Biomedical subjects

Simona Soresi

Publications and source records attributed to Simona Soresi.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Deep inspiration-induced changes in lung volume decrease with severity of asthma.

We have previously reported that the magnitude of deep inspiration (DI)-induced bronchodilation is only slightly reduced in mild asthmatics, compared to healthy subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether increased severity of asthma is associated with impairment in the ability of DI to induce changes in lung volume. Thirty-six consecutive asthmatics recruited from the Pulmonary and the Allergy Outpatient Clinics of the Institute of Respiratory Diseases of the University of Palermo were divided into 3 groups: Intermittent (I), Mild Persistent (MP) and Moderate-Severe (MS), based on GINA guidelines. Single dose methacholine (Mch) bronchoprovocations were performed in the absence of DI, to induce at least 15% reduction in inspiratory vital capacity (IVC) from baseline. The post-Mch IVC was followed by 4 consecutive DI and by another IVC, to determine the bronchodilatory effect of DI. The bronchodilatory effect of DI was found to significantly decrease with increasing severity of asthma (I: 68+/-5.4%, MP: 45+/-7.2%, MS: 4+/-15.6%; ANOVA: P<0.0001). Bronchodilation by DI, but not FEV(1) or FEV(1)/FVC, was also inversely correlated to symptom scores (r=-0.42, P=0.01) and to weekly salbutamol usage (r=-0.47, P=0.004). These observations provide support to the hypothesis that the attenuation of the bronchodilatory effect of DI contributes to the severity of the clinical manifestations of asthma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Light smoking and dependence symptoms in high-school students.

In high-school students, prevalence of smoking is high but few studies analyzed smoking in the student population according to nicotine content of smoked cigarettes and gender. We analyzed the responses to a questionnaire, including the modified Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ), administered to 555 students (382 males, 173 females) of a professional high school in Palermo, Italy, to assess the prevalence in both genders of: (1) smoking "light" and high nicotine (HN) cigarettes; (2) signs of nicotine dependence and (3) respiratory symptoms. Nicotine content of habitually smoked cigarettes was considered as "light" if 0.8 mg; as high if >0.8 mg. Forty-four percent of students smoked, without differences between genders. Two-thirds of the total sample reported "light" cigarette smoking (76.7% of females vs. 62.0% of males, P<0.05). On average, "light" cigarette smoking was associated with lower pack/year and FTQ global score compared to HN smoking. However, when FTQ global score was analyzed by taking into account pack/year, no major difference was found between "light" and HN cigarette smokers. Cough with phlegm and breathlessness were more frequently reported by smoking than non-smoking students, without differences between "light" and HN cigarette smokers. About 50% of smoking students reported having tried to quit, while only 3.4% of students were ex-smokers. "Light" smoking was common in high school students, especially among females. Dependence appeared more influenced by the smoking history than by nicotine content. Respiratory symptoms were similar in "light" and HN cigarette smokers.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mechanisms of action of anti-immunoglobulin E therapy.

The currently approved anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) agent omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that recognizes human IgE in the vicinity of its binding sites for high- and low-affinity IgE receptors. Omalizumab binds free IgE and the complexes that are formed are removed by the hepatic reticuloendothelial system. Over time, IgE comes off its receptors on various cells (primarily basophils and mast cells), rendering these cells "nonfunctional," in that they lose their ability to respond to allergen. This process is enhanced by the fact that, as IgE receptors are freed, their numbers on cell surfaces decline. The kinetics of cellular defunctionalization may differ depending on the cell type (basophils are believed to lose IgE earlier), the number of cell-surface-specific IgE molecules before initiation of treatment, and the cellular sensitivity of individual patients. Inability to respond to allergen reduces acute allergic reactions and their inflammatory and physiological consequences such as late reductions in lung function and tissue eosinophilia. Chronic airway inflammation is suppressed also, but the effect on airway hyperresponsiveness is modest. A potential role of anti-IgE therapy to act as an immunomodulator by affecting antigen presentation through the removal of IgE from the surface of dendritic cells has not been explored. Also unknown is whether anti-IgE can bind to membrane-bound IgE on B lymphocytes and influence IgE production by these cells. Anti-IgE therapy has provided a strong proof of concept for the central role of the IgE system in asthma and other allergic diseases. (Allergy Asthma

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗