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Biomedical subjects

J Croce

Publications and source records attributed to J Croce.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Biochemical, antigenic and allergenic characterization of crude extracts of Drechslera (Helminthosporium) monoceras.

In a previous study with airborne mould extracts we verified that Drechslera (Helminthosporium) monoceras presented stronger reactions than those presented by 42 other moulds isolated in São Paulo city. In the present study, we evaluated the biochemical composition and the antigenicity of crude extracts obtained from vegetative and conidial stage of D. monoceras using Czapeck broth (CB) modified and tris-HCl for extraction. The maximum values of total proteins and lipids were verified in the crude extract obtained in the 28th day of growth, and maximum values of carbohydrates were observed in the extracts of the 16th, 22nd and 26th days. The fractionated proteins by SDS-PAGE presented bands with molecular weights between 14.4 to 67 Kd; the 28th day extract showed a larger number of bands. The carbohydrates and amino acids were characterized by thin-layer chromatography. The antigenicity of the crude extracts was verified by immunodiffusion reaction in agar against rabbit hyperimmune sera. Precipitation lines were observed in all studied extracts and common antigenic molecular populations. Based on the above results, the 28th day extract was selected to verify the induction of IgE antibody responses in immunizations of Balb/c and cAF-1 mice, and titer by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test using Wistar rats. The maximum titers obtained were 160 in cAF-1 mice and 1.280 in Balb/c mice. The results suggest that the 28th day extract contains allergenic fractions and should be chosen for future studies related to fractionation, characterization and standardization in diagnostic methods and immunotherapy.

Allergens↗
PubMed1995

A double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison of sodium cromoglycate and ketotifen in the treatment of childhood asthma.

We compared three treatments: sodium cromoglycate 5 mg aerosol and placebo syrup (39 patients), placebo aerosol and ketotifen syrup (39 patients), and placebo aerosol and syrup (36 patients). The patients (mean age 11.7 years) had mostly allergic, moderately severe asthma. Treatments were added to current therapy (mostly bronchodilators only) for 3 months. Aerosols were taken four times daily and syrups twice daily. The following results were significant at a level of 5%. At the final clinic visit, the changes from baseline in lung function favored sodium cromoglycate over the other treatments. During month 3, sodium cromoglycate was superior to ketotifen for night symptoms, morning tightness, daytime symptoms, and cough. Bronchodilator use decreased more with sodium cromoglycate than ketotifen. Patients' and clinicians' overall opinions of treatment effectiveness favored sodium cromoglycate over ketotifen and placebo. In these patients, sodium cromoglycate was both effective and superior to ketotifen.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1990

[Hypersensitivity in patients with Hebra's prurigo caused by flea bite].

The authors present a study of hypersensitivity of patients with Hebra's prurigo (HP) to feleabites. Thirty six patients were studied. With the results obtained the following conclusions are held: 1. Among the probable responsible factors found in the history of patients with HP, the flea bite is the principal factor. 2. Almost all the patients with HP who were studied show hypersensitivity to flea bites. 3. With the flea bites on the patients with HP, one can observe the clinical and histopathology similarity of both the experimental and elementary lesions of the disease. 4. It was possible to show humoral antibodies in the serum of the patients with HP immunodiffusion technique to the 1:40 flea extract.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Immunology of tertiary pinta].

We've studied the immunological performed of twenty two natives Tikunas suffering from tertiary pinta. Among those, patients had been treated previously (two years earlier) which 2,400,000 IU of G benzathine penicillin, and twelve had no treatment. Both groups demonstrated an increment in the IgM synthesis (72.72%), IgG (50%), indicating the presence of strong antigenic stimuli. The great majority presenting a negative response revealed also a reduction in the cellular immune competence to at least two of the tests performed (92.3%), when were realized the PPD, DNCB and skin grafts tests.

Humans↗
PubMed1986

A multicentre double-blind group comparative trial of two dose levels of nedocromil sodium and placebo in the management of perennial extrinsic asthma.

The efficacy of nedocromil sodium 4 mg or 2 mg q.i.d. in the management of perennial extrinsic asthma was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. Nedocromil sodium, especially at the dose of 4 mg q.i.d., was consistently rated higher than placebo on clinical assessment and diary card measurement. Compared with placebo, there were significant improvements for nedocromil sodium (4 X 4 mg) in asthma severity scores (p less than 0.05 after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment) and clinician's opinion of treatment (p less than 0.001). The results suggest that nedocromil sodium is effective in the maintenance treatment of patients with perennial extrinsic asthma and further studies with longer-term treatment periods are suggested.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Candidin: comparison of two antigens for cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity testing.

A candidin, which is a suspension of killed yeast cells, is commonly used for intradermal tests of delayed hypersensitivity, to evaluate the immunological cellular competence of the patient, when the test is applied along with other similar tests. When working with a cellular antigen, the histopathology of positive skin tests reveals a cellular infiltrate which not only presents a characteristic hypersensitivity reaction but also a neutrophilic abscess in the central part. This research presents the results of a comparison between the yeast cell suspension and the polysaccharide antigens, both obtained from the same strains of Candida albicans. The results obtained by skin tests in one hundred individuals were 61.0% with the polysaccharide antigen and 69.0% with the yeast cell suspension antigen. Concordant results concerning the two antigens were observed in 82.0% of the individuals. The discussion section presents an assumption to explain the differences of positivity obtained with the two antigens. We conclude that the polysaccharide antigen can be utilized in the intradermal test of delayed hypersensitivity to Candida albicans.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bronchial challenge with aspirin lysine in the diagnosis of asthmatics with sensitization to aspirin and its inhibition by aerosolized furosemide.

We performed bronchial challenge with ASA lysine in 9 patients with a history of aspirin-induced asthma, 4 asthmatics with no history of hypersensitization to aspirin and 4 control subjects. The test consisted of successive inhalations of increasing concentrations of ASA lysine (11.25, 22.5, 45, 90, 180 and 360 mg/ml) and was interrupted when FEV1 showed a decrease of at least 20%. In order to determine the degree of bronchial hyperreactivity, we first carried out a bronchial challenge with histamine. All patients in the group sensitive to aspirin had a positive reaction to ASA lysine, while this was negative for patients in the two control groups. There was no significant correlation between PC20 to histamine and ASA lysine in any of the groups. On the other hand, 6 patients with sensitivity to ASA repeated the bronchial challenge with ASA lysine after previously inhaling furosemide, and in this second test, none of the 6 had a positive reaction. The variation of ASA lysine PC20 in both tests was positive for these patients (p < 0.001).

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Atopic dermatitis].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Urticarial vasculitis.

Thirty seven patients with chronic urticaria were prospectively studied from August 1984 to July 1986. These patients were submitted to regular and immunological laboratory tests. Biopsies were taken from recent urticarial lesions for histologic analysis and also to direct immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry studies. Vasculitis was found in 27% of the patients. Most of them showed only urticarial lesions except two (20%), that presented residual macula; angioedema occurred in 20% of the urticarial vasculitis (UV) patients; most cases had no systemic manifestations. Serum immunoglobulins and circulant immunocomplexes were increased in both groups. Complement reduction was considered an evidence of vascular aggression, being found in 55% of the UV patients. Direct immunofluorescence studies showed only 10% of positive IgM fluorescence in the vessel walls in the UV group. Immunohistochemical evaluation in the same group revealed mainly slight deposition of immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA in the plasma cells of 80% of the samples and in only 10% there was immunoglobulin deposition in the vessel walls. The authors concluded that conventional histopathology is the best diagnosis method for urticarial vasculitis, direct immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase being ancillary tools. Therefore, a special group of patients was detected, clinically and therapeutically resembling common urticaria patients, but presenting vasculitis in the histologic exam. This fact leads to the hypothesis that there is a range between common urticaria and urticarial vasculitis with systemic involvement.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cutaneous positivity in patients with respiratory allergies to 42 allergenic extracts of airborne fungi isolated in São Paulo, Brazil.

With the purpose of measuring the frequency of allergies of the respiratory tract to airborne fungi in São Paulo, Brazil, 201 patients with bronchial asthma and/or allergic rhinitis were submitted to intradermal testings with allergenic extracts of 42 fungus genera isolated from the air in São Paulo. The extracts of these fungi were prepared according to Coca's method and then standardized by the weight by the volume method. At first, the patients were submitted to intradermal testing with the total polyvalent (TP) extract, getting positive reaction in 70 of them (34.8%). The patients with positive reaction to the TP were tested with the 42 individual extracts and 74.3% of them reacted positively to one or more extracts. These results led us to the conclusion that the most frequent fungi in the air of São Paulo were not the ones which cause the highest number of positive intradermal reactions. Therefore, the convenience in employing as many allergens as possible in intradermal testings for diagnosis should be reinforced.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Forced mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF 25-75%): a critical analysis of its value in recognizing diseases of the small airways].

A total of 245 patients submitted to lung function test were studied. They were divided in 2 groups: A--FEV1.0/FVC greater than or equal to 75% and B--FEF25-75% less than 75%. These groups were further subdivided according to the age of the patients--subgroup 1 less than or equal to 50 years and subgroup 2 greater than 50 years. Patients with restrictive disorders were not included. The spirometric equipment employed was Hewlett-Packard Inc. Pulmonary Function Analyzer 47402-A. The results were obtained through a digital system and calculated from a graph impressed in a xy register. Results were automatically corrected to BTPS. In each group FVC and FEV1.0 were normal. In group A FVC and FEV1.0 were, respectively: A1-99.63 +/- 13.33 and 101.11 +/- 12.24, A2-97.60 +/- 11.06 and 98.81 +/- 12.18, expressed as percentage of predicted values. In group B the results were: B1-97.61 +/- 13.55% and 81.71 +/- 14.44%; B2-100.28 +/- 13.98% and 83.10 +/- 16.42%. The differences were not statistically significant at 5%. In subgroup A1 X FEV1.0/CVF was 83.41 +/- 5.63% and in subgroup A2, 79.42 +/- 4.23%. Maximum mid-expiratory flow rate was 88.64 +/- 24.39% in subgroup A1 and 65.26 +/- 17.88% in subgroup A2. These differences were statistically significant at 1%. In group B, FEV1.0/FVC was always less than 75%. In subgroup B1 it was 68.24 +/- 10.43% and in B2, 64.90 +/- 10.43% and values for FEF25-75% were 48.13 +/- 16.48% and 42.79 +/- 17.68%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗