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Biomedical subjects

L Di Berardino

Publications and source records attributed to L Di Berardino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Some doubts of the allergist.

The authors examine and discuss some controversial points of allergologic literature concerning immunomodulation, pathogenesis, hygiene hypothesis, mixture of vaccines and treatment schedules.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1999

Clinical efficacy and tolerability of a steady dosage schedule of local nasal immunotherapy. Results of preseasonal treatment in grass pollen rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT) is an effective and safe alternative to conventional subcutaneous immunotherapy. A specific nasal provocation test (SNPT) could be used to indicate the optimal subclinical dose to carry out LNIT. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that LNIT could be carried out with only one predefined dose for all patients, so we have evaluated the efficacy and the tolerability of LNIT administered at steady dosages in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Twenty grass pollen-sensitized patients suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis were studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The treatment was carried out according to a schedule based on the administration of a steady subclinical dosage of the allergenic extract, selected on the basis of the sensitivity threshold of the SNPT. The patients were divided into two groups of 10 people each, which were treated either with grass pollen extract in a hydroglyceric solution or with placebo. RESULTS: During the peak pollen period, with regard to the placebo (P) group, in the grass treated (GT) group a significant decrease of both nasal symptoms (P = .021) and consumption of antihistamines (P = 0.047) was found. Furthermore, only in the GT group was the provocative dose assessed by the SNPT significantly lower (P = .049) at the end of the treatment. In this group of patients an inverse correlation between such provocative dose and the nasal symptom score reported during the peak pollen period was also evidenced (r = 0.708; P = .038). Adverse reactions to LNIT were mild, rare, and did not interfere with the completion of the therapeutic schedule. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that LNIT, when administered at steady dosages, may be proposed as a treatment for grass pollen seasonal allergic rhinitis as it appears to be effective and well tolerated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of preventive immunotherapy with E.P.D., in the treatment of seasonal allergic disease.

Control of seasonal symptoms by means of a preventive and easy to use (only one intradermal injection eight weeks before the pollen peak) immunotherapy, is recommended nowadays. We verified the clinical efficacy of E.P.D. (Enzyme Potentiated Desensibilization) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. This particular immunotherapy consists of an intradermal injection mix, made up of allergenic extracts at extremely low doses and an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase. The vaccine is administered once a year, eight weeks before pollen peaks. We studied a group of 40 patients allergic to grass pollen. The results, analysed statistically on the basis of a symptoms score, showed good clinical efficacy and a significant reduction of drug consumption during the high pollen period. Due to the clinical effectiveness, easy administration (only on injection) and excellent tolerance of the immunotherapy, E.P.D. is particularly suited for the prevention of seasonal symptoms in patients allergic to grass pollen.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1996

Study on the ability of a new barrier to reduce airborne mite allergens.

Environmental control, especially means for blocking the release into the air of mite allergens embedded in padded furniture (mattress, pillows), represents the first important step in the treatment of IgE-mediated allergic diseases. New to the market is a home hygiene spray that creates a protective barrier on padded furniture and is thereby able to contain the dispersion into the air of allergic particles. We tested the effectiveness of the spray in vitro. Since mites, especially D. Pteronyssinus, are considered the foremost allergens, we verified the ability of the invisible barrier to impede the diffusion of the allergen and the mobile forms of these mites (Der p 1, Der 2). The product under exam created a barrier that totally blocked the passage of mobile forms and almost totally prevented the passage of allergens (> 99%).

Aerosols↗
PubMed1995

Nasal immunotherapy to Parietaria: evidence of reduction of local allergic inflammation.

Studies over 10 yr have demonstrated local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT) to be an effective treatment for rhinitis due to pollens and mites. The aim of our work was to investigate the effects of LNIT on the local inflammatory phenomena, employing the model of nasal allergenic challenge, since no evidence has been yet provided about LNIT effects on the events due to allergic reactions. We evaluated, in addition, the possible effects of LNIT on some systemic immunologic parameters and its clinical efficacy. The study involved a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of preseasonal immunotherapy with Parietaria in 20 adults. A significant reduction of symptoms, inflammatory infiltration, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression on epithelial cells after nasal challenge was evidence as long-lasting effect. No changes in serum allergen-specific IgE, IgG, and soluble eosinophil cationic protein were detected, whereas an unexpected increase of soluble ICAM-1 was found in the placebo group only. The treatment was well tolerated and a significant clinical improvement under natural allergenic exposure was observed in the active group. The present study provides, for the first time, evidence that LNIT is able to modulate the nasal allergic inflammation.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1995

The role of additives in chronic pseudo-allergic dermatopathies from food intolerance.

In the vast area of qualitative pathologies caused by foods, real IgE-mediated allergic reactions are rather rare. More commonly observed and apparently on a constant rise in Western countries are reactions from food intolerance, especially in relationship with the massive exposure to additives used in industrial food products. This study involved a population of 582 adult patients with chronic pseudo-allergic dermatopathies. The link between symptoms and intolerance to food additives has been proved on the basis of the efficacy of a strict diet that eliminates certain foods and the positivity of the provocation test in double-blind trial controlled with a placebo in 165 patients (about 28% of the cases). These results lead us to conclude that additives are a frequent cause of chronic pseudo-allergic dermatopathies in adult patients and, in general, a problem of primary importance in the allergology practice.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Prilotest, an innovative disposable skin puncture test: qualitative aspects.

Prilotest is a new disposable skin puncture test that has been recently produced and marketed by Laboratorio Farmaceutico Lofarma, Milan-Italy. The tip of the device is submerged in a well containing the allergen extract. As a result, the product is ready for use and there is no longer a need to place a drop of the allergen extract on the skin beforehand. Thus, the diagnostic procedure is simplified, the test offers excellent reproducibility. We made a comparative test of the reproducibility of the new method and Pepys' modified prick test on thirty patients (10 sensitized to Grass pollen, 10 to Pellitory pollen, and 10 to house dust mites); each test was repeated eight times. We also evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of the new method in 39 different allergic patients (13 sensitized to Grass pollen, 13 to Pellitory pollen, and 13 to house dust mites) and in 39 healthy subjects. The results show that the new method has a significantly higher level of reproducibility than Pepys' modified prick test. Furthermore, the reproducibility obtained is higher than results reported in literature for various standardized prick test methods. The sensitivity and specificity of the new method was excellent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Chronic urticaria and allergy to Acari. Experience with a specific desensitization therapy].

Eighty-five patients affected by chronic urticaria (45 females and 40 males) were submitted to intradermal tests with house and storage mites in order to evaluate a possible sensitization to these allergens. The same allergological tests were performed in an 80-subject control group. The results showed immediate cutaneous reactivity to one or more mites in 40 patients (47%) while only 6 positivities (7.5%) were found in the control group. 27 patients, out of the 40 allergic to mites, were submitted to specific desensitizing therapy. 6 of them showed a complete recovery, 20 good results and only 1 slight improvement of clinical manifestations. These data allow us to hypothesize that the allergy to mite allergens is an important etiopathogenic factor in several chronic so called "idiopathic" urticarias.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Dermatophagoides and storage mites: statistical analysis of RAST results.

R.I.A. dosages of specific IgE antibodies to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae (house dust mites), Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (storage mites) in 467 unselected patients were statistically analyzed. A significant noncorrelation between specific IgE antibodies to storage mites and those to house dust mites has been found, suggesting that storage mites have their own allergenic specificity.

Allergens↗
PubMed1987

Allergy to house dust and storage mites in children: epidemiologic observations.

One hundred and fifty-two children affected by respiratory syndromes, probably due to allergy, underwent skin testing to a range of extracts including several different species of mites. The incidence of positive reactions to different allergens was studied in two groups: below and over 4 years, each including both outpatients and inpatients. The aetiologic role of mites has been evaluated considering positive skin tests to single species between and within families.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Aging in vitro and large-scale interferon production by 15 new strains of human diploid fibroblasts.

To develop resources for large-scale production of human fibroblast interferon, we isolated, cryopreserved, and characterized 15 new strains of human diploid foreskin fibroblasts. Their life spans in vitro ranged from 52 to 72 population doublings. We based the selection of cell strains for mass interferon production on the number of population doublings during which consistently high yields of interferon were obtained after "superinduction" in roller bottles; our data show that aging in vitro leads to significant decline in amounts of interferon produced. In contrast, susceptibility to interferon remains largely unaffected by in vitro senescence. Karyotypic analysis indicated that the best interferon-producing strain, MLD (over 60,000 reference units/ml), has a translocation between chromosomes 5 and 15.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1976

IgE antibodies in patients allergic to rifampicin.

In sera of patients treated with rifampicin, who had episodes ascribable to rifampicin sensitization, IgE antibodies were found. These antibodies cross-react with rifamycin SV and with the chromophoric moiety of rifamycins, but not with the side chain of rifampicin.

Antibodies↗