseases due to a polarized response towards Th2. The lack of control groups and blind studies make difficult to establish a final conclusion

Prevalencia de sensibilización a lepidoglyphus destructor, tyrophagus putrescentiae y chortoglyphus arcuatus en pacientes con asma y/o rinitis residentes en Rosario / Prevalence of sensitization to lepidoglyphus destructor, tyrophagus putrescentiae and chortoglyphus arcuatus in patients with asthma and/or rhinitis living in Rosario, Argentine

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la prevalencia de la sensibilización a Lepidoglyphus destructor (Ld), Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tp) y Chortoglyphus arcuatus (Cha) en pacientes con asma y/o rinitis que residen exclusivamente en Rosario y compararla con otros ácaros estudiados previamente. En tres centros privados y tres hospitales públicos, se estudiaron 216 pacientes, 54,6 por ciento de sexo femenino, con edades comprendidas entre los 5 y 55 años (x 23,3 años). El 20,8 por ciento de ellos presentaba asma, el 38,9 por ciento rinitis y el 40,3 por ciento ambas patologías. Se confeccionó un cuestionario tipo y se realizaron prick tests (SPT) con extractos de Ld, Tp, Cha, Dermatophagoides pteronsyssinus (Dp) y Blomia tropicalis (Bt) obtenidos a partir de aislamiento y cultivos locales, y con una batería de aeroalergenos comerciales. El 79,6 por ciento (n = 172) de los pacientes presentó al menos un STP (+) y de ellos, el 94,8 por ciento mostró sensibilidad a algún ácaro y el 48,3 por ciento a otros alergenos. La prevalencia de sensibilización a alguno de los tres ácaros en estudio fue de 76,2 por ciento (Ld 69,2 por ciento, Cha 64,0 por ciento y Tp 61,6 por ciento), siendo de 66,1 por ciento en los pacientes con rinitis, de 78,9 por ciento en asma y de 82,7 por ciento para ambas patologías. No se observaron diferencias entre centros públicos y privados. El 54,6 por ciento de los pacientes (n=89) tuvo SPT (+) para los 5 ácaros testeados, el 6 por ciento (n=13) fue (-) para Dp y (+) para alguno de los otros 4 ácaros y el 3 por ciento (n=6) fue (+) sólo a Ld, Tp ó Cha. Se concluye que la prevalencia de sensibilización a Ld, Tp y Cha hallada en Rosario justifica ampliamente su inclusión en el panel de aeroalergenos, lo que permitiría identificar sensibilizaciones inaparentes

Ulcera de córnea bacteriana, chlamydia trachomatis, fenômeno de hipersensibilidade / Bacterial corneal ulcer, chlamydia trachomatis, hipersensibility phenomenon

Este caso clínico espelha-se em seu próprio título por apresentar simultaneamente uma Ülcera de Córnea do tipo bacteriana, uma infecçäo crônica pela Chlamydia Tracomatis e um Fenômeno de Hipersensibilidade associado a um dos agentes infecciosos presentes, ou a um fenômeno isolado