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Biomedical subjects

G Luzi

Publications and source records attributed to G Luzi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Clinical immunology of immunodeficiency diseases symptoms and signs of primary immunodeficiencies.

This article gives a general overview of the signs and symptoms observed in primary immunodeficiencies (PID). These diseases, although rare, are useful in the understanding of the specific functions and properties of the immune system. Emphasis has not been placed on the biological and laboratory features since the principal goal is to describe the clinical approaches for a correct diagnosis in this group of diseases. Schematic indications of therapy are given only in single diseases, when necessary. The report and the classification are organized according to the more recent recommendations of a Special WHO-Committee for Primary Immunodeficiencies.

Humans↗
PubMed1986

Analysis of IgG subclass production in cell cultures from IgA deficient patients and in normal controls as a function of age.

IgA deficient individuals may also have low serum levels of IgG subclasses, especially IgG2. In the present study we examined the development of plasma cells producing IgM, IgA or IgG, and the IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses, following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulation of mononuclear cells (MNC) from normal and IgA deficient individuals as a function of age. Studies of blood MNC from 38 normal donors (age range 2-44 years) revealed an age-related distribution pattern of mu, gamma, alpha, gamma 1 and gamma 2 plasma cells produced in mitogen-stimulated and control cultures. Decreased IgA responses to both LPS and PWM were consistently observed in cultures of MNC from all of the nine children with IgA deficiency. When compared with age-matched controls the IgG response was also diminished in PWM stimulated cultures, whereas the IgM responses were normal. The IgG deficit was due to reduced responses for the gamma 1 and gamma 2 subclasses, and was most pronounced for IgG2; IgG2 plasma cell differentiation was particularly depressed in LPS cultures. In contrast to normal adult cells, blood MNC from the nine children with IgA deficiency and age-matched controls (2-17 years) yielded more IgG1 than IgG2 plasma cells in both control and LPS cultures, while the pattern of response to PWM was similar in all groups (gamma 1 greater than gamma 2). A good concordance was found between the level of secreted Ig in the culture supernatants and the relative number of IgM or, IgG and IgA plasma cells identified by immunofluorescence staining of cytoplasmic immunoglobulins.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Thymic factor therapy for herpetic keratitis.

Thirty patients with herpetic keratitis were allocated to a double-blind trial with either local treatment plus placebo (control group) or local treatment plus thymostimulin (TS group). The follow-up at 24 months demonstrated a significant reduction of recurrence rate among patients receiving thymostimulin, along with a significant increase of sheep rosette-forming cells (E rosette). Furthermore, among patients with superficial keratitis, thymostimulin treatment resulted in a significantly quicker corneal re-epithelization than placebo. Thymostimulin seems to be a safe and helpful drug in the management of herpetic keratitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Intravenous administration of plasmin-treated immunoglobulins. A 2-year study in 16 patients with humoral deficiency].

The immunological and clinical results of a 2-year study of 16 patients with agammaglobulinaemia (common variable in 12 and sex-linked in 4) are reported. Plasmin-treated immunoglobulins were injected at 3 weeks' intervals during the first part of the trial and at 2 weeks' interval during the second part. An increase in serum IgG levels was observed after 24 hours and 7 days, with progressive return to initial values on the 14th day. Twelve patients showed signs of clinical improvement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Primary immunodeficiency syndromes in Italy: a report of the national register in children and adults.

The Italian Register for Immune Deficiencies was organized in 1977. Seven hundred ninety-seven cases of primary immunodeficiencies, diagnosed according to the World Health Organization criteria, have been registered up to April 1982. In this paper we report the percentages of the different forms of primary immunodeficiencies and the incidence of neoplastic and autoimmune diseases. A prevalence of humoral defects and selective IgA deficiency was found, followed by T-cell disorders. Two and thirty-eight hundredths percent of the patients developed cancer, and 5.89% developed autoimmune diseases. A comparison among the Italian, Swedish, and Japanese Registers showed a higher incidence of IgA defects in the Italian Register while nonspecific phagocyte defects were more frequent in the Swedish Register. The incidence of cancer and autoimmune disorders is similar to that observed in other registers.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Levamisole therapy: clinical and immunological evaluation in herpetic keratitis.

Thirty patients with herpetic keratitis, recurrent in 17, were examined and submitted to an immunological evaluation for cell-mediated immunity (E rosette forming cells, absolute number of T lymphocytes, skin tests). A group of 15 patients was treated with Levamisole (2.5 mg/kg body weight, 3 days a week), while the control group received no Levamisole. The observation period varied from 6 to 24 months. The clinical follow-up showed a reduction in the severity and duration of herpetic attacks and in the frequency of relapses compared with the control group. The immunological findings indicated a normalization of E rosettes in all the patients (treated and controls).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Monoclonal antibody analysis of T cell subsets in 40 patients with immunodeficiencies.

A panel of previously characterized monoclonal antibodies: OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, OKT10, OKT11, OKIa1, OKM2; 3A1, 4F2, UCTH1 and 5/9 were used to evaluate peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with severe primary immunodeficiencies: three patients with severe combined immunodeficiency, five with X-linked agammaglobulinemia, 20 with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia, 11 with IgA defect, and one with an unclassified form of T cell defect and hypogammaglobulinemia. Surface markers for T and B cells and in some cases functional assays, were also performed. Our results indicate a heterogeneous pattern in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency: one had peripheral blood mononuclear cells negative with all the monoclonal antibodies used; one had an increase in OKM2+ cells, whereas OKT3+ cells were absent; one had defect and imbalance of immunoregulatory T cell subpopulations. Major imbalances of T cell subsets were not detected in patients with X-linked agamma and IgA defect, whereas in some patients with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia an inversion of the physiological ratio between OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells was consistently detected. In an unclassified case of primary immunodeficiency, almost all peripheral blood mononuclear cells formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes, but lacked antigens detected by monoclonal antibodies. Based on these observations, possible sites of defects in the T cell differentiation are discussed. We believe that monoclonal antibodies are useful for diagnosis, classification, and monitoring of therapy of primary immunodeficiencies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[Clinico-immunological studies of 32 cases of bone tumors].

We have studied 32 patients with different bone neoplasias. 18 had osteogenic sarcoma. Clinical and immunological observations led us to consider our results as a general approach to the problem. No specific conclusions can be made. We describe 3 patients treated with levamisole therapy and two with transfer factor. In single patients some useful observations are connected about relationship between treated and non-treated patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

IgA deficiency and circulating immune complexes in Neapolitan children with fatal acute respiratory infections.

Immunoglobulins, C3 and C4 levels and circulating immune complexes have been measured on admission sera from 34 children admitted to a Naples hospital during the winter of 1978/79 with severe, usually fatal, acute respiratory infections and in age-matched controls from Rome. The Naples sera were characterised by low IgA, C3, and C4 levels, increased IgM and IgG concentrations, and high titres of circulating immune complexes. These immunological abnormalities could explain the high concentration of fatal cases.

Acute Disease↗