Attention deficit disorder and food intolerance.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Dolovich.
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Twenty-eight adults with a history of a generalized allergic reaction during anesthesia were investigated. The reactions were systemic in 23 adults, urticaria/angioedema in four, and bronchial obstruction in one adult. The study population and an additional 35 subjects with a history of use of thiopental during anesthesia but without reactions were investigated by methods including thiopental skin test, succinylcholine skin test, and IgE RAST for antibodies to thiopental, succinylcholine, or latex. Among the 28 patients with reactions, 17 had positive thiopental skin tests; 14/28 reactors and 1/35 of the control group had an IgE thiopental RAST value greater than 2 SD above the mean for control sera from ragweed-allergic subjects. The one control subject with a positive thiopental RAST also was the only control subject with a positive thiopental skin test. IgE succinylcholine RAST was negative in all 23 reactor sera tested. The IgE latex RAST was strongly positive in one reactor. In conclusion, evidence of allergy, particularly allergy to thiopental as a possible basis for the reactions, was obtained in greater than 50% of the patients who were investigated. No allergy to succinylcholine was found.
This study evaluated a research method to examine an exacerbation of asthma induced by corticosteroid withdrawal. Ten non-smoking adult asthmatics who were stable on treatment with inhaled steroid underwent a graded reduction of the daily dose by 200 micrograms at weekly intervals until an exacerbation of symptoms occurred. A daily symptom, peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) and medication diary was kept. Weekly clinic visits were used to assess symptoms, spirometry, methacholine airway responsiveness (expressed as the provocative concentration to cause a fall in FEV1 of 20%, PC20), circulating eosinophils, basophils and their progenitors (Eo/B-CFU), and sputum inflammatory cells. The laboratory tests were performed blind to the clinical details. Each subject developed an exacerbation of symptoms, on average at 16 (7-26) days after the onset of steroid reduction. This was accompanied by a deterioration in each of the objective measures. There was a fall in FEV1 by 320 ml (s.e.m. 9.5) and in PC20 from 0.8 to 0.43 mg/ml. Circulating eosinophils rose from 114 (24) x 10(3)/ml to 227 (50) x 10(3)/ml and Eo/B-CFU rose from 31 (5.6) to 44 (11.3)/10(6) cells. Sputum developed in five subjects and contained 36 (5.2)% eosinophils and 1.98 (0.21)% metachromatic cells (mast cells or basophils). The symptom diary and weekly questionnaire were demonstrated to be valid and responsive to change. A deterioration indicated by the daily symptom score preceded changes in PEF. Treatment by an increase in steroid was followed by reversal of each of the changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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BACKGROUND: Airway inflammation is considered to be important in asthma but is relatively inaccessible to study. Less invasive methods of obtaining sputum from patients unable to produce it spontaneously should provide a useful investigational tool in asthma. METHODS: A method to induce sputum with inhaled hypertonic saline was modified for use in 17 asthmatic patients and 17 normal subjects who could not produce sputum spontaneously. The success rate and safety of the method, the reproducibility of cell counts, and differences in cell counts between the asthmatic and normal groups were examined. Hypertonic saline solution 3-5% was inhaled for up to 30 minutes after inhalation of salbutamol. Subjects were asked to expectorate sputum every five minutes. The quality of the sample was scored on the volume of plugs and the extent of salivary contamination. Plugs from the lower respiratory tract were selected for a total cell count and for differential cell counts of eosinophils and metachromatic cells (mast cells and basophils) in direct smears. RESULTS: Adequate samples from the lower respiratory tract were obtained in 76% of first attempts. The mean fall in the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) during inhalation of saline was 5.3% and the maximum fall 20%. Eosinophil and metachromatic cell counts were reproducible (reliability coefficient 0.8 and 0.7 respectively). When compared with sputum from normal subjects sputum from asthmatic patients contained a significantly higher proportion of eosinophils (mean 18.5% (SE 3.8%) v 1.9% (0.6%)) and metachromatic cells (0.50% (0.18%) v 0.039% (0.014%)). In the asthmatic group the differential eosinophil count correlated with the baseline FEV1. CONCLUSION: Induced sputum is capable of detecting differences in cell counts between normal and asthmatic subjects and merits further development as a potential means of assessing airway inflammation in asthma.
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Allergen inhalation causes airway inflammation and an increase in histamine airway responsiveness. We have used cell counts in sputum induced by hypertonic saline aerosol to assess airway inflammation before and 32 h after asthmatic responses to allergen. Twelve asthmatic subjects (mean age, 27.4 yr; range, 20-38 yr) had an inhalation test with D. farinae, ragweed pollen, or cat extract. All of them developed an early response with a fall in FEV1, of 24.8% (SD, 6.3%); nine of 12 had a definite late response (fall in FEV1 greater than or equal to 15%), and 10 of 12 had an increase in airway responsiveness to histamine at 32 h (PC20 reduced by greater than twofold). Sputum was induced by hypertonic saline after the histamine test, before and 32 h after the allergen challenge, at the same time of day. The quality of the sample was scored according to visual inspection and inverted microscopy and by salivary contamination. Plugs arising from the lower respiratory tract were selected for further evaluation. Differential cell counts of eosinophils (Eo) and metachromatic cells (MCC) (mast cell and basophils) were obtained from direct smears, blind to the clinical procedures. The mean fall in FEV1 after hypertonic saline was 6.4% (range, zero to 28%). The sputum samples were adequate in 79.5% of attempts. Eo and MCC increased significantly from 3.8 (4.4) to 18.2 (22.8)% (p = 0.01) and from 0.05 (0.17) to 0.25 (0.76)% (p = 0.04), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Formoterol is a new long-acting beta 2-agonist. We compared the protective effect of 24 micrograms formoterol with 200 micrograms beclomethasone and placebo on inhaled allergen-induced asthmatic responses in mild stable asthmatic subjects. We measured airflow rates, histamine airway responsiveness, cell counts from sputum and peripheral blood, and markers of lymphocyte and eosinophil activation. Adjustments were made for the confounding effect of bronchodilatation produced by formoterol in comparisons using a control inhalation of normal saline. Formoterol caused bronchodilation and inhibition of histamine airway responsiveness for at least 24 h. It completely inhibited the early asthmatic responses when beclomethasone had no effect. Control comparisons of the effect of formoterol and beclomethasone on the allergen-induced late asthmatic response and increase in histamine responsiveness showed each to be equally effective but not to inhibit the responses completely. Formoterol caused bronchodilation in addition to preventing bronchoconstriction. Both drugs inhibited the rise in serum eosinophil cationic protein 24 h after allergen, but neither inhibited the allergen-induced increases in sputum or blood eosinophils or CD25+ lymphocytes. These results suggest that formoterol modifies allergen-induced airway responses through functional antagonism rather than the inhibition of inflammatory cell infiltration.
In surgically excised nasal polyps, most epithelial mast cells were formalin sensitive, chloroacetate esterase (CAE) negative, and chymase negative. Thus, this represents a population of mast cells not identified by staining for CAE. On the other hand, most stromal mast cells were formalin resistant and CAE positive, and although there was some polyp-to-polyp variability in their content of neutral protease, most of these cells were positive for both tryptase and chymase. The percentage of metachromatic cells in the epithelium and the number of metachromatic cells per unit area of polyp tissue did not correlate with an index of allergy skin test reactivity or the serum IgE concentration. The percentage of mast cells surrounded by pericellular tryptase, suggesting activation/degranulation, was significantly higher in the stroma than in the epithelium. The findings demonstrate differences between the stroma and the epithelium in phenotype and state of activation of mast cells; these are postulated to be due to distinct microenvironmental factors that affect mast cells at these sites.
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) is a multifunctional protein which has been suggested to play a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Nasal polyposis is a condition affecting the upper airways characterized by the presence of chronic inflammation and varying degrees of fibrosis. To examine the potential role of TGF beta in the pathogenesis of this condition, we investigated gene expression and cytokine production in nasal polyp tissues as well as in the normal nasal mucosa. By Northern blot analysis using a porcine TGF beta 1 cDNA probe, we detected TGF beta 1-specific mRNA in nasal polyp tissues, as well as in the tissue from a patient with allergic rhinitis, but not in the normal nasal mucosa. By the combination of tissue section staining with chromotrope 2R with in situ hybridization using the same TGF beta 1 probe, we found that approximately 50% of the eosinophils infiltrating the polyp tissue express the TGF beta 1 gene. In addition, immunohistochemical localization of TGF beta 1 was detected associated with extracellular matrix as well as in cells in the stroma. These results suggest that in nasal polyposis where eosinophils are the most prevalent inflammatory cell, TGF beta 1 synthesized by these cells may contribute to the structural abnormalities such as stromal fibrosis and basement membrane thickening which characterize this disease.
In a majority of patients with anaphylaxis to dialysis, ethylene oxide has been identified as an etiologic agent. In a significant minority of patients sustaining such reactions, the antigen remains unidentified. Conflicting results have been published with regard to isocyanates as a possible antigen. The authors studied 19 hemodialysis patients with anaphylaxis in whom IgE against ethylene oxide-human serum albumin (ETO-HSA) was not identified (Group 1) and 25 peritoneal dialysis patients without anaphylaxis (Group 2). IgE against toluene diisocyanate-human serum albumin (TDI-HSA) was found in one patient in Group 1, and a similar incidence of IgG against TDI-HSA in Group 1 (16%) and Group 2 (12%) was noted. The results do not suggest that IgE against TDI-HSA is an important cause of dialysis anaphylaxis.
Based on observations of fluctuations in progenitors for inflammatory cells during allergic responses, we have proposed that a primary determinant of allergic inflammation involves microenvironmental influences on hemopoietic cell differentiation and phenotype; in addition, as a corollary of this, inflammatory cell burden is proposed as an important indicator of the severity and pattern of the inflammatory process in allergy. The studies outlined here focus on the effects of epithelial-cell- and fibroblast-derived cytokines on granulocytic and monocytic cell differentiation and activation in models involving allergic reactions in the upper and lower airways. Pure cultures of nasal or bronchial epithelial cells or fibroblasts are observed to give rise to cytokines important in inducing the differentiation of basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils and monocyte/macrophages. Gene expression, production and secretion of granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 can be demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Up-regulation of gene expression and production of these cytokines, which are important in inducing basophil, eosinophil and neutrophil/macrophage differentiation in several assays, is seen with IL-1 and the neuropeptide substance P; conversely, inhibition of cytokine production by structural cells is observed after pretreatment with corticosteroids in vitro, paralleling in vivo effects. Other modulatory effects also examined include: antiallergic compounds, which may affect posttranscriptional events in cytokine production, and heavy metal ions, which can also induce changes in gene expression. Structural-cell-derived extracellular matrices appear also to be important both in mast cell differentiation and in macrophage cytokine gene expression, both of which potentially feedback upon chronic allergic inflammatory processes, leading to their perpetuation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Nasal polyps and allergic rhinitis are upper airway inflammatory conditions characterized by increased numbers of eosinophils and metachromatic cells in the epithelial layer of the nasal mucosa. The objective of the current studies was to investigate the potential contribution of epithelial cells to the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the tissue. We have established pure cultures of human upper airway epithelial cells from normal and inflamed nasal polyps and allergic rhinitis tissue and examined the ability of conditioned medium from these cells (EpCM) to induce differentiation of human hemopoietic progenitors in vitro. We show that, under appropriate culture conditions, EpCMs, particularly those from cells derived from inflamed tissues, induce histamine-containing cell differentiation of cells of the human HL-60 myeloid leukemia cell line. These EpCMs also induce the emergence of both eosinophil/basophil and granulocyte/macrophage colonies in methylcellulose cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We also show that CMs from epithelial cells derived from inflamed tissues contain greater amounts of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) compared to CMs from normal epithelial cells. Finally, we show that the histamine-containing cell differentiation of HL-60 cells as well as the colony growth induced by EpCM can be fully inhibited by preincubating this CM with a monoclonal neutralizing antibody to human GM-CSF. These studies: (a) illustrate the ability of human upper airway epithelial cells to secrete GM-CSF in vitro; (b) demonstrate differences between normal and inflamed tissue-derived epithelial cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
We have established primary lines of fibroblasts from nasal polyp (NP) tissues as well as from normal nasal (NN) mucosa and have examined the ability of these cells to release hormone-like peptide messenger molecules (cytokines). Our results show that human upper airway fibroblasts release granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF), and macrophage-CSF (M-CSF) in vitro. We also show that fibroblasts derived from NP tissue express the gene for GM-CSF at a higher level, and release the GM-CSF product in greater amounts, than NN fibroblasts. In addition, we have examined the ability of these fibroblasts and their conditioned medium (CM) to induce differentiation of human hemopoietic progenitor cells. After 7 d, cultures of these cells in RPMI-10% fetal bovine serum contained 5 +/- 2.5% (mean +/- SD) neutrophils. In contrast, culture of progenitor cells with fibroblasts resulted in significantly greater neutrophilic differentiation (18 +/- 4%). Culture in fibroblast-CM induced a similar degree of differentiation, and fibroblast-CM from NP fibroblasts elicited greater differentiation compared to CM from NN fibroblasts (17.5 +/- 3 versus 12 +/- 3%). The neutrophilic differentiation induced by fibroblast-CM can be fully inhibited by preincubating this CM with a monoclonal neutralizing antibody to human GM-CSF. Thus, our results demonstrate: (1) the ability of human upper airway fibroblasts to release GM-, G-, and M-CSF in vitro; (2) that fibroblasts derived from NP tissues express the gene and release the product GM-CSF at greater levels compared to NN fibroblasts; and (3) that fibroblast-derived GM-CSF causes neutrophilic differentiation of human hemopoietic progenitors.
We examined the ability of conditioned medium (CM) generated by human upper airway epithelial (Ep) cells from normal (NN) and inflamed, allergic rhinitis (AR) and nasal polyp (NP) tissues to induce monocytic differentiation of hemopoietic progenitors of the HL-60 myeloid leukemia cell line in vitro. In HL-60 cells cultured in RPMI with 10% FBS, there was differentiation to 0.4 +/- 0.4% monocytic cells. NN-, AR-, and NP-EpCM induced differentiation to 23 +/- 6%, 42 +/- 11%, and 71 +/- 10% monocytic cells, respectively. EpCM also induced isolated peripheral blood nonadherent mononuclear cells to express monocyte/macrophage-specific antigens as detected by immunohistochemistry using FMC-32 monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD14). We also examined the cytokine content of these EpCMs and found that they contained granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF): 126 +/- 35, 198 +/- 22, and 489 +/- 118 pg/ml for NN-, AR-, and NP-EpCM, respectively. These CMs also contained granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), but there were no significant differences between normal and inflamed tissue-derived cell supernatants. No macrophage-CSF (M-CSF) was detected in these EpCMs. Recombinant human GM-CSF, G-CSF, and IL-6, alone and in combinations, at doses similar to or greater than those found in the EpCMs, did not induce comparable monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells. Preincubation of the EpCM with neutralizing anti-GM-CSF, anti-G-CSF, or anti-IL-6 antibodies did not significantly inhibit the monocytic differentiation induced by the EpCM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Nasal polyposis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the upper airways characterized by infiltration of activated inflammatory cells, particularly eosinophils. Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a cytokine with powerful biologic effects including the regulation of survival, proliferation, and activation of granulocytes as well as differentiation of hemopoietic cells. To examine the potential role of GM-CSF in the pathogenesis of this condition, we investigated gene expression and production of GM-CSF in nasal polyp tissues as well as in the normal nasal mucosa. Immunoreactive GM-CSF was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the 24-h supernatant of nasal polyp tissues placed in culture. By Northern blot analysis and Southern blot analysis following a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction using a human GM-CSF cDNA probe, we detected GM-CSF mRNA in nasal polyp tissues, as well as in the tissue from a patient with allergic rhinitis, but not in the normal nasal mucosa. By in situ hybridization using the same probe, cells expressing mRNA specific for GM-CSF were observed in nasal polyp tissues and in the allergic nasal mucosa. In addition, by the combination of in situ hybridization and counterstaining with chromotrope 2R, we demonstrated that approximately 30% of eosinophils infiltrating the polyp tissue express the GM-CSF gene. These results suggest a novel mechanism by which eosinophils may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases such as nasal polyposis, allergic rhinitis, and, by implication, asthma.