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Biomedical subjects

F Pasquali

Publications and source records attributed to F Pasquali.

87 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Derangements of immunoglobulin levels, phytohemagglutinin responsiveness and T and B cell markers in Down's syndrome at different ages.

Immunologic studies were performed in 83 patients with Down's Syndrome (DS) in ages ranging from a few months to 30 years and 76 karyotypically normal age-matched controls. The results show that both thymus-dependent and independent functions were impaired in DS with a characteristic age sequence. Serum immunoglobulin levels were normal in children with DS less then 5 years old; after 6 years of age a definite hyperglobulinemia of the IgG and IgA type was observed. A slight decrease in IgM was observed between 16 and 25 years of age. In subjects with DS lymphocyte phytohemagglutinin responsiveness was in the normal range during the first decade but it decreased thereafter progressively; the percentage and absolute number of peripheral blood lymphocytes forming "spontaneous rosettes" with sheep erythrocytes were abnormally low at all ages including infancy; the number of circulating lymphocytes with a high density of surface immunoglobulins was always in the normal range.

Adolescent↗

Pharmacokinetics of dipyridamole-beta-cyclodextrin complex in healthy volunteers after single and multiple doses.

Dipyridamole is a well known anti-aggregating agent characterized by poor water solubility as well as scant and variable bioavailability. Recently, the compound was complexed with beta-cyclodextrin forming a molecular encapsulation resulting in better oral absorption and stronger biological activities in animals. In the present study, a randomized double blind cross-over comparison between dipyridamole-beta-cyclodextrin complex (dip-beta-CD) and dipyridamole was performed in 12 healthy subjects after single (75mg) and multiple oral treatments (75mg TID). Dip-beta-CD showed better bioavailability and less interindividual variability than dipyridamole either after single or multiple doses. In particular, dip-beta-CD had a greater AUC and Cmax, and a smaller Tmax even at the steady state. In addition, 100% of the subjects receiving a single dose of dip-beta-CD, as compared to 66.7% of those treated with dipyridamole, had plasma levels superior to 1 microgram/ml (which is the supposed anti-aggregating threshold level). In contrast, 0 and 33.03% of the subjects showed plasma levels superior to 2.5 micrograms/ml (which might cause the appearance of side-effects) on the 7th day of the multiple treatment with dip-beta-CD and dipyridamole, respectively. In fact, the subjects presenting higher levels after uncomplexed dipyridamole also complained of headache and/or dizziness on occasion. No adverse side effects were reported for dip-beta-CD.

Administration, Oral↗

Centralized cytogenetic analysis of pediatric acute leukemia: results of an Italian collaborative experience.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cytogenetic analysis of acute leukemia yields important information which has been demonstrated to be correlated to patient survival. A reference laboratory was created in order to perform karyotype analysis on all cases of acute leukemia enrolled in the AIEOP (Associazione Italiana Emato-Oncologia Pediatrica) protocols. METHODS: From January 1990 to December 1995, 1115 samples of children with ALL or AML were sent in for cytogenetic analysis. The results of cell cultures were screened in the Reference Laboratory and then the fixed metaphases were sent to one of the six cytogenetic laboratories for analysis. RESULTS: The leukemic karyotypes of 556 patients were successfully analyzed. An abnormal clone was detected in 49% of cases of ALL and in 66% of AML. In ALL the most frequent abnormality was 9p rearrangement. Other recurrent abnormalities were t(9;22), t(4;11) and t(1;19). In AML t(8;21), t(15;17) and 11q23 rearrangement were the most frequent structural abnormalities. These findings are similar to the results obtained in other multicenter studies using a similar approach. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm the feasibility of performing cytogenetic analysis in a centralized laboratory on mailed samples of bone marrow and/or peripheral blood; this is very important considering that cytogenetic analysis of neoplastic tissue requires a special laboratory and expert staff.

Acute Disease↗