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Blood Eosinophil Counts (blood + eosinophil_count)
Selected AbstractsAge and sex as factors of response to RSV infections among those with previous history of wheezingPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2006Yoko Nagayama Although enhanced immune reaction caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in allergen-sensitized animal model has been reported, RSV illnesses in children already sensitized or having recurrent wheezing episodes have not been completely studied. In addition, the reason for male dominances in RSV infection at young ages was also inconclusive. Therefore, gender analysis in recurrent wheezing children with RSV infection can shed light on asthma pathogenesis. We studied the clinical features and the laboratory data of RSV infections in children who had recurrent wheezing histories. The subjects with RSV infection consisted of 98 boys and 58 girls. The children under 4 yr of age were 123 (78.8%) in number. Children with pneumonia were 78 and those with febrile episode were 119. Children above 1 yr of age were highly sensitized with mite antigen (75/96, 78.1%). The clinical symptoms and signs differed according to their ages. Children in each age group behaved differently in their immune reaction to RSV. Above all, 3-yr-old children deteriorated clinically during acute RSV infection, accompanied by transient elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and suppressed blood eosinophil counts. Clinical features differed in several points between boys and girls. In general, the white blood cell count and the CRP levels were higher in girls in every age group. Blood eosinophil counts at the acute illness were significantly higher in boys than girls aged 2 and 3< yr. Age and gender comparison in already sensitized children might suggest a clue to asthma pathogenesis. [source] Efficacy of prednisolone in children hospitalized for recurrent wheezingPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Tuomas Jartti Data on the efficacy of corticosteroids on respiratory picornavirus-induced wheezing are limited. To determine whether prednisolone is effective in rhinovirus- or enterovirus-induced recurrent wheezing, we conducted a controlled trial comparing oral prednisolone (2 mg/kg/day in three divided doses for 3 days) with placebo in hospitalized wheezing children and studied post hoc virus-specific efficacy in early wheezing (<3 episodes, reported elsewhere) and in recurrent wheezing (,3 episodes). Virus-negative children where excluded. Our primary endpoint was the time until children were ready for discharge. Secondary endpoints included oxygen saturation and exhaled nitric oxide during hospitalization, duration of symptoms, blood eosinophil count, and impulse oscillometry 2 wk after discharge, and occurrence of relapses during the following 2 months. Virus-specific effects were analyzed with interaction analysis in a multivariate regression model. During the study period, 661 patients were hospitalized, 293 randomized, and 59 were accepted in this analysis (mean age 2.6 yr, s.d. 1.3). Prednisolone did not significantly decrease the time until ready for discharge in all patients (prednisolone vs. placebo, medians, 18 vs. 24 h, p = 0.11). However, prednisolone decreased the time until ready for discharge in children with picornavirus infection (respectively, 12 vs. 24 h, p = 0.0022) and more specifically, in children with enterovirus infection (6 vs. 35 h, p = 0.0007). In the secondary endpoints, prednisolone decreased the duration of cough and dyspnea in rhinovirus-affected children (p = 0.033 for both). Prospectively designed clinical trial is needed to test the hypothesis that prednisolone reduces symptoms in picornavirus-affected wheezing children. [source] Serum antidiuretic hormone is elevated in relation to the increase in average total body transepidermal water loss in severe atopic dermatitisBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2005T. Aoki Summary Background, While elevation of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) (arginine vasopressin) levels in the serum has been reported in severe atopic dermatitis (AD), the cause is as yet unexplained. On the other hand, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is known to increase in the damaged skin due to AD. Objectives, As ADH increases as a result of dehydration of the body, this study examined whether the high ADH level in severe AD is a reaction to the increased water loss through the entire body skin surface area. Methods, Forty-eight patients of different ages and with various degrees of AD along with six age- and sex-matched control persons were the study subjects. Using a quick responsive evaporimeter, an average total body TEWL (ATEWL) value was obtained for each subject. Laboratory tests including ADH, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and peripheral blood eosinophil count (EOS) were also performed. Clinical severity grading was made globally. The relevancy of this grading was empirically demonstrated by its statistically significant relation to LDH and EOS which are commonly known as appropriate gauges for AD severity. Results, ATEWL was observed to be significantly greater in patients with AD of at least moderate severity than in normal controls, and ADH was significantly greater in patients with severe and very severe AD. Both ATEWL and ADH showed a significant relation to AD severity. Finally, a significant correlation was found between ADH and ATEWL. Conclusions, It is possible that elevated ADH is at least in part a reaction to increased ATEWL. [source] The bronchial response to mannitol is attenuated by a previous methacholine test: but not vice versaCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 7 2009E. Gade Summary Aim To examine the airway response to inhaled mannitol performed before or after a methacholine challenge test in a group of asthmatics with different levels of disease. Methods A total of 48 asthmatics, 18,73 years of age, were included in the study. Two pairs of challenges were performed in a random order on two separate days 24 h apart: either with mannitol performed first on day one, followed 1 h by methacholine, and methacholine as the first on day two, followed 1 h by mannitol or vice versa. A questionnaire-based interview was performed and lung function, exhaled nitric oxide, skin prick test, and blood eosinophil count were measured. Results A total of 44% of the asthmatics used inhaled corticosteroids and 48% were atopic. The airway response to mannitol was attenuated when mannitol was given after methacholine, compared with the response to mannitol when it was given first [log response dose ratio (RDR): 1.42 vs. 1.60 (P=0.004)], whereas the response to methacholine was unchanged in the opposite test order [log RDR: 0.81 vs. 0.96 (P=0.102)]. Conclusion Bronchial challenges with inhaled mannitol and methacholine may be performed on the same day but provocation with mannitol should be performed before methacholine. [source] Age and sex as factors of response to RSV infections among those with previous history of wheezingPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2006Yoko Nagayama Although enhanced immune reaction caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in allergen-sensitized animal model has been reported, RSV illnesses in children already sensitized or having recurrent wheezing episodes have not been completely studied. In addition, the reason for male dominances in RSV infection at young ages was also inconclusive. Therefore, gender analysis in recurrent wheezing children with RSV infection can shed light on asthma pathogenesis. We studied the clinical features and the laboratory data of RSV infections in children who had recurrent wheezing histories. The subjects with RSV infection consisted of 98 boys and 58 girls. The children under 4 yr of age were 123 (78.8%) in number. Children with pneumonia were 78 and those with febrile episode were 119. Children above 1 yr of age were highly sensitized with mite antigen (75/96, 78.1%). The clinical symptoms and signs differed according to their ages. Children in each age group behaved differently in their immune reaction to RSV. Above all, 3-yr-old children deteriorated clinically during acute RSV infection, accompanied by transient elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and suppressed blood eosinophil counts. Clinical features differed in several points between boys and girls. In general, the white blood cell count and the CRP levels were higher in girls in every age group. Blood eosinophil counts at the acute illness were significantly higher in boys than girls aged 2 and 3< yr. Age and gender comparison in already sensitized children might suggest a clue to asthma pathogenesis. [source] High-sensitivity C-reactive protein: A predicative marker in severe asthmaRESPIROLOGY, Issue 5 2008Fen-Hong QIAN Background and objective: Serum levels of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) are associated with asthma but the relationship between higher levels of hs-CRP and the degree of asthma severity remains unclear. This study investigated whether hs-CRP is associated with asthma severity as well as with other clinical indices of asthma activity (pulmonary function, total serum IgE, and peripheral blood eosinophil counts). Methods: Levels of hs-CRP and clinical indices of asthma were determined among 177 control subjects and 281 asthmatic patients (84 intermittent, 30 mild, 63 moderate and 104 severe). Results: The level of hs-CRP was examined as both a continuous variable and by quartiles (<0.23, 0.23,0.51, 0.51,1.42 and ,1.42 mg/L) in the five groups. Compared with the first quartile of hs-CRP, patients with higher levels were at increased risk of severe asthma independently of other clinical indices (adjusted OR 3.49, 95% CI: 1.51,8.12 for the third quartile; adjusted OR 6.46, 95% CI: 2.85,16.62 for fourth quartile, respectively). Conclusions: These findings suggest that hs-CRP might be a sensitive marker for severe asthma. [source] Bronchial hyper-responsiveness to hypertonic saline and blood eosinophilic markers in 8,13-year-old schoolchildrenCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 8 2004G. De Meer Summary Background In adult asthma, bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) to indirect stimuli reflects eosinophilic activation more closely than BHR to stimuli that directly cause smooth muscle contraction. Aim To assess the relationship between BHR to the indirect stimulus hypertonic saline (HS), blood eosinophil numbers, and serum eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in children with and without current wheeze. Methods A cross-sectional survey among 8,13-year-old schoolchildren, using the International Study of Asthma and Allergic disease in Childhood questionnaire, bronchial challenge with HS, skin prick tests, serum IgE, blood eosinophil counts and ECP (in a subset). Based upon the presence of current wheeze (WHE) and BHR, we defined three case groups (WHE+BHR+, WHE,BHR+, WHE+BHR,) and the reference group (WHE,BHR,). By regression analyses, each case group was compared with the reference group for differences in atopic sensitization, blood eosinophil counts and serum ECP. Results Complete data were obtained for 470 children. BHR was present in 103 children (22%), 66 being asymptomatic and 37 symptomatic. Children of all three case groups were more often atopic. Sensitization to indoor allergens particularly occurred in children with BHR, irrespective of symptoms (P<0.05). Children with WHE+BHR+ had highest values for blood eosinophils and serum ECP (P<0.05). Children with WHE,BHR+ had less severe responsiveness. In atopic children with WHE,BHR+, serum ECP was higher than in children with WHE-BHR-(P<0.05). Conclusions BHR to HS is associated with blood markers of eosinophilic activation, particularly in atopic children. [source] Bacillus Calmette,Guérin-induced interleukin-12 did not additionally improve clinical and immunologic parameters in asthmatic children treated with sublingual immunotherapyCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 3 2004C. Arikan Summary Objective To evaluate the effect of bacillus Calmette,Guérin (BCG) as an adjuvant to specific sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on the cytokine profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and clinical outcome. Methods Thirty-two children with asthma and rhinitis allergic to house dust mite (HDM) with negative purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test response were enrolled. After a run-in period of 8 weeks, patients were randomized to receive either SLIT only (n=16) or one dose of BCG immunization before initiation of SLIT (n=16) with a standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pteronyssinus)+D. farinea 50/50 extract. PPD-negative asthmatics (n=5) allergic to HDM receiving inhaled therapy only were included for comparison of cytokine levels in PBMC cultures. Efficacy was assessed both at the end of run-in and 6 months of treatment periods with criteria including symptom, medication and quality-of-life (QoL) scores, IgE levels, lung function, provocation concentration (PC20), eosinophil count and skin prick tests. IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13 and IFN-, levels were determined in antigen specifically and polyclonally stimulated PBMC cultures. Results Both treatment groups showed significant improvement at the end of 6 months for asthma and rhinitis scores and QoL, number of asthma attacks, amount of ,2 -agonists, inhaled and intranasal steroids, blood eosinophil counts and PC20. Interestingly, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated IL-12 and D. pteronyssinus- stimulated IFN-, in PBMC were significantly higher in the treatment groups than controls. In addition, IL-12 levels in response to D. pteronyssinus and PHA stimulation were significantly higher in the SLIT+BCG group than the SLIT alone group and controls. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that successful SLIT is parallel to increased IFN-, production by PBMC. Although simultaneous BCG vaccination enhanced IL-12 production, it did not additionally improve the clinical outcome. [source] Local release of eosinophil peroxidase following segmental allergen provocation in asthmaCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 3 2003V. J. Erpenbeck Summary Background Eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) is an eosinophilic basic protein, which leads to increased permeability and damage of bronchial epithelial cells in asthma. Objective As little is known about its local expression and release in humans the intracellular expression in lung and peripheral eosinophils and the concentrations of EPO in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serum was investigated in patients with asthma. Methods Twelve mild atopic asthmatic and nine control subjects underwent segmental sham and allergen challenge. EPO concentrations in BAL fluid and serum were determined by immunoassay and flow cytometry was used to determine the intracellular expression of EPO in BAL-derived and peripheral eosinophils. Results In asthmatic patients a large increase in BAL eosinophils , total cells: median 9.5 × 106 (range: 0.5 to 455.0 × 106); relative: 38% (1 to 91%) , was detectable 24 h following allergen challenge, but peripheral blood eosinophil counts did not change. Concentrations of EPO in BAL fluid increased from 1 µg/L (1.0 to 6.8 µg/L) to 42 µg/L (5.6 to 379.6 µg/L; P < 0.01) after allergen but not after saline challenge (1.5 µg/L; 1.0 to 21.9 µg/L), whereas in control subjects all measurements were below the detection limit. Serum concentrations of EPO increased slightly from 18.3 µg/L (3.0 to 56.8 µg/L) to 27 µg/L (3.8 to 133.9 µg/L; P < 0.05) 24 h after allergen challenge in asthmatic patients. Furthermore, the intracellular expression of EPO (measured as mean fluorescence intensity) was decreased in BAL eosinophils compared with blood eosinophils (mean fluorescence intensity 29 (7 to 71) vs. 48 (20 to 85); P < 0.01) after allergen challenge. Conclusion The finding of increased EPO concentrations in the BAL fluid and decreased intracellular EPO expression in pulmonary eosinophils of asthmatic patients reflects the allergen-triggered release of EPO into the bronchial space. [source] | ||||||||||