Non-sensitized Subjects Research Articles

The Effects of Sequential Exposure to Acidic Fog and Ozone on Pulmonary Function in Exercising Subjects

In Southern California coastal regions, morning fog is often acidified by the presence of nitric acid (HNO3). Peak exposure to ozone (O3) usually occurs in the afternoon and evening, after the fog has dissipated. To determine whether fog containing HNO3 might enhance pulmonary responses to O3, we studied a group of healthy, athletic subjects selected for lung function sensitivity to O3. On 3 separate days, the subjects exercised for 2 h in atmospheres containing HNO3 fog (0.5 mg/ml), H2O fog, or clean, filtered air. After a 1-h break, they exercised for an additional 3 h in an atmosphere containing 0.20 ppm O3. Surprisingly, the mean O3-induced decrements in FEV1 and FVC were smaller after exercise in each fog-containing atmosphere than they were after exercise in clean, filtered air. The mean (+/- SEM) O3-induced decrements in FEV1 were 26.4 +/- 5.3% after air, 17.1 +/- 3.7% after H2O fog, and 18.0 +/- 4.3% after HNO3 fog, and in FVC they were 19.9 +/- 4.7% after air, 13.6 +/- 2.8% after H2O fog, and 13.6 +/- 4.2% after HNO3 fog.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of noise during sleep with reference to noise sensitivity and habituation

The effect of road traffic noise was investigated among noise-sensitive and noise non-sensitive subjects in a two-week laboratory study. Physiological effects on heart rate and body movements in connection with noise events were found, neither of which decreased toward the end of the noise period. A significant effect on sleep quality was found only among the sensitive subjects. The negative influence of noise on sleep quality, mood and performance was just as pronounced after the last as after the first noisy nights. Preliminary results from a laboratory study on the importance of the number of noise events showed that there is a threshold for effects on sleep quality around 10 events/night for 60 dBA. For 50 dBA, a significant decrease in sleep quality was seen at 64 events/night. Results from a field study in areas characterized by heavy noise suggest that noise during night hours causes different psycho-social and medical symptoms and that decreased sleep quality is more frequent among noise-sensitive individuals.

Biological activities of broad bean ( Vicia faba L.) extracts cultivated in south anatolia in favism sensitive subjects

Aqueous extracts of a different variety of fresh broad bean seeds obtained from a favism endemic area in Turkey, were incubated with blood from sensitive and non-sensitive (control) subjects. Red blood cells were characterized by a whole blood glutathione (GSH) and a deficiency of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activity. As the decrease in GSH percent is taken as an index of haemolytic activity, the test results were as following: Sakiz, Milas-Region, French broad bean extracts reduced the blood GSH levels 48%, 70%, 46% and 53%, respectively, in favism sensitive subjects. Active principles which are responsible for the haemolysis (Vicine and Convicine) were isolated from broad beans and their effects on GSH levels of blood were 99% and 81%, respectively, in favism sensitive subjects and 33.3% and 19% in normal subjects.

ダニ（Ｄ．Ｆ．）特異的ＩｇＧ抗体の測定 抗原結合ポリスチレンチューブを用いるｒａｄｉｏｉｍｍｕｎｏａｓｓａｙ

There are various methods of measuring allergen-specific IgG antibodies. However, each assay method has its merits and drawbacks, and there has been no established assay method.We attempted to assay allergen-specific antibody by the sandwich method using polystyrene tubes and investigated the assay conditions.The optimal concentration of the antigen used for coating the tube was found to be 2μg/ml, and the proper dilution of the test serum was 50-fold. The inhibition test demonstrated the specificity of this reaction system. Within- and between-assay variations were small. Thus, this assay method proved to be fit for use. A stability test was performed to examine how long the tube-coating antigen was stable. The antigen was found to be stable for up to 3 days.This method showed that the serum of subjects sensitized with Dermatophagoides farinae for at least 6 months contained a significantly higher titer of D. farinae-specific IgG antibody than did the serum of non-sensitized subjects.

Modulation of Fc receptors of thymus‐derived lymphocytes by antigen E in ragweed‐sensitive and ragweed non‐sensitive subjects

In ragweed-sensitive and ragweed non-sensitive subjects the proportions of T lymphocytes bearing receptors for the Fc portion of IgG (T gamma) and IgM (T mu) were examined as obtained from the blood, and after treatment in vitro with ragweed antigen E or concanavalin-A. The proportion of T gamma and T mu cells, from the peripheral blood of ragweed-sensitive and ragweed non-sensitive persons, untreated in vitro, were not statistically different. However, when T cells from ragweed-sensitive subjects were exposed to ragweed antigen E, the T mu subpopulation was significantly increased (P less than 0.001) without change in the T gamma population. The reverse change occurred when cells of ragweed non-sensitive subjects were treated with antigen E; there was an increase in the T gamma subpopulation (P = 0.01) but no change in number of the T mu cells. Cells from both the sensitive and non-sensitive groups showed increase in number of T gamma and reduced numbers of T mu cells when incubated with concanavalin A. Since T gamma and T mu cells appear to have a regulatory function on B lymphocyte differentiation and antibody production, the pattern of responses of T gamma and T mu subpopulations in vitro to antigen E in ragweed-sensitive and ragweed non-sensitive subjects may reflect a difference in the cellular control of the immune response to ragweed antigen E.

Effects of atmospheric electricity on some substrates of disordered social behavior.

Epidemiological data indicate that increased small positive air ionization due to changing weather conditions is associated with increases in industrial and automobile accidents, suicide, and crime as well as depression, irritability, and interference with central nervous system (CNS) function. Laboratory research is less consistent, with several studies reporting no effects on mood or performance indicative of CNS disturbance. We have designed an experiment that begins to resolve these contradictory data by examining individual differences in response to small positive air ions. Analysis of these data indicates that whereas mood changes were present for most subjects when exposed to positive ions, assessment of individual differences in susceptibility was essential for detecting effects on performance and physiological activation. For most subjects, mood changes induced by ion exposure were characterized by increased tension and irritability. For susceptible (ion-sensitive) subjects, skin conductance measures showed depressed activation and reaction time increased during exposure to ions. For non-sensitive subjects, skin conductance measures revealed increased activation, with no effects of ions on reaction time.

Measurement of lymphocyte activation by a chromatin topo-optical reaction. Mechanism and specificity of the test.

A rapid inexpensive method is presented for detecting peripheral blood lymphocyte chromatin activation by the neutral red "topo-optical" reaction, which causes strong and easily measurable birefringence in the lymphocyte nuclei. This reaction can be enhanced by fixing the cells with 150 mM/l NaCl in 70% ethanol and/or by treating the unfixed cellular suspensions with 0.2 M/l HCl to remove histones. In histone-removed preparations, 30 min DNase I treatment almost completely abolished the birefringent reaction, whereas RNase treatment resulted in only 18% loss. Chromatin activation induced by enzyme inhibition increased chromatin birefringence significantly. The same phenomenon could be induced in sensitive subjects' lymphocytes by specific antigens or haptens much more rapidly. The monocytes were not activated to a significant extent. In non-sensitive subjects different kinetics of antigen or hapten-dependent activation and no cytotoxic effects have been observed. Depletion of T-lymphocytes in vivo in SLE patients or by in vitro treatment with 0.5 mM/l KCN as well as with 0.02% trypsin has caused a significant drop in the mean chromatin birefringence. The effect of trypsin was reversible.

Detection Of Human Contact Sensitivity To Dinitrochlorobenzene By The Migration Inhibition Test

The migration inhibitory factor (MIF) production of peripheral lymphocytes following exposure to dinitrophenylated microsomes derived from both human (DNP-hy-Mic) and guinea pig (DNP-gp-Mic) epidermis was quantitated to detect human contact sensitivity to dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). The lymphocytes from nonsensitized subjects did not generate MIF following exposure to either antigen. With DNP-gp-Mic as the antigen, MIF production was noted in only 1 out of 6 DNCB-sensitized subjects and was not significant statistically. With DNP-hu-Mic as the antigen, highly significant MIF production was observed in all 12 sensitized subjects ( p less than 0.0005). In order to confirm MIf production by sensitized lymphocytes following stimulation by DNP-hu-Mic, the subjects were actively sensitized with DNCB and MIF production was assessed before and after sensitization. Remarkable MIf production was noted in the lymphocyte cultures after sensitization, although no significant MIF production was observed before sensitization. MIF production of the sensitized lymphocytes cultured in the presense of DNP-hu-Mic generally correlated well with the results of patch testing, but not with the intensity of the skin test.

Studies on the Contact Sensitization of Man with Simple Chemicals

Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) coupled to peripheral blood erythrocytes or leukocytes forms a particulate complex, DNCB-antigen. The addition of DNCB-antigen induced blastogenesis and DNA synthesis in leukocyte cultures from DNCB-sensitized human subjects and not in leukocyte cultures from nonsensitized controls. In general, sensitized subjects who displayed a higher degree of cutaneous reactivity to DNCB, as manifested by duration and intensity of dermatitis, also showed a greater blastogenic response to DNCB-antigen in vitro. This quantitative correlation, however, was not invariant. Certain soluble factor(s), or lymphokines are released following the addition of DNCB-antigen to leukocyte cultures prepared from some sensitive subjects who were rechallenged one or more times with DNCB. These lymphokines induce blastogenesis in secondary target leukocyte populations from nonsensitized subjects. Extended studies are presented which slow little or no lymphokine activity in peripheral blood leukocyte cultures during a primary immune response, despite high degrees of blastogenic activity in response to DNCB-antigen. Significant lymphokine activity was observed only following additional rechallenge with DNCB. Blastogenesis and skin reactivity specific for DNCB have been shown to develop at about the same time during a primary immune response. This, along with the quantitative correlation shown in this communication, suggests that both processes probably reflect thymic-dependent cellular immunity. The appearance of lymphokine activity following rechallenge with DNCB suggests that DNCB-induced lymphokines may represent an amplifying mechanism of the cellular immune response that involves recruitment of previously uncommitted lymphocytes.

Transformation of lymphocytes from sensitized and non-sensitized subjects using vaccinia antigen

Bei 15 Pocken-geimpften und 10 Pocken-ungeimpften Personen wird die Lymphozyten-transformation durch Vaccinia-Antigen untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, das Vaccinia-Antigen eine spezifische Stimulation sensibilisierter Zellen bewirkt. Die dabei in vier Fallen beobachtete Erhohung der Transformationsrate von Lymphozyten durch enzephalitogenes Protein (basisches Protein) kann noch nicht geklart werden.

Basophil degranulation: A new method of observation and its correlation with skin testing

For improved study of the atopic reaction, we have devised a new method of assessing degranulation of the human basophil. The procedure involves the concentration of basophils from 20 ml. of peripheral blood, incubation of the basophil concentrate with dilutions of antigen extract, counting of nondegranulated basophils, and comparison of the maximal percent degranulation of the test suspensions with a control. A significant difference in degranulation between the control and test suspensions constitutes a positive test. In a group of 17 ragweed-sensitive patients, the mean maximal per cent degranulation was 77.4 per cent. In a group of 13 nonsensitive subjects, the mean maximal per cent degranulation was 8.8 per cent (p < 0.01). The procedure is reproducible, specific, and correlates with the results of skin testing.

Cytology of tuberculin reaction.

The cytology of tuberculin reaction as an example of delayed hypersensitivity was investigated by using the skin window technic. The inflammatory reaction to purified protein derivative (PPD) in sensitized subjects did not differ essentially from that in non-sensitized subjects. The data show that the cytology of delayed hypersensitivity reaction consists of an ordinary inflammatory reaction during the first 24 h.

A Method for Evaluating Sunscreen Protection from Longwave Ultraviolet

A method for assaying the ability of a sunscreen to protect against longwave ultraviolet radiation is described. Subjects were photosensitized to this radiation by oral administration of demethylchlortetracycline and the efficacy of the sunscreen was tested by subsequent exposure to filtered sunlight. Non-sensitized control subjects were similarly exposed. Interpretation of results observed by direct inspection were compared with those derived by examination of photographs.

The inflammatory exudate in delayed hypersensitivity

So far, the delayed immune reactions have been the least understood of all antigen-antibody reactions. Recent investigations have shown that they have profound biological functions in conditions in which the defense against macromolecules recognized as foreign is a central factor. The histological changes have been studied, particularly by biopsy, but the cellular exudate has been almost ignored. The exudate in delayed immune reactions had not, before the present investigation, been the subject of systematic studies by the skin window technique. All the experiments were carried out on human subjects. Delayed hypersensitivity reactions were produced experimentally by using heteroantigens (DNCB, tuberculin, and diphtheria toxoid), normal homologous lymphocytes, and autoantigen from thyroid extract in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The exudate in the delayed cellular processes was found to differ considerably from the nonspecific inflammatory exudate-basophilic and to a lesser extent eosinophilic leukocytes being a new and constant finding, especially during the second day of reaction. They were not observed in concurrent control experiments on the same subject with physiological saline or in nonsensitized subjects. In Walzer's immediate reaction the exudate did not differ in cellular sequence from that in nonspecific reactions. On the basis of these experiments it may be permissible to advance the hypothesis that the basophilic leukocyte acts as a biological amplifier in delayed immune reactions, which are constantly taking place in the organism, in which cellular integrity is to be maintained and foreign antigens appear. The basophilic cells may convert certain stimuli, induced by antigen-antibody reactions, to chemical responses. Persistent liberation of histamine affords the possibility of an afflux of immunologically competent cells. A supply of acid mucopolysaccharides increases the connective tissue content of amorphous compounds and possibly organizes edema fluid into a gel. The aim of the reactions appears to be, in particular, limitation and, if possible, elimination of the foreign antigens from the organism.

Studies of Rickettsia mooseri Cell Walls

Summary Immunologic studies were performed in mice, guinea pigs and man with cell wall and cytoplasmic fractions of Rickettsia mooseri obtained by mechanical disruption. On a weight basis, cell walls were more effective antigens than either whole rickettsiae or cytoplasmic fraction in the following tests: typhus group complement-fixation and hemagglutination tests and stimulation of antitoxic immunity in mice and anti-infectious immunity in guinea pigs. Cell walls also elicited a delayed type skin reaction in hypersensitive human subjects and a toxic skin reaction in nonsensitive subjects. It was concluded that the antigens involved in these tests were located in or on the cell wall.

The lymphocyte stimulation test in penicillin hypersensitivity

This study was undertaken to investigate the usefulness of the lymphocyte stimulation test in detecting immediate type hypersensitivity to penicillin in humans. For cultures from both penicillin-sensitive and nonsensitive subjects there was no statistically significant difference in response between the control and penicilloyl-polylysine treated lymphocytes or between the control and potassium benzyl penicillin G treated lymphocytes. Possible reasons for these negative results are discussed and much of the pertinent literature is reviewed.

Tolerance to Large Weekly Doses of Primaquine and Amodiaquine in Primaquine-Sensitive and Nonsensitive Subjects

Tolerance to Large Weekly Doses of Primaquine and Amodiaquine in Primaquine-Sensitive and Nonsensitive Subjects

The tolerance to large weekly doses of primaquine and amodiaquine in primaquine-sensitive and non-sensitive subjects.

The tolerance to large weekly doses of primaquine and amodiaquine in primaquine-sensitive and non-sensitive subjects.

Experimental tuberculous meningitis in rabbit. II. Effect of hydrocortisone on the hypersensitivity reaction of the meninges.

Introduction There is considerable clinical and experimental evidence to suggest that the hypersensitivity response of the leptomeninges to tuberculoprotein is a major factor in the course of tuberculous meningitis. 1 The intrathecal injection of tuberculin in nonsensitized subjects causes no significant meningeal reaction, whereas in those sensitized it produces a marked pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid, 2 which apparently reflects an acute nonspecific meningitis because of hypersensitivity of the leptomeninges to the presence of tuberculoprotein. Likewise, it has been found that the injection of living tubercle bacilli into the cisterna magna of rabbits induced an immediate inflammatory meningeal reaction only in those animals which had already been successfully sensitized by subcutaneous injections of tuberculoprotein. 3,4 It seems that this nonspecific allergic inflammation may be the dominant factor and one determining the gravest clinical signs in the very early stages of tuberculous meningitis of acute onset in humans. 5 In view

Tobacco smoking and physical performance.

In an attempt to determine the effect of tobacco smoking upon athletic performance an investigation of 13 college students was conducted--8 habitual smokers and 5 nonsmokers--in 1948-1949 and 1949-1950. Exercise consisted of performing on a bicycle ergometer a prescribed amount of work comparable to a 1-mile run on the track in the shortest possible period of time. Each subject served as his own control by either smoking or abstaining from smoking. The period of abstinence from smoking was from 7-10 days. The average riding time for all but one subject was better when they did not smoke. This was statistically significant for the group. Abstinence from smoking for 1 week showed improvement in a tobacco-sensitive subject and no effect in nonsensitive subjects. Reports made by the subjects concerning how they felt before and during the rides had no apparent connection with their performances. The nonsmoking rule is a wise precaution for an athletic team for a relatively large proportion of the team may consist of tobacco-sensitive men.