Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Aiuti

Publications and source records attributed to F Aiuti.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

A placebo-controlled trial of thymic hormone treatment of recurrent herpes simplex labialis infection in immunodeficient hosts.

Twenty-one immunodeficient patients with recurrent herpes simplex labialis (HSL) were randomly allocated to either saline or the bovine thymus extract thymostimulin (TS) and treated for a period of 6 months. An impressive reduction in both number and severity of the recurrences of the infection was observed in TS-treated patients during the trial and for up to 3 months afterward. A significant increase in total WBC, lymphocyte count, and T cells was detected in the TS group after 6 months. In vitro lymphoproliferative responses to herpes simplex virus antigen and natural killer cell activity were also significantly higher in the TS group, whereas no significant difference in antibody titers to herpes simplex could be detected between the two groups. TS can therefore help prevent viral reactivation in immunocompromised hosts by potentiating cell-mediated immune responses and should be considered for use in prophylaxis of infection in patients at risk and also in apparently normal subjects with recurrent HSL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Usefulness of monoclonal antibodies in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with primary immunodeficiencies: combined experience in three clinical immunology centers.

Circulating levels of T-cell subsets and NK cells were determined in 78 patients with primary immunodeficiencies, 35 children with recurrent respiratory infections, and healthy age-matched controls. Normal T cell and natural killer (NK) cell values were observed in individuals with immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency and X-linked agammaglobulinemia, while reduced OKT4/OKT8 cell ratios and low levels of 5/9+ T helper cells were found in approximately 60% of patients with common variable immunodeficiency. Infants with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and lymphopenia had virtually no cells expressing T-cell or NK-cell surface antigens, but had normal numbers of monocytes and other types of blood cells. Infants with DiGeorge syndrome, other primary T-cell defects, or SCID with B cells had few or no circulating cells of mature T helper-suppressor phenotypes, but had normal numbers of NK cells (HNK-1+) and NK function. These results support the idea of a common stem cell precursor for T, B, and NK cells, each of which follows a separate pathway of differentiation. Profound alterations were observed in the distribution and function of T-cell subsets in ataxia-telangiectasia patients who were previously shown to have thymic dysplasia. A significant reduction in the frequencies of OKT3+ and OKT4+ cells was observed in children with frequent respiratory infections during infancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Agammaglobulinemia↗
PubMed1983

T-dependent immunity in aged humans. II. Clinical and immunological evaluation after three months of administering a thymic extract.

We investigated the effect of Thymostimulin (TP-1) (a bovine thymic extract) on some clinical and immunological parameters in hospitalized aged humans. Forty aged patients were randomized into two groups, one received no therapy and the other was treated with TP-1 for 3 mth. The Ig and complement levels, sheep rosette-forming cells, absolute lymphocyte numbers and sedimentation rate were measured on days 0, 90 and 180. Moreover, the incidence of infections was determined. The baseline immunological data of the patients studied were within the normal range. These data remained unchanged after TP-1 treatment. In the TP-1 treated group we observed a significant reduction of infections (P=0.023) in comparison to the control group. A significant reduction of the sedimentation rate was also observed in the treated group.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Impaired production of interleukins in patients with cell-mediated immunodeficiencies.

The poor mitogen response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) of lymphocytes from three patients with cell-mediated immunodeficiencies was restored to normal when supernatants containing interleukin 2 (IL-2) were added. One of three children with severe combined immunodeficiency also showed a partial response. There was no improvement in the normal mitogenic response of the lymphocytes from patients with either the X linked or common variable forms of hypogammaglobulinaemia. All three patients with cell-mediated immunodeficiencies showed gross imbalance in the ratio of helper/inducer (OKT4+) to suppressor/cytotoxic (OKT8+) T cells. The PHA stimulated culture supernatant from one of these patients failed to induce proliferation of a cytolytic continuous T cell line. Our data suggests that the underlying defect in these patients may be a failure in production of interleukins but not in the acquisition of IL-2 receptors.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

HNK-1 monoclonal antibody (Leu-7) in the identification of abnormal expansions of large granular lymphocytes.

Among 12 cases of chronic T lymphoproliferative disorders we observed, six patients showed an expansion of mononuclear cells with azurophilic granules usually referred to as large granular lymphocytes or LGL. Cells obtained from five patients with these abnormal LGL proliferations were studied with several surface markers including their reactivity with the HNK-1 monoclonal antibody reported to be specific for LGL. Cells in four out of five cases were HNK-1 positive. Whereas normal LGL have been reported to be unreactive with several T cell markers, three cases showed the co-existence of HNK-1 and surface markers expressed by T cells. Two cases were characterized by the proliferation of OKT8 cells. Cells from one patient were HNK-1 positive but did not express T or monocytic antigens. These cells were apparently not completely mature since alpha-naphthyl acetate acid esterase activity was negative. Cells from the remaining case were HNK-1 negative and positive for T and monocytic antigens. An increase of OKT-10 cells was observed in only one patient. Our data indicate that proliferations of LGL represent a remarkable proportion of the rare cases of sheep erythrocyte rosetting chronic lymphocytic leukaemias or lymphomas. Besides the morphology of LGL, the rosetting ability and the negativity for peroxidase, cells from these cases showed a vast heterogeneity of other structural and functional markers, possibly reflecting different stages in the maturation of these cells. The HNK-1 monoclonal antibody proved to be an important marker in the identification of these cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Food allergy and gastrointestinal diseases.

Several gastrointestinal diseases and symptoms have been attributed to food intolerance, but in only a few cases has the participation of immune mechanisms been confirmed. Acute or chronic gastroenteritis is commonly due to allergic reactions to food proteins, inflammatory diseases and infections, or the presence of immunological defects may induce secondarily a food allergic disorder. This review will focus on the immunopathogenetical importance of the mucosal and systemic defenses, and the absorption of food proteins by the gut.

Angioedema↗
PubMed1982

Nonfebrile seizures after febrile convulsions: possible role of chronic cytomegalovirus infection.

Twelve hundred children with convulsions when feverish were studied during a period of five years. Among them 52 subjects (4.33%) developed nonfebrile seizures after a period of eight months to five years from the first febrile convulsion (group A). Twenty-three children had neither afebrile seizures nor EEG abnormalities during the period of observation (group B). The two groups were comparable for age of the first febrile convulsion onset, sex, and socioeconomic status. None had risk factors for subsequent epilepsy or clinical signs of congenital cytomegalovirus infection. The isolation rate of CMV from urine was 53.84% in patients of group A, 26.09% in children of group B, and 26.83% in healthy control children. Twelve CMV-positive children from group A were followed for one to more than three years. In five of seven children with persisting EEG abnormalities, cytomegaloviruria was still present 13 to 41 months after the first isolation, whereas none of five patients with normal electroencephalograms had viruria after a comparable period. We found that CMV-positive children generally lacked cell-mediated immunity to the virus, whereas CMV-negative patients had positive reactions. Our data suggest a correlation between persistence of neurologic abnormalities and CMV excretion in children with nonfebrile seizures and CMV infection.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1982

Cell-mediated immunity in human cytomegalovirus infection.

The direct leukocyte migration inhibition test, in response to cytomegalovirus stimulation, was used to study cell-mediated immunity in a group of children with cytomegalovirus infection. The test was impaired in children with chronic disease associated with cytomegaloviruria. In those cases with no viruria at the moment of the test, leukocyte migration inhibition was normal. Our data suggest that the acquired chronic cytomegalovirus infection may be sustained by a state of specific cellular desensitization, as already demonstrated for congenital infection.

Cell Migration Inhibition↗
PubMed1982

Serum and salivary IgA levels in normal subjects: comparison between tonsillectomized and non-tonsillectomized subjects.

Serum IgA and secretory IgA (SIgA) were determined in 1,000 apparently healthy subjects; 274 were tonsillectomized. Four groups were identified in this study: (1) 0.3% of subjects had no serum IgA and SIgA; (2) 1.6% of subjects showed partial serum and SIgA deficiency; (3) 27.4% of individuals were tonsillectomized and had partial serum IgA deficiency but normal SIgA, and (4) 71.4% were normal, both with respect to serum IgA and SIgA. There results stress the relatively high incidence of IgA deficiency in the normal population and confirm the role of the tonsils in maintaining serum IgA levels.

Adolescent↗