Asja Stipić-Marković

Decrease in CD23+ B Lymphocytes and Clinical Outcome in Asthmatic Patients Receiving Specific Rush Immunotherapy

Rush immunotherapy (RIT) has been documented as useful in the treatment of patients with allergic bronchial asthma. To investigate the mechanisms of its action, we studied changes in the serum levels of total IgE, allergen-specific IgE and IgG4, and expression of CD23 on peripheral blood B cells in patients receiving RIT. Twenty patients with perennial bronchial asthma were evaluated before the beginning of RIT, as well as 6 weeks and 6 months later. Compared to pretreatment values, the level of Der-p-specific IgG4 and IgE significantly increased after 6 weeks and 6 months of RIT, while the total serum IgE remained unchanged. Furthermore, after 6 months of RIT, the percentage of CD23+B cells and its CD23 receptor density significantly decreased. Since the symptom score improved and the need for medication decreased, we evaluated RIT as a useful procedure. After 6 months, 30% of patients did not have an asthma attack, with no medication in the last month, while 10% of them were asthma free for the last 3 months. No significant correlation between the clinical improvement, and in vitro changes was found. Furthermore, the observed in vitro changes were not significantly different in patients who responded with clinical improvement, compared to those with unchanged intensity of asthma. In conclusion, during specific RIT we found a significant increase in Der-p-specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies, as well as a moderate decrease in CD23+ B cells and its CD23 receptor density. These findings suggest a change in the lymphokine profile of patients receiving specific immunotherapy, and that the inhibition of IL-4-induced B cell stimulation may be hypothesized as the most important mechanism.

A feasibility study of realtime telemedicine in Croatia using Internet videoconferencing

We explored the feasibility of realtime telemedicine in Croatia using Internet videoconferencing. A 33 kbit/s link was established between a team of specialists in the General Hospital Sveti Duh in Zagreb and a general practitioners clinic in Selca, on the island of Brač. During a two-week study, 16 patients (median age 51 years) were studied. Twenty-one teleconsultations (seven initial and 14 follow-up visits) were conducted, 13 with a specialist in internal medicine, six with a surgeon and two with a neurologist. In 18 cases (86%) telemedicine successfully replaced hands-on examination. The mean duration of the teleconsultations was 7.2 min (initial visits 7.4 min, follow-up visits 7.1 min). Each computer system cost about US

Improving asthma control through telemedicine: a study of short-message service.

700. The total connection cost for the study was US

Visoka prevalencija kožne senzitizacije na inhalacijske alergene u školske djece iz Zagreba, Hrvatska

4.95. The teleconsultations saved the patients US

Živjeti s alergijama

272 in travel costs. We suggest forming a permanent on-line specialist service connected to networked clinics via the Internet to improve access to health-care in Croatia.