Effects of gamma radiation on the conformational and antigenic properties of a heat-stable major allergen in brown shrimp.

This study was performed to evaluate the application of food irradiation technology as a method for reducing shrimp allergy without adverse effects. Shrimp heat-stable protein (HSP) was isolated and gamma irradiated at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 kGy in the condition of solution (1 mg/ml), and fresh shrimp was also irradiated. Conformational change of irradiated HSP was monitored by means of spectrometric measures, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with mouse monoclonal antibody, or human patients' sera and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The ability of the immunoglobulin E of patients allergic to shrimp to bind to irradiated HSP was dose dependently reduced. The amount of intact HSP in an irradiated solution was reduced by gamma irradiation, depending on the dose. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the main band disappeared and the traces induced from coagulation appeared at a higher molecular weight zone. The binding ability of immunoglobulin E to allergens in the extracts from irradiated shrimp decreased, depending on the dose. The results provide a new method so that food irradiation technology can be applied to reduce allergenicity of shrimp.ope

Mass culture of house dust mites, Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus (Acari : Pyroglyphidae)

In order to produce large amounts of antigens of Dermatophagoides farinae (DF) and D. pteronyssinus (DP), both of which are very important species as the main inhalant allergens causing allergic diseases, mass-rearing techniques of DF and DP mites were studied. A mixture of 50% fish food powder and 50% dried yeast gave the highest production of both DF and DP, showing 37.0-fold and 51.8-fold increase in number after 12 weeks, respectively. When the same amount of culture media were used, the larger surface of the rearing container gave better production rate in both cases of DF and DP, showing 188.2-fold and 200.8-fold increase, respectively in a 154 (cm)^2 surface container (14cm in diameter) compared to a 79(cm)^2 surface container (10cm in diameter) after 12 weeks. Several different temperature and relative humidity conditions were compared for finding the maximum mass production. The highest production of DF mites resulted when 28℃ and 64% RH were provided, showing 815-fold increase in number after 10 weeks, and followed by 28℃ and 52% RH showing 773.3-fold increase after 10 weeks. In the case of DP mass rearing, the maximum production resulted when 25℃ and 75% RH were given, showing 1,391.7-fold increase in number after 10 weeks, and almost the same production resulted under conditions of 28℃ and 64% RH giving 1,385-fold increase in number after 10 weeks. When a 154(cm)^2 surface container was used, the optimum amount of culture media was 50g, and satisfactory result was obtained when the culture was started with 1,500 seed mites. During 20 weeks' observation period, the peak in number was obtained after 10 weeks of the culture in all test groups of DF and DP, and thereafter the number decreased.ope

Clinical usefulness of impulse oscillometry(IOS) in bronchial asthma

Background : Impulse oscillometry(IOS) is a method to characterize the mechanical properties of respiratory system over wide range of frequency. It's most important advantage is to require minimal cooperations from subject. Therefore it is used to estimate pulmonary function of young children and to study epidemiology of occupational asthma. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness for the clinical applications of IOS in bronchial asthmatics by estimating the associations between asthma severity and IOS parameters, and the relationships between IOS parameters and conventional spirometry. Methods : 216 subjects with bronchial asthma were enrolled in this study. Subjects were grouped to 3 different groups according to their symptoms and pulmonary functions. Respiratory impedance, resistance (at 5Hz, 20Hz, 35Hz) and resonant frequency were measured by IOS. FEV1, FVC and MMEF were measured with conventional spirometry. Results : There were significant difference of resonant frequency, resistance at 5Hz and 20Hz, resistance difference at 5Hz and 20Hz according to asthma severity(p<0.05, respectively). Resonant frequency, resistance at 5Hz, impedance were significantly correlated with FEV1 (r= -0.55, 0.48, 0.49, p<0.05, respectively). And resistance at 5Hz had similar reproducibility compared to FEV1 (resistance at 5Hz, r= 0.78 vs FEV1, r= 0.79). Conclusion : IOS is an useful and alternative method to evaluate clinical status of brnochial asthmatics. And further studies will be needed to clarify its values for wide range of clinical applications.(Korean J Med 59:522-528, 2000)ope

Immunoblot Analysis of Specific IgE and IgG Responses to Dermatophagoides Farinae according to Allergen Bronchial Challenge Test

BACKGROUND: House dust mite (HDM) elicit not only specific-IgE (sIgE) but also IgG (sIgG) responses, but the exact role of sIgG has not been clearly clarified. There has been no published report on antigenic components of HDM directly associated with the asthmatic reaction following HDM exposure in patients with HDM-sensitive bronchial asthma. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the role of antibody response to HDM and to confirm the asthma related-antigenic components of HDM in patients with HDM-sensitive asthma. METHOD: A total of 49 patients with HDM-sensitive asthma were enrolled. We preformed D. farinae-bronchial challenge test, and analyzed sIgE, sIgG, sIgG1 and sIgG4 response to D. farinae by immunoblotting according to the results of challenge test. RESULT: Twenty-six patients (53.1%) showed positive asthmatic reaction after exposure to D. farinae extracts, but 23 (46.9%) showed no significant response. For statistical convenience, we chose 8 specific IgE binding bands with molecular weight of 65, 34, 30, 28, 19, 15, 13 and 12.5 kDa and compared antibody binding rate to each components. Positive sIgE binding reactions to 34, 15 and 13 kDa were significantly higher in challenge positive group than in negative group. Positive sIgG reactions to 15, 13 and 12.5 kDa and sIgG1 binding to 15 and 13 kDa were significantly higher in challenge positive group. However, positive sIgG4 responses to 30 and 19 kDa were significantly higher in challenge negative group. CONCULSION: These results suggest that low molecular weight proteins of D. farinae such as 34, 15 and 13 kDa are important antigens associated with IgE-mediated asthmatic reaction, but sIgG4 response to certain allergenic components (30 and 19 kDa) might have a role in prevention of asthmatic reaction after allergen exposure.ope

Multiagent System using Data Mining Technique for the Management of Asthma in Mobile Computing Environments

Objective: In the mobile computing environments, doctors or patients with mobile devices can access services at any time, any place. It makes chronic diseases, such as asthma care successively and in long-term. This paper presents a new multiagent system using data mining technique for the management of asthma in mobile computing environments. Methods: In mobile computing environments, mobile communication is prone to disconnection. To use the services when disconnected, we locally store the recommendation information in mobile devices. Then, when user reconnects network, the new information is delivered in mobile devices. Because mobile devices have a limitation of resource, we store only patterns and recent data. We adopted data mining technique from the large pool of accumulated patients data can be utilized to summarize observed correlations and trends. Results: We propose multiagent system composed of a Pattern Agent, a Selection Agent and a Recommendation Agent. They make asthmatic-caring system access effectively in mobile computing environments. We describe the underlying architecture and the process. Then we make a prototype with asthmatic patients data in the Severance Hospital in Korea. Conclusion: The results of our study can be contributed to aid management of asthma in mobile computing environments.ope

IgE Binding Reactivity of Peptide Fragments of Bla g 4, a Major German Cockroach Allergen

Cockroaches have been recognized as a major cause of asthma. Bla g 4 is one of the most important German cockroach allergens. The aim of this study is to investigate IgE reactivity to the recombinant Bla g 4 (rBla g 4) in the sera of allergic patients and identify linear IgE binding epitope. For protein expression, full-length Bla g 4 (EF202172) was divided into 5 overlapping peptide fragments (E1: aa 1-100, E2: aa 34-77, E3: aa 74-117, E4: aa 114-156, and E5: aa 153-182). The full-length and 5 peptide fragments of Bla g 4 was generated by PCR and over-expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The IgE binding reactivities of the full-length and peptide fragments were measured by ELISA using 32 serum samples of cockroach allergy. The sera of 8 patients (25%) reacted with rBla g 4. Four sera (100%) showed IgE-binding reactivity to full-length and peptide fragment 4, and 2 sera (50%) reacted with peptide fragment 2. One (20%) serum reacted with peptide fragment 3. The results of ELISA using overlapping recombinant fragments indicated that the epitope region was located at amino acid sequences 34-73 and 78-113, and major IgE epitope of Bla g 4 was located at amino acid sequences 118-152 of C-terminal. B-cell epitope analysis of German cockroach allergen Bla g 4 could contribute to the strategic development of more specific and potentially efficacious immunotherapyope

A Case of Aspirin Intolerant Asthma Presenting Late Only Response during the Lysine-aspirin Bronchoprovocation Test

Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) cause bronchoconstriction in 10% to 20% of the adult asthmatic patients. The lysine-aspirin bronchial provocation test (L-ASA BPT) has become a widely used diagnostic test for detecting aspirin sensitivity in asthmatic patients. Several investigators have reported the development oflate and dual asthmatic responses as well as early asthmatic response. Most late asthmatic responses are known to occur within 4 to 6 hours of the L-ASA BPT. We report a case of aspirin-intolerant asthma with late only response during the L-ASA BPT. The late responses were notedtwice at 4 (greater than 20% decrease of FEV1) and 13 hours (greater than 30∼50% decrease of PFR with dyspnea) after the L-ASA BPT. In conclusion, we suggest that follow-up lung function monitoring will be needed for more than 12 hours after the L-ASA BPT to confirm delayed late asthmatic response. (Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol 2010;30:329-332)ope

Difference of Dermatophagoides farinae Specific IgE Binding Patterns between Asthmatics and Atopic Dermatitis Patients

Background: Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae) has various isoallergens. However, allergenic differences between bronchial asthmatics (BA) and atopic dermatitis (AD) patients have not yet been fully evaluated. Objective: To investigate the differences in D. farinae specific IgE between BA and AD patients sensitized to D. farinae. Method: Five BA and five AD patients sensitized to D. farinae were measured in this study. D. farinae-specific IgE was evaluated by 1-dimensional (1-D) and 2-dimensional (2-D) SDS-PAGE, and IgE immunoblotting. N-terminal sequencing was performed for the identification of the allergens. Result: Two-D IgE immunoblot revealed the 7 allergens with 14 kDa at PI 5.5 to 6.5. These allergens were found in 4, BA and 2 AD patients. Another allergen with 25 kDa at pI 7.8 was found only in 4 BA patients. This allergen was regarded as triosephosphate isomerase by N-terminal sequencing. Conclusion: Seven allergens with 14 kDa at pI 5.5 to 6.5 and 1 allergen with 25 kDa at pI 7.8 were identified more frequently in BA than in AD patients. The 25 kDa allergen was regarded as triosephosphate isomerase, and it might be associated with the development of asthma.ope

Application of Phadiatop Test for Screening of Atopy : Based on the CAP Specific IgE Level in Korean Asthmatics

Background :Phadiatop test which was developed for screening of atopy in eastern asia area, has not been sufficiently evaluated In Korea In our previous study, the clinical usefulness of Phadiatop test for screening of atopy was evaluated on atopics and non-atopics defined by the results of skin prick tests with 10 inhalant allergens in Korea In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of Phadiatop test for screening of atopy based on the level of CAP specrfic IgE In Korean asthmatics Method :On 136 Korean asthmatics, the level of CAP specific IgE to 10 important inhalant allergens and the level of Phadiatop specrfic IgE to mixture of 8 Important inhalant allergens in Korea were measured Atopics and non-atopics were defined by the results of CAP specific IgE and the sensitivity, specificity, predictive value of a positive and negative result, and concordance rate of Phadiatop test were estimated Result :The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values of a positive and negative result, and concordance rate of Phadiatop test were 90 5%, 95 O%, 99 I%, 63 3%, and 91 2%, respectively Conclusion :Phadiatop test was very sensitive, raped and convenient, and corresponded well to the results of CAP specific IgE We concluded that Phadiatop test IS very useful as a screening tool of atopy In Koreaope

Spontaneously reported hepatic adverse drug events in Korea: multicenter study

Hepatic adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to certain drugs may differ within each country, reflecting different patterns of prescription, socioeconomic status, and culture. The purpose of this study was to assess the suspected cause of hepatic ADRs using the spontaneously reported pharmacovigilance data from Korea. A total of 9,360 spontaneously reported adverse drug events (ADEs) from nine Pharmacovigilance Centers were analyzed. Risk of hepatic ADEs was assessed by calculating the reporting odds ratio (ROR). Of the 9,360 cases, 567 hepatic ADEs were reported. The most frequently prescribed drug classes inducing hepatic ADEs were anti-tuberculotics, cephalosporins, valproic acids, penicillins, quinolones, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-viral agents, and statins. ROR values were especially high in anti-tuberculosis drugs, systemic antifungal drugs for systemic use, anti-epileptics, propylthiouracil, and herbal medicines. Underlying diseases such as tuberculosis (6.9% vs 0.9%), pneumonia (4.9% vs 1.7%), intracranial injury including skull fracture (4.5% vs 0.9%), HIV (3.4% vs 0.4%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (2.8% vs 0.5%), and osteoporosis (2.4% vs 1.4%) were significantly more common in hepatic ADE group. In conclusion, anti-infective drugs, anti-epileptics, NSAIDs and statins are the most common suspects of the spontaneously reported hepatic ADEs, in Korea. Careful monitoring for such reactions is needed for the prescription of these drugs.ope