An immunogenetic map of Lombardy (Northern Italy).

For this study we consulted the Bone Marrow Donors' Registry of Lombardy (Italy) and analyzed 43937 HLA-A,B phenotypes and 13922 HLA-A,B,DR phenotypes. We estimated the HLA-A,B and HLA-A,B,DR haplotype frequencies via the maximum-likelihood method. We analyzed the genetic structure of the 11 provinces of Lombardy by means of Principal Component Analysis and Correspondence Analysis, and estimated the variety of the different haplotypes at provincial level and the percentage of unique phenotypes at village level. We found 11189 different HLA-A,B phenotypes, 661 different HLA-A,B haplotypes and more than 4000 different HLA-A,B,DR haplotypes. We identified 20 villages, in Western Lombardy, very rich in unique/rare phenotypes. Here we report a formula which allows the identification of a putative donor matched for two haplotypes with a recipient. This result may be of great importance for the genetic study of the population of Lombardy and, even more, for bone marrow transplantation programs.

Phosphonites based on the paracyclophane backbone: new ligands for highly selective rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation.

[reaction--see text] The synthesis of new phosphonites with a chiral paracyclophane backbone is described. The rhodium complexes derived from the phosphonites bearing biphenoxy and binaphthoxy substituents are highly active and highly selective catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of dehydroamino acids and esters.

[High risk of pleural mesothelioma among the state railroad carriage repair workers]. / Alto rischio di morte per mesotelioma pleurico in un'Officina Grandi Riparazioni delle Ferrovie dello Stato.

Exposure to asbestos in a facility for the repair of railroad carriages in Bologna was initially studied in 1980, when the Local Health Unit started a program of primary prevention on request of the Unions. At that time workers employed in jobs with high exposure to asbestos were identified. The mortality experience of these 173 subjects was investigated from 01.01.1979 through 31.12.1997, and compared to that of the population of Emilia Romagna. SMR for all causes was 69, with upper limit of the confidence interval lower than 100; this was largely due to a significant decrease of cardiovascular mortality. Among neoplasms, there was a significant excess of pleural mesothelioma (6 observed, 0.09 expected); one more subject died for peritoneal mesothelioma and one for malignant mesothelioma of unspecified site. About half of the subjects deceased for neoplastic disease (8/17) were affected by mesothelioma.

A catalyst for efficient and highly enantioselective hydrogenation of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

PhanePhos-ruthenium-diamine complexes catalyze the asymmetric hydrogenation of a wide range of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and alpha, beta-unsaturated ketones with high activity and excellent enantioselectivity.

Cohort mortality study of rubber and plastics product makers in Italy.

A retrospective cohort mortality study was carried out in 20 industrial factories in the Local Health Unit Bologna Sud (Emilia Romagna, Italy), where different rubber and plastics products were manufactured. The cohort consisted of 925 subjects (578 males and 347 females) employed for at least six months continuously; follow-up was between the beginning of operation of each factory, ranging between mid fifties and mid seventies, and 31 December 1989. For those exposed more than one year cause specific Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) were computed using regional rates for comparison, 90% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated assuming the Poisson distribution. Among the 748 subjects employed for more than one year (457 males and 291 females) there were no lost to follow-up, 54 individuals were dead (41 males and 13 females) and for three subjects the cause of death was unknown. The results showed that all causes mortality was above expectancy in the total cohort (SMR = 123; 54 Obs; 90% CI = 97-154), among males (SMR = 117; 41 Obs; 90% CI = 89-152) and females (SMR = 143; 13 Obs; 90% CI = 85-228). Increased mortality for all malignant tumours was observed in the total cohort (SMR = 150; 25 Obs; 90% CI = 104-209) and for both genders. All nine lung cancer cases were observed among males, the SMR was equal to 218 and was statistically significant; seven cases occurred at duration of exposure less than 10 years and six at latency up to 20 years. The interpretation in terms of causality of the present investigation is limited by the small number of observations and by exposure definition solely in terms of employment in the study factories; nonetheless the results are indicating the existence, in this group of rubber and plastics product makers, of an adverse health effect which deserve further investigation.

Allergen specific IgG subclass antibody response in hyposensitization with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract.

Most of the controlled trials of specific immunotherapy (SIT) with house dust mite showed a good clinical efficacy of different kinds of extract after variable periods of treatment. However, few of them looked at all the parameters available to monitor this therapy, such as threshold dose of specific provocation test, end point titration and immunological variations. In particular, the behaviour of specific IgE antibodies is not completely known, while, in more recent studies, mite specific IgG antibodies have been shown to increase even in the early stages of treatment. Few data are available on mite specific IgG1-4 subclasses. The preliminary results of a double blind placebo controlled trial we performed with alginate conjugated Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract seem to indicate a good clinical and immunological response to this kind of extract. Moreover, we observed a significant increase of specific IgG antibodies, total and subclasses IgG1.2.4, with a prevalence of IgG4 subclass after three months of SIT. After two years of SIT mite specific IgG1 antibodies showed a tendency to decrease, while IgG4 antibodies maintained a constantly high level.

The role of suggestion in asthma. II. Effects of a bronchoconstrictor drug on bronchial reactivity under bronchoconstrictor or bronchodilator suggestion.

Previous studies have shown that suggestion may modify bronchial reactivity to both inactive diluents and pharmacologically bronchoconstrictor or dilator substances. In our study, 14 patients were subjected to two methacholine challenge tests presented, respectively, as a bronchoconstrictor or as a bronchodilator drug. Forced expiratory volumes in one second were recorded and a PD20 was determined. No significant differences were reported in PD20 values of each patient after the two kinds of suggestion.