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Biomedical subjects

L Ignaccolo

Publications and source records attributed to L Ignaccolo.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Randomized clinical trial to compare the effects of methadone and buprenorphine on the immune system in drug abusers.

RATIONALE: Buprenorphine may be a useful alternative option to methadone in addicts. Opioids can produce severe changes in the immune system. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to compare the effect of sublingual buprenorphine and methadone on the immune system and to compare the two substances on the drying-out program compliance. METHODS: We studied 62 randomized outpatients for a period of 12 months. Subjects (55 males and 7 females; mean age 25+/-4 years; average history of heroin abuse being 2 years) on maintenance treatment were assigned in two groups (A and B). Methadone chloride (medium dose 100 mg/day) was administered to group A, whereas group B received sublingual buprenorphine (32.40+/-2.8 mg/day). Urine toxicological screening, plasma levels of TNF-alpha interleukin-1, interleukin-beta, lymphocyte CD14 and a self-rating depression questionnaire were measured. RESULTS: Urine screening was negative for opiates in 17.6% of group A and in 10.7% of group B (p<0.001; r = 0.62). Depression score was 62+/-2 in group A and 55+/-3 in group B (p < 0.01). Cytokine and CD14 revealed higher concentrations both in groups A and B without significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of buprenorphine and methadone tested on the immune system were overlapping in our patients. The elevated cytokine levels observed may suggest that the two drugs stimulate immunologic hyperactivation of an immune system that was formerly inhibited by heroin. Furthermore, our data suggest that buprenorphine can be a valid alternative to methadone in maintenance treatment of chronic heroin abuse and referred a marked decline in depression.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

A case of progression from type II cryoglobulinaemia to Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C infection is associated with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, including mixed cryoglobulinaemia and B-cell lymphoma. A direct pathogenetic role of this infection in lymphomagenesis has been suggested but the molecular basis for viral induced B-cell proliferation is still unknown. We report an unusual case of a patient affected by chronic hepatitis C who presented severe type II cryoglobulinaemia and subsequently lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma consistent with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia and type I cryoglobulinaemia. In this patient antiviral treatment induced beneficial effects.

Cryoglobulinemia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Heterozygosis H63D in patients with steatohepatitis and chronic hepatitis C].

OBJECTIVE: Classic hereditary hemochromatosis is an autosomal recessive iron-overload disorder associated with mutation of the HFE gene. The homozygous genetic defect predisposes to a chain of events that may culminate in severe damage in multiple organs. Pathologic implications of heterozygous defect are still questionable; in fact since these individuals may have slight increases in intra-cellular iron, it has been questioned whether this would enhance damage from other diseases. We investigated whether steatohepatitis and chronic hepatitis C can be worsened by heterozygosis for C282Y and H63D. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated 216 subjects with Steatohepatitis and/or chronic hepatitis C diagnosed by ultrasonography and liver biopsy with histological assessment compared with 110 healthy subjects. In all subjects we performed Saturated Transferrine, Plasma Ferritin and the research of HFE mutation by a Real Time Method. A statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: A H63D mutation was present in 32/108 patients with Steatohepatitis, in 30/108 patients with chronic hepatitis C and in 22/110 healthy subjects. A C282Y mutation was present in 2/108 patients with chronic hepatitis C, in 4/108 with steatohepatitis and in 2/108 healthy subjects. No significant difference was present about incidence of this mutation between pathological and healthy subjects. No significant differences have observed between pathological groups and normal group about the degree of histological damage. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that steatohepatitis and chronic hepatitis C cannot be worsened by heterozygosis for C282Y and H63D.

Biopsy↗