[The study of seasonal variability in the rehabilitation of bronchial asthma]

The aim of the study was to ascertain whether the seasons of the year influence the course of mild or moderate bronchial asthma, and to assess the effectiveness of respiratory kinesitherapy. In outpatients one month cycles of respiratory kinesitherapy were performed (twice a week for 45 min.) and were still repeated three times in the next seasons of the year. Spirometric and psychological examinations and also the self-evaluation of dyspnea were performed before and after each cycle. Additionally PEF was self-measured by the patients every day. It has been shown that seasons of the year influence neither the values of spirometric parameters of lung ventilation, the circadian rhythm of PEF, nor the effectiveness of respiratory kinesitherapy. However, the repeated cycles of effective breathing favourably influenced the psychic condition and reduced the subjective feeling of dyspnea, as well as improved the quality of asthmatics' life.

[Biology of house dust mites (Acari: Astigmata: Pyroglyphidae)]

This article is a first part of the rewiev of the house-dust-mite-atopy problem data. It includes informations on biology of these mites with emphasis of medical aspect and control. We hope that these informations will be of considerable interest to many readers because of the greatly increased investigations into the role of house dust mite sensitivity in allergic diseases.

Grass pollen immunotherapy induces highly cross-reactive IgG antibodies to group V allergen from different grass species

Sera from two groups of patients receiving grass pollen immunotherapy were tested on IgG reactivity with group V allergen from six different grass species. One group of patients was treated with a mixture of 10 grass species, and the other with a mixture of five. Only Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata, and Phleum pratense were present in both mixtures. Although Anthoxanthum odoratum and Secale cereale were absent from the mixture of five, IgG responses to Ant o V and Sec c V were comparable in both patient groups. This reactivity was inhibited for 92-99% with L. perenne extract, illustrating the cross-reactive nature of the IgG antibodies. The presence of A. odoratum and S. cereale in the mixture resulted in only minor amounts of species-specific anti-group V IgG. These results indicate that application of just one grass species in immunotherapy might be sufficient to induce an IgG response that covers other relevant Gramineae species as well.

[Natural history of allergic reactions to Hymenoptera insect bites]

In 30 patients suffering from systemic allergic reactions following Hymenoptera insect bites risk factors have been evaluated. Life-style, place of living, patients' age, sex and the presence of atopy have been considered. Moreover, the clinical course and value of the intracutaneous quantitative tests have been analysed and their value in both the diagnosis and prognosis of the said reactions have been assessed. Significant correlation between the results of quantitative diagnostic tests and severity of the hypersensitivity to insect poison has been found. A phenomena of the spontaneous diminished skin reactions has been noted. It has been found that only an individual analysis of the natural history might be a base for the choice of appropriate therapy.