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Biomedical subjects

U Fagiolo

Publications and source records attributed to U Fagiolo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Complex alteration of thyroid function in healthy centenarians.

Several changes in thyroid function have been described in the elderly and largely attributed to concomitant nonthyroidal illness. The extent to which aging per se contributes to these changes remains to be elucidated, and scanty data are available in extremely old subjects. The present study was designed to focus on thyroid function during physiological aging, taking advantage of two groups of selected aged individuals: group A of healthy centenarians (n = 41; age range, 100-110 yr) and group B including healthy elderly subjects selected by the criteria of the EURAGE SENIEUR protocol (n = 33; age range, 65-80 yr). Control groups included 98 healthy normal adult subjects (group C; age range, 20-64 yr) and 52 patients with miscellaneous nonthyroidal illness (group D; age range, 28-82 yr). Our previous report of a low prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in centenarians was confirmed and extended by the finding of a similar low autoantibody prevalence in the highly selected healthy elderly population of group B. Subclinical primary hypothyroidism was found in 3 (7.3%) centenarians, and their data were excluded from further statistical evaluation. No significant difference was found in the median serum free T4 levels of groups A-C. Median (and range) serum free T3 (FT3) was lower in centenarians [3.67 pmol/L (2.3-5.5)] than in group B [5.22 pmol/L (3.4-6.1)] and group C [5.38 pmol/L (2.9-8.4); P < 0.0001 vs. both groups]. Similarly, the median serum TSH level of centenarians [0.97 mU/L (< 0.09 to 2.28)] was lower than those in groups B [1.17 mU/L (0.53-2.74)] and C [1.7 mU/L (0.4-4.8); P < 0.0001 vs. both groups]; moreover, serum TSH was also significantly (P < 0.01) lower in group B than in group C. Both serum FT3 and TSH concentrations showed a significant inverse correlation (r = -0.634; P < 0.0001 and r = -0.377; P < 0.0001, respectively) with age. Median serum FT3 in centenarians was lower than that in group D patients [4.61 pmol/L (2.15-6.6); P < 0.0001]. In contrast, median serum rT3 in centenarians [0.40 nmol/L (0.20-0.77)], although higher than those in groups B [0.24 nmol/L (0.15-0.37); P < 0.0001] and C [0.22 nmol/L (0.05-0.46); P < 0.0001], was significantly lower than that in group D [0.60 nmol/L (0.13-2.08); P < 0.0001]. In conclusion, thyroid function appears to be well preserved until the eighth decade of life if healthy subjects are studied, whereas a reduction of serum FT3 is observed in extreme aging.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Thyroid and other organ-specific autoantibodies in healthy centenarians.

To investigate the prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in very old subjects, we assayed sera from 34 healthy centenarians (7 men, 27 women; age range 100-108 years) for these antibodies. There was a clear age-dependent increase in prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in sera from 549 control subjects aged 7-85 years, prevalence in 40 subjects aged 70-85 being significantly greater (p less than 0.001, chi 2) than that in 436 subjects aged less than 50. By contrast, prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in centenarians was not significantly different from that in controls aged less than 50. Cytofluorimetric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes showed a striking age-dependent decrease in total and CD5+B cells (without changes in their ratio), which reached its nadir in centenarians. The age-dependent increase in prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in the elderly is not seen after the ninth decade of life. What relation this characteristic has to derangement of circulating B cells is unknown.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Changes in circulating B cells and immunoglobulin classes and subclasses in a healthy aged population.

The study of 87 adults of different ages, including 15 centenarians, selected for their healthy status, showed that profound changes of humoral immunity occur throughout life. In particular, a statistically significant age-related increase of the serum level of immunoglobulin classes (IgG and IgA but not IgM) and IgG subclasses (IgG1, 2 and 3, but not IgG4) was detected. A parallel age-related decrease of circulating B cells was also observed. The hypothesis of a complex derangement of B cell function and/or compartmentalization with age is put forward, together with the proposal that healthy centenarians (as representative of successful ageing) may be helpful in identifying the physiological age-related modifications of the immune system.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Intestinal permeability in patients with chronic urticaria-angioedema with and without arthralgia.

We evaluated the clinical response to oligoallergenic dietary treatment and the intestinal absorption of a protein antigen, cow milk beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) in 24 patients with chronic urticaria/angioedema syndrome 13 of whom also suffered from joint symptoms. Sixteen patients (77% of those with arthralgia) responded to diet (RD) with marked reduction of symptoms; the others did not respond (NR). Ten (all but one RD with arthralgia) had increased permeability to BLG after oral administration of cow milk. Four with high titers of IgG to BLG showed the highest absorption of BLG and the groups with arthralgia showed higher BLG levels than those without arthralgia. In all cases, specific IgE to cow milk was absent. These data suggest that the symptoms of a subgroup of patients with chronic urticaria, and especially patients with joint complaints that subside with diet, are related to excess intestinal permeability. The measurement of gut permeability to food proteins may be useful to define those who may benefit from dietary restriction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Immune dysfunction in the elderly: effect of thymic hormone administration on several in vivo and in vitro immune function parameters.

The effects of short-term thymic hormone administration on age-associated immune function were evaluated. Two groups of individuals greater than 65 years of age were treated for 30 days with thymic extracts (TP1) or placebo; before and after this treatment a panel of in vitro and in vivo parameters was determined according to a very rigorous experimental protocol. In most individuals, TP1 treatment was associated with an improvement in cutaneous delayed-type response to PPD. Moreover, an increase in a circulating T cell subpopulation bearing the CD45R surface antigen ("virgin" T cells), and in NK cell cytotoxic activity was also observed in some subjects. Finally, lymphocyte responsiveness to PHA tended to increase, while no effect on lymphocyte ability to produce IL-2 following mitogen stimulation was observed. These findings suggest that TP1 treatment may influence age-related alterations in immune function parameters in some subjects.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Intestinal permeability in irritable bowel syndrome. Effect of diet and sodium cromoglycate administration.

We studied 14 patients with irritable bowel syndrome for the presence of increased intestinal permeability to food antigens and their responses to diet with and without disodium cromoglycate. After a standardized oral challenge with cow milk, serum beta-lactoglobulin was increased above control values in three patients. This finding did not correlate with response to hypoallergenic diet or treatment with disodium cromoglycate for 3 weeks. However over 50% of patients improved after diet with and without DSCG (2/5 on diet only and 5/7 with disodium cromoglycate of 12 evaluable cases). Since only two patients had elevated serum IgE levels, our results suggest that intolerance rather than hypersensitivity to foods may play a role in the disease. The tests we used to identify immunologic mechanisms could not predict which patients would do better on the diet and/or the drug.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Intestinal permeability and antigen absorption in rheumatoid arthritis. Effects of acetylsalicylic acid and sodium chromoglycate.

Intestinal permeability was measured using cow's milk beta-lactoglobulin absorption (BLG) as a permeability marker in 14 patients with active and inactive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) under three different conditions: after a washout period, after treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) associated with disodium chromoglycate (DSCG), and with ASA only. No intolerance to cow's milk was present and serum IgE levels were in the normal range in 12 of 14 patients. IgG anti-IgE were present in 7 of 13 patients tested. When off treatment the intestinal permeability to BLG in RA patients was not increased as compared to controls, but we found a significative difference between active and inactive RA. ASA administration strongly increased BLG absorption, not prevented by DSCG pretreatment. In normal controls treated with a single dose of ASA we obtained similar results. Our results suggest that prolonged treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induces an increase of food antigen absorption, apparently not related to anaphylaxis mediator release, with possible clinical effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Study of some early immunological parameters in aging humans.

We studied the correlation between the in vitro lymphocyte proliferative response and some early parameters of lymphocyte activation in aged people. While a consistent number of elderly subjects showed significantly decreased proliferative responses to mitogen stimulation, interleukin-1 (IL-1) production and IL-2 receptor/DR antigen expression were comparable to those of young controls. The reduction in IL-2 production observed in some aged donors did not correlate with the decreased proliferative activity in response to mitogen. Moreover, addition to the cultures of recombinant IL-2 was not capable of restoring the proliferative response to normal levels. These data on the whole seem to argue against a primary involvement in age-associated lymphocyte hyporesponsiveness of an alteration in the early phases of lymphocyte activation engaging the complex lymphokine/receptor network.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Immunogenicity of serum HLA antigens in allogeneic combinations.

Immunization of patients with chronic renal insufficiency with plasma from selected donors elicited lymphocytotoxic antibodies. Analysis of these antibodies with Fab2 blocking assays showed that they are directed to HLA-A,B and to Ia-like antigens. These results indicate that serum HLA antigens are immunogenic in allogeneic combinations.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

[Antibody response to histocompatibility antigens in hemodialysis patients subjected to planned whole-blood transfusions].

In hemodialysis patients planned whole blood transfusions from single donors, induce the formation of anti HLA A, B, C and DR cytotoxic antibodies. The percentage of immunization, however, is lower than that observed in healthy subjects immunized following a similar transfusional schedule. This observation may reflect the existence in some patients of an impairment of the immune response to histocompatibility antigens. The production of lymphocytotoxic antibodies appear to be associated with severe graft rejections while anti HLA antibodies detected only by an indirect rosette assai don't seem to play a significant role in the outcome of the transplants.

Adolescent↗