[Calisthenics as a preventive measure against the decrease in maximum expiratory flow in asthmatic patients before and after a soccer game]. / Calistenia como medida preventiva de la caída del flujo espiratorio máximo en pacientes asmáticos antes y después de un juego de futbol.

BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced asthma is a syndrome characterized by dyspnea, thoracic pain, cough, sibilant rales and diminished physical performance. It appears into the first 30 minutes after the beginning of physical activity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate calisthenic effect on maximal expiratory flow rate in asthmatic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, observational and descriptive study was done through a soccer game. Male and female asthmatic patients from 6 to 16 years old with intermittent and mild asthma were included. Maximal expiratory flow rate was measured before the beginning of soccer game, and then, at the end of the first and second sets. Statistical analysis was made through the media values comparison and t Student test. RESULTS: 60 patients were included. They were 11.3 +/- 2.4 mean aged. 45% had diagnosis of mild asthma, 36.6% mild asthma and allergic rhinitis and 6.6% persistent asthma. Average of basal maximal expiratory flow rate was 275 +/- 90 L/s, and no significant changes were observed in 52 patients: mean maximal expiratory flow rate at the end of first and second sets was 275 +/- 86 L/s and 273 +/- 96 L/s, respectively. Maximal expiratory flow rate diminished at 77 +/- 3.8% and 83 +/- 9.5% in the other eight patients at the end of the first and second sets, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Calisthenic made before physical activity prevents maximal expiratory flow rate diminishment.

[The response to PPD and its relation to allergic diseases in children vaccinated at birth with BCG]. / La respuesta al PPD y su relación con las enfermedades alérgicas en los niños vacunados al nacimiento con BCG.

BACKGROUND: The increase of the atopical disorders can be partially explained by two factors, the infectious disease in developed and developing countries, and the changes in immunization programs, infections such as measles, whooping cough or tuberculosis can modify the immune response. Recent studies have demonstrated that an inverse relation could exist between the response to late cutaneus hypersensitivity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and atopic condition. Also, a strong positive response has been associated with low levels of IgE and Th1 cytokines. However some authors have not found positivity between low prevalence in allergic diseases and PPD. OBJECTIVE: To determine the reaction to PPD in children vaccinated with BCG at birth and its disorders. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study sample included male and female children from 2 to 7 years old, vaccinated with BCG at birth, this fact was corroborated with the post vaccination scar. They had all been diagnosed with allergic disease with clinical compatible data, positive Prick test, elevated serum IgE, and absence of any associated immune deficiency. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients, with a mean age of 4.7 years (2.0 to 7.7 years) were studied. 72% (36) were males and 28% (14) females. Twenty-two percent had diagnosis of asthma, 8% allergic rhinitis, and 62% both diagnosis. The average diameter of tuberculin induration was of 5 mm; 5 patients (10%) had positive reaction (+10 mm); 23 patients (46%) were between 5-9 mm; 8 patients (16%) between 1-4 mm, and 14 of the patients (28%) without reactivity. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that the vaccination with BCG do not protect against the development of allergy, and the negative tuberculin response may mean a reduced cell response. So, it is necessary to assess the cell immunity and revaccination with BCG, with determination of immunological markers, before and after, such as IL 4, IL 2, INF and allergy symptoms.

[Hypersensitivity detected by skin tests to food in allergic patients in the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez]. / Hipersensibilidad por prueba cutánea a alimentos en pacientes alérgicos en el Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of food allergy depends on the feeding practices of different parts of the world. Peanuts and nuts cause a great part of allergies in the United States; in Spain and Portugal are commonly due to fish, milk; in Italy seafood and mustard in France. In Mexico we don't know the frequency of food allergy and involved groups of age or specific foods. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of immediate hypersensitivity for foods in allergic children from Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed between January 1995 to December 1999. The skin prick test (SPT) to food was reviewed according to Aas classification. Male and female from 12 months to 18 years old were reviewed. RESULTS: We documented 1,419 patients with allergy. Of them 442 (31%) had positive skin prick test (SPT) to some of the 33 tested foods. The average age of the study group was of 12.8 years. The most affected was from 4 to 7 years (49%); the second group from 1 to 3 years with 23.7%, and the third was from 12 to 17 years with 13.5%. Fish, milky, seafood, soy, beans, orange, onion, tomato, chicken, nut, lettuce and strawberry, were responsible for 58% of the total of allergic reactions. Of those fish, milk, seafood, soy and orange (39%) had the highest frequency. Hypersensitivity to several foods is low, finding just one allergen in 50% of the cases, two allergens in 25%, three allergens in 9%, four in 7%, five in 5% and more than 6 only in 3% of cases. CONCLUSION: We concluded that almost any kind of food reaction seen in our study was due to alimentary habits of different populations, socioeconomic status, and availability of foods. This indicates the diversity of costumes in Mexican people due to the wide geographical area and cultural background of our country. Results could be increased because of only 33 allergens were tested.