Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Monti

Publications and source records attributed to G Monti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Detection of specific IgE to human milk proteins in sera of atopic infants.

Specific IgE (sIgE) for cow's milk proteins (CMP) have been reported to be present in blood sera of exclusively breast-fed infants. The aim of this study was to find whether the presence of sIgE to human milk proteins in the sera of exclusively breast-fed infants could explain the apparent detection of sIgE to CMP in infants that were never previously in contact with cow's milk. sIgE for human milk whey proteins were found in the blood sera of atopic infants, and these sIgE strongly cross-reacted with the corresponding CMP. In none of the sera examined were sIgE to bovine beta-lactoglobulin detected.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in CD19 peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronically infected patients.

The presence of HCV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) has been reported. To identify the cell populations carrying HCV RNA, the presence and amount of HCV RNA was investigated by limiting dilution nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in PBMC subpopulations fractionated by automated cell sorting. Fifteen chronically HCV-infected patients were included in the study, 4 of whom also had mixed cryoglobulinemia. HCV RNA was present in the CD19 cells of all 15 patients, but only 5 (35.7%) of 14 and 5 (41.6%) of 12 showed HCV RNA in CD3 and CD14 cells, respectively (P < .001 by Fisher's test for each comparison). The median titer of HCV RNA was 1 PCR unit/380 CD19 cells, compared with median of 1 PCR unit/6600 PBMC as a whole. Titration was difficult in the CD3 and CD14 cells because of the frequent negativity of the first diluted sample. This study suggests that HCV RNA is selectively concentrated in B cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Intrapulmonary production of RANTES during rejection and CMV pneumonitis after lung transplantation.

RANTES (regulated upon activation, normally T expressed and secreted) is a chemoattractant for macrophages, memory T lymphocytes, and eosinophils. We investigated whether intrapulmonary production of the chemokine RANTES contributes to the recruitment of immune cells during lung transplantation complications. RANTES concentration was measured in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids using an ELISA assay. It was significantly higher during CMV pneumonitis (36.2 +/- l6 pg/ml, n=12, P=0.031) and allograft rejection (31.1 +/- 8.5 pg/ml, n=27, P=0.013) than in patients without complications (9.1 +/- 2.3 pg/ml, n=22). At least some of the RANTES was produced by lung macrophages: BAL macrophages cultured for 24 hr spontaneously released larger amount of RANTES during CMV pneumonitis (140 +/- 53 pg/ml, n=8, P=0.002) and allograft rejection (84 +/- 44 pg/ml, n=11, P=0.037) than in control patients (15.2 +/- 6.5 pg/ml, n=21). Moreover, macrophages in transbronchial biopsies were labeled by an anti-RANTES mAb. RANTES production by BAL macrophages was followed in 2 patients with CMV pneumonitis. It remained high as long as CMV-induced cytopathic effects or clinical symptoms were present, but it returned to baseline as the infection was controlled. These results suggest that the intrapulmonary production of the chemokine RANTES by activated macrophages contributes to the intrapulmonary accumulation of immune cells during complications of lung transplantation.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed1996

Staphylococcus aureus skin colonization in infants with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus colonizes eczematous lesions in 78-100% of children and adults with atopic dermatitis (AD), whereas it is found on skin of healthy subjects in only 2-25% of cases. On unaffected skin of subjects with AD the bacterium has been isolated in 51-100% of cases. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: This paper examines rate and density of S. aureus colonization, using the swab technique and the contact plate method, respectively, on affected and unaffected skin in 72 infants with AD (age 3-24 months) and in a control group, to determine if there are significant differences with respect to what is reported for children and adults with AD. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The main differences is that on unaffected skin of our infants with AD, bacterium colonization rate is significantly lower than on affected skin.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Thymoma: diagnosis and surgical treatment].

Thymoma is the most common primary neoplasm of the tymus. The majority of thymomas are encapsulated masses and exhibit benign behavior. Less frequently they may be invasive, or rarely they may metastasize to distant sites. The usual clinical presentation is that of an anterior mediastinal mass found accidentally in an asymptomatic patient. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance may be helpful in the evaluation of adjacent structures. The histologic classification proposed by Muller-Hermelink is useful in predicting and defining the risk of invasiveness of thymomas showing a significant correlation between tumor cell type and stage. The treatment of choice is complete surgical excision; radiation therapy may be used adjunctively to surgery in the treatment of invasive tumors. The choice of surgical approach is conditioned by site and grading of thymoma. The prognosis of encapsulated thymoma is generally favorable; invasive tumors are associated with a worse prognosis but may respond to radical resection.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Hepatitis C virus RNA in the bone marrow of patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia and in subjects with noncryoglobulinemic chronic hepatitis type C.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with most mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) syndromes. In this study, HCV RNA was detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 11 (73.3%) of 15 patients with MC and in 5 (71.4%) of 7 noncryoglobulinemic patients with chronic hepatitis type C. All patients with cryoglobulinemia and 3 (42.8%) of the 7 without cryoglobulinemia (P < .05) had HCV RNA in bone marrow cells. Subjects in both groups with HCV-positive bone marrow also had HCV RNA in serum. The majority of patients with MC syndromes were infected with HCV subtypes 1b and 2a. Two patients with MC had different genotypes in serum and cells. Further studies are needed to determine which bone marrow cell population is preferentially infected by HCV and to determine if this phenomenon is involved in inducing the production of cryoglobulins.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Epirubicin + G-CSF as peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) mobilising agents in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: In an attempt to mobilise peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) from patients with breast cancer, Epirubicin supported with G-CSF was tested. Another aim of the study was also to optimize the procedure so that the number of leukapheresis procedures could be reduced. These cells were subsequently reinfused as hematologic rescue after high-dose chemotherapy programs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients received Epirubicin 150 mg/sqm + G-CSF at the dose of 5 micro/kg/bw s.c. daily, starting 24 hours after chemotherapy. Twelve had metastatic, eight inflammatory or locally advanced disease, and nine were treated in an adjuvant setting. RESULTS: The median numbers of CD34+ cells and CFU-GM collected were 12.9 x 106/kg/bw and 111.7 x 10(4)/kg/bw, respectively. The mean number of leukapheresis procedures per patient was 1.8 +/- 0.3 (range 1-3), and the mean day of the first procedure was the tenth +/- 1 (range 8-13) after Epirubicin. The minimum required target for one high-dose procedure was collected in a single leukapheresis in 13 patients. Moreover, in 9 cases one procedure was adequate for two high-dose courses (i.e. > or = 10 x 10(6)/kg/bw CD34+ cells). Response to Epirubicin was evaluable in 14/20 cases, with a response rate of 50%. CONCLUSIONS: Epirubicin delivered at 150 mg/sqm is a very effective mobilising agent for breast cancer patients; to ameliorate the response rate other active drug(s) should be added.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Increased interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 serum concentrations in severe primary pulmonary hypertension.

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is characterized by the proliferation of smooth-muscle cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells in the walls of small pulmonary arteries. In order to evaluate a role for proinflammatory cytokines in this process, we studied the concentration of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) in the serum of 29 patients with severe PPH referred to our center for lung transplantation. Results were compared with those obtained in 15 normal controls and nine patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD-PH). TNF alpha serum levels were within the normal range in each group. This contrasted with increased IL-1 beta serum levels in severe PPH (118 +/- 36 pg/ml, mean +/- SEM) as compared with controls (3 +/- 1 pg/ml, p < 0.001) or COPD-PH patients (3 +/- 1 pg/ml, p < 0.001). IL-6 serum concentrations were also higher in severe PPH (66 +/- 20 pg/ml) than in controls (14 +/- 6 pg/ml, p < 0.01). This study demonstrates increased serum levels of IL-1 beta and IL-6 in severe PPH, and suggests a role for proinflammatory cytokines in PPH.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Cryoglobulinaemias: a multi-centre study of the early clinical and laboratory manifestations of primary and secondary disease. GISC. Italian Group for the Study of Cryoglobulinaemias.

In a multi-centre retrospective study, we compared clinical and laboratory data in 913 patients with cryoglobulinaemias, divided as: (i) essential cryoglobulinaemias; (ii) cryoglobulinaemias secondary to connective tissue diseases (CTD), lymphoproliferative or other haematological diseases (LPD), chronic liver diseases (CLD), and 'other diseases'. Purpura was the commonest presenting feature in all groups and was more common in essential cryoglobulinaemias (p < 0.0001). Meltzer's triad (purpura, arthralgia, weakness) was less frequent, but similarly distributed. Renal involvement was randomly distributed. Neurological impairment was less frequent in cryoglobulinaemias secondary to CLD (p < 0.002). Raynaud's phenomenon, arthritis and sicca syndrome were more frequent in cryoglobulinaemias secondary to CTD. Essential cryoglobulinaemias had a significantly higher percentage of serum complement C4 < 8 mg/dl (p < 0.004), of detectable rheumatoid factor activity (p < 0.0002), and of type II cryoglobulins (p < 0.0001). Liver involvement was evident at presentation in 32.6% of essential cryoglobulinaemias, 27.1% of cryoglobulinaemias secondary to LPD and 12.2% of cryoglobulinaemias secondary to CTD. Antibodies to hepatitis B surface (HBsAg) and core (HBc) antigens were more frequent in cryoglobulinaemias secondary to CLD; anti-HBs antibodies were randomly distributed. Antibodies to hepatitis C (HCV) were tested for in 224 patients, and prevalence was high in all the groups, but lower in cryoglobulinaemias secondary to CTD (p < 0.0001). Type II and type III essential cryoglobulinaemias differed significantly in renal involvement (p < 0.0001), cryocrit > 3% (p < 0.0001), C4 < 15 mg/dl (p < 0.001), HBsAg prevalence (p < 0.01) and purpura (p < 0.05). Despite the high prevalence of HCV markers in all groups, the role of HCV in essential cryoglobulinaemia is not well defined; HBV seems to play only a marginal role.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Intrapleural production of interleukin 6 during mesothelioma and its modulation by gamma-interferon treatment.

In vivo production of monokines was analyzed in 17 human malignant pleural mesotheliomas. High concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6) were detected in pleural effusions, contrasting with low levels of IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha. This production arose from malignant cells, as shown by immunochemical analysis of pleural cells and by production of IL-6 by mesothelial cell lines. Intrapleural administration of recombinant human gamma-interferon to six patients led to a marked decrease in intrapleural IL-6 concentrations in all cases. This treatment was associated with in situ activation of macrophages and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, as indicated by increased intrapleural neopterin and soluble CD8 concentrations. In vitro gamma-interferon had no effect on the production of IL-6 by mesothelial cell lines but decreased the growth of 3 of 6 mesothelioma cell lines. These results indicate that systemic manifestations of malignant mesothelioma, including fever, cachexia, and thrombocytosis may be related to the production of IL-6 by malignant cells, and that local gamma-interferon infusion may reduce this production by stimulating antitumoral immunity and/or by directly decreasing the proliferation of malignant cells.

Biopterins↗
PubMed1994

Transforming growth factor beta in normal human lung: preferential location in bronchial epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is an immunomodulatory cytokine regulating the proliferation and differentiation of various cell types. It also contributes to the maintenance of tissue architecture by influencing the production of extracellular matrix components. TGF-beta has been detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from normal human lung, but the nature and distribution of cells containing TGF-beta in this organ remain unknown. METHODS: Fourteen normal human lung specimens were studied by immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody recognizing TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 3. RESULTS: TGF-beta was detected in all cases. Bronchial epithelial cells contained the largest amounts of TGF-beta. In these cells the staining was brightest at the apical pole. Macrophages and smooth muscle cells also contained TGF-beta, although less than epithelial cells. No TGF-beta was detected in other cell populations, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and pneumocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The bronchial epithelial compartment appears to be the main location of TGF-beta in the normal human lung, suggesting that this cytokine has a pivotal role in the immunological properties of the bronchial mucosa.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Atopic dermatitis of infancy and urinary tract infections.

BACKGROUND: Infants under evaluation for atopic dermatitis (AD) at our clinic undergo a battery of examinations that include urinalysis and urine culture tests with antibiograms. The prevalence of cases with significant bacteriuria and leukocyturia (SBL) appeared to be unexpectedly high. OBJECTIVE: This study attempts to establish whether infants with AD should be suspected of having a higher prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTI). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of urine and urine culture tests was performed in 131 infants (84 males and 47 females) aged 1-24 months with untreated AD and in 1,327 control subjects (621 male, 706 female) aged 1-24 months. RESULTS: SBL was present in 27.5% of cases versus 3% of controls (p < 10(-5)). After routine treatment for AD and antibiotic treatment on the basis of a urine antibiogram, the recurrence rate of SBL, evaluated monthly over a 6-month period, was only 8.3%. CONCLUSION: Infants with AD might be at a greater risk for developing UTI, and when treated for AD this risk might be reduced.

Bacteriuria↗
PubMed1992

Natural killer function in flow cytometry. III. Surface marker determination of K562-conjugated lymphocytes by dual laser flow cytometry.

The recognition of effector cell populations that are able to actively from conjugates with target cells is of major importance in studies of lymphocyte cytotoxicity. A number of methodologies have been described to identify the conjugates and count them, but there have been few studies of the binding capability of the different subsets of effector cells involved in the conjugation phenomenon. Here we describe a methodology that permits the study of two surface markers on lymphocytes conjugated to K562 target cells. In particular, the expression of low density CD8 (CD8dim) has been studied on both CD3+ and CD16+ lymphocytes bound to K562 target cells. Previously described methodologies, either optical microscopy or flow cytometry, were not able to identify the effector population by mAb double staining, especially in the case of antigens expressed at low density. The flow cytometric methodology described here permits the measurement of the binding activity of small lymphocyte subsets such as the CD3+ 8dim+ population. However, the method could be used to study the binding activity of any effector population defined by mAb double staining.

Antigens, Differentiation↗