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A Nespolo

Publications and source records attributed to A Nespolo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

HLA antigens in Italian multiple sclerosis patients.

We analyzed HLA-A, -C, -B, -DR and -DQ specificities in 104 Italian multiple sclerosis patients and in 905 healthy controls. The frequencies of HLA-A23, A26, Cw4, DR3 and, especially DR5 antigens were significantly higher in multiple sclerosis patients than in controls. Patients with progressive course were characterized by high frequencies of B7, B8 and DR3 antigens: Cw1 and DRw11 shows a negative correlation with the extent of intrathecal IgG production. These data confirm that the HLA system may influence the clinical expression and the immune responses to the disease.

HLA Antigens↗
PubMed1991

Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotype and function during dexamethazone treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis.

Five patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and three control patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated with dexamethazone during 14 days. The effect on peripheral blood T-cell subsets and on the proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and anti-mu antibody was analyzed. Before treatment, the proportion of CD3+ and CD4+ PBMC was similar in MS and control patients, but the proportion of CD8+ and DR+ PBMC was lower and the PBMC were less responsive to anti-mu stimulation in MS patients compared to controls. Steroid treatment induced reversible granulocytosis and lymphocytosis. CD3+ and CD4+ cells increased and DR+ cells decreased in MS patients but not in controls. Proliferation of anti-mu stimulated PBMC increased in MS-patients during the two weeks of treatment, but decreased in controls. The enhancement in the MS patients of pre-existing immune abnormalities suggests that a cautious attitude is warranted in the use of steroid treatment in chronic progressive MS.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

HLA and multiple sclerosis in Italy: a review of the literature.

HLA antigens of locus A, C, B, DR and DQ were typed in 104 Italian multiple sclerosis patients and in 905 healthy controls; the results have been compared with those published in the Italian literature. The Italian studies have been reviewed regarding the ethnic origin of the typed population and the corresponding prevalence of the disease. The data suggest a lack of association between A3 and B7 antigens and Italian multiple sclerosis and a relevance of other DR locus antigens (mainly DR4 and DR5), in addition to DR2, in the susceptibility to the disease.

HLA Antigens↗
PubMed1990

Double blind study of intrathecal beta-interferon in multiple sclerosis: clinical and laboratory results.

Sixteen patients with clinically definite MS admitted to a double blind randomised controlled trial of intrathecal natural beta-IFN were followed for a mean of 22 months including the six month treatment period. Clinical response, evaluated in terms of relapse frequency and of progression rate, showed an increase in relapse rate in treated patients during the six month treatment period and, overall, no benefit in treated versus placebo patients. Serial evaluations were made of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells, IgG, myelin basic protein and CSF and blood T-cell subsets. A rise in CSF IgG Index, MBP and DR+ cells in IFN-treated patients suggested an activation of intrathecal immune response in treated patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Immunoblotting techniques with picogram sensitivity in cerebrospinal fluid protein detection.

Agarose isoelectric focusing followed by blotting with nitrocellulose, nylon or polyvinylidene difluoride membranes, and immunochemical detection of cerebrospinal fluid IgG with various combinations of antisera, was evaluated. Polyvinylidene difluoride proved to be an easy-to-handle and reliable membrane for protein blotting. Among immunochemical visualization reactions, the most sensitive employed biotinylated goat anti-human IgG followed by streptavidin colloidal gold conjugate and silver enhancement in 20% w/v urea, allowing a sensitivity of less then 1 picogram IgG/band.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins↗
PubMed1989

CSF T-cell subsets in multiple sclerosis: relationship to cerebrospinal fluid myelin basic protein and clinical activity.

Cerebrospinal fluid myelin basic protein and cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood T-cell subsets have been studied in patients with multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory and non-inflammatory nervous system diseases. These biological parameters have been correlated with clinical disease activity. No changes in peripheral blood T-cell subsets were seen in multiple sclerosis patients. Low cerebrospinal fluid T8+ cells occurred only in multiple sclerosis, while high cerebrospinal fluid T4+ cells were detected both in clinically active multiple sclerosis and in inflammatory nervous system diseases. A close relationship was found between cerebrospinal fluid T4/T8 ratio and myelin basic protein in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Double-blind randomized trial of ACTH versus dexamethasone versus methylprednisolone in multiple sclerosis bouts. Clinical, cerebrospinal fluid and neurophysiological results.

30 patients with acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis were treated by ACTH, dexamethasone or methylprednisolone in a double-blind randomized study. Clinical parameters were assessed; cerebrospinal fluid and neurophysiological parameters (visual- and brainstem-evoked potentials) were evaluated at the beginning and at the end of treatment. Dexamethasone was more effective than ACTH and 6-methylprednisolone in shortening bout duration. Neither CSF nor neurophysiological parameters were significantly affected by therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

A simple immunoturbidimetric method for IgG and albumin quantitation in cerebrospinal fluid and serum.

We describe a simple immunoturbidimetric method for measuring both IgG and albumin in CSF and serum, which enables the calculation of CSF indices. For each protein, only one calibration curve is used for both CSF and serum samples. The assay protocol is simple and similar for both tests. Sensitivity and versatility of the method afford measurements over a very wide range of concentrations (approx. 0.007 to 94 g/l for IgG and 0.06 to 92.40 g/l for albumin). Precision studies (triplicates for 6 runs over 15 days) gave overall CVs: less than or equal to 2.9 and 4.9% for IgG in CSF (11.5 mg/l) and serum (10.28 g/l); less than or equal to 1.3 and 1.1% for albumin in CSF (115 mg/l) and serum (76.89 g/l). Comparison studies showed good correlation with radial immuno-diffusion (r greater than or equal to 0.995 and 0.976 for IgG and albumin) and rate nephelometry (r greater than or equal to 0.967 and 0.982 for IgG and albumin). Thus, the method under investigation proved to be reliable and appears to be particularly suitable for the routine work.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Double blind controlled randomized study on azathioprine efficacy in multiple sclerosis. Preliminary results.

The preliminary results of a double blind controlled prospective randomized trial of Azathioprine for therapeutic efficacy in 38 patients with Multiple Sclerosis are reported. Progression of the disease is significantly reduced in Azathioprine-treated group in comparison to Placebo-treated patients, but this effect is reached only after 3 years of treatment (P less than 0.025) regardless of the clinical course and without affecting relapse rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A dry-reagent strip for quantifying carbamazepine evaluated.

We examined a new colorimetric homogeneous immunoassay for carbamazepine based on the apoenzyme reactivation immunoassay system (ARIS) principle. The test, in dry-reagent strip format, is to be used with the Ames Seralyzer reflectance photometer. Within-run CVs (n = 20) were 3.0%, 2.7%, and 2.8% at 3.0, 6.1, and 12.1 mg/L; between-run CVs (n = 15, in 15 days) were 4.1%, 2.7%, and 1.9% at 6.0, 9.1, and 12.1 mg/L. Mean analytical recovery was 99.9 (SD 2.3)%. Results by this test (y) for clinical plasma specimens (n = 96) compared very well with those obtained by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (y = 1.01 x - 0.02, r = 0.995) and by liquid chromatography (y = 0.99 x + 0.14, r = 0.990). Bilirubin (45 mg/L), uric acid (145 mg/L), and various anticoagulants at about fourfold the usual concentrations did not interfere. High concentrations of cholesterol (4.9 g/L), triglycerides (3.8 g/L), and hemoglobin (4 g/L) caused slight positive interference. Carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide cross reacted only at greater than or equal to 5 mg/L. The two-point calibration line was validly stored for at least three weeks. Free carbamazepine also can be measured. The test is convenient and rapid (test time 80 s), and thus is particularly useful in all clinical settings where prompt testing is needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets in multiple sclerosis: monoclonal antibody analysis and correlations with clinical activity.

Enumeration of cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets (T-total, T-helper and T-suppressor) was performed by monoclonal antibody technique in 18 patients with Multiple Sclerosis and in 4 patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases. While no differences were observed in peripheral blood subsets among the various phases of the disease, a marked rise in cerebrospinal fluid helper-suppressor ratio was seen in acute relapses. The results give further support to the concept of a strict compartimentalization in immune response abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis patients.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗
PubMed1987

Quantitative determination of phenobarbital and phenytoin by dry-phase apoenzyme reactivation immunoassay system (ARIS).

We assessed the performance of the apoenzyme reactivation immunoassay system (ARIS) reagent strip tests for determination of phenobarbital (PB) and phenytoin (PHT) with the Seralyzer reflectance photometer. In the assay, the drug of the sample competes with a flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-drug conjugate for binding to a specific antibody; the unbound conjugate then activates apoglucose oxidase to reconstitute glucose oxidase, whose activity is kinetically monitored by a coupled chromogenic reaction. Within-run coefficients of variation (CVs) were less than or equal to 5.0% for PB and less than or equal to 5.6% for PHT; between-run CVs were less than or equal to 6.1% for PB and less than or equal to 6.5% for PHT. Mean analytical recoveries were 100.3% for PB and 100.2% for PHT. Test results were not significantly affected by bilirubin (5 mg/dL), hemoglobin (25 mg/dL), triglycerides (500 mg/dL), uric acid (15 mg/dL), or elevated levels of other antiepileptic drugs. Reagent strip tests correlated very well with substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay (r = 0.9923 and 0.9944 for PB and PHT, respectively), enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (r = 0.9941 and 0.9919), and gas-liquid chromatography (r = 0.9980 and 0.9960). These homogeneous competitive colorimetric immunoassays are particularly suitable for emergency use, for testing small batches of samples, wherever prompt results are needed.

Apoenzymes↗
PubMed1987

Prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid electrophoresis in optic neuritis and suspected multiple sclerosis.

The prognostic significance of cerebrospinal fluid electrophoresis and IgG-index has been investigated in 44 patients, of whom 10 had optic neuritis and 34 suspected, possible or probable multiple sclerosis. The predictive value of CSF oligoclonal banding for future disease dissemination is very high in the suspected multiple sclerosis subgroup, where after a follow-up of 4.4 years, 7 out of 7 band-positive patients displayed further disease activity. The absence of CSF oligoclonal bands seems to carry a relatively benign short-term (follow-up 3.4 years) prognosis in suspected MS cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis: intrathecal immunological response.

The intrathecal immune response is reported in a patient with cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. CSF IgM and IgG levels were significantly related to the favourable clinical evolution. IgM response was specifically directed against the pathological agent, while IgG were mostly non-specific. The data are discussed and compared with the other chronic infections of the central nervous system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

CFS oligoclonal bands in MS and other neurological diseases detected by agarose isoelectric focusing and electrophoresis.

Agarose gel isoelectric focusing (IEF) and electrophoresis (EF) were compared for detection of CSF oligoclonal bands in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological diseases. The CSF IgG/albumin ratio, the IgG-Index and the IgG synthesis per day in the CNS were also considered. IEF was highly sensitive, revealing oligoclonal bands in 100% of CSF from 40 clinically definite MS, while EF had a sensitivity of 70%. In 90 patients with other neurological diseases, IEF revealed oligoclonal bands in 25.5%, EF in 11.1%. The IgG-index was the most sensitive of the quantitative parameters.

Adolescent↗