The relationship between anthropometric measurements at birth: asthma and atopy in childhood

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have reported that a large head circumference at birth is associated with an increased risk of raised serum IgE in adult life, and asthma during childhood. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between head circumference and other anthropometric measurements at birth and asthma and indices of atopy in childhood. METHODS: The presence of asthma and measures of atopic status (total serum IgE level and skin prick tests to common allergens) were assessed prospectively in offspring of families participating in a community-based genetic study in Southampton, UK. Measures of perinatal variables including birth weight, head circumference at birth, and gestational age were obtained from hospital records of 239 offspring aged 6-23 years. RESULTS: Children with a head circumference of 37 cm or more at birth had a relative risk of an elevated serum total IgE (> 150 IU) of 3.2 (95% CI 1.0-10.4). There were no consistent relationships between head circumference at birth and either skin prick positivity or the development of clinical asthma. There was no significant association between other perinatal markers and measures of atopic status or clinical asthma. CONCLUSION: The study has identified that a large head circumference at birth is associated with an increased risk of an elevated total serum IgE in childhood. The reasons for this association, and the lack of an association with asthma are unclear and will require further research.     

Pre-Eclampsia, Placental Abruption and Increased Risk of Atopic Sensitization in Male Adolescent Offspring

Problem  The aim of this study was to investigate maternal pre-eclampsia (PE), placental abruption (PA) and atopy among offspring.
Method of study  Obstetric data was recorded from 378 women who were included into the Caesarean delivery birth cohort during 1990–1992. When their children were 15–17 years old skin prick tests (SPTs) and inhalant allergen-specific (IAS) immunoglobulin E (IgE) were determined among offspring.
Results  Adolescents whose mothers had either PE or PA at the time of delivery had more atopy and especially more severe atopy as measured by the incidence of SPTs positive for ≥5 allergens (RR: 4.28, 95% CI: 1.54–11.92; P  < 0.005) and elevated IAS IgE levels (≥1.0 kU/L) (RR: 4.27, 95% CI: 1.08–16.99; P  < 0.039). This increased risk was particularly observed in male adolescents.
Conclusion  Maternal PE and PA were associated with an increased risk of severe atopy, especially in male adolescent offspring.     

Atopy,serum IgE,and interleukin-13 in steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome

Earlier studies have demonstrated a strong association of steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome (SRNS), atopy, and elevated serum IgE levels. Interleukin (IL-13) gene expression is significantly increased in children with SRNS in relapse. As interferon (IFN)-, IL-13, and IL-4 have regulatory effects on IgE synthesis, we examined the relationship between intracellular cytokine production and serum IgE levels in children with SRNS, in order to further define the reported association with atopy. The median serum IgE levels in nephrotic patients in relapse with (492 U/ml) or without atopy (561 U/ml) were significantly higher than those in remission (221 U/ml, P<0.002 or 90 U/ml, P<0.001, respectively) and non-atopic controls (177 U/ml) (P<0.001). The percentage of CD3+ IL-13-producing cells was significantly higher in nephrotic children in relapse, and correlated with the serum IgE levels during the active phase of the disease (r=0.90, P<0.001). These data suggest that the elevated serum IgE levels during relapses of SRNS were the result of upregulation of IL-13. This probably reflects some common immune activation following various stimuli, rather than a direct association with atopy.     

Association of epidermal differentiation complex (EDC) genetic variants with House Dust Mite sensitization in Atopic Dermatitis Patients

The etiopathogenesis of AD is multifactorial and defects of the skin barrier, which physiologically constitutes the natural protection, are associated with the disease phenotype. The identification of the genetic and environmental factors paving the way for impaired barrier function is therefore important in developing new therapeutic and prevention strategies.Material and methodsConfirmed 100 cases were tested against 106 controls for filaggrin mutation and LELP-1 polymorphism by PCR-RFLP and chain termination sequencing. Total IgE and Vitamin D were estimated by ELISA. House dust mite sensitization was assessed by an in-vivo skin prick test.ResultsFLG deletion (2282del4) was present in 4% of the patients and all these were heterozygous carriers, whereas FLG null mutation (R501X) was not present in any of the cases. In the control group, both the mutations were not found. CT genotype and T allele of LELP-1 (rs7534334) were significantly associated with elevated IgE levels, early-onset, HDM sensitization, and disease severity (P < 0.05). However, the genotypic and allelic distribution of LELP-1 among the cases and controls was found to be insignificant.ConclusionThe low frequency of 2282del4 deletion and the absence of R501X mutation suggest that filaggrin deficiency does not confer a major risk for AD in the Indian population. However, significant association of LELP-1 (rs7534334) variant allele with clinical variables may serve as a novel biomarker for the severity of Atopic Dermatitis as well as an indicator for the allergen-specific immunotherapy and hence bears important clinical implications and needs to study on larger sample size and diverse populations.     

Elimination diets for eosinophilic esophagitis: making the best choice

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Dietary elimination therapy has long been an option for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Multiple diets have been reported, with variable efforts involved, efficacy rates, costs, and long-term management plans. Although the pros and cons of dietary elimination therapy have been described, a clear method for deciding on who is the right candidate for a diet, and which diet is best for that candidate, has not been clearly delineated.     

毛细支气管炎细胞因子与发病机理的研究

为了解毛支发病机理与机体免疫功能的关系,探讨环境与遗传因素对发病的影响,对３０例不同病毒感染的毛支患儿取血清及外周血单个核细胞（ＰＢＭＣ）培养,用ＥＬＩＳＡ方法测定培养上清中细胞因子及血清ＩｇＥ浓度。结果表明：①毛支急性期ＩＦＮ－γ水平降低,ＩＬ－４、ＩＬ－１０及血清ＩｇＥ水平增高。②毛支ＩＬ－４、ＩＬ－１０、ＩｇＥ水平增高与感染病毒的种类关系不明显,与机体遗传特应质有关。提示：毛支患儿存在细胞免     

Challenging Treatment of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia in Patients with Atopic Disease

Purpose: Few studies have described ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) and its association with atopic diseases and there is no consensus on the course of OSSN in atopic patients. We thereby report three patients with atopy and OSSN.

Methods: Retrospective case series.

Results: Three male patients with mean age of 73 presented with OSSN and history of atopy treated with immunosuppressant therapy. Their histories included atopic dermatitis and keratoconjunctivitis. All patients had treatment complicated by multiple surgeries, recurrences, or advanced disease. The patients initially received medical treatment with topical interferon-alpha-2b (IFNα2b). However, all the patients had recurrences and required modification of treatment including topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

Conclusion: We report on three patients with a history of atopy whose OSSN presentation and course was challenging. Overall, our cases responded better to topical 5-fluorouracil compared to topical interferon-alpha-2b, but recurrences were common. These patients may benefit from more aggressive and long-term treatment.     

美能治疗64例儿童特异性皮炎的临床观察

目的:观察美能(SNMC)在特异性皮炎(AD)治疗中的临床疗效及副作用。方法:将64例AD患儿随机分为治疗组和对照组,治疗组(38例)用美能加外用药;对照组(26例)用赛庚定加外用药。两组均连用4周后停用1周,再连用4周。结果:治疗组治愈率及总有效率分别42%和97%,对照组分别为15.4%和74.6%。经统计学处理,两组比较均有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论:美能片治疗儿童AD疗效好,副作用小。     

A Review of the Effects of Breastfeeding on Respiratory Infections, Atopy, and Childhood Asthma

The etiology of childhood asthma is not fully understood. Early exposure to certain respiratory infections may be protective for atopy and/or asthma whereas some infections have been suggested to exert the opposite effects. Wheezing lower respiratory illness (LRI) in the first year of life and atopy are independently associated with increased risk for current asthma in childhood and their effects are mediated via different causal pathways. These risk factors are multiplicative when they operate concommitantly within individual children. Exclusive breastfeeding protects against asthma via effects on both these pathways, as well as through other as yet undefined mechanisms. Furthermore, exclusive breastfeeding may protect against asthma and may reduce the incidence of lower respiratory illness, especially respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We have previously demonstrated a protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding on asthmatic traits in children. The aim of this review was to clarify this protective association from intermediate associations with respiratory infections, atopy, or through other facets of breastfeeding. The bioactivity of breast milk and subsequent pathways that may act upon the development of asthma in children are explored.     

Effect of immunotherapy in myelitis with atopic diathesis

OBJECTIVE: A recent nationwide survey of myelitis with atopic diathesis in Japan disclosed that the disease frequently shows a chronic persistent course. A neuropathological study of the spinal cord also revealed chronic active inflammation. Since the effects of various immunotherapies have not been studied extensively in this condition, we evaluated the efficacies of various immunotherapies in patients with myelitis with atopic diathesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-two treatments in 26 patients with myelitis with atopic diathesis were retrospectively analyzed. One of the following therapies was administered: (1) corticosteroids (CS) (pulse therapy followed by oral administration with gradual tapering); (2) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) (400 mg/kg/day for 5 consecutive days); (3) plasma exchanges (PE); or (4) PE followed by IVIG or CS (PE+IVIG/CS). The therapeutic efficacies were evaluated by thorough neurological examination and laboratory tests including MRI, somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs). RESULTS: Objective neurological findings improved in 89% of the PE group and 90% of the PE+IVIG/CS group, compared with only 72% of the CS and 60% of the IVIG groups. Improvement determined by laboratory tests was seen in 57% of the PE and 57% of the PE+IVIG/CS groups, compared with only 15% of the CS and none of the IVIG groups. Thus, the improvement rate determined by laboratory tests was significantly greater for therapies including PE than for those without PE (p=0.0187). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that immunotherapy is effective in myelitis with atopic diathesis despite a chronic persistent course, and that PE is the most beneficial immunotherapy.