In this study, clinical effectiveness of Pharmacia CAP system for determination of allergen specific IgE was evaluated depending on the results of Bencard skin prick tests in 100 atopic and 18 nonatopic asthmatics. The Pharmacia CAP specific IgE positive rates were higher as the SPT grades were increased : negative (n=623) (17.8%); + (n=81) (34.6%); 2+ (n=223) (56.5%); 3+ (n=106) (70.8%); and 4+/-< (n=127)3+ (92.1%), respectively. The overall concordant rate between Bencard SPT and Pharmacia CAP system was 81.7% with range of 70.7~92.1%. The Overall sensitivity of Pharmacia CAP system was 80.7%. The sensitivities for 10 allergens, which ranged from 57.5% to 100 %, were as followed; D.pteronyssinus (96.1%), D.farinae (96.7%), cat dander (61.5%), cockroach (65.2%), Aspergillus fumigatus (57.1%), ragweed (62.5%), mugwort (75.0%), Meadow fescue (100%), birch (62.4%), and oak (80.0%), respectively. Overall specificity of Pharmacia CAP system was 82.2%. The specificity of CAP system in nonatopic subjects (n=18, 160 test) was 94.4% which was quite different with the 77.6% of atopic subjects (n=100, 463 test). SPT A/H ratios were significantly correlated with Pharmacia CAP specific IgE concentration (KU/L) in D.pteronyssinus (r=0.520, p<0.001), D.farinae (r=0.490, p<0.001), A.fumigatus (r=0.315, p<0.01), mugwort (r=0.210, p<0.05), ragweed (r=0.213, p<0.05), birch (r=0.232, p<0.05), M.fescue (r=0.410, p<0.001). But, in cockroach (r=0.192, p<0.1), cat dander and oak pollen, SPT A/H ratios were not correlated with the concentration of specific IgE. These results suggest that Pharmacia CAP system is useful for etiologic evaluation of immediate hypersensitivity and quantitative evaluation of specific IgE in atopic asthma.
Allergens ; Ambrosia ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Asthma* ; Betula ; Cats ; Cockroaches ; Dander ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Pollen ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: House dust mites have been known as the most important allergens in respiratory allergic disease. Since environmental factors may have influences on the pathogenesis of allergic disease, the study using Korean house dust mites for immune and biologic reactions in house dust mite-sensitive allergic disease is considered as significant. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We made two in-house allergenic extracts of Korean house dust mites (D. farinae and D. pteronpsssinus) and performed this study for the allergen standardization by in vivo methods and for the evaluation of the reliabilities for clinical applications. RESULT: As a results of biologic standardization using skin prick test teachnique, the activity of 1: 1,500w/v of D. farinae extract was estimated 1,000 biology unit(BU), concentration that elicits a wheal of the same size as that of histamine dihydrochloride 1mg/ml. The activity of 1: 1,000w/v of D. pteronyssinus was condiered as 1,000BU. The activity of 1:100w/v of both D. farinae and D. pteronpssiuns extracts were considered as 100,000 Allergy Unit(AU), based on intradermal skin testing of 30 subjects with strong sensitive reaction. The concordant rates between results of skin prick test done with 5,000BU/ml concentration of in-house allergenic extracts and thoae with the commercially available allergen(Bencard Co., UK) were 84.6% and 81.0% for D. farinae and D. pteronpssinus, respectively. The wheal erythema size and A/H ratios induced by in-house extracts were significantly correlated with those induced by Bencard allergen. CONCLUSION: This results suggest that in-house extracts of the whole bodies of two house dust mites have good allergenic activities in vivo. It is considered to be clinically useful and reliable allergenic extracts.
Allergens ; Biology ; Dust* ; Erythema ; Histamine ; Hypersensitivity ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Skin ; Skin Tests

Spinal dysraphism, first described by Lichtenstein in 1940, is a congenital anom- aly due to incomplete fusion or malformation of the midline dorsal embryonic structures including the ectoderm, mesoderm, and neuroectoderm. Spina bifida occulta is a spinal dystraphism and a manifestation of a midline defect of osseous spine and related structures without cyst formation. Spinal dysraphism may be associated with hypertrichosis, lipoma, dimpling, pigmentation, hemangioma, congenital scar, sinus, cyst, or skin defect in the midline dorsal area. We observed a 23-year-old female patient with spina bifida occulta who had a blue scar surrounded by circumscribed hair growth of the lumbosacral area since 1-montb-old age. Histopathologic finding of the blue scar revealed common blue nevus showing intradermal melanocytes and melanophages. Spine X-ray showed hemivertebra of L5 and spina bifida occulta of Sl. There were no abnormal neurologic signs.
Cicatrix ; Ectoderm ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Hair ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Hypertrichosis* ; Lipoma ; Melanocytes ; Mesoderm ; Neural Plate ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Nevus, Blue* ; Pigmentation ; Skin ; Spina Bifida Occulta* ; Spinal Dysraphism* ; Spine ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

Heterogeneity in clinical features and pathogenesis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAIDs) hypersensitivity have been reported. NSAIDs can cause bronchial constriction in asthmatics or hives and angioedema in patients with chronic urticaria, in which case causative drugs show cross-reactivity with other NSAIDs. Normal subjects without allergic diseases may develop urticaria angioedema or anaphylaxis after ingestion of a specific NSAID. In this type of reaction, cross-reactivity between causative drugs and other NSAIDs does not occur. We experienced a case of acetaminophen anaphylaxis without aspirin sensitivity in a 38-year-old male, which was confirmed by oral provocation test. An oral challenge with 150mg of acetaminophen induced urticaria in lower legs, and erythema, with febrile sensation in ears. With a dose of 600mg acetaminophen, urticaria developed in trunk and extremities with facial angioedema. An oral provocation test with 650mg of aspirin was well tolerated without any adverse reactions. We report acase of acetaminophen anaphylaxis, which occurred in a normal individual at a small dose(150mg) without cross-reactivity with aspirin. This type of reaction supports heterogenei~ty of NSAIDs hypersensitivity and it may be caused by an other mechanism, not by cyclooxygenase inhibition.
Acetaminophen* ; Adult ; Anaphylaxis* ; Angioedema ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Aspirin* ; Bronchoconstriction ; Ear ; Eating ; Erythema ; Extremities ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Leg ; Male ; Population Characteristics ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Sensation ; Urticaria

Using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex(ABC) technique, 36 skin specimens from 30 patients with primary and secondary syphilis and a gastric mucosal specimen from a patient with secondary syphilis which were confirmed by clinical history, physical examination, the VDRL, FTA-ABS, TPHA, and 19s(IgM)-FTA test, were examined. The results were compared with that of the indirect mmunoperoxidase technique which was done by authors previously with same specimens. The following results were obtained. 1. Of the 37 specimens, 35(95%) were positive in ABC technique and 33 of the 37 specirnens(89%) were positive in the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. 2. The ratio of agreement of the results between the ABC and the indirect immunoperoxidase technique was 89%. 3. Most of the treponemes were located in the upper dermis, epidermis, and blood vessel walls in the arder named, and rarely in the lower dermis of the syphilitic skin lesions. There was no remarkable difference in histologic distribution of treponemes between the clinical stages and types of syphilitic skin lesions. :From the results, the ABC technique is considered to be an excellent method for detecting the treponemes in the suspected syphilitic lesions.
Avidin* ; Biotin* ; Blood Vessels ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Peroxidase* ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Syphilis ; Treponema pallidum* ; Treponema*

No abstract available.
Atherosclerosis* ; Hyperuricemia* ; Risk Factors*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of serum ECP as a marker of the severity of asthma and extent of airway inflammation. METHOD: We investigated 108 patients suffering from bronchial asthma, who were classified as mild intermittent(n=19), mild persistent(n=27), moderate persistent(n=42), and severe persistent(n=20) and 10 healthy controls. Atopy was defined as those who showed >2+ responses on skin prick test. Serum ECP, peripheral blood eosinophil, sputum eosinophil, and PEFR were measured on the same date and meth~acholine PC20 were determined within 2 weeks. RESULTS: Serum ECP levels were 10.1+- 2.0 ug/L in controls, and 29.1+- 23.6 ug/L in asthmatic patients. According to symptom severity, serum ECP levels were 22.9 +- 15.6 ug/L, 28. 6 +- 24.1 ug/L, 29.5 +- 22.2 ug/L, and 34.6 +- 31.2 ug/L in mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent asthmatic patients, respectively and there were no significant differences among four groups(p>0.05). Serum ECP levels correlated with peripheral blood eosinophil counts(r=0.48, p<0.01), but not with sputum eosinophil, PEFR, and methacholine PC20 levels. There was no significant difference in serum ECP level between atopic and non-atopic asthma(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Single measurevment of ECP level at clinic could not represent the severity of asthma.
Asthma* ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Methacholine Chloride ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Skin ; Sputum

Using the indirect immunoperoxidase and FTA ABS complement techniques, 36 skin specimen: from 30 patients with primary and secondary syphilis and a gastric mucosal specimen from a patient with secondary syphilis which were confirmed by elinical history, physical examination, VDRL, FTA ABS, TPHA, and 19s(IgM)-FTA test, were examined. The follwing results were obtained. l. Of the 37 specimens, 33(89%) were positive in the indirect immunoperoxidase techique and 26 of the 37 specimens(70g) were positive in the FTA ABS complement technique. Of the 17 specimens, 12(71%) were positive in the darkfield examination. 2. The ratio of agreement of the results between the indirect immunoperoxidase and FTA ABS complement techniques was 81%, The ratio of agreement of the results between the indirect immunoperoxidase technique and darkfield examination was 82%. 3. Most, of the treponemes were located in the upper dermis, epidermis, and blood vessel walls in the order named, and rarely in the lower dermis of the syphilitic skin lesion. There was no remarkable difference in histologic clistribution of treponemes between the clinical stages and types of syphilitic skin lesions. From the results, the indirect immunoperoxidase technique is considered a superior method than the FTA ABS complement technique and darkfield examination for detecting the treponemes in the suspected syphilitic lesions.
Blood Vessels ; Complement System Proteins* ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques* ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Syphilis ; Treponema pallidum* ; Treponema*

Eccrine chromhidrosis(colored sweating), resulting from the contamination of the sweat by dyes, pigment from microorganisms such as those of Piedraia or Corynebacterium, or other chernicals, is a very rare disease. We report a case of eccrine chromhidrosis which revealed dark-brown colored pigmented spots analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray microassay and scanning electron microscopy, which were thought to be composed of silver iodide(AgI) formed by the conjugation of silver components from outside and iodide components of eccrine sweat, on the face, postauricular area, legs, and finger tips.
Coloring Agents ; Corynebacterium ; Fingers ; Leg ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Rare Diseases ; Silver* ; Sweat