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A comparable effect of hyposensitization treatment in hay fever patients with aqueous and repository allergens has been noted by many authors. The repository technique, however, offered a great saving of time and reduced the risk of overdose reactions. Two groups of hay fever patients treated four years either with aqueous or alum-pyridine allergens were compared. It was shown that there are certain differences not only in the effect of the repeated therapy with aqueous or alum-pyridine allergens, but also in the immunologic response of both groups of patients.

In the course of hyposensitization treatment, a decrease of clinical and skin sensitivity of hay fever patients is usually associated with an immunologic response in blocking and serologically active antibodies. Two different groups of hay fever patients were compared: 50 untreated patients with high hypersensitivity to timothy allergen and patients with the same hypersensitivity after four hyposensitization treatments. The sera of both groups were taken at the same time and refrigerated at the temperature of -40&degree;C. The severity of symptoms was milder in cases with increased immunoglobulin contents after the treatment was finished.

The allergen binding capacity of atopic sera is a function not only of reagimic, but also of other types of antibodies. Using radio isotopic methods it was possible to follow the binding of antibody with antigen and to look for the relationship between the binding capacity and the clinical state of the patient. It is known that to a certain extent the clinical sensitivity may be expressed by the skin sensitivity of the patients. From this viewpoint an indirect relation between the binding activity and the grade of skin sensitivity might be expected.

In a woman suffering from IgE myeloma, hay fever and polyvalent respiratory and skin allergy the IgE monoclonal protein VL was isolated and investigated with respect to structural and functional properties. The amino acid sequence of 22 isolated peptides--especially of the biologically significant C2-C3 part--corresponded with that originally described by Bennich et al. (Immunol Rev 1978;41:3-23; Prog Immunol 1974;13:49-58). However, in mass spectrometry the sugar residues on ASN 99 (219) and 252 (371) were deficient in sialic acids. The native IgE VL protein precipitated with high intensity all mannose-specific lectins as concanavalin A (Con A) and was able to release histamine after triggering by these lectins. The same lectins also elicited more histamine release and more positive skin reactions in atopic than in healthy persons. In sera from atopic patients the binding of IgE on Con A Sepharose 4B column was stronger than in normal persons. It is suggested that changes in the IgE glycosylation state may contribute to IgE-mediated pictures of clinical allergy by the nonimmunological pathway.

The authors examined 536 children 10 years of age to evaluate their immune status and the development of allergies and recurrent respiratory inflammations. Altered resistance was found in as many as 47% of children, pollen allergy and atopic eczema in at least 10.5%, habitual rhinitis in 15.2%, asthma in 3.5% and recurrent inflammatory infections in 13.1%. A higher rate of alterations was found where environmental conditions were deteriorated. Elevated IgE, changes in IgG, IgA and IgM as well as increased levels of acute phase proteins suggest a relationship between the degree of immune impairment and clinical manifestations. Our results imply there are large numbers of children with altered immunity and point to the fact that in common practice only 14% of them are attended to by the clinical immunologist and thus receive causal treatment. It is therefore concluded that, in line with the expansion of noxious factors which accompany our civilization, more attention should be given to the development of immunity in the young population.

The authors assessed sperm-agglutination antibodies in infertile couples in 1980-1988, using the Kibrick test: in sera from 699 female patients, a positive result was found in 142 (20%) women, in sera from 352 men, in 6 (1.7%) sperm-agglutination antibodies were detected. Using the microagglutination test, they examined sera of 3501 sterile women; in 273 (6.8%) they found sperm agglutination up to 1:16, above titre 1:32 in 12 (0.4%) of the patients. Using the same test, they examined sera of 2803 men and found sperm-agglutination up to 1:16 in 21 (0.7%) and above 1:32 in 6 (0.3%). The most frequent type of sperm agglutination is aggregation of the heads; aggregation by tails or mixed agglutination are less frequent. In 3252 sterile women where no sperm-agglutination antibodies were found Kremer's test was negative in 1145 patients. The authors analyzed in 196 sterile women the ovulation mucus by the microagglutination test and found a high anti-spermatozoidal activity in 24 (12%) women. Concurrently an indirect MAR test was made. Antibodies against sperm cells were found in 24 (12.2%) of specimens in sIgA, in 8 (4.1%) in IgG, in 2 (2%) in IgM and in one sample (0.5%) in IgE. The indirect MAR-test in sera of 325 sterile women revealed a predominance of anti-spermatozoidal antibodies in IgG, in men in IgA. In seminal plasma the authors detected antibodies against sperm cells in sIgA. In seminal plasma the authors detected antibodies against sperm cells in sIgA and IgE.

In four areas with different types of atmospheric pollution 534 children of school age were examined for serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE), saliva IgA (sIgA), lysozymes (LYS) and acute phase reactants (alfa-l-antitrypsin - A1AT, alfa-2-macroglobulin -A2M, ceruloplasmin -CPL, transferrin - TRF). The children were divided into two groups: those with altered resistance (AR) comprising allergoses of all types and recurrent or persistent infections and those without the above health problems, i.e. healthy (H). There were more children with AR in areas with higher atmospheric pollution than in control areas. The frequency of AR was higher among boys than among girls. In the control area BN, a number of parameters in the AR group differed significantly from those in the H group. In areas with substantial atmospheric pollution these differences were generally less pronounced. Significant differences were found between the control and polluted areas in many indicators. In the area KO characterized by an intermediate degree of industrial pollution the means of the tested parameters were habitually elevated, whereas in the heavily polluted areas they were decreased. The most sensitive tests for evaluating differences between the areas were the levels of A1AT, LYS, and IgE, while the variations of sIgA, sLYS and CPL were less pronounced.

Alterations of the entire immunity profile of bronchial asthma patients have been studied following a half-year long Ketotifen treatment. It was observed that this drug leads to the normalization of the immunity state in a whole series of parameters and that it thus contributes on a large scale to the reestablishment of normal regulation. These findings may be utilized for expanding the possibilities of application of this preparation upon other immunopathological states that bronchial asthma and the atopic diseases.

The authors have watched more than 300 workers of various fodder manufactures in allergological, immunological and clinical way. The findings have been evaluated to the part of the exposition, hygiene and professional allergens. The symptoms of the latent sensitisation so as clinical symptoms after longer time of employment give evidence about a great importance and higher biological activity of the most fodders of modern farming and about new possibilities of the professional allergisation.

A further case of IgE myeloma in a 65 year old woman was described. An unusual picture was found in the urine where two IgE fragments, namely an incomplete Fc fragment and an IgE specific Fab fragment were excreted. The clinical picture supports the suggestion that IgE myelomas are very heterogenous.

A general scheme of long-term treatment of bronchial asthma and the author's own results of immunotherapy, prophylaxis and other experiences in controlling the disease are presented. The necessity of permanent hyposensitization and prophylaxis by Zaditen and Na-cromoglycate has been emphasized. The rising incidence of respiratory allergies makes it necessary to find new ways of collaboration of allergists and other specialists.

In a previous study the levels of nine serum and two salivary proteins were measured in a group of 80 children. Some significant differences of mean levels were found between the group of children, who remained well and who fell ill in the school year following the examination. In the present study the discrimination analysis was performed between both mentioned ill and healthy subgroups of children, referring to possible interaction of two protein tested. The comparison showed significant difference between double-protein combinations in 17 from 36 possibilities in girls subgroup. Relevant double combinations were assessed only in five of nine tested proteins: IgE, IgA, CPL, TRF and A 1-AT. Two combinations revealed the greatest significance: IgE with IgA, and IgE with CPL. No such significance was found in boys subgroup. The results suggest that prevalence of respiratory disease in influenced not only by previous levels of some single proteins, how it was found in the first paper, but also by the interactions of certain proteins.

Thirty-eight production workers exposed to Ni and 35 exposed to Co were examined for the content of Ni and Co in hair, the serum concentration levels of immunoglobulins, IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE, and serum proteins, alpha 2-macroglobulin (A2M), transferrin (TRF), alpha 1-antitrypsin (A1AT), ceruloplasmin (CPL), lysozyme (LYS), and alpha 1-glycoprotein (A1GP). Atomic absorption analysis of hair revealed that the respective geometric mean values of Ni and Co in Ni-exposed workers were 216.75 and 3.31 micrograms X g-1 and in Co-exposed workers 34.5 and 96.81 micrograms X g-1. These values were significantly higher than respective control values found in nonexposed individuals matched by age (Ni: 3.31 and Co: 0.38 micrograms X g-1). These findings suggest that hair analysis is a suitable method for the biological monitoring of exposure to these two metals. Tests for serum proteins revealed that nickel workers differed from controls by exhibiting significantly elevated IgG, IgA, and IgM levels; cobalt workers by a significant elevation of IgA level; and both exposed groups by a significant drop in the IgE level. A significant rise in the concentration (P less than 0.001-P less than 0.005) was also recorded in the case of A1AT, A2M, CPL, and LYS. The possible biomedical implications of these immunobiochemical findings are critically analyzed.

A semicohort of children, initial age about 11.5 years, from an exposure area near a secondary lead smelting plant (E group children) was examined for some humoral immune response parameters in the blood and saliva and compared to a group of control children matched by age living in a relatively unpolluted rural area (Co group children). All examinations were performed every autumn and spring over a period of 2 successive years, and the data included in the final analysis were only from children who had completed at least 3 of the 4 examination series performed. To sum up, children from area E showed a clearcut elevation of mean blood lead (Pb) levels with marked seasonal fluctuations peaking in spring; Pb levels in the blood of Co group children had no such season-related fluctuation patterns and tended to slightly decline over the two years of observation. Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratases (ALAD) levels in area E were of distinctly lower mean values than in area Co, but no correlation with mean blood Pb levels could be observed. Levels of IgG were more or less inversely correlative with Pb levels in both sexes, levels of IgM showed a distinct downward trend in E group children at all samplings. Total serum protein (SP) levels of children from area E showed a reverse correlation with plumbemia, secretory IgA (sIgA) concentrations showed a decrease in E group children of both sexes, but the values tended to converge with control values. Levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin (A 1-AT) showed marked season-related fluctuation patterns in Co children, the curves in E group children turned steeply upward from the third examination series on. Ceruloplasmin (CPL) levels in E group children had a clearcut upward trend at three subsequent blood samplings, the curves in Co group children continued to drop. Children from area E showed markedly higher frequency rates of abnormal values than did children from Co area.

Blood and saliva were collected in the autumn and spring from a group of schoolchildren (39 girls, 35 boys) with a mean age of 11.4 years. Serum immunoglobulin IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE, alpha 1-antitrypsin (A 1-AT), alpha 2 macroglobulin (A 2M), transferrin (TRF), ceruloplasmin (CPL), lysozyme (LYS) and pertussis (PE) antibody levels were determined. Calcium (Ca2+) and total serum protein levels were also determined. Secretory IgA (sIgA) and secretory lysozyme (sLYS) levels were assessed in the saliva. A highly significant drop in Ca2+ levels was found in the spring in boys, while in girls there was only a greater scatter of the values. Mean IgG, IgA and IgM values fell significantly in the spring in both sexes, but IgE levels fell significantly only in boys. PE levels rose significantly in the spring in girls. Among the other proteins, all the values rose in boys, except for TRF, whose levels fell. In girls, LYS and TRF levels rose, but all the other values fell. The coefficients of correlation between Ca2+ and the tested proteins showed a significant relationship only for A 2M and PE in girls and only for the total protein level in boys; in boys, the determination coefficient for sIgA and IgM was over 10%. The results do not testify to the existence of a close relationship between blood Ca2+ levels and Ig and other blood protein levels.