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Biomedical subjects

R Zanotti

Publications and source records attributed to R Zanotti.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Evaluation of serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in patients with chronic lymphoproliferative disorders of T-lymphocytes.

Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) have been evaluated in 33 patients with chronic lymphoproliferative disorders of T-lymphocytes, including 12 T-helper phenotype chronic lymphocytic leukemias (Th-CLL) and 21 lymphoproliferative diseases of granular lymphocytes (LDGL). All Th-CLL cases were negative for antibodies against type I human T-leukemia virus (HTLV-I). Serum levels of sIL-2R were significantly increased in patients with Th-CLL with respect to controls (P less than 0.02) and this increase was related to the clinical course of the disease. In fact, patients with rapidly progressive disease (mean survival, 11.6 +/- 3 months) showed significantly higher concentrations of sIL-2R than patients with less aggressive disease (mean survival, 39.5 +/- 5 months) (16,223 U/ml +/- 5612 versus 1447 U/ml +/- 817; P less than 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between sIL-2R concentrations and the number of CD4-positive cells (r = 0.64; P less than 0.05). These data point to the possible use of sIL-2R levels as a marker of active malignancy in patients with Th-CLL. Patients with LDGL showed increased sIL-2R values (721 U/ml +/- 112) with respect to controls (334 U/ml +/- 28; P less than 0.005). However, the sIL-2R levels were lower than those detected in Th-CLL patients (P less than 0.05). Among the different correlations the authors tried to establish, the only observed difference was found between serum sIL-2R levels in the group of CD3+ LDGL patients with respect to CD3- LDGL cases (P less than 0.05).

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1989

Functional analysis of cytotoxic cells in patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia in complete remission.

In the current study, we investigated the cytotoxic ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) recovered from patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) in complete remission (CR) against natural killer (NK)-sensitive, NK-resistant, autologous and allogeneic leukemic target cells taken at diagnosis. Our purpose was to define the role played by cytotoxic mechanisms in the control of leukemic cell growth in ANLL. Experiments were carried out at resting conditions and after in vitro activation with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (moAb). At resting conditions, PBMC recovered from ANLL patients displayed a NK function that was not significantly different from controls (mean +/- standard error of the mean [SEM]: 21.9% +/- 3.9% versus control values of 27.5% +/- 2.9%; the P value was not significant [NS]), but they were unable to show cytotoxic activity against autologous and allogeneic leukemic cells. After in vitro boosting with rIL-2, PBMC were able to generate lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells, as demonstrated by an increased killing of NK-resistant Daudi targets (16.3% +/- 2.7%). Although LAK activity was quantitatively lower than in control subjects (mean +/- SEM: 16.3% +/- 2.7% versus control values of 79.8% +/- 3.1%; P less than 0.001), it still exerted a cytotoxic effect against autologous and allogeneic leukemic cells. Similar results were obtained when anti-CD3 moAb was used as a stimulus in vitro. Our data suggest that nonspecific cytotoxic cells may be triggered to exert an in vitro cytotoxic effect on leukemic cells, which could possibly play a key role in vivo in the control of leukemic cell growth regulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Increased levels of soluble CD8 molecule in the serum of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related disorders.

In this study we investigated the serological levels of the soluble form of the CD8 molecule (s-CD8) in 97 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive patients. The control groups included 20 normal heterosexual subjects and 19 healthy seronegative subjects belonging to risk groups for AIDS. Our results show that patients with HIV infection have significantly higher levels of s-CD8 U/ml than the control groups. When the patients were further subdivided according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classification, s-CD8 U/ml values were consistently increased in all HIV patients, irrespective of the CDC stages. No statistically significant correlation was found between the serological levels of s-CD8/ml and the absolute numbers of CD8 lymphocytes/mm3, in both HIV seropositive patients and control groups. Since in the more advanced stages of HIV infection (IV-A, IV-C1) the decrease in the absolute number of CD8+ cells was not followed by a decrease in s-CD8 levels, it is conceivable that an increased release and/or shedding of s-CD8 per cell might occur in these patients. In fact, when the results were expressed as s-CD8 units per CD8 positive cell (s-CD8/absolute number of CD8), the levels of s-CD8/cell were higher in patients belonging to the IV-A and IV-C1 CDC groups (1.94 U/cell +/- 0.33 and 3.39 U/cell +/- 0.5, respectively) compared to normal controls (P less than 0.001), HIV seronegative subjects at risk for AIDS (P less than 0.001), and the other patients' groups (II and III CDC groups, respectively, P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.001). The evidence herein provided that in patients with HIV infection s-CD8 levels are increased suggests a possible pathogenetic role of the cells involved in the release of this molecule.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1989

Serum levels of soluble CD8 are increased in patients with B chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Serum levels of the soluble form of the CD8 (s-CD8) antigen were evaluated in the peripheral blood of 44 patients with B-CLL, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and were correlated with clinical features and relevant hematological and immunological data. Increased values were observed with respect to normal age-matched controls (mean +/- S.E.M. 603 U/ml +/- 81 vs. 315 U/ml +/- 31, respectively; P less than 0.0001). This increase was observed in all stages of the disease, excluding stage 0 (mean 277 U/ml +/- 45). A general trend pointing to lower values overall in patients with less invasive disease was observed. In fact, the rank correlation test showed that the serum levels of s-CD8 correlate significantly with the WBC counts, the CD4/CD8 ratio, and also with the levels of serum immunoglobulins. On the contrary, no correlation was observed between s-CD8 levels and the absolute number of circulating CD8+ cells in individual cases. Therefore, the increase of s-CD8 is unlikely to be a mere expression of the increase of the CD8 cell number, but seems related to an increase of the activation phenomena involving the CD8+ T cell subset.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗
PubMed1989

Increased levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Relationship with clinical, histologic, and phenotypic features.

In this study the authors investigated the serum levels of the released soluble form of interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). Data were evaluated in relationship to the morphologic and immunophenotypic heterogeneity of NHL at diagnosis and in progressive advanced diseases. Increased sIL-2R levels were found in most cases, when compared with levels observed in healthy controls. No obvious statistical correlation has been observed between sIL-2R values in different NHL subtypes as defined by current classifications. On the other hand, major significance was related to the extent of the disease. Very high values, comparable to those observed in hairy cell leukemia, were observed in a number of large cell NHLs complicating low-grade B-cell lymphoproliferations and in a single case of T-cell Kil+ NHL. The authors' findings suggest that the detection of sIL-2R in NHL may represent a good marker in improving risk assignment of single cases and/or for monitoring remissions and exacerbations during the treatment of cases with very high levels at diagnosis. Nevertheless, the observed overlap between groups on an individual case basis can render the clinical application of this marker problematic.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1989

Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in hairy cell leukaemia: a reliable marker of neoplastic bulk.

In hairy cell leukaemia (HCL), the strong membrane expression of the Tac antigen, corresponding to the p55 chain of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), is associated with the presence in the serum of high levels of a soluble form of the same molecule (sIL-2R). Previous observations that therapy-induced clinical and haematologic improvement in HCL is accompanied by a progressive decrease of sIL-2R suggest a possible correlation between sIL-2R levels and tumour burden. To verify this hypothesis, we monitored the variation of sIL-2R values in 13 non-splenectomized HCL patients admitted for treatment with recombinant interferon alpha-2. The data were correlated with the estimated weight of bone marrow (BM) and spleen infiltration, which in these patients almost entirely account for the tumour mass. The regression analysis test showed a direct correlation between sIL-2R values and both BM neoplastic involvement (r = 0.63) and spleen tumour mass (r = 0.76). In addition, the correlation was further improved (r = 0.86) when sIL-2R values were correlated with the total neoplastic mass, as calculated by the sum of spleen and BM neoplastic tissue weight. These data indicate that the detection of sIL-2R in HCL is a reliable non-invasive marker of tumour burden, which can be regarded as an additional useful tool for monitoring treatment response.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Why do they enroll in nursing school? A study of the motivations of the enrollments in the School for Professional Nurses of Veneto Province].

A longitudinal investigation developed in the Regione Veneto has focused on the motivations which lead 2,500 young people per year to choose the nursing school and on the information on the school and the profession which are available for them. The ground motivations which seem to guide to choice appear to be mostly of the idealistic-humanitarian type, while the image of the nursing profession shares the characteristics of a low professional and social role. The investigation has also explored the motivations which lead 15% of the candidates to leave the school very early on, and provides a profile of those characteristics of the Regional Schools which are judged by the young candidates as positive or negative.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Learning of the process of nursing diagnosis by nursing students. An experiment at the San Miniato School].

In order to guarantee the quality of health care, it is necessary that the care focus on patients' needs. This requires that care givers possess diagnostic competency skills that allow them to quickly identify the patients' needs, using suitable methods and instruments. In Italy, the development of diagnostic competency skills is generally overlooked in nursing schools; this is due in part to the lack of applied and experimental educational models in teaching and training. During the 1992-1993 year, a didactic teaching intervention to assist students in the acquisition of diagnostic skills was tested. The sample included all students in the third year class of the San Miniato nursing school. The Zanotti's model "Nursing as a stimulus for health-harmony" was used as framework. The purpose of the research was to test: (a) validity and reliability of a new needs' analysis model; (b) the effectiveness of a didactic method for the acquisition of such a model by the students. Students enhanced their skills in data assessment and shifted from the medical perspective to the nursing perspective in using those data to evaluate the patient's status.

Education, Nursing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Nursing diagnosis and scientific knowledge].

In this paper the author analyzes commonalities and differences between scientific inquiry and diagnostic assessment, to highlight the thought and method rigorousness implied in the nursing diagnosis. The first part of the paper is dedicated to explore the relationship between the subjectivity of the heuristic attitude and the objectivity of the scientific methodology. In the second part, the use of inductive and deductive approaches in diagnostic inquiry are compared and the validity of their outcomes is discussed. Finally, the last section describes concepts and methods mostly used and is completed by an analysis of criteria for classification useable in nursing diagnosis.

Decision Trees↗