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Biomedical subjects

M L Pacor

Publications and source records attributed to M L Pacor.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Jaccoud's postrheumatic arthritis. A clinical case report].

The authors describe a case of Jaccoud's arthropathy, a very rare disease of unknown pathogenesis, that can develop in patients after repeated attacks of rheumatic fever. Clinical pictures with analogous features can be found associated with many other pathological processes, such as connective tissue diseases or cancers. The case presented here is interesting for the diagnostic and therapeutic mistakes made, probably because it is an illness very little known and with ambiguous clinical features.

Arthritis, Reactive↗
PubMed1991

[Comparison of RAST with an immunoenzyme method in simultaneous determination of IgE specific for numerous air allergens].

Recently, a new immunoenzymatic test (Allergy Screen Profile, ASP) has been proposed for the simultaneous determination of IgE specific for five inhaled allergens (Dermatophagoides, animal dander, trees, grass pollen and Parietaria). For evaluation of this test we compared the results obtained in twenty-seven patients suffering from respiratory allergy with RAST with those obtained using the new test. In 84.3% of cases there was positive concordance between the two tests. The specificity of ASP ranged from 71.4% to 100% and the sensitivity from 76.9% to 95.2% for the different allergens examined. A good correlation between ASP and RAST was particularly evident for Dermatophagoides, animal dander and trees. Therefore, ASP appears to be a suitable test for the simultaneous determination of IgE specific for different allergens.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Double-blind cross-over trial of oral sodium cromoglycate in patients with irritable bowel syndrome due to food intolerance.

Twenty patients with irritable bowel syndrome due to food intolerance were randomized to either oral sodium cromoglycate or placebo in a double-blind cross-over trial. The study consisted of treatment with either sodium cromoglycate or placebo for 8 weeks, followed by the cross-over treatment for 8 further weeks. Patients were allowed to eat the offending foods during the study. Eighteen patients completed the study. Analysis of patients' diary card scores showed a statistically significant difference in favour of sodium cromoglycate. There was a long carry-over effect in the active-placebo order group. Therefore oral sodium cromoglycate seems to be a useful treatment in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and proven food intolerance.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1990

[The assessment of the incidence of food allergy or intolerance in patients with respiratory allergy].

In this study we have evaluated the possible relationship between food allergens and hypersensitivity to grass pollens. One hundred-thirty patients with grass pollen pollinosis and symptoms probably related to adverse reaction to foods were selected. Skin prick test for food allergens was positive in 79 patients (60.7%) Statistical analysis using chi-square test showed a high significant relationship between grass pollen and nuts, peanuts, beans and peas (p less than 0.0001). Elimination diet and challenge test allowed us to identify the responsible foods in 61 out 79 patients (77.2%). Twelve patients were affected by food allergy (challenge test, skin prick test and RAST positive and concordant); 49 patients suffered from intolerance. Possible causes of this high relationship are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Prevalence of food allergy in patients with urticaria-angioedema syndrome].

We have studied 239 patients, 53 males and 186 females, mean age 31.9, affected by urticaria-angioedema syndrome. Fifty-three patients didn't complete the study. One-hundred-three of the other 186 patients went on elimination diet: 111 patients suffered from chronic urticaria-angioedema syndrome and 21 subjects suffered from acute syndrome. Eighty-one out of the 132 patients obtained good results from dietetic management (p less than 0.001). Double blind challenge test was positive in 42 subjects: 29 patients suffered from Food Allergy and 13 patients from Food Intolerance. Thus, the prevalence of Food Allergy in patients who completed dietetic management was 21.9% (29 patients out of 132). If we evaluate all the 186 patients affected by urticaria-angioedema syndrome, the prevalence of Food Allergy is 15.5%.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Eczema and food allergy in the adult].

We have evaluated the relationship between eczema and food by using elimination diet and subsequently open and double blind challenge test in 15 patients. The clinical manifestations of 14 subjects were improved by elimination diet. Challenge test was positive in 10 patients. Nuts, tomatoes, milk, eggs and cereals were most frequently involved. Six patients suffered from food allergy (F.A.), 4 patients from food intolerance (F.I.) and 4 patients from suspected F.I. With the use of dietary elimination procedure the symptoms completely disappeared. The results obtained for the treatment of eczema with this procedure may be very encouraging.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Treatment of Behçet's syndrome with colchicine].

The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of colchicine in the treatment of Behçet's syndrome. Ten patients suffering from Behçet's syndrome were selected for this purpose. The patients were treated with 1 mg/day of colchicine associated with 1 mg of betametasone during the initial florid phase of the disease. After the acute phase, betametasone was withdrawn. The patients were observed for a period ranging from 5 to 23 months. Biochemical and immunological parameters were measured at time 0 and every month in order to monitor the disease and the possible side effects of colchicine. All patients had a satisfactory control of the disease without showing any toxic effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Migraine and food].

The frequency of migraine has been studied in adult patients with suspected adverse reaction to foods. Migraine was present in 41 out of 300 patients (13.6%). 38 of these 41 subjects have been treated with elimination diet; 25 (65.7%) obtained a significant improvement of migraine and subsequently, performed challenge test. 24 patients were affected by food intolerance and only one by food allergy. The remaining 13 non-responder subjects suffering from migraine have been subsequently submitted to pharmacological treatment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determinants of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in subjects with rhinitis.

Subjects with rhinitis but without asthma may have coexisting bronchial hyperresponsiveness, although the reasons for this are uncertain. To evaluate the factors that determine BHR in rhinitis we examined 410 patients with symptomatic rhinitis with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC)>or=80% of the predicted value. In all subjects a skin prick test (SPT) was performed, a determination of total serum IgE and an eosinophils count in the blood. Of the 410 subjects we found that 161 (39.3%) exhibited a methacholine PD20 of 800 mg or less (Group A), whereas 249 (60.7%) had a methacholine PD20 more of 800 mg (Group B). Despite the matched mean values for FEV1 and FVC, compared with Group B, Group A had a lower predicted forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75%(FEF25%-75%) (86.7 +/- 12.0 vs. 93.7 +/- 7.3, P < 0.0001). A great portion of the subjects of the Group Ain respect to subjects of the Group B were exposed to passive smoke (37.8% vs. 22.0%, P = 0.0008), reported having mothers with asthma (34.1% vs. 6.0%, P < 0.0001), presented a positive skin prick test (93.7% vs. 67.0%, P < 0.0001), had higher levels of total serum IgE (geometric mean of Log10 2.46 +/- 0.27 kU/L vs. 2.06 +/- 0.38 kU/L, P < 0.0001) and higher blood eosinophil counts (geometric mean of Log10 2.67 +/- 0.07 x 10(-3) mL vs. 2.57 +/- 0.09 x 10(-3) mL, P < 0.0001), and reported increased nasal obstruction (2.0 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.2) vs. 0.6 (95% CI 0.5 to 0.7), P < 0.0001). Logistic regression demonstrates that nasal obstruction (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.72 to 2.80) and the presence of positive SPT (OR 6.15, 95% CI 2.42 to 15.61) were the most available predictors to discriminate between subjects with BHR and subjects without BHR. In addition, BHR was positively related to blood eosinophil counts (OR= 2.80, 95% CI 1.54 to 5.07), FEF25%-75% values (OR= 2.72, 95% CI 1.23 to 5.99) and familiarity (mother) for asthma (OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.10 to 5.46). Whereas passive smoke and total serum IgE were not positively related to BHR. Increased nasal obstruction and the presence of positive SPT were the most available predictors to discriminate between subjects with and without BHR. Finally, BHR was positively related to blood eosinophil counts, FEF25%-75% values and to familiarity (mother) for asthma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship between specific serum IgE to Ascaris lumbricoides and onset of respiratory symptoms in Bangladesh immigrants.

The role of helminths in asthma and/or rhinitis and in allergic sensitization is still unclear. We assessed the relationship between Ascaris-specific IgE, respiratory symptoms and allergic sensitization in Bangladesh immigrants. 246 individuals were examined from 1996 to 2001. Serum total IgE, Ascaris IgE, specific IgE to inhalant allergens, skin prick tests (SPT) and parasitological evaluation of the stool were performed. Total serum IgE were significantly higher in Ascaris-IgE positive (> 0.35 kU/L) individuals (806.5 [409.0-1436.0] kU/L vs. 207.0 [127.0-332.5] kU/L; P < 0.0001) and in subjects with respiratory symptoms (413.0 [239.0-1096.0] kU/L vs. 259.5 [147.0-387.0] kU/L), (P < 0.0001), but not in SPT positive subjects (413.0 [179.0-894.0] kU/L vs. 404.6 [305.0-1201.0] kU/L (P = 0.5). Ascaris-specific IgE were detected in 48 subjects with respiratory symptoms (40.0%) and in 46 subjects without respiratory symptoms (36.5%) (P = 0.5). The SPT positivity was similar between Ascaris-IgE seropositive (38.2%) and Ascaris-IgE seronegative (38.1%) subjects (P = 0.9). Total IgE and length of stay in Italy correlated with SPT positivity (OR 5.6 [CI 95% 1.5-19.8], P = 0.007, and OR 1.5 [CI 95% 1.3-1.7], P< 0.0001), and with respiratory symptoms (OR 13.7 [CI 95% 3.0-62.4];, P = 0.0007, and OR 2.4 [CI 95% 1.9-3.0], P < 0.0001). Ascaris-IgE were negatively associated with SPT positivity (OR 0.3 [CI 95% 0.1-0.8], P = 0.02) and with respiratory symptoms (OR 0.1 [CI 95% 0.04-0.7], P = 0.01). Our findings favour the role of environmental factors in the development of respiratory symptoms in immigrants, irrespective of Ascaris-IgE.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Rheumatoid arthritis and the kidney. Pinpointing an aspect of confusing contours].

In literature there are only a few papers about renal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. The scarcity of reports is due to the difficulties of pinpointing this subject; in fact a bloody investigation like kidney biopsy is necessary to obtain an exact diagnosis. Moreover it is often clinically hard to distinguish renal injury provoked by rheumatoid arthritis from nephropathy caused by drugs, either non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs or disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. This topic is perhaps neglected because primary renal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis is not considered to influence the survival, with the exception of renal amyloidosis. Pathologic examination of kidney biopsy shows in order of frequency: mesangial nephritis, renal amyloidosis, membranous nephritis, focal proliferative nephritis, minimal nephritis, interstitial nephritis. Both immune complexes and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies may play a pathogenetic role. The mesangial nephritis with IgA or IgM deposits is linked to high levels of rheumatoid factor of IgA or IgM class; it has been hypothesized that the ability of mesangium to remove circulating immune complexes provokes the mesangial damage. Moreover it has been observed that rheumatoid arthritis with renal involvement shows positivity for perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies more frequently than rheumatoid arthritis without nephropathy. Also in the former cases the title of these autoantibodies is higher. The aim of this paper is to bring the terms of the problem into focus by the revision of the literature. Further and wider studies are necessary to obtain more available data.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Elimination diet in the treatment of selected patients with hypersensitivity vasculitis.

We have evaluated the effects of an elimination diet in 5 patients with hypersensitivity vasculitis and a personal or family history of allergy. The presence of autoimmune disorders, infections and neoplastic diseases was excluded on the basis of physical examination, clinical history and laboratory data. Three patients had elevated serum immune complexes and evidence of complement consumption before the oligoantigenic diet. In one patient food allergy was diagnosed on the basis of a positive and concordant challenge test, skin prick test and RAST. The study consisted of a 3 week elimination diet, followed by open and double blind challenge tests with specific foods and additives. Four patients achieved a complete remission and one patient experienced great improvement on the elimination diet. In three cases the vasculitis relapsed following the introduction of food additives; in one case with the addition of potatoes and green vegetables (i.e., beans and green peas) and in the last case with the addition of eggs to the diet. The offending foods and additives were subsequently eliminated from the usual diet and no relapses were observed in 2 years of follow-up. These results show that in selected patients with a history of allergy, hypersensitivity vasculitis can be triggered and sustained by food antigens or additives.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Methotrexate in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. Results in 30 patients].

30 patients affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis were treated with Methotrexate (5-7.5 mg/weekly) per os and followed up for at least 12 months; 10 patients had a further control at 24 months. 27 subjects were also on corticosteroid and 2 patients did not stop the therapy with second line drugs. Sulindac was allowed. 3 months later it was observed a significant reduction in the number of affected joints, in the duration of morning stiffness, in the dose of steroid and an improvement of the laboratory investigations indicating the activity of the disease. In the following 12 months, in the 25 subjects still in the study, there was a further clinical improvement. In 24-months follow-up, side effects were present in 17 patients (56.7%); only in 4 cases it was necessary to stop therapy with Methotrexate (3 cases for hepatotoxicity, 1 case for leukocytopenia and stomatitis). 3 subjects did not respond to therapy and 3 patients interrupted for psychological distress. This study confirms the efficacy of Methotrexate at low doses in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and the modest incidence of severe side effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The folate binding proteins.

Folates are essential molecules for cell life and, not surprisingly, their transport in biological fluids and their transfer to cells are finely regulated. Folate binding proteins play a major role in this regulation. This paper will review our knowledge on these proteins and examine the most recent advances in this field.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unicentric Castleman's lymphadenopathy presenting with Behçet's syndrome: a case report.

We describe a male patient with Behcet's syndrome and Castleman's lymphadenopathy. He was affected by severe oral and genital ulcers, bilateral uveitis, necrotic purulent nodules on both hands. A CT scan of the mediastinum showed the presence of a mediastinal mass. On the basis of histological and immunohistological findings, a diagnosis of Castleman's disease, angiofollicular type, was formulated. The lymphadenopathy was unicentric. After the surgical excision of the mediastinal mass (January, 1989) until now, Behcet's syndrome is in complete remission with a low dosage of prednisone.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Nasal polyps and food intolerance: is there any correlation].

Nasal polyposis is a relatively frequent disease of poorly known aetiopathogenesis. In this study the Authors have evaluated the relationship between nasal polyposis and food using elimination diet and the double-blind challenge test. Of twenty-two patients examined, 16 (72.8%) completed the study. Six out of 16 subjects improved when on diet and challenged with specific foods. Two patients were affected by food allergy and 4 by food intolerance. Physical evaluation of nasal polyposis showed an improvement in all 6 patients, while rhinomanometric evaluation showed an improvement in 4 out of 6 patients, after diet. Most patients had an alteration of immunological tests involving IgE or circulating immunocomplexes-mediated mechanism.

Adult↗