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BackgroundPigeon fanciers have a 1 in 10 risk of developing Pigeon Fancier’s Lung (PFL), a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to inhaled pigeon antigens. This manifests as acute episodes of breathlessness, cough and fever after antigen exposure, which may progress to chronic dyspnoea and lung fibrosis. The precise disease mechanisms are unclear but both antibody and T cell responses specific for pigeon antigens are implicated. We wish to better understand immune responses against pigeon antigens in PFL to give new insight into the disease mechanisms and provide disease markers.MethodsWe studied the antibody and cellular immune response in fanciers attending pigeon shows. 77 completed a questionnaire of symptoms, performed spirometry and gave a blood sample, 32 of whom had symptoms of acute PFL. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and serum were extracted from the blood, and T cell and antibody responses were measured against pigeon serum and mucin using in-house well-characterised assays (ELISA and ELIspot, respectively), as well as flow cytometry and multiplex cytokine assays. These provided quantitative outputs of specific antibody titre and reactive T cells per million PBMC, validated using positive controls. Correlations between immune responses and disease symptoms were analysed.ResultsAll fanciers examined had significant antibody and T cell responses against pigeon serum and/or pigeon mucin antigen. A range of antibody avidities and isotypes were observed (Figure 1; n = 37; 2012 cohort), but only IgA appeared to correlate with symptoms score (p = 0.012). T cell responses to pigeon serum were measured in the form of proliferating cells positive for lung-homing receptors (alpha4beta1 integrin), and secreting gamma-interferon and large amounts of anti-inflammatory interleukin 10; but did not correlate with symptoms.Abstract P57 Figure 1 ConclusionsPigeon fanciers have high levels of antigen exposure and demonstrate intense antibody and cellular immune responses, but these correlate minimally with clinical symptoms. The pathogenesis of PFL is complex and may involve an inflammatory cell-antibody axis.

especially during the monsoon period, because of poor uidisation as a result of a high moisture content in the A selective crushing unit was installed at the feed coal. Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) of the Steel Authority ofIn the selective crushing unit, coal is fed from silos to India Ltd (SAIL) in March 1997 for better coal primary crusher units through two conveyors numbered preparation and improvement in coke quality with C14-A and C14-B. The system was designed for a maxirespect to M10, coke reactivity index (CRI) and coke mum moisture level of 8•5% in the feed coal. During the strength after reaction (CSR). However, the monsoon, the moisture level in coal increases beyond this selective crushing performance deteriorated level, leading to problems such as jamming of chutes and especially during the monsoon period, because of classi ers. Because of jamming, sometimes the classi ers poor fluidisation of coal due to a high moisture are bypassed in order to supply coal to service bunkers level in the coal charge. In the selective crushing continuously. This causes deterioration of coal crushing and unit at DSP, coal is fed from silos to primary in turn coke quality. crusher units through two conveyors, namelyAddition of an oil-water emulsion to a moist coal charge C14-A and C14-B. The system is designed for a not only increases the bulk density of coal1-3 but also maximum moisture level of 8•5% in the coal charge.improves the handling and the ow properties of the coal During the monsoon period, the moisture level of charge. This helps in producing coke of uniform and the coal increases beyond 8•5%, leading to improved quality and results in higher throughput from problems such as jamming of chutes and the ovens. Spraying an oil-water emulsion on a coal blend classifiers. Sometimes the classifiers are bypassed improves the owability of the coal by reducing its angle in order to supply coal to service bunkers of repose. The R&D Centre for Iron and Steel (RDCIS), of continuously. This causes deterioration of coal the Steel Authority Of India Ltd (SAIL), Ranchi, India has crushing and in turn coke quality. Addition of an designed and installed a system for oil-water emulsion oil-water emulsion to the coal blend reduces the spraying over a coal blend for the rst time at DSP. angle of repose and improves the bulk density ofWater is used along with oil for emulsi cation and as coal charge improving its flowability. It also allows a carrier of oil to increase the cover of bulk mass over a more coal to be charged per oven leading to an wide surface area of the coal feed. This gives economies in increase in oven throughput. The Research and the use of oil. The owability of the coal charge is improved Development Centre for Iron and Steel (RDCIS), to a great extent with a very small proportion of oil in the SAIL has designed and installed a system for oilemulsion. Further, a water-oil mixture is safer in respect water emulsion spraying over coal blend for the of re hazards. first time in DSP. The system has beenExperiments h...

International consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome: executive summary-workgroup report of the adverse reactions to foods committee,