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Biomedical subjects

F Ciccia

Publications and source records attributed to F Ciccia.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

IVIG in APS pregnancy.

For more than two decades, the intravenous administration of high doses of IgG pooled from the plasma of healthy donors (immune globulin therapy, also known as 'IVIG') has benefited patients with a variety of autoimmune disorders. A potential therapeutic role of IVIG in the prevention of thrombosis and of miscarriages in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has been postulated. Multicenter randomized controlled trials attempted to define the role of IVIG in preventing pregnancy complications in APS indicate that simple anticoagulation could not be completely satisfactory, and certain patient subgroups might take advantage of IVIG therapy alone or in combination with heparin.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed2003

Prevalence of headache in patients with Behçet's disease without overt neurological involvement.

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the prevalence of headache and the frequency of different headache syndromes in patients with Behçet's Disease (BD) without neurological involvement and to investigate the relationship with other clinical, and behavioural variables. Twenty-seven BD patients and 27 control subjects underwent a validated semistructured questionnaire based on the International Headache Society criteria. Levels of anxiety and depression, disease activity, and current medication were collected. Headache occurred in 88.9% of BD patients. There was no difference in the prevalence of the different headache syndromes between BD patients and controls. Only migraine without aura (MwA) was significantly more frequent in BD patients than controls (44.4% vs. 11.1%, respectively, P= 0.013). No relationship was found between MwA and clinical, and behavioural variables. Among headache syndromes, MwA showed the highest frequency in BD. A vascular or neuronal subclinical dysfunction could justify this association. A careful interview for migraine might be included in the diagnostic work-up of BD.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Humoral and cell mediated immune response to cow's milk proteins in Behçet's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the humoral and cellular immune response against cow's milk proteins in Behçet's disease and to distinguish any behaviour during active or inactive disease. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 16 patients and from eight normal controls were cultured in the presence of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), beta-casein, beta-lactoglobulin, or chicken egg albumin. Interferon gamma (IFNgamma) and interleukin 4 (IL4) were measured in the culture supernatants by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum samples from 46 patients with Behçet's disease and from 37 healthy subjects were also studied for antibody detection. Antibodies to beta-casein, beta-lactoglobulin, and chicken egg albumin were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: High IFNgamma but not IL4 levels were found in the supernatants of lymphocytes from patients with active disease cultured in the presence of cow's milk proteins. Levels were comparable with those obtained in cultures stimulated with PHA. A significantly higher level of anti-beta-casein and anti-beta-lactoglobulin IgG and IgA antibodies was found in patients with active Behçet's disease. No relation was found between their occurrence and the age of the patients, the duration of disease, or the presence of gastrointestinal abnormalities. Antibodies to chicken albumin were detected at low levels and with a prevalence similar to that of healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that an active immune response occurs in Behçet's disease. This response involves an increased frequency of antibodies to cow's milk protein and a strong Th1 polarisation after exposure to these antigens. The occurrence of these abnormalities supports a putative role for cow's milk proteins immune response in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte myeloperoxidase levels in patients with Behçet's disease.

Myeloperoxidase was measured in the plasma and in the supernatants of polymorphonuclear granulocyte cultures from patients with Behçet's disease. High levels were found in both plasma and supernatants from patients with active disease. The addition of pentoxifylline to granulocyte cultures determined a significant decrease of myeloperoxidase levels in active patients only. Hyperactive neutrophils are present during the course of Behçet's disease and may be considered of importance in the pathogenesis of the vascular lesions.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impaired expression of erythrocyte glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane CD59 in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Relation to terminal complement pathway activation.

OBJECTIVE: Complement-mediated injury is regulated by many factors; among these CD59 has been identified as a widely distributed glycoprotein that inhibits membrane C5b-9 (terminal complement component) formation. The aim of the study was to assess erythrocyte CD59 expression in patients with psoriatic arthritis in order to understand the role of CD59 in the pathogenesis. METHODS: Washed erythrocytes from 50 patients with psoriatic arthritis, 8 with cutaneous psoriasis and 24 healthy subjects were incubated with monoclonal anti-CD59 antibody followed by a second FITC conjugated antibody and fluorescence intensity analysed by FAC-Scan flow cytometer to assess their CD59 membrane expression. SC5b-9 levels were measured in the plasma by ELISA and results compared with CD59 values. Immune complexes, complement C3 and C4 and rheumatoid factor were also determined. RESULTS: Impaired expression of erythrocyte membrane-anchored CD59 was found in patients with psoriatic arthritis; the lowest levels were seen in active patients (p < 0.01). Increased SC5b-9 was seen in the plasma of patients with active disease. An inverse correlation was also found between plasma C5b-9 and the CD59 expression levels (r = -0.81, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The low CD59 expression on erythrocytes from patients with psoriatic arthritis may be an index of a low tissue CD59 expression. This impairment could facilitate the activation of complement pathway and increase the risk for arthritis. Membrane attack complex formation in deficient membrane bound CD59 may also exacerbate synovial cell injury and inflammation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The level of soluble Granzyme A is elevated in the plasma and in the Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell culture supernatants of patients with active Behçet's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Gramzyme A (GrA) is a serine proteinase with trypsin-like activity that is released extracellularly during the degranulation of cytotoxic cells. Among the cytotoxic cells, gamma/delta T cells participate in the early phases of the immune response and are known to express perforin and granzymes constitutively in agreement with their cytolytic pontential. METHODS: GrA activity was detected using the synthetic substrate N-alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine thiobenzyl ester in the plasma and supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultured in the presence of Dimethylallyl pyrophosphate to obtain Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell expansion. RESULTS: Significantly high levels of GrA were found in the serum and supernatants of lymphocytes from patients with active Behçet's disease cultured in the presence of DMAPP. Levels were found to be significantly lower after remission. A positive correlation was observed between GrA levels in the supernatants and the Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell expansion factor. CONCLUSION: These results strongly suggest that Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells are active participants in the pathogenesis of the disease through their degranulation and granzyme release.

Adolescent↗