Measurement of aeroallergens from furnace filters.

BACKGROUND: Exposure assessment is an important component of allergic disease diagnosis and management. Analysis for allergen content in vacuumed dust has been used traditionally. OBJECTIVE: To study allergen levels of dust taken from high-efficiency furnace filters in Midwestern homes. METHODS: Furnace filters used were FQT12 1-inch disposable filters with high-efficiency media placed in homes enrolled in the Kansas City Safe and Healthy Homes Project. Dust was removed from the filters by vacuuming. Fungal culture was used to obtain counts of viable spores. Aeroallergens Fel d1, Can f1, Mus m1, Der f1, Der p1, and Bla g2 and antigenic material from Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium species were measured using commercially available immunoassay materials. RESULTS: Sixty filters were recovered from 56 homes after an average 135 days in situ. Mean weight of dust recovered was 2.43 g and correlated well with the time the filter was in place. Viable spore counts ranged to 4.8 × 10(7) per gram of dust. Mean fungal antigenic material ranged to 42 µg per gram for Cladosporium species. Mean aeroallergen material ranged to 7 µg per gram for Fel d1. Aeroallergen measurements were above the level of detection in 100% of houses for Fel d1 and 89% of houses for Bla g2. Levels of Fel d1 and Can f1 were strongly positively correlated. CONCLUSION: Allergens from 5 common aeroallergen species and antigenic material from 4 common fungal taxa can be measured in dust taken from high-efficiency furnace filters.

A comparison of subject room dust with home vacuum dust for evaluation of dust-borne aeroallergens.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of indoor allergen is valuable in exposure research and evaluation of allergic individuals. Collection methods range from grab vacuum samples to filtration devices located in the breathing range of an individual. For practical purposes, many research studies use analysis of collected house dust to evaluate allergen reservoirs. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that house dust collected from the family vacuum is equivalent to house dust collected by a technician following standard protocol. METHODS: Homes from a healthy homes demonstration project (n = 41) were sampled using a specific Department of Housing and Urban Development-suggested protocol in the bedroom of the child with asthma and a simple grab procedure from the family vacuum. Samples were evaluated for the presence of 5 allergens, Bla g2, Can f1, Der f1, and Der p1 combined as total mite, Fel d1, and Mus m1. Samples were also evaluated for total antigenic protein from 4 fungal taxa, including Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium. RESULTS: All of the allergens and antigens tested showed good correlation between the 2 collection methods. Fungal antigens ranged up to 92,651 nanograms per gram of dust for Aspergillus, and allergens ranged up to 17,928 nanograms per gram of dust for Can f1. The best correlation was for Cladosporium (r = 0.91), and the weakest was for dust mite (r = 0.34). CONCLUSION: Allergens and antigens tested from samples collected by protocol and by grab sampling from the home vacuum were highly positively correlated. Grab samples taken from the family vacuum may be a good surrogate for evaluating home allergen exposure.

Low-cost interventions improve indoor air quality and children's health.

Intervention in the home environment to reduce asthma triggers theoretically improves health outcomes for asthmatic children. Practical benefit from application of these interventions has proven difficult. This single-blind study tested the effectiveness of simple low-cost home interventions in improving health scores of children with asthma. Families with at least one asthmatic child were recruited. Initial health examination, health, and home assessments were conducted and targeted interventions were implemented. Interventions included dehumidification, air filtration, furnace servicing, and high-efficiency furnace filters. When present, gross fungal contamination was remediated. Asthma education was provided along with education in healthy home practices. Follow-up assessments were conducted after 6 months. Health surveys were completed at enrollment and follow-up. This study enrolled 219 children with asthma. Home inspections and interventions were conducted in 181 homes and 83 families completed all phases. Reduction in asthma and allergy-related health scores was shown in follow-up health surveys. Health improvements were significant for cough when heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) service and dehumidification were used. Breathing problems were significantly improved for dehumidification, HVAC service, and room air cleaners. Total dust allergen load was reduced for the dehumidification group (p < 0.05). Mold spore counts were reduced one order of magnitude in 25% of the homes. Indoor spore counts adjusted for outdoor spore levels were reduced overall (p < 0.01). Simple low-cost interventions directed to producing cleaner indoor air coupled with healthy home education improve the indoor air quality and health in asthmatic children.

Traditional medicinal uses and biological activities of species of the genus Desmodium: a literature review / Usos medicinales tradicionales y actividades biológicas de las especies del género Desmodium: una revisión de la literatura

The genus Desmodium includes about 350 species, distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The objective of this review wa s to associate the traditional medicinal uses of the genus Desmodium with its biological activities reported in the scientific literature. Traditional medicinal uses and biological activities were described in 56 species. More than 100 traditional medicina l uses have been reported in 43 countries, highlighting the use in inflammatory, gastrointestinal and infectious processes, muscular pain, rheumatic, renal and hepatic affections. Among the 45 biological activities experimentally evaluated, antioxidant, an timicrobial, anti - inflammatory, hepatoprotective and antinociceptive were the most reported. The species with the highest number of studies were D. gangeticum, D. adscendens and D. styracifolium. In conclusion, several traditional medicinal uses have been experimentally supported, demonstrating the pharmacological potential of this genus.

El género Desmodium incluye alrededor de 350 especie s, distribuidas en regiones tropicales y subtropicales alrededor del mundo. El objetivo de esta revisión fue asociar los usos medicinales tradicionales del género Desmodium con sus actividades biológicas reportadas en la literatura científica. Los usos med icinales tradicionales y las actividades biológicas fueron descritos en 56 especies. Más de 100 usos medicinales tradicionales han sido reportados en 43 países, destacándose el uso en procesos inflamatorios, gastrointestinales e infecciosos, dolores muscul ares, reumáticos, afecciones renales y hepáticas. Dentro de las 45 actividades biológicas evaluadas experimentalmente, las más reportadas fueron la antioxidante, antimicrobiana, antiinflamatoria, hepatoprotectora y antinociceptiva. Las especies con mayor n úmero de estudios fueron D. gangeticum, D. adscendens y D. styracifolium. En conclusión, varios usos medicinales tradicionales han sido experimentalmente respaldados, demostrando el potencial farmacológico de este género.

Alternaria and Cladosporium Fungal Allergen Epitopes are Denatured by Sodium Hypochlorite.

BACKGROUND: : Fungal allergens are ubiquitous; however, little progress has been made understanding fungal allergenic material removal from indoor environments. PURPOSE: : We investigated removal of environmental allergenic material derived from Alternaria and Cladosporium using sodium hypochlorite in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: : Freeze dried allergen extract from Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium herbarum was treated with hypochlorite concentrations of 322, 88, 38, 16, 3, 0.3, and 0 mM, respectively. Remaining native allergenic material was quantified using enzyme immunoassay and remaining viable fungal material was evaluated. RESULTS: : The results of treating Alternaria or Cladosporium extract with sodium hypochlorite are immediate and obvious. Concentrations greater than 100 mM remove color and concentrations between 100 and 38 mM partially uncolored the extract. Immunoassay for total antigenic and allergenic material remaining after treatment with sodium hypochlorite including 2 concentrations recommended for killing fungus confirmed a general destruction of antigenic and allergenic material at concentrations of 38 mM or greater. CONCLUSIONS: : This work confirms the ability of solutions of sodium hypochlorite to denature fungal allergenic material from common outdoor and indoor fungi A. alternata and C. herbarum. Destruction of recognized antigenic and allergenic epitopes occurs at hypochlorite concentrations commonly used for household cleaning.

The impact of home cleaning on quality of life for homes with asthmatic children.

Treatment with common household bleach containing hypochlorite destroys dust mites and denatures protein allergens. The purpose of this study was to determine if home use of hypochlorite products results in lowered exposure to bacteria, fungi, and protein allergens and improved quality of life (QOL) for asthmatic persons in the home. Asthmatic and nonasthmatic households containing at least three persons (between 2 and 17 years of age) were recruited. Households were supplied one of three sets of cleaning products (regular products, some containing hypochlorite; regular products plus three additional products with dilute hypochlorite; control, no products). Participants were supplied with cleaning instructions and asthma education. The control group was instructed to clean as usual. Participants completed general health and QOL questionnaires. Asthmatic participants completed an additional asthma QOL questionnaire. Families participated in the study for 8 weeks and completed the full set of questions every 2 weeks. Homes were visited at the beginning of the study and twice thereafter at monthly intervals. Samples evaluated were surface bacteria, viable and nonviable airborne spores, and dust antigen content. Reductions in surface bacteria, airborne fungal spores, and dust antigen levels were achieved. Significant improvement in general health parameters was seen for the asthmatic product groups over the control group. Significant improvement in general QOL and asthma-specific QOL was seen in the asthmatic group. Emphasis on cleaning and cleaning education combined with hypochlorite-based cleaning supplies resulted in significantly improved QOL for families with asthmatic children.

IgE-reactive proteins from Stachybotrys chartarum.

BACKGROUND: Stachybotrys chartarum has been associated with idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage in infants. This is thought to be mycotoxin-related. There are increasing numbers of reports linking this fungus to the indoor environment of patients with other pulmonary problems, including allergies and asthma. OBJECTIVE: Given the potential significance of this fungus as a pulmonary pathogen, this work evaluates the antigenic proteins of S. chartarum as to their molecular size and the prevalence of immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG directed against them in the general population. METHODS: S. chartarum was isolated from a local home. S. chartarum for extract production was grown on minimum salts and glucose. Plasma from 132 healthy individuals was evaluated for IgE and IgG directed against S. chartarum using direct and inhibition enzyme immunoassay. The number and molecular size of those proteins that were bound by IgE from pooled sera known to contain IgE to S. chartarum were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblotting. RESULTS: Enzyme immunoassay indicated 65 of 132 (49.2%) sera tested contained IgG against S. chartarum and 13 of 139 (9.4%) sera tested contained IgE against S. chartarum. Pooled sera identified two IgE-binding proteins from extracts of S. chartarum spores and mycelia. These proteins are 34 and 52 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblot. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude sensitivity to S. chartarum is potentially much more widespread than previously appreciated. This fungus may impact the asthmatic and allergic population through both immunologic and toxic mechanisms. Its significance in the milieu of allergenic fungi may need to be re-evaluated.

Endometriosis: tratamiento con Danazol y análogos de la GnRH / Endometriosis: processing with Danazol and a of the GnRH

Expone que en el hospital del IESS de Guayaquil en el lapso comprendido de ene. 1994 a dic. 1996, en el Departamento de Gineco-Obstetricia se practicaron 104 laparoscopias, encontrándose en 65 pacientes endometriosis. El grupo de edad más afectado era de 30 a 39 años con 46 pacientes (70,76xcto). De los cuatro grados que se clasifica la endometriosis fuel el grado II el más alto con 22 pacientes (33,84 por ciento). La patología asociada más frecuente fue la infertilidad pura no asociada a otro síntoma en 24 pacientes (36,92 por ciento). Para el tratamiento se utilizaron análogos de la GnRH y Danazol encontrándose que después del tratamiento se embarazaron 4 pacientes de las cuales en 2 se utilizaron análogos y en otras 2 Danazol. Se realiza una segunda observación a 10 pacientes y se demuestra que los dos fármacos son eficaces disminuyendo las lesiones, cierta ventaja se demuestra con el Danazol porque posterior a la segunda observación se embarazó otra paciente a la que se le administró el medicamento en mención.