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Biomedical subjects

S Todesco

Publications and source records attributed to S Todesco.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

[Fibroblastic rheumatism. A clinical and histological entity].

In 1980 was described for the first time a disease which seemed unknown until then. From that time three cases have been published. The current study summarizes their common characteristic, combining joint involvements to nodular-type involvements to systemic involvement, i.e. a specific histology. This entity has been named fibroblastic rheumatism. Nosologically, it is situated between juvenile fibroblastoses without joint involvement and with nodules, and adult sclerodermis with joint and systemic involvement without nodules.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Phospholipids in inflammatory synovial effusions.

The concentration of phospholipids and proteins was determined in 23 inflammatory synovial fluids obtained from human knee joints. The synovial fluid to plasma phospholipid ratio (0.48 and 0.37 at high and low inflammatory state) was lower than the value found for the total protein content (0.68 and 0.53, respectively) indicating that phospholipids were more discriminated than proteins in their transfer from plasma to the synovial space. Constant amounts of phosphatidylinositol were found in all synovial fluids, whereas trace amounts of lysophosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine were more frequent in the active inflammatory state. A decrease in the relative amounts of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol with respect to plasma suggested the possibility of phospholipid hydrolysis in the synovial compartment. In agreement, determinations of phospholipase activity disclosed the presence of a phospholipase A2 in the fluid phase of synovial effusions. Phospholipid derivatives formed in the synovial space may thus contribute to the amplification of the inflammatory response.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1986

Anticentromere antibody in localized scleroderma.

Using metaphase chromosome spreads as substrate for indirect immunofluorescence technic, we observed anticentromere antibody in three of twenty-five patients affected with various clinical forms of localized scleroderma. Anticentromere antibody is generally considered a serologic marker of the CREST syndrome, a more benign subset of systemic sclerosis. However, none of the three anticentromere antibody-positive patients with localized scleroderma had Raynaud's phenomenon, acrosclerosis, or any signs or symptoms of systemic disease; on physical and laboratory examination, they showed only typical cutaneous features of localized scleroderma: two showed linear scleroderma, and one showed localized morphea. A 2-year 8-month follow-up of two patients did not disclose any clinical evidence of systemic sclerosis. The occurrence of anticentromere antibody in patients with localized scleroderma seems to offer supportive evidence that a relationship exists between localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Knee arthrography: effects of various contrast media and epinephrine on synovial fluid.

Changes in synovial fluid leukocytes, total protein, and total complement were studied in 58 patients after they underwent single contrast material-enhanced knee arthrography with ionic (sodium iothalamate, sodium meglumine diatrizoate, meglumine iothalamate) and nonionic (iopamidol, iohexol) contrast media. In 30 of 58 cases, 0.3 mg epinephrine was also injected. In patients examined without epinephrine, a significant increase in the number of leukocytes was observed when sodium iothalamate and sodium meglumine diatrizoate were used. When administered with epinephrine all ionic compounds produced significant leukocytosis; articular reactions were most evident in patients examined with sodium salts. No inflammatory changes in the synovial fluid were observed when nonionic compounds were used. These data suggest that sodium-containing compounds produce a greater reaction in the joint compared with other contrast media, nonionic compounds are better tolerated by the joint, and epinephrine increases the articular reaction to ionic contrast media.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Nuclear membrane-staining antinuclear antibody in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

An antinuclear antibody specific for nuclear membrane (ANMA) was observed by the immunofluorescence method in sera from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). ANMA was present in 18 of 63 PBC sera (28.5) and in 1 of 431 control sera (0.2%). Its reaction appeared as a thin fluorescent ring confined to the nuclear envelope and was more evident when the sera were highly diluted and the fluorescence, due to frequently associated antimitochondrial antibody, faded. The ANMA fluorescent pattern was confirmed by indirect immunoperoxidase staining. ANMA was seen on both tissue cryostat sections and HEp-2 cells. It was a poorly or non-complement-fixing IgG, specific for an antigen resistant to DNase I, RNase, and trypsin. The significance of its presence in PBC in unknown at present. Identification of its antigen with one of the centromeric antigens is suggested.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Association of anti-centromere and anti-Scl 70 antibodies in scleroderma. Report of two cases.

In testing for antinuclear antibodies the sera of 121 patients affected with scleroderma, we found in 2 of them the concurrent presence of anti-centromere and anti-Scl 70 antibodies. Since the association of these antibodies has never been reported, to the best of our knowledge, we report the clinical and serological features of the 2 patients. Both subjects were women with an incomplete CREST syndrome (RST), a relatively limited involvement of the skin, a mild pulmonary fibrosis without apparent signs of other visceral involvement. On the other hand, the clinical course of the disease was different in the 2 cases. One patient had a longer disease duration and up to date the clinical features appear to be unchanged; the other had a shorter disease duration, when suddenly she died of cardiac arrest.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1985

Prevalence of anticentromere antibody in blood relatives of anticentromere positive patients.

Anticentromere antibody (ACA) was investigated in 116 blood relatives of 22 ACA positive patients affected with scleroderma and, for comparison, in 82 healthy subjects matched for age and sex who belonged to 25 families. No relative showed any evident scleroderma symptom although in 8 an unusual cold sensitivity of the extremities was present. ACA at a low titer (40), was found in 4 relatives (3.44%), while it was absent in control sera. The 4 ACA positive relatives were first as well as second degree relatives of probands. Two had familial disease: one idiopathic chronic hypoparathyroidism and the other mental retardation. The third had myasthenia gravis and the fourth unusual cold sensitivity and allergic dermatitis. At present we cannot explain the significance of ACA occurrence in relatives of ACA positive patients. Followup clinical and serological studies could show a possible association of low titer of ACA with subclinical scleroderma features in patients who later develop overt disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Double-blind multicentre study of the activity of S-adenosylmethionine in hip and knee osteoarthritis.

A randomized double-blind multicentre clinical trial was carried out to verify the effectiveness and tolerance of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) versus ibuprofen in 150 patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis. Both drugs were given orally 400 mg thrice daily for 30 days. SAMe exhibited a slightly more marked activity than the reference drug in the management of the various painful manifestations of the joint disease. Minor side-effects developed in five patients of SAMe group, and in 16 patients of ibuprofen group. No drop-outs occurred. No changes were observed in the routine laboratory tests.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

[Radiologic changes of the hands in psoriatic rheumatism].

The radiological features of the psoriatic arthritis, already known in the literature, are reviewed by the authors. On the basis of their own record (33 patients), they underline 3 peculiar features of the disease: thickening of the soft tissue involving the whole finger, three joints involvements of the same finger, association of subchondral proliferation and periostitis.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1984

[Proglumetacin for the treatment of inflammatory and degenerative arthropathies].

Twenty patients with inflammatory (15) or degenerative (5) joint disorders had been treated with 450 mg/day of proglumetacin during 35 +/- 18 days. Articular symptoms showed a definite and continued improvement, particularly evident during the initial 15 days of treatment on both painful and inflammatory components. The final physician's evaluation rated 75% of results as excellent or good, versus 15% of poor (3 patients, one of whom already refractory to diclofenac). The tolerance was defined as excellent to good in 90% of patients: one (5%) was dropped out upon the onset of sweating and palpitation, already observed with other drugs. Overall, only one case each of heartburn, anorexia and diarrhoea were considered as possibly related to the treatment. Laboratory tests did not show any variation that could be attributed to the drug. Proglumetacin therefore, by force of its efficacy and safety, appears to be particularly suited as a first-choice drug for the management of both inflammatory and degenerative joint disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

A family study of ankylosing spondylitis.

Clinical, radiological and scintigraphic studies and HLA type assessment were performed in 38 subjects, constituting all the first-degree members of three generations of the families of six patients affected with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The families included both parents, all siblings and all children of the probands. Definite AS was found in three men and possible AS in another. In another man and in a woman, a diagnosis of asymptomatic bilateral sacroiliitis was made. These six subjects indicate a family prevalence of AS reaching 15.8%. HLA B27 was present in 20 individuals (52.6%), including those with definite and possible AS and the case with asymptomatic sacroiliitis. The woman with asymptomatic sacroiliitis lacked HLA B27 antigen. Our study confirms the familial occurrence of AS, but it shows the occurrence to be lower than that previously reported.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Serum of normal subjects contains IgG with antibody-like specificity for phospholipids.

Using counterimmunoelectrophoresis, sera from normal subjects display precipitin activity against liposomes made by phosphatidic acid, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl serine and cardiolipin. No activity is detected by using liposomes made with phosphatidyl choline, sphingomyelin and phosphatidyl inositol. The same pattern of precipitation is obtained when pure IgG from normal subjects is tested against phospholipids. No precipitin activity is found by using pure IgM. The precipitin reaction is prevented by preincubating liposomes with Fab obtained from normal IgG.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Assay of rheumatoid factors by the indirect immunofluorescence method].

Sera from 69 patients affected with rheumatoid arthritis were examined for IgM, IgG and IgA rheumatoid factors (RF) by a indirect immunofluorescence method. The results were compared with those obtained from the classical rheumatoid factor latex test. By this technique we have demonstrated antigammaglobulin activity in a high proportion (23%) of sera from latex test seronegative rheumatoid patients. Moreover, by fractionated antisera it was possible to detect also IgG and IgA factors. Indirect immunofluorescence results to be a simple and available technique for detection of RF, also in many "seronegative" patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Rheumatoid factors: value of their determination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

IgM, IgA, IgG rheumatoid factors were investigated by a indirect immunofluorescence method in three groups of patients affected with rheumatoid arthritis of various picture: 30 patients with mild articular disease, 20 with severe joint involvement and 19 with articular and systemic symptoms. Rheumatoid factors occurred more frequently in patients with articular and extraarticular severe rheumatoid arthritis; moreover these patients showed higher titres and higher incidence of different immunoglobulin class rheumatoid factors in comparison with rheumatoid patients having mild joint disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Anti-tissue autoantibodies in malignant pulmonary neoplasms].

Tissue antibodies (Ab) were investigated in 85 patients affected with pulmonary malignancy of different histologic type and, as control, in 40 non-smoker healthy subjects and in 40 smoker subjects with chronic bronchitis. A significantly higher number of patients (64, 7%) had tissue Ab in comparison with both control groups (17% in non smoker group and 25% in smoker and chronic bronchitis group, respectively). Antinuclear antibodies were found in 29.4% of patients, antismooth muscle in 31.7%, anti-mitochondrial Ab in 4.7%, antityroid microsomes Ab in 4.7%, anti-gastric parietal cells Ab in 4.7%, anti-reticulin Ab in 11.7%. The patients at third stage of disease showed all antibodies as well as anti-nuclear more frequently that patients at first and second stage. Antibodies to cytoplasmic antigens were found in patients with anaplastic and squamous cancer, but not in patients with adenocarcinoma. Our observations suggest that immunologic abnormalities similar to those present in autoimmune disease, may be associated to pulmonary malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma↗