Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Conte.
Human Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein isolated from an Sd(a+) donor, with high Sda inhibitory activity, was labelled with 14C-formaldehyde. The labelled glycoprotein was precipitated by anti-Sda sera. A good correlation was found between the precipitating and agglutinating titers of different anti-Sda sera.
The authors, employing the absorption-inhibition technique, have further extended their experiments on human biologic fluids to investigate the sid substance. It was located in tears, sweat, nasal and tracheobronchial mucus, cerebrospinal fluid, and in aqueous humor while it was not found in bile (in accordance with its absence in liver tissue). The authors emphasize the significance that the verification of the Sid substance may assume in forensic investigations with the purpose of individual diagnosis in stains of the above mentioned secretions, particularly tears, sweat, and nasal mucus.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) during infectious diseases is a known, but rare event. In this paper a case of TTP associated with primary infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is described. Various therapeutic approaches were used with the patient: fresh frozen plasma infusions and plasma exchange, specific anti-tuberculous therapy, anti-platelet drugs and steroids. A complete remission occurred 3 months after the onset of the acute disease. A hypothesis on the pathogenesis of TTP might be an increased pro-coagulant activity of interleukin 1 (IL-1) on endothelial cells.
INTRODUCTION: This prospective study defined the immunological and clinical results after fresh and cryopreserved arterial homograft replacement due to graft infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients who underwent ABO-compatible homograft transplantation were studied for anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA): antibody production and CD3- and CD4- versus CD8-positive lymphocyte subsets. Nine patients (30%) received immunosuppressive treatment with cyclosporine (1 to 3 mg/kg/d). Immunological studies were performed preoperatively, and early (1, 3, 7 days) and late (1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 months) during follow-up. Abdominal computed tomography scans were performed postoperatively at 1, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Preoperatively, antibodies were not detected. Postoperatively, a progressive increase in percent panel reactive antibodies was observed in all patients 1 month after the transplant. There were no difference between fresh and cryopreserved homografts. The antibody response among patients treated with cyclosporine was less pronounced and delayed. Recipient antibodies were directed against donor-specific antigens. During the immediate postoperative period (1, 3, 7 days) there was a slight increase in CD3- and CD4-positive T lymphocytes and a concomitant decrease in the CD8 subset. Later, CD3 and CD4 progressively decreased and the CD8 set increased. Clinically, no patients had signs of recurrent infection upon late follow-up. Four patients died (13%), but only one death was homograft-related (rupture of the graft). At 2-year follow-up, two patients showed stenotic lesions due to chronic rejection. Clinically, no differences were noted between fresh and cryopreserved homografts, or between patients treated with or without cyclosporine. CONCLUSIONS: Fresh and cryopreserved arterial homografts are immunogenic; they induce a strong anti-HLA antibody response, similar to chronic rejection.
INTRODUCTION: The cardiovascular homograft banks in Italy were set up in 1994 in Milan (Lombardia) and Treviso (Veneto) and in 2001 in Bologna, Emilia Romagna. In this study we briefly summarize the data from Emilia Romagna Cardiovascular Tissue Bank. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In Emilia Romagna, vascular homografts were harvested from brain-dead multiorgan donors (aged 15-55 years) by a dedicated vascular surgery team. All donors were virologically screened for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C, Treponema pallidum, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Toxoplasma. After transferring the vascular homografts to Emilia Romagna Cardiovascular Tissue Bank facilities, the arteries were prepared, classified (class III to I), and transferred to an antibiotic-containing solution under a laminar flow cabinet. After the decontamination, all homografts were cryopreserved and stored in the vapour phase of liquid nitrogen. Microbiological tests were performed in all phases of preparation. Samples were routinely taken from 1 vessel and formalin fixed for the histology. Bags with cryopreserved homografts were sent in dry ice to the hospitals when required and thawing protocol of the Bank was included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: From January 2002 to October 2004, 543 homografts from 125 heart-beating donors were harvested and transferred to Emilia Romagna Cardiovascular Tissue Bank. After preparation, 459 of 543 (85%) were cryopreserved and stored. Vascular homografts classified class I were discarded. Other criteria of rejection were: (1) positive serology, and (2) persistent positive microbiology after decontamination. From March 2002, 333 cryopreserved homografts were assigned to several vascular surgery departments in Italy. The assessment of 3-year activity of Emilia Romagna Cardiovascular Tissue Bank might be used as an indicator of the efficiency of selecting, cryopreserving, and allocating quality-controlled vascular homografts.
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BACKGROUND: After the removal of the buffy coat, packed red cell (RBC) transfusion units still contain white cells that may undergo apoptosis as a result of storage conditions (1-6 degrees C). The aim of the present study was the evaluation of this phenomenon in view of the possible influence it may have on febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Three independent methods (microscopy, DNA electrophoresis, and cytometry) were used to evaluate apoptosis in white cells present in 13 RBC units. Of these units, 10 had been collected into CPD/saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol and 3 into CPDA-1; each bag was split in two parts, one of which was irradiated. RBCs were stored at 1 to 6 degrees C, and samples were periodically withdrawn for study. The proliferative capacity of stored lymphocytes was evaluated after phytohemagglutinin stimulation and tritiated thymidine incorporation. RESULTS: Apoptosis was found to occur in both granulocytes and lymphocytes, starting from the first 48 to 72 hours of storage. The choice of the anticoagulant-preservative solution and the effect of irradiation did not influence the amount and the timing of the apoptotic phenomenon. Lymphocyte proliferative capacity was found to decrease sharply with storage time. CONCLUSION: Conditions of storage in RBCs induce consistent apoptosis in residual white cells. The possible clinical implications of the relationships between apoptosis and the induction of biologic response modifiers (that may cause interleukin-mediated febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions) and between apoptosis and immune reactions remain to be elucidated.
Two-hundred-forty-eight patients undergoing abdominal surgery were admitted to a multicentric clinical trial. The patients were randomly assigned to a single i.v. dose of ketoprofen or acetylsalicylic acid, 15 minutes after the end of operation. Ketoprofen showed a better analgesic activity with a statistically significant difference at 2 and 4 hours after administration. Two patients treated with ketoprofen reported vomiting and skin rash respectively. The results of this study confirm the efficacy of ketoprofen for the prophylaxis of postoperative pain in abdominal surgery.
The follow-up sera from 33 patients who received allogenic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) were tested by ELISA for antibodies to liver derived antigens present in a macromolecular, lipid associated, protein complex (LSP). Anti-LSP were found in 20% of patients with graft-vs-host disease (1 with acute GVHD, 3 with chronic GVHD), but in none of the 13 patients without GVHD. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies (LCTA) were frequently detected with similar prevalence in patients with and without GVHD. In the 4 anti-LSP +ve cases, LCTA serum levels did not follow the trend of anti-LSP antibody levels. Liver biopsy was performed in 10 patients with clinical and biochemical sign of GVHD and showed features of hepatic GVHD in six cases; although piecemeal necrosis was present in 3 cases, anti-LSP were detected only in one patient. An anti-LSP response can be elicited in patients after BMT only during GVHD, with no relationship to LCTA and without a close association with signs of periportal hepatocyte damage.