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Biomedical subjects

A Monteverde

Publications and source records attributed to A Monteverde.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Cryoglobulinaemias: a multi-centre study of the early clinical and laboratory manifestations of primary and secondary disease. GISC. Italian Group for the Study of Cryoglobulinaemias.

In a multi-centre retrospective study, we compared clinical and laboratory data in 913 patients with cryoglobulinaemias, divided as: (i) essential cryoglobulinaemias; (ii) cryoglobulinaemias secondary to connective tissue diseases (CTD), lymphoproliferative or other haematological diseases (LPD), chronic liver diseases (CLD), and 'other diseases'. Purpura was the commonest presenting feature in all groups and was more common in essential cryoglobulinaemias (p < 0.0001). Meltzer's triad (purpura, arthralgia, weakness) was less frequent, but similarly distributed. Renal involvement was randomly distributed. Neurological impairment was less frequent in cryoglobulinaemias secondary to CLD (p < 0.002). Raynaud's phenomenon, arthritis and sicca syndrome were more frequent in cryoglobulinaemias secondary to CTD. Essential cryoglobulinaemias had a significantly higher percentage of serum complement C4 < 8 mg/dl (p < 0.004), of detectable rheumatoid factor activity (p < 0.0002), and of type II cryoglobulins (p < 0.0001). Liver involvement was evident at presentation in 32.6% of essential cryoglobulinaemias, 27.1% of cryoglobulinaemias secondary to LPD and 12.2% of cryoglobulinaemias secondary to CTD. Antibodies to hepatitis B surface (HBsAg) and core (HBc) antigens were more frequent in cryoglobulinaemias secondary to CLD; anti-HBs antibodies were randomly distributed. Antibodies to hepatitis C (HCV) were tested for in 224 patients, and prevalence was high in all the groups, but lower in cryoglobulinaemias secondary to CTD (p < 0.0001). Type II and type III essential cryoglobulinaemias differed significantly in renal involvement (p < 0.0001), cryocrit > 3% (p < 0.0001), C4 < 15 mg/dl (p < 0.001), HBsAg prevalence (p < 0.01) and purpura (p < 0.05). Despite the high prevalence of HCV markers in all groups, the role of HCV in essential cryoglobulinaemia is not well defined; HBV seems to play only a marginal role.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and interleukin 3: target cells and kinetics of response in vivo.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 3 (IL-3) target cells have been studied in vivo in subjects with normal hemopoiesis. GM-CSF administration elicits a rapid and sustained neutrophilia, monocytosis and eosinophilia due to a direct proliferative stimulus on all progenitors and precursors of the granulomonopoietic lineage. GM-CSF is also a powerful stimulator of erythroid burst forming unit (BFU-E) and megakaryocyte colony forming unit (CFU-MK) proliferation. Its action, however, does not extend to more mature erythroid and megakaryocyte cells suggesting the need for combined treatment with lineage-specific growth factors such as erythropoietin (Epo) or IL-6 to obtain a complete myeloid stimulation. When GM-CSF is discontinued, its action rapidly vanishes, and a rapid decline in the proliferative rate of target cells to values below the initial ones occurs. The potential clinical usefulness of this phenomenon in regard to cancer chemotherapy is discussed. IL-3 treatment induces only a rapid and marked eosinophilia. Chronic IL-3 administration, however, increases the proliferation of all myelopoietic progenitors and primes CFU-GM to become more sensitive in vitro to the action of granulocyte CSF (G-CSF), GM-CSF and IL-5. Whereas an increased IL-5 sensitivity seems devoid of therapeutic potential, the priming of G-CSF and GM-CSF action suggests rational scheduling for a combined treatment of IL-3 with other hemopoietic growth factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Hepatitis C virus infection in type II essential mixed cryoglobulinemias.

The possible relationship between essential mixed cryoglobulinemias (EMCs) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been investigated in eight patients with type II EMCs and biochemical signs of liver damage, whose serum tested positive in the ELISA for anti-HCV. Sera were tested using the 2nd generation RIBA assay, while serum HCV-RNA was measured semiquantitatively by a RT-PCR in whole serum, cryoprecipitates and supernatants. In all patients a percutaneous liver biopsy and a bone marrow biopsy were performed. At liver biopsy, chronic active hepatitis and/or cirrhosis were present in 6 patients; in the remaining two, a lymphoplasmacytoid infiltration of elements positive for kappa light chains was found. In all patients a bone marrow biopsy showed a paratrabecular infiltration of monoclonal lymphoplasmacytoid elements similar to those found in the liver of the two patients described above. Antibodies against structural and non-structural HCV proteins were detectable in the serum of all patients. HCV-RNA was amplified from the whole sera, cryoprecipitates and supernatants: significantly higher concentrations were found in cryoprecipitates than in supernatants. Our results confirm the high prevalence of HCV infection and ongoing viral replication in patients with type II EMC and suggest the possible implication of HCV in EMC pathogenesis.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Acute cholestatic hepatitis during simvastatin administration.

Simvastatin, recently introduced in clinical practice for pharmacological treatment of hypercholesterolemia, has been found to cause minor and reversible elevations of serum transaminases. We report a case of acute cholestatic hepatitis during simvastatin therapy. Clinical, biochemical, immunological, and histological findings were consistent with a simvastatin-induced liver damage through an immunological-mediated mechanism. This case suggests a careful monitoring of liver function tests during simvastatin therapy, and caution in continuing simvastatin administration when elevations of serum transaminases take place.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

[Evaluation of an enzyme immunoassay for the rapid diagnosis of paucibacillary tuberculosis in adults].

The ELISA has been extensively evaluated as a serodiagnostic method for tuberculosis. However, there is scarce information about its application to cases that cannot be diagnosed by microscopic examination: those with closed lesions or undergoing early stages of the disease. Since a reliable serological test might substantially contribute to their prompt detection, the objective of the present study was to determine the diagnostic value of an ELISA applied to adult smear-negative cases of tuberculosis. Sera from 235 patients with active tuberculosis--176 pulmonary and 59 extrapulmonary cases--and 181 control subjects were tested for IgG antibodies to PPD by ELISA. Eleven cases of non tuberculous mycobacterial (MOTT) disease and 33 cases of mycosis were also included in this group. With the adopted cut-off value, 73.9% (105/142) of smear positive and 52.7% (49/93) of smear negative tuberculosis cases, were correctly classified. Particularly in the latter, the test was positive in 55.2% (32/58) of patients with positive cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and in 48.6% (17/35) of patients diagnosed by clinical, radiological and or histopathological findings. No antibody activity was demonstrated in 92.7% of sera from the control population which included 92 healthy volunteers, 32 non tuberculous diseased subjects and 13 household contacts of smear-positive cases. Among those control subjects who were skin tested, ELISA results were not related to the tuberculin reactivity: 93.7% (30/32) of tuberculin negative and 95.2% (40/42) of tuberculin positive healthy individuals had no detectable antibodies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, type II: a manifestation of a low-grade malignant lymphoma? Clinical-morphological study of 12 cases with special reference to immunohistochemical findings in liver frozen sections.

Twelve patients with clinical and laboratory findings typical of essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, type II (EMC II) underwent multiple liver and bone marrow biopsies. In 9 of 12 cases (all hepatitis B surface antibody-negative), routine histology revealed patent infiltration of liver portal tracts, lobules and sinusoids by small lymphocytes provided with cytological characteristics closely resembling those of the LP immunocytoma of the Kiel classification. At immunophenotyping on frozen sections, these elements expressed the CD22 antigen (marker of B cells) and bore the same type of immunoglobulin (IgM/k = 8, IgM/lambda = 1) as the monotypic component in the serum. Furthermore, in 7 of 9 patients repeated bone marrow needle biopsies showed multiple foci of infiltration by plasmacytoid cells, often with paratrabecular location. In the remaining 3 cases (all hepatitis B surface and core antigen-positive), liver biopsies were consistent with a diagnosis of cirrhosis (two) or chronic active hepatitis (one). In two of them, however, Jamshidi needle biopsy evidenced bone marrow infiltrates quite similar to those observed in the other group. On the basis of these findings, the authors discuss the hypothesis that most EMC II are substained by a low-grade malignant lymphoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Plasma exchange in the treatment of nonadvanced stages of progressive systemic sclerosis.

Ten patients suffering from progressive systemic sclerosis, who responded poorly to conventional therapy, underwent plasma exchange (PE) therapy in conjunction with drug therapy. The frequency of PE was twice weekly for 4-6 weeks, two or three times per year, with a summer interruption, when in our own experience a spontaneous relief of symptoms occurs. To judge the efficacy of our therapeutic device, we assessed several laboratory and clinical parameters before and after therapy. The changes in circulating immune complexes, in IgG and IgA, and in some functional indices were significant (P less than 0.001). Eight of 10 patients improved satisfactorily. The remaining two did not improve sufficiently to continue the apheretic treatment. In conclusion, our study suggests that the PE, together with conventional therapy, can be an effective therapeutic device in the treatment of progressive systemic sclerosis.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1984

[Behçet's disease. II. Etiopathogenetic and therapeutic aspects. Personal observations].

The aetiopathogenesis of Behcet's disease is still not known. In the light of current knowledge, the most likely hypothesis seems to be that of an autoimmune reaction set off by viral, bacterial or other antigens. The reaction may manifest itself in the vascular system, and cause vasculitic conditions in genetically susceptible subjects. The existence of a constitutional susceptibility factor would seem to be confirmed by the high and significant incidence of determinant histocompatibility antigens: HLA-B5 in Japan and in Mediterranean countries, HLA-A2 and HLA-A28 in Great Britain and the United States. Corticosteroids are most commonly used to treat the disease; immunosuppressants are also recommended--possibly in association with corticosteroids. Three personally observed cases of Behcet's disease are reported. The first was an example of the disease in its complete form (oral and genital aphthae, ocular lesions); the second case incomplete (no genital aphthae); and the third characterised by severe neurological involvement (neuro-Behcet).

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Behçet's disease. I. Clinical and histopathological aspects].

Behçet disease is characterised by a triple symptom picture (genital and oral aphthae, ocular lesions) named after the Turkish dermatologist, Hulusi Behçet. It is found all over the world, but is particularly frequent in Japan and the Mediterranean basin. Adult males are primarily affected. The classic symptomatological triad may be accompanied by other manifestations involving the skin (hypersensitivity to microtrauma is a peculiar feature), joints, nervous system, gastroenteric system, cardiovascular system (phlebitis, phlebothrombosis), lungs and kidneys. There is a chronic course marked by periods of exacerbation and remission, which may last for years. Diagnosis is clinical only, since neither the laboratory data nor the histopathological signs of vasculitis are truly pathognomonic. The prognosis quoad valetudinem is uncertain with regard to the eye lesions, which may result in blindness. The prognosis quoad vitam is usually good, though it is poor if the nervous system is involved, or in the event of lung and large vessel lesions, since death may occur from haemoptysis or the rupture of aneurysms.

Behcet Syndrome↗