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Biomedical subjects

A Romano

Publications and source records attributed to A Romano.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Specific desensitizing treatment in drug allergy.

Fourteen patients with allergy to drugs (4 to synthetic corticotrophin, 3 to insulin, 4 to pyramidon, 2 to penicillin, and 1 to iodine-containing contrast media) were submitted to specific desensitizing treatment using graduated doses of the drug. Therapy was completely successful in 11 of 14 cases: in one case, the authors were forced to suspend treatment because the patient allergic to pyramidon had become pregnant; in the other cases (allergic to corticotrophin and to penicillin) the treatment was suspended because of severe adverse reactions. On the basis of the present findings, immunotherapy in drug allergy is possible and should not present any special problems: it is necessary that the treatment be carried out by highly qualified staff and preferably on hospitalized patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation in patients with chronic urticaria and in patients with multiple drug intolerance.

It is now generally accepted that the beta-adrenergic system may play a role in the pathogenesis of allergic manifestations. One of the most interesting experimental models is the adrenaline induced platelet aggregation test, in which adrenaline selectively stimulates the beta-adrenergic receptors activating adenylcyclase. This test was considered as a model in the study of beta-receptor function in patients with allergic disorders. It therefore seemed worthwhile to submit two different groups of patients to this test, namely: a) Patients with chronic urticaria. Since in the large majority of cases no immunoallergic mechanism has been detected, various hypotheses have been proposed to explain its onset. b) Patients showing intolerance to several drugs: this is a large category of patients, predominantly females, presenting allergic-like reactions, mostly of the urticarioidangioedematous type, occurring following administration of various types of drugs. The investigation was performed on subjects of both sexes, grouped as follows: a) 33 patients with chronic urticaria. b) 31 patients with multiple drug intolerance. c) 28 normal volunteers (control subjects). From the results obtained it can be concluded that a tendency toward hyperagregation was more evident in patients with urticaria and less evident in those with multiple drug intolerance. The only finding of interest concerns the second aggregation wave, which was less frequent in patients with urticaria than in normal subjects, but the difference was not statistically significant. The adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation test does not appear to provide useful information on a deficit of beta-receptor function in the patients studied.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical effect of human-fibroblast-derived (Beta) interferon in treatment of adeno-virus epidemic keratoconjunctivitis and its complications.

The clinical studies reviewed here indicated the usefulness of topical application of Human-fibroblast-derived (Beta) interferon (Hu1FN-B) in treatment of Adeno-8 Epidemic-keratoconjunctivitis. A week treatment with 2-5 x 10(5) reference units daily doses, starting early as possible, reduced the length of the disease from 22 day to a week, and almost totally prevented the appearance of subepithelial keratitis which occurred in 57% of the control group. Possibly interferon should be given also prophylactically to individuals exposed to contagion. Our results encourage further investigation on the Hu1 FN-B use as a drug for treatment and prevention of viral infection.

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oral specific hyposensitization in the management of patients allergic to food.

Results are presented of a protocol of hyposensitizing treatment per os in 19 cases of food allergy (allergy to milk in 8, to egg in 8, to fish in 2, and to orange in one). Treatment, performed in the out-patients service, was successful in 14 out of the 15 patients who followed it correctly (i.e. 93.3% of cases). Treatment lasted between 3 and 12 months.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The birth of a neonate with a congenital malformation].

The birth of a neonate with congenital malformation for the parents determines often a process of adaptation with a phase of shock, a phase of incredibility and scare and, at last, one of adaptation and equilibration. The reactions of the parents and the difficulties they meet in the relation with the child depend mostly on the characteristics of the malformation and on the explanations and support they receive. The Health care personnel knows well that the communication of a diagnosis of a congenital malformation to the parents is frustrating. Both the Pediatrics and the Gynaecologist have to considerate seriously and consciously this relational question, considering that the communication is a interpersonal relationship and therefore flexible and changeable in every case. After this previous statement we consider it useful to report advises taken from the literature: the parents have to be informed at once the diagnosis is confirmed, possibly at the same time and in presence of the infant; the communication should be done both from the Pediatrics and the Gynaecologist, possibly at the same time; the communication should take place in a private atmosphere and with plenty of time.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Two cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis caused by delayed hypersensitivity to beta-lactam antibiotics.

The authors describe two cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) caused by delayed hypersensitivity to semisynthetic penicillins. The first patient developed erythema of the lower limbs following an i.m. injection of ampicillin, which progressed to TEN as therapy was continued. Fever and eosinophilic leukocytosis were also present. In the second case, TEN developed following oral amoxicillin therapy, and was preceded by a diffuse, maculopapular eruption. In both cases, symptoms resolved with the prompt administration of steroids. Both patients underwent allergological testing: prick test and, if results were negative, intradermal tests with penicilloyl-polylysine (PPL), minor determinant mixture (MDM), penicillin, amoxicillin and ampicillin. Patch testing with penicillin, ampicillin and amoxicillin was also performed. Both patients developed positive reactions to the intradermal tests after 6 h, and to patch tests after 48-72 h (for ampicillin, amoxicillin and penicillin in the first case, and for ampicillin and amoxicillin in the second). The lymphocyte transformation test (LTT), performed only in the first case, was positive for ampicillin. As these cases demonstrate, delayed hypersensitivity should be suspected in cases of drug-related TEN. Patch testing is a simple and useful allergological test for these types of cases.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Behavior of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity and cystolic Ca2+ content in vascular atherosclerotic disease with and without non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

In 71 subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD), in 32 VAD subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and in 31 normal controls, we evaluated polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) membrane fluidity and PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content. The PMN membrane fluidity was obtained by marking intact and unstimulated PMN cells with fluorescent probe 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) and the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content was obtained by marking intact and unstimulated PMN cells with the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM. From the obtained results, it is evident that PMN membrane fluidity does not differentiate normals from VAD subjects and VAD subjects with NIDDM, and normals from subjects with monovascular disease (MVAD) and polyvascular disease (PVAD) with and without NIDDM. The PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content is significantly increased in VAD subjects and VAD subjects with NIDDM, and also in MVAD and PVAD subjects with and without NIDDM. A positive correlation is present between PMN membrane fluidity and PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content in normals and VAD subjects, but not in VAD subjects with NIDDM. In conclusion, in VAD subjects with and without NIDDM, an increase of the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content is present; this increase might be related to the PMN spontaneous activation.

Aged↗