Search results for "immunosuppressive agent"

A national cohort study on pediatric Behçet's disease: Cross-sectional data from an Italian registry

2017

Abstract Background Behçet’s disease is a rare multi-systemic inflammatory disease with unknown etiology which involves principally oral and genital mucosa, skin and eyes. Average age at onset of the disease is about 25-30 years, but it may be diagnosed before the age of 16. It is not very rare in Italy, even though there are limited data concerning epidemiology. Aim of this study is to describe the baseline data of an Italian cohort of patients with as having BD or probable BD. Methods We described the baseline data of the first national epidemiological study on children coming from 16 Italian Pediatric Rheumatologic Centers diagnosed by the treating physicians as having Behçet’s Disease. …

TORC1 Inhibition by Rapamycin Promotes Antioxidant Defences in a Drosophila Model of Friedreich’s Ataxia

2015

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), the most common inherited ataxia in the Caucasian population, is a multisystemic disease caused by a significant decrease in the frataxin level. To identify genes capable of modifying the severity of the symptoms of frataxin depletion, we performed a candidate genetic screen in a Drosophila RNAi-based model of FRDA. We found that genetic reduction in TOR Complex 1 (TORC1) signalling improves the impaired motor performance phenotype of FRDA model flies. Pharmacologic inhibition of TORC1 signalling by rapamycin also restored this phenotype and increased the lifespan and ATP levels. Furthermore, rapamycin reduced the altered levels of malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxyalke…

Genetic Polymorphisms and Individualized Tacrolimus Dosing

2010

Background. Genetic polymorphisms of metabolism enzymes or intestinal drug transporters may affect pharmacokinetic responses to immunosuppressive drugs in renal transplant recipients. We sought to identify the frequency of genetic polymorphisms and their importance for individualization of tacrolimus doses. Patients and Methods. We performed an observational study in 35 renal transplant recipients treated with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids. Tacrolimus concentrations were determined by immunoanalysis (IMx method; Abbott Diagnostics, Abbott Park, Ill), on 11 blood samples per patient during the first 6 weeks after renal transplantation. For each patient, we calculated…

Kawasaki disease triggered by parvovirus infection: an atypical case report of two siblings.

2019

Abstract Background There are reports of the familial occurrence of Kawasaki disease but only a few reports described Kawasaki disease in siblings. However, the familial cases were not simultaneous. In these patients the idea of infective agents as trigger must be considered. Case presentation We describe two siblings with atypical presentations of Kawasaki disease; the sister was first diagnosed as having parvovirus infection with anemia and the brother was diagnosed as having myocarditis. The first patient was a 9-month-old Caucasian girl with fever, conjunctivitis, rash, and pharyngitis, and later she had cervical adenopathy, diarrhea and vomiting, leukocytosis, and anemia, which were ex…

Infliximab for pediatric ulcerative colitis: a retrospective Italian multicenter study.

2008

Abstract Background Infliximab (IFX), the chimeric anti TNFalpha antibody, an established treatment for Crohn's disease in adults and in children, is used less frequently in ulcerative colitis (UC). Aim of the study To report the clinical course of pediatric patients with active UC receiving IFX. Patients and methods Charts of 22 patients were reviewed (13 male, 9 female): 4 with a severe UC attack refractory to systemic corticosteroids (CS); 18 with a protracted course, of which 16 CS-dependent and 2 CS-resistant. The baseline therapeutic program consisted of 3 consecutive intravenous infusions (0, 2, 6 weeks) of IFX (5 mg/kg), followed by a retreatment schedule (infusion every 8 weeks); a…

Organ recipients suffering from undifferentiated neuroendocrine small-cell carcinoma of donor origin: a case report.

2009

Abstract Background Transmission of donor-derived cancer by organ transplantation is rare, but the risk has been increasing due to the aging donor pool. Undifferentiated neuroendocrine small-cell carcinoma is an agressive tumor with the tendency to spread. Herein we have demonstrated different approaches to treat organ recipients with transmitted tumors. Methods and Results Grafts were retrieved from a decreased donor without any history of previous diseases. Autopsy was not performed after donation. The recipient of the liver graft presented with suspected nodules on routine abdominal ultrasound. After computed tomography (CT) scan, biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of a small-cell carcinoma.…

Kinetics of the reactive cell clones after immunosuppression and induction of tolerance. II. Different recovery of 19 S and 7 S plaque-forming cells …

1975

By the aid of two alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide (CP) and 036.5122, (Asta), applied after a single dose of antigen, tolerance to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), has been induced in NMRI mice. Duration and characteristics of recovery were followed by a second antigenic challenge at various time intervals and by determination of 19 S and 7 S plaque-forming cells (PFC) 4 days later. During recovery from the tolerant state two phases of responsiveness could be differentiated: an early phase with no or markedly reduced numbers of total PFC, all of them being of the IgM type; a later phase with a steady increase in total PFC up to normal values, paralleled by an increase in the proportion of 7…

An experimental comparative study of dexamethasone, melatonin and tacrolimus in noise-induced hearing loss.

2008

The calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus (TCR) and the pineal gland hormone and antioxidant melatonin (MLT) have been shown to possess otoprotective properties against noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). In contrast, dexamethasone (DXM) was not effective as an otoprotective agent against NIHL. Further studies are needed to understand the exact molecular mechanisms involved.Exposure to noise pollution and use of audio devices for long periods of time at high volume is known to cause hearing loss or NIHL. Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of various known compounds such as the anti-inflammatory DXM, the antioxidant MLT and the immunosuppressant TCR against NIHL.Thirty-two Wistar rats were…

Could HLA-DQ suggest why some patients have olmesartan-related diarrhea and others don't?

2015

Pregnancy after allogeneic uterus transplantation in the rat: perinatal outcome and growth trajectory

2014

Objective To investigate whether allogeneic uterine grafts in a rat model, with tacrolimus immunosuppression, can harbor pregnancies that result in offspring with normal postnatal growth. Design Experimental animal study. Setting University hospital. Animal(s) Lewis rats as uterus donors and Piebald-Virol-Glaxo rats as recipients. Intervention(s) Animals were allocated to one of the following three groups: allogeneic uterus transplantation with end-to-side anastomosis to the external iliac vessels and immunosuppression with tacrolimus (UT+Tac; n=10); sham surgery and immunosuppression with tacrolimus (Sham+Tac; n=10); or sham surgery (Sham; n=10). The rats were subsequently introduced to ma…