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Biomedical subjects

A Ghezzi

Publications and source records attributed to A Ghezzi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

The role of lymphocyte subset analysis in defining the clinical evolution of multiple sclerosis.

Thirty patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) were examined monthly for one year. Each time, neurological examination, clinical history and monoclonal-antibody-defined T cell subsets were evaluated. Particularly, the helper/suppressor ratio (T4/T8) and the T4/T8 test-to-test variability (delta T4/T8) were considered in relation to the occurrence of clinical exacerbations. Statistically significant correlations were found between clinical course and laboratory parameters, suggesting a possible role of T cell subset analysis in defining the clinical evolution of MS.

Adult↗

Longitudinal survey of T-lymphocytes and viral antibodies in MS patients.

Our study focused on the relationship between lymphocyte H/S ratios and antiviral antibodies. We have concluded a longitudinal survey of 29 clinically definite MS patients for 8 months seeking a possible correlation among clinical modifications, fluctuations of T-cell subsets and antiviral antibody titers. For this purpose in each patient the following parameters were recorded monthly:--clinical history and neurological examination;--blood T-cell subpopulation as defined by monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series;--serum antibody titers against measles, herpes simplex type 1 and 2, HTLV-1 viruses. All these data were compared with the different MS subgroups as defined by clinical course: stable, relapsing, progressive. We found that constantly normal OKT4+/OKT8+ ratios correlate with a stable clinical course; that highly fluctuating ratios parallel clinical exacerbation; that constantly high ratios are associated with a chronic-progressive course. These results are discussed with special reference to the correlation between OKT8+ lymphocyte percentages and anti-HTLV-1 antibodies, since this last virus has recently been claimed to be of pathogenetic importance in MS.

Adolescent↗

Lymphocytoplasmapheresis in multiple sclerosis: one-year results in 6 patients.

6 patients with definite MS underwent lymphocytoplasmapheresis for one year. Clinical data, evoked potential recordings and peripheral blood lymphocyte helper/suppressor ratio were assessed before and after the treatment and were compared with those of a control group of 10 multiple sclerosis patients. Lymphocytoplasmapheresis did not significantly modify clinical and laboratory findings compared with the control group.

Adult↗

Evaluation of evoked potentials and lymphocyte subsets as possible markers of multiple sclerosis: one year follow up of 30 patients.

Evoked potentials and T-lymphocyte helper/suppressor ratio (H/S) were evaluated serially together with neurological status in 30 definite multiple sclerosis patients to evaluate their possible role in monitoring disease progression. Evoked potentials in many cases reflected the clinical status of the pathways tested, but some exceptions were observed, probably due to subclinical relapses or physical factors. In some instances the occurrence of subclinical relapses was suggested by increased H/S ratios. Serial H/S values increased in parallel with clinical and subclinical relapses, and seemed to show specific patterns in relation to the type of clinical course (relapsing, stable, chronic progressive). Our results suggest that evoked potentials and H/S ratio serial analysis can contribute to a better assessment of the progress of multiple sclerosis.

Adolescent↗

Lymphocytoplasmapheresis in multiple sclerosis: preliminary laboratory findings.

Short-term treatment with lymphocytoplasmapheresis was evaluated in 6 multiple sclerosis patients with special reference to the electrophysiological and immunological findings. Visual, somatosensory, brainstem auditory evoked potentials, flicker fusion test, helper/suppressor blood lymphocyte ratio, serum immunocomplexes and immunoglobulins and Kurtzke scores were evaluated in each patient before and after treatment. No statistically significant results were obtained.

Adult↗

T-cell subsets in multiple sclerosis: relationships between peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid.

We contemporarily studied cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PB) T-cell subsets, defined by monoclonal antibodies, in 29 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 10 patients with other neurological diseases (OND). All subjects showed a clear-cut prevalence of CSF T-cells. Similarly, T-helper and T-suppressor subsets tended to show higher percentages in CSF in almost all subjects except relapsing MS, who were characterized by low percentages of T-suppressors in PB and even much lower percentages in CSF. Helper/suppressor ratios were found to be almost similar in the two body compartments of OND patients, lower in CSF than in PB of chronic progressive MS, always higher in CSF than in PB of relapsing MS. MS patients in remission showed both patterns of progressive MS and OND patients. Our results demonstrate that the loss of PB T-suppressor in relapsing MS is not due to a migration of such cells into CSF. Furthermore, regarding T-lymphocyte subsets, a typical CSF/PB pattern characterizes relapsing MS from other patients.

Adult↗

Comparative study of visual evoked potentials in spinocerebellar ataxias and multiple sclerosis.

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were delayed in 11 out of 18 patients with Friedreich's ataxia, in 1 out of 8 patients with Strumpell's hereditary spastic ataxia, in 2 out of 5 cases with cerebellar atrophy and in 42 out of 50 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Responses were normal in 5 cases with Pierre Marie's disease. Amplitude and temporal dispersion were statistically analyzed in the above-mentioned groups of patients with respect to controls. An abnormal temporal dispersion, also considered as interpeak N1P2, was frequently found in MS but only occasionally in spinocerebellar ataxias. Amplitude was statistically reduced in Friedreich's ataxia group, where an inverse relationship between latency and amplitude was found. No relation was found between VEP delay and duration of the disease, in any group considered.

Adolescent↗

Pharmacokinetics of cefatrizine after oral administration in human volunteers.

The oral bioavailability of cefatrizine was studied in four groups, each of ten healthy young male volunteers. Capsules and suspension formulations were each administered at doses of 250 and 500 mg. Both the capsules and suspensions had mean peak plasma levels at 1.6 h at both dose levels. Mean peak plasma levels were 4.1 and 4.3 micrograms/ml for the 250 mg capsule and suspension doses respectively and 7.1 and 7.5 micrograms/ml for the 500 mg capsules and suspension doses respectively. The overall mean half-life was 1.7 h. For both types of formulations and at both dose levels 63-65% of the doses were excreted in the urine as intact cefatrizine, 85% of this amount within 8 h. The overall mean renal clearance was 157 ml/min. The cefatrizine capsule and suspension formulations were completely bioequivalent in regard to both rate and extent of bioavailability. Plasma concentrations and urinary recoveries of cefatrizine were higher than those previously reported, due to precautions taken in sample collection and storage.

Administration, Oral↗

[Clinical, immunologic and electrophysiologic correlations in evaluating multiple sclerosis in relation to its development].

49 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were evaluated on several lines of investigation: clinical examination with disability rating scale, disease activity staging, multimodal evoked potentials and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. 24 patients were monthly re-examined and T-cell subsets were analysed in the peripheral blood. Evoked potentials were re-evaluated every 3 months in 24 patients. All paramethers were correlated in transversally and longitudinally during a 3 to 18 months follow-up. The results are discussed in the view of a methodological approach to a laboratory evaluation of disease evolution in its natural course and during therapeutic trials.

Adolescent↗

A case of myasthenia gravis associated with optic neuritis.

A case of myasthenia gravis is described in association with optic neuritis in which brain-stem auditory and somatosensory evoked potentials were normal. CSF contained alkaline oligoclonal IgG bands. Blood lymphocyte subpopulations showed a decreased number of T-suppressor cells.

Adult↗

Monoclonal antibody analysis of blood T-cell subsets in multiple sclerosis.

The present study deals with the characterization of peripheral blood T-cell subpopulations in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during different stages of the disease. An indirect immunofluorescence assay was performed using monoclonal antibodies directed at lymphocyte surface antigens. Patients in exacerbation were found to have significantly (p less than 0.001) reduced OKT8+ (T-suppressor) cells and a high helper/suppressor ratio (p less than 0.001). Patients in remission showed a significant increase of suppressor T-cells compared to controls (p less than 0.02) and patients during relapse (p less than 0.001); H/S ratio was consequently low compared to acute MS (p less than 0.001) and controls (p less than 0.1). Patients with a progressive course showed an intermediate T-subset pattern. The results are discussed in the light of the most recent neuroimmunological approaches to MS.

Acute Disease↗

[Electroencephalographic changes in multiple sclerosis].

The electroencephalogram of 278 multiple sclerosis patients were considered: abnormalities were observed in 39,2% of the cases. The comparison with clinical aspects of the disease (duration, course, invalidity, clinical form) did not show results statistically significant.

Adult↗

Pharmacokinetics of cefadroxil after oral administration in humans.

The human oral pharmacokinetics of cefadroxil were studied in parallel at doses of 250, 500, and 1,000 mg in three groups of 10 healthy young male volunteers. Renal excretion of intact cefadroxil, accounted for 82, 79, and 77% of the above doses. Mean peak serum levels were dose linear: 9, 18, and 35 microgram/ml at 250, 500, and 1,000 mg, respectively. However, overall pharmacokinetics were linear only in the 250- to 500-mg dose range; apparent serum clearances were 10 liters/h, and true renal clearances were 9 and 8 liters/h at 250 and 500 mg. At 1,000 mg, apparent serum clearance dropped to about 7 liters/h, true renal clearance, dropped to 6 liters/h, and the area under the curve increased disproportionately. At 250 and 500 mg, mean half-life was about 1.2 h; at 1,000 mg, however, it was 1.6h. The nonlinear decrease in clearance could be related to saturation of active renal tubular secretion of cefadroxil between the 500- and 1,000-mg doses. Previous results indicating that cefadroxil has greater persistence than other oral cephalosporins such as cephalexin, cephradine, cefaclor were confirmed.

Administration, Oral↗

Pharmacokinetics of ceforanide.

The pharmacokinetic of ceforanide, a new parenteral cephalosporin antibiotic, were examined at intravenous and intramuscular doses of 250, 500, and 1,000 mg in healthy male volunteers. Over the above dosing range, ceforanide pharmacokinetics were essentially linear, with plasma clearances varying from 2.2 to 2.5 liters/h. The best present overall estimate of the drug's half-life was 2.9 h. Intramuscular ceforanide was 100% bioavailable, Peak intravenous serum levels were 39, 71, and 135 micrograms/ml at the end of 30-min infusions of 250, 500, and 1,000 mg; after intramuscular injections of 250, 500, and 1,000 mg, the respective peak serum levels were 21, 38, and 69 micrograms/ml. From 80 to 85% of the above doses were eliminated as unchanged.

Biological Availability↗

[Neurophysiological tests in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Visual and somatosensory evoked potential studies].

Visual evoked potentials were recorded and found abnormal in 44 out of 57 multiple sclerosis (M.S.) patients (77%). Somatosensory evoked potentials were abnormal in 42 cases (73%). Both tests were abnormal in 56 out of 57 cases. The two tests have a complementary role in the assessment of M.S., showing a subclinical involvement of visual or sensory pathways in many cases. The high incidence of abnormal responses in patients with a short duration of the disease and in patients diagnosed as possible or probably M.S. suggests the aid of the tests in diagnosis of M.S.

Evoked Potentials↗