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Biomedical subjects

A Venuti

Publications and source records attributed to A Venuti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Prevalence of sensitization to Cupressus sempervirens: a 4-year retrospective study.

In the last few years Cupressus sempervirens has been identified as the cause of an increasing number of cases of late winter-early spring pollinosis in Mediterranean countries. We conducted a 4-year retrospective study of a large group of subjects with documented allergic respiratory disease in order to determine the prevalence, clinical significance and annual rate of sensitization to C. sempervirens pollen. Anamnestic data and skin prick tests (SPT) with common aeroallergens and C. sempervirens extract were collected from 1397 subjects (712 male and 685 female) resident in Latium, a region in central Italy, with complaints related to upper- or lower-respiratory-tract disorders or conjunctival disease. Two hundred and forty-three subjects (17.4%) showed positive results to C. sempervirens extract: 47 (19.3%) of them were monosensitized. The annual sensitization rate of SPT positivity to C. sempervirens varied from 7.2% in 1995 to 22% in 1998. All the subjects monosensitized to cypress pollen had symptoms from January through April. Our study suggests that sensitivity to C. sempervirens is responsible for respiratory symptoms in an increasing percentage of subjects. Further studies are needed to determine its frequency at the national level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Egg yolk antibodies against the E7 oncogenic protein of human papillomavirus type 16.

The E7 oncoprotein is the major transforming protein of Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) and the most abundant in cervical neoplasia. In this study we report the production of polyclonal antibodies to HPV16 E7 in rabbits and hens. The produced antibodies recognised the denatured and native form of HPV16 E7 protein by Western Blot, and immunoprecipitation. Epitope mapping demonstrated that hen antibodies reacted with a greater number of antigen determinants than the rabbit antibodies. In immunocytochemistry only hen antibodies were able to localize the E7 protein in a HPV positive cell line and in the high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, suggesting their possible usefulness in the screening of clinical samples.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis: clinical and laboratory findings in 54 subjects.

BACKGROUND: In some subjects, specific foods trigger anaphylaxis when exercise follows ingestion (specific food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis, FDEIAn). Skin test and/or RAST positivity to foods suggest an IgE-mediated pathogenic mechanism. Others suffer from anaphylaxis after all meals followed by exercise, regardless of the food eaten (nonspecific FDEIAn). We sought to identify the culprit foods with a diagnostic protocol. METHODS: We collected detailed histories and performed skin prick tests (SPT) with 26 commercial food allergens, prick plus prick tests (P+P) with 15 fresh foods (including 9 assessed with SPT), and RAST for 31 food allergens. Treadmill stress tests were administered after a meal without any positive food (food plus exercise challenge, FEC). RESULTS: Among the 54 patients, 6 could not recall any suspect food. The other 48 suspected a specific food in at least one episode. The most frequent were tomatoes, cereals and peanuts. Fifty-two subjects were positive to at least one food (22 to more than 20), whereas 2 showed no positive results. All suspect foods were positive. SPT, P+P and RAST displayed different degrees of sensitivity. Each test disclosed some positivities not discovered by others. Two subjects reacted to FEC. Overall, 48 patients probably had specific FDEIAn and the other 6 nonspecific FDEIAn. CONCLUSION: It is useful to test both in vivo and in vitro an extensive panel of foods. Avoidance of foods associated with skin test and/or RAST positivity for at least 4 h before exercise has prevented further episodes in all our patients with specific FDEIAn.

Allergens↗
PubMed2001

The pagetoid variant of urothelial carcinoma in situ of urinary bladder in a cow.

A case of urothelial carcinoma in situ of urinary bladder is reported in a 10-year-old cow naturally grazing on bracken-infested land. The cow suffered from enzootic hematuria for more than 5 years. The presence of bovine papillomavirus type 2 (BPV-2) DNA sequences was detected by polymerase chain reaction. The carcinoma in situ was characterized by the presence of anaplastic cells with amphophilic cytoplasm and pleomorphic nuclei containing granular, irregularly dispersed chromatin. Focal areas within the tumor contained large isolated and/or clustered cells. These cells had pale acidophilic cytoplasm, large nuclei with single or multiple nucleoli, and well-defined borders resembling Paget's cells. Immunohistochemically, all malignant cells were negative for vimentin and S-100 and positive for cytokeratins. In addition, normal and neoplastic cells expressed fragile histidine triad (FHIT) protein; surprisingly, some pagetoid cells did not. FHIT, the tumor suppressor gene at 3p14.2, encodes a protein of 147 amino acids (16.8 kd) with diadenosine triphosphate hydrolase activity and is a common target of deletions in human cancers of epithelial origin. Antibody to laminin detected a continuous epithelial basement membrane, thus clearly showing that neoplastic changes were limited to urothelial cells without invading stromal tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an unusual pattern of spread of urothelial carcinoma in situ in a cow.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Nasal immunotherapy at constant dosage: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in grass-allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

A preliminary open study showed that intranasal immunotherapy can be administered with a constant dosage scheduling, with good safety and efficacy. In the present study the efficacy of constant dosage intranasal immunotherapy has been evaluated on 43 grass-allergic rhinitis patients according to a double-blind placebo-controlled design. The product employed for the study had a formulation in powder, and was administrated by a nasal insufflator. Clinical efficacy was evaluated for each symptom, taking into consideration the severity of the symptom in relation to its frequency. Sneezing, rhinorrea, nasal blockage, eyes itching, and drug consumption were significantly improved in active-treated patients compared to placebo-treated. The safety of this treatment was good, the only adverse events observed being some local and mild symptoms. This immunotherapy was well-tolerated and easy to handle by the patients by self-administration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Physical state and expression of human papillomavirus in laryngeal carcinoma and surrounding normal mucosa.

Epidemiologic and biomolecular evidence suggests that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may be associated with the development of head and neck cancers. To clarify the role of HPV in larynx carcinoma, 25 patients were studied for the presence of viral DNA, possible virus integration into the cellular genome, and viral expression both in neoplastic tissues and in neighbouring normal mucosa. Twelve of 25 patients with neoplasia (48%) showed negative results for HPV sequences, and 13 (52%) showed positive results. Among the latter group of patients, seven were HPV-16 positive, five were HPV-6, and one was HPV-45. No multiple infections were detected. The physical status of the HPV genome was analysed by three methods: polymerase chain reaction (PCR), bidimensional agarose gel electrophoresis, and in situ hybridisation. Viral integration into the host genome occurred in 43% of cases of HPV-16 and in 20% of cases of HPV-6. Viral RNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-PCR only in HPV-16-positive tumours. The pattern of expression was consistent with an active role of HPV in cellular transformation. In conclusion, the present work suggests that HPV infection may be involved in some cases of laryngeal carcinoma. However, the transformation mechanisms might be different from those currently accepted for anogenital cancers.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Role of endothelin-1 in neovascularization of ovarian carcinoma.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is overexpressed in ovarian carcinomas and acts, via ET(A) receptors (ET(A)R), as an autocrine growth factor. In this study we investigate the role of ET-1 in the neovascularization of ovarian carcinoma. Archival specimens of primary (n = 40) and metastatic (n = 8) ovarian tumors were examined by immunohistochemistry for angiogenic factor and receptor expression and for microvessel density using antibodies against CD31, ET-1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and their receptors. ET-1 expression correlated with neovascularization and with VEGF expression. The localization of functional ET(A)R and ET(A)R mRNA expression, as detected by autoradiography and in situ hybridization, was evident in tumors and in intratumoral vessels, whereas ET(B)R were expressed mainly in endothelial cells. High levels of ET-1 were detected in the majority of ascitic fluids of patients with ovarian carcinoma and significantly correlated with VEGF ascitic concentration. Furthermore ET-1, through ET(A)R, stimulated VEGF production in an ovarian carcinoma cell line, OVCA 433, by an extent comparable to hypoxia. Finally, conditioned media from OVCA 433 as well as ascitic fluids caused an increase in endothelial cell migration and the ET-1 receptor blockade significantly inhibited this angiogenic response. These findings indicate that ET-1 could modulate tumor angiogenesis, acting directly and in part through VEGF.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Tolerability of meloxicam in patients with histories of adverse reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

BACKGROUND: Adverse reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequent, particularly among patients with chronic urticaria or asthma. The need to identify an alternative drug that is safe and reliable is a common problem in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To assess the tolerability of meloxicam, a new NSAID that selectively inhibits the inducible isoform of cyclooxygenase, in a group of NSAID-sensitive patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 177 patients who had suffered adverse reactions to one or more NSAIDs. Cutaneous reactions were reported by 83.1% of the subjects (urticaria in 55, angioedema in 52, urticaria/angioedema in 39, and maculopapular rash in 1), respiratory symptoms by 3.9%, both cutaneous and respiratory symptoms by 9%, Stevens-Johnson's syndrome by 2.3%, and anaphylactoid reactions by 1.7%. All subjects underwent a single-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenge with divided therapeutic doses of meloxicam (1.9 mg + 5.6 mg 1 hour later = cumulative dose 7.5 mg). RESULTS: Positive reactions were observed in only two cases (1.1%), both manifested exclusively by cutaneous symptoms (urticaria/angioedema in one case and maculopapular rash/facial edema in the second). CONCLUSION: Meloxicam seems to be well tolerated by NSAID-sensitive subjects whose reactions are manifested by urticaria/angioedema. Additional study is needed for a more complete assessment of its tolerability in patients with aspirin-induced asthma and other severe manifestations of NSAID sensitivity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Overexpression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins and the presence of HPV infection are independent events in head and neck cancer.

The expression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins by immunohistochemistry and the identification of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection by a non-isotopic polymerase chain reaction (PCR)based method were investigated in 30 patients with head and neck cancer. Ten cases were HPV-positive (33%), mostly as double or multiple infections by high- or intermediate-risk types. Twenty-one patients were p53-positive (70%), 9/10 with HPV-positive tumours and 12/20 with HPV-negative tumours; this difference was not statistically significant. Only four cases were bcl-2-positive, irrespective of the presence of either HPV or p53. No correlation was found between these biological factors and tumour stage, differentiation grade, and alcohol or tobacco use. Our findings indicate that p53 is involved in the majority of cases, bcl-2 is rare, and high-risk HPV could play a key role, especially in tumours of tongue and tonsil. In conclusion p53 and bcl-2 protein expression and the presence of HPV infection are independent events in these malignancies.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Immediate allergic reactions to cephalosporins: cross-reactivity and selective responses.

BACKGROUND: After penicillins, cephalosporins are the most important beta-lactams inducing IgE-mediated reactions. Responses may be selective or cross-reactive with common beta-lactam determinants. Unlike determinants derived from benzylpenicillin, cephalosporin allergenic determinants have not been properly identified, even though a wide variety of these beta-lactams is currently used. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the IgE response in subjects with immediate allergic reactions to injectable cephalosporins and to assess their reactivity to different penicillins and cephalosporins. METHODS: We studied 30 subjects with immediate reactions to one or more of the following cephalosporins: ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and cefuroxime. Skin tests and in vitro-specific IgE antibody assays were performed for major and minor determinants of penicillin G, amoxicillin, and ampicillin, as well as for the culprit cephalosporins. Responses to cephalosporins other than the culprit ones were also studied by using skin testing. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (group A, 86.7%) displayed skin test and RAST negativity to penicillin determinants and skin test positivity to cephalosporins, with RAST confirmation in 9 patients. Four subjects (group B, 13.3%) had a positive response to penicillin determinants. In group A two patterns of reactivity were observed: one characterized by a response only to the culprit cephalosporin (n = 15, 57.7%) and the other by positive responses to different cephalosporins, including the responsible cephalosporins (n = 11, 42. 3%). CONCLUSION: Most patients with a history of immediate reactions to cephalosporins are sensitized to determinants generated only by cephalosporins (group A), although a small percentage react to penicillin determinants (group B). Some patients from group A responded only to the culprit cephalosporin, but others reacted to different cephalosporins. These findings can be explained in terms of either selective response to unique determinants or cross-reactivity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Expression of endothelin 1 and endothelin A receptor in HPV-associated cervical carcinoma: new potential targets for anticancer therapy.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are associated with cervical cancer and interact with growth factors that may enhance malignant transformation of cervical carcinoma cells. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is released from HPV transfected keratinocytes and induces increased growth response in these cell lines in comparison with normal cells. In the present study several cervical carcinoma cell lines have been analyzed to investigate the expression of ET-1 and its receptors as well as their involvement in tumor growth. All HPV-positive cancer cells secreted ET-1 and expressed mRNA for ET-1 and its receptors, whereas a HPV-negative carcinoma cell line expressed only the ETBR mRNA and didn't secrete ET-1. Binding studies showed that HPV-associated cells expressed an increased number of functional ETAR. ET-1 stimulated a marked dose-dependent increase in [3H]-thymidine incorporation with respect to the normal cells whereas ET-3 and ETBR agonists had no effect. In HPV-positive cancer cells, a specific antagonist of ETAR inhibited the proliferation induced by ET-1 and substantially reduced the basal growth rate of unstimulated cervical tumor cells, whereas the ETBR antagonist had no effect. These results demonstrate that ET-1 participates in the progression of neoplastic growth in HPV-associated carcinoma, in which ETAR are increased and could be targeted for antitumor therapy.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1999

Expression of endothelin 1 and endothelin A receptor in ovarian carcinoma: evidence for an autocrine role in tumor growth.

In the present study, we have investigated the expression of endothelin 1 (ET-1) and the ET(A) receptor (ET(A)R) and ET(B) receptor (ET(B)R) in primary (n = 30) and metastatic (n = 8) ovarian carcinomas and their involvement in tumor growth. By reverse transcription-PCR and Northern blot analysis, we detected ET-1 mRNA in 90% of primary and 100% of metastatic ovarian carcinomas. ET-1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in tumors than in normal ovarian tissues (n = 12; P < 0.01). ET(A)R mRNA was also detected in 84% of the carcinomas examined, whereas ET(B)R mRNA was expressed in 50% of the tumors. The in vivo presence of mature ET-1 and ET(A)R was confirmed by immunohistochemistry, demonstrating a higher expression in primary and metastatic cells. Ten primary cultures of ovarian tumors secreted ET-1 and were positive for ET-1 and ET(A)R mRNA, whereas only 40% expressed ET(B)R mRNA. Radioligand binding studies showed that ET-1-producing cells also expressed functional ET(A)R, whereas no specific ET(B)R could be demonstrated. ET-1 stimulated dose-dependent [3H]thymidine incorporation and enhanced the mitogenic effect of epidermal growth factor. The ET(A)R-selective antagonist BQ 123 strongly inhibited ET-1-stimulated growth and substantially reduced the basal growth rate of unstimulated cells, whereas the ET(B)R-selective antagonist BQ 788 had no effect. In conclusion, the present data demonstrate a novel mechanism in the growth control of ovarian carcinoma in vivo mediated by the ET-1 autocrine loop that selectively occurs via the ET(A)R.

Adult↗