0000000000091075
AUTHOR
Vito Ditta
showing 44 related works from this author
Comparison of two different approaches for harmonic distortion sources assessment
2021
The paper focuses the attention on the comparison of two approaches for power quality assessment in the electric grid. Both approaches are suitable for investigating the harmonic pollution source and discovering if the harmonic source comes from the customer or the utility grid. The two approaches have the same purpose but they are deeply different. The first approach is based on the knowledge of the customer and utility equivalent impedance while the second is based on single point measurement at point of common coupling PCC. In this paper, the advantages and drawbacks of the two approaches are investigated also supported by a case study.
Clinical importance of eosinophil count in nasal fluid in patients with allergic and non-allergic rhinitis
2009
Eosinophil count in nasal fluid (ECNF) was used to differentiate nasal pathologies. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the area under the curve (AUC) were performed to evaluate the ECNF's accuracy in distinguishing allergic rhinitis (AR) from non-allergic rhinitis (NAR). We also evaluated the accuracy of ECNF in recognizing patients with mild and severe symptoms of rhinitis and patients with ineffective and effective clinical responses to antihistamines. 1,170 consecutive adult patients with a clinical history of rhinitis were studied. ECNF's median in AR was 6.0 and 2.0 in NAR and the best cut-off value was > 3.0, AUC = 0.75. ECNF's median in AR with mild nasal …
Determinants of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in subjects with rhinitis.
2005
Subjects with rhinitis but without asthma may have coexisting bronchial hyperresponsiveness, although the reasons for this are uncertain. To evaluate the factors that determine BHR in rhinitis we examined 410 patients with symptomatic rhinitis with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) ≥ 80% of the predicted value. In all subjects a skin prick test (SPT) was performed, a determination of total serum IgE and an eosinophils count in the blood. Of the 410 subjects we found that 161 (39.3%) exhibited a methacholine PD20 of 800 mg or less (Group A), whereas 249 (60.7%) had a methacholine PD20 more of 800 mg (Group B). Despite the matched mean values for FEV…
Zinc and inflammatory/immune response in aging
2007
Life-long antigenic burden determines a condition of chronic inflammation, with increased lymphocyte activation and proinflammatory cytokine production. A large number of studies have documented changes in zinc metabolism in experimental animal models of acute and chronic inflammation and in human chronic inflammatory conditions. In particular, modification of zinc plasma concentration, as well as intracellular disturbance of antioxidant intracellular pathways, has been found in aging and in some age-related diseases. Zinc deficiency is diffused in aged individuals in order to avoid meat and other high zinc content foods due to fear of cholesterol. Rather, they increase the consumption of r…
CZT-Based Harmonic Analysis in Smart Grid Using Low-Cost Electronic Measurement Boards
2023
This paper validates the use of a harmonic analysis algorithm on a microcontroller to perform measurements of non-stationary signals in the context of smart grids. The increasing presence of electronic devices such as inverters of distributed generators (DG), power converters of charging stations for electric vehicles, etc. can drain non-stationary currents during their operation. A classical fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm may not have sufficient spectral resolution for the evaluation of harmonics and inter-harmonics. Thus, in this paper, the implementation of a chirp-Z transform (CZT) algorithm is suggested, which has a spectral resolution independent from the observation window. T…
Randomized placebo-controlled trial comparing fluticasone aqueous nasal spray in mono-therapy, fluticasone plus cetirizine, fluticasone plus monteluk…
2004
BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids are considered to be particularly effective in reducing nasal congestion and are therefore recommended as first-line treatment in allergic rhinitis patients with moderate to severe and/or persistent symptoms. OBJECTIVE: We compared the clinical efficacy of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray (FPANS) 200 microg given once daily, administered in mono-therapy or combined therapy with a H1 receptor antagonist (cetirizine, CTZ) or with a leukotriene antagonist (montelukast, MSK), and the combined therapy of CTZ plus MSK in the treatment of patients affected by allergic rhinitis to Parietaria during natural pollen exposure. In addition, we examined the effect of…
The characteristics of different diagnostic tests in adult mild asthmatic patients: Comparison with patients with asthma-like symptoms by gastro-oeso…
2007
SummaryBackgroundDiagnosing asthma cannot be always easy. It is important to consider the validity of the diagnostic tests, and/or how much more commonly they are positive in patients with asthma compared to healthy subjects and, particularly, to patients with asthma-like symptoms.ObjectiveTo evaluate the validity of diagnostic tests for asthma, in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, in patients with bronchial asthma compared to patients affected by gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with asthma-like symptoms, and healthy control subjects without asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER).DesignSingle-center, cross-sectional, observational study…
Allergic Asthma and Aging
2012
Gabriele Di Lorenzo1, Danilo Di Bona2,3, Simona La Piana2, Vito Ditta4 and Maria Stefania Leto-Barone1 1Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialistica (DIMIS), Universita degli Studi di Palermo 2Dipartimento di Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Universita degli Studi di Palermo 3Unita Operativa di Immunoematologia e Medicina Trasfusionale, Azienda Ospedaliera, Universitaria Policlinico di Palermo 4Centro Trasfusionale ASPPalermo. P.O. San Raffaele G. Giglio Cefalu, Palermo Italia
Differences and Similarities between Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis in a Large Sample of Adult Patients with Rhinitis Symptoms
2010
<i>Background:</i> Allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) may present with different clinical and laboratory characteristics. <i>Methods:</i> A total of 1,511 consecutive patients, aged 18–81 years, diagnosed with rhinitis, 56% females and 44% males, underwent complete allergic evaluation including skin prick test, blood eosinophil counts, nasal eosinophil counts, peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) measurement and evaluation of nasal symptoms using a visual analog scale (VAS). <i>Results:</i> A total of 1,107 patients (73%)had AR, whereas 404 (27%) had NAR. Patients with NAR were older and predominantly female. A higher nasal eosinophils co…
Polymorphisms of cyclo-oxygenases and 5-lipo-oxygenase-activating protein are associated with chronic spontaneous urticaria and urinary leukotriene E4
2011
The mechanisms of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) continue to be unknown. Our working hypothesis is that polymorphisms of cyclo-oxygenases and 5-lipo-oxygenase-activating protein may be involved in the pathways leading to CSU. We examined five candidate polymorphisms of cyclo-oxygenases 1 and 2 and of 5-lipo-oxygenase-activating protein in 109 controls and in 94 CSU patients from Northern Italy. We also examined the levels of urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4) before and after challenge with ASA. A multiple regression model was found to show that COX-2 5'UTR T/G, COX-2 Exon 10 T/C, and FLAP -336 G/A polymorphisms were significantly associated with CSU, with the minor allele more represented …
Leukotriene receptor antagonists in monotherapy or in combination with antihistamines in the treatment of chronic urticaria: A systematic review
2008
In vitro and in vivo clinical and experimental data have suggested that leukotrienes play a key role in inflammatory reactions of the skin. Antileukotriene drugs, ie, leukotriene receptor antagonists and synthesis inhibitors, are a class of anti-inflammatory drugs that have shown clinical efficacy in the management of asthma and in rhinitis with asthma. We searched MEDLINE database and carried out a manual search on journals specializing in allergy and dermatology for the use of antileukotriene drugs in urticaria. Montelukast might be effective in chronic urticaria associated with aspirin (ASA) or food additive hypersensitivity or with autoreactivity to intradermal serum injection (ASST) wh…
Enhanced islanding detection in smart interface protection systems of distributed generation
2021
The widespread presence of distributed generators (DGs) and storage systems (DSSs) in electricity grids has increased the risk of islanding occurrence. This phenomenon must be suitably managed by Distribution System Operators (DSO), in order to avoid adverse situations, in terms of grid-protection problems, equipment damage, safety hazards, power quality problems and so on. Currently anti-islanding protection functions are handled by interface protection systems (IPSs), which are built in accordance with relevant standards for DGs and DSSs connection to power systems. However, some problems may occur in case of operation within the so-called non detection zone (NDZ). This paper presents an …
Similarity and differences in elderly patients with fixed airflow obstruction by asthma and by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
2008
SummaryBackgroundEpidemiologic studies have demonstrated that elderly patients with fixed airflow obstruction can be affected by asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsWe studied 49 consecutive elderly outpatients, presenting fixed airflow obstruction, by clinical history (smoking), pulmonary function tests, blood gas analysis, and induced sputum.ResultsThe age was not different in patients with COPD (n=28) and asthma (n=21) (70.2±3.9 years vs. 69.6±3.7 years), also the degree of fixed airflow obstruction was similar (FEV1: 58.3±1.5% vs. 59.0±1.4% of predicted). Patients with asthma had significantly more eosinophils in peripheral blood (0.43±0.05×10−3μL vs. 0.27±0.1×…
A study of age-related IgE pathophysiological changes.
2003
Abstract The literature on immunosenescence has focused mainly on T cell impairment. However, it is well known that B function is also profoundly affected. In particular, several studies have shown age-related changes in immunoglobulin serum levels. Concerning allergic diseases, the incidence of onset of allergic symptoms, as well as their severity, seems to decrease with age. So, the decline of onset of allergic symptoms observed in ageing might result from a decrease of serum total IgE due to an unbalance of cytokines and soluble factors involved in its production. To gain insight into the mechanisms of age related incidence of onset of allergic symptoms, as well as their severity, in thi…
Clinical course of rhinitis and changes in vivo and in vitro of allergic parameters in elderly patients: a long-term follow-up study
2012
Changes in rhinitis symptom severity tend to decrease with aging, but whether the decrease is associated with allergic skin test reactivity, serum total and specific IgE, and nasal eosinophils or determined only by aging is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to analyze sensitivity in vivo and in vitro some 15 years after primary testing, skin prick test (SPT), serum total and specific IgE, ratio sIgE/tIgE, and nasal eosinophils in order to evaluate changes due to age and changes due to the severity of rhinitis symptoms. One hundred and eight rhinitis patients who had been investigated in 1995 were re-interviewed and their current allergy re-assessed after a follow-up of 15 years. A…
A PLC based monitoring and remote control architecture for Distributed Generation and Storage systems in LV smart grids
2021
(Abstract) This paper proposes a new power line communication (PLC) architecture for monitoring and remote control of Distributed Generators (DG) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) connected to low voltage distribution networks. The final aim is to improve the performance of the PLC link in terms of robustness and efficiency in devices addressing. The proposed solution is based on a concentrator, to be installed in secondary substation, and a new PLC bridge, to be linked both to inverters and interface protection systems of DGs or ESSs. In this way, a communication link is obtained between distribution system operator (DSO) and DG or ESS owners. The proposed system is able to provide advanced…
Relationship between specific serum IGE to Ascaris lumbricoides and onset of respiratory symptoms in Bangladesh immigrants
2006
The role of helminths in asthma and/or rhinitis and in allergic sensitization is still unclear. We assessed the relationship between Ascaris-specific IgE, respiratory symptoms and allergic sensitization in Bangladesh immigrants. 246 individuals were examined from 1996 to 2001. Serum total IgE, Ascaris IgE, specific IgE to inhalant allergens, skin prick tests (SPT) and parasitological evaluation of the stool were performed. Total serum IgE were significantly higher in Ascaris-IgE positive (> 0.35 kU/L) individuals (806.5 [409.0–1436.0] kU/L vs. 207.0 [127.0–332.5] kU/L; P < 0.0001) and in subjects with respiratory symptoms (413.0 [239.0–1096.0] kU/L vs. 259.5 [147.0–387.0] kU/L), ( P …
The nACHR4 594C/T polymorphism in Alzheimer disease
2006
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia with complex etiology and multifactorial origin. Although several neurochemical deficits have been described in AD patients, explanation of the nature of the cognitive disturbance is focused on the "cholinergic hypothesis." The neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (neuronal nAChR) belongs to the superfamily of ionic channel activated by ligand. This paper presents a population-based population association study, testing the hypothesis that variants of the nAChR gene confer genetic susceptibility to AD. The authors analyzed two cohorts constituted by 60 controls and 80 AD patients in which significant increase of 594T polymorphi…
Evaluation of serum s-IgE/total IgE ratio in predicting clinical response to allergen-specific immunotherapy.
2009
Background: To date, no predictive tests for the clinical response to allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASI) are available. Therefore an in vivo or in vitro test would be of great value. Objective: We sought to evaluate pretreatment parameters used in diagnosing allergic rhinitis and determining serum specific IgE (s-IgE) levels, serum total IgE (t-IgE) levels, and blood eosinophil counts and to identify whether can be used to predict clinical improvement in monosensitized patients with allergic rhinitis with or without asthma treated with immunotherapy. Methods:We analyzed 279 patients who had undergone 4 years of ASI administered either by means of the subcutaneous immunotherapy (76 patien…
Food allergy in gastroenterologic diseases: Review of literature
2007
Food allergy is a common and increasing problem worldwide. The newly-found knowledge might provide novel experimental strategies, especially for laboratory diagnosis. Approximately 20% of the population alters their diet for a perceived adverse reaction to food, but the application of double-blind placebo-controlled oral food challenge, the “gold standard” for diagnosis of food allergy, shows that questionnaire-based studies overestimate the prevalence of food allergies. The clinical disorders determined by adverse reactions to food can be classified on the basis of immunologic or nonimmunologic mechanisms and the organ system or systems affected. Diagnosis of food allergy is based on clini…
Is there a role for antileukotrienes in urticaria?
2006
In vitro and in vivo clinical and experimental data have suggested that leukotrienes play a key role in inflammatory reactions of the skin. Antileukotriene drugs, i.e. leukotriene receptor antagonists and synthesis inhibitors, are a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs that have shown clinical efficacy in the management of asthma. We searched the MedLine database and carried out a manual search on journals specializing in allergy and dermatology for the use of antileukotriene drugs in urticaria. Montelukast might be effective in chronic urticaria associated with aspirin or food additive hypersensitivity or with autoreactivity to intradermal serum injection when taken with an antihistamine b…
Sintomi respiratori e sensibilizzazione allergica in extracomunitari del Bangladesh
2004
La dispepsia in allergologia clinica.
2007
Food-additive-induced urticaria: a survey of 838 patients with recurrent chronic idiopathic urticaria
2005
<i>Background:</i> Recurrent chronic idiopathic urticaria (RCIU) is a common skin condition that affects 0.1–3% of the population in the USA and Europe and accounts for nearly 75% of all ‘ordinary’ chronic urticaria (CU) cases. <i>Methods:</i> We studied 838 consecutive patients with RCIU referred to hospital between 1998 and 2003. Patients with known causes of CU were excluded. Clinical history, physical examination, and symptom diaries were evaluated during two periods, a diet-free period (1 week) and a food-additive-free diet (FAFD) period (4 weeks), respectively, and two double-blind placebo-controlled (DBPC) challenges of six food additives were administered. Th…
Specific serum IgE to Ascaris lunbricoides and onset of respiratory symptoms in Blangladesh immigrants
2007
Iperreattività bronchiale aspecifica in pazienti monosensibili con rinite allergica: variazioni stagionali in rapporto alle IgE sieriche totali ed ag…
2005
Introduction: The significance of the association between allergic rhinitis and abnormal airway responsiveness is unclear. For this reason, we have studied, in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, non specific bronchial hyperreactivity, total serum IgE and blood eosinophils, with reference to the responsible allergen, during and out of the pollen season. Materials and methods: Fourty-nine, non-smoking patients, living in Palermo, with clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, skin prick tests and specific serum IgE mono-sensitive to pollen allergens, were enrolled in the study. Twenty patients suffered from seasonal rhinitis to Parietaria pollen, 15 patients to Graminacee pollen and 14 …