Haemolytic anaemia after oral self-giving naphthalene-containing oil.

A clinical case of suicide attempt by means of oral self-giving of naphthalene-containing oil in an old man was reported. Clinical features showed haemolytic anaemia supported by a decrease of haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count, an increase of bilirubin (prevalently indirect) and lactate dehydrogenase and very low levels of haptoglobin. Methaemoglobin (metHb) measured at admission to the Emergency Room and 19 days after poisoning was still above normal limits. No deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was detected. The clinical manifestations ameliorated after treatment with concentrated red blood cells and ascorbic acid, with fast normalization of metHb. The clinical picture appeared almost normal 1 month after poisoning. The clinical diagnosis was 'haemolytic anaemia caused by naphthalene'. Absence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency probably reduced the severity of poisoning

Mechanisms of damage in COPD.

revie

Airway eosinophilia and expression of interleukin-5 protein in asthma and in exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

Abstract BACKGROUND: An increased number of eosinophils in the bronchial mucosa has been demonstrated both in asthma and in exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the airway eosinophilia present in asthma and in chronic bronchitis during exacerbations is associated with interleukin (IL)-5 protein expression in the bronchial mucosa. METHODS: We obtained bronchial biopsies in 18 subjects with asthma (four intrinsic, seven extrinsic and seven occupational) and in 11 subjects with chronic bronchitis examined during an exacerbation. The findings were compared with those of bronchial biopsies from 10 subjects with chronic bronchitis examined under baseline conditions and from seven normal subjects, taken as controls. By immunohistochemistry, we assessed the expression of IL-5 protein and the number of eosinophils (EG2), mast cells (tryptase), and T-lymphocytes (CD3) in the submucosa. RESULTS: As compared with controls, the number of eosinophils was increased to a similar degree in both asthma (P < 0.001) and in exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (P < 0.001), whereas the number of IL-5 immunopositive cells was increased significantly only in asthma (P < 0.01). No differences were observed in the number of mast cells and T-lymphocytes between the four groups of subjects examined. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the degree of airway eosinophilia is similar in asthma and in exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, but only in asthma is it associated with an increased expression of IL-5 protein in the bronchial mucosa

Airway eosinophilia and expression of interleukin-5 protein in asthma and in exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

BACKGROUND: An increased number of eosinophils in the bronchial mucosa has been demonstrated both in asthma and in exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the airway eosinophilia present in asthma and in chronic bronchitis during exacerbations is associated with interleukin (IL)-5 protein expression in the bronchial mucosa. METHODS: We obtained bronchial biopsies in 18 subjects with asthma (four intrinsic, seven extrinsic and seven occupational) and in 11 subjects with chronic bronchitis examined during an exacerbation. The findings were compared with those of bronchial biopsies from 10 subjects with chronic bronchitis examined under baseline conditions and from seven normal subjects, taken as controls. By immunohistochemistry, we assessed the expression of IL-5 protein and the number of eosinophils (EG2), mast cells (tryptase), and T-lymphocytes (CD3) in the submucosa. RESULTS: As compared with controls, the number of eosinophils was increased to a similar degree in both asthma (P < 0.001) and in exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (P < 0.001), whereas the number of IL-5 immunopositive cells was increased significantly only in asthma (P < 0.01). No differences were observed in the number of mast cells and T-lymphocytes between the four groups of subjects examined. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the degree of airway eosinophilia is similar in asthma and in exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, but only in asthma is it associated with an increased expression of IL-5 protein in the bronchial mucosa

Epidemiological changes in breast tumours in Italy: the IMPACT study on mammographic screening programmes.

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