Expression of metallothioneins-I and -II isoforms at positive patch-test sites.

The expression and the distribution of metallothioneins (MT)-I and II isoforms were evaluated in 5 healthy volunteers and in 16 subjects with positive patch test reactions to various compounds. Skin specimens taken both from the healthy skin of the back and at positive patch test sites (at 48 h), were treated using a 3-step indirect immunoperoxidase procedure with a mouse monoclonal IgG1 antibody reactive against I and II isoforms of human, rat and horse MT. MT were expressed in the basal layer of the healthy skin of both controls and sensitive subjects, without any significant difference. At positive patch test sites, there was an overexpression of MT in basal and suprabasal layers of the epidermis. Overexpression of MT, related to the degree of the inflammatory reactions elicited by the penetrating compounds was observed in the dermis. The cells expressing MT in the dermis were mostly T lymphocytes and cells with dendritic morphology which positively stained in part for CD34 and in part for XIIIa markers and negatively for KP1, S100 and HLA-DR. Taken together, these results seem to indicate that MT represent a constitutive mechanism of defence expressed by different types of cells in the skin, which is triggered by contact with both metallic and non-metallic compounds. The biological significance of MT in the skin remains to be elucidated. Our preliminary findings do not permit evaluation of whether these nearly ubiquitous proteins exert their cytoprotective effects in the skin acting simultaneously as antioxidant, metal binding or zinc suppliers, or if they display these activities mainly depending on the nature of the penetrating substances.

Platinum in the environment: frequency of reactions to platinum-group elements in patients with dermatitis and urticaria.

The aim of the present paper is to evaluate whether increasing environmental exposure increases the frequency of the positive prick and patch test reactions to certain chlorinated platinum salts in patients with dermatitis and urticaria. 800 consecutive subjects with contact dermatitis (n=749) and urticaria (n=51) were variously patch and prick tested with 30 haptens of a standard series, with aqueous solutions of, respectively, hexachloroplatinic acid (H2[PtCl6]), potassium tetrachloroplatinate (K2[PtCl4]), sodium hexachloroplatinate (Na2[PtCl6]), iridium chloride (IrCl3), rhodium chloride (RhCl3) and palladium chloride (PdCl2), and with 16 common inhalants. 153 workers, variably exposed in a platinum refinery, were patch and prick tested only with solutions containing platinum-group elements at various concentrations and with 16 common inhalants. Platinum-group elements did not elicit positive patch or prick test reactions in non-occupationally exposed subjects. In contrast, in exposed workers, positive patch test reactions at day 2 and at 25 min, respectively, were found in 2 subjects with hand dermatitis and in 2 with urticaria and asthma. 22 out of the 153 workers, 18 of whom had rhinitis, asthma, and urticaria, gave positive prick test reactions to 1 or more salts. Furthermore, on patch and prick testing, 4 cross-reactions between platinum, palladium, iridium and rhodium were demonstrated. In conclusion, the test results demonstrate that the present concentration in the environment does not increase the incidence of reactions to platinum salts in patients with dermatitis and/or urticaria. However, if the average level of environmental platinum exposure approaches those existing in industrial settings in the future, we are going to observe more frequent health effects.

[The use of thymopentin in preventing acute infectious relapses in elderly subjects with COPD]. / Uso della timopentina nella prevenzione delle riacutizzazioni infettive in soggetti anziani affetti da BPCO.

In this study the authors considered the effectiveness of thymus hormone in the prevention of acute infections within a group of elderly subjects affected by COPD. Ten subjects were considered, nine males and one female in the age included between 65 and 89 years (medium age = 70.2 +/- 6.96 years), with clinical evaluation and altered functional respiratory tests (FEV1 < 70%). The patients were treated with timopentina 50 mg s c three times a week for a month. The following parameters were considered: leucocytes/mm3; lymphocytes/mm3 in standard conditions, in the first and in the second month after the therapy start, contagious episodes two months before and two months after the beginning of therapy. The Authors noticed a real reduction in the relapses of the infectious episodes (11 relapses in the months before therapy and 2 relapses after therapy had begun). Leucocytes/mm3 rates were reduced (8.070 +/- 3.414 in standard conditions, 6.420 +/- 1.041 after 60 days; 0.2 < P < 0.1). Lymphocytes/mm3 rates were increased, 1.579 +/- 752 in standard conditions, 2103 +/- 491 after 60 days 0.2 < P < 0.1). These preliminary data seem to show in the small number of cases considered, the effectiveness of the thymus hormone (thymopentina) in elderly subjects affected by COPD.

[Use of house dust extracts in allergological diagnosis and therapy]. / Considerazioni sull'uso degli estratti di polveri domestiche nella diagnostica e nella terapia allergologica.

In this study (1980-1987) the Authors considered the incidence of sensitization to house dust in patients with respiratory allergic disease. The Authors identified 399 subjects with sensitization to house dust out of 1825 subjects sensitized to at least one of the tested allergens (21.9%). The number of patients exclusively sensitized to house dust resulted very small (13 patients, 0.7%). Most frequently the Authors identified sensitization to house dust and mites (324 patients, 81.2%). Bronchial asthma resulted in 156 patients (39.1%). These results are similar to those recognized in subjects with mites sensitization. The conclusion is drawn that, at the moment, mites are the only house dust allergens with clinical importance.

[Housedust mites: their importance in the pathogenesis of respiratory allergic diseases in Piedmont]. / Acari della polvere domestica: loro importanza nella patogenesi di malattie allergiche respiratorie in Piemonte.

In this study we have considered the importance of house dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae and pteronyssinus) in the pathogenesis of respiratory allergic diseases in Piedmont. We have identified, from 1980 to 1986, 1530 subjects with sensitization to at least one of the tested allergens; 479 of these (31.3%) were allergic to both or to one of the tested mites. Particularly 97 subjects (6.3%) were sensitized to Dermatophagoides farinae, 73 (4.8%) to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and 309 (20.2%) to both of them. This group included 258 males (53.9%) and 221 females (46.1%). Most of the examined subjects had shown the clinical symptoms before the 35th year of age (366 subjects, 76.4%). The mean age of beginning of clinical picture has come out to be of 27.377 +/- 11.527 SD year old. This result shows no significant differences with the mean age come out in allergic subjects to other allergens (26.939 +/- 10.755 SD); 196 subjects (40.9%) presented rhinitis-conjunctivitis, while 102 subjects presented bronchial asthma-rhinitis-conjunctivitis. We have found that bronchial asthma (alone or with other symptoms) was present in 186 subjects (38.8%), while in the allergic subjects sensitized to other allergens was present only in 299 out of 1051 (28.4%); 277 subjects had continuous symptoms (57.8%) while 202 subjects (42.2%) had symptoms only in some periods of the year.

[Statistical study of 428 Piedmont residents suffering from bronchial asthma of allergic etiology]. / Considerazioni statistiche su uno studio di 428 soggetti residenti in Piemonte affetti da asma bronchiale ad etiopatogenesi allergica.

This 6-year (1979-1984) study was conducted on subjects with allergic bronchial asthma diagnosed by scarification skin tests. The skin tests identified 428 subjects with bronchial asthmatic symptoms including 228 females and 220 males (females/males = 1.04). In the 6-15 age range there was a clear predominance of males over females (42 against 24 or males/females = 1.75). At the time of testing, 309 subjects (72.2%) were in the 6-35 age range. In terms of symptoms, 61 subjects (14.2%) presented bronchial asthma alone. The most common combination of symptoms encountered was asthma-rhinitis-conjunctivitis found in 317 subjects (74.1%). Symptoms were seasonal in 305 patients (71.3%) while 123 (28.7%) presented asthmatic symptoms throughout the year. 382 patients (89.25%) presented pollen allergy with grass pollen accounting for the highest percentage (328 subjects or 76.6%). 46 subjects (10.7%) were allergic to tree pollen and 103 (24.1%) to flower pollen. 197 patients (46%) were allergic to permanent inhalants (domestic inhalants, epithelia, mycophytes) with Dermatophagoides Farineae accounting for the largest number (33.4%). 55 subjects (12.9%) were sensitive to at least one of the epithelia tested while mycophyte sensitivity was negligible (10 subjects or 2.3%).

[Statistical study done in Piedmont on 1100 cases of rhinitis caused by hypersensitivity to inhaled allergens]. / Indagine statistica effettuata in Piemonte su 1100 casi di rinite da ipersensibilità ad allergeni inalanti.

In this study conducted from 1979 to 1984 we have examined 2315 subjects with rhinitis. All the subjects lived in Piedmont. The skin tests identified 1100 subjects (47.5%) allergic to at least one of the tested allergens. This group included 575 (52.3%) males and 525 (47.7%) females (males/females = 1.1). In the 6-15 age range we have found a clear predominance of males over females (112 against 57 or males/females = 2). At the time of testing, 854 patients (77.7%) were in the 6-35 age range. Only 75 subjects (6.8%) had rhinitis alone; the most common combination of symptoms encountered was rhinitis-conjunctivitis, found in 580 patients (52.7%). Symptoms were seasonal in 909 subjects (82.6%), while 191 (17.4%) were symptomatic throughout the year. Among the subjects with pollen allergy, the grass pollen accounted for the highest percentage (883 subjects or 80.3%). Among the subjects allergic to permanent inhalants Dermatophagoides Farinae (252 subjects or 22.9%) and Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus (240 subjects or 21.8%) accounted for the largest number. Mycophyte sensitivity was negligible (36 subjects or 3.3%). In the end we have seen that grass pollen and Dermatophagoides sensitivity prefer males, while Parietaria sensitivity prefers females.

Dynamics of the binding capacity of plasma sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) for testosterone and dihydrotestosterone during puberty.

Plasma sex hormone binding globulin binding capacity (SHBG-b.c.) has been evaluated in 203 normal subjects (114 males and 89 females) aged 3 to 51 years. The subjects were divided into groups: prepubertal, early pubertal (Tanner's Stages 1 and 2), late pubertal (Tanner's Stages 4 and 5) and adult. In both sexes, plasma mean values of SHBG binding capacity both for dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone (T) were significantly higher in prepubertal subjects, falling during puberty to adult levels. During pubertal development DHT-BG binding capacity and T-BG binding capacity showed different plasma values with respect to sex and phase of puberty. Our data do not support an absolute relationship between sex hormones and SHBG binding capacity, but suggest other mechanisms as well: (a) SHBG modifies its physicochemical properties during puberty, or (b) the binding capacity is the result of a pool of proteins which modifies its composition during pubertal evolution.