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Biomedical subjects

F Puppo

Publications and source records attributed to F Puppo.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

[Changes induced with varying solutions of normal plasma on granulocyte capillary tube migration].

In the present work we have evaluated the effect of decreasing concentrations of normal plasma in TC 199 on leukocyte capillary migration. From the 1st to the 4th hour of migration, normal plasma at 100%-80%-60%-40% concentration, significantly inhibits leukocyte migration. The inhibitory effect is lost, only by a few plasmas, at 60% and 40% concentration, during the following migration hours. Normal plasma at 20% and 10% concentration doesn't show any inhibitory effect on leukocyte capillary migration. Therefore, for clinical studies on pathological plasmas we recommend the use o plasma at 20% or 10% concentration to avoid aspecific inhibition.

Cell Movement↗
PubMed1979

[Standardization of the method of granulocyte capillary tube migration].

In the present work a method is described to standardize each step of leukocyte capillary tube migration assay. The conclusions of our study are: natrium heparin can be used as anticoagulant; the use of calibrated microcapillaries is recommended; migration chambers must lay on a horizontal surface; results can be evaluated by a ocular for radial immunodiffusion from the 16th to 20th hour of migration.

Cell Movement↗
PubMed1977

[Evaluation of the cell-mediated immune response after administration of Salmonella antigens in patients with multiple myeloma].

Myeloma patients show an impairment of several immunological functions leading to infectious diseases. In this study we evaluated cell-mediated responsiveness in a group of these patients. Six myeloma patients received full doses of I.S.M. Enterovaccino. LIF production by peripheral blood lymphocytes against Salmonella antigens was evaluated after 14 days. All patients studied showed no LIF production.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quantitative analyses of plasma opsonizing activity and polymorphonuclear cell response during phagocytosis: standardisation of a chemiluminescent method.

Although measurement of chemiluminescence has become a widespread tool in the study of phagocytosis of peripheral neutrophils, several problems linked to spontaneous fluctuation in chemiluminescence and the number of variables involved have occasionally either limited its usefulness for clinical and experimental purposes or compelled operators to take particular care when using the technique. In the present paper, sources of variability are investigated and most of the parameters involved are thoroughly analysed and step-by-step normalised. A stochastic calibration procedure for validation of the method is applied and a monofunctional test protocol for quantitative evaluation of plasma opsonizing activity in whole blood chemiluminescence is suggested. With regard to the goal of proposing a reverse monofunctional test, we discuss the reasons why further studies aimed at standardised evaluation of the cellular components are needed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate upon PHA, Con A and PWM stimulated lymphocytes and on E-rosette function.

We evaluated if Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) had an immunosuppressive action as progesterone and other steroid hormones. Lymphocyte function was evaluated by the blastogenic response to mitogens and by the E-rosette test. MPA was tested at 7 ng/ml and 100 ng/ml concentrations. Cells were either preincubated for 30 min., 90 min., 180 min. and 12 hr or incubated with MPA for 72 hr, 18 hr and 16 hr. MPA showed a significative inhibitory effect only when used at the concentration of 100 ng/ml.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Decreased surface antigen density on lymphocytes of elderly humans.

The aim of our study was to analyze some poorly investigated and controversial aspects of senescent lymphocyte phenotype and functions. We examined 100 healthy aging individuals, divided into 4 age groups, and 30 young controls, correlating lymphocyte responsiveness to mitogenic stimulation with membrane phenotypic pattern and surface molecular densities of the main functional lymphoid markers. Stability of values in the period of study was established. No age-related differences in the parameters evaluated were detected among aging subjects. Phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte proliferation was found severely impaired (about halved) in all elderly individuals with respect to controls. There was no significant difference between elderly group and controls in CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD25 and HLA-DR antigen distribution. CD56 positive cell percentages were slightly decreased in the elderly groups. In apparent correlation with reduced lymphocyte responsiveness, CD2, CD3, CD4 and CD8 molecular densities, to different extents, were found relevantly (about 1 to 3-fold) lower in all aging groups than in controls. We could not ascertain if those antigens were poorly synthesized, defectively transported to membrane or shed in excess. However, we suggest that decreased surface molecular densities of antigens involved in functional processes of immune responses may be responsible for an abnormal costimulatory pattern during lymphocyte activation, leading to apoptotic rather than proliferative signals in a greater proportion of cells than normal.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The immunomodulatory effect of blood transfusions and intravenous immunoglobulins: the role of the soluble molecules of the Class-I major histocompatibility complex and of the Fas ligand].

Allogeneic blood transfusions may have immunomodulatory effects including improved allograft acceptance and increased risk for cancer recurrence or post-operative bacterial infections. These effects are associated with the presence of leukocytes in transfused blood and are reduced by pre-storage leuko-reduction. However, the precise mechanism of this effect has not yet been elucidated. We report that the concentrations of soluble major histocompatibility complex class I and soluble Fas-ligand molecules are significantly higher in supernatants of blood components containing elevated numbers of residual donor leukocytes, such as red blood cells and random-donor platelets, than in other blood components. Elevated amounts of soluble Fas-ligand molecules are also found in some intravenous immunoglobulin preparations. Soluble molecules detected in blood components and in immunoglobulin preparations are biologically active in vitro. In fact, they inhibit mixed lymphocyte responses and cytotoxic T cell activity in allogeneic and autologous combinations and induce apoptosis in Fas-positive cells. These results should be taken into account in clinical practice to select the blood component or the immunoglobulin preparation in order to induce or prevent an immunosuppressive effect in the recipient.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hepatitis G virus infection in intravenous drug users with or without human immunodeficiency virus infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the HGV infection prevalence in a group of intravenous drug users with or without human immunodeficiency virus coinfection. METHODOLOGY: We studied 57 patients (48 males and 9 females) who were either previous or still ongoing intravenous drug users. Thirty-seven patients were HIV+ve, 55 patients were anti-HCV+ve and 3 patients were HBsAg chronic carriers. Patient sera were tested for HGV-RNA, anti-E2, qualitative and quantitative HCV-RNA as well as for HCV genotypes. Moreover, the ALT level was checked in the serum sample of each patient. RESULTS: We found a high prevalence (35/57; 61.4%) of HGV infection in our patients. HGV-RNA was detected in 16 out of the 57 intravenous drug users (28%). In particular HGV-RNA was positive in 12 out of the 37 HIV+ve patients (32.4%) and in 4 out of the 20 HIV-ve patients (20%). Anti-E2 were detected in 19 out of the 57 patients (33.3%) with greater prevalence among HIV-ve subjects (12/20; 60%) compared to HIV+ve group (7/37; 18.9%). This resulting difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). All HGV-RNA+ve/anti-E2+ve patients were anti-HCV/HCV-RNA+ve and none of our patients were anti-E2+ve/HGV-RNA+ve at the same time. Significant differences were not found between HGV-RNA+ve and HGV-RNA-ve patients as far as clinical and virological data are concerned. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HGV infection in intravenous drug users proved to be high especially in the HIV+ve group. Moreover HGV was associated with HCV in all our cases. The actual clinical impact of HGV infection remains unclear since HGV does not seems to influence the biochemical, virological or histological alterations caused by HCV infection.

Adult↗