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Biomedical subjects

G Pauli

Publications and source records attributed to G Pauli.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Consistency and efficacy of cetirizine (10 mg) versus ebastine (20 mg) at 4 h on skin reactivity.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the consistency and efficacy of the two antihistamines, cetirizine (10 mg) and ebastine (20 mg) on histamine skin reactivity 4 h after treatment. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy volunteers participated in a randomised double-blind cross-over study. The areas of wheals and flares induced by increasing (0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 300 mg/ml) histamine concentrations, administered by prick tests, were measured before and 4 h after intake of cetirizine or ebastine. RESULTS: Before treatment, concentration-response curves were similar and threshold concentrations identical (0.57 mg/ml and 0.57 mg/ml for cetirizine and ebastine, respectively). Both treatments exerted a significant effect. However, cetirizine was significantly more efficient than ebastine 20 mg (P < 0.01 both for wheals and flares). After cetirizine, the threshold concentration inducing a 3-mm(2 )wheal was significantly higher (266 mg/ml) than after ebastine (77 mg/ml) (P < 0.01), and total inhibition of the wheal was obtained in 18 of 24 patients for cetirizine and in 4 of 24 for ebastine (P < 0.001). The variation coefficient for the wheal reaction was 31% for cetirizine and 159% for ebastine, indicating a much lower variability after cetirizine. CONCLUSION: Our study shows clearly that the efficacy of a single therapeutic dosage of cetirizine is greater and consistently better than that of ebastine for suppression of cutaneous reactivity to histamine 4 h after treatment in healthy volunteers. The need for ebastine to metabolise into the active carebastine might explain this difference.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Genetics and specific immune response in allergy to birch pollen and food: evidence of a strong, positive association between atopy and the HLA class II allele HLA-DR7.

BACKGROUND: In some geographic areas birch pollen represents the most prominent cause for airborne allergic diseases. Up to 70% of patients allergic to birch pollen are hypersensitive to fruits, especially apples. Associations have been found, in some instances, with a sensitivity to aeroallergens and HLA class II genes. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether susceptibility or resistance to birch pollen allergy with and without food allergy was associated with HLA class II genes. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 2 groups of unrelated European-born white adults: 42 atopic patients (31 of them with asthma) and 42 healthy control subjects with no personal or familial history of asthma or atopy. Their antibody responses to birch pollen, apples, grass, and weed pollens were evaluated by skin tests, RASTs, and immunoprints. Genomic DNA was extracted from PBLs. The exons of DQA1, DQB1, DRB1, and DPB1 genes were selectively amplified by using the PCR method. Genotyping was carried out by digestion of the amplified DNA products with allele-specific endonucleases (PCR-RFLP), which recognize allelic variations in the polymorphic exon. RESULTS: We found no significant differences in the frequency of DPB1 alleles between patients and control subjects. HLA class II DR4 and/or DR7 alleles were present in 42.6% of the patients and in only 2.4% of the healthy subjects. These results confirm a previous study of a group of polysensitized atopic patients, which showed that DR4 and DR7 alleles were rare in healthy control subjects and frequently observed in atopic subjects with or without concomitant asthma. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the allele HLA-DR7 is significantly involved in the presentation of apple and pollen allergens. However, we suggest that this susceptibility is more related to atopy than to specific responses to allergens.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Sublingual-swallow immunotherapy (SLIT) in patients with asthma due to house-dust mites: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out in 85 patients with a well-documented history of perennial asthma caused by house-dust mites. Patients received either placebo or sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with a standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP)-D. farinae (DF) 50/50 extract. After a run-in period, patients received increasing doses up to 300 IR every day for 4 weeks and then three times a week for the following 24 months. The cumulative dose was about 104000 IR, equivalent to 4.2 mg Der p 1 and 7.3 mg Der f 1. Symptom and medication scores and respiratory function were assessed throughout the trial. Serum specific IgE and IgG4 were determined before SLIT (t0) and after 6 (t1), 11 (t2), 17 (t3), and 25 months (t4) of SLIT. Mite exposure was evaluated at t0, t2, and t4 by semiquantitative guanine determinations. Patients aged 15 years and older were asked to assess their quality of life (QoL) by completing the SF20 (Short Form Health Status Survey) plus two items at t0, t2, and t4. Use of inhaled corticosteroids and beta2-agonists was significantly decreased after 25 months of treatment in both groups (P<0.03). SLIT patients showed significant improvements in respiratory function at t4 (% predicted FEV1 (P = 0.01), VC (P = 0.002), morning (P = 0.01) and evening (P = 0.03) PEFR), and reduction in daytime asthma score (P = 0.02). In the SLIT group, the post-treatment PD20 was 1.75 times higher than the baseline value. There was no change in PD20 in the placebo group. Compared to the placebo group, the SLIT group showed a significant increase in specific IgE DP(P = 0.05), IgE DF(P = 0.02), IgG4 DP(P = 0.001), and IgG4 DF (P = 0.001) levels after SLIT. QoL scores were similar in both groups at t0 and t2. At t4, all scores were better in the SLIT group than in the placebo group, with the differences being most marked for the general perception of health (P = 0.01) and physical pain (P = 0.02). Adverse events were similar in the two groups. This study shows that SLIT in house-dust-mite-related asthma has a good safety profile and improves respiratory function, bronchial hyperreactivity, and QoL.

Administration, Sublingual↗
PubMed1999

Repeated inhalation of low doses of cat allergen that do not induce clinical symptoms increases bronchial hyperresponsiveness and eosinophil cationic protein levels.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether repeated exposure to subclinical doses of cat allergens, not inducing asthma symptoms, could affect eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or in peripheral blood, without the appearance of clinical symptoms. Twelve patients with mild asthma, all sensitized to cats and not exposed to cat allergen at home, underwent a series of inhalations of cat allergen or placebo for 8 days over 2 weeks. A methacholine challenge was performed before and after the allergen and saline exposures, and BAL and blood were sampled for ECP measurements and eosinophil counts. No patients experienced asthma symptoms. However, PD20 methacholine (geometric mean) decreased significantly from 263 microg before to 126 microg after inhalation of allergen. Inhalation of saline did not induce any significant change in PD20. The change in log PD20 before and after cat allergen exposure was statistically different from the change in log PD20 before and after saline. Median ECP levels in BAL and serum increased significantly after allergen exposure, from 0.8 to 3.1 microg/l (p<0.02) and from 15.9 to 31.4 microg/l (p<0.05), respectively. No change was observed after saline inhalations. The change in BAL and serum ECP levels was statistically significant compared to that in the control group. The number of eosinophils did not change, however, nor did IL-5 and RANTES levels in BAL and serum. In conclusion, our results show that (1) exposure of asthma patients to repeated low doses of allergen, which did not provoke any clinical symptoms, is capable of inducing a local eosinophil activation associated with an increase in nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness and (2) the increase in serum ECP levels due to eosinophil activation precedes the occurrence of asthma symptoms and may thus be a marker of allergen exposure in allergic asthma.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1999

Distribution of HCV genotypes among different exposure categories in Brazil.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is widespread and responsible for more than 60% of chronic hepatitis cases. HCV presents a genetic variability which has led to viral classification into at least 6 genotypes and a series of subtypes. These variants present characteristic geographical distribution, but their association with different responses to treatment with interferon and severity of disease still remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the patterns of distribution of HCV genotypes among different exposure categories in Brazil. Two hundred and fifty anti-HCV positive samples were submitted to HCV-RNA detection by RT-PCR and their genotype was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. In addition, the genotype/subtype of 60 samples was also determined by a reverse hybridization assay. HCV 1 was the most prevalent (72.0%), followed by type 3 (25.3%), HCV 2 (2.0%) and HCV 4 (0.7%). The HCV genotype distribution varied among the different exposure categories, with HCV 1 being more frequent among blood donors, hemophiliacs and hemodialysis patients. A high frequency of HCV 3 was observed in cirrhotic patients, blood donors from the South of Brazil and injecting drug users (IDUs). The general distribution of the HCV genotype in Brazil is similar to that in other regions of the world.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and risk factors for HBV, HCV and HDV infections among injecting drug users from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Viral hepatitis constitutes a major health issue, with high prevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs). The present study assessed the prevalence and risk determinants for hepatitis B, C and D viruses (HBV, HCV and HDV) infections among 102 IDUs from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Serological markers and HCV-RNA were detected by enzyme immunoassay and nested PCR, respectively. HCV genotyping was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP). HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs were found in 7.8, 55.8 and 24. 7% of IDUs, respectively. In the final logistic regression, HBV infection was independently associated with male homosexual intercourse within the last 5 years (odds ratio (OR) 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-8.8). No subject presented anti-delta (anti-HD). Anti-HCV was detected in 69.6% of subjects, and was found to be independently associated with needle sharing in the last 6 months (OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.3-9.2) and with longer duration of iv drug use (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.1-8.7). These data demonstrate that this population is at high risk for both HBV and HCV infection. Among IDUs from Rio de Janeiro, unprotected sexual intercourse seems to be more closely associated with HBV infection, whereas HCV is positively correlated with high risk injecting behavior. Comprehensive public health interventions targeting this population and their sexual partners must be encouraged.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Antiviral and hemolytic activities of surfactin isoforms and their methyl ester derivatives.

Inactivation of enveloped viruses (VSV, SFV, and SHV-1) by surfactin lipopeptides was dependent on the hydrophobicity, i.e. the number of carbon atoms of the fatty acid, and on the charge of the peptide moiety as well as on the virus species. Surfactins with fatty acid chains of 13 carbon atoms showed very low antiviral activity in comparison to C14 and C15 isoforms. C15 surfactin monomethyl ester also inactivated SFV which was resistant to the mixture of surfactin isoforms as produced by Bacillus subtilis. In contrast, the dimethyl ester showed no virus-inactivation capacity. Disintegration of viral structures as determined by electron microscopy after inactivation of VSV and SFV was comparable to the titer reduction. The effect of the surfactin isoforms and methyl esters on erythrocyte hemolysis correlated with the virus-inactivation capacity. Surfactins with a fatty acid chain moiety of 15 carbon atoms and one negative charge showed the highest antiviral activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Paraneoplastic Cushing's syndrome and small cell bronchial carcinoma].

Approximately 30% of small-cell bronchogenic cancers are associated with hypersecretion of ACTH. However, in most cases, there is no clinical expression. When a paraneoplastic Cushing syndrome occurs, it is an independent factor of poor prognosis. Management is extremely complex. Treatment must be based on high dose inhibitors prior to chemotherapy. Opportunistic infections, often fungal infections, are the main complications, even outside periods of aplasia, and cause significantly earlier mortality.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1999

[Occupational asthma caused by a coloring reagent].

A case of occupational asthma associated with rhinitis and conjunctivitis occurred in a patient working in a textile factory and exposed to different coloring reagents is reported. Symptoms appeared in phases correlated with changes in the use of the coloring reagents. Prick tests were carried out with the different coloring reagents and were positive for the yellow color. The test was followed by a clear increase in bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine. Some individual preventive measures, such as wearing a face mask, led to reduction then disappearence of the symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Do patients with squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the lung have different smoking histories?].

Adenocarcinoma of the lung is now the most frequent histological subtype of lung cancer in North America. The increase in cases of adenocarcinoma of the lung has begun since the seventies and has been attributed to the changes in smoking habits and to the rise of lung cancer incidence in females who preferentially develop adenocarcinoma. In France, squamous cell carcinoma of the lung still predominates, but a recent increase in adenocarcinoma has been observed. We performed a comparative study of the smoking habits of patients referred to the chest diseases or to the thoracic surgery departments of the University Hospital of Strasbourg for either a squamous cell carcinoma or an adenocarcinoma, between march 1st, 1995 and april 30th, 1998. The statistical analysis, based on conditional logistic regression, was performed after matching one adenocarcinoma with one squamous cell carcinoma. The matching factors were age, gender and the date of diagnosis. Patients with adenocarcinoma were significantly younger when they started smoking and when they quitted smoking. In these patients, there was also a trend towards a more frequent deep inhalation and use of filter cigarettes. On the other hand, patients with a squamous cell carcinoma smoked more frequently hand-rolled cigarettes. There was no difference with respect to environmental tobacco smoke exposure.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

[Exploration of respiratory allergies and prevention].

Respiratory allergies are found in more than 50% of the asthmatics. Allergen sources and their secondary reservoirs are better known. The different methods of exploration of allergic asthma consist of clinical history, skin tests, and in vitro tests particularly measurement of specific serum IgE. Specific challenge tests are realized with nebulized allergenic extracts as well as in the realistic manner with substances in occupational environment. It is equally important to evaluate the allergenic environment, especially by simple but informative techniques such as the Acarex test for mites. The eviction methods are the same for primary prevention (to prevent sensitization) as well as for the secondary prevention (to reduce the disease exacerbation in the patients already sensitized). The eviction methods mainly concern the allergens of mites, domestic animals, cockroaches and the molds.

Allergens↗
PubMed1999

Skin testing with wild-type recombinant birch pollen allergens and hypoallergenic modified molecules.

UNLABELLED: Our aim was to compare the allergenic activity of wild type rBet v 1 with recombinant Bet v 1 derivatives (rBet v 1 fragments, dimer and trimer) with potentially reduced anaphylactic activity by skin testing in a French population. METHODS: Among the 36 birch pollen allergic patients included in the study, 29 were tested by skin prick testing and 30 by intradermal injections with purified monosubstances: rBet v 1 fragments (F1: aa1-74 and F2: aa75-160), Bet v 1 dimer and trimer. Intradermal tests were performed by the endpoint intradermal titration method. Tests were performed over a period of 6 months (before, during and after birch pollen season). RESULTS: All patients showed lower reactivity with the modified rBet v 1 allergens, both in skin prick- and intradermal tests. In 25 and 23 out of 29 patients the lowest concentration of fragment 1 and 2 respectively, resulting in a positive prick test was 100 fold higher than the lowest concentration of monomer resulting in a positive prick test. For dimer it was 100 fold or more in 25 out of 29 patients, and for trimer it was 100 fold or superior in 26 out of 29 patients. By intradermal testing, the end point concentration was 160 fold higher for trimer than for monomer in 24 patients and 40 fold higher in 5 patients. For the 2 fragments the end point concentration was 160 fold higher in 20 out of 22 patients. CONCLUSION: rBet v 1 fragments and trimer may represent candidate molecules for immunotherapy of birch pollen allergy with reduced risk of anaphylactic side effects.

Allergens↗
PubMed1998

The HTLV type I sequence from an asymptomatic German blood donor is related to sequences from South America.

In most parts of Europe only a limited number of sporadic cases of HTLV-I infections have been identified. So far, the few cases found in Germany were individuals from endemic areas or with relations to endemic areas. Here we report an HTLV-I infection from an asymptomatic female German blood donor whose only known potential risk was a former partner from South America, where HTLV-I is known to be endemic. The DNA sequence of the LTR region was determined and a phylogenetic analysis indeed suggested homologies with HTLV-I sequences from South America.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Sequence analysis of the first HTLV-I infection in Germany without relations to endemic areas.

In most parts of Europe only a limited number of sporadic cases of HTLV-I infections have been identified. So far, the few cases found in Germany have always been linked to individuals with relations to endemic areas. Here we report the first HTLV-I infection from a German ATL patient without any known risk for HTLV-I infection and with no relations to known endemic areas. The DNA sequence of the provirus was determined, and a phylogenetic analysis based on the LTR sequence established a close relationship with HTLV-I sequences previously found in two Romanian patients. Our data suggest the existence of a previously unrecognized cluster of HTLV-I infections in southeastern or central Europe.

Adult↗