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Biomedical subjects

A Peserico

Publications and source records attributed to A Peserico.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Anticentromere antibody in localized scleroderma.

Using metaphase chromosome spreads as substrate for indirect immunofluorescence technic, we observed anticentromere antibody in three of twenty-five patients affected with various clinical forms of localized scleroderma. Anticentromere antibody is generally considered a serologic marker of the CREST syndrome, a more benign subset of systemic sclerosis. However, none of the three anticentromere antibody-positive patients with localized scleroderma had Raynaud's phenomenon, acrosclerosis, or any signs or symptoms of systemic disease; on physical and laboratory examination, they showed only typical cutaneous features of localized scleroderma: two showed linear scleroderma, and one showed localized morphea. A 2-year 8-month follow-up of two patients did not disclose any clinical evidence of systemic sclerosis. The occurrence of anticentromere antibody in patients with localized scleroderma seems to offer supportive evidence that a relationship exists between localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis.

Adolescent↗

Incidence and significance of organ-specific autoimmune disorders (clinical, latent or only autoantibodies) in patients with vitiligo.

The frequency of autoimmune disorders was determined in 373 vitiligo patients and in controls matched for sex, age and race. Vitiligo patients had an increased frequency of clinical autoimmune diseases of thyroid (7.5%), stomach (0.8%), parathyroid (1%), adrenal gland (1.3%). Vitiligo patients, without clinical signs of overt autoimmune diseases, also had a statistically significant increase in the frequency of gastric parietal cell (p less than 0.001), thyroid microsomal (p less than 0.05) and adrenal autoantibodies (p less than 0.05). This increased incidence of autoimmune manifestations was correlated with the duration of vitiligo. Furthermore in 94% of the patients with parietal cell autoantibodies a gastric biopsy showed atrophic gastritis. In addition, in 48% of the patients with thyroid microsomal autoantibodies and in 2 out of 6 patients with adrenal autoantibodies without overt diseases at the beginning of the study, the functional investigation of the target organs during the follow-up allowed the detection of the presence or that of the subsequent development of clinical or subclinical dysfunction.

Adult↗

Haemorheological parameters in alopecia areata.

Whole blood, plasma and relative viscosities and red cell filterability have been investigated in 15 patients with Alopecia areata (A.A.) and in 9, age and sex-matched, normal subjects. Erythrocyte filtration time resulted to be significantly increased in alopecic subjects as compared to the normal subjects. Such parameter also showed a good correlation (r = 0.752) with relative viscosity. Whole blood, plasma and relative viscosities were not significantly different from normal subjects.

Adolescent↗

Ozena as presenting symptom of a rare and severe genetic disease: hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.

Ozena is quite a common clinical finding in ENT practice in many countries, but even if the pathological picture is clear, its etiology is unknown. We report on two young females in which ozena was the presenting symptom of a rare and severe genetic disorder (hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, HED). Etiopathogenetic theories on ozena and genetic problems of HED are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Life events and alopecia areata.

48 patients with alopecia areata, 30 with common baldness, 30 with fungal infections underwent the Paykel's Interview for recent life events. In the 6 months preceding onset, alopecic patients reported 123 events (mean = 2.56), patients with common baldness 22 events (mean = 0.73), patients with fungal infections 15 (mean = 0.50) (p less than 0.001). Events with negative impact, exits from social fields, uncontrolled events and socially desirable and undesirable events were significantly more frequent in alopecic patients than in controls.

Adult↗

Sex hormone-binding globulin and saliva testosterone levels in men with androgenetic alopecia.

Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), plasma testosterone and saliva testosterone were measured in sixty-four men with androgenetic alopecia and in forty males within the same age range without alopecia. There was a significant reduction in SHBG levels in bald men, compared with controls. Plasma testosterone levels were not raised in bald men, but their salivary testosterone levels were significantly higher than in controls.

Adolescent↗

Electrocardiogram in progressive systemic sclerosis. Analysis of 73 cases.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities were found in 53 out of 73 patients (72,6%) affected with progressive systemic sclerosis or scleroderma. Along with some modifications of little value, like heart rate increase or decrease, sporadic premature beats, slight ST depression or T-wave flattening, other more important abnormalities were recorded. One patient had atrial fibrillation and one supraventricular tachycardia. In 21 cases (28.8%) conduction disorders were found, including A-V block, right bundle branch block, left anterior hemiblock and bifascicular block. Low QRS voltages were present in 15 cases (20,6%), confined in all but one to the peripheral leads. In 13 patients (17,8%) Q or QS aspects suggesting myocardial necrosis were observed, but a clinical history or clinical picture of myocardial infarction syndrome was lacking in all cases but one. Electrocardiographic patterns of myocardial necrosis in scleroderma may indicate not only myocardial infarction, which seems to be a rather rare occurrence in such disease, but also intraventricular conduction system defects or progressive replacement of myocardium by fibrous tissue.

Adolescent↗

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Biochemical and ultrastructural studies.

Ultrastructural and biochemical studies of the dermis from patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum are described. Elastin fibers showed mineral deposits that were associated with an elastin material exhibiting altered affinity for the electron microscopical stains and altered ultrastructural organization. In the most affected patient the elastin was shown to be increased and to have an abnormal amino acid composition. In some patients the collagen fibers were laterally fused. The ground substance was increased as evidenced by electron microscopy and confirmed by a slight increase in uronic acids, hexosamines, and neutral sugars.

Amino Acids↗

Complement fixing antibody to varicella-zoster virus in cancerous patients.

The titer of complement fixing antibody to Varicella-Zoster virus was studied in sera from 161 cancerous patients and 161 healthy controls. Sera with antibody titers greater than or equal to 1/4 were 74 (45.9%) among cancerous patients and 120 (74.5%) among healthy controls. The difference between these two groups is statistically significant.

Antibodies, Viral↗

[Incidence of skin changes during active chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. Comparison with normal controls].

The frequency of the principal skin changes held to be typical of chronic diseases of the liver has been evaluated together with the frequency of diseases of primarily dermatological interest in a group of 116 chronic liver patients (73 with cirrhosis, 43 with active chronic hepatitis) and in a group of 90 controls comparable by sex and age. The frequency of skin changes secondary to liver disease was statistically higher in the patients with respect to the control group. The incidence of primarily skin diseases associated with liver disease was, by contrast, extremely rare. The simultaneous presence of spiders, hepatic palms and white nails was observed in 21% of the chronic liver patients, while it was never encountered in the controls. Clinical observation of these changes (particularly the triad mentioned) is therefore highly indicative of chronic liver disease, even without a significant clinical history.

Adult↗