ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze component-resolved diagnosis of sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) in patients with respiratory allergy and the association between diagnostic findings and clinical severity in different geographical areas. METHODS: The study population comprised 217 patients (mean age, 25.85 [12.7] years; 51.16% female) selected from 13 centers in Portugal (5 from the North, n=65). All had allergic rhinitis with or without asthma and positive skin prick test results to at least 1 dust mite. Specific IgE (sIgE) to Der p, Dermatophagoides farinae, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 10, and Der p 23 was determined using ImmunoCAP. The Mann-Whitney test was applied for the following comparisons: rhinitis vs rhinitis and asthma; mild vs moderate-to-severe rhinitis; North vs South. RESULTS: The prevalence of sensitization was 98.2% for Der p, and 72.4%, 89.4%, 9.7%, and 77% for Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 10, and Der p 23, respectively. The corresponding median sIgE levels were 8.56, 17.7, 0.01, and 3.95 kUA/L. sIgE to all allergens was higher in patients with moderate-to-severe rhinitis and rhinitis with asthma (nonsignficant). Concentrations of sIgE to Der p 2 were significantly higher in the South than in the North (P=.0496). CONCLUSION: The most common sensitization in Portugal was to Der p. The highest prevalence and median sIgE level were observed for Der p 2. All sIgE values for molecular components were higher in more symptomatic patients (nonsignificant). Concentrations of sIgE to Der p 2 were higher in the South, probably because of the warmer temperature and/or the larger sample size.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Dermatophagoides , Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus , Adult , Allergens , Animals , Dust , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin E , Male , Portugal/epidemiology , Skin Tests/methodsABSTRACT
Introducción: la adolescencia es un periodo de grandes cambios, siendo los síntomas depresivos comunes en esta etapa del desarrollo. En los últimos años se ha observado un aumento del número de adolescentes con síntomas depresivos. Uno de los instrumentos más utilizados en la detección de sintomatología depresiva es el Inventario de Depresión de Beck. Material y métodos: estudio observacional, basado en la autoaplicación de la segunda versión del Inventario de Depresión de Beck a los alumnos del 12.º año de escolaridad, en el año lectivo de 2010/2011. Resultados: nuestra encuesta fue aplicada a 117 alumnos. Los adolescentes presentaban una media de edades de 16,9 años. Después de la valoración global se verificó que un 9,4% de los adolescentes encuestados presentaba algún grado de sintomatología depresiva y que, de estos, seis presentaban sintomatología grave. Cuando se compararon ambos sexos, se verificó que el sexo femenino fue el más prevalente en el grupo de adolescentes con puntuaciones globales superiores a 13. Los índices medios de depresión fueron mayores en el sexo femenino (9,03 frente a 4,1). El análisis de los síntomas depresivos aisladamente demostró que la disminución de la capacidad de trabajo es el síntoma depresivo más frecuente (36%). Cinco adolescentes respondieron afirmativamente a la cuestión "me gustaría matarme". Conclusión: las puntuaciones totales medias obtenidas son ligeramente inferiores a las encontradas en otros estudios, pero el porcentaje de alumnos con sintomatología depresiva grave es idéntico a otras series (5%). Tal como está descrito en la bibliografía, el sexo femenino es el más afectado (AU)
Introduction: adolescence is a period of great change, with depressive symptoms being common at this stage of development. There has been an increase in the number of adolescents with depressive symptoms in recent years. One of the instruments used in the detection of depressive symptoms is the Beck Depression Inventory. Material and methods: observational study, based on self-application of the 2nd version of the Beck Depression Inventory to students of the 12th year of schooling in the academic year 2010/2011. Results: our survey was administered to 117 students. Adolescents had a mean age of 16.9 years. After the global assessment, we verified that 9.4% of adolescents had some degree of depressive symptoms and 6 of these had severe depressive symptoms. Females were more prevalent in the group of adolescents with overall scores above 13. The average rates of depression were higher in females (9.03 vs. 4.1). The analysis of depressive symptoms alone showed that a decreased ability to work is the most frequent depressive symptom (36%). Five teenagers responded affirmatively to the question "Id like to kill me". Conclusion: the mean total scores obtained are slightly lower than those found in other studies, but the percentage of students with severe depressive symptoms is identical to other series (5%). As described in the literature females are the most affected (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/prevention & control , Adolescent Behavior/psychology , Libido/physiology , Feeding and Eating Disorders/complications , Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology , Early Diagnosis , Depression/diagnosis , Depression/therapy , Adolescent Development/physiology , Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data , Health Surveys/methods , Socioeconomic Survey , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
(1), A commercial heparin inhibited the proliferation of two normal human dermal fibroblast cultures in a dose-responsive manner. 300 micrograms heparin/ml gave the maximum inhibition of 65%. Proliferation of fibroblasts from a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis was similarly inhibited by heparin. Heparan sulphate, pentosan polysulphate and a fucoidan also inhibited proliferation of the fibroblast cultures but chondroitin sulphate, dermatan sulphate and hyaluronate had no effect. (2) Type-I collagen synthesis per cell was elevated by up to 1.5-fold in the normal fibroblast cultures when proliferation was inhibited by heparin, heparan sulphate, pentosan polysulphate and the fucoidan. Progressive systemic sclerosis fibroblasts synthesized more collagen than the normal cell cultures and this was further stimulated by heparin and pentosan polysulphate. In contrast, heparin and the other polysulphates inhibited type-I collagen synthesis by about 20-30% in normal confluent fibroblast cultures. Collagen synthesis by confluent systemic sclerosis fibroblasts was reduced by only about 10%. (3), Total [35S]proteoglycan synthesis per cell was greatly elevated (approx. 2.5-fold) in normal subconfluent cultures treated with heparin. In contrast, heparin stimulated only a small increase in [35S]sulphate incorporation into proteoglycans in confluent cultures.
