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Biomedical subjects

P Falagiani

Publications and source records attributed to P Falagiani.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

[Domestic Acari in Sardinia].

In Sardinia, a great Mediterranean island, house dust mites allergy is very spread. This investigation was carried out to determine the species, occurrence and abundance of mites in the house dust of sensitized subjects. 55 samples of house dust were examined and the mites fauna identified. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was the most abundant (54% of the found mites), and the most frequent mite (94.5%). Two others pyroglyphid species were recovered: Dermatophagoides farinae and Euroglyphus maynei that were common in Sardinian house dusts. The frequency with which E. maynei was found in this region (50%) suggests that he may well be an important cause of allergy in this region underestimated. Several species of storage mites were common in house dust, chiefly Glycyphagid and Acarid species, that have been shown to provoke strong reactions in sensitized subjects. The Mediterranean climate, and its effect on the physical conditions within the house, and the personal life style of the inhabitants are the most important factors associated with high mite numbers in Sardinian house dust.

Acari↗
PubMed1983

In vitro selective expansion of allergen specific T cells from atopic patients.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from atopic donors were stimulated in vitro with allergens (Rye group I or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus). T cell lines were originated and maintained in long term culture using IL-2 and periodical restimulations with allergen. The lines were antigen specific (i.e. responded to the allergen used to raise them and not to other antigens) and required that the antigen was presented by autologous cells (i.e. they were restricted). The restriction elements were probably at the level of HLA-DR antigens since the proliferative response was specifically blocked by anti-HLA-DR antibodies. Surface marker analysis revealed that the lines comprised mainly cells with an helper/inducer phenotype, although cells with markers of the suppressor/cytotoxic T cells were also present. The lines could be cloned by limiting dilution and clones with the same restriction and specificity as the parental line were isolated. These studies demonstrate the possibility of obtaining a large number of allergen specific human T cells that can be used for further in vitro studies on the regulation of the IgE response.

Allergens↗
PubMed1981

The role of IgE in childhood asthma.

The influence of age and sex has been in 208 asthmatic children on the basis of the following parameters: total serum IgE concentration (RIST), serum concentration of specific IgE antibodies (RAST), and positive prick tests against Dermatophagoides Pleronissynus, grasses, and Alternaria Tenuis. The results indicate that all these parameters are significantly influenced by age. Arithmetic values for RIST show a significant difference between the sexes which is obscured by logarithmic calculation. The data strongly suggest that IgE antibodies cannot be considered the main mechanism by which asthma is produced in small children.

Aging↗
PubMed1980

T-cell independence of immunoglobulin synthesis by human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with SpA-containing staphylococci.

Unfractionated and T-cell depleted human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were cultured in vitro in the presence of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I (StaCw). After 7 days of culture, the cells were assayed for cytoplasmic immunoglobulins (Cyto-Ig) by direct staining using fluorescein-labelled F(ab')2 fragments prepared from specific antisera against human IgG F(ab')2. The amount of immunoglobulin of the IgM and IgG class released into the cell-free supernatants was also measured by radioimmunoassay. In unfractionated PBL StaCw, like PWM, was able to induce a significant increase of either the number of Cyto-Ig containing cells for the amount of IgM and IgG secreted into the supernatant. In contrast, the amount of IgM and IgG immunoglobulin released into the supernatant of T-cell depleted suspensions stimulated with PWM was significantly reduced in comparison with that of unfractionated populations, whereas it was unchanged in T-cell depleted vs unfractionated suspensions stimulated with StaCw. The addition of a few T lymphocytes restored the ability of T-cell depleted suspensions to produce Ig in the presence of PWM, whereas despite addition of high numbers of T cells no further augmentation of the Ig production induced by StaCw on T-cell depleted suspensions was observed. Cultures of umbilical cord blood lymphocytes (UCBL) stimulated with PWM did not generate Ig-producing cells, whereas UCBL stimulated with StaCw showed significant production of Ig of both IgM and IgG classes. The results indicate that T lymphocytes are probably not involved either with stimulation or with the suppression of Ig production induced by StaCw.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Relationship between serum IgE levels and intestinal parasite load in African populations.

Serum IgE determinations and coproparasitological analyses were carried out on 161 individuals from two distinct ethnic groups (Hutus and Twas) from two regions in Rwanda (North and South). The cumulative parasitosis index (calculated for each individual as the sum of the scores for the four most frequent intestinal parasites) show a linear relation with IgE levels up to a plateau, with no clear pattern of correlation between the score for any given parasite and the IgE level. Such a direct quantitative (but not qualitative) relation reproposes the question on the role of IgE immunoglobulins in intestinal parasitoses.

Amebiasis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dot immunobinding assay as a new diagnostic test for human hydatid disease.

Bovine and human hydatid antigens collected from hepatic cysts and characterized by SDS-PAGE immunoblotting show similar patterns. The bovine hydatid antigen has been used to develop a simple and fast in vitro diagnostic assay for human hydatidosis. This method, named HA-DIA (hydatid antigen dot immunobinding assay), consists of incubation of a serum sample with a textile colloidal dye (pink) and a nitrocellulose stick to which the hydatid antigen has been bound. The presence of parasite-specific antibodies leads to dyeing of the stick reactive area, and a coloured spot appears. HA-DIA sensitivity and specificity have been studied in comparison with RAST-IgE and ELISA-IgG by testing 17 sera of patients with hydatid disease and 36 control sera from patients affected with other parasitic and non-parasitic diseases. HA-DIA showed positive results in all the patients' sera and in none of the control sera. Correlation with ELISA--IgG and RAST-IgE was significant. HA-DIA has been demonstrated to be of good predictive value, allowing a speedy diagnosis of hydatid disease. In view of its simplicity, not requiring any laboratory instruments, it is particularly suitable for large-scale field screening.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical efficacy and safety of preseasonal sublingual immunotherapy with grass pollen carbamylated allergoid in rhinitic patients. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to confirm the clinical efficacy and safety of a preseasonal sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in a group of allergic patients with seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis with or without mild intermittent or mild persistent asthma. The immunotherapy was administered through the oral mucosa with a monomeric carbamylated allergoid (allergoid SLIT) for grass pollens. A secondary endpoint was to evaluate the effect of the allergoid SLIT on nasal reactivity. METHODS AND RESULTS: A single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed. Patients were selected and randomly allocated to two groups: one group received active treatment (allergoid SLIT) for 2 years and the other received placebo. Both groups received the necessary drug treatment throughout the trial. Thirty-three outpatients (20 men and 13 women, mean age: 30 years; range: 19-43) attending our center were enrolled in the study. Symptoms and medications were scored on diary cards during the pollen season. An allergen nasal challenge was performed at baseline and after 2 years of SLIT to evaluate nasal reactivity. Because the clinical scores were non-normally distributed, the Mann-Whitney and the Chi-square tests for intergroup comparisons and the Wilcoxon test for intragroup comparisons were used. The results were evaluated after 1 and 2 years of treatment. Between the first and second years of treatment, no changes in the scores for the placebo group were found, while for the active vaccine group significant decreases were found in rhinorrhea (p < 0.03), sneezing (p < 0.03), and conjunctivitis (p < 0.02). Symptom scores after nasal challenge decreased (p < 0.03) after 2 years' treatment. Nasal steroid use significantly decreased in the active treatment group during May and June in both the years of treatment (p < 0.02). Only two mild local adverse events were reported in the active group and none was reported in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that the allergoid SLIT is safe and effective in decreasing symptom scores and drug use in rhinitic patients allergic to grass pollen.

Administration, Sublingual↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A case of allergy to globe artichoke and other clinical cases of rare food allergy.

We describe herein four unusual clinical cases of rare allergy to foods in patients affected by allergic rhinitis and asthma. The patients were skin tested both with commercial food extracts and using prick-prick procedure with fresh foods. Total and specific IgE in serum were determined by REAST. Grapes, lupine seeds, black mulberry and artichoke resulted positive in the patients under study. This is the first time allergy to ingested artichoke has been described.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An epidemiological survey on the allergological importance of some emerging pollens in Italy.

Epidemiological studies on the pollens responsible for allergic diseases throughout Italy are lacking. Routine diagnostic panels consist prevalently of grass, Parietaria, weeds, birch, olive and mugwort. Considering the great variety of Italian geographical areas and the observation of the growing allergological importance of new botanical species (e.g., ambrosia), a survey on pollen species considered "minor" was necessary. A panel of "emerging" pollens (birch, hazelnut, alder, hornbeam, cypress, ragweed) and a routine panel were used to skin prick test 2,934 consecutive outpatients with respiratory pathology of suspected allergic origin, in 21 centers across Italy. A specific questionnaire was compiled. It was found that 20.1% of patients did not react to allergens tested, 28.2% were positive for at least one emerging pollen and 51.7% did not react to emerging pollens but tested positive for at least one allergen from the routine panel. The prevalence of single pollen species was related to geographical areas. Ragweed pollen was shown to provoke asthma much more frequently than other pollens. Hitherto scarcely considered pollens play a considerable role in causing allergic diseases in Italy. In the great majority of patients, positivity for these pollens was associated with positivity to the better recognized group of pollen allergens, although in some cases they were the primary pathogenic agent. We suggest that these more recently considered allergens be included in routine diagnostic panels.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Local nasal immunotherapy: efficacy and tolerability of two different administration schedules in grass pollen rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Efficacy and safety of local nasal immunotherapy has been demonstrated by many placebo-controlled clinical trials. The treatment schedule consists of an induction phase at increasing dosages followed by a maintenance phase. Aim of present study has been to evaluate a new simplified treatment schedule at constant dosage. METHODS AND RESULTS: 26 grass-allergic rhinitic patients have been treated according to the new constant dosage schedule, while 15 patients in a control group were treated with conventional incremental dosage schedule. A commercial preparation of allergens incorporated into powder (Allerkin). The total cumulative dosage administered with conventional schedule resulted higher than simplified constant schedule (5,025 vs 3,000 AU). To evaluate efficacy, symptom and rescue medication scores were recorded during the spring pollen season, and a subjective overall evaluation was asked to the patients at the end of the season. The analysis of scores showed that the two treatment schedules were equivalent as regards both efficacy and safety, being side effects light and restricted to the administration site (sneezing). CONCLUSIONS: The use of a constant dosage schedules is suggested for the administration of local nasal immunotherapy, having as advantage a better simplicity. Avoidance of mistakes in dosages is considered important in a therapy which is self-administered by patients.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pollen mixtures used as health food may be a harmful source of allergens.

We describe herein one case of systemic anaphylaxis due to the ingestion of an undefined mixture of pollens, sold as a dietary supplement. The patient, who suffered from rhinoconjunctivitis due to grass pollen (with sensitization to several trees), had a severe episode of anaphylaxis immediately after eating this health food. The episode required emergency care. We attempted to study the pollen mixture responsible, but no pollen granules could be identified. We prepared a solid phase with the pollen mixture, and we observed a RAST positivity with the patient's serum and pools of sera containing specific IgE to trees. Furthermore, a RAST-inhibition assay of the patient's serum showed highly positive results with grasses, birch, alder and Compositae. Therefore, we concluded that the pollen mixture contained determinants capable of cross-reacting with the patient's IgE. This case report is evidence of the possible risks due to the use of undefined herbal products by allergic patients.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anaphylactic reaction to the ingestion of raw onion. A case report.

A case of severe systemic reactions (intense itching, urticaria, confusion, blurred vision, transient loss of consciousness, sweating, tachycardia) after ingestion of raw or lightly-cooked onion is described. The patient, a 44-year-old woman, had no troubles with well-cooked onions. Differently from the cases of sensitivity to onion described in literature, this patient was monosensitized, being skin tests negative to pollens, inhalants and other foods. The patient had 3.7 kU/L of onion-specific segum IgE, as determined by REAST. The density of onion-specific IgE (calculated as percent ratio to total IgE) was 30.8%. The reactivity of patient's serum IgE towards thermolabile and thermostable components has been tested with unheated and heated (30' at 100 degrees C) onion extracts bound to polystyrene beads and tested in the RAST system. Unheated extract resulted positive in class 2, heated extract negative, demonstrating that this patients, differently from similar clinical cases described in literature, had IgE antibodies recognizing just thermolabile onion fraction. This is the first case described in literature of a monosensitization to the thermolabile component of onion, negative also to related foods (Liliacee) and characterized by severe systemic reactions. The importance of specific-IgE density (%) rather their absolute amount (kU/L) as parameter predictive for the clinical severity of allergic reactions is discussed.

Adult↗