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Biomedical subjects

A Salerno

Publications and source records attributed to A Salerno.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Effects of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) on infection of adult mice with the Thogoto-like Ar-126 arbovirus.

Inoculation of mice with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) alters the course of infection with the Thogoto-like arbovirus Tho-Ar-126. The Tho-Ar-126 content of liver, spleen, and lymph nodes was approximately 10 times greater in mice treated with NDV 24 h before infection; the mortality was somewhat increased, but liver damage (as indicated by serum transaminase levels) did not seem to be potentiated. Lymphocytopenia was observed in NDV-inoculated mice, and in the spleen and lymph nodes the proportion of lymphocytes susceptible to lysis by anti-theta (a marker for thymus-derived lymphocytes) was markedly decreased in these animals. This suggests that NDV potentiates infection by Tho-Ar-126 through its action on thymus-derived lymphocytes.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1975

Regulation of antibody formation in chickens escaping from tolerance to human serum albumin.

The immune capacity of chickens made tolerant to human serum albumin just after hatching was studied after a primary and secondary challenge at 7--14 weeks of age, of either 1 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg. The class and avidity of antibody produced by birds "escaping" from tolerance was similar to normal controls. The escaping chickens made a normal peak antibody response to a high dose but not to a low dose (except that the response to a low secondary dose after priming with a high dose was normal); but the decline of the antibody titer was abrupt, indicating inability to maintain the response. It is concluded that the antibody-forming capacity of B cells is normal, but regulation of antibody formation is impaired in previously tolerant chickens.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alterations of blood and plasma viscosity and erythrocyte filtration in senile osteoporosis.

Blood and plasma viscosity, as well as erythrocyte filtration rates were studied in 44 osteopenic (20 men and 24 women) and in 40 non-osteopenic (20 men and 20 women) patients, all over 65 years of age. Pathological hemorheological parameters were observed only in 12 subject of the osteopenic group, and 10 controls. The results indicate that although the hemorheological parameters do not show a direct correlation with the osteopenia, it is worthwhile following these parameters, among others, in order to optimize the treatment with anti-osteoporotic drugs which are able to regulate them.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Production of T suppressor factor specific for the hapten picryl chloride requires both T suppressor cells and an antigen-specific, genetically restricted second signal.

We investigated the requirement for activation of T suppressor cells specific for the hapten picryl chloride and the release of hapten-specific T suppressor factor. Using an in vivo experimental system, we report that activation of T suppressor cells and the consequent release of T suppressor factor required two signals: one was provided by primed T suppressor cells, i.e. spleen cells from mice injected with the tolerogen picrylsulphonic acid, and the other was provided by the specific antigen in the context of H-2 gene products. Mechanisms by which the interaction between these two signals led to activation of T suppressor cells and the production of T suppressor factor, as well as a comparison with other antigen-specific suppressor systems, are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunoadsorption with protein A in humoral rejection of kidney transplants.

The presence of alloantibodies may play a role in accelerated or acute humoral rejection. Different therapeutic strategies based on a removal of anti donor antibodies and prevention of their resynthesis have been used in the management of transplant rejection episodes. Immunoadsorption with staphylococcal protein A, a method to selectively remove immunoglobulin G, may represent a new treatment to reverse humoral rejection in kidney transplantation. From 1991 to January 1996, such a method was used in 23 patients in whom an acute humoral rejection developed over a mean period of 14.1 +/- 9.5 days after operation. Twenty-two patients had been transplanted from living donors and one from a cadaveric donor. The ages ranged from 23 to 58 years (mean, 34 +/- 10 years). All transplants were performed according to a negative direct crossmatch. Basic immunosuppression included cyclosporine, steroids, azathioprine, and antilymphocyte globulin or monoclonal antibodies (OKT3). Rejection was diagnosed on the basis of hematochemical tests, Doppler ultrasonography, and kidney biopsy. Only steroid and monoclonal and polyclonal antibody resistant rejections with > 165% positive direct crossmatches against the donor were treated with Protein A immunoabsorption. The procedure used is based on the treatment of 2-3 plasma volumes for the first 2 days and then every other day until a negative crossmatch is obtained, together with improvement in clinical status (mean treatments, 7.3 +/- 4.5 [range, 4-23]; mean duration of treatment, 12.3 +/- 10.2 days [range, 3-44]). From the start of treatment, azathioprine is replaced by cyclophosphamide at a dose of 1-2 mg/kg/day. During treatment, a remarkable fall in immunoglobulin G levels is achieved on the first day, whereas immunoglobulin M titers remain constant, with a slight decrease in serum albumin. Immediately after treatment, a negative crossmatch was found in 22 (95.6%) of 23 patients. In six patients (26%), graft function did not recover, and one patient (4.3%) died. Preliminary results show that immunoabsorption with staphylococcal protein A may be an effective support in the treatment of humoral acute rejection, particularly when it is performed as soon as an early diagnosis of humoral rejection is made. In fact, such treatment has a highly selective adsorption, allows treatment of large volumes of plasma, and can achieve a rapid decrease in the titer of circulating immunoglobulins.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genetic control of C3 production by the S region of the mouse MHC.

The present paper reports evidence indicating that the level of the third complement component (C3) is regulated by the S region of the murine H-2 complex. In fact, using congenic strains of mice we demonstrate that mice with the k haplotype at the S region show high C3 levels, whereas mice with the d haplotype at the S region show low C3 levels.

Alleles↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro activity of rifaximin, metronidazole and vancomycin against Clostridium difficile and the rate of selection of spontaneously resistant mutants against representative anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, including ammonia-producing species.

BACKGROUND: Rifaximin is a rifamycin derivative characterized by a wide antibacterial activity. This drug is neither absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract nor inactivated by gastric juices, and exerts its action entirely within the intestinal lumen. METHODS: In this study, the activity of this antibiotic was compared with that of metronidazole and vancomycin against 93 Clostridium difficile isolates. The rate of emergence of bacteria spontaneously resistant to the new compound was also evaluated in relation to representative gram-positive and gram-negative strains. In terms of MIC(50) values, rifaximin showed an intrinsic activity superior to that of the other agents. The emergence of spontaneously resistant strains was assessed with 46 aerobic (staphylococci, enterococci, Proteus spp., Citrobacter freundii, Providencia rettgeri, enteropathogenic, enteroinvasive, enterotoxigenic and entero- hemorrhagic Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enteritidis) and anaerobic (Clostridium spp., Bacteroides spp., Fusobacterium nucleatum and Peptococcus spp.) pathogens, most of them also ammonium producers. Two different methods, broth and agar dilution, were employed. RESULTS: When liquid medium was employed, bacteria capable of sustained growth in 100 microg/ml of rifaximin were obtained after 2-5 transfers with gram-positive aerobic cocci, 2-3 transfers with gram-negative aerobic strains and 2-5 transfers with anaerobic species. At the highest dose used with the agar dilution method (8 x MIC), the frequency of emergence of spontaneously resistant mutants ranged from <1 x 10(-9) to 1.6 x 10(-8) with gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic cocci, while with aerobic and anaerobic gram-negative bacteria, this value ranged from <1 x 10(-9) to 1.7 x 10(-7). C. difficile showed a particularly low incidence of spontaneously resistant mutants (<1 x 10(-9)). The low incidence of resistant subpopulations selected by levels of 8 x MIC of rifaximin suggests that the high levels of the drug which were reached in the gastrointestinal lumen may further prevent the selection of mutants. CONCLUSION: The low toxicity, broad antibacterial activity and very poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract of rifaximin suggest a potential therapeutic use for this drug in gastrointestinal diseases, as well as in the management of patients with cirrhosis and chronic portal-systemic encephalopathy.

Ammonia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro effects of aminobisphosphonates on Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell activation and differentiation.

In this study we have evaluated the in vitro effects of four different aminobisphosphonates, alendronate, risedronate, neridronate and zoledronate, on Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell activation and differentiation. All tested aminobisphosphonates induce an IL-2-dependent activation and expansion of Vgamma9Vdelta2 T lymphocytes in primary PBMC cultures of healthy donors. Most notably, they also determine a different distribution of Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell subsets, with decrease of T(naive) and T(CM) cells and increase of T(EM) and T(EMRA) Vgamma9Vdelta2cells, indicating that in vitro treatment with aminobisphosphonates induces Vgamma9Vdelta2 T lymphocytes to differentiate towards an effector/cytotoxic phenotype. Accordingly, Vgamma9Vdelta2 T lymphocytes cultured with aminobisphosphonates and IL-2 showed a major content of IFN-gamma and acquired the ability to kill tumor target cells.

Bone Density Conservation Agents↗