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C Geller-Bernstein

Publications and source records attributed to C Geller-Bernstein.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Sensitization to pollens in a changing environment: Israel].

Israel was originally a country with desert climate and extensive agriculture. During the last 40 years, due to artificial irrigation, a rich vegetation and intensive agriculture have developed. Hayfever prevalence has risen between 1952 and 1986 from an average of 0.3% to 6.3% (with a range from 4% in the urban to 15% in the rural communities). Considering that significant (P less than 0.001) impact of pollen quantity upon hayfever incidence, an elementary pollen information system was organized (as described in the article) to help both allergists and allergic patients in their joint effort to avoid the harmful effect of a changing environment.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1988

IgA, IgG, IgM, and IgE levels in normal, healthy, non-atopic Israeli children.

IgA, IgG, IgM, and IgE levels in healthy, non-atopic, Israeli-born children aged 20 days to 16 years were analyzed and showed similar age-related values and dynamics as those of white populations found in other countries. No significant effect of sex of the individual or ethnic origin of the parents was found on the IgE values at different ages. This may indicate that total IgE levels are strongly influenced by environmental factors. Establishing tolerance limits at 97.5, 95, 75, 25 and 5th percentiles and the geometric mean provides the practitioner with more complete reference values. The use of multivariate control charts with tolerance limits from normal IgA, IgG, IgM, and IgE levels is described and is offered as an additional tool for the diagnosis of an allergic individual.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Effects of inhaled humidified warm air on nasal patency and nasal symptoms in allergic rhinitis.

The effects of inhaled warm air on nasal patency and on allergic rhinitic symptoms were studied in 102 patients. Treatment consisted of two consecutive 30-minute sessions, during which the patient inhaled saturated, hot (42-44 degrees C) air through the nose. The treatment was repeated 1 week later. During the week following each treatment, every patient recorded his or her subjective response on a daily symptom score card. Nasal patency was determined before and after each treatment by measuring peak nasal inspiratory and expiratory air flow and by measuring the area covered with vapor formed by the exhaled air on a plate. Highly reproducible results were obtained by using these three objective methods. Inhalation of humidified warm air resulted in amelioration of allergic rhinitis symptoms and in increased nasal patency in a high proportion of patients. There were no adverse side effects. This form of therapy seemed effective in the 2-week period in which it was used and would be an additional form of therapy available for those suffering discomfort from allergic rhinitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Positive skin tests to pollen extracts of four species of Pistacia in Israel.

Fifty-eight atopic and nine non-atopic volunteers, all residents of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, Israel, were skin tested with extracts made from filtered pollen of Pistacia atlantica, P. lentiscus, P. palaestina and P. vera. Twenty-four out of the fifty-eight patients examined (41.4%) had positive skin reactions to at least one of the four examined species of Pistacia: seven of the patients reacted to all the examined extracts, whereas the other seventeen reacted to only some of them. Fifteen patients reacted to extracts of P. atlantica, sixteen patients reacted to extracts of P. lentiscus, ten patients reacted to extracts of P. palaestina and seven patients reacted to extracts of pollen of P. vera. None of the healthy, non-atopic volunteers reacted to any of the extracts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of immunological reactions to pollen extracts of the genus Pistacia.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Early-onset hay fever in Israeli children.

In order to investigate the influence of climate and vegetation on the age of onset and clinical picture of hay fever (HF), we examined 116 children with typical HF living in a single climatic area: fifty-four were from rural farming settlements and sixty-two from towns and cities. Overall age of onset was low; 72% of rural children developed HF between the ages of 2 years and 4 years compared to only 24% of urban children (P less than 0.005). At the same time, 57% of rural children had positive skin tests to more than three pollen extracts out of nineteen allergens tested, compared to 19% of urban children (P less than 0.005). There were no significant differences between the rural and urban groups with regard to the incidence of asthma as part of their HF, nor were there differences in total IgE levels. The results of this study suggest that Israeli children develop hay fever earlier than generally reported in the literature, and that this is most marked in the rural areas. This can be explained by their specific environment, which consists of a basically dry, desert-like climate where lawns, crops and trees are extensively irrigated, leading to the dissemination into the environment of large amounts of pollen grains, which are not washed away because of the lack of rain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[The relationship between Ca++ ions and a protein specific to cromolyn in the degranulation of mast cells and basophils in the rat].

Previous research has shown that cromolyn (disodium cromoglycate) binds specifically to the membrane of rat mast and basophil leukemia (RBL) cells, forming a ternary complex with Ca++, blocking of the Ca++ results in inhibition of histamine release upon immunologic triggering. The specific cromolyn binding protein (CBP) has been isolated by using its high affinity form cromolyn. Specific monoclonal anti CBP antibodies have been obtained in mice and polyclonal anti-cromolyn antibodies in rabbits. These antibodies have been used for further purification and characterization of the CBP. Experiments on RBL cell lines have shown that CBP is essential for Ca++ influx and histamine liberation upon immunologic triggering by these cells. Variant CBP deficient RBL do not take up Ca++ and do not degranulate in response to immunologic triggering but their ability to respond normally can be induced by incorporating CBP into their membranes with help of Sendai virus carrier vesicles. This shows that CBP plays a crucial role for the RBL cells Ca++ influx and histamine release following IgE crosslinking.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Positive skin tests to fern spore extracts in atopic patients.

Thirty-six atopic and eight non-atopic adult volunteers who had been exposed to ferns in their homes, were skin tested with extracts obtained from seven species of house ferns. Out of the 36 atopic patients, 18 had positive skin reactions to at least one out of seven species of the most common house ferns, whereas none of the non-atopic, healthy controls had positive reactions to any of the ferns.

Humans↗
PubMed1984

HLA antigens A, B, C and DR in hay-fever families of similar environmental conditions.

Investigation of 98 members (healthy and affected) belonging to 17 hay-fever families, for clinical picture, total and specific IgE and HLA A, B, C and DR is presented. There was no significant correlation between hay-fever, total or specific IgE and a certain HLA antigen or haplotype. There was, however, an association between hay-fever and same haplotype within 4 of the 17 families.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Survey of immunoglobulin E levels in atopic families in Israel.

Two hundred and ten members belonging to two consecutive generations of 41 atopic families (healthy and affected by clinical atopic manifestations) were investigated for basal immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and clinical picture. The results show overall increased IgE levels, above standard values in the whole population studied, and a significant correlation between clinical atopy and high IgE levels in the children of the group. Within these families recessive inheritance of abnormally high IgE levels suggests that their high IgE levels are due to a genetically transmitted defect in IgE suppression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Direct measurements of the dextran-dependent calcium uptake by rat peritoneal mast cells.

The metallochromic indicator murexide has been used to monitor calcium concentration changes during the dextran-induced, phosphatidylserine-dependent degranulation of rat peritoneal mast cells. The dextran-induced Ca2+-uptake showed an absolute dependence on the presence of phosphatidylserine. The extent of Ca2+-uptake increased with phosphatidylserine in a concentration-dependent manner. At 25 degrees C the half-life of the uptake process equalled 35 +/- 5 s. Exposure of the mast cells to dextran in the presence of Ca2+, but in the absence of phosphatidylserine, desensitized the cells. The subsequent addition of phosphatidylserine failed to restore the Ca2+-uptake activity. However, the Ca2+-ionophore A23187 did promote Ca2+ uptake by the cells without PS.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Nebulised sodium cromoglycate in the treatment of wheezy bronchitis in infants and young children.

44 children under 2 years of age suffering from recurrent or persistent wheezy bronchitis, completed a double-blind crossover trial comparing nebulised sodium cromoglycate and matching placebo. Analysis showed that treatment response was age-related. Sodium cromoglycate proved significantly superior to placebo in reducing night cough, sleep disturbance, wheeze and activity limitation in the 24 patients aged 12 months and above (mean 17.3) on entry to the study. Whereas no significant differences were observed in the 20 children below 12 months of age (mean 8.3). These findings were confirmed by weekly clinical assessment. Both age groups spent fewer days in hospital during the active treatment period. Final subjective assessments showed that the older age group, parents favoured cromoglycate treatment, whereas in the younger age group, parents favoured placebo, although neither reached statistical significance. Both age groups showed marked placebo response to nebulised water.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1980

Immunoglobulin E and A levels in atopic and anaphylactic children.

Seventy-six children between 18 months and 12 years of age were included in this study. Sixty-one were atopic and 15 had anaphylaxis due to bee stings or drugs. Immunoglobulins: A, G. M and E were determined and evaluated with respect to age and diagnosis. IgA levels were lower in atopic children between six and ten years than in normals. IgE levels were high in both atopic and anaphylactic patients but higher in the atopic than in the anaphylactic group. The results are discussed, focusing on the question of basic immunologic impairment in allergy.

Anaphylaxis↗