0000000000053060
AUTHOR
A. Ingrassia
The effect of age on mitogen responsive T cell precursors in human beings is completely restored by interleukin-2.
Abstract It is well known that the function of T lymphocytes is significantly impaired by advancing age. In the present study, attempts have been made to further characterize the T cell impairment of elderly subjects. Thus, we have performed limiting dilution microculture analysis to evaluate the precursor frequency of T lymphocytes responding to a mitogenic stimulus in old and young subjects. Furthermore we have evaluated the activity of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) on these cells. The results demonstrate that in older subjects the frequency of these precursors is significantly decreased. The in vitro treatment with rIL-2 increased the frequency of mitogen responsive T lymphocyte prec…
Effects of Intravenous Erythromycin Lactobionate in Respiratory Infections
The antibiotic erythromycin lactobionate given intravenously acts almost exclusively on Gram-positive bacteria. Even at high plasma and tissue concentrations there is an almost total absence of side-effects. It could be considered, therefore, as first choice in the treatment of patients with infectious respiratory diseases. Most of the 40 patients admitted to the present study were elderly and all had either acute or chronic and becoming acute respiratory disease. Their clinical symptoms and levels of phlogosis improved on treatment with erythromycin lactobionate without any interruption of therapy due to side-effects and toxicity. The absence of unfavourable pharmacological interactions f…