Biomedical subjects

L Antonicelli

Publications and source records attributed to L Antonicelli.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1991

Efficacy of an air-cleaning device equipped with a high efficiency particulate air filter in house dust mite respiratory allergy.

The efficacy of an air-cleaning device equipped with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter (without further avoidance measures) was studied in patients allergic to house dust mite. The effects of the air-cleaner on indoor Dermatophagoides sp. levels, symptom score and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in nine mite-allergic patients were assessed using a cross-over controlled study. No significant effect was demonstrated on indoor Dermatophagoides sp. levels when comparing the period of air-cleaner activity (2 months) with the control period (2 months). The Dermatophagoides sp. levels in the houses studied were lower than the risk level for asthmatic attacks, making it difficult to assess any effect on asthma; however, neither bronchial hyperresponsiveness nor rhinitis symptom score were changed by air-cleaner activity. During the trial period, however the mean level of Dermatophagoides sp. allergen in the houses changed spontaneously from 4.4 micrograms/g (mean level in the first 2 trial months) to 1.75 micrograms/g of dust (second 2 months) (P less than 0.05). Owing to this change, the mean rhinitis symptom score also decreased (P less than 0.05), even if no significant correlation was demonstrated (r = 0.4 P = 0.089). HEPA filter air-cleaners appear insufficient as substitutes for standard avoidance measures in mite allergic patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Hyposensitization therapy of Parietaria-sensitive patients with a tyrosine adsorbed allergoid, Pollinex Parietaria (Bencard Parietaria).

Thirty patients suffering from allergy to Parietaria pollen were treated with either a new tyrosine-adsorbed allergoid of Parietaria judaica pollen (Pollinex Parietaria) or a commercially available alum-adsorbed extract (Alavac) as control. A reduced response to nasal provocation was seen in 7 out of 11 patients following treatment with Pollinex and 1 out of 10 after control treatment. 9 out of 11 and 3 out of 10, respectively, showed reduced skin test activity. Patients who received Pollinex tended to have fewer nasal symptoms during the pollen season. Pollinex induced larger increases in P. judaica-specific IgG antibody than did the control product. Side effects of therapy were similar between the two groups of patients. Pollinex Parietaria thus shows good potential for the control of allergy to Parietaria pollen.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Ventilatory function in rubber processing workers: acute changes over the workshift.

When considering rubber tyre manufacturing from an occupational health viewpoint, three areas may be identified in which exposure to respirable materials are potentially harmful: the processing, curing, and talc areas. A study of the ventilatory function of the entire work force employed in the processing area in a rubber tyre manufacturing plant was undertaken to determine whether an acute reduction in lung function occurs over the course of their working shift (the plant worked a three shift system) and whether a chronic exposure to the occupational airborne contaminants causes permanent changes in lung function. The ventilatory function was measured at the worksite at the beginning and immediately after the end of the workshift. No evidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was found and in most cases no significant decline in FEV1 was observed. Only one of the 79 individuals showed a moderate obstruction, measured by the ratio FEV1/FVC which gave the value of 0.55, with no variation over the shift. For non-smokers, the FVC, FEV1, and FEF25-75% were lower in those exposed for more than five years than in those exposed for five years or less. A similar pattern was also observed in the FVC and FEV1 of the smokers. None of these differences was statistically significant. Within each exposure group the pulmonary function of the smokers was lower than that of the non-smokers, but the only significant difference was found in the values of FEF25-75%. Only one man showed a decline in the FEV1/FVC ratio over the shift, but during each shift, a decrease in all the lung function tests was observed. The decrease was smallest during the first of the three shifts. These results are thought to support the hypothesis that there are acute adverse effects over an eight hour shift. Further investigations are needed to discover whether these acute changes in lung function result from a chemical stimulation or irritant receptors in the airways.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sensitization to cockroach in Italy: a multicentric study.

The prevalence of sensitization to cockroach (CR) was evaluated by skin prick test (SPT) in 1299 patients consecutively referred for rhinitis and asthma to five allergy centers in northern, central, and southern Italy. In patients with positive SPT to CR, an SPT with D. pteronyssinus extract was made. RAST inhibition was performed with pooled sera of subjects with positive SPT and RAST of at least Class 3 for CR and D. Pteronyssinus, to assess the cross-reactivity between these two allergenic sources. The protein content of allergen extracts was assayed by isoelectric focusing (IEF). A total of 170 patients (13%) had a positive SPT with CR extract, and 133 of them (78.2%) were also positive for D. pteronyssinus. RAST inhibition showed a cross-reactivity between CR and D. pteronyssinus, and IEF detected in the extracts employed a series of bands focusing at the same pI of CR and D. pteronyssinus relevant allergens. Therefore, the prevalence of sensitization to CR in the population studied, corresponding to 13%, suggests that CR extract might be added to standard SPT panels for respiratory allergy. However, the cross-reactivity with D. pteronyssinus calls for careful evaluation of the clinical importance of this sensitization.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Double-blind crossover trial to compare the activity of nedocromil sodium and placebo in antigen challenge.

In a double-blind crossover placebo controlled study, the inhibitory effects of three different doses of nedocromil sodium on the immediate bronchoconstrictor response to antigen challenge were compared with a placebo. All the test treatments were inhaled three hours before challenge. Four asthmatic patients took part in the study and the test treatments were taken in a randomized order. All three doses of nedocromil sodium significantly reduced the bronchoconstrictor response and protected the patients against antigen challenge, compared with placebo. The highest dose of 2 mg was the most effective dose. All test doses of nedocromil sodium were safe and well tolerated by the patients.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative study of terfenadine and cetirizine in hay fever: assessment of efficacy and central nervous system effects.

A daily dose of either terfenadine 120 mg or cetirizine 10 mg was compared in two parallel groups of patients suffering from hay fever. According to a double-blind, double-dummy, randomized design, 28 patients were treated with one of the two drugs once daily in the morning for 2 weeks during the 1990 grass pollen season. The severity of nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasopharyngeal itching and itchy, watery, red eyes was evaluated by the investigator after a 1-week run-in period and at the end of the treatment. The patients made a daily record of the severity of symptoms on a diary card. In addition, drug-related central nervous system (CNS) effects were assessed at baseline and at the end of the treatment by neuropsychological tests aimed at investigating selective and sustained attention, visuomotor abilities and anxiety, and by quantitative, bit-mapped EEG. Both terfenadine and cetirizine produced a significant improvement in symptoms at endpoint without any significant difference between the two drugs. Drowsiness was referred by one patient in each treatment group. No significant impairment of psychomotor performance occurred with either drug. Quantitative EEG showed a significant power increase in the relative (%) delta band in both groups of treated patients. Although the difference was not statistically significant, a tendency towards greater involvement of the CNS was observed with the use of cetirizine. In conclusion, the results of this study confirm that terfenadine and cetirizine are equally effective in the management of hay fever. Some differentiated untoward EEG changes were also observed in relation to the drugs used, without any variation in neuropsychological performance.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Early decrease in skin reactivity after rush venom immunotherapy.

Previous studies have documented changes in skin reactivity after specific immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the time course of this phenomenon after rush venom immunotherapy. According to the method of endpoint evaluation, the skin reactivity of 38 patients allergic to venom was studied 24 h before and after the end of a rush venom immunotherapy protocol (7 days). The results were compared with 13 controls. An early significant decrease in skin reactivity was documented (p < 0.001), which was not related to an increase in specific IgG. Thus, rush venom immunotherapy induces a very early decrease in skin reactivity.

Adolescent↗