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Biomedical subjects

F Mannino

Publications and source records attributed to F Mannino.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in monocyte phagocyting activity after multi-agent chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

Changes in monocyte functions have been described in several human malignancies. The monocyte/macrophage system is known to play a crucial role in the rejection of tumor cells and phagocytosis represents an important defense mechanism used by these cells. This paper reports the adherence power and phagocyting ability (latex beads) of circulating monocytes in 20 patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), stage IIIB or stage IV, before and after multiagent chemotherapy (carboplatin + etoposide + ifosfamide or cisplatinum + etoposide). We demonstrated that both monocyte adherence and phagocytosis were not affected in lung cancer patients before chemotherapy in comparison with healthy controls. After chemotherapy, a statistically significant decrease in monocyte count on day 4 (p < 0.05) and in their phagocyting ability on day 4 and 15 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 respectively) was showed. In addition, a statistically reduced monocyte adherence was found on day 4 (p < 0.05). The described impairment was prolonged but reversible. These changes in monocyte functions after chemotherapy could be due to a direct effect of the chemotherapy on these cells or to functionally immature cells circulating after myelodepression. The in vitro assessment of monocyte functions may be useful to better clarify mechanisms by which anti-neoplastic agents may act on immune functions and prevent adverse side effects.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Allergic skin reactivity in 232 patients over 50 years.

We examined two hundred and thirty-two out-patients, ranging in age from 50 to 75 yrs. All patients were submitted to skin-tests: prick and, if it was necessary, intradermal reactions and/or RAST. Allergens employed were Gramineae, Parietaria, Olea, dermatophagoides Farinae, dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus, house dust, cat and dog skin scales. One hundred and twenty-eight subjects had positive responses to one or more aeroallergens. Asthma was the most frequent condition both in skin-positives and in skin-negatives. For 58% of skin-positives and 51% of skin-negatives the symptoms' onset was more than 10 yrs before our check. In 58.6% of patients we found positive reaction to dermatophagoides Farinae, in 51.5% to house dust, in 47.6% to dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus, in 34.3% to Gramineae, in 28.9% to parietaria and in 14.8% to olea. Fifty-four skin-positives subjects carried out lung function tests; in twenty-eight of them we found a bronchial obstruction. In more than 50% of the subjects, which had shown a reactivity to aeroallergens, we prescribed a specific hyposensitization. These data suggest that skin tests results in elderly patients can have a relevant role in preventive and pharmacological treatment, improving life quality.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of ipratropium bromide in the recovery phase of methacholine induced-bronchospasm.

BACKGROUND: The protective effect of Ipratropium Bromide (IB) in the methacholine-induced bronchospasm is well known from some time. The objective of the present study was to assess whether a pretreatment with IB may influence the subsequent phase of methacholine-induced bronchospasm relief. METHODS: Sixteen patients with bronchial hyper-reactivity (PD20 FEV1 < 200 microg) were randomly assigned to three methacholine challenge tests at a 48 to 72 hours interval apart. In the first test IB was inhaled before the challenge (pre-IB), in the second IB was administered soon after the PD20 FEV1 (post-IB), and in the third no treatment was given (control). RESULTS: The pre-IB PD20 FEV1 (695 +/- 587.6 microg) was significantly greater (p < 0.0001) than that of post-IB (82.2 +/- 49.18 microg) and of control (73.9 +/- 41.8 microg). The dose response slope (DRS) (decline percentage of FEV1/cumulative methacholine dose), in pre-IB was greatly lower (p < 0.0001) than that in post-IB and in control. During the bronchospasm relief phase, the increase of FEV1 measured after 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 minutes from the PD20 FEV1 was significantly greater in post-IB (p < 0.05) compared with the other two conditions. Conversely, the recovery slope (RS) (increase percentage of FEV1 at 60 minutes after PD20 FEV1 x cumulative methacholine dose) was significantly more efficient (p < 0.001) in pre-IB than in post-IB and in control. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, ipratropium bromide confirmed to have a good protective activity against methacholine-induced bronchospasm; the pre-administration of ipratropium bromide showed also a positive effect on the recovery phase.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prick and intradermal tests compared with specific IgE in allergic assessment.

Allergic assessment in symptomatic patients often requires more tests and they can be conflicting. Sixty outpatients, suffering from seasonal or periannal respiratory symptoms, underwent prick tests, intradermal reactions and specific IgE (IgEs) determination by enzime immunoassay for eight common allergens; in addition total IgE were measured. At the end of the study 512 tests were performed. Total serum IgE levels had no significance in the results. There was a statistically different behaviour among three methods; a positive or negative concordance was found in 64.1% of tests whereas in the others (35.9%) results were conflicting. In particular it was seen that a prick test positive was confirmed by intradermal reaction and a test prick and intradermal negative was not probably confirmed by IgEs. Serum specific IgE levels were higher in subjects prick and intradermal positive than in prick negative and intradermal or IgEs positive subjects. Intradermal reactions were found positive especially in mites and often they were not confirmed by prick or IgEs. So prick test is always the routine test; intradermal test ought to be used if there were prick tests negative and patient's history positive. If prick and intradermal test were found negative it is plausible that the measurement of specific IgE will be negative circumscribing even more the number of individuals where determination of serum specific antibody is necessary.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Allergic skin tests and respiratory diseases in 1612 subjects.

In 1985-90, 1612 subjects were submitted to allergic tests for respiratory diseases. In a retrospective survey we have evaluated clinical features, symptoms, diagnostic procedure and allergic tests of skin positives and skin negatives. Prick tests were supplemented by intradermal reaction and RAST under guideline of history. Allergens examined were Gramineae, Parietaria, Olea, house dust, Dermatophagoides farinae and pteronyssinus. 80% of patients were found positive to one or more allergens; their average age (30.1 +/- 13.7) was found lower (p < 0.001) and allergic family history prevalence higher (p < 0.01) than skin negatives. Skin positives prevalence was statistically significant under 50 yrs and skin negatives one over 50 yrs. Asthma or rhinitis only were prevalent among skin negatives while associated symptoms (asthma + rhinitis and/or conjunctivitis) were prevalent among skin positives. Considering skin results pollens were found positive in 34%, inhalants in 24% and pollens + inhalants in 42% of subjects. Gramineae were found positive in 57.8% of subjects, Parietaria in 39.8%, olea in 28.8%, Dermatophagoides farinae in 53.3%, house dust in 52.1% and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in 48.2%. Prick test showed a high sensitiveness in detecting pollens sensitization while intradermal reactions were often necessary in sensitization to inhalants; for the diagnosis RAST contribution was negligible.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Respiratory allergy to parietaria pollen in 348 subjects.

We have revisited 348 records of allergic outpatients to Parietaria, ratio M/F 1:1 and mean age 29.46 +/- 12.49 yrs. 97 of them were skin positive to Parietaria only (A-group: M/F 37/60); 251 patients were skin positive also to other allergens (B-group: M/F 137/114). Mean age of A-group patients (35.41 +/- 12.91) was higher than B-group (27.16 +/- 11.54; p < 001). Dividing mono and polysensitized subjects by age decade, a different distribution was found between the two groups (p < 001): monosensitized patients showed an increasing number of subjects from the 3rd to the 4th decade and a decreasing trend in the following decades; polysensitized patients showed a prevalence in age < 20 yrs and a decreasing trend in the other decades. In B-group Gramineae were the most frequent allergens associated to Parietaria (84.8%) followed by Olea Europaea (41.1%), Dermatophagoides farinae (37.4%) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (36.2%). Main symptoms were rhinoconjunctivitis (187 cases), rhinitis + asthma (141 cases) and bronchial asthma (20 cases). Comparing the clinical features of the two groups, we have found that monosensitized patients showed a female prevalence, a prevalence of rhinitis with late onset of symptoms while in patients suffering from isolated asthma the onset was early.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Time course of methacholine induced bronchoconstriction during drugs and spontaneous resolution.

We examined the resolution of the bronchial spasm induced by methacholine after administration of a dose sufficient to provoke PD20 to study, in patients with bronchial asthma, how spontaneous resolution (as opposed to bronchodilator-induced resolution) takes place. According to a randomization criterion, the patients were divided into four groups: 1) resolution induced by salbutamol (S), 2) by ipratropium bromide (I), 3) after placebo (P) and 4) spontaneous resolution (R). In brief, we observed that variations in FEV1 after methacholine PD20, reach statistically significant levels after 15 minutes in patients from groups (S) and (I), after 30 minutes in patients from groups (P) and (R) (p < 0.05). Comparing the phenomenon at various intervals in the four experimental situation, we found a pairing trend: groups (S) and (I) on the one hand, and groups (P) and (R) on the other. On the whole, this phenomenon shows that pharmacological treatment accelerates the process of spontaneous resolution of the bronchial spasm induced by methacholine which, in our experience, beings to show after 15 minutes, and that after 60 minutes, there are no statistically significant differences in the four groups. It is our opinion that closer examination of this phenomenon may provide greater knowledge of the mechanisms that come into play during the phase after stimulation of the muscarinic receptors and that reasonably involve the system to eliminate the muscarinic drug.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sensitivity of FEV1 and indices of flow volume curve in the methacholine test.

Our aim was to asses the association between the decrease of FEV1 and the modifications of the indices (PEF, MEF25, MEF50 and MEF75% of FVC) during methacholine challenge. 105 patients of both sexes with mild bronchial asthma were included in this study and were subjected to methacholine test according to ATS standards. The results were analysed using analysis of variance (MANOVA), discriminant stepwise and multiple regression. The reduction of FEV1 induced by increasing dosage of methacholine was associated with a significant decrease of the other flow-volume curve indices but we can observe a different flow behaviour. The MEF50 was more significant during the first level of variations and the MEF75 and MEF25 being more significant during the subsequent phases. We conclude that the evaluation of the flow volume indices can be important for better study the site of action of methacholine.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Respiratory allergy to Cupressus sempervirens in Rome.

Mediterranean Cypress pollen is the major aerospore component in winter and early spring. Several recent studies have assessed the incidence of respiratory allergy to this pollen. A personal series of patients encountered in 1994-96 revealed a 9.33% incidence of positive prick-test responses to Cypress pollen among a population with atopical status. That series included 16 (19.05%) single and 68 (80.95%) multiple allergy sufferers. Among the former the symptoms encountered were rhinitis (62.5%) and asthma (37.5%). Given the ever-increasing incidence of Cypress pollen allergy, there is a need to restrict the planting of the tree for ornamental purposes, especially in areas with a high pollen count.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ipratropium bromide in the recovery phase after methacholine PD20: is there more than an antagonist effect?

Aim of the study was to discover whether the recovery phase after methacholine challenge might be influenced by the administration of an antimuscarinic drug and to verify the mode and timescale of restored receptor activity. 16 patients with severe bronchial hyperreactivity were selected and subjected to methacholine test in order to assess: the preventive bronchodilatory effect of ipratropium bromide (40 mcg) inhaled before the test and the bronchial spasm spontaneous recovery after PD20 at 15, 30 and 60 minutes. Data were subjected to variance and Tukey test analysis. The results confirm that ipratropium bromide raises the methacholine dose response threshold by a factor of about 10 and also demonstrate that the anti-muscarinic drug modified the FEV1 PD20 and influenced the recovery phase by intensifying and making the bronchial spasm resolution faster. Thus results moreover suggest that the receptor activity restoration depends also on the elimination of the muscarinic mediator.

Adult↗