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Biomedical subjects

S Bonini

Publications and source records attributed to S Bonini.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

IgE serum levels in urinary schistosomiasis.

IgE serum levels were determined by PRIST in 56 patients suffering from urinary schistosomiasis and in 39 healthy subjects living in the Coriolei area, south of Mogadishu. Abnormally high IgE values (as referred to normal values found in European healthy controls) were observed in 87.5% of the patients, the mean average being 1359.58 +/- 721.11 U/ml in schistosomiasis and 430.57 +/- 600.90 U/ml in Somalian healthy controls (P less than 0.01). The possible role of IgE in parasitic infection is discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1976

Mucus antibodies in pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic obstructive lung disease.

An indirect immunofluorescence technique and an indirect immunoperoxidase technique were used on cryostat sections of human group-O submaxillary salivary gland and rat stomach. Circulating antibodies reacting with mucus antigen(s) were found in sera from 52-7% of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and in 21-8% of patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. Among hospital patients with other diseases and healthy controls, mucus antibodies were found in 7-2 and 5.4% respectively. The mucus antibodies were not absorbed by an excess of red blood-cells derived from group AD+ healthy subjects or from the rat donor of the stomach, while the fluorescence and the immunoperoxidase reactions were almost completely abolished after the absorption of positive sera with human dried bronchial secretion. It is postulated that mucus antibody may be a new and important serological marker of disorders accompanied by mucus accumulation in the lung and possibly other organs and/or by severe changes of the anatomical structures which act as a barrier to the reabsorption of abnormal amounts of mucus.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Critical evaluation of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgG antibodies to Dactylis glomerata.

Experiments are reported for the evaluation of an indirect ELISA using peroxidase conjugate for the detection of IgG antibodies to Dactylis glomerata (DG), a grass pollen antigen frequently responsible for allergic rhinitis and asthma. When optimized, the test proved to be useful in clinical practice for a semiquantitative, cheap and simply-performed determination of IgG antibodies to DG. The advantages and disadvantages of this method, compared with those of elaborate antigen-binding assays, are discussed.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nerve growth factor: an important molecule in allergic inflammation and tissue remodelling.

BACKGROUND: Several studies provide evidence that nerve growth factor (NGF) has an expanding role in neuroimmune interactions. METHODS: We review our data on circulation levels of NGF in allergic diseases as well as on the relationships between this neurotrophin and primary and secondary effector cells of allergic inflammation. RESULTS: In vernal keratoconjunctivitis, a close relationship exists between the increased NGF plasma values and the number of mast cells infiltrating the conjunctiva. NGF serum values are also increased in other allergic diseases and asthma, and are related to the severity of the inflammatory process and disease. Human CD4+ T cell clones (preferentially of activated Th2 type) produce and release NGF, and express high-affinity NGF receptors. NGF is preformed in and can act on human peripheral blood eosinophils to preferentially release inflammatory mediators. Immunoreactivity for high affinity NGF receptors is present both in basal epithelial cells and in the inflamed stroma of the allergic conjunctiva. Topical administration of NGF results in a complete healing of neurotophic corneal ulcers in man, thus suggesting a profound effect of NGF on human fibroblasts and extracellular matrix. CONCLUSION: Data presented suggest that NGF is an important molecule in allergic inflammation and tissue remodelling occurring in allergic diseases.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis: a model of 5q cytokine gene cluster disease.

Clinical studies of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) patients show that total IgE serum levels are increased even in the absence of IgE antibodies to common allergens. Activated eosinophils are also a constant feature of VKC at both the circulation (cytofluorimetry) and tissue (tear cytology and conjunctival scrapings) levels. Moreover, allergen challenge induces a prolonged inflammatory reaction with a prevalent participation of eosinophils, lymphocytes and possibly basophils. Immunohistochemical studies of VKC biopsies show a multicellular inflammatory infiltrate with prevalence of activated eosinophils, mast cells and CD4 lymphocytes in both epithelium and subepithelium. Mediator studies indicate that eosinophil products (eosinophil peroxidase, eosinophinal cationic protein and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin/eosinophil protein X) are increased in both serum and tears, where tryptase and interleukin (IL)-5 are also detectable in higher amounts than in controls. On the basis of these findings, we postulate that VKC can represent a phenotypic model of up-regulation of the cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 5q which through its products (IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 and granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor) regulates Th2 prevalence, IgE production as well as mast cell and eosinophil growth and function in VKC.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pulsatile ocular blood flow during pregnancy.

PURPOSE: To study pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) throughout pregnancy. METHODS: We enrolled twenty-seven healthy women in the first trimester of gestation, only ten of which were followed through the second trimester, and fourteen non pregnant healthy women. In each subject we measured POBF with the POBF pneumotonometer (OBF Ltd. UK), IOP, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). An unpaired Student t-test was used to compare pregnant women with non-pregnant women, and a two-tailed paired Student t-test was used to compare the same women in the first and second trimester of pregnancy. p <0.05 is considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Results are presented as means +/- SD. In the first trimester of pregnancy the age was 32 +/- 6, POBF 1516.4 +/- 382 ml/min, IOP 13 +/- 3 mmHg, BP 92 +/- 6 mmHg, and HR 86 +/- 14 beats/min. In the second trimester POBF was 1629.11 +/- 352.4 ml/min, intraocular pressure (IOP) 12 +/- 3 mmHg, BP 96 +/- 3 mmHg, and HR 93 +/- 10 beats/min. In the control group the age was 27 +/- 9, POBF 972.23 +/- 329.3 ml/min, BP 88 +/- 4.3 mmHg, and HR 80 +/- 14 beats/min. POBF increases during the first trimester (p = 0.00008). In the second trimester POBF was higher compared to the first trimester (p = 0.0008). Non significant differences were observed for the other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The POBF increases throughout gestation. During pregnancy there is an increase in estrogen which induces endothelial-dependent vasodilatation in several tissues. The estrogen changes may influence POBF.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Amniotic membrane transplantation associated with conjunctival peritomy in the management of Mooren's ulcer: a case report.

PURPOSE: To report the association of conjunctival peritomy with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) at the limbus with the exclusion of the central cornea in order to preserve visual function in one case of bilateral Mooren's ulcer. METHODS: A 36-year-old man with bilateral Mooren's ulcer was unresponsive to conventional therapy. Surgical procedure was performed on his right eye, at impending risk of corneal perforation. A 20 x 20 mm piece of amniotic membrane (AM) was prepared by performing a central hole of 7.5 mm diameter with a manual trephine. A 360 degrees conjunctival peritomy was performed and the AM was placed with the epithelium side facing up and the central hole was sutured on the paracentral cornea. RESULTS: Two weeks after surgery, while the right eye showed improvement of signs and symptoms and unchanged best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the left eye showed a peripheral corneal perforation with prolapsed iris that required conjunctival flap. At 7 months of follow-up, the right eye showed no ocular inflammation, a reduction of the lipid-like peripheral corneal infiltrates, an increased stromal thickness, and an unchanged BCVA. The progression of corneal thinning in the left eye led the authors to perform AMT (as described) in the left eye as well. Five months after the AMT in the left eye, neither eye shows signs of disease progression, and neither requires further therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival peritomy associated with AMT may be an alternative surgical approach in the management of Mooren's ulcers to control the inflammation and the progression of disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Upregulation of ICAM-1 expression in the conjunctiva of patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease.

PURPOSE: To correlate conjunctival intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression with cytologic and clinical findings of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). METHODS: Seven patients with chronic GVHD-related keratoconjunctivitis and five age-matched normal controls were recruited for the study. Clinical examination included medical history, visual acuity, evaluation of ocular signs and symptoms (scored from 0 to 3), corneal fluorescein staining (scored from 0 to 5 on the basis of the number of corneal sectors involved), Schirmer test type I, and break-up time (BUT). Impression cytology samples were collected from the nasal and inferior bulbar conjunctiva of patients and controls. Goblet cells were counted in three randomly selected fields and averaged. Immunofluorescent staining for ICAM-1 was carried out and the percentage of cells expressing the marker was evaluated. RESULTS: All patients showed signs and symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Schirmer test type I and BUT were reduced (4.8+/-6.7 mm/5 min and 3.9+/-2.7 seconds, respectively). Goblet cells were significantly reduced in GVHD eyes with respect to normal eyes (65+/-30.5 and 192+/-16.9 cells/field respectively; p<0.001). Goblet cell number was directly related to Schirmer test values (p<0.01, rho=0.817) and inversely related to total sign score (p<0.01, rho=-0.939). ICAM-1 expression was increased in GVHD eyes with respect to normal controls, in which no staining was observed. ICAM-1 expression showed an inverse relation to goblet cell number (p<0.01, rho=-0.852) and Schirmer test values (p<0.01, rho=-0.926), and was directly correlated to total sign score (p<0.01, rho=0.982). CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival ICAM-1 expression is increased in GVHD patients. The severity of the disease is associated with tear parameters, goblet cell decrease, and inflammatory markers, such as ICAM-1.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Allergy and infections: long-term improvement of vernal keratoconjunctivitis following viral conjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a severe, chronic allergic inflammatory disease of the ocular surface poorly responsive to antiallergic treatments and possibly leading to permanent visual impairment. VKC, because of mast cell, eosinophil, and Th2-type inflammation, polyclonal IgE activation, and tissue remodeling, is considered to be a typical Th2- driven disease. Viral infection stimulates a Th1 type immune response, potentially attenuating allergen-induced inflammation. The purpose of this report is to describe the effect of viral keratoconjunctivitis in a patient with VKC. METHODS: The authors report on a patient with a severe form of VKC, poorly responsive to antiallergic treatments, who developed a viral keratoconjunctivitis. Signs, symptoms, and cytologic findings were recorded during the 5-year follow-up period. RESULTS: The authors observed a prompt and permanent improvement of signs and symptoms of the allergic condition after the viral infection. Conjunctival scraping confirms that the inhibition of the eosinophilic inflammation lasts at least for 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: In this case, the viral infection seemed to induce a clinical recovery of allergic disease, suggesting that an immune deviation induced by Th1-polarizing agents may revert an ongoing Th2 inflammation.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Conjunctival papilloma and human papillomavirus: identification of HPV types by PCR.

PURPOSE: To report the identification of human papillomavirus types in four cases of conjunctival papillomas and to review the literature regarding human conjunctival papillomavirus (HPV). METHODS: Specimens from conjunctival papillomas of four patients were analyzed for the presence of HPV by polymerase chain reaction and subsequent filter hybridization. HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, and 33 were investigated. Histologic sections were analyzed for the presence of koilocytosis. RESULTS: Histologic examination confirmed HPV infection in all cases. HPV type 11 was detected in all specimens. CONCLUSIONS: HPV is frequently implicated in the pathogenesis of proliferative squamous lesions. HPV type 11 was the most frequently found in benign conjunctival lesion in this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Morphological evaluation of full-thickness idiopathic macular holes by optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the morphological evaluation of idiopathic full-thickness macular holes and for detecting any morphological changes with time. METHODS: Serial sagittal tomographs through the macula were taken by OCT in a consecutive series of 34 eyes of 34 patients with diagnosis of idiopathic full-thickness macular hole. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of "recent" (group 1, 25 patients) or "not-recent" (group 2, 9 patients) onset of symptoms related to the macular hole. Fourteen of the 25 patients in group 1 and all nine in group 2 underwent vitrectomy. The 11 in group 1 who refused surgery were observed by OCT examination with follow-up from 6 to 13 months. RESULTS: In most eyes OCT scans revealed two different anatomical features of macular holes depending on the time of onset of symptoms. Eleven of the 14 "recent-onset" holes that underwent surgery showed "sharp", undermining edges at preoperative OCT; the other three had "rounded" edges. Seven of the nine eyes operated for long-standing full-thickness macular holes had preoperative "rounded" edges, while the edges in the remaining two eyes were "sharp". OCT of eight of the 11 non-operated eyes in group 1 showed a morphological evolution of the macular hole edges from a "sharp" to a "rounded" contour and an increase in the diameter of the hole. CONCLUSIONS: OCT can help in the morphological evaluation of idiopathic full-thickness macular holes and in the detection of morphological changes with time.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nerve growth factor release by human synovial fibroblasts prior to and following exposure to tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta and cholecystokinin-8: the possible role of NGF in the inflammatory response.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to investigate the synthesis, release and effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) in human synovial cells isolated from synovial tissue specimen from healthy and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. METHODS: Human synovial fibroblasts cultures were established starting from healthy and osteoarthritis patients. NGF protein levels in the culture medium, NGFmRNA and high-affinity NGF receptor (Tyrosine kinase A: TrkA) expression in the cells were evaluated in basal conditions and after stimulation with pro-inflammatory cytokines or with the neuropeptide cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8). The effect of NGF supplement to culture medium on cell proliferation, TrkA expression, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and inducible-nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) production was investigated. RESULTS: Under basal conditions human synovial cells produce and release NGF. Both interleukin-1-beta (IL-1 beta) and TNF-alpha, but not CCK-8 promote NGF synthesis and release from OA cells. TrkA NGF receptors are also expressed in both normal and OA synovial cells. NGF, but not IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and CCK-8, enhances the expression of TrkA in isolated synovial cells. NGF down-regulates IL-1 beta-induced TNF-alpha and iNOS production by OA synovial fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: NGF is produced and released and TrkA receptors are expressed in synovial inflammation. Overexpression of NGF in inflammed joints might be involved in the modulation rather than in the induction of the joint inflammatory response.

Cells, Cultured↗