Early House Dust Mite Sensitivity in Mumbai Children.

OBJECTIVE: To identify house dust mite (HDM) sensitivity by skin prick test in children with allergic rhinitis, allergic wheezing and eczema. METHODS: In this prospective study, children with persistent or recurrent allergic symptoms of rhinitis, wheezing and eczema were enrolled to undergo skin prick testing. Sensitivity was checked for three mites: Dermatophagoide farinae, Dermatophagoide pteronyssinus, and Blomia tropicalis. RESULTS: Total 92 children underwent skin prick test; 49 (53.2 %) showed significant positivity to one or more dust mite. In the HDM sensitized group, a positive family history of allergic disorders was present in 32 children (65.3 %). In the HDM sensitized group, 18 (36.7 %) children had allergic rhinitis. The youngest child in this group was 12-mo-old. Ten (55.55 %) children were less than 24 mo of age. Significant sensitization to mites was detected in 7 (14.28 %) children with eczema. All children were below 24 mo of age. In children with a tendency to wheeze frequently without any evidence of infections or other systemic disease, 24 (48.9 %) had sensitization to HDM. The youngest child was 15 mo of age. Ten (41.6 %) children were below 24 mo of age. Sensitivity to Blomia tropicalis was detected in 6 (12.24 %) children. Significantly more number of children were sensitive to D. pteronyssinus as compared to D. farinae (65.31 % vs. 46.94 %; p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Children in Mumbai show early sensitization to HDM. D. pteronyssinus is the commonest offending allergen in the index study.

Management of giardiasis by a herbal drug 'Pippali Rasayana': a clinical study.

Pippali Rasayana (PR), an Indian ayurvedic drug prepared from Palash (Butea monosperma (Lamk) Kuntze; Leguminaceae) and Pippali (Piper longum L.; Piperaceae), was administered at a dose of 1 g p.o. three times daily for a period of 15 days to patients (25 treated, 25 placebo controls) suffering from giardiasis with clinical signs and symptoms, and stools positive for trophozoites/cysts of Giardia lamblia. After 15 days of drug treatment there was a complete disappearance of G. lamblia (trophozoites/cysts) from the stools of 23 out of 25 patients. General signs and symptoms of ill health and abdominal discomfort, presence of mucus, pus cells and RBCs were significantly reduced. There was a marked improvement in the clinical and haematological profile of the patients. Spontaneous recovery in 20% cases was recorded in placebo controls.

Allergen specific immunotherapy in nasobronchial allergy.

BACKGROUND: More than one antigen has been used for immunotherapy of allergic disorders. So far less than five antigens have been employed with variable results. AIM: To evaluate effect of multiple antigens up to six in the immunotherapy of nasobronchial allergy. SETTING AND DESIGN: Based on clinical history, symptoms present for at least 3 years with set criteria of immunomodulation for asthma and rhinitis: documented IgE mediated asthma and rhinitis, failure in allergen avoidance and moderate to severe clinical manifestations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five hundred cases of various allergic disorders attending allergy clinic of Bombay hospital were screened. Allergen specific immunotherapy was initiated in 131 subjects (56 -rhinitis and 75 asthma) with prior consent. Patients suffering from allergic disorders secondary to diseases or drug therapy were excluded. Multiple allergen immunotherapy was given at specific intervals up to a period of one year. Allergen extracts were prepared as per standard technique. For statistical analysis "students't test" was used. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvement in PEFR, reduction in skin sensitivity to allergens used in immunotherapy formulation and symptomatic relief without any untoward reaction show that multiple allergen immunotherapy is as effective as monoallergen immunotherapy in nasobronchial allergy.

Changes in humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and in skin and respiratory surfaces of catfish, Saccobranchus fossilis, following copper exposure.

Immunologic responses and stereoscan analysis of the skin and gill surfaces were performed in the air-breathing catfish, Saccobranchus fossilis (Bloch) following sublethal exposure to copper. At 0.056, 0.1, and 0.32 mg/liter of Cu, a dose-dependent decrease in red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin content, and packed cell volume values were observed at the end of experiment, i.e., 28 days. Fish exposed to Cu concentrations had lower antibody titer values, reduced numbers of splenic and kidney plaque-forming cells, and higher counts of splenic lymphocytes when compared to the control group. Cellular immune responses were evaluated by the rejection of eye allografts. Fish exposed to 0.32 mg/liter for 28 days showed 2-3 days delay in the eye-allograft rejection. Reduced phagocytic activity against sheep red blood cells was observed in Cu-treated fish. Exposure to 0.32 mg/liter of Cu for 7 days causes surface architectural abnormalities in the arrangement of microvilli on the surface of superficial epidermal cells of the skin. Hypersecretion of mucous, loss of shape, size, and structural arrangement of epidermal cells, and mucous goblet cells were observed following Cu exposure. An increased number of active tubular dilated mucous cells were also noticed. Accumulation of mucous suggests a molecular interaction between mucous glycoproteins and toxic Cu ions. Fish exposed to 0.32 mg/liter for 7 days showed edema, fusion of secondary gill lamellae at many places, and degeneration of epithelial cells. Marked ultrastructural alterations in the arrangement of microridges and intervening grooves of gill lamellae were noted. It is suggested that these degenerative changes in gill lamellae are responsible for respiratory and osmoregulatory dysfunction.

A pollen analytical study of some honeys from karwar, karnataka.

Pollen analysis of some medicinaly used honey sample from Karwar has been done. Sapindus, Mangifera and Syzygium have been noted as the principal honey yielding plants in the region. It has also been observed that the names given to various honeys after those of respective plants do not corroborate with their pollen composition.

Mini incision live donor nephrectomy: an optimal approach for the developing countries.

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LD) is rapidly gaining popularity, however, this may not be affordable by donors in many developing countries because of its high cost. We describe our mini flank incision (MD) donor nephrectomy technique and its outcome. METHODS: A 7-10-cm subcostal rib sparing transverse incision was given 2 cm lateral to the tip of the 12th rib, towards the lateral border of rectus muscle. All dissections were performed with help of long retractors and instruments, vessels were transfixed and cut. In last 45 cases, vessels were clipped with Liga or Weck clips. Donors and recipients outcome was analysed. RESULT: From January 2000 to December 2002 a total of 148 patients underwent donor nephrectomy by mini incision technique. Mean patient age was 44.8 +/- 7.3 yr (range 20-70 yr). Nephrectomies were performed in 115 patients on the left side and in 33 cases on the right side. The mean incision length was 9.1 +/- 1.8 cm (range 7-10 cm). Mean operative time was 105 +/- 10.5 min (70-130 min). Mean analgesic (Tramadol) requirement was 205 +/- 52 mg; postoperative hospital stay was 2.2 +/- 0.5 d. Twelve per cent patients developed fever and 4% had superficial wound infection in postoperative period. Three patients required blood transfusion. Mean convalescence period was 22 +/- 2.8 d. CONCLUSION: Extrapleural, extraperitoneal, subcostal mini incisions live donor nephrectomy is a relatively safe procedure with low morbidity. This technique has a shorter hospital stay, early convalescence and better cosmesis. It is cost-effective and is an ideal substitute for the developing country.

Effects of chromium on humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and host resistance to disease in a freshwater catfish, Saccobranchus fossilis (Bloch).

The effects of subtoxic levels of Cr on humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, blood parameters, susceptibility to bacterial (Aeromonas hydrophila) infection, and macrophage activity in the freshwater air-breathing Asian catfish, Saccobranchus fossilis, during a 28-day exposure were examined by a static bioassay test procedure. At 0.1, 1.0, and 3.2 mg / liter Cr, dose-dependent Cr accumulation in kidney, liver, and spleen was observed at the end of the experiment. Chromium exposure caused a significant change in spleen to body weight ratio. Fish exposed to Cr concentrations had lower antibody titer values, reduced numbers of splenic and kidney plaque-forming cells, and higher counts of splenic lymphocytes but reduced counts of kidney cells when compared with the control group. At 0.1, 1.0, and 3.2 mg /liter Cr, dose-dependent decreases in red blood cell counts, hemoglobin content, and packed cell volume were observed. Differential leukocyte counts revealed that Cr exposure caused a significant decrease in large and small lymphocytes, whereas neutrophils and thrombocytes increased. Effects of Cr exposure to mitogen (Con A) on proliferation of splenic and pronephric lymphocytes suggests a decrease in mitogenic response. The eye-allograft rejection time, as a parameter of cell-mediated immunity, was statistically increased at 1.0 and 3.2 mg/liter Cr. Fish exposed to Cr for 28 days exhibited higher susceptibility to A. hydrophila infection than control fish. The results suggest that Cr exposure reduced the resistance of catfish to bacterial infections. The phagocytic activity of splenic and pronephros macrophages was examined in vitro and found to be significantly decreased.

Antigiardial and immunostimulatory effect of Piper longum on giardiasis due to Giardia lamblia.

Piper longum fruit, used in traditional remedies as well as in the Ayurvedic system of medicine against intestinal disorders, was tested for its efficacy against experimental infection of Giardia lamblia in mice. On in vitro test, an aqueous extract of P. longum fruit powder (PF) at 250 microg/mL and its ethanol extract at 125 microg/mL showed 100% giardicidal activity. A low order activity was found in the n-butanol extract. Further fractionation in hexane and chloroform resulted in a total loss of activity. The survival of-trophozoites in mice at 900 mg/kg body weight was 11.12 in PF, 8. 54 in aqueous extract, 5.81 in ethanol extract. The antigiardial activity of PF in hexane, chloroform and n-butanol soluble fractions was comparable to the drug-untreated control (47.63). Piper longum possessed a demonstrable immunostimulatory activity, both specific and nonspecific, as evident from the standard test parameters such as haemagglutination titre (HA), plaque forming cell (PFC) counts, macrophage migration index (MMI) and phagocytic index (PI). A maximum effect was found at 225 mg/kg body weight in mice. The effect was marginally reduced at higher doses of 450 and 900 mg/kg or the lower dose of 112.5 mg/kg.