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362 Concentrations of major cat (Fel d 1) and Dog (Can f 1) allergens in two Norwegian hospitals for athmatic children
Abstracts
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL VOLUME 105. NUMBER 1, PART 2
362 Concentrations
Sl21
of Major Cat (Fe1 d 1) and Dog (Can f 1) Allergens in Two Norwegian Hospitals for Asthmatic Children Anne Omholt*. Stig Serensenf, Said Elsayedf, Sten Dreborg* *Depart-
allergic mothers from the PIAMA-cohort. were analysed. Information on housing characteristics (type of floor, damp-or mould spots and double glazing) and respiratory symptoms (wheezing at least
mental group for Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway tllniversity College of Akershus. Norway We investigated two hospitals for asthmatic children in Norway;
once, recurrent wheezing, nocturnal cough without a cold and a combination of wheezing and cough) during the first year of life were obtained by questionnaires completed by the parents. Results are
Voksentoppen Center for asthma and allergy (VT), outside Oslo (500 m above the sea), and Geilomo Hospital for Children (GHC). in the mountains (800 m above the sea). Both hospitals use elimination procedures to minimise indoor allergen exposure: Personals and patients
given in odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals, adjusted for family history of atopy, pets, breast feeding, parental level of education and smoking. Results: Smooth floor in the child’s bedroom is
have to ware clean clothes that have not been in contact with animals, and visitors must use protective coats. No animals are allowed, and the institutions have their own day cares and schools. The allergen concentration has never been investigated in such institutions. Dust samples from upholstered furniture, institution beds, tables, chairs and soft toys were collected during the summer and autumn 1998. Samples were taken from patient areas and ofhces. In total 288 samples were collected. The concentrations of Fel d 1 and Can f I were analysed using sandwich ELISA methods (INDOOR Biotechnologies Itd). The allergen the institutions,
levels were lower than those reported Fel d I and Can f I levels ranged from
elsewhere. In below 0.01 to
I IO pg Fel d I/g dust (geometric mean (gm) 0.97 pg/g dust), and below 0.0 I - 32.0 pg Can f I/g dust (gm 0.45 pg/g dust). Despite of this, moderate levels of allergens where found in upholstered furniture. Especially offtce chairs (Fe1 d I : gm 4.5 pg/g dust, range 0.3 - 83.0 pg/g dust. Can f I ; gm I .9 pg/g dust, range 0.3 - 32.0 pg/g dust), and sofas/chairs (Fe1 d I; pm 2.2 pg/g dust. range 0.12 I 10.0 pg/g dust, Can f I; gm I. I pg/g dust, range 0. I - 19.1 pg/g dust) contained relatively high amounts of allergens. The highest allergens samples came from teachers’ room (Fe1 d I; gm 14.8 pg/g dust, range 2.7 - I 10.2 pg/g dust, Can f I; gm 4.6 pg/g dust, range 2.7 - 9.1 pg/g dust), specialist room (physical therapist, pedagogue, social worker. psychologist, and clinical nutritionist) (Fe1 d I ; gm 3.5 pg/g dust, range 0.9 - 40.3 pg/g dust, Can f I ; gm 2. I pg/g dust, range 0.3 - 19. I pg/g dust), and nurses’ and doctors’ offices (Fe1 d I ; gm 2.7 pg/g dust, range 0.3 - 83.0 pg/g dust, Can f I ; gm 1.7 pg/g dust, range 0.4 - 32. I pg/g dust). Patient rooms contained the lowest levels of allergens (Fe1 d I ; gm 0.8 pg/g dust, range 0.3 - I .7 pg/g dust, Can f 1; gm 0.4 pgYg dust, range 0.3 - 0.5 pg/g dust). There was a strong correlation between the concentrations I and Can f I (I= 0.75, p < 0.001). We also found correlation
of Fel d between
the amount of dust and the detected level of Fel d I (r= 0.43, p < 0.001) and Can f I (I= 0.50, p < O.OOl), respectively. In conclusion, elimination procedures are effective, but not in oftices and schools with upholstered furniture. It is the employees that contribute with most of the allergens. In patient areas, the levels were far below what has been reported from hospitals and public places.
363 Housing
Characteristics in Relation to Respiratory Symptoms at the Age of One: The PIAMA-Study LP Koopman*, RT van Strien f, B Brunekreeft. M Kerkhof$, A Wijga$. HA Smit& RC Aalberset. JC De Jongste*. HJ Neijens* *Sophia Children Hospital
Rotterdam
twageningen University SGroningen $RIVM, Bilthoven ICLB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Certain housing characteristics, like carpeted floors
University and damp
or
mold spots in the home, have been reported to be associated with respiratory symptoms in childhood. Aim: To investigate the relation between housing characteristics and respiratory symptoms in early infancy. Methods: Data from over 3500 infants of allergic-and non-
negatively associated with nocturnal cough (OR=0.78; 0.6-0.9). Damp- or mould spots in the child’s bedroom are associated with wheeze at least once (OR=l.69; 1.1-2.5) and a combination of wheeze and cough (OR= 1.73; 1.0-3.0). Damp- or mould spots in the parental bedroom were associated with wheeze at least once (OR=l.39; 1.0-1.9) and recurrent wheeze (OR=l.63; 1.0-2.5). Double glazing in the home is associated with a combination of cough and wheeze (OR I .34; I .O- I .7). AI1 other associations were not statistically significant. Discussion: Few housing characteristics seems to be independently most consistent and wheezing.
associated with respiratory symptoms at age I. The finding is the relation between damp- or mould spots The underlying mechanism through which damp- or
mould spots enhance the risk of wheezing explanation might be that damp- or mould ers for high house dust mite levels, which
is unknown. A possible spots are surrogate markin turn is associated with
respiratory symptoms in infancy. In the near future, data on house dust mite levels will be available in a subgroup of the PIAMA-cohort. Funded by the Dutch Asthma Foundation, grant 94.27 and the RIVM.
364 Is Carhoxymethycellulose Lummus*.
J Biagini*,
(CMC) IL Bernstein*,
a Human Immunogen? Z K Sarlof, ER Wanaf IIf *Uni-
versity of Cincinnati. College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH tProcter and Gamble, Cincinnati, OH Synthetic cellulose derivatives are widely used as demulcents, colloid laxatives and suspending agents for topical drugs. They are considered inert in all preparations because they are not absorbed. However, when CMC was used as an additive in penicillin oral tablets it was thought to enhance penicillin ahergenicity because haptenic metabolites of penicillin G could bind covalently to CMC (Nature 1969; 223:62 1). In addition, IgE mediated human allergenicity of CMC has been reported in two cases (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1995; 74:163; N Engl J Med 1997; 1275). In this study, potential immunogenicity of CMC was investigated further when IgG antibodies were detected in human sera being tested to haptens coupled to CMC as a non-protein, irrelevant carrier. After ELISA plates were treated with I mg/ml soluble CMC (Sigma), blocking buffer was added for I h and the plates were dried overnight in a 37’ incubator. After addition of serum, an enzyme-linked anti-IgG substrate system was used to detect CMC-specific IgG antibody. At 1: IO serum dilutions, O.Ds. of 0.85.0.80 and 0.65 were present in 3 sera compared to mean O.Ds. of 0.30 + 0. I3 SD of 23 control sera. At I: 100 serum dilutions, O.Ds. of 2 sera were 0.85 and 0.36 vs. mean O.Ds. of 0. IO + 0.06 SD in 23 control sera. To confirm specificity, inhibition assays were done by mixing varying concentrations of CMC with equal volumes of I: 100 positive sera diluted 1:5 in blocking buffer. Fifty percent inhibition was obtained in both of these sera at CM inhibitory concentrations of 9 and 50 mg, respectively, while no inhibition was observed at all concentrations of a heterologous inhibiting agent. These results indicate that T-cell-independent CMC may be immunogenic in humans under circumstances that favor its presentation to B cells.
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL VOLUME 105. NUMBER 1, PART 2
362 Concentrations
Sl21
of Major Cat (Fe1 d 1) and Dog (Can f 1) Allergens in Two Norwegian Hospitals for Asthmatic Children Anne Omholt*. Stig Serensenf, Said Elsayedf, Sten Dreborg* *Depart-
allergic mothers from the PIAMA-cohort. were analysed. Information on housing characteristics (type of floor, damp-or mould spots and double glazing) and respiratory symptoms (wheezing at least
mental group for Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway tllniversity College of Akershus. Norway We investigated two hospitals for asthmatic children in Norway;
once, recurrent wheezing, nocturnal cough without a cold and a combination of wheezing and cough) during the first year of life were obtained by questionnaires completed by the parents. Results are
Voksentoppen Center for asthma and allergy (VT), outside Oslo (500 m above the sea), and Geilomo Hospital for Children (GHC). in the mountains (800 m above the sea). Both hospitals use elimination procedures to minimise indoor allergen exposure: Personals and patients
given in odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals, adjusted for family history of atopy, pets, breast feeding, parental level of education and smoking. Results: Smooth floor in the child’s bedroom is
have to ware clean clothes that have not been in contact with animals, and visitors must use protective coats. No animals are allowed, and the institutions have their own day cares and schools. The allergen concentration has never been investigated in such institutions. Dust samples from upholstered furniture, institution beds, tables, chairs and soft toys were collected during the summer and autumn 1998. Samples were taken from patient areas and ofhces. In total 288 samples were collected. The concentrations of Fel d 1 and Can f I were analysed using sandwich ELISA methods (INDOOR Biotechnologies Itd). The allergen the institutions,
levels were lower than those reported Fel d I and Can f I levels ranged from
elsewhere. In below 0.01 to
I IO pg Fel d I/g dust (geometric mean (gm) 0.97 pg/g dust), and below 0.0 I - 32.0 pg Can f I/g dust (gm 0.45 pg/g dust). Despite of this, moderate levels of allergens where found in upholstered furniture. Especially offtce chairs (Fe1 d I : gm 4.5 pg/g dust, range 0.3 - 83.0 pg/g dust. Can f I ; gm I .9 pg/g dust, range 0.3 - 32.0 pg/g dust), and sofas/chairs (Fe1 d I; pm 2.2 pg/g dust. range 0.12 I 10.0 pg/g dust, Can f I; gm I. I pg/g dust, range 0. I - 19.1 pg/g dust) contained relatively high amounts of allergens. The highest allergens samples came from teachers’ room (Fe1 d I; gm 14.8 pg/g dust, range 2.7 - I 10.2 pg/g dust, Can f I; gm 4.6 pg/g dust, range 2.7 - 9.1 pg/g dust), specialist room (physical therapist, pedagogue, social worker. psychologist, and clinical nutritionist) (Fe1 d I ; gm 3.5 pg/g dust, range 0.9 - 40.3 pg/g dust, Can f I ; gm 2. I pg/g dust, range 0.3 - 19. I pg/g dust), and nurses’ and doctors’ offices (Fe1 d I ; gm 2.7 pg/g dust, range 0.3 - 83.0 pg/g dust, Can f I ; gm 1.7 pg/g dust, range 0.4 - 32. I pg/g dust). Patient rooms contained the lowest levels of allergens (Fe1 d I ; gm 0.8 pg/g dust, range 0.3 - I .7 pg/g dust, Can f 1; gm 0.4 pgYg dust, range 0.3 - 0.5 pg/g dust). There was a strong correlation between the concentrations I and Can f I (I= 0.75, p < 0.001). We also found correlation
of Fel d between
the amount of dust and the detected level of Fel d I (r= 0.43, p < 0.001) and Can f I (I= 0.50, p < O.OOl), respectively. In conclusion, elimination procedures are effective, but not in oftices and schools with upholstered furniture. It is the employees that contribute with most of the allergens. In patient areas, the levels were far below what has been reported from hospitals and public places.
363 Housing
Characteristics in Relation to Respiratory Symptoms at the Age of One: The PIAMA-Study LP Koopman*, RT van Strien f, B Brunekreeft. M Kerkhof$, A Wijga$. HA Smit& RC Aalberset. JC De Jongste*. HJ Neijens* *Sophia Children Hospital
Rotterdam
twageningen University SGroningen $RIVM, Bilthoven ICLB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Certain housing characteristics, like carpeted floors
University and damp
or
mold spots in the home, have been reported to be associated with respiratory symptoms in childhood. Aim: To investigate the relation between housing characteristics and respiratory symptoms in early infancy. Methods: Data from over 3500 infants of allergic-and non-
negatively associated with nocturnal cough (OR=0.78; 0.6-0.9). Damp- or mould spots in the child’s bedroom are associated with wheeze at least once (OR=l.69; 1.1-2.5) and a combination of wheeze and cough (OR= 1.73; 1.0-3.0). Damp- or mould spots in the parental bedroom were associated with wheeze at least once (OR=l.39; 1.0-1.9) and recurrent wheeze (OR=l.63; 1.0-2.5). Double glazing in the home is associated with a combination of cough and wheeze (OR I .34; I .O- I .7). AI1 other associations were not statistically significant. Discussion: Few housing characteristics seems to be independently most consistent and wheezing.
associated with respiratory symptoms at age I. The finding is the relation between damp- or mould spots The underlying mechanism through which damp- or
mould spots enhance the risk of wheezing explanation might be that damp- or mould ers for high house dust mite levels, which
is unknown. A possible spots are surrogate markin turn is associated with
respiratory symptoms in infancy. In the near future, data on house dust mite levels will be available in a subgroup of the PIAMA-cohort. Funded by the Dutch Asthma Foundation, grant 94.27 and the RIVM.
364 Is Carhoxymethycellulose Lummus*.
J Biagini*,
(CMC) IL Bernstein*,
a Human Immunogen? Z K Sarlof, ER Wanaf IIf *Uni-
versity of Cincinnati. College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH tProcter and Gamble, Cincinnati, OH Synthetic cellulose derivatives are widely used as demulcents, colloid laxatives and suspending agents for topical drugs. They are considered inert in all preparations because they are not absorbed. However, when CMC was used as an additive in penicillin oral tablets it was thought to enhance penicillin ahergenicity because haptenic metabolites of penicillin G could bind covalently to CMC (Nature 1969; 223:62 1). In addition, IgE mediated human allergenicity of CMC has been reported in two cases (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1995; 74:163; N Engl J Med 1997; 1275). In this study, potential immunogenicity of CMC was investigated further when IgG antibodies were detected in human sera being tested to haptens coupled to CMC as a non-protein, irrelevant carrier. After ELISA plates were treated with I mg/ml soluble CMC (Sigma), blocking buffer was added for I h and the plates were dried overnight in a 37’ incubator. After addition of serum, an enzyme-linked anti-IgG substrate system was used to detect CMC-specific IgG antibody. At 1: IO serum dilutions, O.Ds. of 0.85.0.80 and 0.65 were present in 3 sera compared to mean O.Ds. of 0.30 + 0. I3 SD of 23 control sera. At I: 100 serum dilutions, O.Ds. of 2 sera were 0.85 and 0.36 vs. mean O.Ds. of 0. IO + 0.06 SD in 23 control sera. To confirm specificity, inhibition assays were done by mixing varying concentrations of CMC with equal volumes of I: 100 positive sera diluted 1:5 in blocking buffer. Fifty percent inhibition was obtained in both of these sera at CM inhibitory concentrations of 9 and 50 mg, respectively, while no inhibition was observed at all concentrations of a heterologous inhibiting agent. These results indicate that T-cell-independent CMC may be immunogenic in humans under circumstances that favor its presentation to B cells.