Skin test results and self-reported symptom severity in allergic rhinitis: the role of psychological factors

BACKGROUND: In allergic conditions, the degree of skin test reactivity does not always correlate with the severity of clinical symptoms. Additional factors may contribute to the reported symptom severity. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between the magnitude of the skin prick test (SPT) response and the reported symptom severity in patients with allergic rhinitis and the possible modifying role of psychological factors. METHODS: One hundred four patients with allergic rhinitis and 23 with non-allergic rhinitis, classified according to their SPT response to 19 aeroallergens, were asked to rate the severity of five symptoms and to indicate whether their symptoms intensified on exposure to five common aeroallergens. They also completed a psychological questionnaire. Results Reported symptom severity of allergic rhinitis did not correlate with weal size for any of the aeroallergens tested or with the number of positive responses on SPT. It was not related to patient age, sex, or education. The reported symptoms severity correlated positively (0.29, P < 0.01) with reported symptom intensification on exposure to allergens. Moreover, both outcomes were positively associated with the psychological factors of hypochondriasis (0.20, P < 0.05 and 0.18, P < 0.05, respectively), and somatic awareness (0.24, P < 0.05 and 0.33, P < 0.01, respectively), but not with neuroticism. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of symptoms experienced by patients with allergic rhinitis is apparently not related to the magnitude of SPT response, but rather to psychological factors of hypochondriasis and somatic awareness. Physicians should be aware of the contribution of psychological factors to patient perceptions of the intensity of symptoms and of the intensification of symptoms on their exposure to allergens.     

Immunomodulatory activity of Asparagus racemosus on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity: Implications for immunoadjuvant potential

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Roots of Asparagus racemosus Willd (Shatavari in vernacular) are widely used in Ayurveda as Rasayana for immunostimulation, galactogogue as also in treatment of conditions like ulcers and cancer. Various studies have indicated immunomodulatory properties of Shatavari root extracts and formulations.

Aim of the study

To study the effect of standardized Asparagus racemosus root aqueous extract (ARE) on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity of SRBC sensitized animals.

Materials and methods

We used HPTLC to quantify steroidal saponins (Shatavarin IV, Immunoside^®) and flow cytometry to study effects of ARE on Th1/Th2 immunity. SRBC specific antibody titres and DTH responses were also monitored as markers of Th2 and Th1 responses, respectively. We also studied lymphocyte proliferation. Cyclosporin, cyclophosphamide and levamisole were used as controls.

Results

Treatment with ARE (100 mg/(kg b.w. p.o.)) resulted in significant increase of CD3⁺ and CD4/CD8⁺ percentages suggesting its effect on T cell activation. ARE treated animals showed significant up-regulation of Th1 (IL-2, IFN-g) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines suggesting its mixed Th1/Th2 adjuvant activity. Consistent to this, ARE also showed higher antibody titres and DTH responses. ARE, in combination with LPS, Con A or SRBC, produced a significant proliferation suggesting effect on activated lymphocytes.

Conclusion

The study suggests mixed Th1/Th2 activity of ARE supports its immunoadjuvant potential.     

Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde allergy: relationship between patch test and repeated open application test thresholds

Background  Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC) is a synthetic fragrance ingredient. Case reports of allergy to HICC appeared in the 1980s, and HICC has recently been included in the European baseline series. Human elicitation dose–response studies performed with different allergens have shown a significant relationship between the patch-test threshold and the repeated open application test (ROAT) threshold, which mimics some real-life exposure situations. Fragrance ingredients are special as significant amounts of allergen may evaporate from the skin.
Objectives  The study aimed to investigate the relationship between elicitation threshold doses at the patch test and the ROAT, using HICC as the allergen. The expected evaporation rate was calculated.
Materials and methods  Seventeen HICC-allergic persons were tested with a dilution series of HICC in a patch test and a ROAT (duration up to 21 days). Seventeen persons with no HICC allergy were included as control group for the ROAT.
Results  The response frequency to the ROAT (in μg HICC cm⁻² per application) was significantly higher than the response frequency to the patch test at one of the tested doses. Furthermore the response rate to the accumulated ROAT dose was significantly lower at half of the doses compared with the patch test. The evaporation rate of HICC was calculated to be 72% over a 24-h period.
Conclusions  The ROAT threshold in dose per area per application is lower than the patch test threshold; furthermore the accumulated ROAT threshold is higher than the patch test threshold, which can probably be explained by the evaporation of HICC from the skin in the open test.     

Relevance of 10-min delayed recall in dementia screening

Within the context of early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), there is a growing interest in neuropsychological screening tests. Amongst these tests, we focused on the largely used Memory Impairment Screen (MIS). The objective of the present work was to show that adding a 10-min delayed recall to the MIS, improves the test psychometric characteristics in order to detect dementia in the earliest stages. A prospective study was carried out on a cohort of 270 consecutive elderly ambulatory subjects attending the Broca Hospital Memory Clinic: normal controls ( n  = 67), mild cognitive impairment subjects ( n  = 98) and mildly demented patients [ n  = 105, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) = 23 ± 4]. This study consisted in testing the advantage of the 10-min delayed recall entitled MIS-D compared with the MIS. At a cut-off score of 6, the MIS-D revealed satisfying psychometric characteristics with a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 91%, whilst the MIS alone indicated a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 88% in detecting dementia. In demented patients with MMSE score ≥26, MIS-D properties still remained satisfying (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 92%). MIS-D is a more relevant screening test than MIS alone at very early stages of dementia.     

Procyanidins extracted from the lotus seedpod ameliorate scopolamine‐induced memory impairment in mice

The major purpose of this study was to determine the effect of procyanidins extracted from the lotus seedpod (LSPC) on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) in mice. The capacities of memory and learning were evaluated by the Morris water maze and the step‐down avoidance test. LSPC (50, 100, 150 mg/kg BW, p.o.) significantly reversed scopolamine‐induced learning and memory impairments in the Morris water maze test, as evaluated by shortened escape latency and swimming distance. In the step‐down avoidance test, LSPC (50, 100, 150 mg/kg BW, p.o.) treatment significantly reduced the number of errors and shortened latency compared with that of scopolamine. In addition, LSPC was also found to inhibit acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity. These results of this study suggest that LSPC may play a useful role in the treatment of cognitive impairment caused by AD and aging. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种滑移式微动振幅测量装置的设计

根据微动滑移振幅具有小位移的特点，设计制作了一种弓形传感装置，该装置能把小幅位移信号转换为电信号，并通过示波器实时显示出来，用这种测试装置来测量滑移式微动振幅具有测试方法简单而测试精度较高的优点。     

平板运动试验阴性患者最大ST/HR斜率对冠心病的诊断价值

目的探讨平板运动试验阴性患者最大ST/HR斜率对冠心病的诊断价值.方法选择122例平板运动试验阴性而临床有明显冠心病指征的患者进行冠状动脉造影,测定其最大ST/HR斜率.结果平板运动试验阴性患者最大ST/HR斜率诊断冠心病的敏感性为68.2%,特异性为80.8%,准确性为76.2%;运动峰值心率＜预计最大心率之85%组最大ST/HR斜率诊断冠心病的敏感性为92.8%,特异性为86.7%,准确性为89.7%,高于运动峰值心率≥预计最大心率之85%组.结论平板运动试验阴性患者最大ST/HR斜率对冠心病的临床诊断有较高的敏感性、特异性和准确性,尤其是对低运动水平的患者,对减少运动试验诊断的漏诊率具有重要意义.     

尿干化学法检测阴性不可偏废沉渣镜检

通过对 5 0 0例经尿 11项试纸检查阴性的标本 ,沉渣镜检发现尚有 6 7例阳性 ,阳性率为 13.4 %。提示尿沉渣镜检 ,不失为泌尿系统疾病检查的必要手段不应忽视及偏废     

预适应锻炼对急进高原新兵脑功能的保护作用

目的探讨预适应锻炼对新兵急进高原后脑功能的改善作用。方法120名新兵随机分为4组:对照组、面罩组、运动组和面罩复合运动组。在进入高原前,面罩复合运动组佩带低氧呼吸器小步快走10 min,休息5 min后重复进行,上、下午各进行4次,连续进行7 d;面罩组、运动组分别只佩带低氧呼吸器或单纯运动。在空运进入高原后,比较进高原前、后的神经行为核心测试组合系统指标的改变,并对急性高原反应症状进行分析。结果使用低氧呼吸器复合小步快走5 min时动脉血氧饱和度可降到(80.5±5.7)%,达到预缺氧的目的。新兵进入3 658 m高原后,对照组、面罩组和运动组的数字跨度、目标追踪测试分值明显下降(P<0.05),而面罩复合运动组无明显改变(P>0.05);各组进藏前、后的简单反应时、数字译码和视觉保留均无显著性改变(P>0.05),手敏捷度则显著提高(P<0.05)。对照组、面罩组、运动组和面罩复合运动组的急性高原反应发病率分别为13.3%、20.0%、20.0%、3.3%。结论进入高原前,应用低氧呼吸器辅以适当运动,能改善急进高原人群的即时听觉记忆能力和手部运动的速度及准确性,避免部分脑功能的损害,并使急性高原反应发病率呈降低趋势。