Correlation between skin tests to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides siboney and Blomia tropicalis in Cuban asthmatics.

BACKGROUND: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides siboney and Blomia tropicalis are the most important allergenic mites in Cuba. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of polysensitization and correlation of the skin prick test (SPT) reaction size to these mites in asthmatic patients. METHODS: A total of 232 adult patients with asthmatic symptoms caused by house dust and positive SPT to at least one mite were included. Standardized allergenic extracts were used in SPT. RESULTS: A total of 88.4% of patients were positive to D. siboney, 87.1% to D. pteronyssinus, and 68.1% to B. tropicalis. Sensitization to Dermatophagoides species was predominant, demonstrated by the fact that 31.9% of patients showed positive SPT to either D. siboney or D. pteronyssinus only, whereas only 5.6% was sensitized solely to B. tropicalis. Nevertheless, most patients (58.6%) were polysensitized to the 3 species. The mean wheal size produced by the different allergens in positive patients was similar (n.s. p > 0.05). Reaction size was strongly correlated (r = 0.71, p = 5.3 x 10-09) between D. siboney and D. pteronyssinus, whereas no significant correlation was found between D. pteronyssinus or D. siboney and B. tropicalis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the need to include the 3 allergens in diagnostic panels and for combined allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Correlation between skin tests to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides siboney and Blomia tropicalis in Cuban asthmatics / Correlación entre las pruebas cutáneas para dermatophagoides pteronissinus, dermatophagoides siboney y blomia tropicales en asmáticos cubanos

Background: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides siboney and Blomia tropicalis are the most important allergenic mites in Cuba. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of polysensitization and correlation of the skin prick test (SPT) reaction size to these mites in asthmatic patients. Methods: A total of 232 adult patients with asthmatic symptoms caused by house dust and positive SPT to at least one mite were included. Standardized allergenic extracts were used in SPT. Results: A total of 88.4 % of patients were positive to D. siboney, 87.1 % to D. pteronyssinus, and 68.1 % to B. tropicalis. Sensitization to Dermatophagoides species was predominant, demonstrated by the fact that 31.9 % of patients showed positive SPT to either D. siboney or D. pteronyssinus only, whereas only 5.6 % was sensitized solely to B. tropicalis. Nevertheless, most patients (58.6 %) were polysensitized to the 3 species. The mean wheal size produced by the different allergens in positive patients was similar (n.s. p > 0.05). Reaction size was strongly correlated (r = 0.71, p = 5.3 x 10­ 09) between D. siboney and D. pteronyssinus, whereas no significant correlation was found between D. pteronyssinus or D. siboney and B. tropicalis. Conclusions: The results of this study support the need to include the 3 allergens in diagnostic panels and for combined allergen-specific immunotherapy

Antecedentes: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pteronyssinus), Dermatophagoides siboney (D. siboney) y Blomia tropicalis (B. tropicalis) son los ácaros domésticos más frecuentes en Cuba. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar la correlación entre la prueba cutánea por punción para D. pteronyssinus, D. siboney y B. tropicales. Métodos y resultados: Se incluyó a 232 asmáticos mayores de 15 años (mujeres: 62% y hombres: 38%), con alergia al polvo doméstico. Los pacientes incluidos provenían de la consulta de alergología en un período de 3 meses. Las pruebas cutáneas por punción se realizaron con extractos alergénicos de D. pteronyssinus, D. siboney y B. tropicales. La mediana de la reacción cutánea a D. siboney fue de 23,8 mm², superior a la registrada para los otros ácaros, aunque la diferencia no fue estadísticamente significativa (p > 0,05). El coeficiente de correlación para la respuesta cutánea entre D. pteronyssinus y D. siboney fue 0,71 (p = 5,3 x 10-09); mientras que entre los Dermatophagoides y B. tropicales fue 0,05). Conclusiones: Se demostró que hay una alta correlación entre la prueba cutánea por punción para D. pteronyssinus y D. siboney; pero no ocurre así con B. tropicales. Por lo tanto, sería recomendable la realización de las pruebas cutáneas por punción con los tres extractos simultáneamente

Angiogenic capacity of human omental stem cells.

OBJECTIVES: The goals of the present study are to obtain, expand and characterize a stem cell population from human omentum and to evaluate its in vivo angiogenic capacities. METHODS: Human omental CD34+ cells were obtained from samples of human omentum by density gradient centrifugation in Ficoll. Proliferative pattern, marker expression (by flow cytometry) and angiogenic growth factor synthesis by omental cell cultures were determined. In vivo angiogenic capacity of the cells was evaluated in rats. RESULTS: Omental stem cells showed a high rate of proliferation (Ki67 staining), expressed CD34 marker and synthesized bFGF and VEGF. When implanted in rats, omental cells promoted neovascularization. Human omental cells were localized in rat tissue, mainly forming the endothelium of neo-vessels. Implantation of omental cells also facilitated angiogenesis of rat origin. CONCLUSION: CD34+ cell population of human omentum could be responsible for the clinical benefit of omental transplantation by promoting angiogenesis and synthesizing angiogenic growth factors to facilitate revascularization of injured tissue.