BACKGROUND Although nitric oxide (NO) has been found to have a role in gut inflammation and to modulate immunoglobulin production, little is known about its part in food hypersensitivities. AIM This study aimed to evaluate the role of NO through the inhibition of constitutive and inducible NO synthase (cNOS and iNOS respectively) on the sensitisation process (antibody titres) and on intestina...

The beneficial effects of high-altitude treatment in asthma have been attributed to allergen avoidance. Recent evidence shows that this treatment also improves airway inflammation in nonallergic patients. We hypothesised that high-altitude treatment is clinically equally effective in patients with severe refractory asthma, with or without allergic sensitisation. In a prospective observational c...

OBJECTIVES To assess the kind and frequency of sensitisation to aeroallergens (skin prick test - SPT) of asthmatic and non-asthmatic adolescents (13-14 years old) living in the city of Caruaru, Northeast of Brazil, and to analyse their exposure to some environmental factors. METHOD A case-control study was conducted with asthmatic (50) and non-asthmatic (150) adolescents diagnosed by the Inte...

The aim of the present study was to determine whether systemic sensitisation and chronic aeroallergen challenge in macaques replicate the classical and emerging immunology and molecular pathology of human asthma. Macaques were immunised and periodically challenged over 2 yrs with house dust mite allergen. At key time-points, serum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and bronchial biopsies were assaye...

We previously developed the human cell-line activation test (h-CLAT) in vitro skin sensitisation test, based on our reported finding that a 24-hour exposure of THP-1 cells (a human monocytic leukaemia cell line) to sensitisers is sufficient to induce the augmented expression of CD86 and CD54. The aim of this study is to confirm the predictive value of h-CLAT for skin sensitisation activity by e...

Abstract Radiotherapy can effectively kill malignant cells, but the doses required to cure cancer patients may inflict severe collateral damage adjacent healthy tissues. Recent technological advances in clinical application has revitalized hyperthermia treatment (HT) as an option improve radiotherapy (RT) outcomes. Understanding synergistic effect of simultaneous thermoradiotherapy via mathemat...

A case is reported of cardiac arrest in a young man after an armoured vehicle rollover accident. The proposed mechanism of death is myocardial sensitisation to endogenous catecholamines after exposure to petroleum fuel.

An evaluation of the sensitivity and the specificity of the Anisakis simplex antigens purified by affinity chromatography was performed using sera from patients diagnosed with Anisakis sensitisation and sera from patients previously diagnosed with different helminthic infections. Only the sera of the patients diagnosed with Schistosoma mansoni or Onchocerca volvulus parasitic infections were ne...

Introduction Myofascial Trigger Points (TrPs) are a common source of musculoskeletal pain presenting in primary care. General practitioners frequently refer these patients to physiotherapy departments for treatment. Identifying TrPs requires training and clinical expertise. Whilst British undergraduate medical and physiotherapy training does not include TrP identification, substantial literatur...

Exposure to endotoxin has been associated with increased respiratory symptoms and decrements in lung function in occupational settings but little is known about the health effects of domestic exposure in adults. Here, we describe the association of respiratory disease, immunoglobulin (Ig)E sensitisation, bronchial reactivity and lung function with mattress endotoxin levels in adults, and determ...