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Biomedical subjects

B de la Hoz

Publications and source records attributed to B de la Hoz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Quantification of the major allergen from cypress (Cupressus arizonica) pollen, Cup a 1, by monoclonal antibody-based ELISA.

BACKGROUND: Cypress pollen allergy is an important cause of rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma in Mediterranean countries. Cypress allergenic extracts are difficult to produce since they have low protein and high carbohydrate content, thus accurate standardization of them is essential to guarantee their quality. The aim of this study is to develop a sandwich ELISA for the quantification of Cup a 1, the major allergen of cypress (Cupressus arizonica) pollen extract. METHODS: Monoclonal antibodies directed to purified Cup a 1 were produced. Two of them (9C7 as capture antibody and 3D2 as the tracer) were selected to develop a quantitative sandwich ELISA. This ELISA was subsequently evaluated and compared with other techniques. RESULTS: The described ELISA is very sensitive with a detection limit of 8.7 ng/ml and a practical working range of 62.5-1,000 ng/ml. The assay is also highly reproducible with intra-assay and interassay coefficients of variation of less than 10%. The purified Cup a 1, used as standard, presents pectate lyase enzymatic activity. The assay also detected Cup a 1-like proteins in pollen from other Cupressaceae. A good correlation was obtained between Cup a 1 content of 12 C. arizonica pollen extracts and their IgE-binding activity. CONCLUSIONS: The described Cup a 1 ELISA is sensitive, specific and reproducible and can be used for the quantification of Cup a 1 in C. arizonica and other related pollen extracts. It also provides a reliable indication of the allergenic activity of the whole cypress pollen extract.

Allergens↗
PubMed2004

[Validation of the Spanish version of the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ)].

OBJECTIVE: Validate the questionnaire Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) in conditions of regular clinical practice. METHODS: Two hundred and eighty four adult patients with a diagnosis of rhinoconjunctivitis (RC) cared in 37 centers of specialized health care in allergy or otorhinolaryngology services in Spain were analyzed. Patients with RC were included in two groups: clinically non-stable patients who received treatment with an oral second generation antihistaminic (group A), and clinically stable patients (group B). Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected and the questionnaires RQLQ and EQ-5D were administered in the initial visit and in the second visit 15 days after. Feasibility, validity, reliability and sensitivity related to the change of the RQLQ were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean period (standard deviation) of administration was 9.67 (6.25) minutes and 85.6% of patients needed assistance in order to fill the RQLQ, especially the selection of the characteristics (62.5%). The dimensions of the RQLQ showed a greater association with the dimensions of the EQ-5D that assessed similar aspects and the symptoms in which a greater relation was expected. The alpha Cronbach coefficient of the scorings of the RQLQ fluctuated between 0.85 and 0.96 and the intraclass correlation coefficient fluctuated between 0.68 and 0.89. The sensitivity to the change of the dimensions of the RQLQ, evaluated through the magnitude of the effect between the two visits, ranged between 0.76 and 1.46. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the RQLQ proved to be a valid instrument for assessing the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) in adult patients with seasonal or perennial RC.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

Green bean hypersensitivity: an occupational allergy in a homemaker.

As a member of the legume family, the green bean is frequently associated with food allergy. However, allergic reactions caused by skin contact or by inhalation of vapors from boiling legumes are rare. This article presents a case of occupational asthma in a homemaker; symptoms occurred during preparation and cooking of raw green beans. Skin prick, rub, and bronchial provocation tests were performed on the patient. In vitro tests were done with the serum samples of the patient and 10 control subjects (5 atopic and 5 nonatopic). Test results indicate that the patient has type I hypersensitivity to raw green bean antigen(s). This case is of interest because it demonstrates that a food allergen, when inhaled, can induce respiratory symptoms in sensitized patients and may even be the source of primary sensitization.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Immediate adverse reaction to aminophylline.

We present a patient who experienced an immediate adverse reaction following intravenous administration of aminophylline. Skin prick, intradermal, and patch tests, RAST and indirect ELISA assays with aminophylline, theophylline and ethylenediamine were negative. A positive histamine release test was found only with ethylenediamine. Single-blind placebo-controlled challenges were positive with aminophylline and negative with theophylline. Our results suggest the reaction was a type I hypersensitivity reaction to ethylenediamine, but a nonimmune mechanism could not be excluded.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Hypersensitivity reactions to anthranilic acid derivatives.

Anthranilic acid derivatives are a group of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs that include glafenine and fenamates. We report a woman who had immediate adverse reactions to glafenine and meclofenamate sodium. Skin prick and intradermal tests were performed with solutions of glafenine and meclofenamate in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and with the drugs bound to human serum albumin (HSA). Prick and intradermal tests with PBS solutions were negative for both drugs as were prick tests with HSA solutions. Intradermal tests with HSA-glafenine, however, were positive at 20 minutes, and at 6 and 24 hours. Intradermal tests with HSA-meclofenamate elicited a positive response at 6 and 24 hours. These tests were negative when performed in control subjects. A leukocyte histamine release test and a RAST assay were negative for both drugs. The patient was challenged following a double-blind placebo-controlled oral procedure and tolerated therapeutic doses of aspirin, indomethacin, ibuprofen, dipyrone, diclofenac, piroxicam, and acetaminophen. The oral challenge with glafenine and meclofenamate reproduced the reactions (eliciting doses: 50 mg and 15 mg, respectively), and the patient also reacted to 30 mg of mefenamic acid, an anthranilic acid derivative she had never previously received. This is an exceptional case of selective adverse reactions to glafenine and fenamates, anthranilic acid derivatives, in a patient tolerating aspirin and other cyclooxygenase inhibitors. Our study implicates an immunologic mechanism, and the existence of cross-reactivity between the drugs (or some active metabolite generated in vivo).

Drug Hypersensitivity↗
PubMed1992

Bronchial asthma induced by chick pea and lentil.

Allergic reactions to legumes through inhalation have rarely been described. We report the case of a 20-year-old man who experienced asthmatic attacks when exposed to the steam from cooking either chick pea or lentil. Type I hypersensitivity to the antigens in these legumes was demonstrated by means of immediate skin reactivity, histamine release tests, RAST and RAST inhibition. Specific bronchial challenges with the heated (75 degrees for 30 min) extracts of chick pea and lentil elicited isolated immediate responses.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Hypersensitivity to trimethoprim.

We present two patients who experienced life-threatening immediate reactions and one patient who developed generalized urticaria following oral administration of trimethoprim (TMP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) combination. Skin prick tests with TMP were positive in the three patients. No patients reacted to skin prick tests with SMX. No significant levels of IgE antibodies to TMP were found by RAST in the serum of the patients. Normal subjects used as controls did not react to any of these tests. Single-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenges were positive with TMP and negative with SMX in all patients. These results suggest that the three patients developed type I hypersensitivity reactions to TMP. In our patients skin prick tests with TMP were useful in TMP hypersensitivity diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Recurrent pericarditis: a rare complication of allergen immunotherapy.

We report on a 29-year-old woman suffering from hay fever due to grass and olive tree pollens. She developed recurrent pericarditis during her first course of immunotherapy with an alum-adsorbed pollen extract. A causal relationship was established between the allergen injections and the acute pericarditis episodes on two consecutive occasions, which presented with blood eosinophilia. Blood cultures and serological tests for microorganisms were negative. There were no signs of autoimmune disease or systemic vasculitis. To the best of our knowledge, allergen immunotherapy-induced pericarditis has not been previously reported.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Adverse cutaneous reactions due to macrolides.

Macrolides, which are widely prescribed and seldom produce hypersensitivity reactions, are considered to be safe drugs. We present five patients with generalized skin reactions due to erythromycin and/or spiramycin, proved by oral challenge tests. One patient showed reactions to both erythromycin and spiramycin. All skin prick and patch tests and histamine release tests with both macrolides were negative.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Swiss chard hypersensitivity: clinical and immunologic study.

Allergy to vegetables and fruits seems to be more prevalent in atopics, especially in birch pollen-sensitized individuals. We report a case of a grass pollen-sensitized woman, in whom the inhalation of vapor from boiling Swiss chard precipitated rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma. Type I hypersensitivity to Swiss chard was demonstrated by means of immediate skin test reactivity, specific IgE determination by RAST, basophil degranulation, histamine release test, and an immediate bronchial provocation test response to Swiss chard extract. The controls did not react to any of these tests. RAST inhibition assays suggest the presence of some cross-reactivity among Swiss chard and grass pollen antigens, as well as cross-reactivity between vegetables and weed pollens of the chenopod family.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Occupational asthma due to latex surgical gloves.

Since 1979 several reports of contact urticaria due to natural latex have been well documented. Recent case reports suggest that rhinitis and asthma may also be due to rubber exposure. We describe an operating room nurse who was exposed at work to natural rubber (latex) due to the use of latex surgical gloves. After 25 years, she developed contact urticaria, rhinoconjunctivitis and acute asthma following the handling of rubber gloves for surgical purposes. She was symptom-free when on vacation. Skin prick testing demonstrated an immediate skin reaction to latex. Rub testing with surgical gloves was positive. Specific IgE antibodies to latex were found by indirect ELISA. Specific bronchial challenge with latex extract elicited an isolated immediate asthmatic reaction that was inhibited with cromolyn sodium pretreatment. Patch testing to common rubber additives was negative. These results suggest that latex present in surgical rubber gloves and probably acting as inhalant allergen may produce occupational asthma in exposed subjects, probably by means of an IgE-mediated mechanism.

Adult↗