PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Tonutti

Publications and source records attributed to E Tonutti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Influence of radiotherapy on lymphocyte subpopulations].

The authors investigated the effects of radiation therapy on the immune system by studying lymphocyte subsets and other parameters in 32 patients undergoing radiation therapy for solid cancer. With monoclonal antibody techniques, we studied both T- and B-lymphocytes; cell suspensions were analyzed by means of a Facs Spectrum III Ortho (Ortho-Diagnostic) unit. The first control was performed right after the beginning of radiotherapy, when the dose to the patients was 50 Gy or higher. The second control was performed at 40 Gy because all patients received this dose. 30% of the patients exhibited lymphopenia from the beginning of the study; at 40 Gy the number of T-lymphocytes was low and helper/suppressor ratio was altered. A variable response of B-cells was observed, although all patients exhibited restoration of normal values at 6 months. Four patients only suffered from side-effects: a patient with tongue cancer presented oral mycosis, and a woman--treated for breast cancer--presented vaginal mycosis. Two cases of cystitis were also observed, after 18 Gy, in patients with uterine carcinoma undergoing pelvic irradiation. Disease progression was observed in 2 patients with head and neck cancer, while 3 patients died from lung cancer progression. Another one, with head and neck cancer, died because of heart failure.

Adult↗

Laboratory screening of monoclonal gammopathies: incidence of serum monoclonal immunoglobulins during a five years survey in a general hospital.

During a five years survey of unselected serum protein electrophoreses in a general hospital, 2347 sera (0.95%) were found to be positive for one or more monoclonal immunoglobulins. Class and type distribution of monoclonal immunoglobulins (characterized by means of immunofixation electrophoresis) mostly corresponded with the literature data. Nevertheless, higher incidence and lower mean age at detection were observed for IgG monoclonal components. This finding is probably related to the discovery of a large number of micro-monoclonal immunoglobulins with no association with B-lymphoproliferative disorders, mostly belonging to the IgG class and affecting younger people. The need is stressed for a widespread standardization of the techniques employed for detection and characterization of monoclonal immunoglobulins, in order to obtain more comparable results.

Aged↗

Monoclonal-oligoclonal immunoglobulins in HTLV III infected subjects: HTLV III-induced or HTLV III-associated?

Sera from 55 patients with positivity for anti-HTLV III antibodies, including 24 "healthy" subjects, 29 LAS and 2 AIDS, were examined by means of high resolution agarose gel electrophoresis and immunofixation, in order to evaluate the occurrence of monoclonal-oligoclonal immunoglobulin patterns. Monoclonal-oligoclonal immunoglobulins were found in 20.8% of "healthy" subjects and in 72.4% of LAS patients. Furthermore, a lower but significant prevalence of monoclonal-oligoclonal immunoglobulins was found in a control group including patients with high-titre positivity for anti-CMV and anti-EBV antibodies. Considering the consistent association between EBV-CMV and HTLV III infection, it is concluded that at least a part of monoclonal-oligoclonal immunoglobulins found in LAS-AIDS patients are likely to be induced by these associated viral infections. On the other hand, the finding of monoclonal-oligoclonal immunoglobulins in "healthy" HTLV III-positive subjects points out a possible direct stimulatory effect of HTLV III on B-cell lineage.

AIDS-Related Complex↗

Monoclonal antibody defined T cell subsets in primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome.

Using monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series we studied the blood T lymphocyte subsets of 12 patients with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome, 15 with Rheumatoid Arthritis associated Sjögren's Syndrome and 10 normal controls. We found a marked reduction of T lymphocytes both in Primary and Secondary Sjögren's Syndrome compared with normal controls (p less than 0.001). While no difference was noted in the number of helper-inducer T cells between Primary and Secondary Sjögren's Syndrome, a more important decrease of suppressor-cytotoxic cells was demonstrated in Secondary Sjögren's Syndrome (p less than 0.01). These data may contribute to a better understanding of the disease.

Antigens, Surface↗

Identification with monoclonal antibodies of T-cell subsets in peripheral blood and ascitic fluid of patients with alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis.

In an attempt to investigate an aspect of the immunoregulatory mechanisms operating in alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis with ascites we have enumerated T-cell subsets in the peripheral blood and ascitic fluid of 16 patients with this disease. The peripheral blood analysis revealed a reduction of OKT3+, OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells compared to those of the control group (p less than 0.001) and an increase of OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio. In the ascitic fluid the OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio, compared to that of the peripheral blood, was decreased (p less than 0.001) because of increase of OKT8+ cell proportion. We suggest that the sequestrated splanchnic OKT8+ subset might be represented by suppressor lymphocytes transuding from the liver.

Adult↗

Alpha-heavy chain disease. Report of a case with spontaneous regression.

The occurrence of alpha-heavy chain disease in an Italian adult, working in Libya, is reported, characterized by a spontaneous clinical and immunological recovery. It is suggested that the patient could have acquired the disease during his stay in an endemic area of alpha-heavy chain disease, and that the observed spontaneous remission could be related to the removal of environmental pathogenic factors, following his departure from Libya.

Adult↗

[Spermatogonia counts in descended and undescended prebuberal testes (author's transl)].

The following conclusions which show the importance of time of medical treatment resulted from the examination of 288 testicular biopsies (including 46 controls) by statistical analysis in correlation to age. 1. There is no difference in the number of spermatogonia per tubule cross section of descended and undescended testes in children from birth to 2 years of age. 2. The number of spermtogonia in descended testes is not different in children from birth to 2 years in comparison to children aged 2-6 years. 3. A statistically significant decrease of spermatogonia takes place in the undescended testes of children from 2-6 years in comparison to children from birth to 2 years. 4. The difference in the number of spermatogonia of descended and undescended testes increases in children above the age of 2. It must be concluded from this study that the pathological alterations of the germinative epithelium increase in children beyond the age of 2. Assuming that pathological alterations of the germinative epithelium are caused by the dystopy of the testes, medical treatment should be carried out before the child is more than 2 years old.

Adolescent↗