Controlled administration of penicillin to patients with a positive history but negative skin and specific serum IgE tests

BACKGROUND: Although subjects with a positive history of immediate allergy to penicillin and negative skin test are traditionally considered to tolerate penicillin, current evidence indicates that they may develop an immediate reaction despite negative skin and serum specific IgE tests. It is thought that these patients require additional tests to confirm the diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To assess in a large group of patients with a history of immediate allergy to penicillins but with both skin test and CAP-FEIA-negative to classical and side chain penicillin determinants, the role of controlled administration of betalactams as a diagnostic test. METHODS: A group of 330 patients with a history of immediate allergic reactions to penicillins was studied by two evaluators from the same allergy unit using the following protocol: skin tests with major and minor determinants of benzylpenicillin (benzylpenicilloyl-poly l-lysine and minor determinant mixture), amoxicillin and ampicillin, and determination of specific IgE antibodies to penicillins, by CAP-FEIA, in serum. If both tests proved negative, a controlled administration of the drug was then carried out. RESULTS: A total of 89 (27%) patients were skin test and CAP-FEIA-negative and therefore required controlled administration of the drug. Of these, 49 developed an immediate response and were therefore considered allergic, and the remainder had good tolerance after administration of both benzylpenicillin and amoxicillin. The clinical characteristics of this group were similar to the other allergic patients who were skin test or CAP-FEIA-positive, except that they were younger (P < 0.01). Twenty-two (45%) developed a response to benzylpenicillin and 27 (55%) had a selective response to amoxicillin. Although all reactions appeared within 1 h, a positive correlation was found between the dose inducing the response and the time elapsed from drug administration, for both benzylpenicillin and amoxicillin (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that an important number of subjects are not correctly identified if only skin tests and/or CAP-FEIA are used and that this is particularly relevant for side chain-specific reactions and younger subjects. This suggests that new diagnostic tests are required so as to limit the use of controlled administration.     

Aftereffects of short-term exposures to heat or cold on monoamine oxidase activity

Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine -     

Increased Bronchial Hypersensitivity after Early and Late Bronchial Reactions Provoked by Allergen Inhalation

The non-specific bronchial reactivity following bronchial allergen challenge was studied in 40 patients with allergic bronchial asthma, particularly in subjects without definite late reactions 6 h after the provocations (reduction in peak expiratory flow or forced expiratory volume in 1 s of less than 15% of the control value at this time). Among a group of 21 patients submitted to bronchial provocation tests, 13 carried out maximal exercise tests 6 and 1 week after the allergen challenge. In another group of 19 patients, the bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine was assessed before and 6 h and 1 week after challenge. Two patients with a dual response (early & late) reacted with bronchial obstruction to the exercise. Exercise tests performed after 1 week did not provoke asthma in any patient. In the methacholine group a marked increase in responsiveness to methacholine 6 h after the provocation was observed in those patients with a dual response who were tested and in those with equivocal late reactions and even in three patients with an isolated immediate reaction. The increases responsiveness was still present in many patients 1 week after challenge. The airway caliber did not influence the degree of responsiveness to methacholine. Nor did the degree of responsiveness have any influence on the patterns of reactions observed after allergen exposure. It was concluded that in some individuals exposure to the relevant allergen predisposes them to exercise-inducible bronchial obstruction. Further, it was confirmed that non-specific bronchial reactivity can be increased not only in patients with late responses - both definite and equivocal--but also in some patients with immediate reactions alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Bee moth (Galleria mellonella) allergic reactions are caused by several thermolabile antigens

BACKGROUND: Exposure and contact with bee moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae (Gm) can cause an allergic reaction both in anglers and breeders. We described the case of an amateur fisherman who experienced an allergic reaction using Gm but not using heat-treated Gm (h-Gm) (mummies). The aim of this study was to demonstrate by immunoblotting and radioallergosorbent test (RAST)-inhibition experiments the loss of allergenic epitopes in h-Gm extracts. METHODS: Galleria mellonella larvae and h-Gm were homogenized and extracted at 10% (w/v) in 0.5 M phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4 containing 0.5% NaN(3) for 16 h at 4 degrees C. Gm and h-Gm extracts were electrophoresed in a 10% polyacrylamide precast Nupage Bis-Tris gel at 180 mA for 1 h and the resolved proteins stained with 0.1% Coomassie brilliant blue and the molecular weight calculated. For the immunoblotting detection of allergenic components the resolved extracts were transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane and incubated with the patient's serum. Bound specific-IgE was detected by peroxidase-conjugated anti-human IgE. RAST inhibition experiments were performed according to the Ceska method. RESULTS: The protein profile of Gm and h-Gm extracts resulted markedly different in number, intensity and the position of bands, indicating that heat-treatment modifies the chemical-physical characteristics of the protein contents. The Gm extract showed a strong-coloured band at 73 kDa and more than 20 components ranging from 12 to 133 kDa; h-Gm showed two main band at 77 and 38 kDa and about 15 faint bands between 20 and 133 kDa apparently without any correspondence to the bands present in the Gm extract. Immunoblotting with the patient's serum demonstrated several bands of reactivity with the Gm extract ranging from 20 to 100 kDa and no recognizable bands, but only a diffuse smear with h-Gm. When used in a RAST inhibition experiment the h-Gm extract demonstrated an inability to compete with the Gm one for the binding to patient's IgE serum. CONCLUSIONS: The h-Gm seems to lose the allergenic epitopes and has two advantages for anglers: to avoid new possible sensitizations as well as allergic symptoms in sensitized people, without interfering with their skills and satisfaction in their fishing performance.     

Quality validation of platelets obtained from the Haemonetics and Trima Accel automated blood-collection systems

BackgroundPlatelet transfusion is required to treat haemo-oncology or trauma patients. Platelet apheresis (PA) performed with apheresis equipment has increased rapidly in recent years. Leucocyte-reduced platelet apheresis (LRPA) can reduce the risk of platelet refractoriness and febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTRs) for transfusion. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate and compare the platelet metabolic and functional responses between PA performed with Haemonetics and LRPA performed with Trima Accel cell separator.MethodsThe qualities of platelets collected through PA and LRPA were evaluated in terms of visual appearance, morphology, platelet-aggregation changes, metabolic activities, and bacterium-screening test during 5-day storage. Statistical analyses included two-sample t-test and generalised estimating equation(GEE) method.ResultsDuring 5-day storage in LRPA, residual leucocytes were all <1.0×10⁶, and the parameters of platelet function were as follows: platelet aggregated to agonists such as adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP) and collagen, and the extent of shape change and pO₂ showed no statistically significant difference between PA and LRPA. The hypotonic shock reaction (HSR) on days 0, 1, and 3 were significantly higher in LRPA than in PA (71.78±6.92 vs. 64.10±7.42; P=0.002; 71.53±8.98 vs. 62.96±9.84; P=0.007; 68.05±7.28 vs. 57.76±6.80; P<0.0001, respectively). Values of mean platelet volume (MPV) were statistically larger in PA than in LRPA on days 0, 1, and 3. On day 5, the swirling score was higher in LRPA than in PA. The mean lactate levels had no statistically significant difference between PA and LRPA. Moreover, no growth was observed through bacterium-screening test conducted on 40 samples.ConclusionComparison of LRPA and PA products collected from the Trima Accel and Haemonetics automated blood-collection systems, respectively, revealed that both products possessed good platelet qualities even though additional processes are needed to reduce leucocytes. Furthermore, investigating the outcomes of other apheresis instruments with focus on the safety of donors, products, and recipients is necessary.     

1例用药错误事件的分析与改进

采用根本原因分析及行动法对1例儿科用药错误事件进行分析,确定根本原因,从人员、环境、制度等方面提出针对性改进措施。采取措施后,类似不良事件未再发生。建议医疗机构加强关键环节的有效沟通,鼓励患者参与医疗安全管理,营造病区安静环境,严格执行查对制度,正确识别患者身份,优化护理人力资源配置,以保证患者用药安全。     

不同浓度地佐辛联合丙泊酚麻醉对无痛肠镜患者的临床研究

目的研究分析不同浓度地佐辛加丙泊酚麻醉对行无痛肠镜治疗患者苏醒质量的影响。方法选择2019年1月—2020年1月于我院行无痛肠镜治疗的80例患者为本次研究对象,将其按照随机分组的方式分为甲组和乙组,各40例,甲组予以0.05 mg/kg地佐辛+丙泊酚麻醉,乙组予以0.1 mg/kg地佐辛+丙泊酚麻醉,观察两组丙泊酚用量、苏醒时间和术中不良反应发生情况,并对数据进行分析统计。结果乙组丙泊酚用量低于甲组,且乙组苏醒时间短于甲组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),乙组术中不良反应发生率为7.50%低于甲组25.00%,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论地佐辛联合丙泊酚在无痛肠镜治疗患者的麻醉中效果显著,但0.1 mg/kg地佐辛+丙泊酚安全性更高,可有效降低丙泊酚用量,缩短苏醒时间,并降低不良反应发生率,可满足临床麻醉需求,有较高的临床应用价值。