epiglucan and Rhinitis

Nasal congestion is the main symptom in common upper respiratory diseases in childhood. Intranasal administration of sympatheticomimetics decongestants is commonly adopted for this symptom. The Italian Drug Agency stated a warning against the use of these drugs in children under 12 years of age. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy on nasal symptoms and the safety of a new medical device based on colloidal silver and carbossimetyl beta glucan compared with saline solution treatment in a group of children (0-12 years) affected by viral rhinitis.. Hundred consecutive outpatient children (0-12 year old), affected by common cold syndrome with evident nasal obstruction were randomly assigned to two type of intervention: group 1. receiving colloidal silver and carbossimetyl beta glucan; group 2. receiving saline solution. Each subject underwent clinical history and objective examination of rhinosinusal district at enrollment. Upper respiratory pathologie-related symptoms were specifically evaluated by using the Canadian Acute Respiratory Illness and Flu Scale (CARIFS).. A significant improvement of CARIFS score was observed into the two groups. The score improvement of these two treatment was confirmed in all the age sub-group. We observed a statistically significant difference in mean post-treatment CARIFS score and CARIFS globas VAS (Visual Analogic Scale) in children of group 1 compared with children in group 2 (2.28 ± 1.58 vs. 5.08 ± 3.39; P<0.001 and VAS: 1.87 ± 1.38 vs. VAS: 3.34 ± 2.19; P=0.012, respectively). At the end of treatment, 90% of subjects in group 1 resulted completely recovered, whereas 10% experienced some degree of complications (otitis, tracheitis, bronchitis). In group 2 a complete recovering was achieved in 66 % of subjects, the remaining 34 % developed complications. Tolerability profiles were similar in the two groups with no statistical differences in side effects in all age subgroups.. Despite both treatments reached significative improvements in CARIFS global score and VAS and in physical examination of nasal mucosa and secretion at the end of the therapy, colloidal silver and carbossimetyl beta glucan showed a better performance with a significant difference in mean post-treatment CARIFS global score and CARIFS VAS compared to treatment with saline solution.

Topics: beta-Glucans; Child; Child, Preschool; Colloids; Humans; Infant; Nasal Obstruction; Prospective Studies; Respiratory Tract Infections; Rhinitis; Severity of Illness Index; Silver Compounds

Topics: Asthma; beta-Glucans; Eczema; Ergosterol; Fungi; Humans; Rhinitis

Topics: Asthma; beta-Glucans; Eczema; Ergosterol; Fungi; Humans; Rhinitis

Qualitative reporting of home indoor moisture problems predicts respiratory diseases. However, causal agents underlying such qualitative markers remain unknown. In the homes of 198 multiple allergic case children and 202 controls in Sweden, we cultivated culturable fungi by directly plating dust, and quantified (1-3, 1-6)-β-D-glucan and ergosterol in dust samples from the child's bedroom. We examined the relationship between these fungal agents and degree of parent or inspector-reported home indoor dampness, and microbiological laboratory's mold index. We also compared the concentrations of these agents between multiple allergic cases and healthy controls, as well as IgE-sensitization among cases. The concentrations of culturable fungal agents were comparable between houses with parent and inspector-reported mold issues and those without. There were no differences in concentrations of the individual or the total summed culturable fungi, (1-3, 1-6)-β-D-glucan, and ergosterol between the controls and the multiple allergic case children, or individual diagnosis of asthma, rhinitis, or eczema. Culturable fungi, (1-3, 1-6)-β-D-glucan, and ergosterol in dust were not associated with qualitative markers of indoor dampness or mold or indoor humidity. Furthermore, these agents in dust samples were not associated with any health outcomes in the children.

Topics: Asthma; beta-Glucans; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Dust; Eczema; Ergosterol; Fungi; Housing; Humans; Infant; Rhinitis

Topics: Asthma; beta-Glucans; Eczema; Ergosterol; Fungi; Humans; Rhinitis

Topics: Asthma; beta-Glucans; Eczema; Ergosterol; Fungi; Humans; Rhinitis

To assess if (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, a microbial cell wall agent normally present in pollen, has the ability to produce pollenlike response, sensitive persons received a nasal deposition of two doses of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan. The percentage of eosinophils and amount of eotaxin were measured in nasal lavage 30 minutes and 24 hours after challenge. No effect could be demonstrated. The absence of an inflammatory response after (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan application confirms earlier findings in inhalation studies.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adolescent; Adult; beta-Glucans; Case-Control Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eosinophils; Humans; Inflammation; Nasal Mucosa; Rhinitis

Exposure to microbial agents in the composting industry may cause work related airway inflammation. Nasal lavage (NAL) has been proposed as a noninvasive method to assess such effects in population studies.. Pre- and post-shift NAL were performed in the workers of a compost plant visited in 1995 (n = 14) and 1996 (n=15), of whom only four participated in both surveys. Total cells, cytokines and other inflammation markers were measured in NAL fluid, and pre-shift levels and post/pre concentration ratios were compared with NAL results obtained in the same periods in 10 and 9 controls, respectively, and with levels of airborne exposure to microbial agents endotoxin and beta(1,3)-glucan as measured in personal air samples.. Job-title specific exposure levels in the first survey ranged from 75 to 527 EU/m(3) for endotoxin and from 0.54 to 4.85 microg/m(3) for beta(1,3)-glucan. In the second survey these values were lower, 29-285 EU/m(3) and 0.36-4.44 microg/m(3), respectively. In the first survey pre-shift NAL concentrations of total cells, MPO, IL-8, NO and albumin were significantly (1.1-4.8 fold) higher in compost workers than in controls. Post/pre ratios for various markers were significantly (1.2-3.2 fold) higher in compost workers in both surveys. NAL cells were mainly neutrophils, while eosinophils were only incidentally observed. A weak relation with exposure was found for pre-shift levels of MPO, uric acid and urea in the first survey.. Occupational exposure of compost workers may cause acute and possibly (sub-)chronic inflammatory reactions in the upper airways, presumably induced by non-allergenic pro-inflammatory agents like endotoxins and beta(1, 3)-glucans.

Topics: Adult; Aerosols; Air Microbiology; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Albumins; beta-Glucans; Blood Proteins; Endotoxins; Eosinophil Granule Proteins; Eosinophils; Follow-Up Studies; Glucans; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Inflammation Mediators; Interleukin-8; Male; Nasal Lavage Fluid; Nitric Oxide; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Peroxidase; Population Surveillance; Rhinitis; Ribonucleases; Statistics as Topic; Urea; Uric Acid; Waste Products