A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study of Cat saliva 9cH and Histaminum 9cH in cat allergic adults.

BACKGROUND: Cat allergy is an abnormal immune response by the body to cat dander or saliva, leading to the development of a complex of symptoms which can negatively influence health. Cat saliva 9cH and Histaminum 9cH are indicated, according to isopathic principles, for the treatment of cat allergy, however no research has been done to date. AIM: To determine the effect of Cat saliva 9cH and Histaminum 9cH (combined) on cat allergic adults. METHOD: 30 Participants with a positive test result for a cat allergy skin prick test (SPT) were recruited to a double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled clinical trial. Participants took two tablets twice daily for 4 weeks, and attended a follow-up consultation at the end of weeks 2 and 4. The measurement tool used was the SPT, conducted at the beginning and at the end of the study. RESULTS: Cat saliva 9cH and Histaminum 9cH produced a highly statistically significant reduction in the wheal diameter of the cat allergen SPT at the end of week 4. The placebo group showed no statistically significant change. CONCLUSION: The homeopathic medicine reduced the sensitivity reaction of cat allergic adults to cat allergen, according to the SPT. Future studies are warranted to further investigate the effect of Cat saliva and Histaminum and their role as a potential therapeutic option for this condition.

Oral fluid as a specimen for detection and confirmation of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Paired serum and oral fluid specimens (n = 287) were collected with the Omni-Sal device and were assayed for the presence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs)--Abbott 3A11, an Organon Teknika Corporation research-use-only test, and the Murex GACELISA--were used per the manufacturers' inserts or were modified slightly to accommodate the oral fluid specimens. Compared with serum Western blot (immunoblot) results, each EIA had a sensitivity of 100% and the specificities were 89.6% for the Abbott 3A11 EIA, 96.5% for the GACELISA, and 97.8% for the Organon Teknika Corporation EIA. Specificities based on specimens that were repeatedly reactive were 99.3% for all EIAs. A miniaturized Western blot technique used for confirmatory testing of both the serum and oral fluid specimens found 149 of the 287 samples to be HIV-1 antibody positive in both sample types. The Western blot banding patterns observed for the serum and oral fluid specimens were essentially identical. Immunoglobulin G concentrations were determined for all oral fluid specimens and ranged from < 0.5 to > 40.0 micrograms/ml. Immunoglobulin G concentrations did not correlate with the ability of any of the EIAs to detect HIV-1-specific antibody or with the ability of the modified Western blot to detect HIV-1 protein-specific antibodies.

Detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in oral fluids: a large-scale evaluation of immunoassay performance.

Paired serum and oral-fluid (OF) specimens (n = 4,448) were collected from blood donors and patients attending local sexually transmitted disease clinics in Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas and were tested for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antibodies. Sera were tested by Abbott AB HIV-1/HIV-2 (rDNA) enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and positive specimens were confirmed by Cambridge HIV-1 and HIV-2 Western blotting (WB). OF specimens were collected with the OraSure collection device and were tested by Murex GACELISA and by two EIAs from Organon Teknika (the Oral Fluid Vironostika HIV-1 Microelisa System [OTC-L] and the Vironostika HIV-1 Microelisa System [OTC-M]). EIA-reactive OF specimens were confirmed by miniaturized WB (OFWB). GACELISA detected all 474 HIV-1 seropositive specimens (sensitivity, 100%). OTC-L detected 470 positive specimens (sensitivity, 99.2%), while OTC-M detected 468 positive specimens (sensitivity, 98.8%). Specificities ranged from 99.2 to 100% for the three assays. Concordance of OFWB with serum WB was 99.4%, and banding patterns determined by the two methods were similar. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration of OF specimens ranged from 0.21 to 100 microg/ml, with a mean of 17.1 microg/ml. Significant differences in OF IgG concentrations were observed between HIV antibody-positive and HIV antibody-negative persons (31.94 versus 15.28 microg/ml, respectively [P < 0.0001]). These data further confirm the suitability of OF specimens for detection of HIV-1 antibodies. Currently available HIV-1 antibody assays provide sensitivities and specificities with OF specimens comparable to those achieved with serum specimens.

PIP: The use of oral fluid (OF) as a specimen for detecting antibodies to infectious agents has become increasingly popular since the approach was first described in the 1980s. OF is a mixture of saliva, mucosal and bacterial products, and gingival crevicular fluid. 4448 paired serum and OF specimens collected from 4448 blood donors and patients attending 3 sexually transmitted disease clinics in Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas were tested for the presence of HIV-1 antibodies. The sera were tested by Abbott AB HIV-1/HIV-2 (rDNA) enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and positive specimens were confirmed by Cambridge HIV-1 and HIV-2 Western blotting (WB). OF specimens were collected using the OraSure collection device and were tested by Murex GACELISA and 2 EIAs from Organon Teknika (OTC-L and OTC-M). EIA-reactive OF specimens were confirmed by miniaturized WB (OFWB). GACELISA detected all 474 HIV-1 seropositive specimens, OTC-L detected 470 positive specimens, and OTC-M detected 468 positive specimens. Specificities were 99.2-100% for the three assays. There was a 99.4% concordance of OFWB with serum WB, and banding patterns determined by the two methods were similar. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration of OF specimens was 0.21-100 mcg/ml, with a mean of 17.1 mcg/ml. Significant differences in OF IgG concentrations were observed between HIV antibody-positive and HIV antibody-negative persons. These data support the suitability of OF specimens for detecting HIV-1 antibodies. Currently available HIV-1 antibody assays provide sensitivities and specificities with OF specimens comparable to those achieved with serum specimens.