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Biomedical subjects

A Venuti

Publications and source records attributed to A Venuti.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Long-term tolerability of nimesulide and acetaminophen in nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-intolerant patients.

BACKGROUND: Oral challenges are used to identify alternative nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for patients who react adversely to drugs of this class, but challenge conditions often differ from those in which the drug will actually be used. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the results of oral challenges with nimesulide or acetaminophen, using cumulative administration of a single therapeutic dose while the patient is in good health, can predict the response to multiple doses of the drug during future illness. METHODS: Follow-up interviews were conducted with 248 NSAID-intolerant subjects who had tolerated oral challenges with nimesulide and/or acetaminophen 1 to 3 years earlier. We analyzed the adverse reaction rate in light of the febrile/non-febrile nature of the condition treated and the number of doses consumed. RESULTS: Nimesulide was tolerated by 115/122 (94.2%) of the patients who had tried it; acetaminophen by 71/75 (94.6%). A total of 8/159 (5%) patients had experienced reactions (seven urticarial and one asthmatic) to one or both drugs. Intolerance was unrelated to the nature of the condition treated or the number of doses administered, but all four patients who failed to tolerate acetaminophen and 3/7 of those who reacted to nimesulide had histories of chronic urticaria. CONCLUSIONS: Oral challenges can reliably predict long-term NSAID tolerability in patients with previous adverse reactions to other drugs of this class, except for patients with chronic urticaria.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1997

Immediate hypersensitivity to penicillins. Studies on Italian subjects.

The IgE response, the involvement of the different penicillins available for therapeutic use, and the specificity of the IgE antibodies found in a group of penicillin-allergic subjects from Italy were studied. Thirty subjects with a history of allergic reactions to penicillins were studied. In vivo and in vitro specific IgE antibodies were determined to different penicillin determinants. Fifteen subjects developed anaphylactic responses and the remainder urticaria and angioedema. The drug most frequently involved in the patients' allergic reactions was ampicillin (AMP). The benzylpenicilloyl (BPO) skin test was positive in 16 (53.3%) patients, whereas 23 (76.6%) patients were positive to minor determinant mixture (MDM), benzylpenicillin (PG), AMP, or amoxicillin (AX). When classified according to initial reaction type, most anaphylactic patients (93.3%) were associated with minor determinant reactivity, whereas most urticaria patients (80%) reacted to BPO. RAST results for the anaphylactic and urticaria subgroups were similar. RAST inhibition showed that most sera contained highly cross-reactive IgE antibodies. There was evidence of a specific response to AX and PG (one patient each). These data show that in a population of penicillin-allergic patients from Italy, AMP was the main drug inducing the allergic reaction. In skin tests and RAST, patients exhibited heterogeneous IgE responses with little indication of specific reactivity to AMP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The autonomous growth of human papillomavirus type 16-immortalized keratinocytes is related to the endothelin-1 autocrine loop.

Some human papillomaviruses (HPVs) such as HPV type 16 (HPV16) and HPV18 are involved in cervical carcinoma, and they can immortalize and transform keratinocytes. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is produced in keratinocytes and has been shown to act through ETA receptors as an autocrine growth factor for keratinocytes. This study examines whether HPV16 alters the ET-1-mediated autocrine loop in human keratinocytes, providing a selective growth advantage for transformed cells. ET-1 is released in similar amounts from normal and HPV-transfected keratinocytes. All HPV-transfected cell lines express high-affinity ETA receptors. A two-fold increase in ET-1 binding sites is present in HPV16-immortalized keratinocytes, and this effect seems to be linked to the overexpression of mRNA for this receptor rather than to differences in the surface/internalized ratio of the receptors. ET-1 induces significant increases in [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell proliferation. Furthermore, HPV-transfected keratinocytes can proliferate in the absence of any growth factor added to the growth medium, and the ETA receptor antagonist BQ123 prevents this proliferation. These data suggest a new mechanism in the growth control of HPV-transformed cells mediated by the upregulation of ET-1 autocrine loop.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1997

Aminopenicillin allergy.

Eight two children with histories of maculopapular or urticarial rashes during aminopenicillin treatment underwent skin tests, patch tests, radioallergosorbent assays and, in some cases, oral challenges. Hypersensitivity was diagnosed in eight (9.8%): immediate in four with urticarial reactions and delayed (that is cell mediated) in four with maculopapular rashes. In 49 children (38 with maculopapular eruptions, 11 with urticarial/angiooedematous reactions), negative allergologic findings were confirmed using oral challenges with the suspected drug. Maculopapular rashes may reflect delayed hypersensitivity to aminopenicillins, which can be diagnosed on the basis of late intradermal reactions and/or patch test positivity. The allergen panel must include the suspected aminopenicillin itself, as many cases are side chain specific. Most patients with urticarial reactions (more typical of immediate hypersensitivity) will also react to penicilloyl polylysine and minor determinant mixture. The time elapsed between the reaction and testing must be considered if negative results emerge, because IgE mediated sensitivity (unlike cell mediated forms) declines in the absence of antigen exposure.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1997

Eosinophil-derived proteins in postprandial (food-dependent) exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Postprandial exercise-induced anaphylaxis (PPEIAn) is a form of EIAn in which the ingestion of food before the exercise is associated with the onset of symptoms. Skin reactivity and the presence of specific serum IgE to several food allergens suggest the occurrence of food-dependent allergic mechanisms. METHODS: In order to study the involvement of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of PPEIAn we measured the changes in serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil protein X/eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EPX/EDN) levels in 6 patients with PPEIAn, subjected to three separate challenges with either suspected foods only, exercise after a meal without or with suspected food ingestion. RESULTS: We found serum levels of both eosinophil-derived proteins increased only in challenges including both exercise and suspected food ingestion. Symptoms of anaphylaxis occurred in 3 of these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The increased release of eosinophil basic proteins in PPEIAn patients, caused by physical exercise following ingestion of suspected foods, is not obligatory for the definition of the syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Accelerated cell-mediated broncho-obstructive reaction to inhaled stepronin: a case report.

We describe the case of a 20-year-old man who developed an obstructive bronchial reaction accompanied by a maculopapular facial rash 8 h after an aerosol treatment with the mucolytic drug stepronin. The results of intradermal and patch testing with stepronin, together with those of bronchial challenge and histologic findings in patch-tested skin, indicate that the patient's reaction involved an accelerated cell-mediated mechanism of hypersensitivity. Bronchial challenges with methacholine demonstrated a transient increase in nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1996

Allergic respiratory diseases and environmental pollution: experience in the printing/paper-manufacturing industry.

Several studies have shown a correlation between airborne pollutants and respiratory disorders. To determine whether professional exposure to industrial pollution might represent a risk factor for allergic respiratory diseases, we administered allergologic tests to 275 workers employed in a paper-making/printing factory and to a control population composed of 160 office workers from the same urban area. All subjects were evaluated on the basis of personal and family histories, the results of prick tests with common airborne allergens, specific serum IgE levels, pulmonary function test, and standard chest radiography. The percentage of subjects with allergies in the factory-worker group (67/275; 24.4%) was significantly higher than that observed among the office workers (20/160; 12.5%) (chi-square test: 8.17; P < 0.01). Of the 67 factory workers with allergies, 94% had histories of daily exposure to aliphatic hydrocarbons. The results of this study indicate that exposure to the latter type of industrial pollutants is associated with a significantly higher prevalence of allergic respiratory diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Identification of the ETA receptor subtype that mediates endothelin induced autocrine proliferation of normal human keratinocytes.

Endothelin-1 has a wide range of pharmacological effects in various tissues and acts as autocrine/paracrine factor. The potential of ET-1 to function as an autocrine growth factor was evaluated in normal human keratinocytes. Radioligand binding studies showed that 125I-ET-1 bound to a single class of high-affinity-binding sites on the surface of the cells. The dissociation constant was 0.045 nM with receptor numbers of 1700 sites/cell. Treatment with serum caused increases in expression of binding sites (3500 sites/cell), with no change in binding affinity. ET-1 stimulated thymidine incorporation in these cells that expressed ET receptors. An ET antagonist selective for the ETA receptor subtype (BQ 123) inhibited DNA synthesis stimulated by ET-1 and reduced the basal growth rate of unstimulated cells. These data suggest that the ET-1 induced DNA synthesis is mediated by ETA receptor subtype and that endogenously produced ET-1 promotes the autocrine proliferation of keratinocytes.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1995

Detection and typing of human papillomavirus by single hybridization.

A rapid and non-radioactive molecular hybridization test was developed which simultaneously detects and types different human papillomaviruses (HPV) DNA in fresh and paraffin-embedded clinical specimens. The method includes reverse blot hybridization between different recombinant HPV plasmids immobilized on nylon membrane and probe of cellular DNA amplified and biotin- or digoxigenin-labeled by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR protocol using consensus primers includes the mixing of Taq polymerase at high temperature (Hot-Start) and the addition of the hapten-conjugated nucleotide after the first ten cycles of amplification. The sensitivity level of this method resulted in detecting about 50 copies of HPV 16 for sample, independently of hapten used. The specificity of the typing method was also validated by more laborious and conventional analyses such as Southern-blot or PCR followed by several hybridizations with specific probes. Using this test HPV-11, -16, -18, -31 and -35 were typed in a number of samples from patients attending hospital. The method appears suitable for the handling of clinical samples in a selected population screening for type specific infections by HPV.

Cervix Uteri↗
PubMed1995

Diagnostic work-up for food-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

Fourteen patients with suspected food-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIAn) were subjected to prick tests with commercial food extracts and common airborne allergens, prick + prick tests with fresh foods, determination of total IgE levels, and specific IgE for 31 foods (CAP System FEIA RAST). All were positive for two or more foods; 10 presented hypersensitivity to 11 or more foods. On the basis of these findings, history data, and responses to food-exercise challenges (treadmill stress tests 90 min after meals containing none of the suspected foods and none associated with skin-test and/or RAST positivity) and suspected food-exercise challenges (SFECs - administered after meals containing the suspected food), three patients were diagnosed as having specific food-dependent EIAn (for wheat in two cases, tomato in one). In nine others, the presence of specific IgE for numerous foods (including those suspected on the basis of histories and utilized in the SFECs) suggests involvement of specific food hypersensitivity, although SFEC confirmation could not be obtained. Avoidance of all foods associated with test positivity 4 h before exercise has prevented all further EIAn episodes in these 12 patients. In two others, the reactions did not appear to be related to IgE directed against specific food allergens, and these subjects have eliminated further reactions by avoiding all meals for the 4 h preceding exercise. These findings emphasize the importance of allergologic testing with a wide panel of food allergens (including foods used for seasoning, such as garlic or parsley) in all patients with suspected food-dependent EIAn. Prick + prick tests with fresh foods and the CAP System RAST disclosed numerous hypersensitivities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of adverse cutaneous reactions to aminopenicillins with emphasis on those manifested by maculopapular rashes.

We assessed 195 subjects with histories of adverse reactions to aminopenicillins, using 1) skin tests with penicilloyl polylysine (PPL), minor determinant mixture (MDM), benzylpenicillin (PG), amoxicillin, and ampicillin (read after 20 min and 48 h); 2) patch tests with PG, amoxicillin, and ampicillin; and 3) RAST for penicilloyls G and V. Oral challenges with ampicillin, amoxicillin, and penicillin V were administered to 34/60 patients reporting maculopapular reactions. Immediate hypersensitivity (IH), in most cases for both penicillin and aminopenicillins, was diagnosed (based on skin tests, RAST, or both) in 35 subjects who had suffered anaphylactic shock, or urticaria, angioedema, or both urticaria and angioedema. Thirty-three of the 60 subjects reporting maculopapular reactions presented delayed intradermal and patch-test positivity, indicating delayed hypersensitivity (DH), for ampicillin and amoxicillin, and three were also positive for PG. Diagnoses were confirmed with oral challenges in 18/33. The remaining 27/60 were negative in all allergologic tests, with oral-challenge confirmation in 16. Our findings highlight the importance of the amino group in DH to aminopenicillins. Moreover, the mean time interval between the last reaction and our tests was significantly (P < 0.01) longer in DH subjects (54.96 months) than in those with IH (18.62 months), suggesting that the time of testing is less important in cases of DH.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Primary keratinocytes can be infected by natural isolates of genital human papillomavirus.

Viral particles of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 11 and 16 were isolated from flat condylomas and biopsies of dysplastic lesions and used to infect human keratinocytes. The presence of HPV DNA in infected cells was determined by molecular hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction. Late transcripts were detected shortly after infection. The persistence of HPV was limited to early passages after infection and the loss of viral DNA preceded cell culture senescence. Our experimental evidence supports the idea that pooling of several lesions can lead to the isolation of infectious HPV 16 virions.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1994

Brief report: antibody response to E6, E7, and L1 proteins of human papillomavirus 16 in an Italian population.

The serological response to human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E6, E7, and L1 proteins was investigated in Italian patients with cervical cancer, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), flat cervical warts, condylomas, and in healthy individuals. Bacterially expressed beta-galactosidase fusion proteins were purified and used as antigen in Western blot assays. The HPV16 DNA status was also determined in most of the women. The incidence of antibody response to E6 and E7 proteins was higher in cervical cancer than in CIN patients. No variation of antibody titre against E6 was observed in the cervical cancer patients, while one patient in an advanced stage of disease displayed very high levels of E7 antibodies. High seroprevalence to both E6 and L1 was observed in patients with genital condylomas, but this may be due to cross-reactivity between HPV6 or 11 antibodies and the experimental HPV16 antigens. Antibodies to L1 were detected in control women, suggesting that HPV infection is widespread. The data obtained in this study are in agreement with previous findings in other countries.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Positivity of patch tests in cutaneous reaction to diclofenac. Two case reports.

Immune-mediated reactions to NSAIDs are unusual. We have observed two cases of maculopapular eruptions occurring 48-72 h after administration of diclofenac sodium. Patch tests performed with diclofenac were positive. The histopathologic findings resembled those of contact dermatitis with different degrees of dermal involvement. Clinical, allergologic, and histopathologic patterns strongly suggest a type IV mechanism of hypersensitivity. Patch tests play an important role in the assessment of possible immunologic mechanisms underlying cutaneous reactions to drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Determinants of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 infections in the lower female genital tract in an Italian population.

The prevalences of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 infection were determined by a non isotopic molecular hybridization assay on cervical scrapes from 738 women affected by gynaecological lesions different from malignancies. The correlation with known epidemiological risk factors for cervical neoplasia, such as sexual habits, smoking and pill use, was investigated. The overall HPV prevalence rate was 29.8% (220/738). Viral DNA sequences were detected in 26.9% (122/452) of morphologically normal cervices, in 75 of 224 HPV lesions (32.5%), in 1 case of 3 HSV2 lesions and in 22 of 59 dysplastic lesions (37.3%), and the frequency was increasing with the severity of CIN from 22.7% of CIN I to 57.1% of CIN III. The most relevant factor as relative risk for the presence of HPV 16/18 was the multiple lifetime sexual partners, whereas the other investigated factors were mainly associated with the clinically manifested HPV infection.

Adolescent↗