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Biomedical subjects

C Livi

Publications and source records attributed to C Livi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Defective production of both leukemia inhibitory factor and type 2 T-helper cytokines by decidual T cells in unexplained recurrent abortions.

Leukemia inhibitory factor is essential for embryo implantation, and a shift from type 1 T-helper to type 2 T-helper response at the fetal-maternal interface may contribute to successful pregnancy. We show that LIF production is associated with type 2 T-helper cells, is upregulated by IL-4 and progesterone and is downregulated by IL-12, IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha. We also show a decreased production of LIF, IL-4 and IL-10 by decidual T cells of women with unexplained recurrent abortions in comparison with that of women with normal gestation. The defective production of LIF and/or type 2 T-helper cytokines may contribute to the development of unexplained recurrent abortions.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1997

Prevalence and biological effects of anti-trophoblast and anti-endothelial cell antibodies in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortions.

PROBLEM: Trophoblasts and endothelial cells represent a potential target for antibodies in women with recurrent spontaneous abortions. These antibodies have been shown to be associated with anti-phospholipid antibodies. Are they also present in women with unexplained pregnancy losses in the absence of anti-phospholipid antibodies? METHOD OF STUDY: The anti-trophoblast antibodies were tested by an immunofluorescence assay on cells purified from pooled first-trimester placentae, whereas the anti-endothelial cell antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) on cells isolated from the umbilical vein and were cultured to confluence. The cytotoxicity of trophoblasts was evaluated in a homologous system. The expression of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells was quantitated by ELISA using specific monoclonal antibodies, and the expression of tissue factor was quantitated by a chromogenic assay measuring the formation of factor Xa. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Complement-fixing antibodies to trophoblast represent a better marker to discriminate patients with recurrent spontaneous abortions from controls and are cytotoxic for the target cells. Anti-endothelial antibodies are also present in these patients and exhibit pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant activities.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1996

Abnormal production of T helper 2 cytokines interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 by T cells from newborns with atopic parents.

T cell clones were generated from umbelical cord blood lymphocytes (UCBL) of nine newborns with atopic or nonatopic parents and their cytokine secretion profile was assessed. Both phytohemagglutinin-induced and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-specific T cell clones from newborns with atopic parents exhibited an enhanced ability to produce the Th2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, compared to T cell clones from newborns with nonatopic parents. In contrast, the ability to produce interferon-gamma by UCBL from the two groups of newborns was not different. Of the five children who could be followed up to 3 years after birth, four with atopic parents developed clinical and/or biological atopic manifestations, whereas one without atopic parents did not. Thus, the pronounced production of IL-4 and IL-5 by UCBL not only appears to be related to the atopic status of parents, but also associates with the subsequent development of atopy in childhood.

Allergens↗
PubMed1995

Progesterone favors the development of human T helper cells producing Th2-type cytokines and promotes both IL-4 production and membrane CD30 expression in established Th1 cell clones.

The effect of progesterone (P) on the cytokine production profile of Ag-specific human CD4+ T cell lines and clones was investigated. T cell lines specific for purified protein derivative or streptokinase (SK) derived in the presence of P exhibited significant increased ability to produce IL-5 in comparison with T cell lines derived in the absence of P. Moreover, IL-4 was significantly increased in SK-specific T cell lines derived in the presence of P in comparison with SK-specific T cell lines derived in the absence of this hormone. In addition, SK-specific T cell lines generated in the presence of P developed into T cell clones showing a Th0-, instead of Th1-like, cytokine profile. Furthermore, SK-specific T cell clones with an established Th1 profile of cytokine secretion did express mRNA for, and produced detectable amounts of, IL-4 when stimulated with P in combination with insoluble anti-CD3 mAb. Combined stimulation with P and insoluble anti-CD3 mAb also enabled Th1 clones to express CD30 on their surface membrane. These results indicate that P can favor the development of Th cells producing Th2-type cytokines and is an inducer of both transient IL-4 production and CD30 expression in established Th1 cells. Thus, P production at the placental level may be responsible, at least in part, for increased production of Th2-type cytokines which have been implied in fetal allograft survival and maintenance of successful pregnancy.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1993

Patterns of Pap smear use in the Rimini area: an analysis of women's attitudes to the test.

The use of the Pap test is a method of the prevention of cervical cancer in our local division of the Sanitary Unit and has been studied with the help of a questionnaire which was completed by women who had adopted this test. The socioeconomic characteristics, level of education, occupation and general attitudes regarding the Pap test as well as how the women had acquired knowledge of the test, have all been examined. From an analysis of the answers, we have been able to trace a precise social, economic and cultural profile of the type of women who take advantage of this test. Principally, we are dealing with women aged 40-49 years, often with children, with a medium to low level of education, who are mainly housewives and white-collar workers. Very few elderly women present themselves for the Pap test. We have noticed that there is a direct decrease in the use of preventive methods, proportional to the increase in age. These results demonstrate that an erratic use of this preventive method, in the absence of an organized screening programme, seems only to involve women who are among those at less risk from cervical cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Lupus anticoagulant and monocyte procoagulant activity in polyabortive women.

Monocyte stimulation may be induced by various agents. Monocytes generate procoagulant activity (PCA) in response to stimulation; they widely interact with the hemostatic system and participate in thrombin formation. Extensive placental thrombotic infarction has been implicated in fetal death in polyabortive patients with lupus anticoagulant (LA). We investigated 38 polyabortive women: 17 LA negative (LA-) and 18 LA positive (LA+). We compared the results with 25 clinically normal women. After four hours of incubation, the mean value of monocyte PCA in the LA+ women was significantly higher than in either the LA- or the control group (p < 0.0001). The monocyte PCA was out of the range of the controls in 9 of the 18 LA+ women. No correlation was observed between the levels of LA and monocyte PCA (r = 0.02; p = 0.94). No differences were found in monocyte PCA increase when induced by LA-, LA+ or control plasma; in all cases the increase was about five-six fold. Our results indicate that an increased monocyte PCA is present in some LA+ polyabortive women, thus suggesting that monocyte activation might be involved in the formation of thrombotic placental infarction and the consequent fetal loss in some patients. It might also suggest that these patients, in particular, could benefit from corticosteroid treatment, which is known to inhibit the formation of monocyte PCA.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1993

Immunologic infertility: a basic review.

Antisperm antibodies interfere with the human reproductive events and once they have been produced, antisperm antibodies bind to the spermatic surface and affect both the transport of spermatozoa and the interactions between the gametes. The formation of antisperm antibodies has still not been completely explained and the antigen map of the spermatic surface has not been yet established. The antibody levels in the serum generally do not reflect the immunoglobulin present in the secretions of reproductive tract and in the immunologic screening of the infertile couple we need of direct analysis of antisperm antibodies on the spermatic surfaces. We have many diagnostic procedures but actually very few therapeutic options: to improve the last question, a better understanding of the phenomena that lead to fertilization is imperative.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1992

Prevention of miscarriage in antiphospholipid syndrome.

Recurrent adverse pregnancy outcome may be the final result of different causes, including autoimmune diseases, as the Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant and/or anticardiolipin antibodies) were found in 16% of 197 patients with prior unexplained recurrent miscarriages. During our study 22 out of 32 antiphospholipid antibodies positive women became pregnant again. To prevent abortion relapses, 16 of them were treated with acetylsalicylic acid (50 mg x 2/day) and/or fluocortolone (20 mg/day for 5 days/week). Such therapy started as soon as pregnancy was diagnosed in 14 patients. Two patients began the therapeutic regimen during the third month of gestation. Six patients, who didn't accept this therapeutic approach, represent our control group. All the 14 early treated patients ended pregnancy with success. The 2 women that began the therapy later presented abortion relapses. Among the 6 not treated patients, 5 presented spontaneous abortion and only one gave birth to a baby. No side effect was observed neither in treated mothers nor in their babies. In conclusion, even if further studies would be necessary to standardise a therapeutic protocol, our results encourage the clinical care of patients with antiphospholipid antibodies and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1990

Does intraperitoneal insemination in the absence of prior sensitization carry with it a risk of subsequent immunity to sperm?

To evaluate the occurrence of antisperm antibodies in women, with no prior sensitization, 112 couples undergoing intraperitoneal insemination were tested for serum antisperm antibodies with the sperm immobilization test (SIT) and the immunobead test (IBT). A serum sample was taken from each of the 112 patients immediately before the first intraperitoneal insemination. Another sample was taken from 58 patients who underwent a second insemination procedure. In 16 of the 58 patients the IBT results were positive for one or more immunoglobulin classes. Five patients showed positive SITs. In 7 out of these 16 subjects (12%) the antibodies were bound to the head and to the shaft of the sperm tail. Five of the six patients submitted to a third intraperitoneal insemination procedure showed unchanged SIT values and IBT binding percentages. In one subject, SIT (6 months after the third insemination) became negative. Antibody production may be either a transient response to massive antigen stimulation or the first step toward systemic immunity.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1987

Analysis of the action of corticosteroid treatment in immunologic infertility: a preliminary report and an alternative hypothesis.

The presence of sperm antibodies can be demonstrated in 8-10% of the male partners of infertile couples. The therapeutic schedule with which the highest pregnancy rate has been obtained in these cases is that proposed by Shulman, which uses methylprednisolone (MP). If treatment with corticosteroids (CS) is effective, the way in which it acts is not entirely clear. In this study we report the results of 16 treatment cycles with CS administered to eight male patients having sperm antibodies in their serum, in which several parameters of humoral immunity were evaluated. The results are conflicting: several parameters (such as IgG concentration) underwent only slight variations after 7 days of therapy, whereas in 12 cycles out of 16, the Tray agglutination test (TAT) indicated that a reduction or disappearance of the antibodies had been obtained. This confirms the usefulness of CS in immunological infertility, and allows us to hypothesize that the beneficial effect may be found in a reduction of inflammation rather than in a suppression of the immunological response, since CS are well known to have these two kinds of effect.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Enzymes of human cervical mucus: a comparative study on fertile and infertile mucus and on the endocervical epithelium.

We report a comparative study on protein and enzyme content of human periovulatory cervical mucus and endocervical epithelium. The salient results of our investigation are summarized in the following three points: 1) The method of taking of cervical mucus samples may markedly affect the results of protein and enzyme assays. It is warmly advisable to collect mucus samples from the endocervical canal. 2) Cervical mucus from women diagnosed as having cervical-factor infertility is oligoproteic and lacks some enzyme activities always present in normal cases. 3) Human cervical mucus and endocervical epithelium are very similar as for the enzyme distribution, but show quite different LDH-isoenzyme patterns. In the latter tissue, the H subunits constitute about 77 per cent of the whole LDH, suggesting that this enzyme here is functioning to produce pyruvate rather than lactate.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Male sterility and artificial insemination using donor semen. Our experience].

There has been a considerable increase in the demand for artificial insemination with donor semen (A.I.D.) in Italy during the past 5 years. This study describes the 4 year experience of an infertility practice which maintains a frozen bank as its primary source of A.I.D. The overall pregnancy rate was 52.27%. There is a significant difference in pregnancies in various age groups. Our pregnancy rate was 72.2% for those women under 31 and 31.5% for those over 31.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new criterion for the more exact evaluation of the swelling test.

The functional integrity of membranes of 12 semen samples from fertile men and 60 from male partners in couples with infertile marriage was assessed by hypoosmotic swelling test, eosin vitality test and swelling/eosin test. We found a mean swelling percentage of 75 +/- 2.7 for the group of subjects with proven fertility, while a mean of 72 +/- 9.24 was found for the group of infertile subjects. An amount of less than 60% was found in 7 of the latter group and only one less than 50%. By using the "swelling/eosin" test we obtained a mean of 66 +/- 5.5 for the first group of subjects. Instead we found a mean percentage of 55 +/- 14.3 for the second group; 9 of these subjects had values between 50 and 60 percent and 11 less than 50%. We didn't find statistically significant correlation between semen parameters and the swelling test and semen parameters and swelling/eosin test. The results we obtained lead us to suppose that the swelling/eosin test is more accurate than the swelling test alone.

Cell Membrane Permeability↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Interference of exogenous HCG on pregnancy tests.

New urinary tests of pregnancy have recently been developed that are exceptionally sensitive to HCG. Our study was undertaken to explore the possibility that exogenous HCG, administered to induce ovulation, may interfere with these low-threshold tests of pregnancy. Six healthy volunteers participated in our study. Each woman received three sequential 5,000-U doses of HCG by im route on days 3, 5, and 7 after ovulation. Blood and urine for HCG assay were taken daily from each subject. Urine specimens were subjected to a traditional high-threshold pregnancy test (sensitivity limit = 2000 U/L) and to a low-threshold pregnancy test (sensitivity limit = 50 U/L); HCG in plasma and urine was determined by ELISA assay. Plasma HCG levels increased gradually under HCG dosing and attained a peak on day 8 (average = 73.7 U/L; range 24-124 U/L). As regards urinary HCG levels, the average value on days 8, 9, and 10 was above the 50-U/L detection limit of the low-threshold test, which was in fact positive in the majority of patients. Also on days 11 and 12, however, urinary HCG levels were above this limit in a certain proportion of subjects (day 11, 2/6; day 12, 1/6); accordingly the low-threshold pregnancy test was positive with a frequency of 2/6 on day 11 and of 1/6 on day 12. By contrast, the traditional high-threshold pregnancy test was negative in urine samples of all subjects. Our study indicates that the increased sensitivity of modern low-threshold pregnancy tests may cause false positive results in those cases where exogenous HCG has been administered during the luteinic phase.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The MAR test as immunologic screening of male infertility.

The mixed antiglobulin reaction was developed for detection of platelet antibody and then modified to demonstrate antibodies on spermatozoa. We have used the test as a simple method of screening for antibodies in the male, performing the test during the analysis of semen samples. We evaluated 320 samples from partners of sterile couples attending our Sterility centers. The IgG MAR test was not applicable to 82 samples because the sperm concentration and sperm motility was not sufficient. In all uncertain, positive and firmly positive cases of MAR test and in 50 negative cases of IgG MAR test, as control group we performed MAR test for IgA. We correlate our results with the sperm test penetration, SCMC test and identification of antisperm antibodies test and Isojima test for sperm immobilizing antibodies. Our results reconfirm the utility of IgG MAR test as screening test for the presence of antibodies but its positiveness requires the performance of IgA MAR test and, if necessary, of other tests in order to diagnose sterility depending on immunologic factors.

Antibodies↗