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Biomedical subjects

C Pini

Publications and source records attributed to C Pini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

T-cell and antibody response to Parietaria judaica allergenic fractions in atopic and nonatopic individuals.

The in vitro proliferative response to separated immunologically relevant components of Parietaria judaica pollen extract (PjE) was investigated by proliferation assay and limiting dilution analysis, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Parietaria-allergic subjects and nonallergic controls. In the same subjects, the profile of the antibody response to the PjE fractions was also studied by immunoblotting to evaluate the functional significance of allergen-induced T-cell activation in the two groups. The estimated frequency of PjE-reactive T cells in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells was low in both groups. No difference was found between the Parietaria-allergic subjects and nonallergic controls. To assess the overall contribution to the cellular response of PjE components of different molecular weights, we separated the extract by the SDS-PAGE technique, and the fractions were blotted onto nitrocellulose and solubilized. Almost all the 14 fractions tested induced T-cell proliferation, at different degrees of magnitude. Responses were similar in the allergic subjects and nonallergic controls. Immunoblotting demonstrated specific IgG antibodies to the 14 PjE fractions not only in the allergic subjects, but also in the healthy controls, whereas IgE antibodies were found, as expected, only in the sera from atopic subjects. These findings indicate that PjE fractions elicit similar T-cell activation and IgG production in allergic and normal subjects.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1993

CD23/Fc epsilon RII expression on phytohemagglutinin-A- or phorbol-12myristate-13acetate-Ca(2+)-activated human tonsil T cells.

The low-affinity Fc receptor for IgE, CD23/Fc epsilon RII, has been expressed in T cell lines and pathologic T cells, but its presence on normal human T cells is still debated. We studied the expression of CD23/Fc epsilon RII on purified T cells from normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or tonsil T cells stimulated with 10 micrograms/ml phytohemagglutinin A (PHA) or phorbol-12myristate- 13acetate (PMA) Ca2+. Using two-dimensional flow cytometry, the tonsil T-cell-enriched population showed > 10% of CD23/Fc epsilon RII expression when coexpressed with the CD3 antigen. CD4+ T cells appear to be principally involved in the expression of CD23/Fc epsilon RII, although we were unable to detect a clear expression of CD23/Fc epsilon RII in PBMC that were activated with either PHA or PMA Ca2+. PHA stimulation resulted in the release of IgE binding factor (IgEBF). The induction of CD23/Fc epsilon RII expression in PHA- and PMA-Ca(2+)-activated T cells was enhanced by IL-4, but not by IgE or IL-6. IL-4 also augmented the PHA- and PMA-Ca(2+)-induced release of IgEBF. The addition of supernatant from the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected cell line to PHA- or PMA-Ca(2+)-stimulated tonsil T cells did not increase CD23/Fc epsilon RII expression. The expression of CD23/Fc epsilon RII mRNA was detected in RNA prepared from a tonsil T-cell-enriched population by Northern blot analysis.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1992

Role of a prehospital medical system in reducing heroin-related deaths.

OBJECTIVE: The mortality rate from heroin overdose in Italy between 1977 and 1987 increased significantly. However, in the same period, a significant increase was not observed in Tuscany, an administrative region in Italy. This study was performed to determine if the prehospital emergency medical system of Florence, the capital of Tuscany (the only one operating in Italy during the study period), affected this lower mortality rate. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: The Florence system consists of 17 mobile ICUs, each of which is staffed by a physician and three paramedics. These units are able to carry out advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation with equipment transported to the scene of an emergency. PATIENTS: A total of 126 consecutive patients with heroin overdose, assisted by four mobile ICUs from January 1, 1984 through December 31, 1987. INTERVENTIONS: Common therapeutic protocol in the treatment of heroin overdose and of cardiac arrest. RESULTS: Fifty-two (41.3%) patients were in respiratory arrest, and seven (5.6%) patients were in cardiorespiratory arrest. The prehospital mortality rate was 1.6%, the inhospital mortality rate was 0.8%, and the overall mortality rate was 2.4%. During the period considered, the number of heroin overdose-related interventions increased significantly, as did the number of heroin overdoses complicated by respiratory arrest or by cardiorespiratory arrest, but the mortality rate remained low. CONCLUSION: We suggest that an emergency medical system can play an important role in reducing the mortality rate from heroin overdose.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Role of carbohydrate moieties in cross-reactivity between different components of Parietaria judaica pollen extract.

Cross-reactivity between the different components in Parietaria judaica pollen extract has been investigated by polyclonal as well as monoclonal antibodies before and after chemical deglycosylation obtained by trifluoromethanesulphonic acid (TFMS) treatment of the extract. In western blotting a polyclonal rabbit antiserum, obtained by injecting purified Par j I, was able to recognise many components of the native extract. However, its reactivity was restricted, after chemical deglycosylation of the extract, to the major allergen alone, indicating that its cross-reactivity was due to sugar moieties. Moreover, out of several monoclonal antibodies raised by injecting the whole Parietaria judaica extract, one (1A4/2F8) was also able in western blotting to recognise an epitope shared by many components of the extract except the major allergen Par j I. However, in this case the broad reactivity of the antibody was not affected by the deglycosylating procedure. When the reactivity of Parietaria judaica extract was tested before and after sugar removal, against specific IgE from a pool of patient sera, no differences could be demonstrated, thus indicating that carbohydrates are not strongly involved in the binding of Parietaria judaica-specific IgE. The results indicate that both proteic and carbohydratic cross-reactive epitopes are shared by many components of Parietaria judaica pollen extract.

Allergens↗
PubMed1992

Effect of simvastatin in CAPD patients with hypercholesterolemia.

The effect of simvastatin on serum total and HDL cholesterol and total triglyceride levels in 20 hypercholesterolemic patients on CAPD treatment was studied. The drug was given at the initial dose of 10 mg/day which was doubled up to 40 mg/day. Two non-compliant patients stopped the drug in the first week of treatment. One patient had vomiting and stopped simvastatin. One patients reduced the dose from 20 to 10 mg/day because of increase in CPK level. The study was completed in 16 patients. Serum cholesterol decreased from 318 +/- 39 to 208 +/- 34 mg/dl (p < 0.001), triglyceride from 317 +/- 129 to 278 +/- 160 mg/dl and HDL cholesterol from 43 +/- 13 to 35 +/- 11 mg/dl. The effective does was 10 mg/day in 4 cases, 20 mg/dl in 7 and 40 mg/dl in 5. In CAPD patients, simvastatin is safe and effective in lowering serum cholesterol. The clinical significance of the decrease in HDL cholesterol and its possible effect on clinical outcome are still unknown.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
PubMed1991

Changes in skin reactivity, specific IgE and IgG levels after one year of immunotherapy in olive pollinosis.

Changes in specific skin reactivity, specific IgE and specific IgG after immunotherapy (IT) were investigated in olive pollinosis. Thirty patients, receiving IT with commercial extracts, were studied in comparison with a control group of seven patients, receiving only drug therapy. Skin reactivity, IgE and IgG were assessed before starting IT and 1 year later. Definite changes in the three considered parameters occurred in patients given IT with Olea europaea extracts; no variation was observed in the control group. The specific skin reactivity, evaluated by means of quantitative skin prick tests, significantly decreased (Skin Index geometrical mean from 2.73 to 0.88, P less than 0.001); the specific IgE, measured by RAST, were surprisingly decreased (from 7.76 to 4.74 PRU/ml, P less than 0.001); the specific IgG, measured by ELISA, in basic conditions were detectable only in nine patients of 30, while, after IT, they were found in almost all patients with a remarkable increase (from 5.48 to 266.89 AU/ml, P less than 0.001). No correlation was found among the changes in the considered parameters, suggesting that, at least in olive pollinosis, specific skin reactivity, specific IgE and specific IgG are three variables depending on IT but reciprocally independent.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Gemfibrozil in CAPD patients.

Gemfibrozil was given at a daily oral dose of 600 mg to 28 CAPD patients with serum triglyceride levels higher than 200 mg/dl, after 2 months of low fat low calorie diet. Eleven patients dropped out from the study due to spontaneous withdrawal of the drug or to intercurrent hospitalization. The 17 patients who completed the study showed a significant decrease in serum total (434.6 +/- 207.9 to 237.5 +/- 81.6 mg/dl, p 0.003), VLDL (268.8 +/- 17.8 to 109.2 +/- 66.9 mg/dl, p less than 0.005) and LDL (152.9 +/- 34.6 to 119.2 +/- 30.7 mg/dl, p = 0.004) triglyceride. Serum VLDL cholesterol increased from 108.7 +/- 54.1 to 59.9 +/- 29.0 mg/dl, p = 0.003. Serum HDL cholesterol decreased from 25.4 +/- 4.8 to 35.3 +/- 6.3 mg/dl (p less than 0.001). Apo A1 increased from 117.8 +/- 16.7 to 130.8 +/- 16.7 mg/dl (p less than 0.001) and Apo B increased from 173 +/- 26.7 to 137.8 +/- 21.9 mg/dl (p less than 0.001). No clinical or laboratory side effect was observed in the patients who completed the study. Therefore dropouts were due to the poor patients' compliance rather than to the severity of side effects.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Use of monoclonal antibodies for the characterization of allergenic extracts.

The diagnosis of allergic diseases is commonly carried out by using poorly standardized preparations containing allergenic and non-allergenic components. Recently, monoclonal antibody technology has been applied to the biochemical characterization and to the purification of allergens, in order to evaluate their potential role in the standardization of diagnostic and therapeutic extracts. Three main results have been achieved: 1) the characterization of allergenic epitopes recognized by IgE and IgG from patients' sera; 2) the purification by affinity chromatography of relevant allergenic components; 3) the development of immunoassays for the quantitation of allergens in the commercially available extracts used for diagnosis and therapy.

Allergens↗
PubMed1991

Allergens and atopic diseases.

Allergens are molecules normally present in the environment, responsible of inducing the so called atopic diseases. These diseases are characterized by the high production of allergen-specific IgE antibodies, which bind to mast-cells and basophils. The cross-linking of the cell-bound IgE induces the production and/or release of various inflammatory mediators (histamine, leukotrienes, platelet-activating-factor, etc.), which trigger a cascade of events resulting in the allergic syndromes. Once the diagnosis of allergy has been made, two different therapeutic approaches can be followed: a) the pharmacologic management, aimed mainly at preventing or controlling the symptoms resulting from the release of mediators by effector cells; b) the specific immunotherapy, consisting in the administration to the patient of increasing amount of the relevant allergens, opportunely prepared and eventually chemically modified. In order to have the latter approach correctly applied it is necessary to gain a wider knowledge on both regulation of IgE synthesis and allergens characteristics.

Allergens↗
PubMed1991

[Effects of etozoline in patients with acute cardiac failure].

Fifteen patients (10 M, 5 F; mean age 68.3 years) with acute heart failure III-IV NYHA class, were treated with etozoline (mean daily dose 666 mg) for 7 days. Symptoms of cardiac decompensation disappeared; no changes of blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. Daily urine volume increased from 790.9 +/- 327.0 ml to 1622.7 +/- 220.6 ml and body weight decreased from 71.5 +/- 5.8 kg to 69.6 +/- 5.2 kg. No changes of serum Na+, urinary Na+ excretion, appeared, but K+ excretion increased and serum K+ fell from 4.1 +/- 0.4 mEq/l to 3.6 +/- 0.45 mEq/l. No subjective side effects were reported. Renal-liver function and glyco-lipid balance were not affected. In conclusion, etozoline is a safe and effective diuretic agent in the treatment of acute cardiac failure.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

T cell responses to a Parietaria judaica pollen extract: comparison between Parietaria-sensitive patients, other atopics and healthy controls.

We investigated the in vitro proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Parietaria-allergic subjects, atopic patients with other sensitizations and healthy controls to Parietaria judaica pollen extracts. PBMC from almost all 44 subjects, divided into five groups (Parietaria-, grass-, Parietaria and grass-, Dermatophagoides-sensitive patients and normal individuals) were able to proliferate in response to the extract without statistically significant differences between groups. Mean values of the stimulation indexes for the five groups were respectively: 10.73, 3.18, 5.50, 10,56, 9.28. The results of separation experiments showed that the responding cells were T lymphocytes. Mitogenic effect of the Parietaria pollen extract was excluded by the absence of proliferative PBMC response from cord blood of seven newborns. These results indicate that Parietaria-sensitive, other atopics and normal individuals have Parietaria-specific T cells able to proliferate in vitro to Parietaria allergens.

Cell Separation↗
PubMed1988

Changes in serum and lipoprotein lipids, and apolipoprotein B and A-I, in patients with different types of primary hyperlipoproteinaemia treated with gemfibrozil.

Gemfibrozil was given at the dose of 600 mg twice daily to 16 type IIa, 13 type IIb and 11 type IV hyperlipoproteinaemic patients for four months. At the end of the fourth month of therapy low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased on the average by 18% in type IIa, by 11% in type IIb and increased by 37% in type IV patients. Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglycerides fell by 57% in type IIb and by 58% and 76% respectively in type IV subjects. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol rose in all groups of patients owing to the increase of the HDL2 subfraction. However, in type IIa the change did not reach the level of statistical significance. Apoprotein B decreased in type IIa and in type IIb patients and apoprotein A-I significantly increased in type IIb and IV patients. The individual changes in total VLDL and LDL lipids and in apoprotein B could be related to their pretreatment level. The cholesterol triglyceride ratio significantly increased in LDL and HDL fractions and the effect was greater in the subgroup of patients with the greatest abnormality in lipoprotein lipid composition. On the whole the differential effects of gemfibrozil on serum lipoprotein concentration and composition in the various types of hyperlipoproteinaemia can be regarded as a trend toward a normalization and may be explained by the multiple effects of the drug on lipid metabolism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Significance of QT interval as a premonitory sign of severe ventricular arrhythmia in the early phase of myocardial infarct].

In order to evaluate the relationship between the length of the corrected QT interval (QTc), calculated according to Bazett's formula, and the incidence of ventricular fibrillation (V.F.) in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction (A.M.I.), the QTc interval was measured in 494 patients (mean age 66.42 +/- 11 years; 357 males and 137 females) assisted by the Mobile Coronary Care Unit of Florence. A.M.I. was anterior in 269 patients, inferior in 177 and non-Q in 34. The QTc interval measured on E.C.G. was recorded within the first hour after the onset of pain in 203 patients and between the first and sixth hour in 291 patients. The QTc interval was also measured in a control group consisting of 96 non A.M.I. patients with no history of coronary artery disease. 43 patients with A.M.I. (8.6%) developed V.F. in the first 24 hours. It was observed that: 1) The QTc interval of patients with A.M.I. was longer than that in patients without A.M.I. (432 +/- 34.18 msec. versus 425.37 +/- 25, p less than 0.02). 2) The QTc interval of patients with A.M.I. who developed V.F. was the same as that of patients with A.M.I. but without V.F., (432.6 +/- 34.18 msec. versus 438.11 +/- 34.13, N.S.). 3) 60.46% of patients with V.F. had a value of QTc less than 440 msec.; the incidence of QTc greater than 440 msec. showed no difference in the groups with or without V.F. (41.86% versus 41.11%). 4) The QTc interval length was greater in anterior than in inferior A.M.I. (435.12 +/- 30.81 msec. versus 429.05 +/- 34.5, p less than 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Isolation and purification of a major allergen from Parietaria officinalis pollen.

A major allergen of Parietaria officinalis, a species responsible for a large number of respiratory allergies in Mediterranean areas, has been identified and characterized. This allergen (Pol) was found in the fraction which precipitates between 70 and 100% ammonium sulphate saturation. Pol showed a molecular weight of 15,000 daltons as determined by SDS-PAGE and HPLC. The pI of Pol was in the pH region 4-6, IEF showing four major bands. Two major bands were shown by CIE, CRIE and immunoblotting; major contaminants or aggregates were also revealed by the latter technique and by HPLC. Pol showed an allergic specific activity 2 times higher than the crude extract; moreover it was shown to be a major allergen since it inhibited 29 out of 30 sera from allergic patients sensitive to P. officinalis.

Allergens↗
PubMed1986

Immunoregulation of lysozyme-specific suppression. III. Epitope-specific amplification of immunosuppression induced by monoclonal suppressor-T-cell products.

The hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL)-specific suppression induced by soluble molecules produced by a monoclonal T-cell lymphoma line (LH8-105) obtained from HEL-specific suppressor T lymphocytes has been examined. Injection of I-J+ molecules from LH8-105 cell culture supernatant (TsFa) in HEL-primed mice during the afferent phase of the response induced Lyt-2+ second order suppressor T (Ts) cells which, upon transfer into HEL-CFA-primed syngeneic recipients, inhibit the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to HEL. Transfer of spleen cells from TsFa-injected mice primed with HEL or human lysozyme suppresses the DTH response to HEL in recipient mice whereas this response is not affected by cell transfer from ring-necked pheasant egg-white lysozyme (REL)-primed and TsFa-injected mice, indicating that induction of second order Ts by TsFa is specific for a lysozyme epitope including phenylalanine at position 3. Fine antigenic specificity of second order Ts-cell induction is confirmed by similar results obtained upon injection of TsFa in mice primed with HEL N-terminal synthetic peptide or with an analog in which, as in REL, phenylalanine has been substituted by tyrosine at position 3. The same fine antigenic specificity observed in the induction of second order Ts cells is also present in the expression of TsFe suppressive activity. The similar antigenic specificity of Tsa and Tse suggests that Tse cells could result from amplification of the Tsa cell population or these two cell subsets could reflect different maturation stages of the same cell type rather than distinct T-cell populations activated in cascade.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Purification and partial characterization of the major antigen of Echinococcus granulosus (antigen 5) with monoclonal antibodies.

A monoclonal antibody specific for antigen 5 of Echinococcus granulosus was isolated and partially characterized. Purification of antigen 5 was accomplished by affinity chromatography using an immunoabsorbent prepared with this monoclonal antibody. Pure antigen 5 was identified by immunoelectrophoresis, double diffusion in agar gel, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The pure antigen displayed the electrophoretic mobility typical of antigen 5 and gave a single precipitin band in double diffusion with both monoclonal antibody and rabbit anti-pH5PPT hydatid fraction serum. Two bands of 66 and 56 kDa could be detected in the pure antigen 5 after sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis when performed in non-reducing conditions: both bands were reactive with the monoclonal antibody in immunoblotting. After reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol, antigen 5 displayed one band only, of 39 kDa. Antigen 5 purified by this procedure was found to retain reactivity with human sera from hydatid patients in a DD5 test.

Animals↗