ABSTRACT
No disponible
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Aged , Urticaria/complications , Myasthenia Gravis/complications , Autoimmunity/immunology , Angioedema/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional and longitudinal reports show that obese adults have more asthma than non-obese adults. A proposed mechanism is via effects of adipokines (leptin and adiponectin) on the immune system. OBJECTIVE: We wished to measure the associations of asthma and other atopic diseases with serum adipokine levels and to find whether the associations with asthma were strong enough to rule out the possibility that they are secondary to the association of fatness measures with asthma. METHODS: The Global Asthma and Allergy Network of Excellence (GA(2) LEN) clinical follow-up survey is a clinical survey, embedded in a larger multi-centre cross-sectional postal survey, involving, with a case/control design, enrichment of the sample with subjects with asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We recorded serum leptin or adiponectin in 845 men and 1110 women in 15 centres and also anthropometric measures of fatness including body mass index and waist/hip ratio, current asthma, and specific skin prick and IgE sensitisation. We used inverse sampling-probability-weighted rank and regression statistics to measure population associations of disease outcomes with adipokines in males and females, adjusting for confounders (area, age, smoking history, and number of elder siblings) and also mutually adjusting associations with adipokines and fatness measures. RESULTS: One thousand nine hundred and fifty-five subjects aged 16-77 years had information on leptin or adiponectin levels. Leptin and leptin/adiponectin ratio were positively associated with the level of asthma, especially in females (Somers' D of leptin by asthma score, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.08-0.30; P = 0.00079). These associations were attenuated after adjusting for confounders and became non-significant after additionally adjusting for fatness measures and multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Asthma levels are positively associated with serum leptin. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that this association is secondary to associations of both with fatness measures.
Subject(s)
Adiponectin/blood , Asthma/blood , Leptin/blood , Obesity/blood , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/blood , Adiponectin/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Asthma/complications , Asthma/immunology , Asthma/pathology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Leptin/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity/complications , Obesity/immunology , Obesity/pathology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/complications , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/immunology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/pathology , Sex Factors , Skin TestsSubject(s)
Drug Hypersensitivity/etiology , Muscle Relaxants, Central/adverse effects , Spasm/complications , Tolperisone/adverse effects , Drug Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Drug Hypersensitivity/physiopathology , Edema , Erythema , Humans , Lidocaine/analogs & derivatives , Lidocaine/chemistry , Male , Middle Aged , Muscle Relaxants, Central/administration & dosage , Muscle Relaxants, Central/chemistry , Pruritus , Skin Tests , Spasm/diagnosis , Spasm/drug therapy , Spasm/physiopathology , Tolperisone/administration & dosage , Tolperisone/chemistryABSTRACT
A patient presented with coagulation problems a few days after honeybee sting. The purpuric skin changes developed on the legs and buttocks. She manifested signs of hypotension with disturbance of consciousness. Allergen-specific IgE serum levels against honey bee venom antigens reached >17.5 kU/l. The platelet count was 33,000/ml . The prothrombin index decreased to 28%, prothrombine time was prolonged to 34". Fibrin degradation products were present in serum. After 10 day treatment the girl improved, but necrotic skin changes required further plastic surgery. Honeybee sting problems should be taken into account as a cause of coagulation problems.
Subject(s)
Bees , Blood Coagulation Disorders/etiology , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/etiology , Insect Bites and Stings/immunology , Adolescent , Animals , Blood Coagulation Disorders/drug therapy , Blood Coagulation Tests , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/diagnosis , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/drug therapy , Rare Diseases , Risk Assessment , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: There is strong evidence that the R576 allele of interleukin-4 receptor alpha gene (IL-4R) might predispose to atopy. To test this hypothesis, we examined the association between the R576Q polymorphism and atopy in a Polish population using the family-based study design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 44 atopic patients (age range from 11 to 34 years) with pollen and house dust mite allergy or/and mild asthma together with both parents were studied. The R576Q polymorphism of the IL-4R gene was genotyped in each patient and both parents, respectively, using the PCR-based protocol. The results were analyzed by the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT). The total IgE serum level, allergen-specific IgE to the common aeroallergens, IL-4, and sIL-4Ralpha were assessed in each patient and both parents. RESULTS: In the TDT test the R576 and Q576 alleles were transmitted from the heterozygous parents to the affected offspring 20 and 15 times, respectively (McNemar test: p = 0.19). The results of the transmission disequilibrium test did not reach statistical significance. Thus, the R576 allele might contribute to the pathogenesis of allergic diseases in patients with high total IgE serum level (p < 0.05). A larger study group has to be studied to prove the observed linkage and association.
Subject(s)
Hypersensitivity/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic , Receptors, Interleukin-4/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Alleles , Child , Female , Genotype , Humans , Hypersensitivity/immunology , Interleukin-4/blood , Male , PhenotypeABSTRACT
Atopy tends to run in families, suggesting the existence of a genetic predisposition. The review of the literature data concerning the issue has been performed.
Subject(s)
Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/genetics , Adult , Child , Female , Genetic Linkage , Humans , Immunity, Maternally-Acquired , Immunoglobulin E/biosynthesis , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
CD23, a differentiation marker of B cells is identified with the low-affinity receptor for IgE--FcepsilonRII. The CD23 molecule is continuously cleaved by autoproteolysis into soluble fragments called sCD23, considered as a multifunctional cytokine. sCD23 is supposed to play an important role in IgE synthesis. IgE is a hallmark of atopy and its overproduction is a characteristic feature of allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine sCD23 (25 kDA) serum levels in patients with inhalant allergy and hymenoptera venom-induced allergy with relevance to IgE system. The trial consisted of 18 patients with pollinosis, 25 with house dust mite allergy and 12 with hymenoptera venom-induced allergy. Eighteen healthy volunteers without signs of atopy served as a control group. Serum levels of sCD23 (25 kDa), total IgE and allergen specific IgE were measured as well. The results were presented as median value, 25-75% range and a total value range. Nonparametric tests (the U Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal and Wallis test and Spearman's correlation rang test) were used. In patients with allergic disorders serum levels of sCD23 were significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.05). No correlation between IgE levels and sCD23 was detected in all the investigated groups. sCD23 does not appear to be a hallmark of allergic diseases, however serum level of that molecule is significantly elevated in patients suffering from allergic disorders. No correlation between sCD23 and IgE has been observed. sCD23 serum level has no relevance to the types of allergic diseases.
