High IgE levels in patients affected by psoriasis: review of the literature and personal observations.

OBJECTIVE: The concomitance of psoriasis and high IgE levels in the same patient, possibly associated to allergies, should not come as a surprise anymore, because both diseases are characterised by an immunological disorder, involving cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, with massive activation of the cell-mediated immunity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a period of 18 months, using a radio-immunologic method, we assessed the level of IgE in patients with severe psoriasis who were not responding to the common therapy. RESULTS: Patients with severe psoriasis had high levels of IgE. CONCLUSIONS: IgEs have an important role in pathogenesis of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, but the mechanism is not yet clear.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in echinococcus granulosus hydatid disease.

The authors studied the presence of ANCA, evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and ELISA for anti-lactoferrin (LF), and anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies (anti-MPO), in sera of 69 patients with cystic echinococcosis (CE). According to Caremani's classification, 27 patients were considered to have active cysts and 42 patients were considered to have inactive cysts. ANCA were detected in 9 out of 27 patients (33.3%) with active cysts and in 3 out of 42 patients (7.1%) with inactive cysts. Differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Anti-LF antibodies were found in seven patients (10.14%) and anti-MPO antibodies in ten patients (14.5%).

[ANP in the cirrhotic patient. A clinical contribution]. / L'ANP nel paziente cirrotico. Contributo clinico.

Pathogenesis of ascites in patients affected by liver cirrhosis is still debated; humoral and haemodynamic factors can play a role. Plasmatic renin activity (PRA), plasmatic aldosterone (PA), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) plasma levels, blood Na, K, urea, urinary K and Na were evaluated in 14 patients affected by liver cirrhosis (11 males and 3 females, aged from 38 to 62 years), 8 of them with ascites. The results were compared with those obtained in a control group poised to age and sex to the experimental group. 4 out of 14 patients suffering from ascites unresponsive to medical treatment were submitted to peritoneal venous jugular shunt (PVGS) and blood samples for PRA, PA and ANP were withdrawn immediately before, 4, 8 hours following surgery. The patients affected by liver cirrhosis without ascites showed PRA and PA levels similar to those observed in the control group, while ANP plasma levels were significantly higher (50.6 + 9.6 vs. 39.7 + 9.5 Pg/ml) (p < 0.02). In patients with ascites ANP, PA and PRA levels were higher than those observed in non ascites patients (ANP = 147.8 + 97.3 vs. 50.6 + 9.6 pg/ml; PA = 20.6 + 2.7 vs 7.8 + 0.8 ng/dl; PRA = 4.48 + 0.5 vs 1.9 + 0.34 ng/ml/h). In patients submitted to PVGS, PA and PRA levels were reduced 4 and 8 hours following the surgery, while ANP levels showed significant increase. A natriuretic and diuretic response has been observed even in the absence of ANP plasma levels variations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The circulation of the hepatitis A and B viruses in the Somali population]. / Ricerche sulla circolazione del virus A e del virus B dell'epatite nella popolazione somala.

We report the results of a study carried out to evaluate the extent of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) circulation in Somalia. Serum samples were collected from 593 subjects (age range 0-83 years) and tested for anti-hepatitis A (HAV) and anti-HAV IgM. Serum samples taken from 1272 individuals (age range 0-83 years) were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBsAg, anti-HBcAg, HBeAg and anti-HBeAg. We confirmed a very high rate of HAV exposure (about 90% of the subjects tested had circulating anti-HAV) as is typical of fecal-orally transmitted infectious agents. The age-specific anti-HAV IgM prevalence suggests that HAV infection is acquired very early in life. Our data also indicate a high rate of HBsAg carriers (range: 10.5%-27.4%) in the Somalian population. When all markers are considered, 60% of the adult population showed evidence of HBV exposure. HBV spreads very subtly: in fact, it is generally transmitted via non-overtly percutaneous routes. In Somalia, hepatitis A virus infection is highly endemic and occurs very early in life. Hepatitis B virus infection is also widespread in this country.

A new serological technique, time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA), for the immunological diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis.

The application of a new serological method, time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA), is described for the diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis. A chelate of lanthanides (europium) with a long fluorescent life-time is used as label. The intensity of fluorescence is measured after a delay selected to eliminate almost completely the background fluorescence, which decays rapidly. TRFIA was compared with an established method, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Using sera from proven cases of Schistosoma haematobium infection, 98.1% of the samples were positive by TRFIA and 86.5% by ELISA. Sera from patients infected with helminths other than schistosomes produced only 1.5% of false positives with TRFIA, compared with 12.3% by ELISA. TRFIA is more sensitive and specific than ELISA.