血清嗜酸粒细胞阳离子蛋白在儿童慢性咳嗽诊断中的意义

目的 探讨血清嗜酸粒细胞阳离子蛋白（ECP）在儿童慢性咳嗽尤其与哮喘相关的慢性咳嗽诊断中的临床意义。方法 测定117例5～16岁慢性咳嗽患儿的血清ECP和肺功能，其中哮喘发作组53例，哮喘缓解组30例，咳嗽变异型哮喘组22例，鼻后滴流综合征（PNDS）组12例；另设24例健康儿童为对照组。结果 血清ECP水平在哮喘发作组及咳嗽变异型哮喘组均显著高于正常对照组（P〈0．01）；哮喘缓解组、PNDS组与正常对照组比较差异无统计学意义（P均〉0．05）。各组最大呼气峰流速（PEF）预计值、一秒钟用力呼气容积（FEV3）预计值、用力肺活量（FVC）预计值哮喘发作组与正常对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P均〈0．01）；哮喘缓解组、PNDS组与正常对照组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；咳嗽变异型哮喘组PEF与正常对照组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），FEV3、FVC与正常对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P均〈0．01）。结论 ECP是导致气道炎症和组织损伤的重要介质，血清ECP水平可反映气道高反应性发展的早期阶段，在反映病情严重程度方面具有特异性及敏感性。ECP可作为慢性咳嗽鉴别诊断的一个参考指标．可用于筛选不典型哮喘。     

过敏性紫癜患儿血可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1与IgE、嗜酸 细胞计数的关系

目的 探讨过敏性紫癜患儿急性期与缓解期血浆可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)、血清IgE水平及嗜酸细胞计数(EOC)变化的相互关系.方法 将符合过敏性紫癜诊断标准的患儿68例分为肾损害型(n=30)和非肾损害型(n=38)两组,选取健康儿童30例为对照组.检测疾病急性期和缓解期患者与对照组儿童血sICAM-1(μg/L)、IgE(IU/ml)及末梢血中EOC三项指标,并对所检测值进行统计学分析.结果 HSP组急性期的sICAM-1、IgE及EOC检测值较对照组明显增高(均P＜0.01),IgE水平在肾损害型较非肾损害型增高(P＜0.01),而sICAM-1和EOC两组差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);HSP组缓解期sICAM-1和IgE值均高于对照组(P＜0.01).急性期肾损害型患儿的sICAM-1值分别与IgE和EOC值改变呈正相关(r=0.706 5,r=0.609 0,P＜0.001);非肾损害型患儿sICAM-1值分别与IgE和EOC值改变呈正相关(r=0.625,P＜0.001,r=0.596 3,P＜0.01).结论 sICAM-1、IgE水平及EOC在伴或不伴肾损害过敏性紫癜患儿急性期与缓解期变化具有明显相关性,表明这些因子可能参与了本病的病理过程.     

辛芷鼻敏胶囊对变应性鼻炎大鼠血清一氧化氮和鼻黏膜嗜酸性粒细胞浸润的影响

目的探讨辛芷鼻敏胶囊对变应性鼻炎(AR)大鼠血清一氧化氮(NO)及鼻黏膜嗜酸性粒细胞(EOS)的影响.方法40只大鼠随机分为空白对照组、模型组、阳性对照组、实验组,用卵清蛋白建立AR大鼠模型,通过对造模的大鼠灌服辛芷鼻敏胶囊及与同类药物对照,用酶法检测各组大鼠血清NO水平,HE染色,高倍镜下观察EOS的变化.结果实验组血清NO水平为(29.11±2.63) μmol/L,明显低于模型组[(57.28±3.10) μmol/L]及阳性对照组[(45.79±6.47) μmol/L] (P＜0.05).实验组大鼠的鼻黏膜组织病理学改变明显减轻,鼻黏膜上皮下偶见EOS.结论辛芷鼻敏胶囊可能通过减少血清NO水平,改善鼻黏膜EOS浸润,从而改善症状,发挥治疗作用.     

哮喘患儿诱导痰Clara细胞分泌蛋白与嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白检测的意义

目的探讨Clara细胞分泌蛋白（CCSP）与嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白（ECP）在儿童支气管哮喘发病机制中的作用,评价其反映哮喘呼吸道炎症的价值。方法本院哮喘专科患儿31例。男18例,女13例;年龄3.7-12.0岁,平均7.6岁;均按全球哮喘防治创议（GINA）方案系统吸入糖皮质激素治疗,在慢性持续期和临床缓解期分别留取诱导痰标本。用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）测定CCSP水平,以Pharmacia UniCAP系统检测ECP水平。结果哮喘慢性持续期患儿诱导痰CCSP质量浓度明显低于临床缓解期（P〈0.001）,而ECP水平明显高于临床缓解期（P〈0.001）,且二者之间呈负相关（r=-0.676P〈0.001）。结论CCSP在哮喘的发病过程中起抗炎作用,而ECP起促炎作用,同时监测诱导痰CCSP、ECP的变化,可较好地反映呼吸道炎症情况,评价疗效及预后。     

地塞米松抑制IL-5诱导的嗜酸粒细胞的存活

目的通过地塞米松对白介素－５（ＩＬ－５）诱导的ＥＯＳ存活的影响,探讨地塞米松治疗哮喘的作用机制。方法将外周血的ＥＯＳ加入ＩＬ－５和不同浓度的ＤＥＸ共同培养,以观察ＤＥＸ对ＩＬ－５诱导的ＥＯＳ存活的作用。结果大于５ｐｇ／ｍｌ水平的ＩＬ－５明显提高ＥＯＳ的存活,且有剂量依赖性;Ｄｅｘ以剂量依赖的方式抑制ＥＯＳ的存活,从５０ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ开始,１０００ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ的Ｄｅｘ抑制达到最强;而当ＩＬ－５浓度为１００ｐｇ／ｍｌ或更高时,其诱导的ＥＯＳ存活不能被任何浓度的ＤＥＸ所抑制。Ｄｅｘ对ＥＯＳ存活的作用有时间依赖性,其抑制作用在高浓度的ＩＬ－５存在条件下可延迟或消失。结论Ｄｅｘ对疾病的治疗可能存在着抵抗,而高浓度的ＩＬ－５可抵消Ｄｅｘ对细胞的作用     

A case of eosinophilic cystitis in a 5-year-old boy

Eosinophilic cystitis (EC) is rather an uncommon disease in childhood. A case of EC in a 5‐year‐old boy, in which open biopsy was needed for final diagnosis, is reported. After diagnosis, he was treated with pemirolast potassium followed‐up with eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in serum and urine. Eosinophil cationic protein is an appropriate marker of EC.     

Eosinophil protein X and eosinophil cationic protein as indicators of intestinal inflammation in infants with atopic eczema and food allergy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of allergic intestinal inflammation in infants with food allergy and atopic eczema before and after elimination diet, and to evaluate the use of eosinophil protein X (EPX) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in the monitoring of inflammatory activity. METHODS: The study material comprised 25 infants with atopic dermatitis and food allergy. Thirteen healthy infants served as controls. Faecal and serum samples were collected before an elimination diet (on the first visit to the hospital) and approximately 3 months later for the determination of EPX and ECP. RESULTS: Before the elimination diet, infants with atopic dermatitis demonstrated markedly higher faecal concentrations of EPX and ECP than healthy controls (P = 0. 0003, P < 0.0001, respectively). The faecal concentrations of EPX and ECP showed a distinct decrease as a result of an adequate elimination diet in patients with favourable clinical response (P = 0.0027, P = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the presence of marked intestinal inflammation in patients with atopic dermatitis and food allergy. The determination of faecal ECP and especially of faecal EPX provides a promising noninvasive tool in monitoring intestinal inflammation and disease activity in infants with atopic eczema and food allergy.     

Induction, distribution and modulation of upper airway allergic inflammation in mice

BACKGROUND: To further elucidate mechanisms of human allergic rhinosinusitis, we studied the induction, distribution and modulation of allergen-induced upper airway inflammation in a BALB/c mouse model. METHODS: Allergic inflammation induced with ovalbumin (OVA) by intraperitoneal (IP) injection in alum was compared to repeated intranasal instillation. The type and distribution of inflammatory cells was compared in the respiratory and olfactory epithelial compartments. Eosinophil distribution was assessed using Scarlet Red stain and a polyclonal antibody recognizing eosinophil major basic protein (MBP). The role of interleukin (IL)-5 in upper airway inflammation was tested by administration of polyclonal anti-IL-5 antibody during the sensitization protocol. RESULTS: Unsensitized control mice receiving saline failed to develop upper airway eosinophil infiltration. IP OVA-sensitized mice developed marked upper airway mucosal eosinophil infiltration after aerosol OVA challenge, whereas repeated intranasal instillation of OVA produced qualitatively similar, but less intense eosinophil infiltration. Using either sensitization protocol, eosinophil infiltration was seen in areas of the lower portion of the nasal septum, the floor and the lower lateral walls of the mid-caudal region of the nasal cavity. Immunofluorescence staining for MBP confirmed this distribution of eosinophils but also demonstrated some eosinophils in the maxillary sinuses and in circumscribed regions of the ethmoturbinates. All areas of eosinophil infiltration were lined by respiratory epithelium. The selective infiltration of respiratory but not olfactory epithelium by eosinophils was unassociated with a measurable induction of epithelial ICAM-1 or eotaxin expression. OVA-induced upper airway eosinophil infiltration was found to be IL-5 dependent, since administration of a polyclonal anti-IL-5 antibody (TRFK-5) during OVA sensitization resulted in a marked modulation (80% decrease) in eosinophil infiltration in response to subsequent OVA challenge. CONCLUSION: The mouse upper airway, specifically in areas containing respiratory epithelium, is a target for OVA-induced allergic inflammation. This selective infiltration of respiratory, but not olfactory, epithelium is, in part, dependent upon IL-5. This model is useful for further dissection of the inflammatory response with genetic manipulations and targeted immunological approaches.     

The Association of Skin Test Reactivity, Total Serum IgE Levels, and Peripheral Blood Eosinophilia with Asthma in Kuwait

There is evidence that elevated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and eosinophilia correlate well with allergic skin test reactivity. These parameters have been used as alternative methods to characterize atopic subjects. Skin test reactivity is the only measure used routinely in clinical practice in Kuwait to reflect atopy in asthma patients. This study examines the usefulness of the two other parameters of atopy in patients with asthma, and to determine the most common allergens involved in Kuwait. Between 1998 and 1999, 101 asthma patients and 33 healthy controls were recruited for this study. Skin sensitivity test, serum total and specific IgE, total blood eosinophil count (B-EOS), and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) tests were performed in patients and controls. Nine allergens known to be prevalent in this environment were selected for the skin test and specific IgE test. Spirometry was also measured. These parameters were repeated after 4 weeks of therapy in the patients only. Skin test reaction was positive in 81% of the patients, while total IgE above 200 kU/L was obtained in 63% of cases. B-EOS above 300 ± 10³/L was found in 75% of cases. House dust mite reactivity (positivity) was the most frequently encountered skin allergy, occurring in 28% of the patients. IgE correlated positively with B-EOS and ECP. B-EOS similarly correlated positively with ECP. There was a negative correlation between ECP and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV₁) (% predicted) as expected. At least one positive parameter of atopy was found in 95% of the patients. In 48% of the patients, all three parameters of atopy were found to be positive. Skin test reactivity and elevated IgE were found together in 62% of the cases. This study reveals a significant degree of allergy among patients with asthma in this environment. Skin testing was found to be the most effective measure of atopy in this environment, and correlates well with the other more sensitive newer tests.