Effect of sex and genotype of the host on the anthelmintic efficacy of albendazole microcrystals, in the CBi-IGE Trichinella infection murine model.

Albendazole (ABZ) is an anthelmintic pharmaceutical commonly used in the treatment of nematode infections. It is a Class II drug poorly water-soluble, with very low bioavailability, a feature particularly limiting to treat the trichinellosis chronic phase. Microcrystals obtained by controlled precipitation using hydroxyethyl cellulose and chitosan have previously been shown to improve ABZ biopharmaceutical properties. This investigation aimed to test the systems' in vivo efficacy in the CBi-IGE murine model of Trichinella spiralis infection in the infection's different phases and parasite' stages. Treatment in the enteral phase led to a 90% decrease in the larval muscle load, probably due to its effect on T. spiralis female fecundity. Both microcrystal systems given in the migratory phase halved muscle load in males, a response not observed in females. The chitosan-based microcrystals proved to be the best when administered in the chronic phase of the infection ­ an increased proportion of L1 dead larvae was found compared to controls, except in CBi+-treated females. Males and females from the highly susceptible CBi+ line presented a significantly different treatment response in this phase. In vivo efficacy depended on the host genotype and sex and was related to the parasite cycle stage in which the formulations were administered.

Pruebas dermatológicas con autosuero en pacientes alérgicos y en pacientes autistas y sus madres / Autoserum skin tests in allergic patients, and in autistic patients and their mothers

Introducción: las alergias se encuentran con frecuencia en pacientes autistas y asimismo el autismo muestra una gran presencia entre los pacientes alérgicos. Objetivo: demostrar que las alergias y el autismo comparten algunos patrones inmunológicos similares. Métodos: la prueba dermatológica con autosuero se utilizó para demostrar la presencia de anti-IgE y/o de anticuerpos de receptores de Ig/E (FcεRIα). Resultados: la prueba ASST confirmó la frecuencia similar de positivos/positivos y de negativos/negativos en pacientes alérgicos y en pacientes autistas. Estas similitudes no existieron cuando se realizó la comparación con el grupo control. Se había hallado una correlación positiva con los resultados obtenidos en pacientes autistas y sus madres. Conclusiones: los pacientes autistas y los pacientes alérgicos comparten ciertas similitudes inmunológicas. Ambos se diferencian del grupo de controles sin estas condiciones. Resulta frecuente encontrar pacientes autistas con síntomas alérgicos y pacientes alérgicos con signos de autismo. Es motivo de análisis si los hallazgos inmunológicos representan un puente clínico entre ambos procesos. Asimismo se mostró una posible correlación genética entre los pacientes con autismo y sus madres(AU)

Introduction: allergies are frequently found among patients with autism and autism shows an increased frequency among the allergic patients. Objective: to demonstrate that allergies and autism share some similar immunological patterns. Methods: the autoserum skin test (ASST) was used to demonstrate the presence of anti-IgE and/or anti-IgE receptor antibodies (FcεRIα). Results: the ASST demonstrated similar frequency, positives/positives and negatives/negatives, considering allergic and autistic patients. These similarities didn't exist when comparing with the control group. A positive correlation had been found with the results of autistic patients and their mothers. Conclusions: autistic and allergic patients share some immunological similarities. Both differ from normal controls. It is not uncommon autistics with allergic symptoms and allergic patients with autism. If the immunological findings represent a clinical bridge between both processes, it is under discussion. Also it was demonstrated a possible genetic correlation between the patients with autism and their mothers(AU)

Asociación entre rinitis alérgica y asma / Association between allergic rhinitis and asthma

Se estudiaron 70 pacientes con edades comprendidas entre 2 y 12 años, provenientes del Hospital Universitario "Antonio Patricio de Alcalá" de Cumaná, Estado Sucre, con la finalidad de determinar la asociación entre asma y rinitis alérgica. El grupo estuvo compuesto por 50 niños alérgicos y 20 niños sanos de ambos sexos. A cada uno se le aplicó un cuestionario para identificar los síntomas que experimentaban con mayor frecuencia y se les realizó exámenes de laboratorio para la determinación de IgE total, cuantificación de eosinófilos absolutos en sangre y en moco nasal. El 72,0 por ciento de los niños alérgicos presentaron síntomas de rinitis alérgica y de asma simultáneamente, el 16,0 por ciento sólo presentó asma y el 12,0 por ciento rinitis alérgica. Se hallaron diferencias estadísticas altamente significativas (P<0,001); entre las variables IgE, contaje de eosinófilos en moco y eosinófilos absolutos del grupo alérgico con respecto a los controles. Se observó una correlación estadística altamente significativa (P<0,001) entre el contaje de eosinófilos en moco y sangre y la concentración sérica de IgE. Los resultados obtenidos respaldan la hipótesis de que el asma y la rinitis alérgica están asociadas y son manifestaciones de una misma entidad patológica

It were studied 70 patients between 2 and 12 years old, coming from Universitary Hospital "Antonio Patricio de Alcalá", from Cumaná, Sucre State, with the objective to determine the association between asthma and allergic rhinitis. The sample was composed of 50 allergic and 20 healthy children, of both sexes. To each one was applied a questionnaire to identify the most frequent symptoms and was realized laboratory tests to determine total IgE and absolute quantification of blood and nasal snot eosinophiles. 72 percent of allergic children had both allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms. 16 percent presented only asthma and 12 percent only allergic rhinitis. There were significant statistical differences (P<0.001) between the following variables: total IgE, counting of nasal snot and blood eosinophiles in the allergic sample with respect to the control sample. It was observed a highly significant statistical correlation (P<0.001) between counting of nasal snot and blood eosinophiles and serum levels of IgE. The results obtained reinforce the hypothesis that asthma and allergic rhinitis are associated and both are the manifestation from a similar pathological entity

Safety of anti-immunoglobulin E therapy with omalizumab in allergic patients at risk of geohelminth infection.

BACKGROUND: Although the role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in immunity against helminth parasites is unclear, there is concern that therapeutic antibodies that neutralize IgE (anti-IgE) may be unsafe in subjects at risk of helminth infection. OBJECTIVE: We conducted an exploratory study to investigate the safety of omalizumab (anti-IgE) in subjects with allergic asthma and/or perennial allergic rhinitis at high risk of intestinal helminth infection. The primary safety outcome was risk of infections with intestinal helminths during anti-IgE therapy. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 137 subjects (12-30 years) at high risk of geohelminth infection. All subjects received pre-study anthelmintic treatment, followed by 52 weeks' treatment with omalizumab or placebo. RESULTS: Of the omalizumab subjects 50% (34/68) experienced at least one intestinal geohelminth infection compared with 41% (28/69) of placebo subjects [odds ratio (OR) 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-2.95, one-sided P=0.14; OR (adjusted for study visit, baseline infection status, gender and age) 2.2 (0.94-5.15); one-sided P=0.035], providing some evidence for a potential increased incidence of geohelminth infection in subjects receiving omalizumab. Omalizumab therapy was well tolerated, and did not appear to be associated with increased morbidity attributable to intestinal helminths as assessed by clinical and laboratory adverse events, maximal helminth infection intensities and additional anthelmintic requirements. Time to first infection (OR 1.30, 95% CI 0.79-2.15, one-sided P=0.15) was similar between treatment groups. Infection severity and response to anthelmintics appeared to be unaffected by omalizumab therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In this exploratory study of allergic subjects at high risk of helminth infections, omalizumab therapy appeared to be safe and well tolerated, but may be associated with a modest increase in the incidence of geohelminth infection.