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Biomedical subjects

R Bernardini

Publications and source records attributed to R Bernardini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Clinical features of acute anaphylaxis in patients admitted to a university hospital: an 11-year retrospective review (1985-1996).

BACKGROUND: Although anaphylaxis is considered a life-threatening event, there is a lack of information on the clinical characteristics at presentation, both in adults and in children. OBJECTIVE: To describe in a nonselected population the clinical characteristics and the treatments of acute anaphylaxis triggered by different agents. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of the clinical features of 113 episodes of acute anaphylaxis resulting in admission to a university hospital. Initially, the 107 patients visited the emergency room and were then admitted to the hospital. RESULTS: Most anaphylactic events (63%) occurred at home. The most frequent symptoms involved the respiratory system (78%) and the skin (90%). Drugs, especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, were the most frequent cause of anaphylaxis in adults (49%). Patients with drug-induced anaphylaxis were older and more often had cardiovascular symptoms (hypotension and tachycardia) (P = 0.0064). Hymenoptera venom was the second most frequent cause of anaphylaxis (29%). Most of the patients with hymenoptera venom anaphylaxis were male (80%) and more frequently they had no history of atopy (P = 0.012). In food-induced anaphylaxis, the cardiovascular system was less likely to be involved (P < 0.05) (39%). Seafood seems to be frequently involved in food-induced anaphylaxis in our area. Specific immunotherapy-induced anaphylaxis occurred more often in younger patients (P = 0.032). Epinephrine seems to be underused in Italy (only 15% of patients received it), especially for respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Anaphylaxis triggered by different agents may have different clinical presentations and may occur in different types of patients. In Italy, the inadequate use of epinephrine for anaphylaxis treatment needs to be publicized to both physicians and the general population.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Divergent effects of corticotropin releasing hormone on endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase are associated with different expression of CRH type 1 and 2 receptors.

1. Endothelium is a target for an array of factors involved in inflammation. Endothelial cells express receptors for CRH, a neuropeptide produced during inflammation. We report both the concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of CRH upon cytokine-stimulated nitrite release by H5V murine endothelioma cells, and its stimulatory one in HUVEC cells. 2. Western blot analysis showed that CRH inhibits cytokine-stimulated iNOS protein in H5V cells, and, instead, potentiated it in HUVEC cells. 3. H5V cells expressed both CRH receptors (CRH-R1 and R2) mRNAs, whereas HUVEC cells expressed the CRH-R2 mRNA solely. 4. CRH increased medium nitrites and iNOS protein expression in H5V cells pretreated with the selective CRH-R1 antagonist CP 154,526. However, the selective CRH-R2 antagonist anti-Svg-30 failed to produce similar effects. In fact, anti-Svg-30 inhibited CRH-induced increase of nitrite release and iNOS expression in HUVEC cells. 5. Our results confirm the activating role of CRH on endothelial cells, although it suggests its possible inhibitory role in the late phase of the inflammatory response. NO-mediated effects of CRH on endothelial cells could be exploited in therapeutic strategies related to inflammatory and/or degenerative diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Reference values of interrupter respiratory resistance in healthy preschool white children.

BACKGROUND: Interrupter respiratory resistance (Rint) is reported to be useful in evaluating lung function in poorly collaborating patients. However, no reference values are available from large samples of preschool children using the standard interrupter method. The aim of this study was to define reference Rint values in a population of healthy preschool children. METHODS: Rint was assessed without supporting the cheeks in children with no history of wheeze from six kindergartens. To evaluate the effects of upper airway compliance on Rint in healthy children, an additional group of preschool children with either no history of wheeze or no respiratory symptoms at the time of testing underwent Rint measurements in our lung function laboratory with and without supporting the cheeks. Short term (about 1 minute apart) and long term (mean 2.5 months apart) repeatability of Rint measurements (2 SDs of the mean paired difference between measurements) was also assessed in children referred for cough or wheeze. RESULTS: A total of 284 healthy white children (age range 3.0-6.4 years) were evaluated. Mean inspiratory and expiratory Rint (RintI and RintE) did not differ significantly in boys and girls. Age, height, and weight showed a significant inverse correlation with both RintI and RintE in the univariate analysis with linear regression. Multiple regression with age, height, and weight as the independent variables showed that all three variables were significantly and independently correlated with RintI, whereas only height was significantly and independently correlated with RintE. Supporting the cheeks had no significant effect on RintI (n=29, median 0.673 v 0.660 kPa/l.s, p=0.098) or RintE (n=39, median 0.702 v 0.713 kPa/l.s, p=0.126). Short term repeatability was 0.202 kPa/l.s for RintI (n=50) and 0.242 kPa/l.s for RintE (n=69). Long term repeatability was 0.208 kPa/l.s for RintE (n=26). CONCLUSIONS: We have reported reference Rint values in preschool white children and have demonstrated the usefulness of this technique in assessing lung function in this age group.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed2000

[PtCl]

The ionic complex [PtCl(3)(C(2)H(4))](-)[(S,S)-(PhMeCH)(2)NH(2)](+) containing a chiral secondary amine is a new and versatile chiral derivatizing agent (CDA) for the determination of the enantiomeric composition of several unsaturated compounds including simple olefins: the diastereoisomeric mixtures arising from the exchange of ethylene by the unsaturated analytes are easily detected by (195)Pt NMR spectroscopy.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Dopamine agonists and analogues have an antiproliferative effect on CHO-K1 cells.

Epidemiological studies have shown a reduced incidence of cancer in Parkinson's disease. Since nearly all parkinsonian patients with clinical impairment are treated with L-beta-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and dopamine (DA)ergic agonists, a possibility exists that these therapeutic agents can influence the risk of cancer. We studied the antiproliferative effect of these therapeutic agents (and substances structurally correlated) on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cell growth. Among the compounds tested, apomorphine proved to be the most potent inhibitor of CHO-K1 cell growth, with an EC(50) of 3.35 +/- 0.12 micro M. The apomorphine analogues, apocodeine and hydroxyethylnorapomorphine, were less active as inhibitors of CHO-K1 cell growth. The activity of DA, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), phenylethylamine (PEA), L-DOPA and bromocriptine as antiproliferative was one order of magnitude lower than that of apomorphine while pergolide was ineffective. To test whether or not the oxidative potential of these compounds was important for their antiproliferative effect, several antioxidants were assayed. Among them glutathione (GSH) and dithiothreitol (DTT) were effective in reversing the anti-proliferative effect of apomorphine, DA, 6-OHDA and PEA, conversely they did not work with bromocriptine. GSH and DTT are sulphydryl-reducing agents; while their effect could explain the efficacy against apomorphine, DA and 6-OHDA, it is difficult to understand why they should have any effect on PEA as this substance does not react with sulphydryl groups. The oxidative potential as a mechanism of action was also questioned by the results obtained with dihydrorhodamine 123, a probe that changes its fluorescent emission wave when oxidized. None of the compounds, with the exception of 6-OHDA, had any effect on the fluorescent emission wave of the probe at the maximal concentrations used to inhibit CHO-K1 cell growth. At concentrations five times higher, apomorphine and DA generated reactive oxygen species but PEA and bromocriptine did not. These data demonstrate that the antiproliferative effect of these compounds is not due to their oxidative potential, but another mechanism must be postulated.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Urinary eosinophil protein X and serum eosinophil cationic protein in infants and young children with atopic dermatitis: correlation with disease activity.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil protein X (EPX) or eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) are released by eosinophil granulocytes in allergic diseases. Serum ECP (s-ECP) levels have been correlated with disease activity in atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults and young patients, and high urinary EPX (u-EPX) levels in asthmatic patients seem to reflect active disease. A relationship between AD severity and u-EPX concentration in young children has not been previously studied. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate whether the severity of AD in infants and young children was correlated with s-ECP and u-EPX levels. METHODS: Fifty-four infants and children (mean age, 17.7 months; range, 4-48 months) with AD and without other allergic conditions were evaluated. The severity of AD was measured by using the SCORAD index. S-ECP, serum total IgE, serum-specific IgE for common allergens, and peripheral blood eosinophil counts (PBECs) were determined. In forty-two children u-EPX was also measured. Seven age-matched control patients underwent the same determinations. RESULTS: S-ECP and u-EPX were significantly higher in children with AD than in control children (mean, 23.9 vs 3.5 microg/dL [P <.001] and 57.7 vs 6.0 microg/mmol creatinine [P <.001]). A significant correlation was found between SCORAD and s-ECP (P =.002), u-EPX (P =.01), and PBECs (P =.01) and between symptom index and uEPX (P =.0004). PBECs were strongly correlated to s-ECP and u-EPX (P <.0001). However, 5 patients with moderate and severe AD (11.9%) showed low levels of s-ECP, u-EPX, and PBECs. CONCLUSION: S-ECP and u-EPX were useful markers of AD activity in infants and young children. When taken together, the two determinations could give more information about the clinical course of the illness. Some patients seemed to have clinical exacerbations without an involvement of eosinophils and their products.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed2000

Responsiveness of irradiated rat anterior pituitary cells to hypothalamic releasing hormones is restored by treatment with growth hormone.

Hypopituitarism is a common sequela of irradiation in cancer patients. Here we report that recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) prevents cell death and restores secretory capacity of irradiated rat pituitary cells in vitro. Dispersed rat pituitary cells from male Sprague-Dawley rats, irradiated with a 9-Gy sublethal dose, were incubated with r-hGH before, after, or before and after irradiation. Treatment with GH resulted in increased cell survival, which reached its maximum at the concentration of 5 nM, with an EC(50) of 3.5 nM. Protective effects of GH on pituitary cells were more pronounced in cultures treated before and after irradiation. Similarly, beneficial effects of GH were observed on the secretory capacity of surviving cells. In fact, irradiated pituitary cells treated with GH secreted substantial amounts of GH, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone in response to specific releasing hormones. Such effects of GH were prevented in the presence of the specific GH receptor antagonists B2036 and G120K. Our results show that r-hGH exerts a specific protective effect on irradiated rat pituitary cells and suggest possible use of GH as an adjuvant agent for prevention of postirradiation hypopituitarism.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2000

Mitogenic effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) in LNCaP prostate adenocarcinoma cells: role of the high- and low-affinity NGF receptors.

We have investigated the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the androgen-dependent, prostate adenocarcinoma LNCaP cell line. Exposure of LNCaP cells to NGF resulted in a significant increase of cell proliferation. The effect was concentration dependent and equally present in serum- or charcoal-stripped serum-supplemented and serum-deprived conditions. The mitogenic action of NGF was accompanied by an enhanced expression of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and resulted additive to the proliferative effect of dihydrotestosterone. The proliferative effect of NGF appeared to be mediated by the high-affinity NGF receptor, p140trka. Only p140trka, but not the low-affinity NGF receptor, p75LNGFR, was expressed in LNCaP cells; both the proliferative response and the phosphorylation of p140trka upon NGF treatment were prevented by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor K252a. LNCaP cells transiently transfected with the cDNA encoding for p75LNGFR appeared more sensitive to NGF, as demonstrated by the increased number of p75LNGFR-transfected LNCaP cells exposed for 72 h to NGF compared with wild LNCaP cultures. However, p75LNGFR-transfected LNCaP cells rapidly underwent apoptotic death when deprived of NGF. Our study demonstrates the physiological relevance of NGF in the regulation of prostate cell proliferation and the relative contribution of the high- and low-affinity NGF receptors in this control.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Risk factors for latex allergy in patients with spina bifida and latex sensitization.

BACKGROUND: Some subjects with spina bifida (SB) and latex sensitization (cutaneous and/or serum IgE) can have clinical reactions, while others may have no symptoms after the exposure to latex products. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the risk factors associated with latex allergy in patients affected with SB and latex sensitization. METHODS: Fifty-nine consecutive subjects affected with SB, besides answering a questionnaire, underwent a skin-prick test (SPT) to latex and the determination of the specific serum IgE (RAST CAP) to latex. The total serum IgE concentration was determined and SPT to common aero- and food-allergens, skin tests (prick + prick) with fresh foods (kiwi, pear, orange, pineapple, tomato, banana) and RAST CAP to the same foods tested by the prick + prick technique, were also performed. RESULTS: Fifteen out of the 59 subjects (25%) were sensitized to latex according to the presence of IgE to latex detected by SPT (nine patients) and/or RAST CAP (13 patients). Five out of the 15 sensitized patients (33%) suffered from clinical reactions to latex (urticaria, conjunctivitis, angioedema, rhinitis, bronchial asthma) while they were using latex gloves and while inflating latex balloons. In the 15 sensitized patients, the presence of specific latex seric IgE > 3.5 kU/L (>/= class 3), a positive latex SPT, an elevated total serum IgE, and a positive prick + prick and/or a positive RAST CAP to foods, were significant (P < 0.05) risk factors associated with latex symptoms. The other factors tested (age, gender, months of intermittent bladder catheterization, surgical procedures, SPT reactivity and clinical reactions to aero-allergens and food-allergens, skin tests for fresh foods, positive RAST CAP to foods) were not significantly different in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. CONCLUSION: Significant risk factors for symptoms to latex in patients with SB and latex sensitization were a presence of specific IgE to latex > 3.5 kU/L, a more frequent positive latex SPT, elevated total IgE, and one or more positive prick + prick and/or RAST CAP to fresh foods.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Thymic hormones, cancer and behavioural adaptive responses.

The effects of thymic hormones are not restricted within the immune system but are rather pleiotropic. Through neuropeptides the neuroendocrine system participates in the regulation of homeostasis as well as in the control of stress response and behavioural outputs. Thymic hormones increase spontaneous behaviour, inhibit anxiety-like responses and improve resistance to stress in tumour-bearing mice. In addition, thymic hormones modulate secretion of pituitary adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and beta-endorphin in both primates and rodents. In turn, both ACTH and beta-endorphin influence stress response and behaviour. Besides their neuroendocrine effects, thymic hormones have radioprotective effects either when administered alone or when associated with other radioprotective agents. Thymic hormones are possibly able to reduce postirradiation tissue damage in the bone marrow and in the central nervous system. Finally, evidence suggests a potentiating effect of thymic hormones when associated with current anticancer drugs. From the data reviewed it seems reasonable to conclude that the combination of thymic hormones with cancer therapy is associated with improvement of behaviour and well-being status, protection of tissues from detrimental effects of cancer treatment, and possibly also with potentiation of the antiproliferative effects of other drugs. Thus, thymic hormones could be envisioned as a valuable adjunct to actual cancer therapy.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence and risk factors of latex sensitization in an unselected pediatric population.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of latex sensitization has been investigated in population groups considered at high risk, but it has not been systematically surveyed among the general population. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the prevalence of and the risk factors associated with latex sensitization in a general pediatric population. METHODS: We investigated 1175 children (mean age +/- SD, 105 +/- 17.5 months) in 11 elementary schools in Tuscany (Italy). All parents answered a questionnaire, and children underwent skin prick tests (SPTs) with latex, six aeroallergens (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae, cat, grass pollen, Alternaria tenuis, and Parietaria judaica), three food allergens (milk, egg white, and wheat), and three insect venoms (honeybee, wasp, and Polistes). RESULTS: Eight subjects (0.7%; mean age +/- SD, 123 +/- 9.28 months) had positive SPT responses to latex. No children showed allergic reactions to latex. One or more positive SPT responses to aeroallergens were present in 340 children (28.9%); one or more positive SPT responses to food allergens were present in 26 (2.2%); one or more positive SPT responses to aeroallergens, food allergens, or both were present in 353 (30.0%); and one or more positive SPT responses to one or more insect venoms were present in 43 subjects (3.7%). Significant (p < 0.05) risk factors associated with latex sensitization included: positive SPT responses to aeroallergens, food allergens, or both; a positive response to one or more insect venoms; a positive response to mite, milk, egg white, wheat, honeybee venom, wasp venom, Polistes venom, or a combination thereof; and increased age. CONCLUSION: This report shows a very low prevalence of latex sensitization with an absence of clinical symptoms to latex. This study demonstrates a significant association between latex sensitization and the presence of one or more positive SPT responses to aeroallergens, food allergens, or both; one or more positive SPT responses to one or more insect venoms; and increased age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Epidemiology of insect venom sensitivity in children and its correlation to clinical and atopic features.

The aim of this study was to obtain more accurate figures of the prevalence of cutaneous sensitivity to Hymenoptera venoms (HV) and its correlation with other parameters of atopy in a population of primary schoolchildren. Parents filled out a structured questionnaire and children were tested with a panel of inhalant and food allergens as well as standardized freeze-dried extracts of HV. Among the 1175 children who completed the study there was a personal history of rhinoconjunctivitis in 242 (20.8%) and a current wheezing in 114 (9.78%). Two-hundred twenty-eight (19.40%) children had a history of Hymenoptera sting (HS) reactions (224 or 19.06% of local reactions and 4 or 0.34% of local and systemic reactions). Positive skin-prick tests (SPT) to any given HV extract were present in 43 children (3.66%). Most subjects had positive SPT to honey bee venom (35/1175; 2.98%); 17/1175 (1.45%) had positive SPT to wasp and only 12 subjects (1.02%) had positive SPT to polistes venom. There was a correlation between a positive SPT to HV and the history of clinical reactions to HS (P=0.0026). Positive SPT to at least one of the inhalant and food allergens tested were found in 353 subjects (30.04%). Factors such as age, sex, reactions to HV, positive SPT to mite, cat dander, grass, Alternaria, Parietaria, cow's milk, egg white and wheat were significantly associated with a positive SPT to HV using a univariate regression analysis. Only age, reactions to HV, a positive SPT to grass, Parietaria, cow's milk, and egg white were significantly associated with a positive SPT to HV using a multiple regression analysis. In this study, the frequency of immunological sensitization to HV in a population of unselected children is not so high as in adults. There is an association between the presence of positive SPT to HV and an atopy linked humoral IgE response. The presence of a significant and independent association between positive SPT to food of animal origin and positive SPT to HV is surprising and needs further study.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Anaphylaxis in children: clinical and allergologic features.

BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of anaphylaxis, little information is available on its clinical features. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and allergologic features of anaphylaxis in children referred to the allergology and immunology unit of A. Meyer Children's Hospital (Florence, Italy) from 1994 to 1996. RESULTS: Ninety-five episodes of anaphylaxis occurred in 76 children (50 boys and 26 girls). Sixty-six children (87%) had only one episode of anaphylaxis, while 10 (13%) had two or more episodes. Sixty-two (82%) of the 76 patients had a personal history of atopic symptoms, although 14 (18%) did not. Sixty (79%) of the 76 children studied had at least one positive skin prick test to one or more of the common inhalant and/or food allergens. Children with venom-induced anaphylaxis usually had negative skin tests to the allergens tested. A younger age and eczema were more frequent among children with food-dependent anaphylaxis, whereas an older age together with urticaria-angioedema were common among those with exercise-induced anaphylaxis. The mean latent period (+/-SD) of the anaphylaxis episodes was 15.4 +/- 27.5 minutes. Skin and respiratory manifestations had an earlier onset and were more common than the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular ones. The most frequent clinical manifestation in children with food anaphylaxis was gastrointestinal symptoms, whereas cardiovascular symptoms were rare. The most probable causative agents in the 95 episodes described were foods (57%), drugs (11%), hymenoptera venom (12%), exercise (9%), additives (1%), specific immunotherapy (1%), latex (1%), and vaccines (2%), but in 6 cases (6%) the agent was never determined. Among the foods, seafood and milk were the most frequently involved. As for location, 57% of the anaphylactic events occurred in the home (54/95), 12% outdoors (11/95); 5% in restaurants (5/95); 3% in the doctor's office (3/95); 3% in hospitals (3/95); 3% on football fields (3/95); 2% on the beach (2/95); 1% in the gym (1/95); 1% at school (1/95); and 1% in the operating room (1/95). In the remaining 12% of cases (11/95) the site remained unknown. Sixty-two percent of the patients (59/95) were treated in an emergency room or hospital, while 32% (30/95) were not (this information is lacking in 6% of the cases [6/95]). Patients were treated with corticosteroids in 72% of the cases (68/95), with antihistamines in 20% (19/95), with epinephrine in 18% (17/95), with beta2-agonists in 5% (5/95), and with oxygen in 4% (4/95). CONCLUSIONS: In our area, foods, particularly seafood and milk, seem to be the most important etiologic factors triggering anaphylaxis. Food-induced anaphylaxis often occurs in younger children with a severe food allergy, whereas exercise-induced anaphylaxis occurs more often in older children with a history of urticaria-angioedema. The venom-induced variant usually presents itself in nonatopic subjects. Given the fact that most of the children had only one anaphylactic reaction, prevention is almost impossible. Epinephrine, although it is the first-choice treatment of anaphylaxis, often goes unused, even in hospitals and doctors' offices.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Tumor necrosis factor is increased in the spinal cord of an animal model of motor neuron degeneration.

Autoimmunity and oxidative/excitotoxic damage are considered as possible pathogenetic mechanisms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). As tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is implicated in autoimmune diseases, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and can be neurotoxic, we studied TNF production in a proposed animal model of ALS, the mnd mouse. These mice develop symptoms (progressive weakness of the limbs) as late as at 7 months of age. We measured TNF in serum, brain and spinal cord of mnd mice at 3 and 7 months of age. TNF was detectable in the brain and spinal cord (but not in the serum) at 7 months, while no TNF was detected in mnd mice at 3 months (asymptomatic) or in control mice of the same genetic background and the same age. Immunohistochemistry confirmed localization of TNF-alpha in motor neurons situated in the ventral horn of the spinal cord of 7-month old mnd mice. These results suggest the possibility of testing inhibitors of TNF production in this disease.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗