Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Cascio.
A new series of monobactam derivatives, bearing unsubstituted or N-monosubstituted sulfamoyloxymethyl groups in position 4 was synthesized either in racemic or in optically active form. Their in vitro antibacterial activity was tested in comparison with carumonam 1a and its methoxyimino derivative 1b.
A form of idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia (ICL) has been recently described. Its diagnostic criteria have been defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta. Associations of ICL with hepatitis C infection have been reported, while some ICL patients have presented abnormalities partly similar to those observed in common variable immunodeficiency (CVI). This paper illustrates the immunological pictures of two subjects with a CD4 deficiency confirmed in a series of peripheral blood lymphocyte subset determinations, but not associated with other cellular or humoral immunity abnormalities and accompanied by poorly significant clinical manifestations (no opportunistic infections). Patient one has been observed for a very long period. Her serological picture has been negative and she is free from hypergammaglobulinemia. HIV infection can thus be ruled out. Patient two has not required any specific treatment so far. The CDC's diagnostic criteria for ICL are not fully met in the two cases. Their pictures meet many, though not all of the CDC criteria for the diagnosis of ICL. It is to be hoped that a protracted follow-up will allow an assessment to be made of the natural history of the two cases.
METHODS: The peripheral blood lymphocytes and lung function have been studied in 25 patients: 12 affected by atopic asthma and 13 affected by non atopic asthma. RESULTS: The results obtained indicate that peripheral blood CD3 and CD4 cell as well as HLA-DR marker are higher in the extrinsic asthma group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that an active inflammatory process exists in the group of non-atopic and functionally more compromised patients.
BACKGROUND: This prospective study was undertaken to assess the differences between the levels of the main plasma components of complement in allergic subjects and in those with pseudoallergic clinical manifestations. METHODS: Plasma C3 and C4 were evaluated in a total of 256 subjects examined consecutively at the allergology outpatients clinic of the Internal Medicine Division B, University of Turin. Total IgE and C1-inhibitor levels were also determined in 128 and 44 subjects respectively. RESULTS: C3 and C4 levels were not significantly different (p = 0.398 and p = 0.497) in 123 subjects with a positive and 133 with a negative prick test, nor in allergic subjects with respiratory as opposed to skin symptoms (p = 0.293 and p = 0.462), whereas the C-1 inhibitor was significantly lower (p = 0.046) in the respiratory subgroup. Total IgE was positively correlated with the C3 level (p = 0.036) in 75 allergic subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that plasma C3 and C4 values are not sufficient to discriminate IgE inflammation (positive prick test) and pseudoallergy (negative prick test) in the assessment of subjects with clinically suspected allergy. The positive correlation between IgE synthesis and C3 also points to an interaction between IgE synthesis and C3 regulation proteins in patients with IgE mediated diseases. Further investigation of other acute phase proteins (C reactive protein, fibrinogen) and the cytokines regulating their synthesis (IL-6) in such patients will help to clarify this correlation.
Transient immunodepression appears a few hours after surgery and usually regresses spontaneously within 15-20 days. In this study, cellular and humoral immunity parameter values were compared prior to and 24 h, 7 days and 14 days after laparotomic and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (12 patients and 25 patients respectively) operated at the University of Turin's First Surgical Clinic, to look for differences in the immunological effects of these two types of surgery. The following parameters were determined: IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4, granulocytes (CD11c), lymphocytes, B lymphocytes (CD19, CD19-CD15), T lymphocytes (CD3), T helper cells (CD3-CD4), T suppressor cells (CD3-CD8), CD4/CD8 ratio, NK cells (CD16), monocytes (CD14, CD11c-CD14), IL-2 receptor expression (CD25), HLA-DR expression (total HLA-DR, HLA-CD3), total cytotoxic activity (CD57), T cell cytotoxic activity (CD8-CD57), and NK cell cytotoxic activity (CD16-CD57). Granulocytes increased significantly (p < 0.05) in both groups. The increase was more marked in the laparotomy group and still evident on the 7th and 14th days. Total T cells, T helpers and NK cells fell after 24 h (p < 0.05) in this group only. These results suggest that laparoscopy is associated with less substantial immunological changes than laparotomy.
New series of monobactam antibiotics, bearing thio-and dithiocarbamate derivatives as C-4 side chain, were synthesized. Some compounds were found to have good antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria.
Specific hyposensitising therapy for IgE mediated respiratory allergopathies is recognised as an effective therapy able to improve clinical symptoms and bronchial hyperreactivity. IgE synthesis, which is altered in atopic subjects, is regulated by CD4 and partly CD8 lymphocytes. This paper examines the changes in the main T lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood in 10 atopic subjects undergoing specific immunotherapy. The results highlight a significant reduction (p = 0.028) in mean CD4 levels after 6.3 months of treatment. Changes in the other T lymphocyte components and total IgE serum levels were not significant.
In the diagnosis of drug allergies, the anamnesis and, in some cases, prick tests are without doubt indispensable approaches but they are not always able to provide optimal prognostic levels. Moreover, prick tests are sometimes contraindicated owing to their potential danger. This study evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of a test in vitro--the assay of IgE- and IgG-specific (RAST)--for a group of 16 drugs in 88 patients referred for allergological consultancy after clinical manifestations attributable to the administration of a drug (30/88 cases) or more than one drug (58/88). Disorders had appeared at least one week after the start of drug treatment, an interval that is compatible with the development of an immune response. In 17/88 (19.3%) patients the in vitro test confirmed the presence of IGe and/or IgG against at least one of the drugs suspected in the anamnesis. In this series it was also found that there was a higher incidence of ADR in females (60/88) compared to males (28/88). Reactions to several drugs were more frequent than reactions to a single drug (58 cases vs 30). The association of ADR and the presence of other allergies in a particular individual was relatively rare (13/88 = 14.7%). These results confirm the value of RAST as a useful aid to improve the overall diagnosis of drug allergies and to make it safer.
There are different causes of CD4 lymphocytopenia: neoplastic pathology, immunosuppressive therapy or other iatrogenic forms. In addition to these causes, an important role is certainly played by HIV infection which, at the AIDS stage, constantly accompanies progressive CD4 lymphocytopenia, with or without affecting the other lymphocyte components. CD4 lymphocyte deficits not correlated to HIV infection are relatively rare and are not always accompanied by progressive clinical manifestations of immunodeficiency. In the recent past an idiopathic form of CD4 lymphocytopenia (ICL) was recognised whose diagnostic criteria were defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta. Cases of ICL association with hepatitis C virus infection have been reported and anomalies partially shared by subjects suffering from common variable hypogammaglobulinemia (CVH) have been reported in some ICL carriers. The CD4 deficit in these patients is not associated with other cellular and/or humoral immunological anomalies and the clinical manifestations, essentially of scant importance, have not shown signs of progression towards severe immunodeficiency syndromes. The authors report 4 subjects with major CD4 deficit whose clinical characteristics do not match idiopathic lymphocytopenia and specific serological tests have excluded HIV infection. No known causes of CD4 lymphocytopenia have been found in these patients and they do not present major signs of clinical damage.
A new series of 6-(hydroxyethyl)penems 2-substituted with amino acid-related side chains was synthesized. The nature of the amino acyl derivative proved to be crucial both from a synthetic point of view, as beta-lactam ring opening can compete with C-2 nucleophilic substitution, and for antibacterial activity. Primary amino acid amides emerged as the most suitable side chains for enhancing permeability through a Gram-negative outer membrane. In vitro activity of the new 2-[(aminoamido)methyl]penems 3a-u was influenced by the nature and position of the amide moiety, the ring size for cyclic amides, and the configuration of the amino acid. Compounds bearing amides derived from small N-methyl amino acids (such as 3a) or from cyclic amino acids (such as prolinamide 3p and 4-hydroxyprolinamide 3r) showed broad spectrum in vitro activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms.
This paper reports the results of a study conducted by the Italian Association for Immune-Prophylaxis Promotion (AIP.I) with the aim of surveying the attitudes and perceptions of Italian health care workers regarding the use and efficacy of influenza vaccine. The results clearly show that a high proportion of the questioned health care workers showed a general lack of concern about the severity of the disease. Doubts about vaccine efficacy and fear of post-vaccination side effects were also observed to have an important influence on the vaccination acceptance rates. These data underline the need for a systematic education program to provide influenza vaccination within the public and private health-care sectors in Italy.
Direct observation with an optic fibre bronchoscope facilitates the diagnosis, staging and treatment of both neoplastic and other lung diseases, and the varying diameters available enable IVth or even Vth-order bronchi to be examined. The technique can be employed for deep lung lavage or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and for transbronchial biopsy. The BAL fluid, too, can be used to study lung cells and soluble components. In this study, 21 patients aged 32-79 (mean 55.5), namely 16 with lung cancer and with non-neoplastic lung diseases, were subjected to BAL to allow a study to be made of the BAL fluid cell composition. In the neoplastic group, CD3 lymphocytes were 41.3% compared with 63.2% in the peripheral blood. CD4 (24.6% vs 40.6%) and CD8 (16.6% vs 28.7%) displayed the same pattern. The CD4/CD8 ratio, on the other hand, was much the same in both groups: 1.7 vs 1.5. CD19 were higher in the BAL fluid (20.1%) than in the peripheral blood (4.8%). In the non-neoplastic group the differences between the BAL fluid and the peripheral blood are of the same sign, but less marked. In conclusion, the BAL fluid subset composition in primary lung neoplasia differs from that in the peripheral blood through a reduction of CD3, CD4 and CD8 and an increase in CD19 compared with the peripheral blood. These modifications are less evident in patients with non-neoplastic lung diseases.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The incidence and the evolution of ROP in 324 infants with birthweight < or = 2500 g is report. The highest incidence was among the 750 and 1250 g birthweight infants. 5 infants < 750 g survived without signs of ROP. When present the ROP was within the 3rd stage and had a favourable outcome: spontaneous resolution without cicatricial lesions.
Lymphocyte electrophoretic mobility and natural killer cytotoxic activity are marked deranged in agammaglobulinaemia. These alterations can be normalised by correction of the serum Ig pattern. This suggests that Ig activity goes beyond specific antibody activity. I.v. Ig, in fact, exert several activities that also involve T-cell regulatory functions. It would thus be more correct to speak of "immunotherapy" of humoral immunodeficiencies with i.v. Ig, rather than simple "immunosubstitution".
A series of new 4-aryl-5-[omega-(4-aryl-1-piperazinyl)alkyl]-2(3H)- oxazolones was synthesized and tested for neuroleptic activity in mice and rats. Several compounds exhibited interesting neuroleptic activity with very low liability to the extrapyramidal side effects. In particular the activity of 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-[2-[4-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-1- piperazinyl]ethyl]-2(3H)-oxazolone (14) was greater than that of butropipazone and fluanisone, while of the same order of that of chlorpromazine; however, the product showed a longer lasting activity and minor ability to produce catalepsy as compared with the reference drugs.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Lymphoplasmocitoid lymphoma is a monoclonal proliferation of the B lymphocyte, whose differentiation is blocked at the stage prior to the plasma cell. The neoplastic cells primarily synthetise IgM, rarely IgG or IgA. The IgM thus produced is only secreted in 30% of cases. This secretory variant is known as Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia (WM). This paper describes 4 cases of WM in which the clinical picture included anaemia, secondary immunodeficiency, haemorrhagic syndrome, IgM monoclonal paraproteinemia and both lymphatic and extralymphatic neoplastic proliferation. The monoclonal antibodies and immunoenzyme techniques confirmed that the cells involved were poorly proliferative (K1 negative), preterminal (Ia positive) members of the B line. The B lymphocyte membrane phenotype and determination of the endocytoplasmic isotype permitted the recognition of precursor (sIgM+) and terminal (cIgM+) cells. Secondary immunodeficiency could have been at least partly attributable to the enhanced T CD8 lymphocyte fraction (cytotoxic suppressor) observed in the two cases in which this typing was performed.