Immunochemical and Physical Quantitation of Grass and Olive Pollen Allergens: Correlation With Asthma Admissions in Cáceres, Spain.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The association between pollen counts and allergen levels in the air is controversial. Objectives: The aims of the study were to quantify total and major allergen levels of Phleum pratense and Olea europaea and to analyze their correlation with grass and olive pollen counts and the number of asthma attacks attended at Complejo Hospitalario Universitario, Cáceres, Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A volumetric air sampler and a Burkard spore trap were used for pollen and aeroallergen collection during April- June 2011. Filters were extracted, and major allergens were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: May was the main grass pollination period, with a maximum peak of 1362 grains/m3 (May 13). The main pollination period for olive was April 30-May 20, with a maximum peak of 851 grains/m3 (May 11). A moderate correlation was observed between asthma exacerbations and grass pollen counts or Phleum total allergen levels; this became stronger when a 3-day offset was introduced. A significant association was observed between asthma exacerbations and total olive allergen or olive pollen grain levels when a 1-day offset was introduced. The maximum correlation (moderate-high) was observed 4 days and 6 days away from the maximum olive pollen peak and the maximum Ole e 1 peak level, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals a significant correlation between grass and olive pollination and an increase in the number of visits to the emergency room for asthma attacks. The aerobiological pattern of allergen levels in the air is similar to that of pollen counts during the grass and olive pollination periods.

Allergen profile of Protophormia terraenovae, other species of calliphoridae, and Lumbricus terrestris in anglers allergic to maggots in Cáceres, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Our group previously found that up to 7% of amateur anglers in Caceres, Spain may be allergic to the larvae of Protophormia terraenovae (order Diptera, family Calliphoridae) used as live bait for fishing. OBJECTIVE: To identify the pattern of major allergens in P terraenovae and other species of Calliphoridae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracts of P terraenovae, Calliphora vomitoria, Lucilia sericata and Lumbricus terrestris were characterized using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and IgE-immunoblotting techniques in individual sera from 24 patients with a positive skin test result and/or specific IgE determination (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) to P terraenovae. ELISA and IgE-immunoblotting inhibition studies were also performed to identify potential cross-reactive allergens between these species. RESULTS: IgE-immunoblotting with P terraenovae showed a band of 15.3 kDa recognized by 15 patients, in addition to 2 further allergens of 22.8 kDa and 69 kDa. For C vomitoria, 5 bands of 73, 46, 40, 28, and 14 kDa were observed. For L sericata, 2 major allergens of 73 kDa and 14 kDa were observed. In the case of L terrestris, IgE from 13 patients recognized 1 allergen of around 15.5 kDa. IgE-immunoblotting and ELISA inhibition revealed the presence of cross-reactivity, mainly between L terrestris and P terraenovae. CONCLUSIONS: P terraenovae appears to have species-specific allergens and allergens shared with C vomitoria and L sericata. Striking immunological cross-reactivity was observed between P terraenovae and L terrestris. An allergen of 15-16 kDa could be involved in this phenomenon.

Drug use pathways among high school students of Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: This study surveyed high school student drug users in urban areas of Mexico to describe use patterns and drug-related behaviors among adolescents and to develop predictor models of pathways to underage drug use. SUBJECT/DESIGN: A National School Survey was conducted among high school students where data are provided by the State. Only urban sites were considered for this study (n = 40,521). Stratified two-stage cluster sampling was used; schools and groups within the schools were the sampling units. CONCLUSIONS: Male adolescents who have worked the previous year, have high exposure within the family and are affiliated with drug using peers are at increased risk of becoming drug users and subject to depression and suicidal ideation as well as drug-related social problems.

Experience with the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) in Mexico.

This chapter describes the development of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) among various Mexican populations, the evaluations that followed the World Health Organization international research project from where this screening instrument was derived, its use in nonclinical settings, modifications introduced in its wording, the development of a short version, and validity and reliability tests. It also describes rates of hazardous, harmful, and dependent drinkers and biobehavioral consequences of abuse among various Mexican populations. Data drawn from different samples showed adequate levels of specificity and sensitivity. Findings from general population samples confirmed previous observations in general practice: That the AUDIT could capture not only regular consumption at hazardous levels, but also episodic heavy drinking. Data from an International Labor Office/World Health Organization project on model programs for alcohol prevention in the workplace showed that it was possible to derive a short version, easily used for intervention programs, that differentiated categories of drinkers at various risk levels. Rates of problem drinkers in clinical samples varied between 28 and 43% for males and 3.6 and 4.8% among females. Hazardous drinking varied between 0.7 and 15.5% among males and females in general populations and reached 44% in a sample of male workers; in clinical settings, harmful drinking ranged from 7 to 16% among males and dependence from 3 to 10%.

[Factors associated with initiation, continued use, and psychoactive substance abuse among Mexican adolescents]. / Los factores que se relacionan con el inicio, el uso continuado y el abuso de sustancias psicoactivas en adolescentes mexicanos.

This article describes the results from a drug use survey conducted among high school students of the Federal District. The analysis suggested that being male and attending the last three years of high-school, differentiated significantly users from non users. These two variables, along with an older age, differentiated students that had used one substance from those that had used more than one. These variables had no effect on the decision of stopping the use after experimenting or continuing the use of substances. Significant variables were also perception of availability, having friends, parents or brothers that use substances, or to knowing drug users; peer approval and low perception of risk. Depression symptoms differentiated only users from non users but suicidal tendency grew with use; receiving information from friends influenced the decision of experimenting and of using more than one substance. Finally, the more severe patterns were related to the perception that there are no consequences for drug use in the school.

Aislamiento de cepas invasivas de Neisseria meningitidis serogrupos B y Y en la ciudad de Cumaná, años 2009-2010 / Isolation of invasive strains of neisseria meningitides, serogroups B and Y, in Cumana, 2009-2010

Neisseria meningitidis es agente causal de meningitis y meningococcemia. Se realizó la presente investigación a fin de analizar fenotípicamente las cepas invasivas de N. meningitidis aisladas en Cumaná, estado Sucre. Se incluyó el total de cepas identificadas como N. meningitidis en el laboratorio de bacteriología del Hospital Universitario “Antonio Patricio de Alcalá”, durante los años 2009-2010; provenientes de muestras de líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR) y sangre (hemocultivos). A cada aislamiento se le determinó la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana y el serogrupo respectivo. Durante el período en estudio se analizaron 10 cepas, de las cuales 5 provenían de LCR. El ensayo de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana reveló que las cepas presentaban sensibilidad a penicilina, cefotaxima, meropenem, rifampicina, ciprofloxacina y cloranfenicol siendo sólo resistentes al trimetoprim/ sulfametoxazol. El serogrupo más frecuente fue el B (8 cepas), aislándose un caso de serogrupo Y. Respecto al grupo etario de los pacientes, de las 10 cepas, 8 provenían de pacientes pediátricos. Este es el primer estudio con cepas de N. meningitidis aisladas en Cumaná, por lo que se hace imprescindible el análisis permanente de las cepas aisladas en la zona, con fines de monitoreo, principalmente, de la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana y los serogrupos circulantes.

Neisseria meningitidis is the causal agent for meningitis and meningococcemia. This research was performed to phenotypically analyze invasive strains of N. meningitidis isolated in Cumana, State of Sucre. The study included all strains identified as N. meningitidis isolated in the bacteriology laboratory at the University Hospital “Antonio Patricio de Alcalá,” during the years 2009-2010, coming from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and blood cultures. For each isolate, the antimicrobial susceptibility and respective serogroup were determined. During the period of study, 10 strains were analyzed, of which 5 came from CSF. The antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed that the strains showed sensitivity to penicillin, cefotaxime, meropenem, rifampicin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol; they were resistant only to trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole. Serogroup B was the most frequent (8 strains); one case of serogroup Y was isolated. Regarding the patient’s ages, of the 10 strains, 8 were found in pediatric patients. This is the first study about strains of N. meningitidis isolated in Cumaná, so it is essential that permanent research regarding the strains isolated in the area is carried out for monitoring purposes, mainly in terms of antimicrobial susceptibility and the circulating serogroups.

ovo/svb integrates Wingless and DER pathways to control epidermis differentiation.

In Drosophila, as in mammals, epidermal differentiation is controlled by signalling cascades that include Wnt proteins and the ovo/shavenbaby (svb) family of zinc-finger transcription factors. Ovo/svb is a complex gene with two genetic functions corresponding to separate control regions: ovo is required for female germline development and svb for epidermal morphogenesis. In the Drosophila embryo, the ventral epidermis consists of the segmental alternance of two major cell types that produce either naked cuticle or cytoplasmic extrusions known as denticles. Wingless signalling specifies smooth cells that produce naked cuticle, whereas the activation of the Drosophila epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (DER) leads to the production of denticles. Here we show that expression of the ovo/svb gene controls the choice between these cell fates. We find that svb is a key selector gene that, cell autonomously, directs cytoskeletal modifications producing the denticle. The DER pathway promotes denticle formation by activating svb expression. Conversely, Wingless promotes the smooth cell fate through the transcriptional repression of svb by the bipartite nuclear factor Armadillo/dTcf. Our data indicate that transcriptional regulation of svb integrates inputs from the Wingless and DER pathways and controls epidermal differentiation.

Lack of palmitoylation redirects p59Hck from the plasma membrane to p61Hck-positive lysosomes.

Hck, a protein-tyrosine kinase of phagocytes, is the unique member of the Src family expressed under two alternatively translated isoforms differing in their N-terminal site of acylation: p61(Hck) has an additional 21-amino acid sequence comprising a single myristoylation motif, whereas p59(Hck) N terminus has myristoylation and palmitoylation sites. To identify the molecular determinants involved in the targeting of each isoform, they were fused to GFP and expressed in HeLa and CHO cells. p61(Hck) was associated with lysosomal vesicles, whereas p59(Hck) was found at the plasma membrane and to a low extent associated with lysosomes. Their unique N-terminal domains were sufficient to target GFP to the corresponding intracellular compartments. Mutation of the palmitoylation site of p59(Hck) redirected this isoform to lysosomes, indicating that the palmitoylation state governs the association of p59(Hck) with the plasma membrane or with lysosomes. In addition, both isoforms and the nonpalmitoylated p59(Hck) mutant were found on the Golgi apparatus, suggesting a role of this organelle in the subcellular sorting of Hck isoforms. Regarding their subcellular localizations, we propose that bi-acylated p59(Hck) might transduce plasma membrane receptor signals, whereas p61(Hck) and the nonpalmitoylated p59(Hck) might control the biogenesis of phagolysosomes, two functions yet proposed for Hck in phagocytes.

Nitrovasodilators, low-dose aspirin, other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND The relation between medications that release nitric oxide, such as nitroglycerin and other nitrovasodilators, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding is uncertain. In animals, these medications reduce the gastric damage induced by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Nitric oxide, however, inhibits platelet aggregation and may contribute to bleeding from an ulcer. METHODS: We performed a case-control study to determine the risk of bleeding in patients taking nitrovasodilators, low-dose aspirin, or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. The case group was made up of 1122 consecutive patients admitted to one of four hospitals with bleeding from a peptic lesion. The 2231 control subjects were 1109 patients hospitalized for other reasons and 1122 outpatients from the same geographic area. RESULTS: In the week before admission, 520 (46.3 percent) of the patients with bleeding had taken a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug other than low-dose aspirin, 120 (10.7 percent) had taken low-dose aspirin (< or = 300 mg per day), 60 (5.3 percent) a nitrovasodilator, and 135 (12.0 percent) an antisecretory agent such as a histamine H2-receptor antagonist or a proton-pump inhibitor. In multivariate models that adjusted for age, sex, and clinical risk factors, the use of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug other than low-dose aspirin was independently associated with an increased risk of bleeding from a peptic ulcer (odds ratio, 7.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 4.5 to 12.0), as was the use of low-dose aspirin alone (odds ratio, 2.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.8 to 3.3). The use of a nitrovasodilator was associated with a decreased risk of bleeding (odds ratio, 0.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.4 to 0.9), as was antisecretory therapy (odds ratio, 0.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.4 to 0.8). In patients taking any type of nonsteroidai antiinflammatory drug, the use of a nitrovasodilator or antisecretory therapy was independently associated with a decreased risk of bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The use of nitrovasodilator drugs is independently associated with a decreased risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

[Anterior rhinomanometry as a diagnostic test in occupational allergy caused by Liliaceae]. / Rinomanometría anterior como test diagnóstico en alergia ocupacional por liliáceas.

UNLABELLED: The Liliacea family has been implicated as a cause of occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma. We report a patient who presented symptoms when he manipulated spices including garlic and onion dusts. Nasal challenge test with active anterior rhinomanometry was used for the diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Skin-prick tests with common inhalants, commercial spices, fresh Liliaceae and powdered spices diluted in saline solution (10 mg/ml) were performed. Immunoblot and specific IgE (CAP-Pharmacia) were determined. Control peak expiratory flow was monitored during a period at work in an area where spices were manipulated and in an area where they were transported. Nasal challenge test with garlic and onion powder was performed. The resulting nasal obstruction was measured as nasal airway resistance and was determined by rhinomanometry. RESULTS: Skin-prick tests were positive for onion, garlic powder and fresh Liliacea. Specific IgE were positive for garlic and onion. IgE immunoblotting showed very strong bands at 14 and 40 kD with garlic extract. Nasal challenge showed an increase in inspiratory nasal resistance which was higher than 100 % of the basal value for both onion extract and garlic.

Allergy to asticot maggots. Identification of allergens.

UNLABELLED: There are some written reports of allergic reactions after contact with Asticot larvae in anglers and occupationally exposed workers. Clinical and immunological studies were performed to confirm the allergens involved in the case of a 12-year-old male who developed respiratory symptoms shortly after contact with Asticot maggots used as fish bait. METHODS AND RESULTS: Aqueous extracts of Asticot maggots were taken for in vivo and in vitro tests. The protein concentration as determined by turbidimetric assay was 1.4 mg/ml. Skin prick test with Asticot extract was positive with an immediate response. Ten atopic and ten nonatopic control subjects did not react to the extract. Specific serum IgE antibodies against Asticot were found in the patient's serum (ELISA). Coomasie staining after SDS-PAGE separation of Asticot extract showed three protein bands of 30, 40 and 60 kDa. IgE immunoblot showed one antigenic band of 60 kDa specifically recognized by the patient's IgE. Specific nasal challenge test with Asticot extract using a Rhinospir 164 rhinomanometer showed immediate response (1/10 w/v), with a 200% increase in nasal resistances from baseline. CONCLUSIONS: One main allergen of MW 60 kDa was specifically recognized by our patient's IgE. There are no previous reports in the literature that characterize the allergens involved in Asticot hypersensitivity. Asticot maggots should be taken into account as a possible causative agent of respiratory symptoms due to a type I hypersensitivity mechanism in anglers who are exposed to emanations of these live fish baits.

Antisocial behavior: its relation to selected sociodemographic variables and alcohol and drug use among Mexican students.

This study is part of the National School Survey on drug use by high school students in Mexico. The validity, reliability, and results of the Antisocial Acts Scale in Mexico City (n = 3,501) are discussed. Using factorial analyses of the Antisocial Acts Scale, two major sources of variability were observed. The first one is related to antisocial acts with severe social consequences, in which violence and drug selling are included, and the second one is related to thefts. Significant differences were found in the number of offenses among groups of different gender, age, and occupation during the previous year. More antisocial acts were perpetrated by alcohol and drug users than by nonusers. In a logistic regression model, it was found that the main risk factors for perpetrating antisocial acts were being male, using alcohol, and using other drugs.

Angioedema as a single manifestation of carcinoid syndrome in a bronchial carcinoid tumor.

BACKGROUND: The association of bronchial carcinoid tumours with carcinoid syndrome is extremely rare especially in the absence of metastasic disease, and the angioedema is not a typical sign of this syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report the case of a 39 year-old woman referred to our allergy department with recurrent episodes of angioedema. The aetiological study of angioedema did not show evidence of hypersensitivity to common inhalants, food allergens and latex. C1-inhibitor, C3, C4, C1q, proteinogram and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) all were normal. TSH determination gave normal results, too. Faecal analyses for parasites were negative. The haemogram showed moderate leucocytosis and hypocromic mycrocitic anaemia. The thoracic radiography showed a mediastinal node image in the right paratracheal region. Histology analyses of the samples were diagnostic of a typical carcinoid tumor. Levels of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIIA) were slightly increased. A superior lobectomy was performed and no new episodes of angioedema appeared after surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first case of typical bronchial carcionid tumour, without metastasic disease, with angioedema as a single manifestation of carcinoid syndrome. In our knowledge, only one case of Quincke's edema as part of typical carcinoid syndrome has been reported, in a case of primary midgut carcinoid tumor with metastasic disease to liver. It is very important to include complementary tests, as thoracic radiography, in the routine study of angioedema to reject malignant diseases.

[Increase in glutamic-oxaloacetic and glutamic-pyruvic transaminases and lactic dehydrogenase as a diagnostic aid in perinatal asphyxia]. / Elevación de transaminasas glutámico oxalacética, glutámico pirúvica y deshidrogenasa láctica como auxiliar diagnóstico de asfixia perinatal.

In order to determine the behavior of glutamic oxalacetic (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic (GPT) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) transaminases after a period of asphyxia, a study was conducted in 120 newborn children which were placed into two groups: group 1 of the asphyxiated children who were given oxygen at intermittent positive pressure for more than a minute and group 2 of healthy children with an Apgar greater than 7 after the first and five minutes and without any apparent pathology. The results showed a real increase in the quantities of all three transaminases among those in the group of asphyxiated children, which on the other hand did not occur in the healthy group of children where levels remained normal. There was statistical differences (P less than 0.001) by which we can conclude that the quantification of these enzymes can be useful as a diagnostic tool in cases of perinatal asphyxia.