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Biomedical subjects

A F Finzi

Publications and source records attributed to A F Finzi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Effectiveness of cyclosporine treatment in severe psoriasis: a clinical and immunologic study.

The effectiveness of low doses of cyclosporine (3 to 5 mg/kg/day) for short-term treatment in 13 patients with severe psoriasis was studied. The psoriasis cleared in 12 of 13 patients within 3 to 4 weeks of treatment, and there was appreciable improvement in the thirteenth patient. No major side effects were observed: two patients showed biochemical evidence of slight transient renal dysfunction and three others had cutaneous infections (two viral and one mycotic). An immunohistologic study showed that the psoriatic plaques contained an infiltrate composed mainly of activated helper T lymphocytes. After 15 days of cyclosporine treatment, CD4+ cells were significantly fewer in the epidermis and dermis, and Langerhans cells were more regularly distributed in the epidermis. Our studies of neutrophil chemotaxis showed that it is not significantly influenced by cyclosporine in vitro but is decreased in vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Growth factors in the pathogenesis of progressive systemic sclerosis].

Scleroderma is a connective tissue disorder characterized by vascular lesions, fibrosis and inflammation. The pathogenesis of this disease is not clear. A vascular lesion, possibly caused by deposition of immune complexes or by release of cytotoxic factors, seems to be at the origin of the disease. As a consequence, platelet adhesion and activation might occur in sclerodermic patients. The observation that platelet might release, upon aggregation, a potent mitogenic factor, named Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) has focused interest on platelets as the potential mediators of the fibrotic process, characteristic of systemic scleroderma. We found an increased mitogenic activity in plasma derived serum (PDS) of a group of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), as compared to control subjects. The activity was inhibited by incubation with anti-PDGF IgG's, suggesting that abnormal PDGF levels might indeed be present in plasma of PSS patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Histological and immunological features of primary Kaposi's sarcoma: evaluation before and after chemotherapy.

Forty-one patients with primary Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) have been evaluated clinically, histologically and immunologically at the time of diagnosis. There was no correlation between histological and immunological features. Moreover, the disease did not appear to be related to particular HLA phenotypes. The T4/T8 ratio was augmented. Leu 7+ cells were also significantly increased. The last 15 patients who received chemotherapy were recently reevaluated after treatment and an increase in B lymphocytes was observed. We also observed that spindle-shaped cells (SSC), which appear later in the histopathological course of the disease, disappear first during chemotherapy, concomitantly with the increase in B cells. We conclude that the course of the disease appears to be controlled by the host's immune response, though there is no clear correlation between histological and immunological evolution. Several immunological features differentiating it from AIDS associated KS have been found.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Complement cleavage products in the phototoxic reaction of porphyria cutanea tarda.

We have measured C3, C4, CH50 and complement cleavage products C3a and C5a in in sera and plasma from PCT patients and normal controls 10 min and 1, 4 and 24 h after UVA irradiation. We found elevated C3a concentrations in PCT patients immediately after UVA irradiation and 24 h later. The same was true for CH50, whereas C3, C4 and C5a did not change significantly. No such changes occurred in normal controls. Our data suggest that activation of the complement cleavage product C3a by porphyrin and UV light triggers a series of events that cause tissue damage.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Isotretinoin versus minocycline in cystic acne: a study of lipid metabolism.

We have recently reported that patients with severe nodular cystic acne have much lower levels of HDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A and hepatic lipoprotein lipase than healthy controls or subjects with acne vulgaris. Since isotretinoin is very effective in the treatment of the nodular cystic acne but has been shown to increase blood lipid levels, we decided to compare its clinical effectiveness and its effects on lipid metabolism with those of minocycline in patients with nodular cystic acne. After 20 weeks, the number and mean diameter of the cysts were definitely decreased in both groups, but the improvement was more striking in the isotretinoin-treated group. At the end of the treatment, the HDL-C and hepatic lipoprotein lipase levels in this group were increased toward normal, but not in the minocycline-treated group. Our study showed a significant remission in the acne of patients treated with isotretinoin but not in that of the minocycline-treated patients. Furthermore isotretinoin can also correct the altered lipid metabolism in these patients.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1985

Lipoprotein metabolism and lipoprotein lipase in severe cystic acne.

In severe cystic acne we found low levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein A (Apo-A) in the presence of normal total lipids. In a larger number of patients, we always observed significantly lower levels of HDL-C and Apo-A than in either age-matched controls or subjects with acne vulgaris. Since lipoprotein lipase is one major determinant of HDL concentration, we assayed the lipase activity in liver and extra-hepatic tissues by the method of Krauss et al. There was highly significant less total and hepatic lipase activity than in age-matched controls. HDL distribution was examined by zonal ultracentrifugation and a decrease in the HDL2 subclass was discovered. Since HDL are inversely correlated to atherosclerosis, cystic acne is one risk factor for atherosclerosis. The linkage between low HDL levels and severe cystic acne should be further investigated.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1984

Intralesional chemotherapy for Kaposi's sarcoma.

Over a period of 36 months we treated 12 patients with skin localizations of Kaposi's sarcoma with intralesional chemotherapy. Local administration of vincristine (usual dose 0.1 mg per site) or bleomycin appeared to be very effective: in 93 injected nodules we obtained 74 complete and 19 partial regressions. No significant local or systemic toxicity has so far been observed.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Unusual cases of Meleda keratoderma treated with aromatic retinoid etretinate.

We studied a brother and sister of South Italian origin with palmoplantar keratoderma which, because of the clinical aspects (transgrediens et progrediens), mode of inheritance (autosomal recessive) and evolution, we diagnosed as Meleda keratoderma with particular clinical features (presence of ainhum-like narrowings and concomitant lesions at other sites). Appropriate classical histologic and familial investigations, as well as HLA typing were done, and retinol-binding protein values were determined. The patients were treated with the aromatic retinoid etretinate, and the clinical and histological results after 9 months' treatment are reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Effect of etretinate on chemotaxis of neutrophils from patients with pustular and vulgar psoriasis.

The chemotactic activities of neutrophil granulocytes of patients with pustular and vulgar psoriasis were evaluated before and after treatment with etretinate. Control values before treatment were significantly different from those of vulgar psoriasis group but not from the pustular psoriasis group. The difference between the 2 groups with psoriasis was significant. Etretinate causes a significant reduction in neutrophil chemotaxis in pustular psoriasis patients and a less pronounced reduction in those with vulgar psoriasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Effects of isotretinoin on the neutrophil chemotaxis in cystic acne.

The authors show that the use of Isotretinoin (Ro 4-3740) in cystic acne brings a reduction of chemotactic activity of the neutrophil granulocytes, like another retinoid, Etretinate, in pustular and vulgar psoriasis. This effect of retinoids, with a direct action on the polymorphonuclear leukocytes plays an important role in the recovery of the disease.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1982

Effects of Etretinate on the neutrophil chemotaxis in pustular psoriasis.

The chemotactic activity and other functional parameters both granulocytic and seroimmunologic are evaluated in patients with pustular psoriasis before and after treatment with Etretinate. Before treatment these parameters, and in particular the chemotactic activity of neutrophil granulocyte do not reach statistical difference from control subjects. Etretinate determines in all the cases a dramatic and statistically significant reduction of the chemotactic activity of neutrophil chemotaxis.

Adolescent↗