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Relationship between asthma on Barbados and African dust in the trade winds
S30 Abstracts
SATURDAY
Relationship Between Asthma on Barbados and African Dust in the Trade Winds J. M. Prospero1, E. Blades2, G. Mathison2, M. Lavoie2, H. Thani3; 1Rsmas/cimas, Univ. of Miami, Miami, FL, 2Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Barbados, BARBADOS, 3School of Clinical Medicine and Research, University of the West Indies, Barbados, BARBADOS. RATIONALE: Great quantities of African mineral dust are carried by Trade Winds to Barbados every year. Anecdotal accounts have attributed the high incidence of asthma on Barbados to this dust or to materials associated with it. METHODS: We made daily measurements of dust in onshore winds at a site on the eastern-most coast of Barbados. We compare these daily dust data with the daily attendance of asthmatics at the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) over 19961997. RESULTS: Dust concentrations show a pronounced seasonal cycle with a maximum in the summer months. There are also sharp day-to-day changes associated with the arrival and passage of large-scale dust clouds. In this preliminary study, we find no immediately obvious relationship between dust concentrations and asthmatic attendances on seasonal-todaily time scales. CONCLUSION: African mineral dust does not appear to be an effective allergen to asthmatics. High concentrations of soil dust are present in the air over arid regions which cover 30% of the Earth’s land surface. While this dust can be a serious irritant and pose a major health hazard, our results suggest that it should not be a particularly effective allergen to asthmatics. Funding: NASA
119
African Dust, Pollen, and Fungal Spores as Possible Airborne Allergens Over Barbados E. D. Blades1, G. E. Mathison1, M. Lavoie1, J. M. Prospero2, H. Thani3, D. Kimes4, E. Levine4; 1Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, BARBADOS, 2Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 3School of Clinical Medicine and Research, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, BARBADOS, 4NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland, WA. RATIONALE: Fine particles of soil dust are blown over the North Atlantic Ocean from Africa to Barbados by the trade winds. This dust, along with pollen and fungal spores from sources on the Island, may act as airborne allergens affecting the relatively high incidence of asthma on Barbados. METHODS: Identical Rotorod samplers were deployed at the most eastern point on Barbados to sample trade wind air and at two inland sites to sample air impacted by island sources. Collector rods from the samplers were examined by light microscopy for pollen, fungal spores and other biota. Pollen and spore counts were calculated and those from inland sites were released to local health authorities and the public media. They were also compared to the number of asthmatic attendances to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. RESULTS: African dust present in the Barbadian atmosphere contained varying numbers of fungal spores particularly ascospores. The predominant pollen encountered was from local grasses with highest counts occurring after sustained rainfall. Spore counts at inland sites were highest immediately after rain and predominated by ascospores. Cladosporiun was the most prevalent spore type in dry weather. CONCLUSION: Climatic variables especially rainfall impact positively on pollen and spore counts. These counts as well as rainfall figures correlated with asthma visits during the rainy season. African dust, often present at high concentrations from May to October, contained many fungal spores but spores and pollen from local sources are clearly dominant with regard to asthmatic visits. Funding: University of the West Indies
120
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL FEBRUARY 2005
The Importance of Sensitivity to Cultivated Sorghum Antigens in Patients With Asthma and Rhinitis From the Rural and Near Rural Area of Río IV—Argentina M. A. Sanabria1, M. J. Gregorio2, M. Ferrero3, M. D. Romero-Piffiguer3, M. A. Ordoñez2, J. C. Muiño4; 1Allergy and Immunology, Instituto Médico Río IV, Río IV, ARGENTINA, 2Allergy and Immunology, Hospital Misericordia, Córdoba, ARGENTINA, 3LIDO, Córdoba, ARGENTINA, 4UAMI - N° 4, Hospital Misericordia, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, ARGENTINA. RATIONALE: A positive skin test is supposed to represent specific IgE antibody to an allergen extract. We often see positive skin test to cultivated sorghum, some as the only positive, despite the fact that cultivated sorghum combined with multiples antigens. We sought to determine if these are true positive. METHODS: Skin test panels were reviewed. Subjects who had cultivated sorghum as the only positive or at least the only positive pollen, and who are not in immunotherapy. We asked to consent to a confirmatory Elisa test. As a control group, those with positive skin test to different grasses combined with another antigens were similarly investigated. Skin and in vitro tests results were compared. RESULTS: 200 consecutive skin tests panels were reviewed. Overall, 30 (15 %) were positive to cultivated sorghum and 44 (22 %) were positive for different grasses and cultivated sorghum. 5 (2.5%) had cultivated sorghum as the only positive skin test. 25 (12.5%) had cultivated sorghum as the only positive pollen but had some other, non pollen aeroallergen positive, p<0.001. 30 patients with cultivated sorghum as the only positive skin test or pollen had 5 specific IgE to cultivated sorghum, the other 25 were negative. The control group had specific IgE to cultivated sorghum in 2 of 44 cases and the rest of cases were negative. CONCLUSIONS: When cultivated sorghum results in an isolated positive skin test, it is likely represents a false positive result. In some patients this allergen extract apparently has the ability to cause direct mast degranulation.
121
The Innate Immune Surfactant Protein (SP)-D Plays a Protective Role in Ozone (O3)-Induced Airway Inflammation in Mice A. Haczku1, F. Poulain2, R. Mathias2, Y. Cao1, M. Grous3, M. Salmon3; 1University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 2University of California, Davies, CA, 3GSK, King of Prussia, PA. RATIONALE: The pulmonary surfactant protein SP-D may be an an important modulator of immune and inflammatory responses in the lung. O3 is a common air pollutant associated with exacerbation of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We hypothesized that SP-D plays a protective role the inflammatory response to acute ozone exposure. METHODS: C57BL/6 wild type mice were exposed to 3.0 ppm O3 for 6h. 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72h post-exposure, lung function was assessed by whole body plethysmography. Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) cellular influx was quantified using cytospin preparations and inflammatory cytokine/chemokine and SP-D levels were measured by ELISA. The role of SP-D was investigated in 6-8 weeks old SP-D-/- and wild-type mice exposed to 0.5 ppm ozone for 24 hours. RESULTS: O3 exposure elicited a time-dependent increase in airway responsiveness, neutrophil, lymphocyte and macrophage influx with a peak 12-24h post-O3. These were preceded by release of IL-6, IL-12 IL17, GM-CSF and KC, 2-6h after O3 treatment. Significant elevation of SP-D levels in the BAL (p<0.001, n=6) occurred in parallel with resolution of airway inflammation 48h post O3. O3 exposure of SP-D deficient mice resulted in a significantly greater number of neutrophils in the BAL and a delayed resolution of inflammation in comparison with wild-type controls (p<0.05, n=6). CONCLUSIONS: Elevation of SP-D levels in the lung is associated with resolution of the inflammatory changes after O3-induced acute oxidative stress. Absence of SP-D in gene deficient mice enhances and prolongs neutrophilia in the lung following ozone exposure. Funding: R01 AI055593-01, ALA RG144N, GSK, HSRA (UCD)
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Relationship Between Asthma on Barbados and African Dust in the Trade Winds J. M. Prospero1, E. Blades2, G. Mathison2, M. Lavoie2, H. Thani3; 1Rsmas/cimas, Univ. of Miami, Miami, FL, 2Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Barbados, BARBADOS, 3School of Clinical Medicine and Research, University of the West Indies, Barbados, BARBADOS. RATIONALE: Great quantities of African mineral dust are carried by Trade Winds to Barbados every year. Anecdotal accounts have attributed the high incidence of asthma on Barbados to this dust or to materials associated with it. METHODS: We made daily measurements of dust in onshore winds at a site on the eastern-most coast of Barbados. We compare these daily dust data with the daily attendance of asthmatics at the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) over 19961997. RESULTS: Dust concentrations show a pronounced seasonal cycle with a maximum in the summer months. There are also sharp day-to-day changes associated with the arrival and passage of large-scale dust clouds. In this preliminary study, we find no immediately obvious relationship between dust concentrations and asthmatic attendances on seasonal-todaily time scales. CONCLUSION: African mineral dust does not appear to be an effective allergen to asthmatics. High concentrations of soil dust are present in the air over arid regions which cover 30% of the Earth’s land surface. While this dust can be a serious irritant and pose a major health hazard, our results suggest that it should not be a particularly effective allergen to asthmatics. Funding: NASA
119
African Dust, Pollen, and Fungal Spores as Possible Airborne Allergens Over Barbados E. D. Blades1, G. E. Mathison1, M. Lavoie1, J. M. Prospero2, H. Thani3, D. Kimes4, E. Levine4; 1Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, BARBADOS, 2Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 3School of Clinical Medicine and Research, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, BARBADOS, 4NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland, WA. RATIONALE: Fine particles of soil dust are blown over the North Atlantic Ocean from Africa to Barbados by the trade winds. This dust, along with pollen and fungal spores from sources on the Island, may act as airborne allergens affecting the relatively high incidence of asthma on Barbados. METHODS: Identical Rotorod samplers were deployed at the most eastern point on Barbados to sample trade wind air and at two inland sites to sample air impacted by island sources. Collector rods from the samplers were examined by light microscopy for pollen, fungal spores and other biota. Pollen and spore counts were calculated and those from inland sites were released to local health authorities and the public media. They were also compared to the number of asthmatic attendances to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. RESULTS: African dust present in the Barbadian atmosphere contained varying numbers of fungal spores particularly ascospores. The predominant pollen encountered was from local grasses with highest counts occurring after sustained rainfall. Spore counts at inland sites were highest immediately after rain and predominated by ascospores. Cladosporiun was the most prevalent spore type in dry weather. CONCLUSION: Climatic variables especially rainfall impact positively on pollen and spore counts. These counts as well as rainfall figures correlated with asthma visits during the rainy season. African dust, often present at high concentrations from May to October, contained many fungal spores but spores and pollen from local sources are clearly dominant with regard to asthmatic visits. Funding: University of the West Indies
120
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL FEBRUARY 2005
The Importance of Sensitivity to Cultivated Sorghum Antigens in Patients With Asthma and Rhinitis From the Rural and Near Rural Area of Río IV—Argentina M. A. Sanabria1, M. J. Gregorio2, M. Ferrero3, M. D. Romero-Piffiguer3, M. A. Ordoñez2, J. C. Muiño4; 1Allergy and Immunology, Instituto Médico Río IV, Río IV, ARGENTINA, 2Allergy and Immunology, Hospital Misericordia, Córdoba, ARGENTINA, 3LIDO, Córdoba, ARGENTINA, 4UAMI - N° 4, Hospital Misericordia, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, ARGENTINA. RATIONALE: A positive skin test is supposed to represent specific IgE antibody to an allergen extract. We often see positive skin test to cultivated sorghum, some as the only positive, despite the fact that cultivated sorghum combined with multiples antigens. We sought to determine if these are true positive. METHODS: Skin test panels were reviewed. Subjects who had cultivated sorghum as the only positive or at least the only positive pollen, and who are not in immunotherapy. We asked to consent to a confirmatory Elisa test. As a control group, those with positive skin test to different grasses combined with another antigens were similarly investigated. Skin and in vitro tests results were compared. RESULTS: 200 consecutive skin tests panels were reviewed. Overall, 30 (15 %) were positive to cultivated sorghum and 44 (22 %) were positive for different grasses and cultivated sorghum. 5 (2.5%) had cultivated sorghum as the only positive skin test. 25 (12.5%) had cultivated sorghum as the only positive pollen but had some other, non pollen aeroallergen positive, p<0.001. 30 patients with cultivated sorghum as the only positive skin test or pollen had 5 specific IgE to cultivated sorghum, the other 25 were negative. The control group had specific IgE to cultivated sorghum in 2 of 44 cases and the rest of cases were negative. CONCLUSIONS: When cultivated sorghum results in an isolated positive skin test, it is likely represents a false positive result. In some patients this allergen extract apparently has the ability to cause direct mast degranulation.
121
The Innate Immune Surfactant Protein (SP)-D Plays a Protective Role in Ozone (O3)-Induced Airway Inflammation in Mice A. Haczku1, F. Poulain2, R. Mathias2, Y. Cao1, M. Grous3, M. Salmon3; 1University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 2University of California, Davies, CA, 3GSK, King of Prussia, PA. RATIONALE: The pulmonary surfactant protein SP-D may be an an important modulator of immune and inflammatory responses in the lung. O3 is a common air pollutant associated with exacerbation of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We hypothesized that SP-D plays a protective role the inflammatory response to acute ozone exposure. METHODS: C57BL/6 wild type mice were exposed to 3.0 ppm O3 for 6h. 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72h post-exposure, lung function was assessed by whole body plethysmography. Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) cellular influx was quantified using cytospin preparations and inflammatory cytokine/chemokine and SP-D levels were measured by ELISA. The role of SP-D was investigated in 6-8 weeks old SP-D-/- and wild-type mice exposed to 0.5 ppm ozone for 24 hours. RESULTS: O3 exposure elicited a time-dependent increase in airway responsiveness, neutrophil, lymphocyte and macrophage influx with a peak 12-24h post-O3. These were preceded by release of IL-6, IL-12 IL17, GM-CSF and KC, 2-6h after O3 treatment. Significant elevation of SP-D levels in the BAL (p<0.001, n=6) occurred in parallel with resolution of airway inflammation 48h post O3. O3 exposure of SP-D deficient mice resulted in a significantly greater number of neutrophils in the BAL and a delayed resolution of inflammation in comparison with wild-type controls (p<0.05, n=6). CONCLUSIONS: Elevation of SP-D levels in the lung is associated with resolution of the inflammatory changes after O3-induced acute oxidative stress. Absence of SP-D in gene deficient mice enhances and prolongs neutrophilia in the lung following ozone exposure. Funding: R01 AI055593-01, ALA RG144N, GSK, HSRA (UCD)
122