Profile of food allergens in urticaria patients in Hyderabad

Urticaria is one of the manifestations of a pattern of allergy. The associated disorders are vascular reaction and wheals. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of sensitivity to food allergens in Hyderabad in patients suffering from allergy. Four hundred and one patients attending the Allergy Clinic at BMMRC, with a confirmed diagnosis of bronchial asthma, rhinitis or urticaria were skin tested. Total sIgE levels were estimated by ELISA. Positivity to beans (53%) was highest, followed by mustard (41%) and cardamom (40%). Often patients having positive skin tests to food allergens which may have skin reactions to foods prove to be a problem. Foods that produce significant positive skin tests could be avoided in the diet; however, other foods that do not show skin reactions may contribute to the disease

Enhanced T cell responsiveness to Mycobacterium bovis BCG r32-kDa Ag correlates with successful anti-tuberculosis treatment in humans

Th1 and Th2 cytokines play key role in protection from and pathogenesis of mycobacterial infection and their dynamic changes may predict clinical outcome of the patient. Patients with tuberculosis (TB) have a poorer cellular immune response to recombinant 32-kDa antigen (Ag) of Mycobacterium bovis (r32-kDa M. bovis) than do healthy volunteers. The basis for this observation was studied by evaluating the Th1 (gamma interferon [IFN-γ ]) produced in response to the r32-kDa Ag M. bovis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with pulmonary TB (n = 20), extra-pulmonary TB (n = 13) and from healthy volunteers (n = 9). Recombinant 32-kDa M. bovis stimulated PBMC from TB patients produced significantly lower levels of IFN-γ at 0 month, and increased at 2-4, and 6 months of treatment and were highly significant (p < 0.000) compared to the responses in controls. The ratios of IFN-γ to IL-10 were low in patients newly diagnosed and improved both during and after treatment. The present study concludes that the levels of in vitro response to M. bovis BCG r32-kDa Ag leading to the specific release of IFN-γ increased after anti-tuberculosis treatment and seems to reflect the clinical status of the patient, thus reiterating the utility of this antigen in T cell based assays as a surrogate marker of cell mediated responses

In Vitro Levels of Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and IL-12 in Response to a Recombinant 32-Kilodalton Antigen of Mycobacterium bovis BCG after Treatment for Tuberculosis▿

Cell-mediated immunity plays a major role in conferring protection against tuberculosis (TB) on an individual. It is not known whether the immune status correlates with the bacterial load or whether the immunity improves after treatment. Also, it may be important to monitor treatment by being able to discriminate between active disease and successfully treated TB. The main aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of a recombinant 32-kDa antigen (r32-kDa Ag) of Mycobacterium bovis BCG (Ag85A-BCG) as a diagnostic marker in patients being treated for TB. Specifically, the in vitro T-cell assays and the release of interleukin-12 (IL-12) (Th1-type cytokine) and IL-10 (Th2-type cytokine) in response to the r32-kDa Ag of BCG were assayed in patients with either pulmonary (sputum positive/negative, n = 74) or extrapulmonary TB (n = 49) and healthy controls. The proliferative responses of stimulated cells at 0, 2 to 4, and 6 months of treatment increased and were highly significant (P < 0.000) compared to the responses in controls. The increase in IL-12 and decrease in IL-10 release suggest that there is cytokine expression modification during different stages of TB, and treatment seems to have an influence on the levels of these cytokines, suggesting an augmentation in the protective responses. The in vitro response to the M. bovis BCG r32-kDa Ag may be useful in monitoring treatment of TB

Correlation of Sagittal Skeletal malocclusion and Growth patterns between Digital and Conventional Dermatoglyphics

Background: The craniofacial morphology and its growth pattern are determined by the influence of various environmental factors depending on the genetic background. Due to the close association of MSX 1 and SMARCAD gene on the same chromosome, it can be hypothesized that malocclusion and fingerprint pattern are related. Furthermore, it is observed that the orofacial structures originate from the same embryonic tissue as the epidermal ridges, which are the ectoderm. Thus, the simultaneous development of the epidermal ridges and the orofacial structure during this time is deciphered and reflected in the fingerprint patterns. Aim: This study aimed to analyse, compare, and correlate the fingerprint patterns of individuals with different skeletal malocclusions and growth patterns using manual and digital methods. Materials and Methods: Patients (a random sample of 544) who were undergoing orthodontic treatment and were able to give informed consent were included in the study. Informed consent was obtained prior to the start of the procedure, with due regard to ethical issues and the confidentiality of fingerprint records. The anteroposterior jaw relation was determined from the patient's lateral cephalogram with evaluation of the parameters: SNA, ANB, SNB and growth patterns are determined using the mandibular plane angle according to Steiners analysis, the nature of the growth patterns, i.e., horizontal (HGP), Average (AGP) and vertical (VGP) growth pattern. Results: Individuals with loop patterns had a frequency of skeletal class I malocclusion, Whorl patterns with skeletal class II malocclusion, and Arch patterns with skeletal class III malocclusion. Consistent with the growth patterns, the whorl pattern was seen more prominently in the horizontal growth pattern, Arch pattern in the average growth pattern, and the loop pattern in the vertical growth pattern. Conclusion: Thus, the dermatoglyphics can be used as a screening tool for early prediction of skeletal malocclusion in a younger age group

Age-related waning of Interferon-γ levels against r32kDaBCG in BCG vaccinated children-0

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Age-related waning of Interferon-γ levels against r32kDaBCG in BCG vaccinated children"</p><p>http://www.jibtherapies.com/content/5/1/8</p><p>Journal of Immune Based Therapies and Vaccines 2007;5():8-8.</p><p>Published online 7 Jun 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1899498.</p><p></p> 6 years & 9–12 years (3316 ± 718 & 1360 ± 344; p < 0.003). (b) 6–8 years and 9–12 years (2880 ± 733 & 1360 ± 344; p < 0.01). (a

Age-related waning of Interferon-γ levels against r32kDaBCG in BCG vaccinated children-1

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Age-related waning of Interferon-γ levels against r32kDaBCG in BCG vaccinated children"</p><p>http://www.jibtherapies.com/content/5/1/8</p><p>Journal of Immune Based Therapies and Vaccines 2007;5():8-8.</p><p>Published online 7 Jun 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1899498.</p><p></p>alues. Scar positive Vs. Scar negative: p < 0.000