Prevalence of occupational allergy due to live fish bait

BACKGROUND: Larvae of insects and worms, used as live fish bait (LFB), are a common source of allergy in anglers and occupationally exposed workers, but the prevalence and predictors have not yet been investigated. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of occupational allergy in workers exposed to LFB. METHODS: We assessed the prevalence of sensitization to LFB and work-related symptoms (WRS) in 76 workers occupationally exposed to it. All workers completed a case history questionnaire and underwent skin prick tests (SPT) for common aeroallergens and bluebottle (Calliphora vomitoria), bee moth (Galleria mellonella), mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), and gusano rojo (Cilecomadia moorei). Specific IgE were tested in 64 subjects. Two-thirds of the workers had a high level of LFB exposure. RESULTS: Sensitization to LFB was found in 24 workers (31.6%). Seven subjects (9.2%) reported WRS (asthma in 3, rhinoconjunctivitis in 5, and contact urticaria in 1), and 5 were positive for SPT and serum IgE to one or more LFB extracts. One was also exposed to LFB while fishing. Sensitization to LFB extracts and WRS were strongly associated (Odds Ratio = 6.6, P < 0.05). The 7 subjects with WRS had been exposed longer than asymptomatic subjects with positive skin tests to LFB (P < 0.05). No differences in sex, age, smoking habit, duration or level of exposure, and atopy were detected in symptomatic or in sensitized subjects, compared with normal workers. CONCLUSION: Sensitization to LFB and WRS are relatively frequent in occupationally exposed workers. No associated factors of occupational allergy to LFB could be detected.     

安徽省农村居民哮喘病现况调查

本文通过对安徽省农村居民哮喘病的现况调查发现，哮喘病患病率为１．３３％，男性为１．４８％，女性为１．１９％；成人患病率为１．３４％，儿童为１．３２％。儿童哮喘患病率随年龄增长而下降，而成人哮喘病患病率随年龄增长而增加；儿童大部分婴幼儿起病，各年龄组中男性起病较女性晚，成人女性５０％起病２０岁前，而男性５０％起病３０岁前。农村哮喘以感染型为主，发病以冬季多见，发作主要诱因是感冒，哮喘病具有明显家族聚集性。     

173例支气管哮喘特异性脱敏治疗的进一步评价

对173例支气管哮喘特异性脱敏治疗的疗效及影响疗效的因素进行了分析。结果表明:显效为30.6%(53/173).有效为56.1%(97/173),无效为13.3%(23/173)。影响疗效的因素与病情的程度有关,而与年龄、病程、皮试阳性反应强弱及脱敏治疗前4个疗程内是否应用曲安缩松等无关。并对特异性脱敏治疗支气管哮喘的优缺点进行讨论。     

胸导管引流对慢性哮喘病人外周血淋巴细胞内环核苷酸代谢的影响

观察7例慢性哮喘病人胸导管引流治疗前后外周血淋巴细胞内 cAMp/cGMP 值的变化。结果发现,慢性哮喘病人外周血淋巴细胞内 cAMP/cGMP 的值较正常人低(P<0.001);胸导管引流治疗后,哮喘病人外周血淋巴细胞内 cAMP/cGMP 值较治疗前升高(P<0.01)。提示,慢性哮喘病人外周血淋巴细胞功能异常、活性增强,这可能是哮喘发病的重要原因之一。胸导管引流引起的免疫抑制作用,一个重要的机理就是影响淋巴细胞内环核苷酸的代谢,而使淋巴细胞的活性降低,这可能也是胸导管引流治疗慢性哮喘的机理之一。     

地塞米松对哮喘豚鼠肺组织Giα、Gqα的抑制作用

目的　研究糖皮质激素对豚鼠哮喘模型肺组织G蛋白α亚族表达的影响。方法　 18只豚鼠随机分为正常对照组(NS) ,哮喘组 (AS)和地塞米松治疗组 (DEX)。AS组用卵蛋白皮下及腹腔注射致敏 ,卵蛋白重复雾化吸入激发复制豚鼠哮喘模型。DEX组在每次激发前腹腔内注射地塞米松 2mg/kg进行干预。用Westernblot分析法测定豚鼠肺组织G蛋白α亚族的表达水平。结果　三组豚鼠肺组织Giα水平分别为NS组 10 0 % ,AS组 (15 3± 18) % ,DEX组 (113± 18) % ,AS组与NS组比较、DEX组与AS组比较差别显著 (P <0 .0 5 )。三组豚鼠肺组织Gqα水平分别为NS组 10 0 % ,AS组 (15 1± 19) % ,DEX组 (98± 4 ) % ,AS组与NS组比较、DEX组与AS组比较差别显著 (P <0 .0 5 )。在同样的条件下Gsα水平无显著变化 (P >0 .0 5 )。地塞米松能够显著抑制哮喘豚鼠肺组织中Giα、Gqα的高表达。结论　肺组织Giα ,Gqα的高表达变化参与了豚鼠哮喘模型的病理性信号传导 ,抑制哮喘肺组织Giα、Gqα的高表达可能是糖皮质激素治疗哮喘的机制之一。     

Reduced levels of IgG subclasses and IgA in young children with asthma

Serum immunoglobulins including IgG subclasses were measured in 73 unselected children with asthma. The results showed that 22 (30%) had partial IgA and/or IgG₄ subclass deficiency. Clinical assessment showed that 21 children were infection-prone, and 52 were not. Further analysis showed that infection-prone children were significantly different from non-infection-prone children with regard to familial history of allergy (29% vs 60%, p = 0.015), elevated IgE (62% vs 33%, p = 0.021), IgA deficiency (38% vs 15%, p = 0.38) and IgG subclass deficiency (24% vs 4%, p = 0.018). These results suggest that there may be subgroups of children with asthma who are also immunodeficient.     

Menstrual-Linked Asthma

This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of menstrual-linked asthma (MLA) in India in 100 consecutive female asthmatics in the reproductive age group. The patients were required to respond to a questionnaire concerning the relationship between their asthma and the menstrual cycle. Twenty-three patients had subjective perception of deterioration in symptoms of asthma in relation to the menstrual cycle. Ten patients from both groups were also required to maintain a daily peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) diary for 2 consecutive menstrual cycles. The mean total duration of illness in patients with MLA was significantly longer than in patients without cyclic exacerbation. Cough and breathlessness were also significantly more severe as was the disease. This was evidenced by the more frequent emergency room visits and hospitalizations in these patients. Menstrual-linked worsening of asthma was most common in the premenstrual week (17 patients). In 8 of these 17 patients, this phenomenon continued to occur during the menstrual week also. Interestingly, 1 patient complained of deterioration of asthma 2 days after menstruation was over. Such an observation is yet to be recorded. Fourteen patients reported an increase in symptoms with almost every cycle while 3 had worsening related to specific season only. Sixteen patients often required extra medication during the premenstrual and/or menstrual weeks. A significant association was also observed between severity of premenstrual syndrome and MLA. The mean PEFR values over 2 cycles revealed a significant fall in the morning as well as evening values in the premenstrual and menstrual weeks as compared to the midcycle week in patients with MLA. This fall was maximal in the premenstrual week. Such a fall was not observed in asthmatics without menstrual exacerbation of symptoms. MLA was detected in about a fourth of the female asthmatics in India and it appears to represent a more severe form of the disease. This study also documented that MLA was associated with an increase in airway resistance and was not simply due to an increased perception of symptoms during the premenstrual or menstrual weeks.     

Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Bipolaris spicifera: An informative case

A case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by Bipolaris spicifera involving the brain and sinuses is presented. The patient survived following surgery and ketoconazole therapy, which successfully treated both the sinus and the brain infections.     

肝素雾化治疗小儿哮喘性疾病的疗效观察

应用肝素雾化治疗小儿哮喘性疾病（包括以喘为主的支气管肺炎）１６例，其咳喘症状消失和肺部体征消失时间校对照组快，总显效率高。文中还就７例肝素雾化治疗前后血气结果对照，进一步阐述肝素雾化有利于改善通气功能，促进二氧化碳排出和炎症吸收，从而解除支气管痉挛的机理。具有疗效显著，安全可靠，无任何副作用的特点，值得临床推广应用。     

乌鲁木齐市工业区及阿勒泰地区儿童支气管哮喘的流行病学调查

选择乌鲁木齐市的几个工业区和阿勒泰地区进行了儿童哮喘的流行病学调查。初步摸清了两地区儿童哮喘的发病情况,患病率分别为0.94％和0.49％,为今后我区儿童哮喘的防治提供了基础数据。同时,我们还收集了近6年来乌鲁木齐市地区的气象资料,对气象因素与哮喘之间的关系作了初步分析。