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Biomedical subjects

R Palla

Publications and source records attributed to R Palla.

84 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in a case of autoimmune-mediated chronic active hepatitis.

In a patient suffering from histologically-documented immuno-mediated chronic active hepatitis, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment was initiated as an obligatory alternative therapy because of femur head aseptic necrosis which had followed long-term therapy with steroids. The first cycle of IVIG was followed by remission of most symptoms, normalization of liver enzymes, disappearance of circulating immunecomplexes (CIC), and a negative lupus band test. Improvement in the patient's condition was demonstrated, in liver histology, by the disappearance of peri-portal mononuclear cells infiltrates, while immunohistochemistry showed the disappearance of the intracellular IgG deposits.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

[Cisplatin nephrotoxicity: effects on fractional excretion of sodium and enzymuria].

The effects (in five therapeutic cycles) of Cisplatin on urinary enzyme excretion (specific markers of tubular damage), fractional excretion of sodium, fractional reabsorption of phosphate, serum Creatinine and creatinine Clearance were assessed in 17 female patients with ovarian carcinoma. An immediate reduction of sodium fractional excretion was observed: this appears a more sensible Cisplatin-nephrotoxicity marker than serum Creatinine and creatinine Clearance. No significant variations were noted in fractional reabsorption of phosphate or urinary Lysozyme and Beta-2-microglobulin but there was a significant increase of other urinary enzymes, confirming the potential nephrotoxicity of DDP treatment.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The use of iohexol in pediatric urography: a comparative study with meglumine diatrizoate.

In a prospective study the nephrotoxicity of iohexol, a new non-ionic contrast medium, was compared with meglumine diatrizoate. Plasma creatinine, BUN, creatinine clearance, urinalysis and the urinary excretion of N-acetyl glucosaminidase (NAG), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and muramidase (MU) were determined prior to and following intravenous pyelography. A significant rise in the enzyme excretion was observed in patients who received iohexol and diatrizoate. Statistical analysis failed to demonstrate any difference in nephrotoxicity between the two iodinated contrast media.

Adolescent↗

IgG, IgA and C3 deposits in the extra-thyroidal manifestations of autoimmune Graves' disease: their in vitro solubilization by intravenous immunoglobulin.

OBJECTIVE: To study the involvement of antibodies in the extrathyroidal manifestations of autoimmune Graves' disease, we determined the presence of IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies and C3c in connective tissue samples from patients with Graves' disease and pretibial myxedema (PTM) or thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). METHODS: Connective orbital tissue samples were obtained from 12 patients undergoing orbital decompression for TAO, and skin samples from lesions on the pretibial area were obtained in 7 patients with PTM. Sections from each tissue sample were stained with fluorescin-isothiocianate conjugated anti-human IgG, IgA, IgM and C3c and were examined by a fluorescence optical instrument. Other serial sections from each sample were incubated with human IgG solutions (concentration 6 mg/ml or 20 mg/ml), human albumin (40 mg/ml), PBS, myoglobin (40 mg/ml), or IgA (20 mg/ml), and were then processed by a standard direct immunofluorescence staining procedure. RESULTS: Among the samples from TAO patients 8/12 (67%) were positive for IgG deposition, 4/9 (44%) were positive for IgA, 1/9 (11%) was positive for IgM and 4/9 (44%) were positive for C3c deposition. Orbital connective samples from 3 non-TAO patients were all negative. Among samples from PTM patients 4/7 (57%) were positive for IgG deposition, 3/ 4 (75%) were positive for IgA, 0/4 was positive for IgM and 3/7 (43%) were positive for C3c deposition. Skin samples from 5 control patients undergoing skin biopsy for non-autoimmune diseases were all negative. Incubation with human IgG (20 mg/ml) resulted in the complete disappearance of IgG and C3c deposition in all positive patients. No significant variation in IgG fluorescent staining after incubation with either 6 mg/ml of IgG solution, human albumin, PBS, myoglobin or IgA was observed. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that different classes of antibodies, mainly IgG and IgA, may be implicated in the disease process in autoimmune TAO and PTM. Activation of the complement cascade, via the classic or the alternative pathway, could take place in about 40% of these patients. IVIG in vitro may solubilize, by a specific mechanism, IgG and complement immune complex deposition in the extrathyroidal manifestations of autoimmune Grave's disease.

Complement C3↗