Differences and similarities between allergic and nonallergic rhinitis in a large sample of adult patients with rhinitis symptoms.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) may present with different clinical and laboratory characteristics.

Methods: 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).

Results: A total of 1,107 patients (73%)had AR, whereas 404 (27%) had NAR.

Polymorphisms of cyclo-oxygenases and 5-lipo-oxygenase-activating protein are associated with chronic spontaneous urticaria and urinary leukotriene E4.

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.

Evaluation of serum s-IgE/total IgE ratio in predicting clinical response to allergen-specific immunotherapy.

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.

Comparative effect of tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and clobetasol 0.05% ointment in patients with oral lichen planus.

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is considered to be an autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology that affects the mucosae, especially the oral cavity.

Objective: We compared tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and clobetasol 0.

Relationship between human leucocyte antigen class I and class II and chronic idiopathic urticaria associated with aspirin and/or NSAIDs hypersensitivity.

Background: HLA genes play a role in the predisposition of several diseases. The aim was to analyze the prevalence of HLA class I phenotypes and HLA-DRB1* genotype in patients with CIU associated with ASA and NSAIDs hypersensitivity (AICU).

Methods: 69 patients with AICU, and 200 healthy subjects.

Tacrolimus ointment in nickel sulphate-induced steroid-resistant allergic contact dermatitis.

Tacrolimus ointment is a topical immunomodulator. Currently, there is available evidence regarding the potential use of topical tacrolimus in a range of dermatological disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment 0.

Comparison of topical tacrolimus 0.1 % in pectin ointment with clobetasol 0.5% ointment in adults with moderate to severe desquamative gingivitis: A 4-week, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Background: Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is a clinical condition characterized by red, painful, glazed, and friable gingiva, which might be a manifestation of some autoimmune mucocutaneous diseases. The time from the development of initial signs of DG to diagnosis can vary from months to years. Based on a literature search, no data concerning patients with DG without signs of autoimmune disease were available.

Food-additive-induced urticaria: a survey of 838 patients with recurrent chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Background: 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.

Methods: We studied 838 consecutive patients with RCIU referred to hospital between 1998 and 2003.

Circulating levels of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Background: During inflammation, activated vascular endothelial cells and other cell types express various adhesion molecules, which facilitate the binding of circulating leukocytes and their extravasation in surrounding tissue (i.e. renal tissue).

Randomized placebo-controlled trial comparing desloratadine and montelukast in monotherapy and desloratadine plus montelukast in combined therapy for chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Background: H 1 -receptor antagonists are considered to be particularly effective in reducing pruritus, and they are therefore recommended as first-line treatment in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). Recently, antileukotriene receptors have been used in patients with CIU, either administered as monotherapy or combined with H 1 -receptor antagonists.

Objective: We compared the clinical efficacy of 5 mg of desloratadine administered once daily either as monotherapy or combined with a leukotriene antagonist, 10 mg of montelukast daily, and 10 mg of montelukast administered daily as monotherapy for the treatment of patients affected by CIU with placebo.

Serum levels of soluble CD30 in adult patients affected by atopic dermatitis and its relation to age, duration of disease and Scoring Atopic Dermatitis index.

The value of CD30 and the soluble circulating fragment of CD30 (sCD30) for atopic dermatitis (AD) remains unclear. In particular, little is known about the effects of age, duration of disease and Scoring Atopic Dermatitis index (SCORAD) on the levels of serum sCD30 in patients affected by AD. In the present study, we have analysed serum sCD30 levels of adult patients affected by AD.

A study of age-related IgE pathophysiological changes.

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.

[Neutrophils in rheumatoid inflammation].

For many years a secondary role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis has been ascribed to neutrophil, relatively to the inflammatory response's evaluation. This cell was considered lacking in a peculiar activity and ever depending on lymphocytes and monocytes. During the recent years the neutrophil has been recognized as a cytokines producing cell, really able to modulate its role in joints inflammation.

Prevalence of latex sensitization in health care workers of a general hospital in Palermo, Sicily.

Study Objective: To assess the prevalence of latex sensitization in a group of hospital employees in a general hospital.

Design: Cross-sectional study on hypersensitivity to latex gloves among health-care workers.

Setting: A general hospital in Palermo, Sicily.

The T cell receptor repertoire in psoriatic synovitis is restricted and T lymphocytes expressing the same TCR are present in joint and skin lesions.

Objective: To investigate the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in psoriatic synovitis and to determine whether T lymphocytes in joint and skin lesions show the same Vbeta CDR3 region.

Methods: The expression of Valpha and Vbeta families was evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The CDR3 region of some Vbeta families was analyzed by cloning and sequencing.

In vitro effects of fluticasone propionate on IL-13 production by mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes.

Background: Corticosteroid administration produces multiple immunomodulatory effects, including down-regulation of cytokine production by CD4 T lymphocytes. Fluticasone propionate (FP) (Glaxo Smith&Kline, Greenford, UK), a highly lipophilic topical corticosteroid, has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of asthma and of both seasonal and perennial rhinitis.

Aims: To gain insight into the mechanisms of FP therapeutic effects, we evaluated interleukin (IL)-13 (a type 2 cytokine that seemingly plays a pivotal role in allergic mechanisms) production by mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) in vitro, treated or not with FP.

Measurement of inflammatory mediators of eosinophils and lymphocytes in blood in acute asthma: serum levels of ECP influence the bronchodilator response.

The aim of this study was to assess the relevance of immunoinflammatory markers on the response to short acting beta(2)-agonist in acute asthma exacerbation. Thus, we measured serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels and sIL-2R at acute exacerbation in 52 adult patients with atopic asthma, and assessed forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) before and after the administration of aerosolized salbutamol. After a cumulative dose of salbutamol causing a 10% improvement in FEV(1) from baseline [CD10, i.