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Biomedical subjects

E Maggi

Publications and source records attributed to E Maggi.

228 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Antenatal sonographic diagnosis of clubfoot: a six-year experience.

In the period 1988 through 1993, 6351 pregnant women were referred to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University "La Sapienza", Roma, for suspected fetal anomalies or maternofetal problems. All underwent serial transabdominal and/or transvaginal ultrasound scanning, which revealed a total of 235 fetuses with hydrocephalus, cardiac, or musculoskeletal malformations. Forty-one clubfeet were detected in 27 pregnancies in the early part of the second trimester of pregnancy. Of these, 14 feet in eight patients were isolated, and were classified as idiopathic. A clubfoot was associated with neural tube defects in six patients, with anomalies of the urinary and/or digestive system in a further six, with a cystic hygroma in two, and with other musculoskeletal abnormalities in the other six patients. Amniocentesis revealed an abnormal karyotype in six fetuses (22.2%). In only two cases was oligohydramnios present. In both these patients, a fetal urinary tract malformation was present Polyhydramnios was found in 18 cases, and a normal amount of amniotic fluid was found in the remaining seven cases. Polyhydramnios was present in six of the eight idiopathic clubfoot fetuses. Clubfoot is associated with musculoskeletal and visceral anomalies in a high proportion of cases. The association of clubfoot with polyhydramnios in a high proportion of cases does not support the hypothesis of intrauterine moulding as an etiological factor in its development. Ultrasonographical prenatal detection of a clubfoot should prompt amniocentesis, as the condition is associated with an abnormal karyotype in a significant proportion of cases.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An update on human Th1 and Th2 cells.

The existence of functionally polarized human T cell responses based on their profile of cytokine secretion in both the CD4+ T helper (Th) and the CD8+ T cytotoxic cell subset has been established. Human Th1 and Th2 cells not only produce a different set of cytokines but also exhibit distinct functional properties and preferential expression of some activation markers, such as LAG-3 and CD30, respectively. Several factors are involved in the Th cell differentiation into the polarized Th1 or Th2 pathway. They include the cytokine profile of 'natural immunity' evoked by different offending agents, the nature of the peptide ligand, as well as the activity of some costimulatory molecules and microenvironmentally secreted hormones, in the context of different host genetic backgrounds. Polarized Th1-type and Th2-type responses play different roles in protection, Th1 being effective in the defense against intracellular pathogens and Th2 against intestinal nematodes. Moreover, they are responsible for different types of immunopathological reactions. Th1 responses predominate in organ-specific autoimmune disorders, acute allograft rejection, unexplained recurrent abortions, and in some chronic inflammatory disorders of unknown etiology. In contrast, Th2 responses predominate in Omenn's syndrome, transplantation tolerance, chronic graft versus host disease, systemic sclerosis; moreover allergen-reactive Th2 cells are involved in the triggering of atopic disorders.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Renal tubular damage in fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation.

Fetal hypoxemia is one of the most frequent causes of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). In chronic fetal hypoxia, peripheral blood flow and blood flow to the kidneys is reduced to maintain heart, brain and adrenal perfusion, the 'brain-sparing effect'. In kidneys the cells of the proximal tubules seem to be most sensitive to hypoxia caused by reduced blood flow. Damage to the cells of the proximal tubules can be easily diagnosed by urinary levels of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), an enzyme present in high concentrations in these cells. The aim of the present study was to define the levels of NAG in the amniotic fluid, to diagnose damage to the cells of the proximal renal tubules in fetuses, and to correlate them with a detectable brain-sparing effect. The study was conducted on a total of 55 pregnancies: 9 pregnancies were complicated by IUGR, and the remaining 46 normal pregnancies formed the control group. Higher levels of NAG were detected in the amniotic fluid from the IUGR-complicated pregnancies (p < 0.025). In particular, fetuses with IUGR had high levels of NAG in the amniotic fluid in 8 of 9 cases (+ 2 SD compared with controls), while 1 had normal concentrations. In the 8 cases with high concentrations of NAG in the amniotic fluid, velocimetric Doppler study documented a brain-sparing effect, which was not present in the 1 fetus with normal NAG levels. In conclusion, high levels of NAG in the amniotic fluid may identify in uterus fetuses with renal damage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Th1 and th2 responses, HIV-1 coreceptors, and HIV-1 infection.

The Th1/Th2 model provides an interesting paradigm for understanding several pathophysiological processes and possibly for developing new immunotherapeutical strategies. In HIV-1 infection the interaction between the type of HIV-1 strain and the pathway of the ongoing T-cell effector response, despite its complexity, may represent one of the crucial mechanisms in determining the outcome of virus infection. While the possibility of an HIV-1-driven Th1 to Th2 switch of the immune response is still debated, evidence is accumulating to suggest that cytokines produced during an immune response can contribute to promote a selective pressure toward the evolution of HIV-1 viral strains with different tropism. This article summarizes the results of our recent studies in which the expression of CCR5 and CXCR4 HIV-1 co-receptors, as well as the activity of R5- or X4- tropic strains of HIV-1 in different in vitro models of Th1/Th2 polarization was analyzed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Echographic prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and palate: orthodontic implications].

The study of two cases of ultrasound prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and palate and cleft lip, led the Authors to suggest the usefulness of first istance precocius correttive surgery in the immediate postnatal period. This correttive surgery not only allows the infant to be fed by natural vias, but it also facilitates the coordinated programming of successive final correttive surgeries by the plastic, the maxillofacial surgeons and the orthodontist.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of interleukins in induction and regulation of human IgE.

The studies on human IgE synthesis here summarized provide further insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in IgE regulation, as well as in the alterations responsible for IgE disregulation in some pathological conditions. They have clearly demonstrated that IL-4 is the essential factor for the induction of human IgE synthesis, since no substantial IgE production in vitro could be obtained in the absence of this lymphokine. Another T cell-derived lymphokine, IFN gamma, negatively regulates the IgE synthesis induced by IL-4. These two lymphokines can be produced by different T helper cells, as shown in mice, but they can also be the product of the same T cell clones. In such a case, the possibility that a given clone provides helper function for IgE seems to be dependent on the balance between the amounts of the two lymphokines produced. The IgE helper activity of rIL-4 appeared to be dependent on the presence in culture of appropriate concentrations of T lymphocytes, suggesting that T-B cell contact or other interleukins, such as IL-2 and IL-6, are needed in IL-4-dependent IgE synthesis. Finally, alterations of one or more of these regulatory mechanisms may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diseases characterized by a hyperproduction of IgE.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

New insights into the mechanisms which regulate IgE synthesis in man.

The studies summarized here provide further insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of human IgE synthesis. They clearly demonstrate that IL-4 is the essential factor for induction of human IgE synthesis, since no substantial in vitro IgE production can be obtained in the absence of this lymphokine. Another T cell-derived lymphokine, IFN-gamma, negatively regulates the IgE synthesis induced by IL-4. These two lymphokines can be produced by different T helper cells, but they can also represent the product of the same T cell clone (TCC). In this case, the possibility that a given TCC provides helper function for IgE seems to be dependent upon the balance between the amounts of the two lymphokines produced. Additional cellular and/or molecular signals are involved in IL-4-dependent IgE synthesis. First of all, a direct T-B interaction is required to precede the activity of IL-4. This interaction does not necessarily consist of cognate interaction between T and B cells, as occurs for IgE synthesis induced by alloreactive TCC. In the presence of exogenous IL-4 virtually all CD4+, and even a number of CD8+, TCC can provide the signaling required by B cells to synthesize IgE. An interaction between some adhesion molecule, more expressed on activated than resting T cells, and its receptor on B cells is sufficient to prepare resting B cells to synthesize IgE in response to IL-4. Furthermore, T cells also contribute to IL-4-dependent IgE synthesis by releasing IL-2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Autoantibodies against oxidised low density lipoproteins in patients with coronary disease].

OBJECTIVES: Evidence has been obtained indicating that oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) plays a relevant role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and it has been proposed that, due to the antigenic properties of oxidized LDL, the anti-oxLDL antibody titre could represent a useful index of in vivo LDL oxidation. METHODS: Sixty-nine control subjects and 64 patients scheduled for selective coronary revascularization were investigated before surgery. RESULTS: The coronary disease patients had a higher level of total plasma cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and a lower level of HDL cholesterol. Plasma anti-oxLDL antibody titre was measured as the ratio of antibody binding to CuSO4-oxidised LDL versus native LDL. The antibody ratio was higher in coronary patients as compared with control subjects (1.56 +/- 0.5 vs 1.0 +/- 0.3, p < 0.01). A ratio higher than 1.34 (mean of controls +/- one standard deviation) was present in 60% of the coronary patients. Subclass analysis indicated that the presence of diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia (but not of hypertension, generalized arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction and cigarette smoking) increased the anti-oxLDL antibody ratio to 1.72 +/- 0.4 and 1.68 +/- 0.3 respectively. CONCLUSION: The results obtained indicate that a) a high titre of anti-oxLDL antibodies is present in plasma of patients with coronary atherosclerosis, b) in these patients LDL oxidation takes place in vivo and probably plays a critical role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CD8+ T lymphocytes producing Th2-type cytokines (Tc2) in HIV-infected individuals.

Unusual high proportions of CD8+ T-cell clones able to produce IL-4, but no IFN-gamma (Tc2 cells), were generated from both skin biopsies and peripheral blood of HIV-infected individuals in advanced phase of infection. Tc2 cells showed unusual phenotypic and functional features, such as CD30 expression, B-cell helper activity for IgE synthesis and reduced cytolytic potential. Cloning CD8+ T-cell from HIV-infected individuals in autologous feeder cells resulted in a marked increase of CD8+ T-cell clones showing a Tc2 profile. The addition in bulk culture before cloning of both IL-12 and a neutralizing anti-IL-4 antibody dramatically reversed the cytokine profile of CD8+ T-cell clones of HIV-infected individuals to the classic Tc1 pathway. Finally, cloning CD8+ T-cells from healthy HIV-seronegative donors in the presence of feeder cells from HIV-infected individuals resulted in the development of enhanced proportions of CD8+ T-cell clones able to produce IL-4. These data suggest that CD8+ T-cells from HIV-infected individuals can develop into Tc2 cells likely because of either the defective production of IL-12 by HIV-infected macrophages and/or other microenvironmental conditions favoring early IL-4 production. The Tc2 shift during HIV infection may play some role in the reduced defence against viral infections, including HIV itself, in patients with AIDS.

CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗