Mean Peak Counts Research Articles

LATE SUMMER/FALL GRASS POLLEN SEASON: RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OVER A 6 YEAR PERIOD

Introduction Retrospective analysis of cumulative grass pollen data was performed to confirm a grass pollen season in late summer/fall in metropolitan Philadelphia. Methods A review of pollen data collected over 6 years from Burkard air samplers was done at 2 sites. Qualitative and quantitative pollen analysis was performed according to National Allergy Bureau standards. Grass counts were reported in grains per cubic meter per 24 hours (gr/m3/24hr). Results In addition to spring grass pollination, a second grass pollen season was identified yearly at 2 locations, Philadelphia/urban and Mount Laurel, New Jersey/suburban. Combined station data revealed that the second grass season started mid-late August (range August 15th- 28th), peaked September 9th (range August 19th -September 15th) and ended mid September/early October (range September 17th to October 6th). The mean peak grass count was 28.93 gr/m3/24hr in Philadelphia/urban and 30.93 gr/m3/24hr in Mount Laurel/suburban. There was no statistically significant difference in mean peak counts (mean difference 2.0, CI -16.29 to 20.29). Conclusions Our results confirm a second, clinically relevant grass pollen season in both Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. This later season may reflect growth of warm season grasses (big bluestem and indian grass), native to Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Pollen levels were sufficient to provoke a significant allergic response in sensitive individuals. Knowledge of this late summer/fall grass season may help identify individuals who may benefit from grass immunotherapy for those with late summer/fall grass pollinosis. Figure. Composite average grass pollen values 2012–2017

The importance of nonnative Pacific oyster reefs as supplementary feeding areas for coastal birds on estuary mudflats

Abstract A combined empirical and modelling approach was used to investigate the value of a Pacific oyster reef to feeding shorebirds and to observe and predict the impact of reef clearance on bird populations in the Colne Estuary, a protected area in south‐east England. Macro‐invertebrate biomass and numbers of feeding birds were measured on a Pacific oyster reef, an adjacent uncolonized mudflat, and an area of mudflat that had been cleared of oysters 6 months previously. These data were used to parameterize an individual‐based model (MORPH) to predict the impact of clearance of the reef on winter bird survival. Feeding success and intake rates of Eurasian oystercatcher, Eurasian curlew, and Eurasian common redshank were also recorded during the course of a winter. The macro‐invertebrate diversity and biomass within both the oyster reef and the cleared area were significantly greater than the adjacent uncolonized mudflat. The density and biomass of large invertebrate prey in the mudflat were low, yet the Pacific oyster reef had much higher densities and biomass of large prey, especially annelids and shore crabs. The winter assemblage of feeding birds differed significantly between each of the areas. The mean total number of feeding birds was significantly greater on the uncolonized mudflat; however, mean peak counts, feeding success rate and prey intake rate of Eurasian oystercatcher were greater on the reef. Significantly greater intake rates and feeding success rates were also observed on the reef for Eurasian curlew, a species of conservation concern. Field data and model predictions show that Pacific oyster reefs can provide valuable supplementary feeding areas for some shorebirds, yet other species avoided the reef. However, as estuaries vary in available feeding resources, it is important that the value of reefs and their management is determined regionally.

ID 165 – Evaluation of jitters from neuromuscular junction and near tendon with concentric needle electrode

Purpose is to compare the properties of motor unit potentials voluntarily recorded from neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and 5 cm distally from NMJ (near tendon) of the biceps muscle. Methods From 5 patients with anterior horn disease (AHD), 3 patients with myopathy and 2 normal controls 20 single-fiber like potentials were recorded by 25 mm concentric needle electrode (CNE) from both NMJ and near tendon while low frequency filter was 1 kHz. Jitter was described by mean consecutive difference (MCD). We also calculated peak counts in biceps muscle. Results The mean MCD values from NMJ and tendon were 20.7 μs and 23.7 μs in normal controls; 36.8 μs and 29.1 μs in patients with myopathy; 52.4 μs and 48.1 μs in patients with AHD respectively. The mean peak counts from NMJ and tendon were 1.9 and 1.95 in normal controls; 2.1 and 3.0 in patients with myopathy; 3.9 and 4.6 in patients with AHD respectively. Conclusions Jitter calculated from tendon and NMJ could be related to variability of the conductivity of the muscle fiber.

Role of peripheral μ-opioid receptors in inflammatory orofacial muscle pain

The aims of this project were to investigate whether inflammation in the orofacial muscle alters μ opioid receptor (MOR) mRNA and protein expressions in trigeminal ganglia (TG), and to assess the contribution of peripheral MORs under acute and inflammatory muscle pain conditions. mRNA and protein levels for MOR were quantified by reverse-transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively, from the TG of naïve rats, and compared with those from the rats treated with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in the masseter. TG was found to express mRNA and protein for MOR, and CFA significantly up-regulated both MOR mRNA and protein by 3 days following the inflammation. The MOR protein up-regulation persisted to day 7 and returned to the baseline level by day 14. We then investigated whether peripheral application of a MOR agonist, d-Ala 2, N-Me-Phe 4, Gly 5-ol-enkephalin acetate salt (DAMGO), attenuates masseter nociception induced by masseteric infusion of hypertonic saline (HS) in lightly anesthetized rats. DAMGO (1, 5, 10 μg) or vehicle was administered directly into the masseter 5–10 min prior to the HS infusion. The DAMGO effects were assessed on mean peak counts (MPC) and overall magnitude as calculated by the area under the curve (AUC) of the HS-evoked behavioral responses. Under this condition, only the highest dose of DAMGO (10 μg) significantly reduced MPC, which was prevented when H- d-Phe-Cys-Tyr- d-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH 2 (CTAP), a selective MOR antagonist, was co-administered. DAMGO pre-treatment in the contralateral masseter did not attenuate MPC. The same doses of DAMGO administered into CFA-inflamed rats, however, produced a greater attenuation of both MPC and AUC of HS-evoked nocifensive responses. These results demonstrated that activation of peripheral MOR provides greater anti-nociception in inflamed muscle, and that the enhanced MOR effect can be partly explained by significant up-regulation of MOR expression in TG.

AMG 531, a Thrombopoiesis-Stimulating Protein, for Chronic ITP

Most current treatments for chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) act by decreasing platelet destruction. In a phase 1-2 study, we administered a thrombopoiesis-stimulating protein, AMG 531, to patients with ITP. In phase 1, 24 patients who had received at least one treatment for ITP were assigned to escalating-dose cohorts of 4 patients each and given two identical doses of AMG 531 (0.2 to 10 microg per kilogram of body weight). In phase 2, 21 patients were randomly assigned to receive six weekly subcutaneous injections of AMG 531 (1, 3, or 6 microg per kilogram) or placebo. The primary objective was to assess the safety of AMG 531; the secondary objective was to evaluate platelet counts during and after treatment. No major adverse events that could be attributed directly to AMG 531 occurred during the treatment period; 4 of 41 patients had transient post-treatment worsening of thrombocytopenia. In phase 1, a platelet count that was within the targeted range (50,000 to 450,000 per cubic millimeter) and at least twice the baseline count was achieved in 4 of 12 patients given 3, 6, or 10 mug of AMG 531 per kilogram. Overall, a platelet count of at least 50,000 per cubic millimeter was achieved in 7 of 12 patients, including 3 with counts exceeding 450,000 per cubic millimeter. Increases in the platelet count were dose-dependent; mean peak counts were 163,000, 309,000, and 746,000 per cubic millimeter with 3, 6, and 10 microg of AMG 531 per kilogram [corrected], respectively. In phase 2, the targeted platelet range was achieved in 10 of 16 patients treated with 1 or 3 mug of AMG 531 per kilogram per week for 6 weeks. Mean peak counts were 135,000, 241,000, and 81,000 per cubic millimeter in the groups that received the 1-mug dose, the 3-mug dose, and placebo, respectively. AMG 531 caused no major adverse events and increased platelet counts in patients with ITP. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00111475 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).

“Cag PAI HAVE A FUNCTION RELATED WITH ADHESION TO GASTRIC EPITHELIAL CELLS”

ObjectiveThe cag pathogenecity island (PAI) is a major virulence factor of Helicobacter pylori (H.p). Andherent ability of H. pylori to the gastric epithelial cells is an important initial step for bacterial virulance. The hpaA and bab A2 genes are thought to be major adherent‐associated genes. Some of cag genes have partial homology to the flagellar aparatus or other adhesion related gene. It is not fully investigated whether cag PAI is related with the adherent ability to the gastric epithelial cells. To evaluate the interaction between the structure of Cag PAI and adherent ability to the gastric epithelial cells.MethodsThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot analysis were used to determine the structure of cag PAI in Japanese 236 clinical isolates. The PCR and Southern blot analysis were used to verity the presence or absence of hpaA and bab A2. Adherent ability H. pylori to the gastric epithelial cells (KATO cells) was examined in the tested strains by flow‐cytometric analysis (FACS) using anti‐H. pylori antibody.ResultsSeven cag PAI partial deleted strains of tested 236 strains (3.0%) were found by PCR and southern blot analysis, and which showed 3 pattern in deleted region within cag PAI. All cagG‐deleted strains showed less ability of adhesion than CagG positive strains. The peak counts of the cells adhered with cagG deleted strains ( n = 4 ) were significantly lower than that of cagG positive strains ( n = 8 ) ( mean peak count ± SE ; 27.3 ± 2.9 vs 54.8 ± 4.9 ) by FACS analysis. All of cagG‐deleted strains posessed hpaA gene. Six of them possesed babA2 gene.ConclusionsOur results demonstrated that cagG‐deleted clinical isolates had less ability of adhesion to the gastric epithelial cells, even if hpaA and babA2 gene are present.

Thoracic Manifestation of Churg-Strauss Syndrome: Radiologic and Clinical Findings

To describe the radiologic and clinical findings of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) and its thoracic manifestations. We used retrospective analysis to review and characterize the radiographic, thin-section CT, and clinical findings of CSS. The study involved nine patients with CSS. The patients included four men and five women, whose ages ranged from 18 to 60 years (median, 35 years). Thin-section CT scans and chest radiographs were retrospectively analyzed by three radiologists in consensus. Clinical data were obtained by chart review. Histologic samples were available in eight patients. All patients had a history of asthma averaging 28 months (range, 4 to 72 months) prior to the initial symptom of vasculitis and marked peripheral blood eosinophilia (mean peak count, 8,726/microL; range, 3,000 to 32,000/microL; mean differential count, 41%; range, 19 to 67%). All patients had systemic vasculitis involving the lung and two to four extrapulmonary organs, most commonly the nervous system (n = 8) and skin (n = 7). Chest radiographs showed bilateral nonsegmental consolidation (n = 5), reticulonodular opacities (n = 3), bronchial wall thickening (n = 3), and multiple nodules (n = 1). The most common thin-section CT findings included bilateral ground-glass opacity (n = 9); airspace consolidation (n = 5), predominantly subpleural and surrounded by the ground-glass opacity; centrilobular nodules mostly within the ground-glass opacity (n = 8); bronchial wall thickening (n = 7); and increased vessel caliber (n = 5). Other findings were hyperinflation (n = 4), larger nodules (n = 4), interlobular septal thickening (n = 2), hilar or mediastinal lymph node enlargement (n = 4), pleural effusion (n = 2), and pericardial effusion (n = 2). In CSS, thoracic organs are invariably involved with additional diverse manifestations. The possibility of CSS should be raised in patients with a history of asthma and hypereosinophilia who present with thin-section CT findings of bilateral subpleural consolidation with lobular distribution, centrilobular nodules (especially within the ground-glass opacity) or multiple nodules, especially in association with bronchial wall thickening.

Ocular Microtremor in Oculomotor Palsy

Ocular microtremor (OMT) is a high frequency tremor of the eyes present in all individuals. Recent reports suggest that OMT may be a useful indicator of brainstem function. However, the actual origin of ocular microtremor remains controversial. This study aims to provide evidence that OMT has a neurogenic origin. The OMT activity of five subjects with unilateral oculomotor nerve palsy and one subject with complete unilateral internal and external ophthalmoplegia were recorded from both eyes of each subject using the piezoelectric strain gauge technique, with the normal eye acting as a control. Five parameters of OMT activity were studied in each subject: the peak count, the power of the high frequency peak, the percentage power between 60 and 100 Hz, the percentage power between 70 and 80 Hz, and the 10 dB cut-off point. In the five subjects with oculomotor nerve palsy, the mean peak count in the normal eye was 88.4 Hz (SD+/-16.9) and in the affected eye was 59 Hz (SD+/-8.6), P < 0.0096. There was also a fall in the peak power, the power between 60 and 100 Hz, and the power between 70 and 80 Hz. In subject six, who had complete opthalmoplegia, there was no evidence of OMT activity in the denervated eye. These results suggest that innervation of the extraocular muscles is necessary for normal OMT activity, and OMT therefore has a neurogenic origin.

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of herbaceous and woody pre- and post-digested plant material

Filtrate from pre- and post-digested plant material was exposed to 355-nm pulsed laser light and the subsequent laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) was recorded. Similarities and differences among spectra from 20 materials are discussed. Each material was replicated once, dried, ground, and exposed to chloroform (CHCl 3) for 24 h. The material represented aged (1 to 18 years old) plants from different herbaceous (grasses and forbs) and woody plant life forms. Mean peak fluorescence recorded among materials differed ( P<0.0001) in both wavelength and peak amplitude (counts) across the spectral range (387 to 788 nm). Peak fluorescence was evaluated within each of three arbitrary color categories, blue near 455 nm and red near 674 nm, while only 16 of the materials produced a green peak near 528 nm. In general, the blue and green fluorescence peaks were broad while the red peak was narrow. Mean peak counts were largest in the red range. Varying amounts of laser beam absorption occurred among the materials evaluated due to different concentrations of filtrate and different absorption efficiencies; therefore, amplitude data (counts) were not used to determine statistical differences among materials. To overcome difficulties attributed to the raw count data, red/blue, red/green and blue/green count ratios within replicates were calculated. Using all three count ratios in a multivariate analysis of variance, the 16 materials could be separated into nine different ( P<0.05) material groupings. The LIF technique may provide a reliable means to separate ground pre- and post-digested plant materials following further research into determining what fluorophores are producing the spectral signatures and how sample preparation affect peak wavelengths.

Induction of peritoneal fluid eosinophilia and/or monocytosis by intraperitoneal air injection.

We hypothesized that intraperitoneal air might be one of the causes of peritoneal fluid eosinophilia. To test our hypothesis, we injected 100-500 ml of sterile air intraperitoneally into 5 patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). All patients responded with a transient increase in peritoneal fluid nonerythrocyte cell count (peak counts ranging from 23 to 335 cells/mm3, mean peak count 140 +/- 125) lasting 4 days (after injection of 100 ml of air) to 7 weeks (after injection of 500 ml of air). In 2 patients, the cells were predominantly monocytes (80 +/- 6.5%), whereas in 3 patients, eosinophils predominated (63 +/- 12%), while monocytes (30 +/- 19%) also increased. Resolution of peritoneal fluid pleocytosis correlated temporally with absorption of subdiaphragmatic air. Our results suggest that intraperitoneal introduction of air into CAPD patients can induce peritoneal fluid eosinophilia and/or monocytosis.