1/9. tobacco allergy: demonstration of cross-reactivity with other members of solanaceae family and mugwort pollen.BACKGROUND: tobacco is a plant belonging to the solanaceae family. This plant is usually used as a contact insecticide for several infestations in some areas, such as the Canary islands. Allergy induced by inhalation of this plant is unusual. Identification of the potential allergen in growing areas is essential. OBJECTIVE: We report a patient with occupational sensitivity to an aqueous solution of cut tobacco whose clinical manifestations were rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria. Past medical history was significant for seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to mugwort pollen and oral allergy syndrome with avocado. methods: Green tobacco and cured tobacco leaf extracts were prepared, skin prick tests were performed with green tobacco, cured tobacco leaf extracts, and certain aeroallergens. Conjunctival challenge test was carried out with green tobacco and cured tobacco leaf extract. serum-specific IgE against tobacco leaf was performed by commercial CAP. CAP inhibition experiments were carried out with tobacco and artemisia vulgaris. RESULTS: skin prick tests and conjunctival challenge tests with green tobacco and cured tobacco leaf extracts were positive, as well as serum-specific IgE by CAP, indicating an IgE-mediated sensitization. CAP inhibition experiments were carried out and it was found that tobacco, mugwort pollen, and tomato extracts inhibited the binding of the patient's serum to solid-phase tobacco leaf. No inhibition was observed when alternaria, D. pteronyssinus, and potato were used as control inhibitors. Inhibition of immunoCAP to mugwort was obtained with mugwort and tobacco extracts and no cross-reactivity to D. pteronyssinus was shown. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that tobacco can induce IgE-mediated reactions that are mediated by the existence of common antigenic epitopes between tobacco and mugwort pollen. This allergy can be a hazard of employment in the agricultural areas.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/9. Fatal encephalitis due to nipah virus among pig-farmers in malaysia.BACKGROUND: Between February and April, 1999, an outbreak of viral encephalitis occurred among pig-farmers in malaysia. We report findings for the first three patients who died. methods: Samples of tissue were taken at necropsy. Blood and cerebrospinal-fluid (CSF) samples taken before death were cultured for viruses, and tested for antibodies to viruses. FINDINGS: The three pig-farmers presented with fever, headache, and altered level of consciousness. myoclonus was present in two patients. There were signs of brainstem dysfunction with hypertension and tachycardia. Rapid deterioration led to irreversible hypotension and death. A virus causing syncytial formation of vero cells was cultured from the CSF of two patients after 5 days; the virus stained positively with antibodies against hendra virus by indirect immunofluorescence. IgM capture ELISA showed that all three patients had IgM antibodies in CSF against Hendra viral antigens. Necropsy showed widespread microinfarction in the central nervous system and other organs resulting from vasculitis-induced thrombosis. There was no clinical evidence of pulmonary involvement. inclusion bodies likely to be of viral origin were noted in neurons near vasculitic blood vessels. INTERPRETATION: The causative agent was a previously undescribed paramyxovirus related to the hendra virus. Close contact with infected pigs may be the source of the viral transmission. Clinically and epidemiologically the infection is distinct from infection by the hendra virus. We propose that this Hendra-like virus was the cause of the outbreak of encephalitis in malaysia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/9. Human infection by a swine influenza A (H1N1) virus in switzerland.The isolation of A/switzerland/8808/2002 provides further evidence of sporadic human infection by contemporary swine influenza A H1N1 viruses, antigenically and genetically distinct from H1N1 viruses circulating in the human population. Together with the recent emergence of human-swine-avian reassortant viruses in pig populations in europe and north america, frequent transmission between swine and human populations emphasises the potential for the emergence in pigs of novel subtypes with the capacity to cause major human epidemics.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/9. hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to occupational inhalation of fungi-contaminated corn dust.hypersensitivity pneumonitis or extrinsic allergic alveolitis can be defined as a lung disease caused by a wide group of antigens that reach the lung by inhalation of organic and/or inorganic dust of various sources. The dust of the stored maize corn has been reported as cause of respiratory symptoms. During the storage process, maize corn dust can be contaminated by moulds and thermophilic actinomycetes, which have not been described until now as the causing antigens of these symptoms. We present a case of occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis in an agricultural worker who cultured and stored maize corn. Clinical findings, precipitating antibodies, and evolution after having removed him from his work, confirmed the diagnosis. In our case, aspergillus species contaminating the maize corn dust are probably the antigens that caused the disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/9. hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by spores of penicillium citrinum in a worker cultivating Enoki mushroom.A 47-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital with a 2-week history of dry cough and shortness of breath. She had been engaged in Enoki mushroom production for 22 years. Chest X-ray and chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed bilateral fine-nodular shadows and ground glass opacity. bronchoalveolar lavage fluid demonstrated an increase of total cell counts with predominant lymphocytosis. Pathological specimens obtained by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery revealed alveolitis and noncaseating granuloma with giant cells. Lymphocyte stimulation test showed positive responses with Enoki mushroom, culture medium, and penicillium citrinum. On double immunodiffusion test, a precipitation line was observed between patient's serum and penicillium citrinum antigen. She was found to have hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by penicillium citrinum. This is the first report of mushroom worker's lung caused by penicillium citrinum.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/9. Abortion due to infection with chlamydia psittaci in a sheep farmer's wife.A farmer's wife who had helped with lambing aborted spontaneously in March after a short febrile illness in the 28th week of her pregnancy. She developed disseminated intravascular coagulation post partum with acute renal failure and pulmonary oedema. Recovery was complete after two weeks of hospital care. A strain of chlamydia psittaci, probably of ovine origin, was isolated from the placenta and fetus. The patient's serum showed rising titres of antibody against chlamydia group antigen; the placental and fetal isolates; and a known ovine abortion, but not a known avian, strain of C psittaci. IgG against both ovine abortion and enteric strains of C psittaci was detected, but IgM against only an abortion strain was detected. Histological examination showed pronounced intervillus placentitis with chlamydial inclusions in the trophoblast but no evidence of fetal infection or amnionitis. Laboratory evidence of chlamydial infection was found in an aborting ewe on the farm in January and in remaining sheep and lambs in July. Doctors should recognise the possible risk to pregnant women in rural areas where chlamydial infections in farm animals are widespread.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/9. epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis in japan.A tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) patient has not been reported for many years in japan although a serological survey of domestic animal sera suggested the presence of TBE foci in Hokkaido, the northern island of japan. In October 1993 in Hokkaido, a severe encephalitis case in a farm wife was diagnosed as tick-borne encephalitis. Serological examination of paired sera showed a rise of neutralization (NT) antibody titer to Russian spring summer encephalitis virus. A sero-epizootiological survey of dogs showed that the TBE-related virus was prevalent in the area. Three virus isolates were obtained from the blood of sentinel dogs and the antigenic analysis grouped the isolates into TBE-related viruses. sequence analysis of envelope protein gene identified one of the isolates as the same subtype as Russian spring summer encephalitis (Far-Eastern TBE) virus. The results provide the evidence that TBE is endemic in a certain area of japan.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/9. hypersensitivity pneumonitis in peat moss processing plant workers.A nonsmoking 54-yr-old man, employed in a peat moss packaging plant, developed dyspnea and recurrent fever. The diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) was made. Thirteen of 14 coworkers and 13 nonexposed control subjects were studied. Five workers were nonsmokers, two were minimal smokers, and six were smokers. HP was found in another subject. Monocillium sp. and penicillium citreonigrum, 4.6 x 10(7) CFU/g, were found in the peat moss. Three nonsmokers, the two minimal smokers (including the subject with HP), and the index case had antibodies to these microorganisms; none of the six heavy smokers had antibodies. serum TNF-alpha was higher in the workers than in the control subjects (0.930 /- 0.177 versus 0. 350 /- 0.076). Three of the four asymptomatic seropositive workers and two seronegative smokers were further evaluated. All three seropositive workers had normal lung functions and CT but they all had a lymphocytic alveolitis (30, 34, and 68% lymphocytes in their bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL]). The smokers had normal lung functions, CT, and percentage of BAL lymphocytes (3 and 13%). This study identified a previously unrecognized work environment that can lead to HP and documented a protective effect of smoking on the response to antigens.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/9. Familial hairy cell leukemia: a HLA-linked disease or farmers-linked disease?In the 16 cases of familial HCL published, different HLA have been found. Although specific hla antigens were found to have the same structure in some cases that suggests a genetic predisposition to HCL. Environmental factors, specifically farming labours, were implicated in too. We add two cases (father and son, both farmers), Their HLA haplotype has not been described, but the type A2Bw4Bw6 and Bw6, presented in father and/or son, have been.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |