Adsorption of polyethyleneimine and polymethacrylic acid onto synthesized hematite.

An influence of different functional groups of polymer, its molecular weight, polydispersity ratio (M(w)/M(n)) and presence of impurities on its adsorption in different pH values (3, 6 and 9) onto synthesized hematite (Fe(2)O(3)) was measured. A structure of adsorbed macromolecules of PMA and PEI was obtained according to S-F theory. Two polymers were used: polymethacrylic acid (PMA) of 6500 and 75,100 molecular weight as well as polyethyleneimine (PEI) 25,000 commercial and fractionated. Electrokinetic properties of the interface oxide-polymer solution (surface charge density and zeta potential) were also measured as well as adsorption layer thicknesses (with use of viscosimetric measurements). Obtained data show, that all above-mentioned factors do influence not only the adsorption process itself but also a surface charge, zeta potential and structure of adsorbed polymer layers on polymer/hematite interface.

Skin prick test response to enzyme enolase of the baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in diagnosis of respiratory allergy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to prove that Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase, the major allergen of the baker's yeast, induces allergic immediate response in patients with inhalant allergy sensitized to Candida albicans extract. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed in three groups of patients: I. 20 atopic patients with respiratory allergy sensitized to Candida albicans and inhalant allergens (mite, feather, pollens) II. 30 patients with respiratory allergy, positive skin tests to inhalant allergens but negative skin tests to Candida albicans and other fungi; III. 20 nonatopic, healthy individuals. Skin prick test of purified enolase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (bakers yeast) at concentration 1 and 10 mg/ml was performed in all groups. The results were documented planimetrically. RESULTS: 95% of patients sensitized to Candida albicans extract showed positive skin reactions to Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase, 10% of patients of group II and none of the patients of the control group had positive skin responses to enolase. The mean wheal size (mm2) in skin prick test to Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase at concentration 10 mg/ml was x = 15.17 +/- 11.08, 15.76 +/- 19.67 and at concentration 1 mg/ml 10.02 +/- 10.49, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase induces an immediate allergic reaction in skin in subjects with respiratory allergy and positive skin prick test results to Candida albicans and other fungi. 2. Enolase can be an important allergenic component of the Candida albicans extract.

[St. George's Hospital questionnaire (St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire) as an instrument for quality of life assessment in respiratory tract diseases]. / Kwestionariusz Szpitala Sw. Jerzego (St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire) jako narzedzie oceny jakosci zycia w chorobach ukladu oddechowego.

St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) is one of the main measures of the quality of life in patients with pulmonary diseases. We review the literature concentrating the use of SGRQ in patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchectases, interstitial lung disease and in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARSD).

[Oxidation phenotype as a risk factor for development of allergic diseases]. / Fenotyp oksydacji jako czynnik zwiekszajacy ryzyko wystapienia chorób alergicznych.

The relationship between genetically determined polymorphic metabolism and susceptibility to allergic diseases has aroused much interest. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether patients with allergic diseases, like atopic asthma and allergic rhinitis differ from healthy persons in their ability to oxidize sparteine as a model drug. The study was completed by 200 persons, 40 patients with allergic diseases--20 with atopic asthma and 20 with allergic rhinitis and 160 healthy volunteers as a control group. The results of our study revealed a predominance of very extensive metabolizers of sparteine among patients with allergic diseases in comparison with healthy volunteers. The difference in the oxidation metabolic ratio (MR) frequency distribution between patients with allergic diseases and healthy persons was statistically significant. Relative risk (odds ratio) of development of atopic asthma was 3.29 times higher, and that of allergic rhinitis 2.94 times higher for persons with very extensive oxidation phenotype. Our results represent some evidence for a possible relationship between extensive, rapid oxidation phenotype and the higher susceptibility to development of atopic asthma and allergic rhinitis.

[Validation of the Polish version of St. George's respiratory questionnaire in patients with bronchial asthma]. / Ocena polskiej wersji St. George's respiratory questionnaire u chorych na astme oskrzelowa.

St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) has been widely used in the assessment of health related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Introduction of the new language version of the HRQOL questionnaire needs to be preceded by a highly structured process of validation. We aimed to validate the Polish version of SGRQ in the group of 83 patients with asthma. Following the comprehension study, we thus evaluated reliability, validity, reproducibility, responsiveness, and measurement equivalence of the Polish version of SGRQ. Disease severity and health status were also concurrently assessed. The reliability was good, with Cronbach's alpha coefficient exceeding 0.75 for global and all subscale scores. There have been highly significant correlations between spirometric parameters, intensity of symptoms, health status self-assessment, and the degree of depression, and quality of life scores. Reproducibility, stability and responsiveness were confirmed in the follow-up study. Minimal clinically important difference was found to be 5.3 points. Polish version of SGRQ was found to be psychometrically equivalent to four other versions of SGRQ, which underscores its validity in the population of Polish asthmatics.

Comparative study between skin prick tests and TOP-CAST allergen leukocyte stimulation in diagnosis of allergic status.

A recently developed CAST-ELISA method was applied to determine allergen-induced leukocyte stimulation. This method is based on the measurement of sulfidoleukotriene secretion by peripheral blood leukocytes previously stimulated with specific allergen in the presence of interleukin 3. 24 patients allergic to different aeroallergens and some food allergens were included in this study. Subjects received no medication 2 weeks before the testing. Leukocytes were isolated by dextran sedimentation. After incubation with allergen at two concentrations, the cells were centrifuged and the concentration of sulfidoleukotrienes in supernatant was determined. The results were expressed in pg/ml after subtraction of values of spontaneous sulfidoleukotriene production in portions incubated without allergen. We observed a wide range of sulfidoleukotriene secretion upon allergen stimulation. Concentrations of leukotrienes ranged from 0 to 5780 pg/ml at lower allergen concentration and from 210 to 5680 at higher allergen concentration. On the basis of observed results, we conclude that the better allergen concentration is the higher one because there was no appearance of negative cell stimulation. In the lower allergen concentration we observed negative results in two cases. Sixteen healthy control subjects were also included in this study. Eleven subjects had negative skin prick tests (SPT) as well as CAST results. In 5 healthy subjects with positive SPT, we also observed positive CAST results in 4 persons. In 1 healthy person with positive SPT results, CAST results were negative. We conclude that TOP-CAST allergen is a valuable mixture of different aero and food allergens for determining the allergic status in patients with suspicious allergic status, although it cannot differentiate between health and disease states.

Eosinophil cationic protein in serum of corticosteroid-sensitive and resistant bronchial asthma.

Theories for the inflammatory basis of bronchial asthma are presented. The phenomenon of corticosteroid resistance (CR) in bronchial asthma is also discussed. Resistance to corticosteroids, which occurs in about 5% patients with moderate and severe asthma, presents still an important diagnostic and therapeutical problem. In addition, present opinions on the role of eosinophils in the allergic bronchial inflammation were analyzed. The aim of this study was to monitor serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) level in asthma patients, sensitive and resistant to glucocorticosteroids (GCS), before and after prednisolone treatment. The resistance to steroids was determined, based on the oral prednisolone test according to Carmichael and vasoconstriction assay according to Stoughton and McKenzie. In the group of corticosteroid-sensitive (CS) asthmatic patients a statistically significant decrease of ECP level was observed, after 10 day administration of prednisolone in a daily dose of 20 mg, which was associated with a meaningful increase of FEV1 value. On the other hand, the level of ECP in the serum of patients resistant to corticosteroids, although also decreased under influence of prednisolone, was not correlated with the increase of FEV1 value.

[The significance of leukotrienes in pathophysiology of bronchial asthma--therapy perspectives]. / Znaczenie leukotrienów w patofizjologii astmy oskrzelowej--perspektywy terapii.

Leukotrienes, products of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid, are pro-inflammatory mediators with various biological activities, including mechanisms relevant to the pathogenesis of bronchoobturation in bronchial asthma. This article reviews the evidence on their role in the pathophysiology of asthma as well as on the efficacy of recently developed antileukotriene agents. Leukotriene receptor antagonists and synthesis of inhibitors show promise as a new pharmacologic approach to the treatment of this disease.

[Nedocromil sodium in treatment of bronchial asthma]. / Nedokromil sodu w leczeniu astmy oskrzelowej.

Clinical study on efficiency of the nedocromil sodium (Tilade, Fisons) was performed in 20 patients with atopic and nonatopic bronchial asthma. The drug was administrated in dose of 8 mg per day for 2 months which allowed to renounce regular using of Beclocort forte after 7 days of the treatment. In both types of bronchial asthma the positive effect of nedocromil sodium was confirmed, causing increase of pulmonary ventilation and decrease of bronchial hyperactivity. Especially profitably effect was noticed in atopic bronchial asthma in which statistically important increase of peak expiratory flow (PEF) was obtained and decrease of bronchial hyperreactivity by PC20 for histamine was observed (p < 0.05). Mentioned above spirometric parameters did not differ in statistically important pattern in patients with nonatopic bronchial asthma, when Beclocort forte group with Tilade group compared. Neither important differences in general number of cells nor percentage composition of cell smears were observed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

Acetylator phenotype in patients with allergic diseases and its clinical significance.

The genetic polymorphism of drug acetylation rate in man is an important determinant of the toxic and therapeutic response to certain drugs. This polymorphism can alter not only drug effects but may be a factor influencing the frequency of the occurrence of some disease states. The aim of our study was to establish whether there exists any correlation between the acetylator phenotype and the development of allergic diseases. In patients with allergic diseases and in healthy persons as a control group, the acetylation phenotype was determined by the sulfadimidinic method. In the group of patients with allergic diseases without infectional factor 76% slow and 24% rapid acetylators were found. This predominance of slow acetylators was statistically significant (by using chi 2 test) with comparison to the group of healthy persons, where 49% slow and 51% rapid acetylators were observed. Considerable predominance of slow acetylators in patients with allergic diseases suggest that phenotype of slow acetylation may be a factor playing some role in pathogenesis of allergic diseases and may be a factor predisposing to the development of these diseases.