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Biomedical subjects

A Afeltra

Publications and source records attributed to A Afeltra.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Treatment of idiopathic mixed cryoglobulinemia with alpha interferon.

Seven patients with type II idiopathic mixed cryoglobulinemia were treated with recombinant human leukocyte interferon (alpha interferon). In all of them, a conspicuous reduction of circulating cryoglobulins was noted, together with a definite, remarkable improvement of the clinical pattern. The immunologic parameters (natural killer cell activity and phagocytosis, among others) improved as well; side effects were usually mild and transient. Increases in the cryoglobulin level occurred in a few cases, but they were at least partly sensitive to readministration of alpha interferon treatment. The favorable results obtained in these cases of idiopathic cryoglobulinemia seem to be consistent and prolonged.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Blood coagulation alterations and thromboembolism in Crohn's disease.

The present study was undertaken in view of the higher incidence of thromboembolism in patients with Crohn's disease. The blood coagulation system was studied in 12 patients previously operated for Crohn's disease (8 cases of ileitis, 4 cases of colitis) and followed as out-patients. In 75% of cases, the disease was in an inactive stage. Eight patients showed slight lipid malabsorption. Serum levels of fibrinogen, platelets and factor V were shown to be significantly increased (p less than 0.001) as compared to controls. Prothrombin time and factors II, VII and X were shown to be decreased, while factors VIII and IX and antithrombin III were not significantly altered. Thrombocytosis and hyperfibrinogenemia, as reported in literature, seem to determine a condition of blood hypercoagulability, playing therefore a primary pathogenetic role in the genesis of thromboembolism in patients with Crohn's disease.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMed1979

The lymphocyte stimulation test: a sensitive technique for the detection of circulating platelet antibodies.

Platelet autoantibodies are unable to react in standard immunological reactions and this makes it difficult to detect their presence in the serum. The present work shows that peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal donors are stimulated in vitro by autologous platelets sensitized with sera from patients with different types of chronic thrombocytopenia. Comparison of the lymphocyte stimulation test with the platelet factor 3 (PF3) availability assay and the serotonin (5HT) release test demonstrated that the former method was the more sensitive one. Some sera from patients with SLE and thrombocytopenia also induced both a slight lymphocyte stimulation in the absence of platelets and a complement-dependent release of serotonin, probably due to the presence of immune complexes.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1977

Complement-dependence of platelet serotonin release test in polytransfused patients.

The research of platelet isoantibodies in patients with Cooley's anaemia was performed by simultaneous determination of the platelet-complement fixation test, platelet factor 3 availability assay and 14C-serotonin release test. In 93% of the examined patients we obtained positive results with the 5HT-release test, which appeared to be a complement-dependent reaction in most of the sera-containing isoantibodies, different from sera of patients affected by autoimmune thrombocytopenia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Platelet antibodies in different forms of chronic thrombocytopenia.

Three techniques have been employed for the in vitro detection of circulating platelet antibodies in thrombocytopenic patients affected by 'idiopathic' form or by lupus erythematosus (SLE), the complement fixation test, the platelet factor 3 availability test and the serotonin release test. 29 of the 35 sera tested (82.8%) gave positive results for antiplatelet activity. In particular the serotonin release test allows to distinguish 4 groups of patients: a first group affected by idiopathic form; two groups with autoimmune thrombocytopenia and various degrees of serotonin release, and finally a fourth group which comprises subjects affected by SLE, with circulating immunocomplexes.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The natural history of insulin content in the pancreas of female and male non-obese diabetic mouse: implications for trials of diabetes prevention in humans.

BACKGROUND: The non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse is a well-established animal model used to study the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. The NOD mouse spontaneously develops an autoimmune form of the disease between 12 and 18 weeks of age, characterized by an infiltration of the endocrine pancreas by autoreactive mononuclear cells. In our colony, all animals showed signs of insulitis, but only approximately 60% of females and 15% of males developed diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the natural history of insulin content in the pancreas of female and male NOD/Ba mice during their life span. METHODS: Pancreata were collected at two-week intervals, from 4 weeks of age to 30 weeks of age. Four animals at each age as well as 18 diabetic female NOD mice were studied. Pancreata were homogenized, supernatants collected and insulin measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Female and male non-diabetic NOD mice showed significantly higher levels of insulin in the pancreata in comparison to the diabetic female animals. Pancreata from female (n = 56) animals showed more insulin content than male pancreata (n = 56), suggesting beta-cell hyperactivity as a result of the ongoing beta-cell destruction. However this difference was only significant at an early age (4-12 weeks of age) (p < 0.04). Insulin content in diabetic female NOD pancreas declines with time, and was very low at the age of 25 to 34 weeks. This decline was not observed in male pancreata despite the presence of lymphocytic infiltration. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a reduction in pancreatic insulin content occurs slowly in the natural history of the disease and that such reduction only becomes apparent after diagnosis of hyperglycaemia. Occurrence of extensive lymphocytic infiltration in non-diabetic male mice is not accompanied by a reduction of insulin content in the pancreas. These findings have implications for designing studies in humans which aims to protect residual beta-cell function.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of interstitial lung involvement in patients with connective tissue diseases assessed with high-resolution computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with different forms of connective tissue disease (CTD) using non-invasive procedures including high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and to evaluate the relationship between the imaging and functional status of the patients. METHODS: Eighty-one subjects with CTD (47 inpatients and 34 outpatients) were evaluated with pulmonary function tests (PFT) and radiological investigations. The extent and severity of lung disease was quantified with an HRCT scoring system previously used in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Interstitial lung involvement was defined as predominantly fibrotic or inflammatory based on HRCT abnormalities. RESULTS: HRCT abnormalities suggestive of ILD were observed in 69 patients (85.1%), whereas PFT and plain radiograph alterations occurred less frequently (40.7%). The most frequent HRCT abnormalities were septal/subpleural lines and ground-glass appearance whereas lesions consistent with advanced fibrosis were observed in a minority of patients. The HRCT score was higher in patients with abnormal PFT (p<0.001). Thirty-five patients had predominant fibrosis and 34 patients predominantly inflammatory abnormalities. A score of 10 points represented the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity in predicting functional impairment. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of ILD was found based on HRCT abnormalities. However, HRCT scans characterized by minor abnormalities have poor specificity for clinically significant disease and functional findings should also be considered. The large number of patients with predominantly inflammatory HRCT abnormalities suggests that many cases of ILD may be diagnosed in a relatively early stage of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CD5 B cells in autoimmune and non immune-mediated thyroid dysfunctions.

In a previous study we demonstrated a significant increase of CD5+ B subset in patients with Graves' disease (GD) compared with normal controls. The aim of this study was to compare the percentage of CD5+ B and CD5- B cells in GD with that in different forms of autoimmune and non immune-mediated thyroid diseases. Seventy-two patients were studied: 28 patients with GD, 20 with silent thyroiditis (ST), 12 with Hashimoto's disease (HD), and 12 subjects affected by hyperthyroidism due to toxic adenoma (TA). Eleven out of 28 patients with GD were also evaluated after six months of methimazole treatment. The study was performed by cytometric analysis. In GD the percentage and the absolute number of CD5+ B cells were significantly increased compared with normal controls (42.5 +/- 18.2% versus 19 +/- 6.3%, p < 0.0001; 142 +/- 153.3/cmm versus 46.9 +/- 22/cmm, p < 0.003, respectively. CD5+ B cells tended to normalise after six months of treatment. In ST the percentage of CD5+ B cells was increased (28.6 +/- 10.2%); conversely the absolute number was in the normal range. Patients affected by HD did not show any significant modification in B cells and their subsets in comparison with controls. In TA, CD5+ B were 7.6 /- 4.4% and 14.3 /- 10.9/cmm. Our results demonstrated a marked increase in both percentage and absolute number of CD5+ cells, only in active GD. The expansion of CD5+ B cells could play a role in the immune imbalance present in this disease.

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus].

Neuropsychiatric involvement in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), first mentioned by Kaposi more than 100 years ago, still remains one of the main challenge facing rheumatologist and other physicians. The diagnosis of neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) is complex not only because of the considerable prevalence variation (14-80%) but also because of the wide spectrum of NP manifestations. They vary from overt neurologic alterations (seizure, psychosis), to subtle abnormalities (neurocognitive dysfunctions). Different NP manifestations result from a variety of mechanisms including antibodies, vasculitis, thrombosis, hemorrhages and cytokine-mediated damages. Of note, despite the dramatic clinical manifestations, too often changes at the morphological neuroimaging techniques are minimal and non specific. There is no one diagnostic tool specific for NPSLE and diagnosis must be based on the combinated use of immunoserological tests, functional and anatomical neuroimaging and standardized specific criteria. Symptomatic, immunosuppressive and anticoagulant therapies are the main strategies available in the management of these patients. Therapy for CNS lupus should be adjusted according to the needs of the individual patients. The coming years promise to be an important time for the development of new neuroimaging techniques and for the study of disease mechanism. An early and objective identification of brain involvement will allow for appropriate treatment to avoid severe complications.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Kidney vasculogenesis and angiogenesis: role of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in the establishment of the vascular tree pattern. New vessels can be formed by two different ways; in the development of kidney both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis participate to microvessel assembly. VEGF and its receptor (VEGF-R) are co-expressed during kidney organogenesis and stimulate renal blood vessels development, induce and maintain the fenestrated phenotype in endothelium and regulate vascular permeability. VEGF and many other growth factors participate to the development of embryonic glomerular microvasculature. We believe that therapeutical use of VEGF or anti-VEGF antibodies may be performed in the treatment of many disorders.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neurological involvement in antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome (APS).

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) have been most strongly associated with a syndrome (APS) characterized by venous and/or arterial thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, recurrent fetal losses and a variety of non-thrombotic and thrombotic neurological disorders. Cerebral ischemia associated with aPL is the most common arterial thrombotic manifestation. Other neurological syndromes, such as cognitive dysfunction, dementia, psychosis, depression, seizures, chorea and transverse myelopathy, have all been associated with antiphospholipid antibodies.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome↗