Coulter counter stks

The following clinical data were collected: sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and blood test results, such as serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE), eosinophil cationic proteins (ECP), and blood eosinophil counts. Serum total IgE levels measured using a Coat-A-Count Total IgE IRMA (Diagnostic Products Co., Los Angeles, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The number of peripheral blood eosinophils was counted using an automated hematology analyzer (Coulter Counter STKS; Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA, USA). Serum ECP levels were measured using a commercially available immunoCAP system (ThermoFisher, Uppsala, Sweden). The prevalence of comorbid atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, and sinusitis were determined by the subject's symptoms and the physician's assessment. The diagnosis of atopic dermatitis was based on the criteria of Hanifin and Rajka.16 The diagnosis of rhinitis was made based on the subject' history and rhinologic examination. They had recurrent symptoms of sneezing, rhinorrhea, and nasal stuffiness or itching apart from common cold during the previous year. Sinusitis was diagnosed by the presence of 2 or more following symptoms lasting at least 10 days; anterior and/or posterior mucopurulent drainage, nasal congestion/blockage, cough, facial pain/pressure/dullness, or a reduced/absent sense of smell.

Venous blood was collected from the median cubital vein at the initial screening visit (week -4), baseline (week 0), and weeks 4 and 8. Serum samples were stored at -20℃. The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay sets (BD PharMingen, San Diego, CA, USA). The peripheral blood eosinophil count and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level were measured using an automated hematology analyzer (Coulter Counter STKS; Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA, USA) and a Cobas c702 analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland), respectively.

Venous blood samples were obtained at the initial screening visit (week −4), baseline (week 0), and weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16. Serum samples were stored at −20°C. The serum IL-10 and IFN-γ levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using monoclonal antibody kits and standards (BD PharMingen, San Diego, CA, USA). The serum total IgE level was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using affinity-purified goat anti-human IgE antibodies (Vector Laboratories, Inc., Burlingame, CA, USA) as previously described.25 (link) The peripheral blood eosinophil count was measured by an automated hematology analyzer (Coulter Counter STKS; Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA, USA).

Serum concentrations of total IgE, specific IgE antibody to D. pteronyssinus, and specific IgE antibody to D. farinae were measured using ImmunoCAP assay (Phadia US, Portage, MI, USA). This measurement system has limitations of detection levels for total IgE (2–5000 kU/L) and for the allergen-specific IgE (0.1–100 kU/L). If the result of measurement was above the upper detection limit, serum concentration of total IgE was regarded as 5000 kU/L and serum concentration of allergen-specific IgE was regarded as 100 kU/L for statistical analysis. Peripheral blood eosinophil count was measured using an automated hematology analyzer (Coulter Counter STKS; Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA, USA).