Biomedical subjects

Valentina Bianchi

Publications and source records attributed to Valentina Bianchi.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Correlation between metal ions and clinical findings in subjects affected by Alzheimer's disease.

There is a growing interest to evaluate metals in biological fluids in Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are numerous studies on this theme, but just few papers analyzed the relationship between haematic metal concentrations and the clinical features of the disease. In this study, possible associations between clinical features of AD and the variations in serum and blood concentration of some metals, as well as the serum oxidative status and the antioxidant capacity have been investigated. Sixty subjects with AD were enrolled. Some elements correlated with gender, depression and duration of the disease. However, the most significant result was the relationship between blood Ca and Fe levels and the severity of cognitive impairment. We hypothesize that Ca and Fe might play an important role in the pathogenetic mechanisms of AD.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Intravenously applied IgG stimulates complement attenuation in a complement-dependent autoimmune disease at the amplifying C3 convertase level.

Intravenously applied normal human immunoglobulin G (IgG) has anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Systemic inflammation can originate from an overreacting amplification loop of the complement system. In blood, C3b2-containing complexes maintain complement amplification much better than the extremely short-lived C3b. Therefore, in patients with the complement-dependent autoimmune disease, dermatomyositis, we studied whether intravenously applied normal human IgG (IVIG) stimulated in vivo inactivation of these complexes. In the course of IVIG treatment, clinically effective in 6 of 8 patients, the concentration of C3b2-containing complexes dropped to 37% +/- 14% (n = 6) of the pretreatment level when having infused 0.5 g IgG/kg body weight, increased marginally and in parallel to factor Bb thereafter until full-dose IgG was infused. By day 14 following infusion of 2 g IgG/kg body weight the concentration of C3b2-containing complexes was 66% +/- 19%. The plasma concentration of C3 remained constant in myopathic or increased by 15% to 20% in amyopathic patients. In contrast to this, IVIG infusion was associated with consumption of up to 40% of plasma C4 at day 1 to 2 after completion of IVIG infusion. Thus, IVIG had an immediate and long-lasting attenuating effect on complement amplification in vivo, despite the fact that it induced classical complement pathway activation.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

PubMed2002

Von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) in thrombocytopenic disorders: a severely deficient activity is specific for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

A severe deficiency in von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) activity (< 5% that in normal plasma) has been observed in most patients with a diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) but not in those with a diagnosis of hemolytic uremic syndrome. However, ADAMTS13 deficiency has been claimed not to be specific for TTP, since it was observed in various thrombocytopenic and other conditions. We studied 68 patients with thrombocytopenia due to severe sepsis or septic shock (n = 17), heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (n = 16), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (n = 10), or other hematologic (n = 15) or miscellaneous conditions (n = 10). Twelve of the 68 patients had subnormal levels of ADAMTS13 activity (<or= 30%), but none had less than 10%. Thus, the study showed that ADAMTS13 activity is decreased in a substantial proportion of patients with thrombocytopenia of various causes. A severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 (< 5%), identified in more than 120 patients during 1996 to 2001 in our laboratory, is specific for a thrombotic microangiopathy commonly labeled TTP.

ADAM Proteins↗