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Biomedical subjects

C Besana

Publications and source records attributed to C Besana.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Autoimmune thyroiditis following interleukin-2 and LAK cell therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: correlation with tumor regression.

A 63-year-old woman receiving recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) + lymphokine activated killer cells for metastatic renal cell carcinoma developed autoimmune thyroiditis with clinical hypothyroidism and high titer anti-thyroglobulin and anti-microsomal antibodies. The onset of thyroid dysfunction was associated with tumor regression and resulted in complete response at the end of the treatment. Cytologic and cytofluorimetric studies on thyroid tissue showed two distinct populations, mainly consisting of small lymphocytes and large thyrocytes, and the latter expressed MHC class II antigens. After completion of rIL-2 treatment, hypothyroidism gradually decreased until resolution; complete tumor remission lasted 18 months. Mechanisms underlying the association between autoimmune thyroiditis and cancer regression are discussed.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1991

Recombinant interleukin-2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells in renal cancer patients: II. Characterization of cells cultured ex vivo and their contribution to the in vivo immunomodulation.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells, obtained from patients with renal cell cancer and cultured ex vivo, exhibit high natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity (also against allogeneic fresh tumour cells), which is transcribed into the hosts' immune status after reinfusion. Phenotypic analysis shows a slight increase in the percentage of CD56+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, while CD4+ lymphocytes decrease slightly. As a sign of activation an increase of cells expressing DR and CD25 antigens is observed. At the peripheral blood level, mononuclear cells show an increase, compared to basal values, of NK and LAK activity, especially at the end of the first infusion cycle. Phenotypic analysis of the patients' PBMC shows a decrease of CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes and an increase of NK cells (CD3-CD56+CD16+) and of cells expressing activation markers (DR and CD25), particularly evident by the end of the second infusion cycle. Finally, in addition to the changes induced by IL-2 alone, reinfusion of incubated cells results in an activation of CD56+ and LeuM3+ cells.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1991

Chronic bilateral dacryo-adenitis in identical twins: a possible incomplete form of Sjögren syndrome.

We report an unusual case of chronic bilateral dacryo-adenitis in 10-year-old identical twin sisters. Both girls presented with bilateral lacrimal gland enlargement and developed moderate xerophthalmia and keratitis. Both the lacrimal and minor salivary gland biopsies showed a non-granulomatous inflammatory infiltration of mono-nuclear cells. All granulomatous diseases and neoplasms could therefore be ruled out and only Sjögren syndrome and very few other forms of chronic dacryo-adenitis remained as possible diagnoses. Both patients and their parents were evaluated for auto-antibodies. Very low titres of smooth muscle antibodies were found in one, antinuclear antibodies in two and anti-dsDNA antibodies in all four members of the family. Even though the titres of antinuclear and anti-dsDNA antibodies increased in one of the sisters, both patients did not develop any sign or symptom of a systemic connective tissue disease. During the 6 years' follow up, both patients showed persistent tarsal gland enlargement but no other symptoms apart from a moderate xerophthalmia and occasional mild keratitis.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1991

Meperidine in detoxification of hospitalized heroin addicts.

Forty-six heroin abusers were hospitalized and treated with meperidine either alone or in association with clonidine. Meperidine was given orally in rapidly decreasing doses according to three different schedules. The majority of patients (87%) successfully completed the detoxification program. The best meperidine starting posology was 200 mg four times daily, which allowed stoppage of the opioid treatment after gradual reduction of the daily dose in a mean time of 9.5 days. Association with clonidine was not proven to be useful. This study shows that meperidine can be effectively used in rapidly decreasing doses in the pharmacological detoxification treatment of hospitalized heroin addicts.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1976

[Demonstration of a granulocyte defect in aged persons correlated with the presence of autoantibodies].

Assessment of PMN leukocyte function and search for autoantibodies were performed in 36 aged human subjects (more than 60 years of age) and in 15 younger controls (40 to 60 years of age). Autoantibodies were found in 15 of the 36 aged subjects, and in none of the controls. Leukocyte function defects were therefore correlated to old age and to markers of autoimmunity. Phagocytosis of bacteria was significantly impaired in both groups of old-aged subjects, irrespective to the presence or absence of autoimmunity. Intracellular killing of bacteria was shown to be normal in all the examined subjects. Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction by resting and latex-stimulated leukocytes was significantly impaired only in the group of old-aged subjects with autoimmunity. These leukocyte function defects are similar to those already described in human autoimmune diseases -- particularly S.I.E. -- and confirm the possible association between P.M.N. dysfunction and autoimmunity.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Immunological investigation and immunotherapy approaches in cancer patients.

The Authors report the preliminary results of a two-step far-reaching investigation carried out on cancer patients to study: 1) the immune conditions of the patients and establish, by a thorough immune monitoring, employing tests of humoral immunity (tetanus toxoid response), of delayed immunity (BCG test, PHA-lymphocyte blastogenesis, MIF release, skin window) and macrophage immunity (skin window), the chemotherapy effects on the immune conditions and the most suitable time to carry out immunotherapy; 2) the immunotherapeutic results which can be obtained with three different immunogens (BCG, C. parvum and ribonucleotides). The results obtained in the first part of the investigations pointed out the usefulness of the tests adopted to follow up the evolution of the immunological reactivity in patients submitted to chemotherapy, while the results of the immunotherapeutic trial show a preliminary character and, at present, do not allow definitive conclusions. Carefully planned and randomized studies are at present under way to establish, more thoroughly, the optimal modalities and the real possibilities of the immunotherapy performed with C. parvum and ribonucleotides in cancer patients.

BCG Vaccine↗