Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Vierucci

Publications and source records attributed to A Vierucci.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Incidence of asthma caused by food allergy in childhood].

Both upper and lower respiratory tracts can be affected by food allergy. In infants these symptoms may be due exclusively to food allergy or may result from the effect of food allergy and another co-factor (gastro-esophageal reflux, immunodeficiency, concomitant allergy to inhalants, etc.). The incidence of food-induced asthma is not well know. In this study, using open and double blind food challenge, we found that the incidence of IgE-mediated, food-induced asthma in children is 5.7%. The most offending foods were milk, eggs, and peanuts. Food allergy respiratory symptoms were almost always associated with other clinical manifestations (cutaneous, gastrointestinal). In fact we have been able to demonstrate only one isolated case of cough due to food allergy. It follows that the recognition of food dependent-IgE-mediated asthma is essentially limited to these cases characterized by food allergy with asthmatic expression.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of the serum of patients with cholestasis on lymphocyte E rosette formation].

Sera from cholestatic patients have been found to interfere with lymphocyte rosette formation (E rosettes). Lymphocytes from patients with cholestasis showed a lower percentage (42.36%) of cells binding sheep red blood cells in comparison with a control group (62%). In the presence of cholestatic serum the number of E rosettes formed by lymphocytes from normal subjects declined to 44.16%. This behaviour, however, can reverse, since lymphocytes from cholestatic patients previously incubated with normal serum, showed a nearly normal capability of forming E rosettes (57.90%). Therefore, it is conceivable that among the several factors which are present in sera from patients with either chronic or acute hepatitis and which are able to interfere with T-lymphocyte function, there may be included also the factor which is present in sera from cholestatic patients. The possible role of bile salts and hyperlipoproteinaemia present in those patients requires further investigation.

Cholestasis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Active and passive immunoprevention of hepatitis B in newborn infants with HBsAg-positive mothers].

Infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers are at high risk of contracting perinatal hepatitis B infection. The prevention is based on active as well as passive immunoprophylaxis. We have used hepatitis vaccine in 18 newborns of as many HBsAg-positive mothers. Some haematologic and immunologic parameters are here reported. No alterations were observed as to liver function. Immunoglobulin values were normal for age. Auto-antibodies and rheumatoid factor were constantly absent. Immunecomplexes were present in the serum of some infants. The study of T cell subsets and of natural killer cells activity did not reveal any important changes, whereas minor modifications were present in polymorphonuclear leucocyte function. In all infants submitted to vaccination serum conversion was observed a with different antibody levels.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A case of Behçet's disease in a child: clinical, genetic, and immunologic characteristics].

Behçet's disease, which is rarely observed in infancy, is a systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, whose clinical feature consist in the triad of mouth ulcers, genital ulcers and iritis. A 14 years old girl has been studied in whom classical findings of Behøcet's disease were associated with neurological symptoms miming a neuro-Behøcet's syndrome, but which were caused by previous abuse in corticosteroid therapy. Interestingly some features (arthritis, gastrointestinal manifestations), which can be connected with Behøcet's disease, resulted to be present since the very first years of life. Partial features of the disease (arthritis or mouth ulcers) were present in three members of the patient's family on the father's side. Extensive immunological studies have been carried out. T and B lymphocyte number and function were normal. T-cell subsets (defined by monoclonal antibodies) and natural killer activity (both never examined in patients with Behøcet's disease) resulted to be within normal range. Secretory Component, which has been claimed to be absent in these patients, was normally present in saliva. A defect in neutrophil chemotaxis has been found which promptly improved by levamisole therapy. Authors discuss clinical, genetic and immunological findings of the patient, on the basis of a review of literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cellular immunity deficiency and chemotaxis deficiency in children with rheumatoid arthritis].

Some immunological parameters have been examined in eleven children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. A quantitative and functional defect in T lymphocytes has been observed associated with defective chemotaxis of neutrophils. High levels of circulating immune-complexes were detected in sera of 5 out 11 patients. 1 patient showed high levels of antinuclear antibodies and positivity for the rheumatoid factor. Immunological pathogenesis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Immunological disorders in a patient with Whitaker syndrome (author's transl)].

Some immunological parameters have been examinated in a 13-year-old girl with Whitaker syndrome and in her closest blood-relatives. Absolute and percentage values of T and B lyphocytes were normal, whereas mitogen responsiveness was over normal range before therapy had begun. This phenomen did not appear if the cultures were carried out in presence of autologous serum. Neutrophil function was defective in responsiveness to chemotactic stimulation, but NBT reduction as well as bactericidal activity were normal. Defects both in mitogen responsiveness and chemotaxis have been pointed out in the parents and in the patient's twin brother. The immunologic disorders observed are discussed in the light of the clinical and functional pecularities of Whitaker's syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[In-vitro block of granulocyte chemotaxis with attenuated measles virus].

Live attenuated measles virus preparations, which are in use today in the prophylaxis against measles, were added in vitro to neutrophils from healthy children with negative history both for measles infection and vaccination. After incubation at 37 degree C for 30 min, and washing in Hank's solution, chemotaxis was assayed in Sykes-Moore chambers. Bacterial endotoxin and sera from healthy donors were used to stimulate motility. A significant decrease in chemotaxis was shown by virus-incubated neutrophils as compared to controls. These findings demonstrate that the attenuated measles virus preserves the same ability to inhibit neutrophil chemotaxis than the wild one, during the infection by which an in vivo defective chemotaxis has been previously described. It is suggested that some interference(s) of the virus may occur directly in the cell and/or its membrane receptors.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Latex allergy in children: description of two cases].

Here we present two cases of latex hypersensitivity. The clinical manifestations were conjunctivitis, urticaria, angioedema and dermatitis. The patients presented positive skin prick test (SPT) to latex with a commercial extract and by pricking through a latex surgical glove. Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) to latex and patch testing to common additives and to latex were negative. Skin prick tests with fruits (banana, kiwi, pineapple, apricot, avocado, grape) were positive but children presented no symptoms after ingestion of these fruits. These case reports are presented to heighten awareness of the potential of latex allergy also in children.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Incidence of exercise-induced bronchospasm (E.I.B.) and its correlation with clinical history in children with allergic asthma].

In this study, 65 allergic asthmatic children were evaluated for the presence of exercise induced bronchospasm (E.I.B.). Pulmonary function (volume at 1 second of forced expiration--FEV1; maximal mid-expiratory flow--FEF 25-75; peak expiratory flow--PEF) was assessed before and serially for 20' following treadmill exercise. Only 18 children (27.6%) presented a fall in FEV1 > or = 20%. There was a relationship between severity of asthma and incidence of E.I.B., as children with episodic, frequent and chronic asthma presented respectively 13/55 (23.4%), 2/6 (33.3%) and 3/4 (75%) of positive responses. The presence of E.I.B. cannot be predicted by clinical history, as 15/36 (41.7%) of subjects with positive clinical history had E.I.B., against 3/29 (10.3%) of subjects with negative clinical history (p = n.s.). E.I.B. in asthmatic children is less frequent as reported, correlates with severity of asthma and cannot be accurately predicted from the history.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Reduced natural killer function in children with recurrent respiratory tract infections].

Respiratory infections are the major cause of disease in childhood in the industrialized areas of the world. This essentially depends on two factors: immunological immaturity and immunological naivety. In most cases a virus has been considered the causative agent in respiratory infection. A defect in immune responses has been described in children with recurrent respiratory infections and in particular a decrease in CD4/CD8 T lymphocyte ratio or in IL-2 and IFN-gamma production. Our results show that Natural Killer (NK) cell activity is defective in children with recurrent respiratory infections. That is particularly noteworthy since NK cells play an important role in host defense against viral infections. At present it is difficult to understand whether the NK defect is a primary defect or it is secondary to viral infections. Further studies will help to clarify whether NK decreased activity depends on a cell damage directly caused by virus or it depends on the decreased levels of cytokines.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[IgG subclasses against bovine alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin in infants fed with a seroprotein hydrolysate].

Prevention of food allergy in infancy has been the aim of important researches in the last years but many studies have produced conflicting conclusions. The use of hydrolysate formulas seems to be an helpful tool in prevention of cow milk protein allergy but confusion often remains about capability of small hydrolysate molecules to be "allergens" or "antigens". In order to clarify this point IgE, IgG and IgM as well as IgG subclasses against alfa-lactoalbumin (ALA) and beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) have been evaluated in 41 infants at risk for allergy and in 30 controls at the fourth month. The same evaluation has been done on their mothers. The 41 "at risk" children were fed with breast milk or with an hypoallergenic formula (Nidina HA, Nestlè) or both. The control children received an adapted formula. No difference between the two groups of children was found regarding IgM or IgG against ALA while antibodies against BLG were more frequently found in controls than in "at risk" children. Only one child in the group fed with Nidina HA developed specific IgE against whole milk. Therefore hydrolysate formula seems to be as antigenic (not allergenic) as adapted formula in respect of ALA while BLG contained in adapted formula seems to be a stronger immunogen. The pattern of specific IgG subclasses against ALA and BLG is different between the two groups of children because of the absence in "at risk" group of specific IgG2 and IgG3. As for the mothers, the presence in their sera of IgG against ALA or BLG seems to induce in infants a reduced response to the same antigen.

Albumins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hepatitis B virus: new markers and their immunology].

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease. HBV is a DNA virus with an external glycoprotein surface and an internal nucleocapsid which contains the viral genome. HBV infection is revealed by the appearance of specific markers. Some of these markers are well known and their presence in serum is important to understand the behaviour of the disease. Among them HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBe are found in serum, so as anti-Core; the HBcAg may be found in hepatic tissue and marks infectivity and virus replication. In the few last years some new antigens and antibodies have been studied and their importance in diagnosis and follow-up of hepatitis has been recognized. HBxAg, Pre-S and DNA-Polymerase (Pol) seem to be specific and early signals of viral replication. More studies showed the trans-activating properties of HBxAg; actually the X protein seems to be involved in replicative cycle of HBV. Many Authors also demonstrated a relationship between the presence of X in serum and/or liver and the progression of disease to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The Pol antigen and its antibody seem to be very common markers of HBV infection in serum of patients with hepatitis. Moreover their presence is the only signal of viral infection in some patients which have no other marker of HBV. More studies are of course needed to exactly establish the significance of these new markers and their importance for diagnosis and prognosis of HBV infection.

Animals↗