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Biomedical subjects

L Fiore

Publications and source records attributed to L Fiore.

133 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Current concepts on the relationship between immunodeficiency and allergy.

The relationship between immunodeficiency and atopy represent one of the most significant yet at the same time one of the least understood phenomena in medicine today. This paper will therefore attempt to review the present state of knowledge. Current data focusing on the role of histamine as a negative feed-back regulator of the immune system will also be summarized. It has recently become evident that although several lines of evidence have documented abnormal suppressor T cell functions or numbers in the atopic state, the exact mechanism, however, is not clear yet. It would be important to assess whether the disturbed T cell activity is primary or secondary to the other findings in the atopic diathesis.

Adolescent↗

[Blood gas analysis and evaluation of pulmonary functional damage in bronchiolitis].

212 Sucklings affected with bronchiolitis were evaluated monitoring values of haematic gases and acid-base balance. The patients were differentiated in three groups: Hypoxemia--Hypercapnia (3.7%). Hypoxemia--Normocapnia (38.2%). Normoxemia--Hypocapnia (58.1%). Metabolic acidosis was detected in 55.1% of cases. The different value of haematic gases was correlated with entity of the pulmonary functional damage.

Acidosis, Respiratory↗

T-cell subsets in atopic dermatitis.

The T-cell subpopulations as defined by monoclonal antibodies OKT4 and OKT8 have been evaluated in 17 children with severe atopic dermatitis and high IgE levels. Normal percentage and absolute number of total T-cells and helper and suppressor/cytotoxic subsets were found. No relationship could be established between the distribution of T-cell subsets, serum IgE levels or the severity of the eczema.

Adolescent↗

IgE levels and PMN chemotaxis in atopic dermatitis.

In the recent years immunological abnormalities, including defective polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) chemotaxis and both quantitative and functional defects in T-lymphocytes, have been reported in atopic dermatitis (AD). To date there is still a controversy regarding the causes of PMN chemotaxis defect and the possible mechanism underlying this abnormality in patients with AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the PMN chemotactic function in 18 children affected with AD and high levels of serum IgE, and in 4 children with Hyper IgE Syndrome (HIES). Our results showed a marked PMN chemotaxis defect (p less than 0.01) in the patients with HIES, while in the subjects with AD PMN cellular chemotaxis was normal and there was no correlation between the results of chemotaxis and serum IgE levels.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of nasal and blood eosinophilia in children suffering from perennial allergic rhinitis treated with beclomethasone dipropionate.

In 16 children suffering from allergic rhinitis, and treated with intranasal Beclomethasone Dipropionate (BDP) for 3 months, therapy significantly diminished the number of nasal eosinophils, while it did not cause any change in blood eosinophilia. This may confirm the local effect of this drug, given at 300 microgram/die. The reduction of nasal eosinophilia during BDP therapy can be explained by the attenuation of the tissue damage characterized by allergic inflammation. The release of mediators, particularly histamine, increases epithelial permeability and promotes penetration of the high molecular weight allergens which thereby gain access to submucosal mast cells. Further release of mediators makes the mucosa more and more permeable to allergen entry. BDP decreases mucous permeability and allergen absorption, so reducing inflammation and consequently the migration of eosinophils to the sites of the allergic reaction.

Administration, Intranasal↗

[Hypothyroxinemia in the low birth-weight infant in the screening of congenital hypothyroidism].

Inside a pilot screening program for Congenital Hypothyroidism, T4 and TSH have been tested in sick and healty preteam and fullterm low birth weight (LBW) newborns during the first two months of life, 36 newborns affected by respiratory distress syndrome and 15 by sepsis have been included in the study. Blood samples were collected by heel puncture on 3rd, 10th, 20th, 40th and, in some cases, up to 60th day of life, and adsorbed on filter paper. Our findings show that hypothyroxinaemia in LBW newborns is strictly related to gestational age. In fact, among preterm infants with GA less than or equal to 33 weeks, 25 subjects (69,44%) showed T4 levels less than or equal to 6 micrograms/dl and 5 infants (13,88%) had T4 concentrations less than or equal to 2 micrograms/dl. The incidence of subjects with T4 values less than or equal to 6 micrograms/dl falls to 42,18% in the group of infants with GA = 34-36 weeks and to 17,27% in the group of fullterm LBW infants. None of these newborns showed thyroxine levels less than or equal to 2 micrograms/dl. All the examined infants showed normal TSH levels. The low T4 values may appear soon after birth or later (3rd-20th day of life) and sometimes persist up to 40th or 60th day, despite of always normal TSH levels. The mean of low T4 values at each sampling time is strictly and directly related to gestational age. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗

[A seroepidemiological study on the level of immunological coverage in a nomadic population in Rome].

Immunization status to the three types of poliovirus, to tetanus, diphtheria and measles was evaluated in a Gypsy population living at a Roman camp. Information about demographic data and history of immunization was collected from 149 subjects and a blood sample was obtained from 86 individuals to determine antibody titres to the above mentioned infectious agents. Among the responders, only 20.8% had received at least one dose of oral polio vaccine (OPV), tetanus and diphtheria vaccine, while none was vaccinated against measles. In spite of a low immunization coverage, serological data showed high prevalence of antibodies to the three types of poliovirus (81.4% to polio type 1:94.2% to polio type 2:62.8% to polio type 3) and to measles (76.7%), while antibodies to tetanus and to diphtheria were detected respectively only in 3.5% and 0% of the individuals tested. High levels of antibodies to polio were found also among unvaccinated subjects. For these, a statistically significant positive correlation between age and number of "contact doses" from vaccinated family members was observed (r = 0.70; CI 95%: 0.27-0.90). In conclusion, this study uncovers very low levels of immunization to poliovirus, tetanus, diphtheria and measles in the study Gypsy population, and shows the effects of the secondary spread of the OPV, which probably contributed to reduce the risk of contracting the disease in unvaccinated individuals.

Adolescent↗