Albumin In Children Research Articles

Lymphocyte responses to food antigens in patients with atopic dermatitis who are sensitive to foods

The proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to ovalbumin or bovine serum albumin in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) who are sensitive to hen's egg or cow's milk were significantly higher than responses of PBMCs of healthy children and hen's egg- or cow's milk-sensitive children with immediate symptoms. However, the percentages of positive RAST for hen's egg or cow's milk in the patients with AD were lower than percentages in the patients with immediate symptoms. In the patients with AD, there were no significant correlations between the proliferative responses of PBMCs and the RAST values. There were no significant differences of RAST scores among groups of patients having different degrees of severity of AD. The proliferative responses of PBMCs to ovalbumin or bovine serum albumin in patients with severe AD or moderate AD who were sensitive to hen's egg or cow's milk tended to be higher than responses of patients with mild AD, respectively, but there were no significant differences in those results. Taken together, the combination of RAST and the detection of proliferative responses of PBMCs to each food antigen is very useful in the diagnosis of hypersensitivity in children with AD who are sensitive to food allergens.

Aflatoxin—albumin adducts in human sera from different regions of the world

An immunoassay now permits the determination of human exposure to aflatoxin at an individual level and consequently allows a better assessment of the role of aflatoxin, and its interaction with hepatitis B virus infection, in the aetiology of liver cancer. Measurements of aflatoxin bound to serum albumin in children and adults from various African countries show that between 12 and 100% contain aflatoxin-albumin adducts, with levels up to 350 pg AFB1-lysine equivalent/mg albumin. In Thailand, lower levels and prevalence of this adduct were observed, while no positive sera were detected from France or Poland. Data are presented showing that exposure to this carcinogen can occur throughout life and the relevance of these observations to the understanding of the multifactorial aetiology of liver cancer in these countries is discussed.

Atrial natriuretic peptide and volume changes in children.

The effect of volume changes on the plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was investigated. In children with chronic renal failure predialysis plasma ANP was higher as compared to normal children and decreased significantly during hemodialysis. The decrease in plasma ANP correlated with body weight reduction. On the other hand, increase in plasma volume by infusion of albumin in children with nephrotic syndrome caused significant rise in plasma ANP and an increased natriuresis. Our data demonstrate that an expanded extracellular fluid volume and/or plasma volume appears to be a major stimulus for the release in ANP in children.

High specific activity I-131 and Tc99m-albumin for studying the cerebrospinal fluid circulation in infantile and childhood hydrocephalus.

The authors describe the techniques of isotope cisternography and ventriculography with high specific activity I131 and Tc99m albumin in children and adult patients. They have studied 35 patients including different type of obstructive and communicating hydrocephalus, microcephalic patients and patients with no intracranial pathology. The value, the limitations, and the potential damage of the test are discussed and the proper use of the two different tracers is assessed.

The effect of corticotropin (ACTH) on glomerular permeability to albumin in children with the nephrotic syndrome.

The effect of corticotropin (ACTH) on glomerular permeability to albumin in children with the nephrotic syndrome.