Biomedical subjects

M B Lierl

Publications and source records attributed to M B Lierl.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Isolated late cutaneous reactions to allergen skin testing in children.

BACKGROUND: Occasionally parents report a reaction developing at the site of an allergen skin test several hours after application of the test, despite there having been no immediate reaction. The medical literature contains little information regarding isolated late reactions (ILRs) to allergen skin testing. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this project was to determine the incidence of ILRs in children undergoing allergen skin testing. METHODS: Prick and intradermal (ID) skin testing was performed for routine clinical indications in an allergy clinic. Children with a positive histamine control, and at least one negative immediate reaction to allergen skin testing were enrolled in the study. The parents were given detailed instructions to examine the skin test sites 6 hours later, and to record the size of any erythematous indurated sites. Circles of various diameters were included on the report form to assist the parents' size estimates. RESULTS: Fifty-seven children enrolled in the study and 50 returned the forms. No patients reported ILRs to prick skin tests. Eighteen of the 50 respondents reported 40 ILRs to ID tests, of > or = 5 mm diameter; 7 of these were > or = 10 mm. The most common allergen causing ILR was cockroach, accounting for 20% of the ILRs. Each of the other allergens also caused ILRs. The clinical history did not show a definite correlation of symptoms with exposure to the allergens causing ILRs, although all 14 patients with ILRs to indoor allergens had year-round symptoms. There was no correlation between the incidence of ILRs and age, gender, or diagnosis of asthma. CONCLUSION: ILRs to allergen skin testing occurred in 36% of pediatric allergy clinic patients. The clinical significance of such reactions is unknown.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Effect of superoxide dismutase on a rabbit model of chronic allergic asthma.

BACKGROUND: In bronchial asthma, inflammatory cells infiltrating the airway mucosa release oxygen radicals that cause tissue damage and amplify the airway inflammation. Antioxidant enzymes may have a protective effect on the airways. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether treatment of a rabbit model of chronic allergic asthma with the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase conjugated to polyethylene glycol will protect the airways from oxygen radical injury, decrease airway inflammation, and attenuate the asthmatic response. METHODS: New Zealand white rabbits were sensitized to ragweed. Baseline histamine PC30, ragweed PD30, and early and late phase asthmatic response to ragweed bronchial challenge were measured. The rabbits were then randomized into two groups that received every 48 hours an intravenous dose of either superoxide dismutase-polyethylene glycol 10,000 U/kg or inactivated superoxide dismutase-polyethylene glycol as control, followed by a 1-hour exposure to aerosolized ragweed extract. After 4 weeks the rabbits had a second bronchial challenge, were sacrificed, and lung histology was studied. RESULTS: On the posttreatment challenge, the superoxide dismutase-polyethylene glycol group had a rise in ragweed PD30, while the control group had no change in ragweed PD30, and two of five rabbits in the superoxide dismutase-polyethylene glycol group did not have an early or late phase asthmatic response, while all rabbits in the control group had an asthmatic response. There was no significant difference in lung histology between both groups. CONCLUSION: A rabbit model of chronic allergic asthma treated with superoxide dismutase-polyethylene glycol showed a trend of improvement in airway responsiveness but no significant effect on airway inflammation.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Latex allergy in hospital employees.

To investigate the incidence of latex IgE-mediated hypersensitivity, 224 hospital employees were interviewed and prick skin tests were performed to six common aeroallergen extracts, one non-latex "synthetic" glove extract, and four different latex glove extracts. Of the 224 subjects, there were 136 nurses, 41 laboratory technicians, 13 dental staff, 11 physicians, 6 respiratory therapists, and 17 housekeeping and clerical workers. All 224 subjects tested negative for the nonlatex glove (Tactylon) extract but 38 (17%) tested positive for latex extracts. The incidence ranged from 0% in housekeeping staff to 38% in dental staff. Eighty-four percent of the latex skin test-positive employees complained of itching and 68% of rash upon exposure to latex, whereas the latex skin test-negative employees reported these symptoms in 29% and 17%, respectively. Urticaria was a symptom in 55% of the latex skin test-positive and 0.5% of the skin test negative-subjects. Anaphylaxis occurred in 10.5% of the skin test-positive and in none of the skin test-negative employees. Symptoms of sneezing (34% vs 7%), nasal congestion (39% vs 7%), and lacrimation and ocular itching (45% vs 6%) were also significantly different between the latex skin test-positive and latex skin test-negative subjects. We conclude that the incidence of latex IgE-mediated allergy in hospital employees is 17%. The symptoms of anaphylaxis and hives when using latex gloves are sensitive predictors of IgE-mediated latex allergy.

Female↗

PubMed1994

Prevalence of insect allergen-specific IgE in allergic asthmatic children in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Airborne insect antigens can represent significant outdoor aeroallergens. In this pilot study, allergic asthmatic children were screened by RAST for IgE directed against common outdoor insects. Insects studied included ant, cricket, grasshopper, housefly, and moth. Spiders were also tested. Three different extraction procedures were compared to determine which method(s) best preserves the allergenic proteins. RAST discs were made for each insect extract and sera from allergic, asthmatic and nonallergic, nonasthmatic children were tested. The allergic asthmatic sera had a higher percentage of isotope binding than the nonallergic nonasthmatic sera for all insects tested. The number of subjects with a Phadebas RAST score of 2 or greater was significantly higher in the allergic asthmatic group for moth (16 of 37, 43%), housefly (7 of 30, 23%), cricket (8 of 41, 19%), and grasshopper (7 of 36, 19%). Only one of the 25 control sera had a score of 2 to moth; none of the control sera reacted to any of the other insects. Most positive sera tested showed cross-reactivity between insects. A few sera, despite showing positive RAST results to two different extracts, showed no cross-reactivity between the two extracts, suggesting that these sera contained species-specific IgE. These results indicate that a significant proportion of allergic asthmatic children have IgE that binds to extracts of moth, cricket, grasshopper, and housefly. Further studies are needed to determine whether these insect aeroallergens can produce clinically significant symptoms in sensitized atopic individuals.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Evaluation of latex allergy in patients with meningomyelocele.

Seventy-six patients with meningomyelocele were evaluated for latex sensitivity by medical history and epicutaneous skin testing. Four different latex glove extracts, two nonlatex glove extracts, cornstarch, selected inhalant antigens, and negative and positive controls were used for skin testing. Forty-nine patients (64.5%) were skin test positive to latex extracts (latex-positive group). Twenty-four patients (49%) of the latex-positive group and none of the latex-negative group had histories of immediate reactions to latex products (P less than .001). The latex-positive group had a higher mean number of surgical procedures, 12.67 +/- 11.27, compared with 6.89 +/- 6.55 (P less than .001) in the latex-negative group. Twenty-three of the latex-positive patients (47%) used latex products daily compared to seven patients (26%) in the latex-negative group (P = .073). Twenty latex-positive patients (41%) had atopy compared with five patients (19%) of the latex negative group (P = .041). There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, sex, daily catheterization, or positive skin tests to cornstarch. All 76 patients tested negative to the nonlatex glove extracts. Ten control subjects tested negative for all latex and nonlatex glove extracts.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

Comparison of two selective media developed to isolate Pseudomonas cepacia from patients with cystic fibrosis.

Two media selective for Pseudomonas cepacia have been described recently: OF-polymyxinbacitracin-lactose agar (OFPBL) and P. cepacia agar (PCA). We compared these by culturing sputum from 27 patients with cystic fibrosis. Sputum from each patient was studied using streak-plate (SP) and quantitative (Q) culture methods. Five strains of P. cepacia were isolated from four patients (15%). P. cepacia was not found on routine media by SP or Q methods in three of the four patients. All five isolates grew on both OFPBL and PCA and all were recovered by SP and Q culture methods. Colony counts of P. cepacia obtained by Q cultures were similar on both selective media. Each of the selective media allowed the growth of other organisms; nineteen of 27 specimens cultured on OFPBL yielded non-P. cepacia spp. and six of 27 specimens cultured on PCA yielded non-P. cepacia spp. species (p less than 0.005). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from 26 of 27 patients on routine media (96%). This organism was recovered from four specimens cultured on OFPBL but from none on PCA (p less than 0.05). OFPBL and PCA are both selective for P. cepacia and enhance the ability to recover this organism from patients with cystic fibrosis using either SP or Q cultures of sputum; however, PCA is significantly more inhibitory for non-P. cepacia spp. than OFPBL.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Normal values for forced oscillation parameters in small children.

A commercially available forced oscillation unit was used to perform pulmonary function testing in 90 healthy children, aged 4 to 7 years. Normal values for resistance and reactance of the respiratory system, resonant frequency, and frequency dependence are reported. The implications of each of the forced oscillation parameters, and their potential usefulness as objective measures of pulmonary function in young children, are discussed.

Child↗