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Biomedical subjects

A Perrella

Publications and source records attributed to A Perrella.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Immunological activation of human umbilical cord blood mast cells induces tryptase secretion and interleukin-6, and histidine decarboxilase mRNA gene expression.

Allergy is the result of a complex immune cascade leading to the disregulated production of Th2 cytokines, the generation of allergen-specific IgE-producing B cells and the subsequent activation and degranulation of mast cells upon allergen challenge. Mast cell effector function significantly influences the quantity, duration and magnitude of most allergic reactions. Here, using isolated human umbilical cord blood mast cells (HUCBMC) from CD34+ cells, activated with anti-IgE (10 microg/ml) in culture, we found an augmented release of IL-6, tryptase and histamine (p < 0.01 compared with control). In addition, in these cells anti-IgE (10 microg/ml) activated the expression of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) and IL-6. In these studies we describe a new biological activity of anti-IgE in inducing histidine decarboxylase and IL-6, suggesting that this cytokine may have an important effect on allergic and inflammatory diseases mediated by mast cells. Moreover, with these data we confirm the immunoregulatory and inflammatory function of mast cells.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed2006

Acute rejection after liver transplantation: Is there a specific immunological pattern?

The aim of the study was to assess various T-cell subsets and cytokine secretion patterns both in liver tissue and in the peripheral blood of 24 liver transplant patients to assess possible specific immunological involvement in early acute rejection episodes after liver transplantation. Particularly, we studied CD4+ CD7+, CD8+ CD38+, and CD4+ CD25+ T cells by flow cytometry, as well as contemporaneously, interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10 secretion by ELISpot to determine possible Th1-like immune responses and the immunomodulation expressed by Treg cells in acute liver rejection, respectively. As a control group we included patients transplanted without acute rejection. Early acute rejection within the first 4 weeks was proven histologically in 42% of patients. It was associated with a greater expression of CD4+ CD7+ and CD8+ CD38+ T cells in the liver than in the blood (P < .001). A contemporaneous reduced expansion of liver Treg cells was evident in patients with acute rejection (P < .001). Our data suggested that a preferential Th1-like immune mechanism operated in local fashion as characterized by a decreased presence in the liver and blood of Treg cells.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1↗
PubMed2005

A clinical-morphological study on cholestatic presentation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

To determine the association among the clinical, biochemical, and histological features of cholestasis, we analyzed all the relevant data of the patients recorded in our non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) database. We selected 20 NAFLD patients with abnormal transaminase levels, with both alkaline phosphatase >500 U/L and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase >250 U/L. Their histological features were compared with those of a group of patients with NAFLD matched for sex, age, and body mass index and of a group of patients matched for sex, body mass index and histological NAFLD grading/staging. Cases and controls satisfied, on histology, the criteria for NASH. The presence of cholestasis in our patients was correlated with injury of the bile duct epithelium, characterized by cholangitis, swelling, variable bile duct loss, and bile stasis. Compared to NAFLD patients of similar age, sex, and body mass index, the cholestatic group had total and severe histological liver impairment. When we analyzed the group of patients histologically identified on the basis of identical stage and grade severity, we could not find any evidence of significant bile damage, compared to cases, despite the control group's significantly older age. NAFLD patients with biochemical cholestasis have a histological picture of bile damage; they have more advanced histological impairment than patients matched for age, sex and body mass index.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Clinical presentation and prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis and features of metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may progress to cirrhosis. The prevalence and clinical relevance that spontaneous bacterial peritonitis may have in complicating ascites due to NASH-related cirrhosis have yet to be defined. METHODS: Among 611 cases of cirrhosis-associated ascites, 45 patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis were retrospectively identified. Of these, 36 patients and a control group of subjects with viral- associated ascites were followed up and compared in a case control study. Information on the onset of ascites, with or without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, history of risk factors for multimetabolic syndrome, and serological and ascitic laboratory data were compared between groups. RESULTS: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurred significantly more often in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis than in equally symptomatic viral controls. The prevalence of obesity, diabetes and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was significantly higher in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis. Although liver function was similar in both groups, cryptogenic cirrhosis patients had lower aminotransferase levels. Multivariate analysis identified diabetes, juvenile obesity and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis as independent factors associated with ascites due to cryptogenic cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: Features suggestive of NASH are more frequently observed in patients with ascites and cryptogenic cirrhosis than in age- and sex-matched ascitic patients with well-defined viral etiology. Ascites may be a presenting symptom of NASH-related cirrhosis, and affected patients have a twofold greater risk of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Low daily dosage of interferon for 1 year after HCV-related end-therapy response. A randomized-controlled study.

This randomized controlled study involved 236 1b genotype (121 males) naive patients with chronic hepatitis C. After a course of interferon (IFN)-alpha2b plus ribavirin for 6 or 12 months, 117 (49.5%) of the end-therapy responders were equally divided into two groups and were assigned to receive either low daily doses of IFN-alpha2b (1.5 MU) 'consolidation therapy' (59 patients) for 1 year or no further treatment (58 patients). At the end of the follow-up period (6 months), the number of sustained responders in the consolidation group (83%) was significantly higher than in the control group (37.9%). The predicting factors of both end-therapy response and sustained response were the classic ones and a lower GGT/ALT ratio (GGT: gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase). The strongest predictors of sustained response alone were consolidation therapy and the longer period on combined treatment (12 vs 6 months). Consolidation therapy was better tolerated than the previously prescribed combined therapy in terms of side effects. In conclusion, genotype 1b naive end-therapy responders to usual combined therapy, after a period of daily consolidation therapy with a low dosage of IFN without ribavirin, achieved a better rate of sustained response than the control group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Transforming growth factor beta-1 and interferon-alpha in the AIDS dementia complex (ADC): possible relationship with cerebral viral load?

Mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the AIDS-dementia complex are still unclear. The dichotomy between a small number of HIV-infected cells in the brain and their marked dysfunction could be related to a cellular amplification and/or activation of cerebral viral load by several cytokines. This link between cytokines and viral load could play a role in the generation of the clinical dementia syndrome. We have studied cerebral levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 and interferon-alpha, both in the mild and severe AIDS-dementia complex and also compared these cytokines with HIV RNA load in patients with different degrees of dementia. Our data indicate that production of different cytokines characterized the expression of clinical dementia. In the mild AIDS-dementia complex, there was a significant inverse correlation between interferon-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta1 (r = - 0.743; p < 0.001), and HIV-RNA was present in inverse proportion to transforming growth factor beta1 (r = - 0.751; p < 0.001). In patients with severe AIDS-dementia, transforming growth factor-beta1 was undetectable, while interferon-alpha level were higher than in mild AIDS dementia and correlated positively to cerebral HIV-RNA. No significant difference was evident between these cytokines in the serum of ADC patients and in the control samples. Our study suggests that a relationship is possible between productive HIV infection in the cerebral nervous system and a heterogenous and different expression of the immune response via a complex interaction of cytokines with a differential modulation of the dementia phenotype.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1996

Combined therapy with zidovudine, recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factors and erythropoietin in asymptomatic HIV patients.

The aim of this randomized, comparative, double-blind study was to determine the efficacy of zidovudine (ZVD) either alone or in combination with recombinant granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (rG-CSF) and erythropoietin (Epo) in asymptomatic HIV-infected subjects with a CD4+ cell count < 500/mm3, classified as CDC II stage. We recruited 20 HIV Ab+ asymptomatic patients who were randomized into two groups: A and B. Group A was treated with ZVD at the dosage of 500 mg daily in combination with rG-CSF (10 micrograms/Kg/biweekly) and Epo (50 IU/Kg/biweekly). Group B was treated with ZVD (500 mg/day) alone. The primary end-point was progression to an AIDS-defining event and the secondary end-point included changes in the CD4+ cell count, p24 Ag status, beta-2-microglobulin, and ferritin levels. The patients of Group A showed no significant changes in transaminase, ferritin and beta-2-microglobulin levels while CD4 cells, Hb and neutrophil levels increased significantly compared to Group B (p < 0.001) and baseline values (p < 0.05). Conversely, 5 patients in Group B showed a significant decrease in CD4 cells (p < 0.01), Hb and neutrophil levels (p < 0.01) compared to baseline values, while beta-2-microglobulin increased (p < 0.05) compared to initial values. Our preliminary study may indicate that the combination of zidovudine with these hematopoietic growth factors could reduce the possibility of virus-related hematologic toxicity and could be more efficacious than zidovudine alone in prolonged therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Influence of posture in respiratory function examination of obese subjects. I. In the healthy subject without ventilation disorders].

On earlier occasions healthy subjects, and chronic bronchopneumopathy patients were subjected to respiratory function tests in different postures using the plethysmographic and helium dilution methods. This protocol was then applied to a series of obese patients without the functional characteristics of alveolar hypoventilation identified in preliminary functional tests. The study revealed: a) non significant differences between plethysmographic and helium dilution findings; b) no significant volumetric differences produced by different postures (standing or squatting) especially as far as Total Lung Capacity is concerned. These results confirm the findings of others (Sharp et al., 1986) that diaphragmatic adjustment to changes in posture is inadequate in the obese even in the absence of hypoventilation.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Influence of posture in respiratory function examination in obese subjects. II. In the patient with ventilation disorders].

On earlier occasions healthy subjects, and normal weight cold patients and obese subjects not suffering from hypoventilation were subjected to respiratory function tests in different postures using the plethysmographic and helium dilution methods. This protocol was then applied to a series of obese patients with the functional characteristics of alveolar hypoventilation identified in preliminary functional tests. The study revealed: a) significant differences between plethysmographic and helium dilution findings; b) not significant volumetric differences produces by different postures (standing or squatting) especially as far as Total Lung Capacity and the main lung volume parameters are concerned. These results confirm the findings of others (Sharp et al., 1986) that diaphragmatic adjustment to changes in posture is inadequate in the obese with bronchial obstruction in whom absence of the fibre-length compensation phrenophrenic reflex and by the muscle flattening cause by the alveolar hyperinsufflation. On the basis of these data and others already published an index of "diaphragmatic passivity" based on the ratio between TLC in squatting and TLC in standing x 100 is proposed as an indicator of the lung volume available for use. This simple system would indicate the functional condition of the diaphragm and provide information for the functional assessment of patients proposed for rehabilitation treatment during follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in an Oncological Center (author's transl)].

Distribution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed, both in cancerous hospitalized and ambulatorial patients, through Uroculture or by Screening at the time of admission in Hospital. The data have been statistically evaluated according to the specific sectorial activities. The chemiosensitivity of isolated strains was evaluated for eight antibiotics, selected among the most active ones. Minimal Inhibent Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were also evaluated for Gentamicin and Colistin. The results obtained are relevant to the significance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in neoplastic diseases.

Colistin↗