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C Biale

Publications and source records attributed to C Biale.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Increased CD69 expression on peripheral blood eosinophils after specific inhalation challenge.

BACKGROUND: CD69 is a molecule expressed on human eosinophils after cytokine-activation. Different studies have described the eosinophil activation, evaluated by CD69 expression, at the site of an allergic inflammation. In this study we evaluated the expression of CD69 on peripheral blood eosinophils after a specific inhalation challenge (SIC), in order to better define the state of activation of peripheral blood eosinophils after exposure to sensitizers. METHODS: CD69 expression was evaluated by flow cytometry in nine asthmatic patients before and after a positive SIC with high or low molecular weight agents (pollens, house dust mites, Penicillia, isocyanates) and in 11 asthmatic patients who underwent an inhalation challenge with placebo. CD69 expression was evaluated at baseline, 120 min, and 240 min after the SIC or the placebo. RESULTS: Baseline (before challenge) CD69 expression was comparable between the group of SIC positive patients and the placebo group. CD69 expression on peripheral eosinophils significantly increased 240 min after the challenge in positive SIC patients compared to placebo. In patients with a positive SIC the percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils significantly decreased at 120 and 240 min after the inhalation challenge with respect to the baseline. CONCLUSION: CD69 expression on peripheral blood eosinophils is significantly increased in asthmatic patients after exposure to the sensitizing agent. These data show that the effects of a bronchial stimulation are also detectable on peripheral blood eosinophils.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Local immunotherapy by inhalation of a powder extract in asthma due to house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus: a double-blind comparison with parenteral immunotherapy.

To verify the efficacy and the tolerability of local immunotherapy (LI) by inhalation of a powder extract of house dust mite (HDM), in comparison with parenteral immunotherapy (PI) by injection, 10 patients with asthma due to HDM were studied in a blind fashion. 5 patients (Group A) underwent LI and subcutaneous injections of placebo, 5 patients (Group B) underwent PI and inhalation of lactose for 6 months. In both groups each inhalation was preceded by premedication with disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) (40 mg). In Group A a significant decrease in symptoms score and in peak expiratory flow (PEF)-derived parameters was observed already after 3 months of treatment, and 2 patients lost the late component of the bronchial response to the challenge with HDM. No significant variation was found in bronchial responsiveness to methacholine and ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW) and in immunologic humoral and cellular parameters in peripheral blood after treatment in either group. No local important adverse reactions were observed in Group A and no systemic side effects were observed in either group. We conclude that LI is as effective as PI, but more rapid in its action, in the treatment of asthma due to HDM. Moreover, LI is locally well tolerated, providing DSCG is inhaled before each therapeutic inhalation, and does not induce systemic side effects.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epicutaneous sensitization to metals and contact allergic dermatitis: analysis of an ambulatory caseload].

We have retrospectively analyzed the clinical and anamnestic features of 233 out-patients (197 females and 36 males; mean age: 33 years; SD: +/- 13.3) with epicutaneous sensitization to metals, who had been examined at the department of allergology of our institution during one year. Among females, nickel sulphate was the metallic salt which most frequently resulted positive at patch testing (87.8% of cases), followed by cobalt chloride (23.6%) and potassium bichromate (10.2%). Nickel was the most common sensitizing metal also in males (58.3%), among whom sensitization to chromate resulted second in order of frequency (30.6%), and sensitization to cobalt was relatively rare (11.1%). In selected cases, the utilization of additional, specific series allowed to document rare cases of sensitization to metallic salts not included in the standard patch test series (copper sulphate, cadmium chloride, zinc stearate, phenylmercuric nitrate). 78 patients were sensitized to more than one metal. Skin sensitivity to metals was often linked to allergic disease familiarity and/or to sensitization toward type I allergens. Allergic contact dermatitis was diagnosed in 80 patients: cutaneous manifestations had been present on average for over four years, sometimes in generalized or persistent form. An occupational contact with the causative metals was identified in 15 cases. However, the occupational origin of the disease could never be documented with certainty, due to concomitance of frequent non-occupational exposures and to lack of information on pre-employment skin sensitivity status. Thus, the value of patch testing, during both pre-employment screening and health surveillance, is emphasized.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An epidemiological survey on the allergological importance of some emerging pollens in Italy.

Epidemiological studies on the pollens responsible for allergic diseases throughout Italy are lacking. Routine diagnostic panels consist prevalently of grass, Parietaria, weeds, birch, olive and mugwort. Considering the great variety of Italian geographical areas and the observation of the growing allergological importance of new botanical species (e.g., ambrosia), a survey on pollen species considered "minor" was necessary. A panel of "emerging" pollens (birch, hazelnut, alder, hornbeam, cypress, ragweed) and a routine panel were used to skin prick test 2,934 consecutive outpatients with respiratory pathology of suspected allergic origin, in 21 centers across Italy. A specific questionnaire was compiled. It was found that 20.1% of patients did not react to allergens tested, 28.2% were positive for at least one emerging pollen and 51.7% did not react to emerging pollens but tested positive for at least one allergen from the routine panel. The prevalence of single pollen species was related to geographical areas. Ragweed pollen was shown to provoke asthma much more frequently than other pollens. Hitherto scarcely considered pollens play a considerable role in causing allergic diseases in Italy. In the great majority of patients, positivity for these pollens was associated with positivity to the better recognized group of pollen allergens, although in some cases they were the primary pathogenic agent. We suggest that these more recently considered allergens be included in routine diagnostic panels.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Asthma caused by sodium p-toluene-n-chloro-sulfonamide: observations on a clinical case].

We describe the case of a patient exposed to chloramine-T who experienced severe asthmatic symptoms when spraying chloramine-T solutions. The patient used chloramine-T as a sterilising agent in medical facilities. Occupational asthma due to chloramine-T was diagnosed by means of specific bronchial provocation test (occupational type). We stress the risk of exposure to high levels of chloramine-T and the importance of this compound as a cause of occupational asthma.

Asthma↗