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Biomedical subjects

D W Fountain

Publications and source records attributed to D W Fountain.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Evading the 'Lotus Effect'.

A micro-relief of wax encrustation or outgrowths of epidermal cells imparts a property to most leaf surfaces which makes them self-cleaning when rain drops pass over them. Fungi, lichens and algae may evade this self-cleaning mechanism and take up residence on the leaf surface.

Chlorophyta↗
PubMed1997

Climate and aeroallergen levels in asthma: a 12 month prospective study.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence to suggest that changes in weather and airborne fungal spore and pollen counts may affect asthma symptoms. METHODS: The relationship between climate, airborne fungal spore, and pollen counts and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and asthma symptoms was prospectively investigated in a population of mild to moderate asthmatic subjects in Blenheim, New Zealand. Subjects recorded twice daily PEFR measurements and asthma symptom scores for up to one year. Spore and pollen counts were measured two hourly and meteorological data were measured hourly. Individual, within person, multiple linear regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for auto-correlation. A random effects model was assumed for the individual regression co-efficients and weighted estimates of the mean of these coefficients were obtained by the method of maximum likelihood. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty nine asthmatic patients (60% atopic) aged 17-80 years completed the study. Of the weather variables, only temperature showed a small but consistent association with PEFR. The mean rise in PEFR for an 8.8 degrees C (2 SD) change in temperature was 0.78% (95% CI 0.44% to 1.11%), approximately 3.0 l/min. There was a weak association between days of high basidiospore counts and increased nocturnal wakening and reliever medication use. Pollen counts showed no consistent association with either PEFR or asthma symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the effects of weather and aeroallergens on PEFR and asthma symptoms in this population are small, and that other causes need to be sought to account for variations in asthma severity and exacerbations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Expression of birch pollen-specific IgE-binding activity in seeds and other plant parts of birch trees (Betula verrucosa Ehrh.).

Dot immunoblotting of crude extracts of various aerial parts of birch trees, using patient serum rich in birch pollen IgE, showed IgE-binding activity in leaves, buds, twigs, seeds, bark, and old male catkins. Seed extracts analysed by SDS-PAGE, electroblotting to nitrocellulose and immune detection using isotope-conjugated anti-IgE verified the presence in seeds of an IgE-binding protein of an approximate molecular weight of 12 kD, distinct from the major allergen (molecular weight 17 kD) of Betula verrucosa pollen. The allergen of birch seeds was readily leachable from the seeds. Many of the birch plant part extracts were active in RAST inhibition using birch pollen RAST discs, but showed low potency relative to the allergenicity of birch pollen allergens.

Allergens↗
PubMed1990

IgE-binding proteins from pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) pollen: evidence for cross-reactivity with ryegrass (Lolium perenne).

A complex mixture of pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) pollen proteins are rapidly released into aqueous solutions. IgE-binding proteins have been identified in these extracts using combined SDS-PAGE immunoblotting techniques. These IgE-binding proteins were detected using atopic patient and commercial pooled human sera known to be high in ryegrass-specific IgE. Enzyme-immunoassay inhibition studies revealed that leached P. radiata pollen proteins could partially inhibit serum IgE binding to ryegrass RAST discs thus providing preliminary evidence for allergen cross-reactivity between these two unrelated species.

Antigens, Differentiation↗