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Biomedical subjects

R T Scanlon

Publications and source records attributed to R T Scanlon.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Role of food allergy in serous otitis media.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between IgE-mediated hypersensitivity and recurrent serous otitis media has not been completely established. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of food allergy in patients with recurrent serous otitis media. METHODS: A total of 104 unselected patients (age range 1.5 to 9 years, mean 4.6 years) with recurrent serous otitis media were evaluated for food allergy by means of skin prick testing, specific IgE tests, and food challenge. Patients who were allergic to food(s) underwent an exclusion diet of the specific offending food(s) for a period of 16 weeks. A non-double blinded food challenge was performed with the suspected offending food(s). Their middle ear effusion was monitored and assessed by tympanometry (Welch Allyn Model 23600) during the pre-elimination, elimination and challenge diet phases. RESULTS: There was a significant statistical association, by chi-square analysis, between food allergy and recurrent serous otitis media in 81/104 patients (78%). The elimination diet led to a significant amelioration of serous otitis media in 70/81 (86%) patients as assessed by clinical evaluation and tympanometry. The challenge diet with the suspected offending food(s) provoked a recurrence of serous otitis media in 66/70 patients (94%). CONCLUSIONS: The possibility of food allergy should be considered in all pediatric patients with recurrent serous otitis media and a diligent search for the putative food allergen made for proper diagnostic and therapeutic intervention.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

In vitro studies of the modulatory effects of sensory neuropeptides on peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes of normal and allergic subjects.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the modulatory effects of sensory neuropeptides on peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes of normal and allergic subjects. Peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes obtained from five normal subjects and from five patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma were incubated with morphine, ACTH, vasoactive intestinal peptide, or substance P at concentrations of 10(-9) M, 10(-7) M, 10(-6) M and suboptimal (0.0125 microgram/mL, 0.025 microgram/mL, and 0.05 microgram/mL) concentrations of PHA. Uptake of 3H-thymidine was evaluated at 72 hours of culture. An inhibitory effect was observed with morphine, ACTH, and substance P while stimulatory effects were seen with vasoactive intestinal peptide, both in normal and in allergic subjects. The results of these preliminary studies provide further evidence for a modulatory role of neuropeptides on the immune function in both normal and allergic subjects.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1988

Brain norepinephrine: a possible role in bronchial asthma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between neuroendocrine function and the beta receptor activity of the lung in a group of 47 pediatric patients with bronchial asthma. It is postulated that since hypothalamic norepinephrine (NE) is known to inhibit corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), an increase in brain NE as measured by its metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) could reflect the depression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as measured by urinary cortisol levels. Further, since cortisol influences epinephrine formation in the adrenal medulla and since cortisol and epinephrine contribute to beta receptor function, it is further postulated that an increase in brain NE by depressing the HPA axis could thereby, cause a relative decrease in both cortisol and epinephrine with resultant beta receptor dysfunction. In both age groups, the 3- to 11-year-olds and the adolescents, differences in NE were found among the three subgroups (P = .003) with the difference observed only between the wheezing (decreased NE) and control groups (P less than .05). There was a similar difference in MHPG (elevated) among these groups. In a similar manner, the MHPG/NE ratios (elevated) were statistically different in comparing the three groups in the 3- to 11-year-old range. In the adolescent group both the wheezing and nonwheezing groups were comparably elevated and showed statistically significant differences from their controls. The results of this study appear to support the hypothesis and suggests that brain NE may play a pivotal role in the beta-adrenergic dysfunction characteristic of bronchial asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Milk hypersensitivity: RAST studies using new antigens generated by pepsin hydrolysis of beta-lactoglobulin.

RAST was performed on sera from 28 patients with a variety of allergic symptoms, giving histories compatible with milk allergy, to investigate the occurrence of IgE antibodies to new antigens (NA) generated by in vitro pepsin hydrolysis. A variety of symptoms were associated with positive RAST scores. A positive correlation was found between the degree of RAST reactivity with undigested milk proteins and reactivity with the NA's. Reactivity to the NA's was always associated with reactivity to at least one of the undigested proteins. These findings suggest that undigested milk proteins are more reactive than digested proteins. Furthermore, antigens derived from pepsin digestion do not elicit a significant antibody response in individuals who do not allow show antibody responses to undigested proteins.

Adolescent↗