PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Resti

Publications and source records attributed to M Resti.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Selectivity in IgG subclass response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers.

IgG subclasses of antibodies to the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in sera from 40 healthy infants immunized with the vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV) were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with monoclonal antibodies. The infants were born to asymptomatic HBsAg-positive mothers. Total serum IgG subclasses were also tested to exclude a deficiency of certain subclasses in these infants but their distribution was the one expected according to age. In contrast, IgG subclass antibodies to HBsAg were predominantly IgG1 and IgG4. The collected data indicate that infants produce significantly higher levels of IgG1 and IgG4 than IgG2 and IgG3 in response to the vaccine for HBV. The IgG4 response to anti-viral vaccinations is uncommon. The role of that IgG4 subclass is not yet clear: even if an anaphylactic role was suggested, no adverse reactions were observed in vaccinated children.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The multitransfused beta-thalassemic child: a model for the study of IgE response.

Positive skin tests to common inhalant allergens and the frequency of respiratory atopic diseases were determined in a population of multitransfused beta-thalassemic patients and in their parents and siblings. Positive skin test responses and respiratory atopic diseases were significantly less frequent in patients than in their relatives and in controls. Negative patients differed from positive patients as to the age at first transfusion, since the former had started transfusion earlier than the latter. It is speculated that in beta-thalassemic patients, allergen-specific IgG acquired early in life through transfusions suppresses the synthesis of allergen-specific IgE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Should hepatitis B surface antigen positive mothers breast feed?

Breast fed infants may be at greater risk of mother to infant hepatitis B virus infection compared with formula fed infants. We studied 85 infants born to 84 hepatitis B surface antigen positive mothers (only two of whom were hepatitis B e positive), and who had received immunisation against hepatitis B virus. Our results indicate that breast feeding does not increase the risk of developing hepatitis B virus infection in infants born to these mothers if immunisation is carried out.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1985

Interference of hepatitis B virus surface antigen with natural killer cell function.

The influence of purified hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) preparations or of supernatants derived from PLC/PRF/5 cell line (which produces HBsAg) on human natural killer (NK) activity was examined. Lymphocytes pre-incubated with HBsAg and subsequently washed showed a significant decrease in NK cytotoxicity against K-562 target cells. This effect was reversible and dose-dependent. In addition, pre-incubation with either HBsAg or PLC/PRF/5 supernatants inhibited in a reversible manner lymphocyte--K-562 conjugates and the binding of B73.1 monoclonal antibody (MoAb), which recognizes Fc receptors on NK cells. This effect was not observed with HNK-1, T3, T4, T6, T8 and T11 MoAb. HBsAg was non-toxic to lymphocytes, and ineffective with K-562 target cells. Beta-interferon did not modify HBsAg-mediated inhibition, when added either before or during the contact with HBsAg. Moreover, no modification was observed when neutrophils (at various neutrophil:lymphocyte ratios) were added, even though HBsAg is known to stimulate neutrophils to produce oxygen radicals which may modulate NK activity. We speculate that HBsAg produces these effects by reacting into receptor sites (possibly Fc receptor sites) on NK cell membrane. The overall significance of our results in relation to hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Changes in superoxide anion production in neutrophils from multitransfused beta-thalassemia patients: correlation with ferritin levels and liver damage.

Superoxide anion production in resting and PMA- or zymosan-stimulated neutrophils was evaluated in 21 beta-thalassemia patients. The results were correlated with ferritin values, hepatitis B virus serum markers, liver pathology, immunoglobulin levels and T-cell subsets. Superoxide anion generation from resting or PMA-stimulated neutrophils was significantly higher in patients than in controls. On the contrary, zymosan-stimulated neutrophils showed reduced superoxide anion production. Increased superoxide anion production in resting neutrophils showed a significant correlation to the values of ferritin. In addition, patients with biopsy-proven chronic liver disease showed significantly increased ferritin levels and superoxide anion production as compared to the remaining patients. No correlation was observed between superoxide anion production and the presence or the absence of hepatitis B virus serum markers, immunoglobulin levels and T-cell subsets. A possible role of interreactions between iron and oxygen radicals in determining liver damage in beta-thalassemia patients is suggested.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Granulocyte function in Duchenne's progressive muscular dystrophy].

We studied the in vitro function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in 14 patients affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy, aged 2-14 years, especially the chemotaxis and the bactericidal activity. The chemotaxis appeared significantly reduced, while the bactericidal activity was sometimes reduced, sometimes increased. In this disease the polymorphonuclear leukocytes seems to have a reduced capacity of movement; probably this phenomenon is connected with an alteration of the muscular cellular apparatus, which perhaps is related with an electrolytic intercellular inequality. These findings are consistent with the definition of Duchenne muscular dystrophy as a systemic disease of the membrane with alterations not only of striped muscular fibers, but of various cells and tissues.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ten-year follow-up study of neonatal hepatitis B immunization: are booster injections indicated?

One hundred and fourteen children, born to HBsAg-positive mothers received in the first year of life passive active prophylaxis for hepatitis B virus (HBV). They have been followed up to 10 years. A booster dose given in a cohort at the 5th year does not seem to increase protection against HBV. No difference in immunological memory was present at the 10th year between the group of children who had received the booster dose at 5 years of age and the group who did not.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Different degree of antibody response to hepatitis B virus vaccine in breast- and formula-fed infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers.

Antibody response to hepatitis B virus vaccine was compared in 47 breast- and 112 formula-fed infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen-(HBsAg-) positive mothers. No difference was observed as to the percentage of infants who seroconverted. However, formula-fed infants developed transient but significantly higher anti-HBs antibody levels as compared to breast-fed infants. Suppressive factors in human milk or orally induced tolerance may explain this finding. The latter hypothesis may be supported by the presence of HBsAg in more than half of the milk samples we studied.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus.

Since the programme of the hepatitis B virus vaccination started, hepatitis C virus has become the most significant cause of chronic liver disease of infectious aetiology in paediatric age. After the introduction of hepatitis C virus screening of blood units, vertical transmission seems to now be the most common route of hepatitis C virus infection in children. According to studies on infants born to anti-hepatitis C virus positive women, the rate of mother-to-infant transmission is about 5% when the mother is anti-hepatitis C virus positive and anti-HIV negative, but the risk is three-five times higher when the mother is coinfected with HIV. Both viral and host-related factors are of importance as risk factors in vertical hepatitis C virus transmission. Among the first, only viral load has been demonstrated by some authors as a relevant risk factor while genotype seems not to be influent. The importance of quasispecies has been hypothesized but not yet clarified. Among host-related factors, beyond maternal HIV coinfection, maternal drug abuse has certainly an important role. Other factors such as breast feeding and vaginal delivery do not seem to influence the rate of vertical transmission. Progression to chronicity occurs in the majority of perinatally infected children, although hepatitis C virus associated liver disease is usually mild throughout infancy and childhood.

Disease Progression↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute febrile cholestasis as an inaugural manifestation of Kawasaki's disease.

We report a child who developed acute febrile cholestasis with jaundice and pruritus as the inaugural manifestation of Kawasaki's disease (KD). The severe obstructive icterus and hydrops of the gallbladder required cholecystectomy that was not followed by remission of the fever and cholestasis. KD was suspected after the exclusion of all infectious, metabolic and neoplastic conditions responsible for acute cholestasis. The administration of intravenous gammaglobulin (IVGG) promptly induced defervescence and improvement of the patient's general condition. Mucocutaneous alterations, peeling of the digits, right cervical lymph node enlargement and bilateral non-suppurative conjunctivitis supporting the diagnosis of KD developed 14 days after the appearance of jaundice. No coronary abnormalities had developed after 2 years of follow-up. We conclude that this syndrome should be suspected in any child with febrile cholestasis of unknown origin, in order that coronary involvement may be prevented by the administration of IVGG.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Severe abdominal involvement as the initial manifestation of cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa in a young girl.

We report a young girl who developed ingravescent intestinal symptoms as the first manifestation of cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) while the typical skin nodules developed later during the disease course. Cutaneous PAN predominantly affects children and presents with crops of painful skin nodules in the medial aspect of the foot, often preceded by sore throat. Visceral manifestations including gut involvement are commonly associated with the classical form of PAN while they are rarely reported in the cutaneous form. In our patient the severity of the abdominal symptoms required a laparoscopy, which revealed diffuse erythematosus swelling of the intestine on the serosal side. The administration of penicillin and steroids was followed by a dramatic improvement in the disease course. Chronic anterior uveitis developed 4 months after the disease onset and responded to local treatment. At a 2-year follow-up the girl is in good condition under prophylaxis with benzathine-penicillin with no recurrence of the illness. Our case confirms that cutaneous PAN is often related to streptococcal infection, and suggests that ASO titers should be determined in children with vasculitides to ensure a timely diagnosis and treatment of the condition if present.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Changed levels of substance P and somatostatin in HIV-positive children].

Substance P (sP) and Somatostatin (SOM), so as other neuropeptides can modulate neurologic and immunologic functions. sP has been described to enhance both in vitro and in vivo immunoglobulin synthesis. On the contrary, SOM has an inhibitory effect on the same activity. The modulating effect is more evident on IgA isotype. Hypergammaglobulinemia and in particular high levels of IgA is a common finding in pediatric AIDS and an imbalance among regulatory effects of neuropeptides might be suggested. In order to evaluate the plasma levels of sP in pediatric AIDS we studied 15 children with HIV infection (status P2), 10 seronegative children born to HIV positive mothers and 10 healthy children of the same age. All the HIV positive children had high plasma levels of IgG and IgA. The plasma level of sP was extremely higher in HIV positive children while no significant difference was found between seronegative children born to HIV positive mothers and healthy children. SOM was decreased in HIV positive children when compared to control groups but a significant difference was not reached. It might be supposed that HIV infection, through a dysregulation among neuropeptides interferes on immune functions and in particular on IgA synthesis. On the other hand it might be suggested that the imbalance between sP and SOM depends on the viral infection of immune cells since it has been demonstrated that SOM and other neuropeptide are synthesized by lymphoid tissue. Further studied relevance of neuropeptide disorders in pediatric AIDS.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Specific IgA against multiple antigens as expression of immunologic deregulation in HIV-positive children].

B-cell dysfunction in HIV-infected children is reflected by hypergammaglobulinemia and high levels of serum IgA. Little is known about antibody specificity since only a small portion of serum IgA appears to be directed against HIV proteins. In the present study the specificity of IgA antibodies against food, inhalant, bacterial and fungi antigens were evaluated in a population of HIV infected children. ELISA method was used for antibody testing. Our results show that in 84.6% of patients IgA against at least one food antigen are present. IgA against inhalant allergens were present in most of HIV-infected children but in none of controls. As for anti-tetanus toxoid antigens and anti-fungi antigens, though present in higher percentage in patients, specific IgA were found also in healthy children. If a gastrointestinal dysfunction might be supposed as the cause of presence of anti-food antigen IgA, it is difficult to consider this factor as the cause of presence of specific IgA directed against different antigens. It is possible to postulate that an immunologic dysregulation based on an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cells or on higher levels of IL-5 and/or IL-6 may lead to a misfunction of B cell and consequently to hypergammaglobulinemia with high IgA levels.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Unusual reactions to food additives].

The most important symptoms caused by food additives are urticaria and angioedema, but rhinitis, asthma and gastrointestinal disturbances are also reported. Only seldom food additives have been shown to induce symptoms in other organs such central nervous system or joints and with a sparse objective evidence. In this study, we report two cases of unusual reactions to food additives (tartrazine and benzoates) involving mainly the central nervous system (headache, migraine, overactivity, concentration and learning difficulties, depression) and joints (arthralgias), confirmed with diet and double blind challenge. The possible pathogenetic mechanisms are also discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Recent acquisitions on viral hepatitis].

In the last years the research on viral hepatitis let to better understand the biological, molecular, immunological and epidemiologic characteristics of the viruses that are responsible for hepatitis. The first studied virus was hepatitis B virus (HBv). The scientific attention is still, today, focused on that virus since new markers of infectivity and biological importance in early diagnosis and in disease evolution have been found. The most important result in the last years in the field of viral hepatitis has been, however, the identification of agents responsible for Non-A-Non-B hepatitis. Its epidemiology and clinical importance are discussed in the present paper. Virus C is the most important parenteral agent of NANB hepatitis. Its epidemiology in at risk populations and its role in post-transfusional and cryptogenetic hepatitis are here discussed. The research of new markers of HCV infection is today considered a main goal since the role of the only marker now available is still under discussion.

Adult↗