Running title: Effects of milk on cytokine production Correspondence to:

Effects of breast milk from allergic and nonallergic mothers on mitogen- and allergeninduce

Immune responses to birch in young children during their first 7 years of life

Background The character of immune responses to allergens during the first years of life may decide whether the individual will become tolerant or develop allergy later in life. Objective To study the development of immune responses to the seasonal inhalant allergen birch over the first 7 years of life. Methods Blood samples were obtained from 21 children who were followed prospectively from the second to the seventh pollen season of life. Birch-induced cytokine production and IgG subclass antibodies to rBet v 1 were analysed with ELISA, mRNA expression with real time PCR, IgE antibodies to birch with Magic LiteTM and birch-induced mononuclear cell proliferation with 3H-thymidine incorporation. Results Birch-induced IFN-γ and IL-10 production increased with age, both in atopic and non-atopic children, while birch-induced IL-13 production decreased. The two children who were sensitized and developed clinical allergy to birch showed persistent IL-4 and IL-5 production and IL-9 mRNA expression, as well as Th2-associated IgG4 responses. Transient Th2-like responses were observed among the other children. Proliferative responses and IgG1 antibodies were seen in all children. Conclusions Immune responses to birch can be demonstrated in all children, during the first 7 years of life, regardless of atopic status. A transient early Th2-like response is down-regulated after the fourth pollen season, except in children who develop clinical allergy to the particular allergen

The value of clinical and histopathological characteristics for the prognosis of malignant laryngeal tumours

Balsenes ļaundabīgs audzējs ir otrais biežāk sastopams elpošanas sistēmas audzējs pēc plaušu audzēja. Tā ir viena no onkoloģiskām slimībām, pie kuras pacientu kopējā dzīvildze pēdējo 20 gadu laikā ir samazinājusies no 66% līdz 63%. Histopatoloģiskam slēdzienam ir būtiska nozīme balsenes ļaundabīgā audzēja ārstēšanas stratēģijas izvēlē un prognozes izvērtēšanā.Pētījuma mērķis ir novērtēt balsenes ļaundabīgā audzēja klīnisko un histopatoloģisko rādītāju ietekmi uz recidīva attīstību, pacienta kopējo un bezrecidīva dzīvildzi.Pētījumā tika iekļauti 105 pacienti, kuriem histoloģiski tika apstiprināta balsenes ļaundabīgā audzēja diagnoze. Tika analizēti histopatoloģiskie slēdzieni no RAKUS Patoloģijas Centra arhīva datubāzes un klīniskā informācija no “Ārsta biroja” datiem par 2011.gadu.Datu apstrāde tika veikta ar Microsoft Office Excel 2013 un IBM SPSS Statistics 22 versiju. Pētījumā iegūtie rezultāti parādīja, ka balsenes ļaundabīgā audzēja biežāka histoloģiskā forma bija plakanšūnu karcinoma (n=104; 90,05%), kas pamatā bija vidēji diferencēta (n=65; 62,5%). Biežāk tā bija sastopama vīriešiem (n=101; 96,19%). Pacientu vidējais vecums bija 62,04 ± 10,02 gadi. Biežāka lokalizācija bija glottis apvidū (n=63; 60%). Galvenais no pirmajiem simptomiem pacientiem ar balsenes ļaundabīgo audzēju bija balss piesmakums (n=66; 62,86%). Lielākai daļai pacientu balsenes ļaundabīgs audzējs bija diagnosticēts vēlīni, III stadijā (n=53; 53,54%). No mūsu pētījumā iekļautiem pacientiem recidīvs attīstījās 25 (24,04%) pacientiem, biežāk tas bija novērojams pirmajos trijos gados kopš diagnozes noteikšanas brīža. Tika konstatēts, ka recidīva attīstība biežāk raksturīga gados jaunākiem pacientiem (līdz 60 gadiem) (Rho=0.207; p=0.034) un pacientiem ar lielāku T apakšstadiju (Rho= -0.233; p=0.022). Mūsu pētījumā tika konstatēti pacientu bezrecidīva dzīvildzi un kopējo dzīvildzi ietekmējošie faktori. Galvenie bezrecidīva dzīvildzi ietekmējošie faktori ir audzēja stadija (p=0.032), īpaši T apakšstadija (p=0.010) atbilstoši TNM klasifikācijai un audzēja izplatība uz hipofarinksu (p=0.009). Sliktāka bezrecidīva dzīvildze novērojama pacientiem ar III stadiju un lielāku T apakšstadiju. Kopējo dzīvildzi pacientiem ar balsenes ļaundabīgo audzēju ietekmē pacientu dzimums (p=0.042), audzēja diferenciācijas pakāpe (p=0.010), audzēja izplatība uz hipofarinksu (p=0.009), metastāžu esamība (p=0.039) un T apakšstadija (p=0.003). Sliktāka kopējā dzīvildze novērojama vīriešiem, pacientiem ar zemu vai vidēji diferencētiem audzējiem, audzējiem ar izplatību uz hipofarinksu, pacientiem ar reģionālām un distālām metastāzēm un lielaku T apakšstadiju. Secinājumi. Klīnisko un histopatoloģisko rādītāju novērtēšana ir būtiska balsenes ļaundabīgā audzēja prognozes izvērtēšanai un recidīva riska stratifikācijai.Malignant laryngeal tumour is the second most common tumour of the respiratory system after lung cancer.It is one of the oncological diseases, to which patients’ overall survival rate during last 20 years has decreased from 66% to 63%.Histopathological findings have an important role deciding treatment strategy and in evaluation of prognosis.The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of clinical and histopathological characteristics on tumour relapse, patients overall and relapse-free survival.105 patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of malignant laryngeal tumour were enrolled into the study. Histopathological data were analysed from the Riga East university Hospital Centre of Pathology database and clinical information database “Ārsta birojs”. The results were statistically analysed by Microsoft Office Excel 2013 and IBM SPSS Statistics 22.Our results showed, that the most frequent histological type of laryngeal cancer was squamous cell carcinoma (n=104; 90,05%), which was mostly moderately differentiated (n=65; 62,5%). It was more common in men (n=101; 96,19%). Patients’ mean age was 62,04 ± 10,02 years. The most frequent location was glottis (n=63; 60%). One of the main symptoms was hoarseness (n=66; 62,86%). In most patients, tumour was diagnosed at stage III (n=53; 53,54%). Relapse developed in 25 (24,04%) patients from our group, more often in first three years from date of diagnosis. It was found that tumour relapse is associated with relatively younger patient age (below 60 years) (Rho=0.207; p=0.034) and higher T substage (Rho= -0.233; p=0.022). The histopathological and clinical characteristics which influence relapse-free and overall survival rate was observed. The main factors that influence relapse-free survival rate was tumour stage (p=0.032), especially T substage (p=0.010) according to TNM classification, and tumour spread to hypopharynx (p=0.009). Worse relapse-free survival was found to patients with stage III, high T substage. Overall survival rate was influenced by gender (p=0.042), the degree of differentiation (p=0.010), tumour spread to hypopharynx (p=0.009), presence of metastasis (p=0.039) and T substage (p=0.003). Worse overall survival rate was observed in males, patients with poorly and moderately differentiated tumours, tumours with spread to hypopharynx, patients with regional and distal metastasis and high T substage. Conclusions. Clinical and histopathological characteristics have an important role in the evaluation of prognosis and stratification of tumour relapse risk

during their first 7 years

Immune responses to birch in young childre

Cytokine responses to allergens during the first two years of life in Estonian and Swedish children

N.B.: When citing this work, cite the original article. This is the pre-reviewed version of the following article

Correspondence to:

Breast milk cytokine and IgA composition diffe

Correspondence to:

Slow salivary secretory IgA maturation may relate to low microbial pressure and allergic symptoms in sensitized childre

Endotoxin levels in Estonian and Swedish house dust and atopy in infancy

N.B.: When citing this work, cite the original article. This is the pre-reviewed version of the following article

Effectivity of Mepilex Lite dressing in limitating skin side effects in vulvar cancer radiotherapy

Bakalaura darba tēma „Mepilex Lite plākstera efektivitāte vulvas vēža staru terapijas ādas blakņu ierobežošanā”. Darba ietvaros tika pētīts plākstera Mepilex Lite pielietojums jonizējošā starojuma izraisītā ādas bojājuma ierobežošanā. Darbs veikts balstoties uz kvalitatīvās pētniecības modeļa, kā pētniecības instruments tika izmantots novērošanas protokols. Pētījumā izvirzītais jautājums – kāda ir jonizējošā starojuma izraisīto ādas bojājumu atšķirība grupā, kur staru terapijas laikā tika lietots Mepilex Lite plāksteris radušos komplikāciju ārstēšanas nolūkā un grupu, kas plāksteri lieto profilakses nolūkā. Pētījuma mērķis – novērtēt plākstera Mepilex Lite efektivitāti jonizējošā starojuma radītā ādas bojājuma profilaksē pacientiem pie vulvas vēža staru terapijas. Apkopojot pētījuma rezultātus, var secināt, ka Mepilex Lite plākstera pielietošana profilaktiskā nolūkā pacientēm, kurām tiek veikta vulvas vēža staru terapija, attālina jonizējošā starojuma izraisīto ādas bojājumu.The topic of the present Bachelor’s thesis - ’’ Effectivity of Mepilex Lite dressing in limitating skin side effects in vulvar cancer radiotherapy”. Within the framework of practical for research Lite silicone dressing use in ionasing induced skin damage restriction was inquired. The research was carried out qualitative and research instrument was observation protocol. The study raises a question of difference in ionising radiation treatment induced skin damage outcomes between groups, where one of them was using Mepilex Lite dressing for assasment of accuring compications and the other, controul group, where Mepilex Lite dressing was used for prophilaxis. Objective: evaluate Mepilex Lite effectivity regarding ionising radiation induced skin damage in prophylaxis for patients who are undergoing vulvar cancer radiation therapy. Summarization of the results of the study revieled, that while using Mepilex Lite silicone dressing for prophilactic purpose for patients, who undergo a vulvar cancer radiation therapy, ionazing induced skin damage is significally delayed

High salivary secretory IgA antibody levels are associated with less late-onset wheezing in IgE-sensitized infants

Low levels of secretory IgA (SIgA) and transient IgA deficiency have been associated with an increased risk for allergy, but data are conflicting. The aim was to assess the relationship between salivary SIgA antibody levels at 1 yr and wheezing at age four in a birth cohort, in particular the possible protective role of salivary SIgA in sensitized children. Saliva samples were obtained from all children (n = 67) with a positive skin prick test (SPT) at 1 yr and 212 children with a negative SPT. In all, 200 of these children responded to questionnaires at 4 yrs and 183 were skin prick tested at that age. The levels of salivary SIgA and salivary IgA antibodies to the most common food allergen egg and inhalant allergen cat were analyzed by ELISA. Serum was analyzed for IgE antibodies to egg and cat. Development of late-onset wheezing was associated with low SIgA levels in children with positive SPT to at least one allergen both at 1 and 4 yrs of age (p = 0.04), as well as in children with circulating IgE antibodies to egg or cat at 1 yr (p = 0.02). None of nine persistently sensitized children with SIgA levels in the upper quartile developed wheezing, when compared to 10/20 children with lower levels (p = 0.01). Older siblings, more than three infections during infancy, at least one smoking parent, and male gender, were all associated with SIgA in the upper quartile. In conclusion, high levels of SIgA antibodies in sensitized infants were associated with significantly less late-onset wheezing, supporting a protective role against development of asthmatic symptoms. Recurrent infections and other factors supporting an increased microbial pressure during infancy were associated with high levels of salivary SIgA.This is the authors’ version of:Anna Sandin, Bengt Bjorksten, Malin Fagerås Böttcher, Erling Englund, Maria Jenmalm and Lennart Braback, High salivary secretory IgA antibody levels are associated with less late-onset wheezing in IgE-sensitized infants, 2011, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, (22), 5, 477-481.http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3038.2010.01106.xCopyright: John Wiley and Sonshttp://www.wiley.com