| FOR EMBARGOED RELEASE Sunday, March 21, 2004, 12 p.m. Eastern Time |
 |
|
| Contact | ||
|
Advances in the treatment of immunodeficiency disorders Loss of allergy to aeroallergens in children between ages two and four years Michael R. Simon, MD, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, and colleagues tested 339 children enrolled in the Childhood Allergy Study in suburban Southeast Michigan. Children were tested at both age 2 and 4 years for sensitization to dust mite, dog, cat, short ragweed and timothy grass weed. Results showed that 165 of the 339 children originally tested at age 2 had a positive response to at least one of the allergens. Upon retesting at age 4, 61 children (37%) who originally tested positive became negative to all allergen tests. 104 of the children tested positive and 109 tested negative at both ages 2 and 4. Also, researchers discovered that addition of a cat or dog to the home was associated with loss of sensitization to all allergens. These findings have significant implications for the long-term assessment of clinical allergy in young children as well as for the study of the immunological effects of allergen-injection immunotherapy. HIV-related risk factors for asthma in children Faina Gutin, MD, and colleagues from Wayne State University, evaluated asthmatic children with HIV infection to determine HIV-related risk factors for asthma diagnosis and asthma exacerbations in children. Twenty four of 85 HIV infected children had been previously diagnosed with asthma by a physician. In 65% of these children, asthma was diagnosed within 3 years of starting highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV. In 22 of the 24 children with HIV and asthma, the CD4+ T cells were either restructured though HIV therapy of had never been depleted at the time of asthma diagnosis. Through the course of the study, researchers recorded 64 asthma exacerbations. They found no association between viral load fluctuation and asthma exacerbations. Poor adherence/compliance with HIV medication did not increase asthma exacerbations as well. IgG replacement by the subcutaneous route a safe alternative A study by Kimberly A. Duff, RN, BSN, and colleagues from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, tried to determine whether IgG preparations licensed for use intravenously (IV) or intramuscularly (IM) could be administered the subcutaneous route. Researchers studied 11 antibody-deficient patients receiving IgG therapy through subcutaneous infusions rather than intravenously. They found that after over 1,500 subcutaneous infusions were given, no systemic reactions or migraines occurred. Only one patient had a significant local reaction and returned to IV therapy. The reasons for using the subcutaneous route include poor IV access, problems with adverse effects from IV infusions such as migraines or severe nausea and vomiting, and the convenience of self/home administration. Natural killer cells and bone marrow transplant in SCID SCID is a congenital syndrome in which significant parts of the immune system either are absent or do not function, including T-cells, B-cells and sometimes Natural Killer cells. The disease is fatal unless patients receive treatment such as a bone marrow transplant, which allows the development of a working immune system. Since patients with SCID do not have working T cells, they are unable to reject bone marrow transplant grafts and thus do not receive chemotherapy prior to transplants in some centers. Natural killer cells are thought to have a role in the acceptance or rejection of bone marrow transplants. However, there has been some concern that patients with SCID who have NK cells before transplant or develop them afterwards would reject their transplant grafts. Rebecca G. Piltch, MD, The Permanente Medical Group, Pleasanton, CA, and colleagues at Duke University Medical Center, examined the potential effects of NK cells on the outcome of bone marrow transplants in patients with SCID. Researchers found no significant difference in the number of natural killer cells prior to transplant between the patients who later developed normal T cell function (a marker of graft acceptance and immune-system function) and those who did not. Researchers concluded that the presence of natural killer cells before a bone marrow transplant was not associated with failure to accept a transplant graft. Green Tea binding to CD4 a model of inhibition of HIV infection EGCG is the main active component of green tea, the nonoxidized, unfermented product of the leaves from the evergreen plant, Camellia sinensis. It is believed that EGCG is responsible for the vast array of presumed health benefits, such as the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have also shown that EGCG has a protective effect against HIV infection by binding to the CD4 molecule, effectively preventing its subsequent binding to the HIV glycoprotein envelope. Using high-resolution imaging, Theron G. McCormick, MD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, and colleagues, developed a model of the EGCG molecule binding to the CD4 molecule. The researchers located several potential sites on the CD4 molecule where the binding could take place. These sites are previously known to participate in the binding of the HIV virus. Researchers are continuing to investigate molecular modeling to better define the nature and power of the binding effects of EGCG to the CD4 molecule. These studies were presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), taking place March 19-23, 2004 in San Francisco. The AAAAI represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,500 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries. The AAAAI serves as an advocate to the public by providing educational information and a physician referral directory through its Web site at www.aaaai.org. # # # Editor's Notes:
|