Biomedical subjects

Pasquale Mansueto

Publications and source records attributed to Pasquale Mansueto.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

A study of age-related IgE pathophysiological changes.

The literature on immunosenescence has focused mainly on T cell impairment. However, it is well known that B function is also profoundly affected. In particular, several studies have shown age-related changes in immunoglobulin serum levels. Concerning allergic diseases, the incidence of onset of allergic symptoms, as well as their severity, seems to decrease with age. So, the decline of onset of allergic symptoms observed in ageing might result from a decrease of serum total IgE due to an unbalance of cytokines and soluble factors involved in its production. To gain insight into the mechanisms of age related incidence of onset of allergic symptoms, as well as their severity, in this study we have evaluated in a sample of young (12 females and 15 males, range 20-64 years) and old (42 females and 20, males range 70-93 years) individuals serum values of IgE and sCD23 and in vitro Type 2 cytokine production. Total serum IgE levels were quantified by CAP-system fluorescence enzyme immunoassay. Serum CD23 levels were measured by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay. Enzyme immunoassay tests have been used to quantify IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 on mitogen-stimulated cultures. Serum total IgE and sCD23 in the two groups of young and old subjects were not significantly different. No detectable levels of IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 were observed in supernatants from unstimulated cultures in all the subjects tested. After 48 h stimulation with PHA, cytokine amounts became detectable in all subjects. However, the values of the cytokines under study were not significantly different between young and old subjects. In our study, we have not been able to show no impairment in the afferent (type 2 cytokine production) and in the central (serum IgE and sCD23 levels) branch of allergic responses. Previous studies have shown that the efferent branch, at least studied as basophil releasability and bronchial responsiveness, is not impaired in elderly. In conclusion, as suggested from the present and previous papers it is questionable whether there is sufficient information to validate the statement that the incidence of allergic diseases decreases with age.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Serum levels of soluble CD30 in adult patients affected by atopic dermatitis and its relation to age, duration of disease and Scoring Atopic Dermatitis index.

The value of CD30 and the soluble circulating fragment of CD30 (sCD30) for atopic dermatitis (AD) remains unclear. In particular, little is known about the effects of age, duration of disease and Scoring Atopic Dermatitis index (SCORAD) on the levels of serum sCD30 in patients affected by AD. In the present study, we have analysed serum sCD30 levels of adult patients affected by AD. The study's population includes 18 non-smoking outpatients, with a diagnosis of AD. As a control group we studied 18 non-atopic subjects from laboratory staff, matched for sex and age. These subjects had no history of AD, urticaria or seasonal or perennial rhinitis or asthma, and had negative skin prick test to a panel of allergens. The sCD30 serum levels were clearly higher in patients affected by AD (14.2+/-9.0 IU/ml) than in healthy subjects (1.2+/-0.8 IU/ml) (p<0.001). No differences were observed between males and females affected by atopic dermatitis, regarding age, duration of disease and SCORAD. Significant correlations were found between serum levels of sCD30 levels and age (r=-0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) for r (Fisher's z transformed)=-0.81 to -0.12; p=0.01), duration of the disease (months) (r=-0.64; 95% CI for r (Fisher's z transformed)=-0.85 to -0.24; p=0.004) and SCORAD (r=-0.74; 95% CI for r (Fisher's z transformed)=-0.89 to -0.42; p=0.004). As demonstrated by the close correlation with age, duration of disease and SCORAD, serum levels of sCD30 appear to be an additional marker for the follow-up of AD.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

[Bartonellosis].

In the last years the number of Bartonella species significantly raised, often with an epidemiological profile of emergent disease. B. bacilliformis is the etiological agent of Carrion's disease. B. clarridgeiae has been associated, together with B. henselae, to Cat-Scratch Disease (CSD), whereas B. elizabethae to endocarditis and B. grahamii to neuroretinitis. B. henselae has been associated to CSD and, in patients with immunodeficiency, together with B. quintana, to bacillary angiomatosis, to peliosis and to endocarditis. B. quintana is the etiological agent of "trench fever", in its "classical" and "urban" form. B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis and subsp. berkhoffii have been associated to bacteremia and endocarditis. The diagnosis foresees pathological examination of the lesions, germ isolation and use of specific serological test and of polymerase chain reaction. Prognosis is, generally, favourable. Therapy foresees the use of numerous antibacterial agents, like: penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides, quinolones, trimethoprim-sulfomethoxazole and rifampicin.

Angiomatosis, Bacillary↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Three cases of bartonellosis (cat scratch disease)].

In the last years the number of Bartonella species has conspicuously increased, with better clinical and diagnostic definitions of the different related illnesses. We report, in the present article, 3 cases of cat-scratch disease, a particular bartonellosis mainly caused by Bartonella henselae which is transmitted by the cat. After an incubation period, cat-scratch disease clinically manifests as a regional lymphoadenitis, with the appearance of a small cutaneous lesion at the site of inoculation of the germ. The pathogenetic agent is susceptible to a number of antibacterial agents, such as penicillin, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides, quinolones, trimethoprim combined with sulphamethoxazole and rifampicin. The prognosis is usually favorable.

Adolescent↗