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First finding of Simulium sublacustre Davies 1966 in Central Europe. A contribution to the Simuliid fauna in the Aller-Leine-area. Simulium reptans, S. argyreatum, and S. sublacustre have been identified for the first time in the Aller-Leine-area. It is the first finding of S. sublacustre in Central Europe. The habitats are briefly described. The taxonomy of S. sublacruste is discussed, and the main taxonomic characteristics of the female are described. Zusammenfassung Simulium reptans, S. argyreatum und S. sublacustre werden erstmals fur das Aller-Leine-Gebiet nachgewiesen. Fur S. sublacustre ist es der Erstnachweis in Mitteleuropa. Die Fundorte werden kurz beschrieben. Auf die Taxonomie von S. sublacustre wird hingewiesen. Die wichtigsten taxonomischen Merkmale des Weibchens werden beschrieben.

The goal of this study was to show whether a correlation exists between the intensity of specific respiratory muscle training and the improvement of strength and endurance in inspiratory musculature in patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD). Sixteen patients with NMD (13 with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and 3 with spinal muscular atrophy) performed inspiratory muscle training (IMT) at home with a special training apparatus for 9 months. Maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (PI(MAX)) and 12s-maximum voluntary ventilation (12s-MVV) test served as parameters for inspiratory muscle strength and endurance, respectively. In patients whose inspiratory vital capacity (VC(in)) declined by less than 10% during the year before training began (n = 10), a significant positive correlation was found between the number of successfully completed strength and endurance exercises and the improvement of PI(MAX) (P < 0.05) and 12s-MVV (P < 0.05). In patients whose VC(in)-decline exceeded 10% (n = 6), indicating more progressive respiratory system involvement of the disease, no significant correlation between the improvement of PI(MAX) and 12s-MVV and the intensity of training was found. In patients with NMD, the effects of IMT-runs are dose-dependent, provided that the respiratory system involvement of the disease is only slowly progressive.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the factors that may contribute to the sensitization to flour in baker's apprentices, and to predict this type of sensitization with a stepwise logistic regression model. Of the total of 258 baker's apprentices, 54 (20.9%) exhibited specific IgE development against flour allergens (wheat, rye, and/or barley). Allergologic variables, such as the total IgE level and IgE specific to grass pollen, tree pollen, weed pollen, molds, and animal dander, were found to correlate strongly with the sensitization to flour. However, the correlation between the presence of other manifest allergies and the sensitization to flour was weak. The presence of shadowing of the paranasal sinuses on the radiograph (mucosal thickening, opacity, air/fluid levels, and/or polypous shadowing) correlated with flour sensitization as well as with the leukocyte and lymphocyte counts in peripheral blood. Of the lung function data, only total lung capacity (in percentage of the predicted values) weakly correlated with the sensitization to flour. We were able to predict flour sensitization with a sensitivity of 63%, a specificity of 90%, and an efficiency of 84% by using the parameters that allow for the presence or absence of IgE specific to grass pollen and tree pollen, the presence or absence of radiographic shadowing, and total lung capacity in percentage of the predicted values.

We investigated the incidence of allergic sensitization and the risk factors underlying sensitization in 214 urban children exposed to horse chestnut pollen. By means of the Phadezym RAST, we found IgE specific to horse chestnut pollen in 12.6% of the urban children, whereas it occurred in only 1.9% of control subjects recruited from a rural area. Reports of allergic symptoms in spring during the horse chestnut pollen load coincided with the presence of specific IgE in 5.1% of the urban group as against 1.4% of the recruited from the rural area. Environmental factors other than those related to urban living and higher horse chestnut pollen counts had no significant impact on allergic sensitization. Increased total IgE levels (greater than 100 kU/l), however, and the sensitization to pollen of other species significantly raised the odds for sensitization to chestnut pollen. They were highest in highly atopic children with sensitization to pollen, especially to that of plane trees (OR = 73.9). These results suggest the relevance of horse chestnut pollen because of the high allergic sensitization rate among urban children, and they should also be borne in mind when it comes to the planting of trees in urban areas.

Sensitization to mould spores was investigated in six patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis, eight patients with idiopathic lung fibrosis, and six healthy controls by immunodiffusion and immunofluorescent testing of personal spore samples. The new technique of personal spore sampling with the Burkard personal volumetric air sampler and indirect immunofluorescent test for detection of spore-specific IgG and IgM confirmed that five patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis and four with lung fibrosis were actually exposed and sensitized to moulds. Personal spore sampling and subsequent immunofluorescent tests represent sensitive tools for detection of individual mould sensitization and air quality control.

The risk factors for sensitization to pets was investigated in 169 male pupils. A recent or former contact with cats, dogs, and guinea pigs in own home was reported in 52 (30.8%), 42 (24.9%), and 20 (11.8%) study subjects, respectively. Clinically manifested allergy was found in two probands to cats and in two others to guinea pigs, three of them had formerly had pets and one proband with allergic rhinitis to cats had never had any pet. Sensitization to animals and aeroallergens was investigated with Phadezym-RAST. Only owners of cats had a higher incidence of cat sensitization than probands without direct contact (26.9% versus 10.3%, P less than 0.01). No statistically significant difference in sensitization to dogs and guinea pigs was found in groups with and without these pets. A strong correlation existed between sensitization to pets and other aeroallergens (house dust mite: P less than 0.025, birch pollen: P less than 0.0001, mugwort: P less than 0.0001, and grass pollens: P less than 0.0001). No association was found between sensitization to pets and smoking history, bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine or radiological findings of the paranasal sinus.

Respiratory allergies and subclinical sensitization to aeroallergens were investigated in 129 rural and in 222 urban probands. The incidence of respiratory allergies was not significantly higher in the urban residents. Sensitization to aeroallergens was investigated with Phadezym RAST (house dust mite, Cladosporium, orchard grass, birch pollens) and the Phadiatop multi RAST and found to be significantly more frequent in polluted than in unpolluted areas. Allergen-specific IgE was detected n 37.8% of urban probands and in 25.6% of rural probands with Phadezym RAST (P less than 0.025) and a positive Phadiatop multi RAST was found in 43.7% versus 32.6 (P less than 0.05).