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Biomedical subjects

D Biasi

Publications and source records attributed to D Biasi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Factor-specific changes in oxidative burst response of human neutrophils in skin-window exudates.

Human neutrophils were isolated from blood and aseptic inflammatory exudates. The respiratory burst response was measured as superoxide (O2-) production by a microplate assay system and polarographically as oxygen consumption. Exudate cells exhibited a respiratory burst in response to n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine (FMLP) that was two- to threefold higher than the burst exhibited by peripheral blood cells. The O2- production induced by substance P was also found to be fivefold higher in exudate cells, while the metabolic response to other stimulants such as concanavalin A (con A), phorbol-myristate acetate (PMA), NaF, and immunocomplexes was not primed. Serum-treated zymosan (STZ)-stimulated activity was primed by only 11%. In contrast, superoxide production in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) was decreased in exudate versus blood cells by about 50%. Therefore, the skin-window cells, compared to blood cells, appear to be at the same time primed, unmodified, and desensitized, according to the different stimulants employed.

Concanavalin A↗
PubMed1993

Seronegative spondyloarthropathy associated with megarectum.

In this report we describe a case of a 19-year-old man with a two-year history of polyarthritis affecting the lower limbs and dactylitis of the toes. His clinical picture fulfilled the new European diagnostic criteria for spondyloarthropathies. Systemic examination revealed a big mass in the left iliac fossa that was found to be due to an acquired functional megacolon. Complete remission of the joint involvement was obtained by treating the bowel disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Liver involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus].

From the revision of the literature it emerges that liver disease in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been reported in 8 to 23% of the patients and usually is of modest clinical relevance. The incidence of liver abnormalities in 86 patients affected by SLE (9 men and 77 women, mean age 42.1 +/- 13.1 years) was therefore analysed. In our study, liver involvement was defined when at least two abnormal liver function tests in two different occasions were detected. Evidence of liver disease was found in 20 of our patients (23.2%); in 6 cases liver abnormalities were not directly caused by SLE: in 3 subjects the abnormalities found were induced by drugs, in 2 patients by infection and in the last one by fatty liver. In the remaining 14 cases (16.2%), whose hepatic involvement was really due to SLE, a higher frequency of positivity for anti-ds-DNA antibodies than in the other patients was observed (92.8% and 51.3% respectively in the two groups, p < 0.05). As not reported previously, these data suggest that liver disease is a prerogative feature of severe SLE. From our casistic in only 1 case the hepatic injury was the onset clinical manifestation of the disease and was clinically relevant as it was diagnosed as chronic active hepatitis. These observations therefore offer the opportunity to discuss the relationship between SLE and autoimmune hepatitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Current views on the pathogenesis and therapy of ankylosing spondylitis].

Ankylosing spondylitis is a frequent and disabling inflammatory chronic disease, that affects mainly young men. In this paper the authors reviewed the pathogenetic mechanism and pharmacological and physical treatment. Nowadays the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis is considered similar to that of reactive arthritis. The management of each patient should take into account the different aspects of the disease; therefore it should be individually designed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Effectiveness of loratadine vs. placebo in the treatment of urticaria-angioedema syndrome in patients with food allergy].

Loratadine is a new, highly selective, non sedating, H 1-receptor antagonist, without central nervous system activity. In a randomized double-blind, crossover study, we evaluated the effects of loratadine and placebo administered once daily in 184 food intolerant patients affected by urticaria-angioedema. The difference between loratadine and placebo treatment was significant in relieving symptoms. Adverse reactions reported in the treatment were mild, in fact somnolence was reported by 3.4%, dry mouth by 2.2% of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Symmetric multiple lipomatosis with Charcot's joint and neuropathic ulcer. Description of a clinical case].

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis (MSL) (or Madelung's disease or Launois-Bensaude syndrome) is a rare inherited disease clinically characterized by a massive development of large symmetric unencapsulated lipomas on the subcutaneous tissue of face, neck, trunk and arms, resulting in a grotesque aspect of the patient. Less frequently the accumulation of excessive fatty tissue can spread deeply to the superficial fascia. Peripheral neuropathy, macrocytic anemia and chronic hepatopathy have been reported to cohesist. Macrocytic anaemia and chronic hepatopathy are probably secondary to high alcohol consumption, that is frequently associated. MSL, that was first described by Sir Benjamin Brodie in 1846, affects mainly the men (ratio man/woman 30:1), with an incidence in Mediterranean area of 1:25.000 men; the ages at onset range from 20 to 50 years. It is not known yet the pathway of inheritance and the molecular basis of the genetic defect responsible for the development of fat accumulation. It has been postulated a defective lipolytic response to catecholamines; this altered response could be due to an abnormal amount or a defective function of Gs-protein, the coupler between beta-adrenergic receptors on the surface of adipocytes and adenylate cyclase, or, alternatively, the defect could be in the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase. The number and function of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors and the lipolytic response to cAMP (the second messenger) are normal. Recently it has been hypothesized that the defective lipolysis is due to a disorder in the mitochondria of brown fat, whose distribution is similar to the peculiar position of the lipomas in this pathology; the brown fat, unlike white adipose tissue, has abundant mitochondria. The alcohol abuse, frequently present in these subjects, might facilitate the clinical expression of the molecular defect. The therapy of lipomas is essentially surgical, but this approach is not easy, because the lipomas are not capsulated and extremely vascularized. Moreover the surgical excision is not always a successful treatment for the lipomas as they frequently recurrent after a short period from the exeresis. In this report we describe a 59-years old white man, alcohol abuser, with a typical clinical picture of MSL, developed when he was 37 years old. The patient presented multiple lipomas around the shoulders, face, neck and arms, that had been surgically excised eight times. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the presence of fat deposits also in the mediastinum, that caused a tracheal compression. Hepatic cirrhosis and serious side effects from peripheral neuropathy, represented by Charcot's joint and neuropathic ulcer on the sole foot were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Arthropathy, Neurogenic↗
PubMed1993

[Native anti-DNA antibodies and the synovial fluid. A report of a problematic clinical case].

The authors report the unusual case of a 30-years-old woman affected by bilateral gonarthritis with anti-ds DNA antibodies at higher level in synovial fluid than in serum. This finding, and the presence of an intensive infiltration of polyclonal plasma cells in the synovial membrane, studied by biopsy, lead to suppose a local production of autoantibodies with a probable pathogenetic role.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Diet manipulations and nickel sulphate-induced contact dermatitis evaluated in 24 cases].

The wide distribution of nickel in the environment as well as in animal and vegetable foods has led a large number of authors to investigate the oral absorption of nickel. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a free-nickel diet in 24 patients affected by nickel sulphate-induced contract dermatitis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of their past history and of Patch test. A complete remission of symptoms was obtained with a nickel-free diet for two months; Patch test became partial negative in 50% of patients and completely negative in 33%. In conclusion our results confirm the relationship between nickel-induced dermatitis and oral nickel absorption and suggest that diet manipulations can be useful in cases of refractory skin manifestations.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

[Myasthenia gravis, palindromic rheumatism and systemic lupus erythematosus. A clinical case report].

We describe a case of a 59-year-old white woman, that first developed a myasthenia gravis picture, then palindromic rheumatism and, in the end, systemic lupus erythematosus. We have searched in the literature the common features and the differences between myasthenia gravis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In this report we emphasize the possible connection between palindromic rheumatism and autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMed1992

[Jaccoud's postrheumatic arthritis. A clinical case report].

The authors describe a case of Jaccoud's arthropathy, a very rare disease of unknown pathogenesis, that can develop in patients after repeated attacks of rheumatic fever. Clinical pictures with analogous features can be found associated with many other pathological processes, such as connective tissue diseases or cancers. The case presented here is interesting for the diagnostic and therapeutic mistakes made, probably because it is an illness very little known and with ambiguous clinical features.

Arthritis, Reactive↗
PubMed1991

Double-blind cross-over trial of oral sodium cromoglycate in patients with irritable bowel syndrome due to food intolerance.

Twenty patients with irritable bowel syndrome due to food intolerance were randomized to either oral sodium cromoglycate or placebo in a double-blind cross-over trial. The study consisted of treatment with either sodium cromoglycate or placebo for 8 weeks, followed by the cross-over treatment for 8 further weeks. Patients were allowed to eat the offending foods during the study. Eighteen patients completed the study. Analysis of patients' diary card scores showed a statistically significant difference in favour of sodium cromoglycate. There was a long carry-over effect in the active-placebo order group. Therefore oral sodium cromoglycate seems to be a useful treatment in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and proven food intolerance.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1989

Use of computerized digital thermometry for diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon.

The authors have used computerized digital thermometry for the instrumental diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon; such a technique enables them to evaluate the temperature of the ten fingers of the hands separately in baseline conditions, during and after the "cold test." In baseline conditions the mean digital skin temperature was 31.2 degrees C (SD 1.67) in control subjects and 26.8 degrees C (SD 2.84) in patients suffering from Raynaud's phenomenon (p less than 0.001). During the cold test the mean skin temperature decreased to 12.7 degrees C (SD 1.94) in control subjects and to 13.0 degrees C (SD 1.67) in patients (p = n.s.). The mean final skin temperature, at the end of the recovery period after the cold test, was 31.1 degrees C (SD 1.76) in controls and 21.9 degrees C (SD 2.78) in patients (p less than 0.001). The sensitivity of the computerized digital thermometry was high (63.6% and 92.7% for basal and final temperature, respectively), while the specificity was 100% for both values. In conclusion, computerized digital thermometry is a useful technique for the diagnosing and quantifying the extent of Raynaud's phenomenon.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Zinc sulfate in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis].

We evaluated oral zinc sulphate as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) in psoriatic arthritis in a preliminary open uncontrolled trial. Twenty patients with psoriatic arthritis were given oral zinc sulphate three times a day at total dose of 600 mg/die, i.e. 120 mg/die of elemental zinc, for 6 months. The 18 patients who completed the trial showed a significant decrease in the number of swollen (p less than 0.01) and tender (p less than 0.05) joints, Ritchie articular index (p less than 0.01), need for nosteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (p less than 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p less than 0.01), and plasma copper level (p less than 0.001). We suggest that zinc sulphate may be an effective and well-tolerated DMARD in psoriatic arthritis. To more strictly verify these preliminary data, a double-blind placebo controlled study is in progress.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Increased serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

In this study we investigated the serum levels of a released soluble form of the interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in 42 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in 12 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus. Data were evaluated in relationship to the clinical phase and compared with those observed in normal controls (N = 56) and in osteoarthritis (N = 7). Increased levels were observed in both rheumatoid arthritis (mean +/- SE, 604 +/- 49 U/ml) and systemic lupus erythematosus (1438 +/- 481 U/ml). These values were significantly higher than in control (256 +/- 15 U/ml; P less than 0.001) and in osteoarthritis (298 +/- 33 U/ml; P less than 0.001) groups. In addition, the highest values were associated with the active phases of both rheumatoid arthritis (active vs inactive, 771 +/- 78 vs 451 +/- 39 U/ml; P less than 0.001) and systemic lupus erythematosus (active vs inactive, 2108 +/- 489 vs 499 +/- 75 U/ml; P less than 0.001). Our findings suggest that the detection of sIL-2R in rheumatoid arthritis and in systemic lupus erythematosus may represent a good marker of disease activity, which indirectly indicates the ongoing activation and/or proliferation of immunoreactive cells which are involved in the pathogenetic events of these autoimmune conditions.

Acute Disease↗