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Biomedical subjects

J K Sarsfield

Publications and source records attributed to J K Sarsfield.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Controlled trial of house dust mite avoidance in children with mild to moderate asthma.

Twenty-six asthmatic children participated in a controlled trial of house dust mite avoidance. Group A (n = 14) had 12 weeks' avoidance, provided that they had not deteriorated at the end of the first 6 weeks. Group B (n = 12) had an initial 6 weeks' observation period followed by 6 weeks' avoidance. Mite numbers were extremely variable and often low. There was a significant fall in mite numbers in the first, but not the second, 6-week period in group A. In group B there was a significant fall in mite numbers in both the first (observation) and second (active avoidance) periods. Active avoidance produced highly significant falls in total serum IgE. There were no significant changes in IgE during the observation period. This impressive immunological effect was not associated with any changes in the radio-allergo-sorbent assay (RAST) to house dust mite, or symptom scores; peak expiratory flow rates or histamine induced bronchial reactivity. More rigorous avoidance procedures in more severely affected asthmatic patients warrants further investigation.

Adolescent

Flunisolide nasal spray for perennial rhinitis in children.

Twenty-seven children with perennial rhinitis entered a double-blind cross-over study comparing nasal sprays of flunisolide---a new topical corticosteroid---and placebo. Symptoms were assessed over two consecutive monthly periods with each treatment. Weekly diary cards, monthly clinical assessments, and end-of-trial preferences all favoured the active drug. At the end of the trial 20 patients preferred the treatment month with flunisolide, four preferred the placebo month, and two rated the periods equally. Side effects were mild, the commonest being transient nasal stinging. Seventeen children who derived benefit from flunisolide continued with the treatment for a six-month open-study period. Many reduced the dosage from three times to twice or once daily without losing benefit. The effect of flunisolide on the pituitary-adrenal axis was assessed in seven children by measuring the 0900 blood cortisol concentrations at two-month intervals over the six months. No effect was observed. The results show that flunisolide is effective and safe for the treatment and prophylaxis of perennial rhinitis in children.

Adolescent

Wheezing children.

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Acute Disease

Pet sensitivities in asthmatic children.

A history of pet contact and/or apparent clinical sensitivity was obtained in 65 (55%) of 118 unselected asthmatic children. These 65 children were skin tested and their sera examined for specific IgE using the radioallergosorbent test. Those children who had apparent clinical sensitivities had larger skin test reactions and were more likely to have positive specific IgE results than those without apparent sensitivities. Positive skin tests were very common (80%), but the larger the skin test reaction (weal diameter greater than 4 mm diameter) the more likely was there to be a positive history or a positive specific IgE result. Hence a large skin test reaction can provide a helpful pointer to animal allergy of clinical importance. Commercially available animal extracts have limitations for diagnostic tests. A questionnaire survey of 150 day schools emphasized the potential opportunities for contact with animal allergens at school.

Allergens

Negative sweat tests and cystic fibrosis.

Two brothers are described with chronic suppurative pulmonary disease. One has classical cystic fibrosis with complete pancreatic involvement and abnormal sweat test. The other had incomplete pancreatic disease with repeatedly normal sweat tests. The implications of a negative sweat test in patients with cystic fibrosis are discussed.

Amylases