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Biomedical subjects

V Pistoia

Publications and source records attributed to V Pistoia.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Radioprotective action of haematoporphyrin on X-irradiated in trypsin.

Dose-response curves were obtained for trypsin X-irradiated in aqueous solution (4.6 x 10(-6)M), alone or after incubation with haematoporphyrin (Hp). When trypsin was irradiated alone (exposure doses ranging from 10 to 25 kR) the exponential dose-response curve showed a D37 equal to 17200 R. When trypsin was incubated with Hp before irradiation a D37 equal to 61900 R was obtained, with a dose reduction factor of 3.6. Therefore in our experimental conditions Hp shows a highly significant radioprotective action.

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation↗
PubMed1980

Suppressor activity of T cells bearing Fc receptors for IgG on lymphoid colony formation.

Human T lymphocytes, upon phytohaemagglutinin stimulation, are able to form colonies in semisolid media. Peripheral T cell bearing Fc receptors (TG) were studied for their possible regulatory activity on lymphoid colony development. Although no substantial differences were observed between the cloning efficiency of unfractionated T cells (thus including TG cells) and T cells depleted of TG, a sharp suppression of colony formation occurred when positively selected TG cells were readded to TG-depleted suspensions. Therefore, TG suppressor activity seems to be strictly dependent upon cell interaction with ox IgG immune complexes used for TG cell isolation. Different experimental approaches failed to demonstrate, although did not exclude, that suppression in this system is mediated by soluble factors. gamma-irradiation of TG cells abrogated their suppressor capacity.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1977

[Phagocytic activity by guinea-pig peritoneal macrophages and human peripheral leukocytes irradiated in vitro (author's transl)].

A dose/effect curve for phagocytic activity of guinea-pig peritoneal macrophages and human peripheral leukocytes was determined ranging from anti-inflammatory to immunosuppressive doses. The nitroblutetrazolium reduction test was used stimulating the phagocytes by latex microspheres. A significant enhancement of phagocytic activity by low doses of gamma radiation was observed in guinea-pig macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Heterogeneity of the erythropoietic defect in two cases of Aase-Smith syndrome.

Here we report two children with Aase-Smith syndrome (triphalangeal thumbs and congenital red cell plasia). In vitro growth of erythroid colonies was normal in the first patient and totally absent in the other. In both patients, treatment with glucocorticoids induced remission of anemia. Our results suggest that the different growth patterns of erythroid colonies observed in the two patients could reflect the defect of erythroid differentiation occurring at discrete maturational levels.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Interferon alfa therapy in an infant with juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia.

We describe an infant with juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML), the diagnosis of which was made by the characteristic clinical and hematologic findings. The absence of a related HLA-compatible donor for bone marrow transplantation coupled with the awareness that chemotherapy is usually ineffective prompted our decision to treat the patient with lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha [alpha(Ly)-IFN]. During the 26-month course of treatment with alpha(Ly)-IFN an incomplete regression of hematologic and clinical findings was achieved. The above results, along with the easy administration and absence of considerable side effects, suggest that alpha(Ly)-IFN may be a useful therapeutic tool in patients affected by JCML awaiting bone marrow transplantation.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Variable response to the diepoxybutane test in two dizygotic twins with Fanconi's anemia and flow cytometry for diagnosis confirmation.

Fanconi's anemia (FA) is a rare, genetically heterogeneous, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by bone marrow failure, congenital abnormalities, chromosome instability, and increased susceptibility to neoplasia. Congenital abnormalities vary in location and in severity and not all patients are affected. Although the primary defect of FA is unknown, hypersensitivity to the clastogenic effect of agents that introduce cross-links in the DNA, such as diepoxybutane (DEB), is a marker of the FA phenotype in patients suffering from aplastic anemia without the physical characteristics of the syndrome and, conversely, in cases with abnormalities in the preanemic phase. We report the case of two dizygotic twins suffering from FA with discordant hematologic data. The DEB test repeated several times in various laboratories yielded conflicting results, whereas cell cycle studies by flow cytometry revealed a pattern typical of FA patients. Moreover, the flow cytometric pattern was correlated with the clinical severity of the disease.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Levels of soluble CD27 in sera and synovial fluid and its expression on memory T cells in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritides.

OBJECTIVE: CD27 is a member of tumour necrosis factor receptor family. Its expression is predominantly confined to mature lymphocytes and is strongly enhanced after cell activation. Shedding of the CD27 from the surface of activated cells is related to their effector phase. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of soluble CD27 in sera and synovial fluids, together with its expression on circulating and synovial fluid (SF) memory T cells, in children with JIA. METHODS: Sera from 40 patients with active JIA were studied for soluble CD27. Paired SF samples were available in 20 patients. Sera from 12 age-matched patients affected with various acute infectious diseases and 12 age-matched healthy subjects were used as controls. In 8 JIA patients freshly isolated circulating and SF lymphocytes were stained for CD27 in CD4+CD45 RO+ T cell subpopulation and analyzed by cytometry. RESULTS: Soluble CD27 serum levels were significantly higher in patients with polyarticular JIA and acute systemic infectious diseases than in patients with active oligoarticular or healthy controls. Both polyarticular and oligoarticular JIA patients showed increased levels of soluble CD27 in SF when compared with paired serum samples (p = 0.01). In all the patients tested a significant enrichment of CD27- T cells was seen in the SF (median 39.5%, range 18-56%) when compared to paired CD4+CD45RO+ peripheral lymphocytes (median 19.5%, range 5-43%; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A clear enrichment of CD4+ memory SF T cells with a CD27-phenotype is observed when compared to correspondent circulating T lymphocytes. This issue is conceivably related to re-activation and recruitment of memory T cells to the site of inflammation, and to the subsequent expansion of a subpopulation of "effector" memory T cells.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Childhood systemic lupus erythematosus: a review of 30 cases.

We review 30 cases of pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus followed over an 8-year period at our institution. The female to male ratio was 3.3:1; the age at diagnosis ranged between 3.5 and 16 years. On first admission, renal involvement was detected in the majority of the patients, as assessed by laboratory findings and/or clinical manifestations. Other frequently observed symptoms were fever, skin rashes, arthralgias and/or arthritis and serositis. All of the patients were treated with corticosteroids and most of them also received immunosuppressive drugs in order to control disease activity. Two patients were lost to the follow-up, five died and only one of the 23 evaluable patients is off therapy after a median follow-up of 5 years. This study confirms that pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus is a very aggressive disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Promotion and inhibition of haemopoiesis by NK cells: a model for immune-mediated haemopoietic suppression.

Human NK cells, besides mediating cytotoxic functions, can exert a number of regulatory activities on the proliferation and maturation of hematopoietic stem cells through the release of soluble factors. A preliminary characterization of these factors demonstrates that NK cell-derived colony stimulating activities (CSA) are represented by GM-CSF and IL3, whereas the colony inhibiting activity (CIA) produced by NK cells is identifiable as TNF. CSA is mainly released by resting NK cells, while, following appropriate activation, the latter cells produce large amounts of CIA. NK cells also influence B cell activation by releasing a 50 kd BCGF and a 26 kd BCDF. The latter factor, which is active in vitro only in the presence of IL2, is identifiable as IL6. The production of regulatory cytokines by NK cells may have some bearing on the pathogenesis of a number of autoimmune disorders.

Autoimmunity↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on growth of a xenotransplanted human ovarian cancer cell line IGROV-1 in nude mice.

The clonal growth of cell lines derived from human ovarian tumours can be stimulated by GM-CSF in vitro. Among these cell lines one of the most responsive is the IGROV-1 cell line. This report describes the influence of GM-CSF on the in vivo growth of IGROV-1 cell xenografts in nude mice. Beginning one day after transplantation of the tumour, the cytokine was administered daily for 31 consecutive days as i.m. injections distant from the tumour lesion at doses of 0.1 microgram/kg and 1 microgram/kg. GM-CSF caused no significant effects on the growth modulation of the ovarian cancer cells in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Rational bases for new approaches to the therapy of pediatric solid tumors: immunotherapy and gene therapy].

Neuroblastoma is one of the commonest solid tumors in children. Conventional therapeutic approaches, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, fail to control tumor progression in stage III and IV patients. The search for novel therapeutic strategies should necessarily take into account immunotherapy and gene therapy. Here the theoretical bases for the development of such approaches are discussed. Studies carried out with neuroblastoma (NB) cell lines have shown that neoplastic cells express a wide array of potential tumor associated antigens (TAA) but are devoid of HLA molecules which are necessary for TAA presentation to the host immune system. Transfection of NB cells with the interferon gamma gene appears a promising approach, since this cytokine up-regulates the expression of class I HLA molecules in NB cells. Other cytokines of potential interest for gene transfer studies are interleukin 2 (IL2) and interleukin 12 (IL12).

Antigens, Neoplasm↗