To investigate the process of eosinophil recruitment in atopic dermatitis (AD), patch testing with crude dust-mite allergens was performed on normal-appearing skin of 9 adult AD patients with high levels of mite-specific IgE antibodies. Positive reactions were observed in 6 AD subjects, whereas 0 of 7 control subjects showed positive reactions to mite allergens. Positive reaction sites were bio...

One of the limitations in the use of induced sputum to measure indices of airway inflammation is the perceived need to process the sample within 2 h. Therefore, the authors investigated whether the processing of induced sputum could be delayed. Induced sputum samples obtained from asthmatic subjects (n=30) were examined. Each sample was stored at 4 degrees C. A portion was selected and processe...

Host defense against invading pathogens is of great importance to the survival of higher organisms. We have been studying the evolution of mammalian eosinophil-associated ribonucleases (EARs), which are members of the ribonuclease A superfamily with known antipathogen activities. Earlier studies showed that positive selection promoted rapid diversification of paralogous EAR genes in both primat...

BACKGROUND Exposure and sensitization to pet allergens are associated with allergic asthma in children. Conflicting data have emerged regarding the potential benefit of air cleaners with respect to a reduction of indoor pet allergens and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). METHODS In a randomized controlled trial 36 asthmatic children with sensitization to cat and/or dog and significant expo...

Despite full effective treatment, asthmatic patients often present with poorly controlled asthma. Airway eosinophilia is associated with asthma, but its relationship with asthma control is still undetermined. To investigate the relationship between airway eosinophilia and asthma control, cellular and biochemical markers of airway inflammation were measured in 19 subjects with poorly controlled ...

To explore the mechanisms underlying the eosinophil-mediated inflammation of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, serum, and supernatants from pulmonary and blood leukocytes (WBC) from patients with acute TPE (n = 6) were compared with those obtained from healthy uninfected individuals (n = 4) and from patients with asthma (n = 4) or elephantiasis (n = 5). ...

Our previous study in CHEST (November 1997)1 reported that there are detectable and increased levels of cytotoxic eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in the BAL fluid of lung transplant patients with acute allograft rejection, bacterial infection, or cytomegalovirus disease, compared with well, disease-free lung transplant recipients. One possible mecha¬ nism of the activation of eosinophils duri...

Mass drug administration (MDA) programmes against Onchocerca volvulus use ivermectin (IVM) which targets microfilariae (MF), the worm's offspring. Most infected individuals are hyporesponsive and present regulated immune responses despite high parasite burden. Recently, with MDA programmes, the existence of amicrofilaridermic (a-MF) individuals has become apparent but little is known about thei...

BACKGROUND The efficacy of montelukast (MONT), a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, in nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB), especially its influence on cough associated life quality is still indefinite. We evaluated the efficacy of MONT combined with budesonide (BUD) as compared to BUD monotherapy in improving life quality, suppressing airway eosinophilia and cough remission in ...

CA Corresponding Author Te l: 61–2-93514434 Fax : 61–2-93514391 E-mail: [email protected] EOSINOPHILS are present throughout the airw ay w all of as thm atics . The nature of the interaction between human airw ay sm ooth m uscle cells (ASMC) and eosinophils w as in ve stigated in this s tudy. We dem onstrated, usin g light m icroscopy, that fr e shly iso lated eosinophils from healthy don...