1,720,986 research outputs found
Sublingual immunotherapy mechanisms of action: the role of Th1 response.
No full textSpecific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only treatment able to modify the natural history of allergic subjects. Several aspects of the immunopathological response modified by sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), which is an alternative route of administration for SIT, have been investigated. A shift from Th2-polarized immune response toward Th1-oriented pattern has been reported after SLIT. More recently, a crucial role for a subpopulation of T cells has been evidenced: T regulatory cells (Treg). Allergic patients have a defect of Tregs, and SLIT should be able to induce a specific Treg response. This issue is very relevant as the Treg-dependent cytokines, namely IL-10 and TGF-beta, are involved in the regulation of IgG and IgA antibodies production. Recent evidence shows that SLIT is also able of inducing a Treg response as detected by IL-10 production. IFNgamma is a typical Th1-dependent cytokine. SLIT may induce a significantly increased production of this cytokine and it may be considered as an early marker of SLIT response. Therefore, also SLIT is able of exerting the effects on immune response as well as the subcutaneous route
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Immunoglobulin production pattern is allergen-specific in polysensitized patients.
No full textAllergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by Th2 polarized immune response, such as increased IL-4 and reduced IFN-gamma production, and by a functional defect of T regulatory cells. This impaired immune response profile influences the pattern of immunoglobulin production in allergic patients. Therefore, the aim of this study is firstly to investigate the allergen-specific IgE, IgG, IgG4, and IgA serum level pattern in polysensitized AR patients with the same skin prick test positivity to some pollen allergens. Secondly, this study aims at relating immunoglobulin (Ig) values with some clinical and immunological parameters. Eighty polysensitized patients with AR were enrolled. Serum allergen-specific IgE, IgG, IgG4, and IgA for mites, Parietaria, grasses, and birch, TGF-beta and sHLA-G were determined by the ELISA method. Allergic symptoms and drugs use were also assessed. Allergen-specific IgE, IgG, IgG4, and IgA serum levels were significantly different for each tested allergen (p=0.0001). There was a significant correlation between IgE levels and allergy severity, whereas IgA had an antagonistic behaviour, considering mite-specific immunoglobulins. In conclusion, the present study provides the first evidence that immunoglobulin production pattern depends on the specificity of the allergenic response
Visual analogue scale assessment of respiration might be a surrogate for spirometry in allergic rhinitis.
No full textAllergic rhinitis (AR) may be frequently associated with or precede asthma. Bronchial involvement in AR is usually detected by spirometry, however, spirometers are rarely available. The aim of this study is to verify the suitability of the use of visual analogue scales (VAS) as a surrogate for screening spirometry in assessing respiration in AR patients. One hundred twenty patients with allergic rhinitis were studied. VAS for respiration assessment and spirometry were performed in all patients. There was a significant, though weak, relationship between VAS assessment of respiration and FEV(1) (p=0.0076; r=0.244). In conclusion, this preliminary study suggests the use of VAS as screening to assess the respiration of patients with allergic rhinitis who may be candidates for spirometry
Serum resistin in persistent allergic rhinitis: preliminary data in adults.
No full textAdipokines may exert pro-inflammatory activities in allergic rhinitis. Resistin is a new adipokine. Only one study reported that resistin may be involved in allergic rhinitis. However, that study was conducted in children. Therefore, the present study aimed at confirming these findings also in adult patients with persistent allergic rhinitis (PER).The study included 85 PER patients subjects 25 (11 males, mean age 35.4 years) with mild symptoms and 60 (27 males, mean age 36.8 years) with moderate-severe ones. All subjects were consecutively evaluated. A skin prick test and blood sampling for assessing serum resistin levels were performed in all subjects.Patients with moderate-severe symptoms had higher resistin levels than mild ones (p=0.02).This study provides the preliminary evidence that resistin serum levels depend on symptom severity also in adults with PER
Perception of dyspnea in prepubescent children with mild intermittent asthma: is there any gender difference?
No full textSublingual immunotherapy affects specific antibody and TGF-beta serum levels in patients with allergic rhinitis.
No full textAllergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by Th2 polarized immune response, such as increased IL-4 and reduced IFN-gamma production. Sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy (SLIT) induces several immunological changes, most of which are still little known. The aim of this study is firstly to investigate the changes of allergen-specific IgE, IgG, IgG4, and IgA serum levels after SLIT. Secondly, this study aims at relating immunoglobulin (Ig) values with some Th1-, Th2-, and Treg-dependent cytokines. Twenty-three patients with pollen-induced AR were enrolled, and they assumed two pre-seasonal SLIT courses for 2 years. Serum allergen-specific IgE, IgG, IgG4 and IgA levels were determined by ELISA method at baseline and after each SLIT course. Serum IL-4, IFN-gamma, IL-10, and TGF-beta levels were also assessed. Allergen-specific IgE, IgG, IgG4, and IgA serum levels significantly increased after SLIT. Serum TGF-beta significantly increased after SLIT. There was a significant correlation between IgA and TGF-beta, both after the first and the second SLIT course. In conclusion, the present study provides the first evidence that pollen SLIT significantly affects Ig production, mainly concerning IgA; and IgA increase is related with TGF-beta production. Moreover, this is the first study that measured Ig classes by using a quantitative method
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