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Biomedical subjects

M A Shaughnessy

Publications and source records attributed to M A Shaughnessy.

81 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

ELISA screening tests for specific IgE and IgG antibody in employees exposed to trimellitic anhydride (TMA).

The objective of the study was to determine whether ELISA screening tests could be developed for specific IgE and IgG antibody in surveillance studies of employees exposed to trimellitic anhydride (TMA). Such tests would obviate the need for radiolabeling and disposal of radioactive wastes. The design of the study was a masked comparison of serologic results of ELISA screening tests with the criterion standard radioimmunoassay (RIA) currently used. The participants were 233 employees of a chemical plant that manufactures TMA. When the screening ELISA serologic results for IgG against TM-human serum albumin (TM-HSA) were compared with those of the RIA, the sensitivity was 92%, the specificity was 93%, the positive predictive value was 62%, and the negative predictive value was 99%. When the screening ELISA serologic results for IgE against TM-HSA were compared with those of the RIA, the sensitivity was 100%, the specificity was 91%, the positive predictive value was 31%, and the negative predictive value was 100%. We conclude that ELISA screening tests for antibody to TM-HSA have sufficient sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value to be useful in surveillance studies of employees exposed to TMA.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Polymerization and fractionation of house dust mite allergen.

Glutaraldehyde polymerization and appropriate fractionation of allergens result in significantly decreased allergenicity with retained immunogenicity. In a manner similar to that employed with other allergens, we have prepared monomer dust mite (MDM) and polymerized dust mite (PDM). As with other polymerized allergens such as polymerized ragweed, PDM is more than 2 logs less allergenic than MDM as determined by cutaneous end point titration in sensitive patients. Moreover, PDM and MDM are similarly immunogenic in rabbits. As determined by inhibition studies (with rabbit antisera) PDM is antigenically complete and contains no new epitopes against which antibody was produced. In summary, we have prepared PDM which has the desired characteristics of reduced allergenicity, retained immunogenicity, antigenic completeness, and absence of new antigenic determinants.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evolution of patient care, education, and research in asthma by one academic team of investigators over 35 years: the Northwestern University Medical School Division of Allergy-Immunology experience (Part Two).

This report reviews approximately 35 years of patient care, teaching, and research an asthma in one academic unit at Northwestern University Medical School. Historical perspectives are summarized on the delivery of care for asthma, therapeutic regimens for asthma we believed in (and were wrong), and diagnosis and management in the last decade of this century. Particular problems, such as potentially fatal asthma and assessment and management of such problems, are discussed. Finally, certain aspects of our basic research programs and their relevance to asthma are briefly reviewed. Part One of this article appeared in the May-June issue of this journal.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evolution of patient care, education, and research in asthma by one academic team of investigators over 35 years. The Northwestern University Medical School Division of Allergy-Immunology Experience: Part One.

This report reviews approximately 35 years of patient care, teaching, and research on asthma in one academic unit at Northwestern University Medical School. Historical perspectives are summarized on the delivery of care for asthma, therapeutic regimens for asthma we believed in (and were wrong), and diagnosis and management in the last decade of this century. Particular problems, such as potentially fatal asthma and assessment and management of such problems, are discussed. Finally, certain aspects of our basic research programs and their relevance to asthma are briefly reviewed. An outline of contents is shown in Table I.

Asthma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Review of trimellitic anhydride (TMA) induced respiratory response.

Acid anhydrides such as trimellitic anhydride (TMA) are of interest due to their important industrial uses and to their adverse health effects in exposed populations. Important industrial uses of TMA include the production of epoxy and alkyd resins used to manufacture a variety of coating materials. The adverse health effects are a result of its direct irritant effects on mucosal surfaces in all exposed humans as well as its ability to cause immunologic sensitization in a small proportion of humans. In those individuals who are immunologically sensitized, reexposure to TMA can result in well described immunologic syndromes: asthma-rhinitis, late respiratory systemic syndrome (LRSS), and very rarely pulmonary disease anemia syndrome (PDA). In summary, adverse health effects of TMA are due to its effects as an irritant, an immunologic sensitizer, or a combination of both.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunologic aspects of isocyanate asthma: IL-1 beta, IL-3, IL-4, sIL2R, and sICAM-1.

This pilot study investigated serum levels of cytokines and soluble receptors during five positive and five negative isocyanate inhalational challenges. Serum was obtained from 10 individuals with symptoms compatible with isocyanate asthma before isocyanate challenge and the day following their maximal change in pulmonary function after isocyanate challenge. Serum levels of interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 3, interleukin 4, soluble interleukin 2 receptor, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 were measured and compared. Interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 3, and interleukin 4 were not detected. The mean soluble interleukin 2 receptor and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 levels were not statistically different before and after challenge or between groups. In summary, the cytokines studied are not detectable in peripheral blood during isocyanate inhalation challenge; soluble interleukin 2 receptor and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 are both detectable but do not change significantly after a positive isocyanate challenge.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Environmental monitoring: correlating air measurements of substances with immune response.

In summary, data from animal models would suggest that air measurements of substances can be correlated with immune response, be it immunodepression or either of the two forms of immunostimulation-autoantibody formation or specific immunologic sensitization. However, became immunodepression and autoantibody formation are not specific for a given substance, and because they can be induced by a variety of other factors such as drugs and intercurrent viral infections, it would seem unlikely that correlations between air measurements and measurements of immunodepression or autoantibody formation could be very useful. In contrast, specific immunologic sensitization is a response that can only be induced by exposure to a specific agent. The major problem confronting investigators attempting to perform concentration-response studies in humans is accurate measurement of workplace exposures. If exposures could be reliably quantified, it is likely that concentration-response correlations could be determined for worker groups. This could prove useful for estimating exposure of groups based on aggregate immune response. It would be most useful, however, for determining threshold concentrations below which a very low proportion of workers--perhaps 1 in 100 or even 1 in 1000--would become sensitized. These threshold concentration levels of sensitizing substances could be used to develop permissible exposure levels in the workplace. Reducing workplace sensitization and diseases such as occupational asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis would be of obvious benefit to workers, management, government, and society at large.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗