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R Priori

Publications and source records attributed to R Priori.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical serological correlations in the evaluation of Sjögren's syndrome.

Fifty-six subjects (46 females and 10 males) with signs of Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) have been evaluated for clinical and serological parameters. In 12 subjects such clinical signs were associated with a definite connective tissue disease (secondary SS): Rheumatoid Arthritis (2 cases), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (4 cases), Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (4 cases), Essential Mixed Cryoglobulinemia (2 cases). All patients underwent a lip biopsy which was evaluated according to the Chisholm-Mason scale. Six out of 56 subjects (10.7%) had a normal salivary gland with few lymphocytes (class I); 5 (10%) had a scattered lymphoid infiltrate containing less than 1 focus/4 mm2 (class II); 36 (64.3%) had one focus/4 mm2 (class III) and, finally, 9 (16%) had more than 1 focus/4 mm2 (class IV). The great majority (91%) of the patients had some abnormalities at the ophthalmological examination (Schirmer test, Break up times, van Bijsterveld score): even those with a class I lip biopsy. Xerostomia was present in 69% of the patients, xerophthalmia in 78%, arthralgias in 78%, parotid swelling in 19%, Raynaud's phenomenon in 16%, recurrent abortion in 9 patients. The prevalence of autoantibodies in the group of primary SS was high: ANA 43.2%, anti-Ha 40%, anti-Ro 12%, anti-phospholipids 52.2%, rheumatoid factor (RF) 45.7%. A decrease of lysozyme concentration in tears and saliva has been demonstrated and a correlation between level of lysozyme and lip-biopsy has been observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in Italian patients with persistent fatigue.

Our study was carried out to determine the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) within a selected population of patients suffering from persistent fatigue. We studied subjects with recurrent or persistent fatigue lasting 6 months and fulfilling at least four minor Center for Disease Control (CDC) criteria for the diagnosis of CFS. Evaluation included both clinical examination and laboratory testing. All subjects filled out a questionnaire specifically designed to gain information about the length and severity of symptoms, and patients with a previously diagnosed illness associated with fatigue were excluded. The study was carried out at the Fatigue Clinic of an internal medicine unit (Clinica Medica I) of the University of Rome "La Sapienza". Sixty-three subjects, residents of the Lazio region (central Italy), completed the diagnostic assessment. Alternative diagnoses were established in 37 (59%) of the 63 patients. A diagnosis of CFS based on the CDC criteria was established in only 6 cases. In 2 subjects, CFS had appeared following infectious mononucleosis, and no definitive diagnosis could be formulated for 18 patients. In Italy, CFS seems to be an infrequent cause of severe and persistent fatigue in a selected population. Numerous morbid conditions may be responsible for a clinical picture closely resembling CFS. We recommend that patients suffering from fatigue be thoroughly evaluated.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-cardiolipin antibodies in HIV infection are true antiphospholipids not associated with antiphospholipid syndrome.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the fine specificity of anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies detectable in the sera of patients with HIV infection. aCL are generally associated with thrombotic events in autoimmune diseases. A solid phase ELISA which discriminates between aCL binding to phospholipids and aCL binding to phospholipid/beta 2-glycoprotein I (cofactor) complex was employed. Thirty-nine HIV and 20 aCL positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sera were examined. In HIV sera, reduced binding to phospholipid was seen if cofactor was added. On the contrary, in SLE-sera the cofactor improved aCL binding. No thrombotic events were recorded in HIV infected subjects presenting with aCL. Thus, aCL in HIV infection and in SLE appear to have different specificities. In HIV infection the true epitope of aCL is likely to be on the phospholipid component only, whereas in SLE aCL seem directed against the cofactor/CL complex. Considering the anticoagulant role of beta 2-glycoprotein I, this observation might account for the lack of thrombosis in HIV patients with "true" aCL.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Decreased immunoreactive beta-endorphin in mononuclear leucocytes from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate beta-endorphin concentrations in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). METHODS: Sixteen patients with CFS were enrolled in this study. Ten healthy subjects were studied as controls. Beta-endorphin concentrations were measured in PBMC by radioimmunoassay performed with antibodies specific for the C-terminal portion of human beta-endorphin. RESULTS: Beta-endorphin concentrations in the PBMC of chronic fatigue patients were significantly lower (p < 0.001) than in healthy subjects (mean +/- SD: 8.5 +/- 7.0 vs. 42.6 +/- 22.6). CONCLUSION: Patients with CFS were found to have low levels of PBMC beta-endorphin. This finding may reflect the condition of chronic immune activation in CFS that has been reported in previous investigations. Beta-endorphin concentrations in PBMC seem to mirror the central nervous system homeostasis of the opioid. Therefore, we would postulate that the fatigue and weakness typical of CFS could be related to low beta-endorphin concentrations at the central nervous system level.

Adolescent↗