Prevalence of skin test reactions to natural rubber latex in hospital personnel in Russia and eastern Europe.

BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to natural rubber latex have increased during the past 10 years, especially in many health care workers (HCWs) who have high exposure to latex allergens. The prevalence of skin test reactions to natural rubber latex in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and eastern Europe is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of skin test reactivity to natural rubber latex in a population of HCWs exposed to latex. METHODS: Nine hundred one HCWs regularly exposed to latex were evaluated using an allergy history questionnaire. Subjects were tested for latex allergy by titrated skin prick test with a biologically standardized latex extract. The diagnosis of latex allergy was defined by the presence of clinical symptoms when exposed to latex along with a positive skin prick test to latex. RESULTS: Forty-nine (5.4%) HCWs were skin test-positive to latex. Seventeen (1.9%) HCWs were classified as latex-allergic based upon positive skin tests to latex associated with allergy symptoms with exposure. Seven of 901 HCWs had experienced anaphylactic reactions to latex. The most frequently reported symptom related to latex exposure was contact urticaria. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of latex allergy among HCWs in Russia, the CIS, and adjacent eastern European countries is considerably less than reported in HCWs exposed to latex in western Europe and the United States. The low prevalence of latex allergy in Russia and the CIS suggests that lessened exposure to natural latex powdered gloves may diminish the prevalence of latex sensitization in HCWs in Russia and the CIS.

[Effect of preparations combining trace-elements and vitamins on the frequency of illness among children attending kindergarten]. / Nyomelemeket és vitaminokat tartalmazó készítmény hatása óvodába járó gyermekek betegségi tendenciájára.

Between 17 January and 16 April 2000, 37 children attending a kindergarten were treated with MultiTabs masticatory tablets, product containing vitamins and trace elements. 36 children attending the same kindergarten served as controls. Only 1 of the children participating in this multivitamin treatment required antibiotic treatment during this period, in contrast with 12 of the control group (3 of them on more than 1 occasion). It was interesting that, when they came into contact with subjects with chickenpox, only 11 of the 37 vitamin-treated children contracted this disease (the contagiosity index of which otherwise exceeds 90%). The increase in height of the treated children was significantly greater than that for the controls. Similarly between 17 January and 16 April 2000, 20 children younger than 2 years (average age 16.6 +/- 5.5 months) participated in treatment with ACD drops (containing vitamins A, C and D). The controls here were 20 infants of similar age (average 21.3 +/- 4.2 months) who participated in the traditional vitamin D treatment. None of the members of either group took part in child-community activities, but they all had siblings who attended kindergarten. Of the children receiving the ACD drops, 8 fell ill during the period in question, as compared with 12 of the controls. The number of days of illness per child was on average 3.6 in the treated group, and 6.5 in the control group. Three of the children receiving the ACD drops required antibiotic treatment, whereas this was necessary in 6 of the control children. The increases in both height and weight were significantly higher for those treated with the ACD drops than for the controls. No signs of rickets were observed in either group. The authors discuss the roles of the vitamins (A, D, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, folic acid and nicotinic acid) and trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, I, Se and Cr) present in the multivitamin masticatory tablets in the maintence of human vital processes, and primarily in antioxidant processes and in the immune defence.

[Increase in prevalence of childhood asthma in Budapest in relation to the air pollution data and the total pollen count]. / A gyermekkori asthma bronchiale prevalenciájának növekedése Budapesten, összefüggésben a légszennyezettségi adatokkal és a pollenszámmal.

The authors surveyed the prevalence of bronchial asthma in childhood in Budapest in 1995 and in February 1999, via questionnaires directed to paediatricians. In 1995, replies were received from 118 paediatricians in 11 districts, who were responsible for the supervision of 104,087 children, of these, 1.88 +/- 0.87% had been diagnosed as having asthma. In 1999, replies were sent by 153 physicians in 22 of the 23 districts, who had a total of 142,684 children under their care. These included 3228 asthmatics, i.e. a prevalence of 2.26 +/- 0.95%. The difference between the two data was highly significant (p = 0.0001). The prevalence increased by 20% in 4 years. The dust, CO, NO2 and SO2 concentrations in the air were measured constantly at 8 points in Budapest, while ozone level measurements were also made at 2 stations. The counts of pollens and of fungal elements in the air were calculated separately for Buda and for Pest. These data overall revealed that the level of air pollution in Budapest did not deteriorate in the period in question, and the pollen counts from allergizing plants did not rise relative to earlier years. An interesting question (though it is far from certain that this is a causal correlation) can be upposed whether the 13% drop in the number of live births in Hungary during this 4-year period can be connected with the 20% rise in prevalence of childhood asthma.

[Cellular and molecular bases of allergic diseases of the conjunctiva]. / A kötöhártya allergiás betegségeinek sejtes és molekuláris alapjai.

The authors review the clinical signs of the five most frequent allergic diseases of the conjunctiva (seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, atopic conjunctivitis and giant papillary conjunctivitis), and then the immunologic bases of the development of the early-type allergic reaction. In the course of this, they describe the roles played by IgE globulin and the mastocytes in histamine release, and also the possible effects manifested in allergic inflammation in consequence of the metabolic products of arachidonic acid formed in the cell membrane (leukotrienes, lipoxins, prostaglandins and thromboxanes). Following this, they present an account of the process by which the eosinophilic cells that play the main role in the later stages of allergic inflammation emerge from te vascular bed, and the effects of various adhesion molecules. Finally, they discuss a new classification of conjunctivitis (proposed by Bonini), based on the pathomechanisms of the diseases.

[Multicenter studies of terfenadine-containing suspensions in children with hayfever]. / Multicentrikus vizsgálat terfenadin tartalmú szuszpenzióval szénanáthás gyermekeken.

Authors treated 50 seasonal allergic rhinitis ragweed sensitive patients with a second generation antihistamine, terfenadine containing suspension given twice/day for two weeks in the weeds season of 1996. Nasal (rhinorrhoea, stuffed nose, sneezing, itching) and eye symptoms (hyperaemia, itching, tearing), noted by the physicians and by the patients' diary, blood count, liver function, kidney function and ECG were examined. There was no meaningful difference between the symptoms registrated by the physicians and the patients. It was pointed out that according to both notes at all symptoms there was an improvement already on the 7th day of the treatment, which developed further for the 14th day. The only exception was rhinorrhoea which ameliorated only for the 14th day. ECG deviation related to the terfenadine treatment was not found. Repeated vomiting was experienced at one child. Transitional, slight SGOT, SGPT activity increase appeared in 4 children, the same was observed at two children in se kreatinine and carbamid nitrogen level. Nine patients needed (from the 7th day) supplementary local treatment (cromoglycate eyedrops or nasal spray).

Zinc deficiency affects cell cycle and deoxythymidine kinase gene expression in HUT-78 cells.

Although zinc is known to be involved in cell proliferation and DNA synthesis, the mechanism by which zinc may regulate these processes is not understood. We have studied the role of zinc on cell proliferation and gene expression of a DNA synthesizing enzyme, deoxythymidine kinase (TK), in a T helper human malignant lymphoblastoid cell line (HUT-78). In zinc-deficient and zinc-sufficient media, the cell doubling time (mean +/- SD) of HUT-78 was 59 +/- 8 hours and 32.6 +/- 6 hours, respectively. The effect of zinc was T cell specific, inasmuch as the cell growth of another T malignant lymphoblastoid cell line, MOLT-3 (immature T cells), was not affected by zinc deficiency. Iron, copper, or manganese did not completely correct the cell growth of zinc-deficient HUT-78 cells. TK activity and the relative accumulation of TK-mRNA were significantly decreased in zinc-deficient cells during the G1 phase of cell cycle in comparison with zinc-sufficient cells. Nuclear run-on experiments and actinomycin-D studies showed that the transcription of TK-mRNA was affected adversely by zinc deficiency. Cell cycle studies showed that more zinc-deficient cells remained in S phase and did not undergo mitosis in comparison with zinc-sufficient cells. In conclusion, our data show that zinc is a T cell-specific growth factor and that a decreased gene expression of DNA-synthesizing enzyme TK in zinc-deficient HUT-78 cells in G1 phase affected adversely the DNA synthesis in S phase and delayed cell cycle.

Recurrent aphthous ulceration with zinc deficiency and cellular immune deficiency.

Zinc deficiency (serum zinc level 65 micrograms/dl) and cellular immune deficiency (confirmed by lymphoblastic transformation assay) were found in a 15-year-old boy who had had recurrent aphthous ulceration for 6 years. Despite the previous therapy (orally administered steroid, isoprinosine, interferon, lysozyme, and local treatment), the ulcers recurred monthly. After 3 months of zinc therapy (50 mg zinc sulfate orally three times daily) the aphthae disappeared and did not reappear for 1 year. The lymphoblastic transformation activity and serum zinc levels were also normalized with this treatment.

[Successful treatment of recurrent ulcerative stomatitis, associated with cellular immune defect and hypozincaemia, by oral administration of zinc sulfate]. / Celluláris immundefektussal és hypozincaemiával járó recidiváló stomatitis ulcerosa sikeres kezelése per os adott cinkszulfáttal.

The author observed cellular immune defect confirmed by lymphoblast transformation and hypozincemia in a 15-year old boy whose ulcerative stomatitis had been recurring for 6 years monthly and was treated without success besides local treatment with chronic administration of steroid, isoprinosin, interferon and lysosim. 3 X 50 mg of zinc sulphate given per os daily for 3 months resulted in permanent clinically symptom free condition and in the normalization of the lymphoblast transformation rate.

[Incidence of food allergy and zinc deficiency in children treated for atopic dermatitis]. / Etelallergia és cinkhiány elöfordulása atopiás dermatitis miatt ápolt gyermekbetegeinkben.

Among the 134 children who were admitted to hospital with atopic dermatitis, authors found 41, suffering from food allergy and 39, being hypozincaemic; the latter ones belonged to the group of patients with serious and extended ekzemic laesions. The lymphoblast transformation with aspecific mitogen in the blood of ten hypozincaemic patients with negative tuberculinplaster-reaction in 9 cases showed pathological decreased level, and after one month of zinc intake, 8 children's lymphoblast transformation became normal.

Comparison of long term treatment of asthmatic children with hyposensitization, ACTH, DSCG and Ketotifen.

The authors treated 228 asthmatic children during a period of 3 years using a randomised scheme. After a short eliminatory trial the choice of preventive treatment was selected randomly using the patient's registration number. Four groups were formed: Hyposensitization, ACTH, DSCG and Ketotifen (Zaditen). Two thirds of the patients ameliorated in each group. According to the subjective opinion of the parents, 30-33% of the patients became symptomfree on each regimen. This figure was 50% in the hyposensitization and ACTH groups (13%). Serious asthma cases with more than 10 attacks in a year improved, mainly after DSCG or Ketotifen (Zaditen) therapy. The evaluation according to a symptom score and pulmonary function test shows definite amelioration in the groups chemoprophylactic drugs. After a change from the original therapy because of a failure, ACTH and Zaditen were the most successful second drug.

Comparison of Zaditen-Intal and combined prophylaxis in asthmatic children.

The authors selected 28 severe asthmatic children in order to compare the effect of different prophylactic regimens. Patients experiencing at least one wheezing attack per week were included in the study. In a randomized manner, they were allocated Zaditen or Intal. After 8 weeks of active treatment and a 2 week wash-out period, the 2 groups switched over the drugs. Finally non-responders in both groups were placed on a combination of Zaditen and Intal. 44% of all patients preferred Zaditen, 32% Intal and 20% got better only if both drugs were given together. The number and duration of wheezing periods decreased with Intal and Zaditen therapy equally but 44% of patients responded only to one or the other of these drugs. The best results were achieved with combination therapy and 50% of the patients became symptom-free in this manner.

[Milk and egg antigen specific serum IgE-levels in children with allergic diseases (author's transl)]. / Untersuchung des IgE-Spiegels Milch- und Eierantigen-spezifischer Sera bei allergischen Kindern.

Milk- and egg-specific serum IgE levels of 62 respiratoric and/or skin allergic children have been measured. 8 (14,5%) from clinically milk- and 3 (13,6%) of 22 egg-allergic children had abnormally high specific IgE globulin levels. The positive results were measured mostly in boys (10 boys from 11 positive patients). 4 children (28,5%) from 14 patients with allergic diseases having low IgA levels had abnormally high specific IgE concentrations. Authors suppose that the low positivity rate is caused--besides others--by the examined antigen's heterogeneity. The RAST with complex antigens is useful to diagnose only the extreme cases. Our data show the necessity of using purified antigens, to make this method more specific.

IgE levels of infants with complications after pertussis vaccination.

IgE levels of 31 infants who had severe complications after whooping cough vaccination, were determined by RIST. The patients had convulsions, encephalitis or anaphylactic shock symptoms. All but two had elevated IgE levels for their age. It is suggested that, in certain genetically predisposed human beings, pertussis antigen can also induce IgE synthesis, as has already been established in rodents.

[Cross reaction of specific IgE antibodies directed against cow's milk and bovine hair (author's transl)]. / Beweisführung der Möglichkeit einer immunologischen Kreuzreaktion zwischen Kuhmilch und Rinderhaar anhand allergenspezifischer IgE-Untersuchungen.

Sera of 25 children living in town were examined by means of RAST on the presence of IgE antibody against milk and cow's hair antigens. 18 cases had IgE antibodies reacting with milk and 9 with cow's hair. There was correlation between the levels of these antibodies with the exception of two cases. The results give evidence that half of the asthmatic children allergic to milk will react with bronchospasm in the cases if they ar exposed to inhalation of cow's hair.