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Biomedical subjects

B Weeke

Publications and source records attributed to B Weeke.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Evidence of a common regulation of IgE and IgG-subclass antibodies in humans during immunotherapy.

Based on a 3-year prospective study of 20 pollen-allergic patients, where a detailed analysis of the IgE, IgG1 and IgG4 immune response was performed, we propose that a common regulatory mechanism exists between the IgE and IgG1 synthesis and between IgE and IgG4 synthesis during immunotherapy. It was found that the IgE immune response to a number of antigens was quantitatively diminished during the period of immunotherapy when IgG1 was present early (week 12), and for other antigens there was a rise in IgE without an early IgG1 antibody response. Additionally, it was found that for some antigens a rise in IgE antibodies was contrasted by a fall in the IgG4 antibody response and for other antigens the opposite was true, indicating a regulatory mechanism between the IgE and the IgG4 synthesis. A statistical analysis showed that these findings were statistically significant at the 0.01% level for the IgE/IgG1 relationship and at the 0.05% level for the IgE/IgG4 relationship. These findings could have implications for future immunotherapy regimens.

Desensitization, Immunologic↗
PubMed1992

High-dose inhaled steroids in the management of asthma. A comparison of the effects of budesonide and beclomethasone dipropionate on pulmonary function, symptoms, bronchial responsiveness and the adrenal function.

The efficacy of budesonide (800 micrograms b.d.) and beclomethasone dipropionate (750 micrograms b.d.) in controlling the symptoms of asthma, pulmonary function, bronchial responsiveness to histamine, and adrenal function, was assessed in a double-blind, double-dummy cross-over study of 36 adult chronic asthmatic patients. The patients, the majority of whom were assessed to be affected to a severe degree, were insufficiently controlled in their current regimen of inhaled steroids and/or inhaled and oral bronchodilators. A 2 weeks baseline period preceded 6 weeks of treatment with each of the study drugs. Both treatment groups showed improvements from baseline in clinical assessment of lung function carried out after the first 6 weeks of treatment. No significant differences were seen throughout the entire 12 weeks study, when comparing the effects of the treatments on FEV1, FVC, PEF or the histamine PC20. Asthma severity, symptom score and inhaled bronchodilator use showed the same results after both treatments. It is concluded that inhalations of budesonide and beclomethasone dipropionate in high doses are equally potent in the treatment of severe asthma. There is no significant influence on the adrenal function and no significant side effects during a period equal to that of the present study.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1979

Analysis of antigens in a commercial house-dust extract by means of quantitative immunoelectrophoresis.

Crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) of a commercial house-dust extract revealed 43 immunoprecipitates. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis with 106 different allergen extracts from animal hair and dander, feathers, fungi, pollen, foodstuffs, textiles and house-dust mites showed the presence of precipitating antibodies in the rabbit anti-house-dust serum against antigens from 34 of the extracts. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis with the addition of antigen, and crossed line immunoelectrophoresis (CLIE) with these 34 allergen extracts, as well as crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel containing rabbit antibodies against nine human serum proteins, allowed the identification of 14 antigens in the house-dust extract. These antigens were shown to originate from house-dust mites, hair and dander from various animals, fungi, feathers, human hair and dander, and human serum proteins.

Allergens↗
PubMed1979

Specific diagnosis of exogenous bronchial asthma in adults. Comparison between case history, intracutaneous test, RAST, histamine release from basophil leucocytes, and bronchial provocation.

Twenty-two adults with extrinsic bronchial asthma were examined with 26 different allergens from five groups: house dust + mite (30 BP), animal dandruff (30 BP), pollen (12 BP), mould fungi (11 BP), and feather + cotton (10 BP). The same allergen batch was used for each allergen extract in all analyses. Based on the results of the single analyses: case history (CH), intracutaneous test (ST), RAST, histamine release from basophil leucocytes (HR), and the results of the analysis combinations and the "true diagnosis" bronchial provocation (BP), the sensitivity and specificity (SE and SP) were calculated and shown graphically. An evaluation of the diagnostic reliability of the single analyses and analysis combination was then possible. Generally, HR was the best individual analysis with very few false positive values and false negative values, followed by RAST, ST, and CH. None of them was able to predict allergy for feather + cotton. Otherwise, BP was positive when HR and rast reached scores 2 and 3 with the exception of RAST for animal dandruff. As regards ST, we had to reach score 3 in order to predict positive BP. CH would only provide the diagnosis with a maximum score in the pollen group. BP was positive in any analysis combination resulting in score 6 or more. ST appeared to be the most sensitive of the individual analyses. All the patients with ST score 0 showed negative BP for all allergen groups, whereas a corresponding sensitivity for HR score 0 was only achieved with animal dandruff, and for RAST score 0 for pollen only. In spite of the new analyses, BP is in many cases necessary if a definite diagnosis is required.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Influence of small atmospheric ions on the airways in patients with bronchial asthma.

The influence of artificially generated atmospheric ions is studied in 15 patients with bronchial asthma. A slight but significant (at 5% level) improvement in the lung function was demonstrated in nine patients during positive as well as negative ion exposure, but the patients' subjective votings of the air quality did not show any changes due to ion exposure. No change in the histamine threshold of the airways in six patients with bronchial asthma was demonstrated during exposure to ions. Further controlled studies with electro-aerosols are needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

A new lancet for skin prick testing.

A new lancet with a point length of 1.0 mm suitable for skin prick testing is described. The weal reactions appearing after the use of histamine chloride 1 mg/ml and an extract of Phleum pratense in a 1 HEP concentration (1 histamine equivalent prick) prove suitable as regards size and reproducibility compared with the reactions produced by a more conventional prick test method. The new lancet simplifies the prick test procedure and does not require as much experience as do needles and longer lancets.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

3H-histamine release from human leukocytes. A new method for detecting type I allergy compared with basophil histamine release technique.

A rapid, simple, and inexpensive method for large scale screening of patients suspected of type I allergy has been developed. The method is based on in vitro incorporation of 3H-histamine in the leukocytes of the patient, whereafter release of labelled histamine is measured after provocation of the cells with the suspected allergen. The new method was compared with the conventional basophil histamine release technique by in vitro provocation of six asthmatic patients under suspicion of type I allergy against animal dander, house dust, and mite, and an almost identical release of histamine was observed in both assays.

Allergens↗
PubMed1978

[Allergology].

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Allergens↗
PubMed1978

Perennial rhinitis: an analysis of skin testing, serum IgE, and blood and smear eosinophilia in 201 patients.

Allergen skin testing, eosinophil counting in blood and nasal smear and serum IgE determination were performed in patients with simple perennial rhinitis, and in patients with rhinitis and asthma. The results were compared with those obtained in normal controls. As a positive skin test was demonstrated in 40% of patients with simple rhinitis and in 88% of patients with rhinitis and asthma, skin testing is considered relevant in all patients with perennial rhinitis. While blood eosinophil count and serum IgE level were elevated in a fair proportion of asthmatic patients, only a few subjects with simple perennial rhinitis had an elevated level, and the diagnostic values of these tests is questionable. On the other hand, examination of a nasal smear for eosinophils could usually separate the patients from the controls. The study emphasizes the importance of making a distinction between simple perennial rhinitis and perennial rhinitis associated with other symptoms and diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Demonstration isolation and identification of culturable microfungi and bacteria in horse hair and dandruff. Immunochemical comparison with allergic components.

Horse hiar and dandruff have been investigated for their content of microfungi and bacteria. Inoculation and incubation on V-8 agar containing penicillin and streptomycin, with subsequent colony counting and identification, revealed more than nine and five different genera of microfungi and bacteria respectively, in horse hair and dandruff. Isolation and cultivation of the quantitatively dominating species, and preparation of an extract of these were performed, followed by immunochemical comparison with extract of the horse hair and dandruff using crossed-line immuno-electrophoresis. As no immunochemical identity was demonstrated it was concluded that the identified microorganisms might serve as a guideline to suspected sensitizing substances when patients with a typical case history of horse allergy do not react to extracts of horse hair and dandruff.

Allergens↗
PubMed1978

Food allergy.

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Food Hypersensitivity↗
PubMed1978

Quantitative immunoelectrophoretic analysis of extract from cow hair and dander. Characterization of the antigens and identification of the allergens.

Quantiative immunoelectrophoresis used for the analysis of a dialysed, centrifuged and freeze-dried extract from cow hair and dander revealed 17 antigens. Five of these were identified as serum proteins. Partial identity to antigens of serum and extract from hair and dander of goat, sheep, swine, horse, dog, cat and guinea pig, and to antigens of house dust was demonstrated. Sera from 36 patients with manifest allergy to cow hair and dander selected on the basis of case history, RAST, skin and provocation test, were examined in crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis (CRIE); sera from five persons with high serum IgE, but without allergy to cow hair and dander, and sera from five normal individuals were controls. 31/36 of the sera contained IgE with specific affinity for two of the antigens of the extract. Further, two major and six minor allergens were identified. The control sera showed no specific IgE binding. A significant positive correlation was found between RAST and CRIE for the first group of patients. The approximate molecular weights of the four major allergens obtained by means of gel chromatography were: 2.4 x 10(4), 2 x 10(4), 2 x 10(5) dalton, respectively. Using Con-A and Con-A Sepharose in crossed immunoaffinoelectrophoresis, eight of the antigens were revealed to contain groups with affinity for Con-A.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Characterization of extract of dog hair and dandruff from six different dog breeds by quantitative immunoelectrophoresis. Identification of allergens by crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis (CRIE).

An extract of mixed dog hair and dandruff from six different dog breeds (alsatian, boxer, collie, poodle, and long-haired and short-haired dachshund) was obtained by mild extraction, centrifugation, dialysis and freeze-drying. Extract of hair and dandruff from the individual dog breeds was obtained in the same way, but the material was not freeze-dried. Examination and characterization of the mixed extract by means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis revealed a precipitation pattern composed of 25 antigens, some of which were mutually partially identical, and a high content of dog serum proteins was found. Quantitative and qualitative differences between the individual dog breeds were demonstrated. Partial identity of the antigens of the mixed extract with antigens of serum, antigens of extracts of hair and dandruff from cat, cow, horse and guinea pig, and antigens from extract of house dust was also observed. By means of crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis, using sera from 21 patients who were RAST-positive to dog hair and dandruff extract, the specific IgE-binding to antigens of the mixed extract was examined. On the basis of these results major and minor allergens were identified. Dog albumin was found to be a very important major allergen, but alpha1-antitrypsin and gamma-globulin were also identified. Furthermore, four non-serum proteins were shown to be allergens. No breed-specific allergens could be identified in the extracts from the individual dog breeds.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Basophil histamine release in patients with hay fever. Results compared with specific IgE and total IgE during immunotherapy.

Histamine release from leucocytes was demonstrated in grass pollen hay fever patients on in vitro challenge with extract of Pleum pratense (timothy). No release was found in persons without a history of grass pollen allergy. During preseasonal hyposensitization the following tendencies were found in cell sensitivity to allergen as well as in specific IgE antibody level of serum: an initial increase at the beginning of the therapy followed by a decrease during the pollen season. This is in contrast to untreated hay fever patients in whom an increase or no change at all of cell sensitivity and specific IgE was observed in the pollen season. Immunotherapy, therefore, can prevent such an increase in the pollen season. The mechanism might be due to a depression of the IgE production. In untreated as well as in treated patients the cell sensitivity was found to be significantly correlated to the grass specific IgE determined by RAST but not to the total serum level of IgE estimated by RIST. It seems likely that the sensitivity would be useful for evaluating the degree of allergy in grass pollen hay fever patients treated or not treated with immunotherapy.

Adult↗