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Biomedical subjects

L Ruocco

Publications and source records attributed to L Ruocco.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Granulocyte markers in hypertonic and isotonic saline-induced sputum of asthmatic subjects.

The aim of this study was to assess whether hyperosmolarity affects granulocyte mediator levels in induced sputum of asthmatic subjects. A total of 32 mild-to-moderate asthmatics, who inhaled either hypertonic (HS; 4.5% NaCl) or isotonic (IS; 0.9% NaCl) solutions for 15 min, were studied. Selected sputum was used for analysis. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil protein X (EPX), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and free neutrophil elastase (NE) were measured in sputum supernatant. Sample weight, total and differential cell counts, as well as viability and squamous cell percentage were no different after the two tests. No significant differences in ECP, EPX, MPO or NE levels were observed between HS- and IS-induced sputum. Repeatability of the two tests was good for macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, ECP, EPX and NE, but not for lymphocytes and MPO. In conclusion, hyperosmolarity does not affect sputum cell counts and the levels of most granulocyte degranulation markers examined in this study, confirming that both hypertonic and isotonic solutions can be reliably used to induce sputum in asthmatics.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2002

Activity, non-selective attention and emotionality in dopamine D2/D3 receptor knock-out mice.

In order to assess the role of dopamine (DA) D2 and D3 receptors in the modulation of behaviour, we analysed exploration in a spatial novelty in mouse model systems. Genetically engineered mice mutants have been used that carry normal, partial or no expression of D2R, D3R, or both D2R/D3R (double mutants) DA receptor subtypes. Adult male mice were exposed for 30 min to a Làte-maze. The behaviour was analysed for indices of activity, orienting (rearing frequency), scanning times (rearing duration) and defecation score (emotionality). D2R - / - and + / - as well as the D2R/D3R double homozygous mutants were less active than wild-type (WT) controls in travelled distance. In contrast D3R + / - were more active than WT mice in the first part of the test. As to orienting frequency, the D2R - / - were less active than WT during the entire test-period, whereas the D2 + / - mutants were less active than WT only in the second part of the test. Moreover, the D3R - / - and + / - mutants showed less and more rearing frequency than WT, respectively, during the entire test. Finally, the D2/D3R - / - double mutants were also less active than WT during the entire test period. As to scanning times, D2R + / - and - / - mutants were higher than WT during the entire test or only in the second part, respectively. The D3R + / - and - / - were not different from WT, whereas the D2/D3R - / - double mutants showed shorter scanning times only in the first part of the test. As to emotionality index, the defecation score, was lower only in D3R + / - mutants. Thus, the dopamine D2 and D3 receptor subtypes appear to be differentially involved in the modulation of activity, orienting and scanning phases of attention. Lastly double mutation experiments reveal an interaction between D2R and D3R with the former prevailing on the latter.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Comparison of anti-inflammatory and clinical effects of beclomethasone dipropionate and salmeterol in moderate asthma.

Inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta2-agonists effectively control asthma symptoms and improve airway function. The effects of beclomethasone were compared with those of salmeterol on markers of eosinophilic inflammation in induced sputum in steroid-naive asthmatic subjects with moderate asthma. Fifteen moderate asthmatics were treated with either beclomethasone dipropionate (500 microg b.i.d.) or salmeterol (50 microg b.i.d.) for 4 weeks, according to a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group study design. All patients underwent spirometry, methacholine test, sputum induction, and blood sampling before and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. They also recorded daily symptoms and peak expiratory flow (PEF). Sputum eosinophils, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil protein X (EPX), and blood eosinophils, as well as the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and morning PEF, significantly improved after beclomethasone but not after salmeterol. PEF variability, the symptom score and rescue beta2-agonist use significantly improved after both treatments, although the improvement in the symptom score tended to be greater after beclomethasone. After 2 and 4 weeks of beclomethasone treatment, both serum ECP and EPX decreased. With salmeterol, only serum EPX decreased, after 4 weeks. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine did not change after either treatment. The authors conclude that beclomethasone, but not salmeterol, substantially improves airway inflammation in asthma. Beclomethasone also had an overall greater clinical effect, although the improvement in symptoms and peak expiratory flow variability was similar after both treatments.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed2001

Blood reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations in healthy and ill subjects.

BACKGROUND: Recently blood reduced glutathione (GSH), an important cellular antioxidant, has been proposed as an indicator of health, particularly in the elderly. To date, a gold standard unit for the expression of GSH concentrations is not known. The aim of the study is to define the most sensitive laboratory expression of GSH. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: a comparative study among some laboratory expressions of GSH. SETTING: Geriatric and Internal Medicine Units; General Community. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: forty-eight inpatients from Geriatric and Internal Medicine Units and 82 healthy subjects recruited among medical students and residents, people from preventive medicine services and from local senior centres. EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY SUBJECTS: use of drugs in the year prior to the study. INTERVENTIONS: neither treatment nor interventions. MEASURES: the laboratory expression of GSH, compared in this study, were mg/dl, packed cell volume (PCV), mg/1010 RBC, mM/gHb. RESULTS: We noted statistically significant differences only if GSH was calculated as mg/1010 RBC; higher values were found in healthy subjects than in inpatients, apart from age. This modality of expression is minimally affected by haematological parameters; the low sensibility of the other modalities may be due to variations of MCV and Hb. Instead, the ratio GSH mg/1010 RBC expresses the true GSH concentrations inside each erythrocyte. This modality of expression is minimally affected by haematological parameters; the low sensibility of the other modalities may be due to variations of MCV and Hb.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

New hematological indices in the healthy elderly.

BACKGROUND: Recently, new indices related to erythrocytes and platelet counts have been provided by hematological analysers. The purpose of the study is to investigate these new parameters in the elderly to define their normal values and to compare them with the range provided by the manufacturer. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: a comparative study. SETTING: general community, geriatric and internal medicine ambulatories. PATIENTS: sixty healthy free-living elderly (cut-off: 65 years) and 66 healthy young-adults, as a control group. MEASURES: we measured the common and the new hematological parameters by H.1 Bayer technology. The new hematological parameters are red diameter width-RDW, hemoglobin distribution width-HDW, mean platelet volume-MPV, platelet diameter width-PDW, platelet hematocrit-Pct. We then compared the values of our population with the Bayer range. RESULTS: The confidence interval width of the new indices define very faster limits than the Bayer range. Statistical differences were significant only in male groups: young-adults (Y) versus elderly (E) with higher values in Y than E in RBC p=0.002, in Platelet count p=0.050 and in MPV p=0.026; and higher values in E in MCV p=0.008, MCH p=0.006 and PDW p=0.004. CONCLUSIONS: In the literature a wide range of common hematological parameters are reported in the elderly, while the new hematological values have not been discussed till now. Our results may contribute to define the laboratory limits of the new hematological values in the healthy elderly.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Blood zinc, copper and magnesium in aging. A study in healthy home-living elderly.

BACKGROUND: Blood concentrations of copper, zinc and magnesium were determined in healthy elderly to assess whether aging interferes with mineral and micronutrient status. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: case series. SETTING: Internal Medicine and Geriatrics ambulatories in a University Hospital in Pisa, a city of Central Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 143 healthy outpatients of both sexes, who underwent a cardiological examination. INTERVENTION: no treatment and intervention were performed. MEASURES: copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and magnesium--both intraerythrocytic (iMg) and extracellular (eMg)--were measured. RESULTS: The concentrations of Cu and eMg were found significantly higher in the elderly: Cu 117.5 +/- 17.0 micrograms/dl in the elderly vs 102.5 +/- 19.6 micrograms/dl in the younger (p < 0.001); eMg 1.8 +/- 0.2 in the elderly vs 1.7 +/- 0.2 mEq/l in the younger (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the levels of Zn and iMg did not differ in the two groups: Zn 113.3 +/- 14.9 micrograms/dl in the elderly vs 118.0 +/- 17.3 micrograms/dl in the younger, p = n.s.; iMg 4.3 +/- 0.4 mEq/l in the elderly vs 4.2 +/- 0.4 mEq/l in the younger, p = n.s. No correlation was found between age and single elements. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the healthy free-living elderly have an adequate mineral intake. Nutrient supplements may by useful in the elderly with chronic diseases, comorbidities, and polypharmacy to prevent further age dysfunctions.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Salbutamol pretreatment does not change eosinophil percentage and eosinophilic cationic protein concentration in hypertonic saline-induced sputum in asthmatic subjects.

BACKGROUND: Sputum induction by inhalation of hypertonic saline (HS) is usually preceded by beta2-agonist pretreatment, to prevent severe bronchoconstriction. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether salbutamol pretreatment may influence cell counts and concentrations of soluble mediators in induced sputum. METHODS: We studied 22 patients who randomly underwent HS sputum induction after pretreatment with either 200 microg salbutamol or placebo. Sputum was induced by means of HS inhalation (3, 4, 5% NaCl, 10 min each), measuring FEV1 every 5 min until it fell >/= 20% from baseline. Collected sputum was diluted 1 : 1 with 0.1% DTT, incubated at 37 degrees C for 20 min, and total and differential cell counts were measured. ECP and histamine levels were measured in the supernatant. RESULTS: Sputum volume, percentages of inflammatory cells, squamous cell counts and quality of the slides were not different after the two pretreatments, while sputum total inflammatory cells after salbutamol tended to be higher than after placebo (8.3 [1-41] 10(6) vs 6.3[0.2-40] x10(6); P = 0.09). Eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) did not significantly change (260 [8-900] microg/L after salbutamol vs 200 [8-800] microg/L, n = 19), while histamine levels tended to be lower after salbutamol (140.9 [39.9-236.5] nm) than after placebo (190.4 [72. 2-322.6] nm, P = 0.09, n = 17). The airway response to HS inhalation was significantly greater after placebo and the duration of the test was significantly different (median: 15 min after placebo and 30 min after salbutamol). Similar results were obtained when patients who differed for more than 15 min in the duration of HS-inhalation in the two tests were selected (n = 11). CONCLUSION: Salbutamol pretreatment reduces the severity of bronchoconstriction induced by HS inhalation without significantly affecting the percentages of inflammatory cells and the levels of soluble mediators in induced sputum.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1998

Leukocyte counts in hypertonic saline-induced sputum in subjects with occupational asthma.

We measured markers of eosinophilic inflammation in the blood and in the sputum induced by hypertonic saline (HS) inhalation of 24 subjects with occupational asthma who were still exposed to high molecular weight compounds (HMWCs, n = 8) or to low molecular weight compounds (LMWCs, n = 16); all subjects were symptomatic and showed bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine at the time of study. Sputum cell counts were also measured in 14 normal subjects and in 24 subjects with non-occupational asthma with asthma severity similar to that of occupational asthmatics. Both occupational and non-occupational asthmatic subjects showed higher neutrophil percentages in HS-induced sputum than normal subjects, asthmatics with LMWC-induced asthma showing the highest values. Eosinophil percentages in HS-induced sputum were higher in non-occupational asthmatics and in asthmatics with HMWC-induced asthma than in normal subjects and in subjects with occupational asthma due to LMWCs. No difference in bronchial responsiveness, peak expiratory flow variability and serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were observed among the different asthma groups. Although sputum eosinophil percentages significantly correlated with blood eosinophil percentages, sputum allowed the detection of a higher number of subjects with eosinophilic inflammation than blood. Serum ECP levels were normal in most asthmatic subjects. A significant correlation between sputum eosinophil percentages and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to HS was observed. Despite a similar degree of functional abnormalities, subjects with asthma due to LMWCs and still exposed to the occupational sensitizer showed a lower degree of eosinophilic inflammation and a higher degree of neutrophilic inflammation in the airways than subjects with occupational asthma due to HMWCs or non-occupational asthmatics. Furthermore, sputum eosinophil counts detect, better than blood indices, the degree of airway inflammation in both occupational and non-occupational asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

A new collection method for the evaluation of nasal mucus proteins.

BACKGROUND: Different sampling techniques for collecting nasal mucus have been used. The eosinophil and its granule toxin proteins, especially the eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), is an important inflammatory cell. OBJECTIVE: In the healthy subjects (with no acute or chronic disease of the respiratory tract), no detailed quantitative data on mucus nasal proteins have been reported, so the aim of the study is to demonstrate a simple and reliable method for the collection of nasal mucus and for measuring nasal ECP. METHODS: Our method consists in collecting two specimens of mucus from each nasal fossa, using a square of sterile pre-humidified gauze, centrifuged at 2000g for 20 min and stored at -20 degrees C until tested. To evaluate the reproducibility of the technique, 30 healthy subjects were retested after 24 h. RESULTS: The amounts of secretion gathered in the 89 collections did not show any statistical difference between the sexes. In the pooled subjects (n=59), the mean levels of ECP were 108 ng/mL and 325 ng/g and total protein (TP) levels were 701 mg/dL and 2.5 mg/g (expressed in absolute concentration and concentration related to the weight in grams). In the classes, according to age, no statistical differences were found on analysis of the groups by: sex, recovery rate, and ECP and TP concentrations. The Reproducibility Index was very good for the recovery rate (0.78), ECP (ng/mL=0.95, ng/g=0.83) and TP (mg/dL=0.89, mg/g=0.76). CONCLUSION: With our method, the sample collections were taken with minimal stimulation of the mucosa and it was well tolerated by the subjects; the low known dilution factor is also adequate for analysing small quantities of mucus recovered, and the protein concentration can be measured as an absolute value.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Comparison between eosinophilic markers in induced sputum and blood in asthmatic patients.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness and safety of the analysis of blood inflammatory markers in asthma are widely recognized. Recently, the analysis of induced sputum has been proposed as a safe, non-invasive tool in the study of airway inflammation in asthma. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to test whether sputum analysis is more useful than blood analysis in the evaluation of airway inflammation in untreated and treated asthmatic patients. METHODS: Twelve untreated patients with mild to moderate asthma underwent a methacholine challenge test, sputum induction and blood sampling. A group of 14 normal subjects was also evaluated for baseline comparison. The same evaluation was repeated after 3 months of budesonide treatment. Before and after treatment, we tested the relationship of eosinophilic markers in induced sputum and blood with clinical and functional data. We also compared eosinophilic markers in induced sputum with the same markers in blood. RESULTS: Untreated patients showed a significant relationship between sputum eosinophils and symptom score, and between sputum eosinophilic cationic protein and symptom score, FEV1 and PD20FEV1. No relationship between blood eosinophilic markers and clinical or functional data was observed. In budesonide-treated patients, both sputum and blood eosinophils were significantly lower than in untreated patients, but eosinophil decrease was greater in sputum than in blood. Sputum eosinophilic proteins were also significantly lower in treated patients, whereas serum eosinophilic proteins were low at baseline and remained unchanged after treatment. Sputum eosinophilic markers were lower in normal subjects than in both untreated and treated patients, while blood eosinophils, but not serum eosinophilic cationic protein, were lower in normals than in untreated patients. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of induced sputum is more useful than the analysis of blood in the evaluation of asthma severity and of the effect of glucocorticoid treatment in patients with mild to moderate asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based homogeneous assay with fluorogenic probes to measure c-erbB-2 oncogene amplification.

We describe a PCR-based assay for determining c-erbB-2 oncogene amplification in breast cancer in which we use the TaqMan system. Two fluorogenic probes anneal to the target between primers for c-erbB-2 and beta-globin genes and contain both a reporter dye (6-carboxy-fluorescein) and a quencher dye (6-carboxy-tetramethyl-rhodamine). During the extension phase of the PCR cycle, the 5'-->3' exonuclease activity of Taq polymerase cleaves the hybridized fluorogenic probe, resulting in an increase of fluorescence emission of the reporter dye that is quantitative for the amount of PCR product and, under appropriate conditions, for the amount of template. Assay performance showed adequate precision and a lower detection limit and good correlation with the results obtained in the same samples by a competitive PCR assay (n = 25, r = 0.94, P < 0.01). This homogeneous assay is time-saving, avoids usually cumbersome postamplification procedures (that can be additional sources of inaccuracy and contamination), and seems suitable for determination of c-erbB-2 oncogene amplification in tumor specimens.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

In vitro effects of an immunoglobulin preparation for intravenous use (IVIG) on T-cells activation.

The "in vitro" effect of different concentrations of polyclonal human immunoglobulins for intravenous use (IVIG) on cultured T-lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was evaluated. Four dilutions of IVIG corresponding with the "in vitro" doses currently employed in therapy have been tested by the effect on PHA stimulated cultures. The dilution of IVIG corresponding with a low therapeutical dose gives a higher statistically significant stimulating effect. The results obtained in our work agree with previous studies performed on activated B-cells. We can suppose the immunoglobulins may control the T-lymphocyte activation either by a direct link with a specific Fc-receptor expressed on the surface of activated T-cell or by affecting the cytokines release from monocyte cells.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1992

A genetic linkage study of schizophrenia to chromosome 5 markers in a northern Italian population.

Some recent findings report that the area 5q11.2-13.3 of chromosome 5 segregates with schizophrenia in an uncle-nephew pair (Bassett et al 1988). However, linkage studies between chromosome 5 markers loci and schizophrenia lead to different results: Sherrington et al (1988) found a positive linkage, whereas other groups of researchers found evidence against linkage (Kennedy et al 1988; St. Clair et al 1989; Detera-Wadleigh et al 1989; McGuffin et al 1990; Aschauer et al 1990; Crowe et al 1991). We have studied five Italian pedigrees segregating schizophrenia using a map of four markers for the chromosomal region 5q11.2-13.3. Linkage analyses revealed negative lod scores, and thus no evidence for linkage was obtained in our Italian families.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1990

Frequency of the delta F508 mutation in a sample of 175 Italian cystic fibrosis patients.

A sample of 175 Italian cystic fibrosis patients has been analysed for the presence of the delta F508 mutation. The frequency of this mutation among 137 patients with pancreatic insufficiency is equal to 57%; in 23 patients with pancreatic sufficiency it is 26%. A high proportion of the unknown mutations is associated with the same rare haplotype found in association with delta F508, suggesting that at least another mutation occurred on a chromosome characterized by the same haplotype.

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMed1990

Prevention of cystic fibrosis in Italian families by DNA studies.

We performed a feasibility study of prenatal diagnosis in the Italian population by DNA analysis utilizing the probes: metD, metH, J3.11, KM.19 and XV-2c. With these probes, 118 out of 126 families (93.7%) were fully informative. We also tested part of the families with new additional tightly linked probes, E.9 and W3D1.4. With all the probes feasibility was complete in 44 out of 45 families (97.8%). In particular with a set of only 3 tightly linked probes, KM.19 + XV-2c + W3D1.4, 71% of the families were fully informative. We carried out 8 prenatal diagnoses, 4 of which with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for KM.19. These data show that these probes are highly informative and can be used for feasibility studies and prenatal diagnosis of CF in the Italian population.

Cystic Fibrosis↗
PubMed1989

Modulating effects by Trichinella spiralis sensu stricto excretory/secretory antigens of human neutrophil functions.

Many parasites are able to modify the host response through different mechanisms, for example host leukocyte function modification. Since granulocytes represent the most important effector cells against Trichinella spiralis, we evaluated the effects of supernatants of T. spiralis sensu stricto muscle larvae cultured for at least 18 hours (T. Sup.) on some human neutrophil functions, i.e. chemotaxis, phagocytosis and Nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction. The cells from blood donors were tested in the presence of T. Sup. at different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 20%). The results show no effect of T. Sup. on neutrophil phagocytosis. On the contrary, random migration of cells is increased at concentrations of 10-20%, while stimulated migration is significantly decreased at concentrations of 5-10% but not at 20%. We found a significant decrease of Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction at 5-10% concentrations of T. Sup. It is concluded that T. spiralis culture supernatants contain some factors capable of modifying human neutrophil chemotaxis, oxidative metabolism, but not phagocytosis.

Animals↗