Near-ground effect of height on pollen exposure.

The effect of height on pollen concentration is not well documented and little is known about the near-ground vertical profile of airborne pollen. This is important as most measuring stations are on roofs, but patient exposure is at ground level. Our study used a big data approach to estimate the near-ground vertical profile of pollen concentrations based on a global study of paired stations located at different heights.

Effects of an Intensive Lifestyle Intervention to Treat Overweight/Obese Children and Adolescents.

Objective: The purpose of the present study is to examine the effects of a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention to treat overweight/obese children and adolescents. The main outcome was cardiometabolic risk based on the waist-to-height ratio (WHTR) measurement. Secondary outcomes were (1) changes in body composition; (2) adherence to a Mediterranean diet; and (3) physical performance.

Ragweed allergy: Pollen count and sensitization and allergy prevalence in two Italian allergy centers.

Background: Ragweed allergy represents a challenge for allergists due to its increase in some geographic areas, mainly northern Italy.

Objectives: To compare two allergy centers in northern Italy by analyzing both the pollen count and the patient characteristics (sensitization and allergy prevalence) over a 10-year period.

Methods: Pollen counts for 10 years (2004-2013) were evaluated and compared in the two centers.

Randomized open comparison of montelukast and sublingual immunotherapy as add-on treatment in moderate persistent asthma due to birch pollen.

Background: No studies have directly compared the effects of immunotherapy and antileukotrienes due to the long time required to appreciate the clinical effects of immunotherapy. We compared the effect of montelukast (MK) and SLIT added to standard therapy in moderate asthma over 5 years.

Methods: Open randomized controlled trial.

Long-term comparison of sublingual immunotherapy vs inhaled budesonide in patients with mild persistent asthma due to grass pollen.

Background: Few studies have compared the effects of immunotherapy and inhaled steroids. The main limitation of such studies is the long duration required to fully appreciate the effects of immunotherapy.

Objective: To compare the effects of inhaled budesonide and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in mild persistent asthma for up to 5 years.

Effects of sublingual immunotherapy for multiple or single allergens in polysensitized patients.

Background: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has proven efficacy in treating respiratory allergy.

Objective: To compare the clinical and functional effects and the effect on nasal eosinophils of SLIT with either single or combination allergens.

Methods: We performed an open-labeled, controlled, 4 parallel-group randomized study with 58 patients sensitized to birch and grasses only who had rhinitis and bronchial hyperreactivity in both pollen seasons.

The type of sensitizing allergen can affect the evolution of respiratory allergy.

Background: Numerous factors affect the evolution of respiratory allergy, in children, but little is known in adults. We assessed in a prospective study the influence of the type of allergen on the progression of disease.

Methods: Outpatients, with respiratory allergy underwent skin tests and pulmonary function/methacholine challenge at baseline and after 3 years.

DHCR24 gene expression is upregulated in melanoma metastases and associated to resistance to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

The DHCR24 gene encoding for the 3beta-hydroxysterol delta24-reductase, an oxidoreductase involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, was isolated by subtractive hybridization as highly expressed in a short-term melanoma cell line derived from a cutaneous metastases (S/M2) compared to that obtained from the autologous primary tumor (S/P). DHCR24 (alias seladin-1, diminuto/dwarf1 homolog) has been reported to act as an antiapoptotic factor in neurons. Gene expression analysis by Northern blot confirmed that DHCR24 was 5-fold upregulated in S/M2 compared to S/P cells.

Allergy to ragweed in northern Italy and prevention strategies.

Ragweed is spreading in Europe and in northern Italy, particularly in the Lombardia and Friuli areas. It constitutes a cause of significant morbidity for asthma and rhinoconjuntivitis involving as much as 12% of the general population in those countries most at risk. The public campaign to fight ragweed promoted in 1999 by the Lombardia Region failed to achieve significant results since the count of ragweed pollen in the subsequent years is similar to the previous and reached peaks of 700 pollens per m3.

Subacute combined degeneration in the spinal cords of totally gastrectomized rats. Ornithine decarboxylase induction, cobalamin status, and astroglial reaction.

Background: The totally gastrectomized (TGX) rat is a new experimental model with which to produce widespread spongy vacuolation in spinal cord (SC) white matter, strongly reminiscent of that observed in subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of human SC.

Experimental Design: We did in long-term experiments combined biochemical and histologic studies on SCs from both TGX-rats and rats fed a cobalamin-deficient (Cbl-D) diet. We also investigated the effects of single in vivo administration of some neurotrophic growth factors on the activity of L-ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) (the key-point in the polyamine biosynthetic pathway) in rat SC.

Subacute combined degeneration and induction of ornithine decarboxylase in spinal cords of totally gastrectomized rats.

Totally gastrectomized rats have been used to induce a spongy demyelination in the white matter of the spinal cord (SC) which is strongly reminiscent of that observed in subacute combined degeneration of human SC. Totally gastrectomized rats are deprived of intrinsic factor and thereafter become deficient in cobalamin. Morphologically, the spongy demyelination of the white matter of the rat SC, was evident 2 months after total gastrectomy.

[Macrocytosis, megaloblastosis and folate status in chronic alcoholics].

The figures obtained in simultaneous radioimmunological assays of serum folate and vitamin B12 concentrations and erythrocyte folate concentration in 74 patients are presented. All these patients had a regular daily intake of over 80 g ethyl alcohol and presented an increase in mean blood cell volume. Most of the patients were males hospitalised with liver disease and/or anaemia.

[Radioactive immunoassay of digoxin during digitalis therapy (author's transl)].

Measurements of plasma-digoxin concentrations (radioactive immunoassay) after single oral administration of different doses of beta-methyldigoxin, given by tablets or drops, were made. Their behaviour after more prolonged treatment with the same cardiac glycoside was also evaluated. The utility of radioimmunoassay of serum digoxin levels during digitalis therapy is confirmed.