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Biomedical subjects

F E Simons

Publications and source records attributed to F E Simons.

172 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Efficacy of dyphylline (dihydroxypropyltheophylline) in exercise-induced bronchospasm.

The efficacy of dyphlline in prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) was studied in seven subjects. A single 15 mg/kg dose of dyphylline 40 minutes prior to exercise prevented EIB as documented by a significantly smaller mean greatest percent decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second when compared to placebo. Mean serum dyphylline concentrations 40 minutes after a dose of 15 mg/kg were probably in the lower portion of the therapeutic range.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Benign rheumatoid nodules.

Fifteen asymptomatic children with benign rheumatoid nodules, followed up to 12 years, are described. Nodules are characterized by subcutaneous location with predilection for pretibial regions and scalp, occasional large size, spontaneous regression, and frequent recurrence. Granuloma annulare was present in two patients. All 15 children were healthy and free from rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, or any other recognizable systemic disease at followup and none had positive tests for antinuclear antibodies or rheumatoid factors. Histologically the nodules closely resembled those seen in adult-onset rheumatoid arthritis. Though biopsy may be useful for confirmation of the clinical diagnosis of benign rheumatoid nodules, wide surgical excision, skin grafting, and treatment with medication are unnecessary in this self-limited syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Inhaled glucocorticoids in children: A favourable therapeutic index.

In children with persistent asthma, inhaled glucocorticoids decrease symptoms and exacerbations, decrease the need for rescue bronchodilator medications, improve airway patency and reduce airway hyperresponsiveness. When administered in the lowest doses that prevent symptoms and eliminate the need for supplemental courses of oral glucocorticoids, they are unlikely to cause clinically important systemic adverse events. Inhaled glucocorticoids have a favourable risk to benefit ratio in this population.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A case-control study of the role of cold symptoms and other historical triggering factors in asthma exacerbations.

BACKGROUND: Asthma exacerbations can be provoked by many triggers such as allergens, respiratory irritants and viral infections. The relative importance of these has not been prospectively documented in a case-control study. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative importance of colds and other nonclimatic historical triggers of asthma exacerbations. METHODS: One hundred and nineteen adults and children with asthma in two Canadian cities participated in a one-year study of the role of exacerbating factors in asthma. Among these, 36 pairs (21 adult, 15 children) completed the case-control study. Patients were considered cases if they developed an acute asthma exacerbation and notified the centre within 24 h to allow the completion of a questionnaire and viral studies (cultures of nasopharyngeal swabs and serology). Control people with asthma were matched for sex, age and area of residence, had no exacerbation during the preceding four weeks and participated within 48 h of the case patients. RESULTS: Case patients versus control patients had a mean age of 22 years versus 20 years, 50% versus 55% were male, and 92% versus 86% had at least one positive aeroallergen skin test. Cases were more likely to have taken regular inhaled steroids (63% versus 33%, P<0.002). Cases were more likely to report the following within the previous week: fever (P<0.001), sore throat (P<0.001), increase in nasal symptoms (P<0.01), increased dust exposure (P<0. 05), exposure to others with a cold (P<0.001) and, over the previous year, increased passive smoke exposure (P<0.05). Viral cultures and paired serology were negative. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic colds were the most common trigger of asthma exacerbations in the winter and spring, while a transient increase in dust exposure was also identified as a significant trigger. The association with chronic, passive smoke exposure and the use of inhaled costicosteroid medications likely reflected less stable pre-study asthma in those with exacerbations.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

What is new since the last (1999) Canadian Asthma Consensus Guidelines?

The objective of the present document is to review the impact of new information on the recommendations made in the last (1999) Canadian Asthma Consensus Guidelines. It includes relevant published studies and observations or comments regarding what are considered to be the main issues in asthma management in children and adults in office, emergency department, hospital and clinical settings. Asthma is still insufficiently controlled in a large number of patients, and practice guidelines need to be integrated better with current care. This report re-emphasises the need for the following: objective measures of airflow obstruction to confirm the diagnosis of asthma suggested by the clinical evaluation; identification of contributing factors; and the establishment of a treatment plan to rapidly obtain and maintain optimal asthma control according to specific criteria. Recent publications support the essential role of asthma education and environmental control in asthma management. They further support the role of inhaled corticosteroids as the mainstay of anti-inflammatory therapy of asthma, and of both long acting beta2-agonists and leukotriene antagonists as effective means to improve asthma control when inhaled corticosteroids are insufficient. New developments, such as combination therapy, and recent major trials, such as the Children's Asthma Management Project (CAMP) study, are discussed.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMedDate not supplied

IP-10 mediated reinforcement of human type 1 cytokine synthesis to environmental allergens among non-atopic subjects.

BACKGROUND: Non-atopic subjects do not differ from those with allergic rhinitis or asthma in their ability to respond to environmental antigens, but in the nature of their response. IP-10, a CXC (alpha) chemokine, is produced by a wide variety of cell types, and differs from most chemokines in its specificity for activated lymphocytes. Here, we examine its potential role in the maintenance of putatively protective, type-1-dominated cytokine responses among non-atopic individuals. METHODS: The impact of rIP-10 on polyclonally driven, grass-pollen-and cat-antigen-stimulated type 1 (IFNgamma) and type 2 (IL-4) cytokine responses was examined in short-term cultures of fresh PBMC from non-atopic subjects directly ex vivo. RESULTS: rIP-10 selectively enhanced polyclonally driven and antigen-specific IFNgamma, but not IL-4, responses, with median increases ranging from 100 to 400% following polyclonal activation and 20 to 30-fold in antigen-driven IFNgamma responses. rIP-10 levels with maximal activity were at or below those previously reported for maximal chemotactic activity and, most importantly, were within the range of those seen in plasma obtained from non-atopic subjects during the grass pollen season. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest a potential role for IP-10 in the maintenance of protective, type-1-dominated responses in non-atopic subjects. They raise the possibility that this chemokine could be of therapeutic value in individuals with established type-2-dominated responses, e. g. in patients with immediate hypersensitivity.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mosquito allergy: recombinant mosquito salivary antigens for new diagnostic tests.

In patients with mosquito allergy, lack of a readily available, sensitive, specific, safe test is the major obstacle to accurate diagnosis. Three recombinant mosquito salivary antigens, rAed a 1 (68 kD), rAed a 2 (37 kD) and rAed a 3 (30 kD), from Aedes aegypti have been cloned, expressed, purified and characterized. All three recombinant antigens are shared by Aedes vexans and other mosquito species, and all have been found to have biologic activity in humans. In recent studies, 43% of 28 mosquito bite test-positive subjects had a positive skin test to rAed a 1, 11% to rAed a 2 and 32% to rAed a 3. The sizes of the skin test reactions to the recombinant antigens correlated with the sizes of the A. aegypti bite test reactions. None of 15 A. aegypti bite test-negative subjects had a positive skin test to any of the recombinant antigens. Recombinant mosquito salivary antigens will facilitate the diagnosis of mosquito allergy.

Aedes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Learning impairment and allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis is underestimated as a cause of suffering and diminished quality of life in children and adolescents. If nasal symptoms such as itching, sneezing, rhinorrhea, and congestion are not well controlled during the day, they may contribute to learning problems during school hours. If these symptoms are not well controlled during the night, they may contribute to nocturnal sleep loss, secondary daytime fatigue and learning impairment. Even uncomplicated seasonal allergic rhinitis may be associated with reduced ability to learn, and the likelihood of learning problems may increase in severe perennial rhinitis or in rhinitis associated with complications such as sinusitis or eustachian tube dysfunction and conductive hearing loss. Also, many of the medications used to treat allergic rhinitis may cause central nervous system adverse effects and contribute to learning impairment. For some medications, such as inhaled glucocorticoids and decongestants, the potential effect on central nervous system function and learning has not been tested. For others such as H1-receptor antagonists (antihistamines), well-designed, prospective studies have been performed. The newer relatively nonsedating medications such as terfenadine, astemizole, loratadine, cetirizine, and fexofenadine have less potential to impair central nervous system function and learning than their predecessors.

Adolescent↗