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Biomedical subjects

L Punzi

Publications and source records attributed to L Punzi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Interrelationships between interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and IL-8 in synovial fluid of various arthropathies.

High levels of many cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and IL-8, were found in various arthropathies suggesting that they play a role in the pathogenesis of disease, although their relationship with the type and activity of disease is still not clear. The synovial fluid (SF) of 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 19 with psoriatic arthritis (PA) and 33 with osteoarthritis (OA) was analyzed for IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8. The highest concentration of the three cytokines was found in the SF of RA. IL-beta detectable levels (> or = 20 pg/ml) were observed in 8/24 (33.3%) patients with RA, in one patient with PA but in no patient with OA. IL-6 (mean +/- SD) (1610.37 +/- 1781.65 pg/ml) was higher in RA than in PA (672.47 +/- 867.40 pg/ml, p = 0.043) and OA (89.45 +/- 120.52 pg/ml, p = 0.0001). IL-8 (1042.72 +/- 698.64 pg/ml) was higher in RA than in PA (660.36 +/- 625.11 pg/ml, p = 0.03) and OA (89.9 +/- 45.88 pg/ml, p = 0.0001). A correlation between IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8 was found in RA. In all patients a correlation between IL-6 and IL-8 levels was found; moreover, these two cytokines were associated with SF indices of inflammation, such as white blood cells (WBC) count and total protein (TP) concentration. Our findings suggest that these interrelationships play a role in the evolution of more severe erosive arthropathy such as RA.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1994

[Paget's disease of bone associated with autoimmune thyroiditis and joint chondrocalcinosis].

A case of scapular Paget's disease of bone with concurrent autoimmune thyroiditis and articular chondrocalcinosis is reported. Although infrequent, this combination suggests the involvement of common pathogenic mechanisms: thyroiditis and Paget's disease may stem from the same viral infection and/or autoimmune disorder, whereas chondrocalcinosis may be the consequence of thyroiditis-related hypothyroidism. In contrast, the association of Paget's disease and chondrocalcinosis may be fortuitous, since both disorders are common.

Chondrocalcinosis↗
PubMed1993

Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors in human inflammatory synovial fluids.

OBJECTIVE: To test synovial fluid (SF) for the presence of soluble fragments originating from distinct tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNF-sR55 and TNF-sR75) which bind to TNF and inhibit its biologic activity. METHODS: TNF-sR55 and TNF-sR75 were measured in 62 SF samples by specific immunoassays using monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: Both TNF-sR were present in all of the SF tested. Their concentrations were higher in SF from patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis than in patients with other inflammatory arthritides. The relative amount of TNF-sR75, as compared with TNF-sR55, was higher in seropositive RA SF than in other SF. CONCLUSION: The balance between TNF and its specific inhibitors may be critical to the biologic outcome mediated by this cytokine.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Predictive value of synovial fluid analysis in juvenile chronic arthritis.

To investigate the value of synovial fluid analysis in predicting the articular evolution of juvenile chronic arthritis, synovial fluid from 29 patients with oligoarticular onset juvenile chronic arthritis were examined prospectively. The patients were subsequently classified after a three year period of observation as having polyarticular (10 patients) or pauciarticular (19 patients) disease. The synovial fluid samples were analysed for total and differential white blood cell count, total protein, beta 2 microglobulin, and total complement activity. For comparison, synovial fluid samples from 95 patients with adult onset rheumatoid arthritis were also analysed. In patients with polyarticular disease polymorphonuclear cells and beta 2 microglobulin concentrations were higher than in the patients with pauciarticular disease (80 (29.2) v 58.1 (25.3), and 3.6 (1.2) v 2.2 (0.5) mg/l, respectively), but there was no significant difference from the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Synovial fluid analysis may be useful in predicting the evolution of juvenile chronic arthritis and improve definition of its subtypes.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗
PubMed1992

[Evaluation of cardiac involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus. Clinical and echographic study].

Thirty-five consecutive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were enrolled in a prospective study. Investigations included a physical evaluation, tests for antinuclear antibodies and antiphospholipid antibodies, an electrocardiogram, a plain chest film, a 2D echocardiogram and a Doppler study. Clinical cardiac manifestations and alterations of the electrocardiogram were infrequent (17% and 11% of patients, respectively) and no patients had abnormal chest film findings. In contrast, echocardiographic abnormalities were common (82% of patients), although moderate in most instances. Pericardial involvement was found in 15 patients (42.8%); a pericardial effusion was seen in 9 of the 14 patients with inactive disease (p < 0.003), whereas thickening of the pericardium was visible in 4 patients with active disease and 2 of the 21 patients with inactive disease. Valve abnormalities were found in 17 patients (48.5%), but were not related to the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies; valve alterations included verrucous endocarditis in one case, valve thickening in one case, mitral prolapse in five cases, and mild or moderate regurgitation in 15 cases (aortic in 2 cases, mitral in 7 cases, pulmonary in 3 cases and tricuspid in 7 cases). Alterations in ventricular chamber size and kinetics were also fairly common, albeit of uncertain pathogenetic significance. These data confirm the value of 2D echocardiography for identifying and monitoring cardiac involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus, even in patients with no overt clinical manifestations.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Anti-thyroid microsomal antibody in synovial fluid as a revealing feature of seronegative autoimmune thyroiditis.

Two cases of recurrent monoarthritis are described in which antithyroid microsomal (antiMi) autoantibody (Ab) was found in synovial fluid (SF) before any clinical or serological evidence of thyroid disease. Subsequently, the follow-up of the two patients showed the appearance of thyroiditis within 2-5 years. The presence of anti-Mi Ab in SF might anticipate the appearance of autoimmune thyroiditis even in the absence of serum detectable antithyroid Ab, as was later observed in these two cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Fibroblastic rheumatism. A clinical and histological entity].

In 1980 was described for the first time a disease which seemed unknown until then. From that time three cases have been published. The current study summarizes their common characteristic, combining joint involvements to nodular-type involvements to systemic involvement, i.e. a specific histology. This entity has been named fibroblastic rheumatism. Nosologically, it is situated between juvenile fibroblastoses without joint involvement and with nodules, and adult sclerodermis with joint and systemic involvement without nodules.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Phospholipids in inflammatory synovial effusions.

The concentration of phospholipids and proteins was determined in 23 inflammatory synovial fluids obtained from human knee joints. The synovial fluid to plasma phospholipid ratio (0.48 and 0.37 at high and low inflammatory state) was lower than the value found for the total protein content (0.68 and 0.53, respectively) indicating that phospholipids were more discriminated than proteins in their transfer from plasma to the synovial space. Constant amounts of phosphatidylinositol were found in all synovial fluids, whereas trace amounts of lysophosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine were more frequent in the active inflammatory state. A decrease in the relative amounts of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol with respect to plasma suggested the possibility of phospholipid hydrolysis in the synovial compartment. In agreement, determinations of phospholipase activity disclosed the presence of a phospholipase A2 in the fluid phase of synovial effusions. Phospholipid derivatives formed in the synovial space may thus contribute to the amplification of the inflammatory response.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1986

Knee arthrography: effects of various contrast media and epinephrine on synovial fluid.

Changes in synovial fluid leukocytes, total protein, and total complement were studied in 58 patients after they underwent single contrast material-enhanced knee arthrography with ionic (sodium iothalamate, sodium meglumine diatrizoate, meglumine iothalamate) and nonionic (iopamidol, iohexol) contrast media. In 30 of 58 cases, 0.3 mg epinephrine was also injected. In patients examined without epinephrine, a significant increase in the number of leukocytes was observed when sodium iothalamate and sodium meglumine diatrizoate were used. When administered with epinephrine all ionic compounds produced significant leukocytosis; articular reactions were most evident in patients examined with sodium salts. No inflammatory changes in the synovial fluid were observed when nonionic compounds were used. These data suggest that sodium-containing compounds produce a greater reaction in the joint compared with other contrast media, nonionic compounds are better tolerated by the joint, and epinephrine increases the articular reaction to ionic contrast media.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Ioexol in arthrography].

Single contrast knee arthrography was performed in a group of 50 patients, using either Urografin or Ioexol as contrast agents. Both contrast media were well tolerated clinically and no significant difference was found to exist as far as image quality is concerned. However, while Urografin produced a significant increase of the white cells in the synovial fluid, no inflammatory change was observed in the synovial fluid after Ioexol. So we believe that Ioexol is a significantly preferable contrast medium in arthrography, especially in patients with inflammatory joint diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

[Effect of D-penicillamine on serum immunoglobulins in rheumatoid arthritis].

Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) have been measured by radial immunodiffusion method in 43 patients affected with rheumatoid arthritis and treated with d-penicillamine (Pen). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum alpha 2 and gamma globulins have alos been determined. Serum samples were collected before therapy and after 3 months (43 cases), 6 months (30 cases), 9 months (20 cases), and 12 months (15 cases, respectively). Pen was administered starting from 150 mg/day up to 600-750 mg/day. IgG did not show any significant change, whereas IgA significantly decreased only at 6 month and IgM at every follow-up. During therapy, a decrease in ESR was observed in all determinations, while alpha 2 and gamma globulins showed a reduction at 9 and 12 month follow-up. In rheumatoid arthritis Pen seems to reduce IgM and partially IgA, along with some inflammatory indices. Thus, an inhibitory effect of Pen on immunological reactions is suggested, although a direct breakdown activity on immunoglobulins cannot be excluded.

Adult↗