J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL

FEBRUARY 2008

S22 AbstractsSA

TU

RD

AY

83 Relationships Between Ragweed (RW) Sensitive Patients'Rhinitis Outcomes Questionnaires (ROQ), Residence, And RWPollen Counts

D. Dalan1,2, K. Brohaugh3; 1University of North Dakota, Fargo, ND,2Allergy And Asthma Care Center, Fargo, ND, 3Navigation Technology,

Fargo, ND.

RATIONALE: Monitoring pollen counts from a central station is the

current approach as a surrogate for aeroallergen exposure of sensitive

individuals. Studies on total pollen counts suggest distances between

counting stations from 5.6 up to 30 km apart as significant for patients,

without patient data. We now report significant relationships between RW

sensitive patients’ ROQ, RW pollen counts, and their residences’ distance

from a National Allergy Bureau (NAB) counting station.

METHODS: We followed 79 RW sensitive patients from 2000-2005

using the ROQ (www.acaai.org), analyzed yearly ROQs and total RW pol-

len counts from August–September, and then used ArcPad, geographic

information software to determine distance between pollen counter and

patient residence.

RESULTS: Total ROQ scores were inversely related, as the distance

increased away from the counter, p 5 0.03. The average ROQ score of 35

was significantly highest, p 5 0.02 only within patient zip codes adjoining

the counter. The RW pollen counts correlated only with ROQ scores of

residences within 19 km away from the counting station, Spearman’s

rho 5 0.9, and p 5 0.037.

CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests RW pollen counts are relevant

to patients’ ROQ within 19 km of the Fargo NAB station. Variability in

patient sensitivity, space-time exposure, bioaerosol potency, geographical,

and plant distributions helps explain prior discrepancies of distances. This

new information may account for these confounding factors in explaining

meaning of specific, not just total pollen counts, and gives aeroallergen

reporting added functional–patient relevant information. This will assist in

locating counting stations, interpretation of pollen counts, and improve

aerobiology–outcomes studies in research and clinical care.

84 Effect of Sampling Height on the Concentration of AirborneFungal Spores

A. A. Khattab, E. Levetin; University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK.

RATIONALE: Aerobiological monitoring sites are commonly located on

the roof of high buildings; however, natural exposure usually occurs nearer

to the ground level. The aim of this study was to compare the concentration

of airborne fungal spores at human respiration level (1.5 m above the

ground) and at roof level (12 m height).

METHODS: Air samples were collected using two Burkard volumetric

7-day spore traps from 1 July to 31 October 2005. One sampler was located

on the roof of a building at the University of Tulsa at 12 m above ground,

and the second sampler was placed in the courtyard of the building at 1.5 m.

Burkard slides were analyzed for fungal spores by light microscopy at

10003. The results were statistically analyzed by (t test) to compare the

concentration of airborne fungal spores at the two levels.

RESULTS: The ground sampler had significantly higher concentrations

of basidiospores, Penicillium/Aspergillus type spores, and smut spores

than the roof sampler (p < 0.05). Also, concentrations of Curvularia,

Epicoccum, myxomycete, and total spores were higher but not significantly

higher (p > 0.05). By contrast, the roof sampler registered significantly

higher concentration of ascospores, Alternaria, Drechslera, and other

spores than the ground sampler (p < 0.05). The roof sampler captured

higher concentrations of Cladosporium, Nigrospora, and Pithomyces

spores as well, but with no significant difference (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Respiration level and rooftop level sampling show

some significant differences in the air spora that may impact human

exposure for sensitive individuals.

Funding: University of Tulsa Research Office

85 Etiology of Viral Wheezing Illnesses in Children from Birth toAge 6 Years

T. E. Pappas1, K. A. Roberg1, M. D. Evans2, R. E. Gangnon2, W. Lee1,

J. E. Gern1, R. F. Lemanske, Jr.1; 1University of Wisconsin School of Med-

icine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 2University of Wisconsin Popula-

tion Health Sciences Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Madison, WI.

RATIONALE: Viruses are the main causes of hospitalization for wheez-

ing illnesses in early childhood; however, the spectrum of viruses that

cause outpatient wheezing illnesses is incompletely understood.

METHODS: To address this question, nasal lavage samples were obtained

in the first 6 years of life during symptomatic respiratory illnesses as part of

the Childhood Origins of Asthma Project (COAST). Samples (n 5 1864)

were analyzed by standard methods and multiplex PCR (Multicode PLx

Assay, EraGen Biosciences) for common respiratory viruses.

RESULTS: In the first 6 years of life 40% (n 5 742) of all illnesses

included wheezing. RV and RSV were the main causes of wheezing

illnesses in infancy. 24% of the wheezing illnesses in year 1 were found to

have multiple viruses, which were uncommon (<8%) after year 1. The

percent of wheezing illnesses in which no virus was identified gradually

increased from age 0-1 (9%) to age 5-6 (22%), and these occurred mostly in

winter months. Although wheezing illnesses overall decrease in children

from birth to age 6 years, in asthmatic children (n 5 73) the number of

wheezing illnesses peaked at age 2-3 years, and then declined thereafter.

Surprisingly, in year 6, 8 separate viral groups were associated with

wheezing illnesses in children with asthma.

CONCLUSIONS: Viral illnesses are the major cause of wheezing

illnesses throughout childhood, although non-viral wheezing appears to

increase slowly with age. Although RV is most frequently isolated during

wheezing illnesses, there are a variety of other viruses that contribute to

childhood wheezing in asthma.

Funding: NIH grants M01 RR03186, R01 HL61879, and P01 HL70831

86 Increased Growth Factors during Acute Exacerbation of AsthmaProvoked by Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection in Children

H. Chung, S. Kim, S. Kwon; School of Medicine, Catholic University of

Taegu, Taegu, REPUBLIC OF KOREA.

RATIONALE: Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is frequently associ-

ated with acute exacerbation of asthma and may play a role in the patho-

genesis of chronic asthma. Impaired pulmonary function lasts for long

time after the initial infection. Several growth factors are known to be as-

sociated with angiogenesis and fibrosis in chronic airway inflammation.

Recent studies have shown that M. pneumoniae infection induces the ex-

pression of growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),

transforming growth factor (TGF)-b1 and platelet-derived growth factor

(PDGF)-BB. The aim of our study was to examine if these growth factors

increased in the children during acute exacerbation of asthma provoked by

M. pneumoniae infection.

METHODS: The children who were admitted with acute exacerbation of

asthma with the evidence of M. pneumoniae infection were enrolled

(Group1). The patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia without the previ-

ous history of any wheezing or asthma (Group2) and the patients with

asthma exacerbation but without M. pneumoniae infection (Group3)

were also studied. The levels of VEGF, TGF-b1 and PDGF-BB were mea-

sured in plasma samples collected on admission by ELISA in three patient

groups and controls.

RESULTS: The plasma levels of VEGF, TGF-b1 and PDGF-BB signif-

icantly increased in group1, but not in group 2 compared with in controls.

In group 3, only PDGF-BB was significantly higher than in controls.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed significantly increased plasma

levels of growth factors during acute exacerbation of asthma provoked

by M. pneumoniae infection. It suggests that these factors might contribute

to the development of chronic asthma in children after M. pneumoniae

infection.