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Biomedical subjects

R Gerli

Publications and source records attributed to R Gerli.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

[Histochemical and ultrastructural studies of the innervation of the lymph-vessel and blood-vessel wall. 1. Adrenergic innervation].

The adrenergic innervation of the lymph vascular wall was studied by means of the Falck fluorescence histochemical tecnique and electron microscopy with Tranzer and Richards' histochemical tecnique. The lymph vessels wall, compared with that of blood vessels, shows very few adrenergic nerve fibers located in the adventitia outside the smooth muscle cells. The possible role of the nervous system in the motor control of the lymph vessels is discussed.

Adrenergic Fibers↗
PubMed1979

[Histochemical and ultrastructural studies of the innervation of the lymph-vessel and blood-vessel wall. II. Cholinergic innervation].

Using the Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) tecnique applied to light and electron microscopy, was observed that the lymph vascular wall shows very few and inconstant AChE-positive fibers. The cholinergic fibers run prevalently longitudinal in the perivascular connective tissue, only brief segments show a loose network. The results are discussed and compared with blood vessels innervation.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrastructural modifications of the testes and accessory sex glands of genetically dwarf mice after treatment with human chorionic somatomammotropin.

We have studied the effects of treatment with human chorionic somatommatropin (hCS) in the dwarf mouse on the weight and ultrastructure of the testes and accessory sex glands. We used animals of the Snell-Bagg (dw/dw) strain, whose hypophyses secrete neither prolactin nor growth hormone. The effects found were compared with those produced by a similar treatment with ovine prolactin. The administration of hCS causes a significant increase in the wet weight of the testes and accessory sex glands. Ultrastructural observations have demonstrated that hCS is able to stimulate sperminogenesis and the secretory function of the accessory sex glands. Prolactin, as shown in previous reports in the literature, has a similar action on the male reproductive system. However, contrary to the observation after prolactin therapy, no matings were observed after treatment with hCS.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Amtolmetin guacyl versus piroxicam in patients with osteoarthritis.

The efficacy and tolerability of amtolmetin guacyl (AMG), a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, were compared with piroxicam, in patients with osteoarthritis. In a randomized double-blind study patients with arthritis (n = 99) received either 600 mg AMG on an empty stomach or 20 mg of piroxicam on a full stomach, once daily for 30 days. All clinical parameters improved significantly with both drugs; there were no significant differences between the two treatments. Tolerability, assessed by the patients, was significantly better in the AMG group. In the piroxicam group nine of 50 patients withdrew because of side-effects (gastrointestinal) compared with two of 49 (nausea and headache) in the AMG group. There were three cases of perforation, ulcer and bleeding in the piroxicam group but no serious side-effects with AMG. Total numbers of side-effects were similar in the two groups, but epigastric and abdominal pain were more frequent and more intense with piroxicam. AMG was as effective as piroxicam in controlling the symptoms of osteoarthritis, but showed better gastrointestinal tolerability.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Subclinical atherosclerosis in young patients with rheumatoid arthritis and low disease activity].

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are characterized by acceleration of atherosclerotic process of arterial wall. However, all investigations performed so far to evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis in RA included subjects without selection for age and degree of disease activity that may represent confounding factors in such an evaluation. OBJECTIVES: To verify signs of accelerated subclinical atherosclerosis in young subject suffering from RA but with low disease activity. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with RA and 28 age- and sex-matched control subjects with non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were age less than 60 and low disease activity with score < or =3.2 according to DAS28, while subjects with traditional risk factors for and/or overt cardiovascular disease were ruled out from the study. Both patients and controls underwent evaluation of carotid and femoral artery intima-media thickness by ultrasounds. RESULTS: Patients had higher intima-media thickness than controls of all the sites evaluated at carotid artery level, whereas there were no differences at the comparison of the superficial and common femoral artery wall. At the univariate analysis, a positive correlation between LDL cholesterol levels and intima-media thickness at the carotid bifurcation was found. CONCLUSIONS: Young patients with RA and low disease activity have acceleration of atherosclerosis development as shown by increased intima-media thickness of carotid artery with respect to subjects without inflammatory rheumatic disease. It is conceivable that the organic damage of arterial wall could be the result of persistent endothelial dysfunction induced by chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation which characterize RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Five-year follow-up of 165 Italian patients with undifferentiated connective tissue diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To study those conditions with a proven or hypothesised immunologic pathogenesis and denominated under a working definition of undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTD). METHODS: A multicentre prospective study was organised involving 10 tertiary referral centers of internal medicine in Italy, with the aim of describing the natural history of UCTD and the prevalence of its different clinical and immunological manifestations. RESULTS: After a five-year follow-up period, data on 165 patients were available for analysis. UCTDs occur mainly in females in their fourth decade of life. Articular and mucocutaneous features and Raynaud's phenomenon represent the most common findings. Nevertheless, we also detected a relatively high incidence of permanent major organ damage. Regarding the immunologic parameters, we documented some conflicting results in the correlation between serologic abnormalities and clinical features. In 10 patients UCTD evolved to a major disease, generally systemic lupus erythematosus or Sjögren's syndrome. CONCLUSION: A low rate of evolution to a defined autoimmune disease, the limited use of steroid or immunosuppressive therapy, and a favourable course in the majority of cases are the main characteristics of patients with UCTDs.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of anti-ribosome antibodies: a long story of lights and shadows.

Circulating autoantibodies against ribosomal proteins characterise a subset of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Following the identification of three phosphorylated proteins as the main ribosomal autoantigens recognised by these autoantibodies, several studies have been carried out in the last decade to set up a reliable and sensitive method of detecting anti-ribosome autoantibodies and disclosing their possible clinical relevance in the diagnosis and monitoring of symptoms and signs of the disease. Although a number of clinical associations have been proposed, contrasting results have emerged from these investigations. This review analyses the methodological problems linked with the various techniques used to detect anti-ribosome antibodies and provides a critical update of the clinical associations described in lupus patients to date.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pathogenetic and clinical significance of the adhesion molecule expression on T cells of the lung in sarcoid alveolitis].

A double immunofluorescence analysis of CD4+ cell population from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples of patients with active pulmonary sarcoidosis was carried out. The results showed that, unlike BAL and peripheral blood CD4+ cells of healthy subjects, almost all BAL CD4+ cells of the patients highly express, besides CDw29 antigen, LFA-1 and ICAM-1 adhesion molecules. The co-expression of these molecules on BAL CD4+ cells during high intensity sarcoid alveolitis could represent a marker of immunological memory. The relevant pathogenetic and clinical implications of this observation are discussed.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-CD3 and anti-CD2-induced T-cell activation in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Because T-cell dysfunctions have been reported in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation obtained with anti-CD3 and anti-CD2 monoclonal antibodies was evaluated in these patients. Anti-CD3-induced mitogenesis, which varied widely among the patients, was lower in subjects with evidence of anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies than in controls. Moreover, the anti-CD2-induced response was depressed in about half the patients and the nonresponders were mainly those with anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies. Phorbol myristate acetate, a protein kinase C activator, used alone or added to anti-CD3, induced greater proliferation in patients than in control PBMC. In contrast, exogenous recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) did not significantly enhance the anti-CD2-induced response of patients' PBMC, as it did in normal PBMC. Peripheral blood and parotid T cells from a patient with well-defined primary SS and parotid enlargement also responded poorly to anti-CD2 stimulation. Exogenous rIL-2 restored T-cell proliferation only in the salivary gland cultures of this patient. The present findings suggest that there is a T-cell activation defect in subjects with primary SS, particularly in those with circulating anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies. In addition, the difference in the response to IL-2 of peripheral blood and parotid-infiltrating T cells would seem to indicate that T-cell subsets are differently distributed in the blood and inflammation site.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Systemic lupus erythematosus following total body irradiation for malignant lymphoma.

A case of a 63-year old man, who developed systemic lupus erythematosus three years after an initial diagnosis of small-cleaved centrofollicular lymphoma is described. The diagnosis of SLE was made on the basis of the accepted "1982 revised criteria for the classification of SLE". The autoimmune disease arose after a cycle of total body irradiation, despite the treatment with combination chemotherapeutic doses such a CVP or COAP or Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, VM-26 and Prednisone. Genetic, immunological and exogenous environmental factors may co-exist and might equally be implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE and malignant lymphoma. However, the onset of SLE after total body irradiation could have been caused by the inactivation of suppressor T lymphocytes, which are known to be sensitive to radiations in vitro.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Functional characterization of T cells bearing the gamma/delta T-cell receptor in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

High percentages of gamma/delta+ T cells in the peripheral blood of a subgroup of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) were found. This allowed us to purify and analyze them without their being previously expanded in vitro, and to investigate, therefore, the role of these cells in the pathological immune response which characterizes such systemic autoimmune disorders. The results showed poor proliferation of patient gamma/delta+ T cells in response to anti-CD3, due not to macrophage-dependent suppression but to defective interleukin 2 (IL-2) synthesis. Despite the defective proliferation patient gamma/delta+ cells, unlike those of the normal controls, provided a helper effect in inducing B cells to secrete immunoglobulins (Ig), particularly when they were preincubated with IL-2. The relative increase in a gamma/delta+ T cell subset which, although it secretes low levels of IL-2, is able to provide help for B-cell Ig synthesis, suggests that this T-cell subpopulation may be functional in vivo and may be involved in the pathological immune response encountered in pSS.

Adolescent↗