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D Pocobelli

Publications and source records attributed to D Pocobelli.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
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↗
PubMed1989

Autoantibodies in myotonic dystrophy.

We evaluated some immunological parameters in a group of 24 patients affected with myotonic dystrophy (MD). IgG, IgA, IgM immunoglobulin serum levels resulted decreased in most of the patients. Anti-smooth-muscle antibodies have been found in 10 out of 24 patients (45.5%). Moreover in some of them decreased C3 and C4 complement fraction serum levels have been found. Our data confirm the existence of some immunological abnormalities in a great number of subjects affected with the disease. Besides, these data evidence for most of the subjects the presence of autoantibodies non-organ-specific direct against myocellular antigens. These autoantibodies could be considered the expression of suffering of muscular fibres.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Antimitochondrial autoantibodies in myocardial hypertrophy: comparison between hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease, and athlete's heart.

Antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) were tested by indirect immunofluorescence in three groups of subjects with different types of myocardial hypertrophy: 35 patients affected with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC), 20 patients with cardiac hypertrophy secondary to essential hypertension, and 35 active endurance athletes with exercise-induced left ventricular hypertrophy. Forty-two healthy subjects served as a control group. Left ventricular hypertrophy was considered a left ventricular mass (LVM) echocardiographically calculated (Devereux formula), exceeding 244 gm or a LVM index exceeding 122 gm/m2 (greater than 2 SD from a previously studied normal population). AMA were found in 15 of 35 (43%) patients with HC and in 6 of 20 (30%) patients with hypertensive heart disease (p less than 0.01); in contrast, AMA were not present in the sera of athletes or in the sera of controls. Although the significance of AMA in subjects with pathologic myocardial hypertrophy has not yet been established, their absence in the sera of athletes strengthens the opinion that cellular changes, as a compensatory response of the myocardium to a work overload, have a physiologic fashion in these cases. Moreover, identification of AMA in the sera of athletes with disproportionate severe left ventricular hypertrophy of uncertain origin may be helpful to ensure a single diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics in childhood. Diagnostic problems].

This study reports about 126 children with an age ranging from 12 months to 12 years having RA to beta-lactamase. More children with an age ranging from 7-12 years (59.5%), and more male (65.9%) than female subjects were studied. 76 patients (60.3%) showed a familial anamnesis of allergic diseases or similar diseases and a personal anamnesis of allergic diseases (45.2%). Among the RA responsible substances the more frequent were semisynthetic penicillin (44.6%) followed by cephalosporin and penicillin. Most clinical manifestations (87.3%) were cutaneous reactions and in smaller number of cases it was possible to observe gastroenteric or respiratory reactions. In 121 patients cutaneous tests were undertaken (Prick tests and intradermoreactions), patch tests, employing: PPL, MDM, Penicillin, Ampicillin, Cephaloridine. 5.8% of the studied subjects showed an allergy. Particularly 2.4% showed a "early" positivity. RAST was carried out in 92 patients and 3 of them showed a positive result (3.2%). This study stresses the opportunity to carry out allergologic tests within 6 months since the beginning of RA. In fact especially in children this test result can soon become negative. Furthermore the reduced percentage of positive allergologic tests can be due to the inclusion in other studies of patients with "coincidental reactions". A certain number of RA can be caused by additive to "per os" products. Finally it will be possible to use "tests dose" even in selectioned cases. These tests can frequently exclude the etiopathogenetic responsibility of beta-lactamic substances.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Two cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis caused by delayed hypersensitivity to beta-lactam antibiotics.

The authors describe two cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) caused by delayed hypersensitivity to semisynthetic penicillins. The first patient developed erythema of the lower limbs following an i.m. injection of ampicillin, which progressed to TEN as therapy was continued. Fever and eosinophilic leukocytosis were also present. In the second case, TEN developed following oral amoxicillin therapy, and was preceded by a diffuse, maculopapular eruption. In both cases, symptoms resolved with the prompt administration of steroids. Both patients underwent allergological testing: prick test and, if results were negative, intradermal tests with penicilloyl-polylysine (PPL), minor determinant mixture (MDM), penicillin, amoxicillin and ampicillin. Patch testing with penicillin, ampicillin and amoxicillin was also performed. Both patients developed positive reactions to the intradermal tests after 6 h, and to patch tests after 48-72 h (for ampicillin, amoxicillin and penicillin in the first case, and for ampicillin and amoxicillin in the second). The lymphocyte transformation test (LTT), performed only in the first case, was positive for ampicillin. As these cases demonstrate, delayed hypersensitivity should be suspected in cases of drug-related TEN. Patch testing is a simple and useful allergological test for these types of cases.

Adult↗