Comparison of three immunoassays for diagnosing sensitization to latex in children with spina bifida

As natural rubber latex (latex) has become more widespread in our environment, physicians have become increasingly aware of the problem of possible allergic reactions. Many fatal and near-fatal incidents have been reported (mainly during surgery) (1—3) and data has been published on groups frequently exposed to latex, such as patients with spina bifida (4—9), healthcare professionals (10—12) and occupationally exposed persons (13). The incidence of latex allergy in children seems to be increasing (14). Tests are therefore needed which can reliably detect sensitization to latex. Our aim was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of three commercial immunoassays for measuring specific IgE in serum to latex.     

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of ciclesonide 160 μg once daily vs. budesonide 400 μg once daily in children with asthma

Ciclesonide is an onsite-activated inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for the treatment of asthma. This study compared the efficacy, safety and effect on quality of life (QOL) of ciclesonide 160 microg (ex-actuator; nominal dose 200 microg) vs. budesonide 400 microg (nominal dose) in children with asthma. Six hundred and twenty-one children (aged 6-11 yr) with asthma were randomized to receive ciclesonide 160 microg (ex-actuator) once daily (via hydrofluoroalkane metered-dose inhaler and AeroChamber Plus spacer) or budesonide 400 microg once daily (via Turbohaler) both given in the evening for 12 wk. The primary efficacy end-point was change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Additional measurements included change in daily peak expiratory flow (PEF), change in asthma symptom score sum, change in use of rescue medication, paediatric and caregiver asthma QOL questionnaire [PAQLQ(S) and PACQLQ, respectively] scores, change in body height assessed by stadiometry, change in 24-h urinary cortisol adjusted for creatinine and adverse events. Both ciclesonide and budesonide increased FEV1, morning PEF and PAQLQ(S) and PACQLQ scores, and improved asthma symptom score sums and the need for rescue medication after 12 wk vs. baseline. The non-inferiority of ciclesonide vs. budesonide was demonstrated for the change in FEV1 (95% confidence interval: -75, 10 ml, p = 0.0009, one-sided non-inferiority, per-protocol). In addition, ciclesonide and budesonide showed similar efficacy in improving asthma symptoms, morning PEF, use of rescue medication and QOL. Ciclesonide was superior to budesonide with regard to increases in body height (p = 0.003, two-sided). The effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was significantly different in favor of ciclesonide treatment (p < 0.001, one-sided). Both ciclesonide and budesonide were well tolerated. Ciclesonide 160 microg once daily and budesonide 400 microg once daily were effective in children with asthma. In addition, in children treated with ciclesonide there was significantly less reduction in body height and suppression of 24-h urinary cortisol excretion compared with children treated with budesonide after 12 wk.     

Metastatic bone disease from occult carcinoma: a profile

Summary To assess the general profile of metastatic bone disease from occult primary carcinoma, the records of 172 patients with skeletal metastases seen between 1965 and 1985 were reviewed. In 51 patients (30%), the origin of the primary could not be identified when bone metastases were first diagnosed. This group were predominantly male with a high incidence of spinal metastases, cord compression and pathological fractures, and a significantly shorter (P<0.1) survival compared with bony metastases when the primary was known. The site of the primary was established in 33 patients (65%), mostly at autopsy. Lung carcinoma was by far the most common primary tumour in 52% of the cases, while it accounted for only 7% of those with a diagnosed primary. We believe that the onset of bony metastases from an occult source must initially raise the possibility of lung carcinoma. If the primary remains undetected, it appears justifiable to assume it to be in the lung, since the probability of a missed lung tumour being responsible for the metastases is high.

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Résumé Les auteurs ont revu les observations de 172 malades porteurs de métastases osseuses, vus entre 1965 et 1985, afin d'apprécier l'aspect général des métastases provenant d'un cancer primitif méconnu. Chez 51 malades (30%) l'origine du cancer primitif n'avait pu être découverte lors du diagnostic de métastase osseuse. Ce groupe était à prédominance masculine, comportant un nombre élevé d'atteintes vertébrales, de compressions médullaires et de fractures pathologiques, et un taux de survie significativement plus court (P<0,1) comparativement à celui des métastases d'un cancer primitif connu. La localisation du cancer primitif a été découverte dans 33 cas (65%), la plupart du temps à l'autopsie. Le cancer du poumon était le plus fréquemment en cause (52%), alors qu'il n'était responsable que de 7% des cas quand le cancer primitif était connu. Il semble que l'apparition de métastases osseuses d'origine inconnue doive faire évoquer d'emblée la possibilité d'un cancer du poumon. Si le cancer primitif ne peut être découvert il est vraisemblable qu'il siège au niveau du poumon, la probabilité d'un cancer du poumon méconnu, responsable des métastases, étant élevée.

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Presented in part at the International Symposium on Bone Metastases, Rome, Italy, June 1986     

Nonfluent aphasia in a patient with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) is an uncommon low-grade lymphoma. Cognitive impairment due to central nervous system infiltration by lymphoplasmocytoid cells (Bing-Neel syndrome) has been rarely reported. We describe a 54-year-old man who was referred to a memory disorder clinic with a 9-month history of clinically obvious nonfluent aphasia and WM. He underwent extensive neuropsychological testing, clinical examination and structural and functional brain imaging. The diagnosis of the diffuse form of the Bing-Neel syndrome was supported by abnormal lymphoid cells found in the cerebrospinal fluid. Structural and functional brain imaging revealed impairment of brain areas due to white matter changes and subsequent functional deficits mimicking the neuropsychological syndrome encountered in progressive nonfluent aphasia. The diffuse form of Bing-Neel syndrome and neurological deficits are assumed to be the result of leptomeningeal infiltration by malignant cells and/or neoplastic vascular obstruction.     

Prefrontal cortex dysfunction and depression in atypical parkinsonian syndromes.

Depressive symptoms are common in patients with neurodegenerative disorders. Imaging studies suggest that a disruption of frontal-subcortical pathways may underlie depression associated with basal ganglia disease. This pilot study tested the hypothesis that frontal dysfunction contributes to depression associated with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Depressed patients with MSA (n = 11), PSP (n = 9), and age-matched controls (n = 25) underwent measures of cerebral glucose metabolism applying positron emission tomography with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose. Regional metabolism in the patient groups was compared to the normal subjects using the voxel-based statistical parametric mapping. Depressive symptom severity (Hamilton Depression Rating) and degree of locomotor disability (Hoehn & Yahr) were assessed in the patient groups. The association between prefrontal metabolism and the occurrence of depressive symptoms and the degree of locomotor disability was investigated. When compared to controls, MSA patients revealed significant metabolic decreases in bilateral frontal, parietal, and cerebellar cortex and in the left putamen. In PSP patients, significant hypometabolism was demonstrated in bilateral frontal cortex, right thalamus, and midbrain. Depression severity but not the patients' functional condition was significantly associated with dorsolateral prefrontal glucose metabolism in both patient groups. The findings of this pilot study support the hypothesis that depressive symptoms in MSA and PSP are associated with prefrontal dysfunction.     

Positive, negative, unknown: assumptions of HIV status among HIV-positive men who have sex with men.

Serosorting (i.e., engaging in unprotected sex with partners known to be of the same serostatus) can be a difficult process for men who have sex with men (MSM) who frequently make assumptions about their partners' serostatus. This process can be further complicated by a partner's dishonesty as well as other individual and contextual factors. The present study specifically examined how assumptions of serostatus made about unknown serostatus partners impact on the sexual behavior of 110 alcohol-abusing HIV-positive MSM. Although previous research has shown that HIV-positive MSM are more likely to serosort with other known HIV-positive men than with known HIV-negative men, our data suggest that unprotected sex behavior may not be specifically driven by whether or not they made assumptions of seroconcordance or serodiscordance. The types of assumptions these HIV-positive MSM made about their unknown status sexual partners and the basis for such assumptions were also examined. Owing to the ambiguities involved in assumptions of a partner's serostatus in sexual encounters, the 'unknown status' partner category is analytically distinct from 'known status' categories, and needs to be more fully explored because of its impact on perceived serosorting, rather than actual serosorting, among HIV-positive men.     

Do respiratory symptoms predict job choices in teenagers?

Existing guidelines advise adolescents with asthma and allergies against high-risk occupations. The aim of the current authors' analyses was to investigate the resulting self-selection in a prospective cohort study. The participants of Phase II of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood in Germany (aged 9-11 yrs at baseline) were re-contacted after 7 yrs (response rate was 77%) and were asked to complete a questionnaire, which included items on atopic diseases. The subjects were also asked about the type of job they would like to have in the future (preferred job choice). Exposure to agents with potential asthma risk was evaluated using a job exposure matrix. The analyses were restricted to those in school-based vocational training programmes without occupational exposures. A total of 33% of subjects chose jobs with high asthma risk, 23% selected low asthma risk jobs and the remaining adolescents indicated jobs without known asthma risk (reference category). There were no statistically significant associations between asthma, allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis and selecting jobs with asthma risk. Participants with allergic rhinitis tended to select high risk jobs less frequently. In conclusion, self-selection into low risk jobs seems to play a minor role in teenagers with asthma or allergies.