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Biomedical subjects

A Spadaro

Publications and source records attributed to A Spadaro.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Ultrasound measurements at the proximal phalanges in male patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Bone ultrasound parameters at the proximal phalanges of the hands were measured in 55 male patients with psoriatic arthritis (PA) (39 with peripheral radiologic involvement and 16 with axial involvement), comparing the findings with those in 16 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, 20 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and 55 age- and sex-matched normal controls. Mean values of amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS) and ultrasound bone profile score (UBPS) were significantly lower in RA (p < 0.001 and p < 1 x 10(-5)) and PA (p < 0.03 and p < 1 x 10(-6)) patients than in controls, while there was no statistically significant difference between AS patients and healthy subjects. Ultrasound parameters showed a significant negative correlation with age in all groups. In each patient group ultrasound values were unrelated either to disease duration or to inflammatory indices such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Moreover no significant differences were observed between ultrasound parameters of the dominant and the nondominant hand. PA patients with and without axial radiologic changes did not show any differences in ultrasound parameters. However, PA subjects with peripheral involvement only had significantly higher Ad-SoS (p < 0.04) and UBPS (p < 0.04) values than RA patients. PA patients with axial lesions had significantly lower (p < 0.04 and p < 0.01) ultrasound values than AS patients. These findings suggest that PA ultrasound techniques performed at the peripheral level are of value to speculate on bone involvement, although we think that ultrasound measurements cannot yet be recommended for monitoring bone involvement in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor in Sjögren's syndrome: relation to main serum immunological and immunohistochemical parameters.

Our aim was to study sIL-2R relationship with main serum immunological and LSG immunohistochemical parameters, including surface antigen expression of immune activation, in 27 patients with primary SS. Serum sIL-2R levels were significantly higher in SS (p<0.00005), as well as in SLE (p<0.05) and RA (p< 0.000001) patients than in controls. In SS patients with abnormal slL-2R values (n = 7) we found higher levels of anti-SSB/La antibodies (p<0.05), IgM-RF (p<0.014) and CRP (p<0.003) with respect to those with normal sIL-2R values (n = 20). Moreover, sIL-2R levels correlated positively with those of anti-SSB/La antibodies (p<0.0037) and with CRP (p<0.008). The comparison of groups with (A) and without (B) abnormal slL-2R levels reveals a statistically different percentage of patients with foci number > 1 (86% vs 40%; p <0.047), and CD25 expression on lymphocytes (100% vs 40%; p < 0.008). The frequency (p < 0.025) of CD25 expression on lymphocytes was higher in group A than in group B. The frequency of CD25 expression on the infiltrates correlated not only with sIL-2R levels (p<0.047), but also with anti-SSB/La antibody values (p < 0.044), with Tarpley histological classes (p < 0.009) and with frequency of HLA-DR expression on lymphocytes (p<0.004) and on epithelial cells (p<0.002). The frequency of epithelial CD25 expression also correlated with that of epithelial HLA-DR (p<0.004). Our report suggests that slL-2R is linked to glandular involvement in primary SS.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Antibodies to hepatitis A virus in Italian patients with chronic liver disease.

To improve our knowledge for future hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccination strategies we carried out a multicentre study on naturally acquired immunological protection against HAV in patients with chronic hepatitis in Italy. We enrolled 830 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis on their first observation at one of the six Italian liver units participating in the study. Six hundred and fifty-eight patients (79.3%) were positive for total anti-HAV and 172 (20.7%) were negative. The anti-HAV negative patients were younger (median age 33, range 11-78) than the anti-HAV positive (median age 56, 18-87). There was a higher prevalence of cases with circulating anti-HAV among the 508 patients residing in southern Italy than in the 322 residing in northern Italy (88.8% vs. 64%, P < 0.001). No significant difference in the anti-HAV prevalence was observed between patients from northern Italy and those from southern Italy aged 0-30 years or in those over 60 years, while in those 31-60 years old there was a higher prevalence of anti-HAV positive patients from southern Italy (90.2% vs. 65.8%, P < 0.0001). Of the patients with liver cirrhosis in this study, only 3 of the 26 (11.5%) from northern Italy and 8 of the 228 (3.5%) from southern Italy had no immunological protection against HAV infection. The data suggest that the number of patients with chronic liver disease without naturally acquired immunity against HAV is substantial in Italy, particularly in the north of the country, and that new vaccination strategies are needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Class specific rheumatoid factors and antiphospholipid syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The relationship of rheumatoid factors (RF) with antiphospholipid syndrome (aPLS) and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) has rarely been investigated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We found IgM-RF, IgG-RF, IgA-RF, IgM-aCL, IgG-aCL, IgA-aCL, respectively, in 35.4%, 35.4%, 33.8%, 23.1%, 23.1%, 20.0% of 65 SLE patients. Class specific RFs were negatively associated (P<0.05) with IgG-aCL. The frequency of definite or probable aPLS according to Alarcon-Segovia classification criteria was significantly (P<0.05) different (8.7% vs 30.9%) in patients with or without IgG-RF. Among the other clinical features of SLE, we found that patients with IgG-RF, compared to patients lacking this autoantibody, showed a lower frequency (P<0.05) of serositis (21.7% vs 52.4%) and hematologic (52. 2% vs 80.9%) disorders. The levels of IgG-RF and IgM-RF negatively correlated with the number of ARA criteria (P<0.05) but not with the indices of diseases activity or damage. Our study shows that in SLE the presence of RFs are not markers of severity of the disease, but the negative association between IgG-RF and IgG-aCL suggests a distinct role of these autoantibodies in the pathology of SLE, whereas the presence of IgG isotype may identify a subset of SLE patients having a lower risk to develop some clinical manifestations such as aPLS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Down-regulation of natural killer cells and of gamma/delta T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus. Does it correlate to autoimmunity and to laboratory indices of disease activity?

A depletion of natural killer (NK) cells seems to play a role in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) whereas the possible involvement in this disease of T cell receptor (TCR) gamma/delta positive T cells is still debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that express NK surface markers CD16 and CD56 or gamma/delta TCR antigen in 58 SLE patients, investigating the possible role of these cell subsets involved in non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity and their relationship with the main clinical and laboratory parameters. SLE patients had, with respect to controls, considerably decreased values of NK cells (P<0.0004 in percentage and P<0.00004 as absolute number), of non-MHC-restricted T cytotoxic lymphocytes (P<0.007 and P<0.0015, respectively) and of T cells expressing gamma/delta TCR (P<0.02 and P<0.004, respectively). The absolute numbers of these cell subsets positively correlated to each other (P<0.009). gamma/delta T cells inversely correlated with higher ESR values, both percentually (P<0. 006; r=-0.367) and in absolute number (P<0.009; r=-0.350). Moreover, the percentage values of this cell subset inversely correlated with higher levels of CRP (P<0.05; r=-0.256) while SLE patients with anti-SSB/La antibodies had lower values of T lymphocytes bearing gamma/delta TCR, both as percentage (P<0.008) and as absolute number (P<0.02). Our study indicates that non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity, shared by NK, NK-like and gamma/delta T cells, may be down-regulated in SLE patients, owing to a significant reduction of these PBMC subsets. These specific cell subset impairments seem to affect only some aspects of the disease, suggesting a weakening of the regulatory properties of these cells in the control of different immunological and inflammatory features of SLE, that could be of importance in its clinical expression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Changes of glycosylation of serum proteins in Sjögren's syndrome: correlation with interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-2 receptor.

A strong increase of the affinity for concanavalin A (Con A) of serum alpha 2-macroglobulin, a non-acute-phase protein, was observed by lectin blotting in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). On the contrary, the total Con A reactivity of serum proteins, measured by enzyme-linked lectin assay, was not augmented in SS, compared with normal donors, probably because positive changes of certain proteins were balanced by negative changes of others, as suggested by lectin blotting analysis. However, a significant increase of total Con A reactivity occurred in subjects with increased serum concentrations of soluble interleukin (IL)-2 receptor, compared with patients with normal concentrations of this marker of disease activity. On the other hand, the same parameter did not appear to be different in patients with normal or increased serum concentrations of IL-6, indicating that this cytokine was not probably responsible for the changes of glycosylation described here.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Relationship of rheumatoid factor isotype levels with joint lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging in early rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between rheumatoid factor isotypes and articular damage detected by magnetic resonance imaging and plain radiography in early rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: 20 consecutive patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis underwent determinations of serum IgM, IgA, and IgG rheumatoid factors by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plain radiographs of the hands and wrists were obtained, and the wrist, metacarpophalangeal joints, and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints on the more severely affected side were investigated by magnetic resonance imaging before and after gadolinium-DTPA injection. RESULTS: IgM, IgA, and IgG rheumatoid factors were found in 13 (65%), 13 (65%), and 15 (75%) of patients, respectively. Sera from five patients (25%) contained no detectable rheumatoid factor isotypes. Correlations were found among the levels of the three rheumatoid factor isotypes. Levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM rheumatoid factor were significantly higher in patients with than without erosions on magnetic resonance imaging scans. No such difference was found when patients with and without erosions on plain radiographs were compared. Magnetic resonance imaging detected soft tissue lesions more frequently than plain radiography. Magnetic resonance imaging was also more likely than plain radiography to show bone erosions and bone cysts, but this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative rheumatoid factor isotype assays and magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of erosions of the hand and wrist may be useful for investigating patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Changes of glycosylation of serum proteins in psoriatic arthritis, studied by enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA), using concanavalin A.

Changes of glycosylation of serum proteins of patients with psoriatic arthritis were detected by lectin blotting and a new enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) using concanavalin A (Con A). A good linear correlation was found between the total Con A-reactivity of serum and the serum levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, which is known to regulate the glycosylation pattern of proteins upon inflammation. A good linear correlation was also observed between the immunoreactivity of alpha 1-antitrypsin, measured by ELISA, using a monoclonal antibody sensitive to glycosylation changes, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the serum concentrations of soluble interleukin-2 receptor, an index of lymphocyte activation which correlated with some inflammatory parameters of disease activity. These protein changes, which are described here for the first time, deserve to be studied in further detail in view of their possible clinical applications.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1998

Pharmacological evaluation of a new timolol/pilocarpine formulation.

A new formulation (HYA) based on timolol hyaluronate and pilocarpine hyaluronate salts has been shown to improve the bioavailability of the drugs and to extend the duration of their action. Extent of the intraocular pressure lowering effect, duration of action and aqueous bioavailability of timolol and pilocarpine of HYA were compared with a commercial preparation. Ocular hypertension in the rabbit was induced by alpha-chymotrypsin or by water loading. The hypotensive effect of HYA treatment was significantly greater and longer than that observed in rabbit eyes treated with the commercial preparation both in the normotensive and in the hypertensive animals. Furthermore, we evaluated the miotic response; due to pilocarpine, normotensive rabbits showed a greater miotic response and an extended duration when the eyes were treated with HYA. The new formulation increased the aqueous availability of timolol and pilocarpine compared to the commercial preparation as determined by HPLC. The pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles of HYA indicate an increase in efficacy and duration of action along with an increase in bioavailability of timolol and pilocarpine in comparison with the commercial preparation.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of the Health Assessment Questionnaire and Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which of two instruments, the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS), was more closely correlated with the main parameters reflecting activity and severity of psoriatic arthritis. METHODS: Both instruments were administered to 72 consecutive patients with psoriatic arthritis. RESULTS: Global HAQ and AIMS scores were closely correlated with each other (rs = 0.747; P < 0.00001). AIMS physical function scales--namely physical activity, dexterity, social activity and activities of daily living--were moderately or closely correlated with the main clinical disease activity parameters, most notably morning stiffness of axial joints (rs = 0.271-0.551). Scales measuring psychological status yielded weaker correlations with disease activity parameters (rs = 0.241-0.277) and were also correlated with the visual analog scale score for skin lesion severity. Morning stiffness of peripheral joints was correlated only with two AIMS scales, namely pain (rs = 0.532) and activities of daily living (rs = 0.303). Severity of radiological damage of peripheral and axial joints was most closely correlated with the scales of physical function, most notably physical activity. The global and scale HAQ scores showed moderate to close correlations with the main clinical disease activity parameters, most notably morning stiffness of axial joints. The global HAQ score was also correlated with radiological carpal involvement and with the radiological severity of peripheral joint involvement, whereas only the arising and hygiene scales were (moderately) correlated with the radiological severity of spinal involvement. CONCLUSION: Although both the HAQ and the AIMS were useful in assessing health status in psoriatic arthritis patients, only the AIMS captured some of the effects of the skin lesions. Our data also suggest that the AIMS may be more effective than the HAQ for evaluating the effect of radiological lesions produced by psoriatic arthritis.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Ultrasound transmission velocity of the proximal phalanxes of the non-dominant hand in the study of osteoporosis.

The aim of our study was to evaluate a quantitative ultrasound technique for measuring bone tissue at the proximal phalanxes of the non-dominant hand. We correlated the mean value of the amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SoS) measured at the distal metaphysis of the last four proximal phalanxes with age, months since menopause and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine in 264 women. We further assessed the ability of the AD-SoS to discriminate between normal and osteoporotic subjects with documented vertebral fractures. We found a positive correlation between the AD-SoS and the lumbar spine BMD, whereas the AD-SoS negatively correlated with age and months since menopause. The AD-SoS showed a higher correlation with age changes and months since menopause than BMD. The AD-SoS was significantly higher in healthy females than in osteoporotic ones (p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed for age-adjusted values that AD-SoS decrease is significantly associated to the presence of fracture. Our results suggest that AD-SoS is valuable in assessing age and menopause related bone loss and is useful for diagnosing osteoporosis.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1997

Pharmacological evaluation of anti-inflammatory pyrrole-acetic acid derivative eye drops.

The effects of mucoadhesive eye drops containing a pyrrole-acetic acid derivative (tolmetin) at 0.5% concentration on ocular inflammation produced by sodium arachidonate in the rabbit's eye were evaluated. Furthermore, the bioavailability of the mucoadhesive formulation in the aqueous humor against an aqueous-based solution was compared. Tolmetin eye drops significantly reduced the signs of ocular inflammation elicited by sodium arachidonate on conjunctiva and iris. Tolmetin treatment significantly reduced the levels of prostaglandin E2, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and protein concentration in aqueous samples obtained from the eyes treated with arachidonate. The de novo production of prostaglandin E2 by corneas obtained from rabbits sacrificed 2 hours after arachidonate instillation were significantly higher in samples taken from controls than in corneas obtained from the eyes treated with tolmetin eye drops. Furthermore, the drug treatment significantly reduced the rise in intraocular pressure arachidonate-induced. The mucoadhesive formulation showed a higher bioavailability in aqueous humor compared to the aqueous-based solution both in the uninflamed and in the inflamed rabbit eyes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Bioadhesive microspheres for ophthalmic administration of acyclovir.

The bioavailability of acyclovir to the ophthalmic epithelium is low and when the drug is administered in ophthalmic ointment it must be applied every four hours. An emulsification technique has been used to prepare acyclovir-loaded chitosan microspheres with the aim of promoting the prolonged release of drug and increasing its ocular bioavailability. The microparticulate drug-delivery systems obtained have been characterized for their morphology and physicochemical characteristics by in-vitro dissolution tests and in-vivo ocular administration to rabbits. The results show that the microspheres obtained are always quite small--the diameters of 90% of the particles are < or = 25 microns (i.e. d 90% never exceeds 25 microns) and physicochemical characterization shows that the drug is homogeneously dispersed in an amorphous state inside the microspheres. The in-vitro dissolution profile of acyclovir from chitosan microspheres is slower than that for the raw drug. Results from in-vivo ocular administration of acyclovir-loaded microspheres to the rabbit eye show prolonged high concentrations of acyclovir and increased AUC values. The microparticulate drug-carrier seems a promising means of topical administration of acyclovir to the eye.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1997

Relationship of soluble interleukin-2-receptor and interleukin-6 with class-specific rheumatoid factors during low-dose methotrexate treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.

We studied the effect of a 6-month treatment with low-dose MTX in 22 RA patients, with the purpose of investigating the relationship of sIL-2R and IL-6 serum changes with those of class specific RFs. The patients with RA had higher serum levels of sIL-2R (p < 0.0001), and IL-6 (p < 0.0005) than healthy volunteers. We found that the levels of IgM-RF (p < 0.0004), IgA-RF (p < 0.002), IgG-RF (p < 0.025), sIL-2R (p < 0.017) and IL-6 (p < 0.044) as well as the main clinical and laboratory variables, were significantly reduced in RA patients treated with low dose MTX for six months. The changes from baseline of IgM-RF correlated with those of IL-6 (p < 0.023), suggesting that MTX may affect IL-6 and IgM-RF production in part by a common mechanism. In conclusion our results show that there is a relationship between IL-6 and IgM-RF changes from baseline during MTX therapy, but the hypothesis of a link between the effects of this drug on cytokine network and RF production needs further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of ultrasound transmission velocity with computed metacarpal radiogrammetry and dual-photon absorptiometry.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the validity of a quantitative US technique for measuring the bone density of the proximal phalanges of the nondominant hand compared with computed metacarpal radiogrammetry and dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) of the lumbar spine. Mean US bone velocity (UBV) correlated with mean metacarpal cortical index (MCI), with mean metacarpal bone density (MBD) and with bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine, whereas it was correlated negatively with age and menopause duration. The average UBV was significantly higher in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women, and higher in normal lumbar DPA patients than in reduced lumbar DPA patients. We conclude that the US evaluation of the nondominant hand proximal phalanges may be a new alternative way for measuring bone mass in screening of osteoporosis.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗