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Biomedical subjects

M G Bernengo

Publications and source records attributed to M G Bernengo.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Prevention of recurrences in frequently relapsing herpes labialis with thymopentin. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter study.

The present randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind multicenter study included a population of 36 subjects with frequent recurrences (at least once a month) of herpes labialis. Most of the patients had failed to respond adequately to previous treatment with other therapeutic tools, including acyclovir. Either 50 mg of thymopentin or of placebo was administered 3 times a week, by the subcutaneous route, for 6 weeks. Subsequently, the patients were observed for nearly 6 months on the average. The results achieved with thymopentin for the individual parameters were significantly superior to those obtained with placebo; thus significant improvement was seen in patients on thymopentin in the duration of the longest symptomfree period (prolonged from 2.1 weeks to 20.9 weeks, p = 0.000), in the number of relapses (reduced from 1.6 to 0.4 episodes/month, p = 0.001), and in the total duration of herpes symptoms per month (shortened from 2.0 to 0.3 weeks, p = 0.000). Placebo treatment also resulted in considerable improvement (p less than 0.05 or 0.01), but was significantly inferior to the improvement obtained with thymopentin. The longest symptomfree period in the placebo group was prolonged from 2.4 to 11.2 weeks. The number of relapses per month was reduced from 1.4 to 0.8, and the total duration of herpes symptoms per month from 2 to 0.9 weeks. The results of intergroup analyses, in which the observed parameters and the improvement achieved in either group were compared, significantly favored thymopentin treatment. The effect of thymopentin was in all but one parameters superior to that of placebo and highly significant (p less than 0.01).

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1985

Functional properties in Sézary cells with an unusual phenotype.

The immunological and functional characteristics of Sézary cells with an unusual phenotype are reported. The clinical, histologic, and hematologic picture was typical for Sézary syndrome. Studies with monoclonal antibodies showed that 80% Sézary cells had an CD3+, CD4+, CD5+, CD7-, CD8-, Leu-7+, Leu-8-, Leu-11-, OKM1- phenotype. By two-color immunofluorescence assay 80% FACS-sorted Leu-7+ cells coexpressed CD4 antigen and did not express the myeloid antigen OKM1, CD8, and antigens characteristic of immature T cells. The cells had no NK activity but did display a high helper activity. Unseparated and FACS-sorted Leu-7+ and Leu-7- Sézary cells did not respond to mitogens but were able to grow in the presence of exogenous IL-2. FACS sorted Leu-7- cells, cultured for 7 days in the presence of 20% IL-2, acquired the receptors for Leu-7. IL-2 and IFN-gamma production was studied in unseparated Leu-7+ and Leu-7- FACS-sorted Sézary cells. IL-2 production was lower than in normal cells. The addition of PHA or PHA plus TPA led to an increase in IL-2 production. Also IFN-gamma production was marked lower than in normal controls but increased after 7-day culture in exogenous IL-2. In conclusion in this case the Sézary cells may represent a neoplastic expansion of the CD3+, CD4+, CD5+, Leu-7+, Leu-11- subpopulation which is equivalent to the 2-4% of the Leu-7+ population in normal lymphocytes.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Changes in T and B lymphocyte subpopulations before, during and after chemotherapy for malignant melanoma.

The behaviour of T and B lymphocyte subpopulations before, during and after chemotherapy with DTIC or CCNU was studied in 87 melanoma patients. The effect on immune status of DTIC administered as adjuvant therapy was also reported. The immunosuppressive effect was found to be higher in patients with normal pretreatment T-cell values than in patients with low pretreatment values, and it was higher in metastatic than in nonmetastatic patients. Where T and B lymphocyte subpopulations were assessed in 10 metastatic patients after each course of chemotherapy, a progressive reduction of T-lymphocytes was observed, indicating a cumulative effect of the drugs with advancing course. The reduction of T lymphocytes was mainly due to the decrease of OKT4+ cells. A normalization of T lymphocyte subpopulations was observed after the suspension of therapy. No significant decrease in the number of B cells was observed in the DTIC treated metastatic patients, whereas a significative reduction in the absolute number was found in those treated with CCNU.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

The prognostic value of T-lymphocyte levels in malignant melanoma. A five-year follow-up.

Serial immunologic tests (active E-rosettes = T-Ea; total E-rosettes = T-Et; total lymphocytes and null cells) were performed every 3 months for 5 years on 113 melanoma patients. A significant reduction in absolute T-Ea, T-Et, null cells, and total lymphocytes was noted in the patients who died, by comparison with those who are still alive. The latter presented a significant reduction in absolute T-Et only, plus a significant increase in null cells when compared with normals. The 38 patients without metastases, at the end of the study, presented a reduction in T-Et and an increase in null cells compared with the normals, while the 75 patients with metastases presented a reduction in T-Et, null cells and total lymphocytes when compared with the patients without metastases and a reduction in T-Ea, T-Et, and total lymphocytes when compared with the normals. Null cells show a linear decrease in patients who died and a linear increase in those who survived. A total of 80.2% of patients with a fall in T-Et displayed metastases usually within 2 to 10 months (mean, 6.8). Patients with normal T-Ea, T-Et, and total lymphocyte values showed a significant prolonged survival when compared to those with lower values. In addition, survival seemed to be always a function of immunologic test values, irrespective of the tumor site.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Thymostimulin therapy in melanoma patients: correlation of immunologic effects with clinical course.

Thirty-two nonmetastatic melanoma patients with low T-lymphocyte values were treated with a thymic extract, thymostimulin (TS) (8 patients), DTIC (8 patients), or surgery alone (16 patients). In the 8 patients receiving TS, active E-rosette (T-Ea) and total E-rosette (T-Et) counts rose to normal levels and there was a significant rise in IgM and IgD receptors. Six out of eight patients treated with TS showed no evidence of metastases after 34 months, while 7/8 patients on DTIC and 13/16 patients on surgery alone developed metastases. Twenty metastatic patients with low T-lymphocyte values received either DTIC plus TS or DTIC alone. Total lymphocyte, T-Ea, and T-Et counts did not increase in either group nor was there a significant difference between the group on DTIC plus TS and the group on DTIC alone. The survival rate of patients on DTIC plus TS did not differ significantly from that on DTIC alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

T-cell subsets in melanoma patients evaluated by anti-T-cell monoclonal antibodies.

Functional T-cell subpopulations have been evaluated in the peripheral blood of 124 melanoma patients (71 non-metastatic and 53 metastatic) using monoclonal antibodies: OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, every 2 months for 1 year. The levels of OKT3+ cells were significantly lower in metastatic patients than in normal controls and they decreased in the advanced phases of the disease. Percentages and absolute OKT4+ cell values were reduced in metastatic patients only, while a significant reduction in OKT8+ cells was noted in both long-surviving, non-metastatic and metastatic patients. The ratio of OKT4+/OKT8+ cells was increased in non-metastatic patients and in patients remaining metastasis-free for 4 years after resection of their metastases. Patients with prolonged survival show normal T-helper cells and low T-suppressor cells with a significant increased ratio OKT4/OKT8. In the patients who developed visceral metastases and in those who died the progressive reduction in total T cells is mainly due to the decrease in OKT4+ cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Chronic T-cell leukaemias. III. T-colonies, PHA response and correlation with membrane phenotype.

The functional capacity of T lymphocytes from 28 cases of chronic T-cell leukaemia--T-CLL, T-PLL, T-LCL and Sézary syndrome--was evaluated in a T-colony forming system and in a PHA response assay. Reduced or absent T-colony growth was observed in 23 cases (82%) while in five the growth was normal. Although a good correlation was generally observed between colony formation and PHA transformation, in a few cases a low PHA response was accompanied by moderate colony growth and vice versa. Characterization of the leukaemic T lymphocytes using monoclonal antibodies (OKT series) indicates that cases with a helper/inducer phenotype (OKT4+) showed moderately reduced or near-normal T-colony numbers, whilst cases with a suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype (OKT8+)--confined to T-CLL in this study--had a very low or absent colony growth. The functional abnormalities reported here suggest that neoplastic T-cells with a helper/inducer phenotype show a low proliferative response in the assay systems used, although expressing mature T-cell characteristics. The low growth observed in T-CLL confirms that cells with a suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype form few T-cell colonies.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1981

Skin lesions in angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy: histological and immunological studies.

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with drysproteinaemia is reported (AILD) in four patients with different skin pictures. As the disease progresses two main forms predominate; papulonodular and erythroderma. In all cases the histological picture of the skin mirrors that of the lymph-node. Our results point to an increase in the peripheral blood, lymph-nodes and skin of T and subsequently of B lymphocytes suggesting that a proliferation of helper T cells and hence activation of the B-cell subpopulation may be involved in the pathogenesis of some cases of AILD.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Bullous Sézary syndrome.

The clinical course of a patient with Sézary syndrome presenting under bullous form is described. The bullae were flaccid on a non-erythematous base. Indirect and direct immunofluorescence were both negative. In the peripheral blood WBC was high (54,000/mm3) and large cells with T lymphocyte properties and small cells with 'null' cell features were present. Blister fluid contained only large, E-rosette positive and alpha-naphthylacetate esterase-positive Sézary cells. A remarkable spontaneous cyclicity was observed: marked reduction in the number of large circulating Sézary cells each time bullae appeared. This suggests that only the large cells were capable of migrating to the skin and from the skin to peripheral blood.

Female↗
PubMed1980

The in vitro effect of a calf thymus extract on the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with warts.

T and B lymphocyte populations were evaluated in forty-one patients with multiple recurring warts. Active rosettes (T-Ea) and total T lymphocytes (T-Et) were significantly decreased. The in vitro effect of a calf thymus extract (TP-I) on peripheral blood lymphocytes was evaluated in thirty-three patients. A statistically significant increase in E-rosette forming cells was observed in twenty-three patients (69%). Serum blocking factors were not found in the patients with a positive response to TP-I, which suggests the possibility of a thymic hormone deficiency. In the case of non-responders to TP-I, on the other hand, an anti-lymphocyte antibody capable of directly blocking the hormone receptors on the undifferentiated lymphocytes may be postulated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

The in vitro effect of a calf thymus extract on the peripheral blood lymphocytes of sixty-six melanoma patients.

The in vitro effect of a calf thymus extract (TP-1) on peripheral blood lymphocytes was evaluated in sixty-six melanoma patients. Twenty out of forty-five stage I and seventeen out of twenty-one stage IIb patients presented depressed T lymphocyte values. A statistically significant increase in E-rosette-forming cells (E-RFC) was observed in seventeen (85%) stage I and twelve (70.5%) stage II patients. In thirteen (65%) stage I and eight (47%) stage II patients E-RFC reached normal values. Our results indicate that the fall of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of melanoma patients is often related to an increase in TP-1 sensitive cells which suggests the possibility of a thymic hormone deficiency in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Relationship between T and B lymphocyte values and prognosis in malignant melanoma.

T and B lymphocyte populations were evaluated in 56 patients with malignant melanoma. Active rosettes (T-Ea) were decreased only in metastatic patients, while the total T population (T-Et) was decreased in all stages. In addition the metastatic patients presented significant decreases in IgD and IgM subpopulations. An increase in null cells was noted in metastatic patients. Regular controls over a period of 2 years showed that T-Ea levels were closely linked to the clinical picture. Patients whose values were constant remained cancer free, while a reduction heralded the appearance of clinical and/or radiological signs of metastasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Dyskeratosis congenita with epidermodysplasia verruciformis of Lewandowsky and Lutz.

The case is reported of a 30-year-old man suffering from dyskeratosis congenita with severe pancytopenia, in association with generalized verrucosis. Viral particles were detected electron microscopically. The importance of an impaired immunological state, demonstrated in this case by lymphocyte stimulation and rosette tests, is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Active rosette test in cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders.

T and B peripheral blood lymphocytes were evaluated in 17 patients with clinical and histological evidence of mycosis fungoides and in ten patients with benign lymphoplasias of the skin. The T subpopulation (T-Ea) characterized by a rapid rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes was also measured in these patients. While both T-total population (T-Et) and T-Ea subpopulation were within the normal range in pseudolymphoma group, a statistically significant decrease was observed in T-Ea and T-Et populations in the mycosis fungoides group. Moreover, the decrease in T-Ea subpopulation was found in all cases under investigation, even when T-Et population was still at the normal levels. A close relation between T-Ea values and clinical status was observed. B and null cells were substantially unchanged in all patients.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1976

Leucosis and skin: acute lymphoid immunoblastic leukaemia.

The clinical course of a patient with acute lymphoid immunoblastic leukaemia and prominent nodular haemorrhagic skin lesions is described. Cytological, cytochemical and electronmicroscopic studies were performed on bone marrow and skin blast cells. The absence of surface immunoglobulins and of the other markers for B lymphocytes (EA and EAC rosettes) and the presence of 30% of spontaneous sheep erythrocyte rosettes excluding an acute leukaemia with Burkitt's tumour cells, suggest that T cells are involved. Complete haematological and cutaneous remission was obtained with prednisone therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1975

A case of acute promyelocytic leukaemia with bullous, haemorrhagic and necrotic skin lesions.

Erythematous-oedematous-bullous skin lesions with necrotic vegetating and haemorrhagic evolution evocating atypical pemphigur or bullous reticulosis, revealed acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Histologically, vesicles and bullae were observed in the Malpighian layer and a dense infiltrate with atypical blasts in the dermis. Atypical promyelocytes (22%) were found in the bone marrow. The cytochemical features of promyelocytes, haemorrhage due to disseminated intravascular coagulation supported the diagnosis.

Aged↗