Dr. Seminara studies conditions related to the immune system, particularly how deficiencies and defects impact patients' health. His research spans a variety of patient populations, including those with conditions like selective IgA deficiency, ataxia-telangiectasia, and chronic granulomatous disease. He also investigates surgical practices to increase safety in pediatric surgeries by implementing checklists and examining how they can reduce complications lasting up to 5% in surgeries. Overall, he is dedicated to improving patient care through both surgical protocol enhancements and deeper insights into immune-related diseases.
Key findings
In a study on surgical checklists, implementing these protocols at a pediatric hospital helped reduce surgical complications, which can be as high as 5%.
His research on lysozyme indicated that at doses of 1-10 micrograms per milliliter, it could increase natural killer (NK) cell activity against cancer while moderating some immune responses.
Research on thymopentin showed that, in initial trials, 50% of patients with selective IgA deficiency had positive responses, with one maintaining stable IgA levels long-term.
In a study of 13 patients with lymphoadenopathy syndrome, 10 tested positive for antibodies to HTLV III, indicating serious immune system issues that may lead to AIDS.
Findings on chronic granulomatous disease highlighted significant variability in disease symptoms among two sisters, showcasing the need for personalized treatment approaches.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Seminara study immune system disorders?
Yes, Dr. Seminara specializes in various immune system disorders, including selective IgA deficiency and chronic granulomatous disease.
What surgical practices has Dr. Seminara researched?
Dr. Seminara has researched the implementation of surgical checklists in pediatric hospitals to improve patient safety and reduce complications during surgeries.
How does Dr. Seminara's research help patients with immunodeficiencies?
His research improves understanding of different immunodeficiencies, guiding better diagnosis and treatment options for affected patients.
What treatments has Dr. Seminara investigated?
He has investigated treatments like thymopentin for selective IgA deficiency and various antibiotics’ effects on the immune system during bacterial infections.
Is Dr. Seminara's work relevant to cancer patients?
Yes, his research on immune system functions, including the effects of lysozyme, can provide insights into improving immune responses against cancer.
Publications in plain English
[Achievements and challenges in implementing the surgical checklist in a pediatric hospital].
2012
Archivos argentinos de pediatria
Dackiewicz N, Viteritti L, Marciano B, Bailez M, Merino P +4 more
Plain English This study looked at how well a surgical checklist was put into practice at a pediatric hospital to improve patient safety during surgeries. Researchers found that the checklist is important because it can help reduce complications and deaths, which can be as high as 5% in surgeries. The hospital faced challenges in using the checklist but found that having the surgical team involved in planning made a big difference.
Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing surgery and their families by making procedures safer.
Plain English This study looked at how measuring the positions of the bones in the face, called cephalometrics, can help identify problems with mouth and facial muscle function, particularly in patients with open bite syndrome. The researchers found that using these measurements can guide better treatment options, making it easier to understand and address these conditions. This is important because treating oral myofunctional impairments can improve people's chewing, speaking, and overall health.
Who this helps: Patients with open bite syndrome and their healthcare providers.
[In vitro effects of lysozyme on some specific and non-specific functions of the immune system].
1986
Bollettino dell'Istituto sieroterapico milanese
Le Moli S, Paganelli R, Sirianni MC, Nisini R, Quinti I +3 more
Plain English This study examined the effects of lysozyme, a protein found in egg whites, on the immune system's functions in a lab setting. Researchers found that at doses between 1 and 10 micrograms per milliliter, lysozyme reduced certain immune responses, like lymphocyte activation, but increased the activity of natural killer (NK) cells against cancer cells. This is important because it suggests lysozyme could help regulate inflammation while also boosting the immune system's ability to fight some diseases.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with immune-related conditions and cancer.
Thymopentin treatment of selective IgA deficiency.
1985
Survey of immunologic research
Fiorilli M, Quinti I, Russi G, Seminara R, Ensoli B +1 more
Plain English This study looked at the effects of a drug called thymopentin on nine patients with selective IgA deficiency, a condition where their body does not produce enough of a specific antibody. Out of the four patients who received the treatment in an initial trial, two showed positive responses, with one maintaining stable IgA levels for eight weeks after stopping the drug, while the other experienced a drop. However, in a follow-up trial involving five patients, no substantial changes in IgA levels were observed among those treated with thymopentin compared to a placebo.
Who this helps: This research could help patients with selective IgA deficiency who need better treatment options.
Immunological and virological investigation in patients with lymphoadenopathy syndrome and in a population at risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), with particular focus on the detection of antibodies to human T-lymphotropic retroviruses (HTLV III).
1985
Journal of clinical immunology
Sirianni MC, Rossi P, Scarpati B, Ragona G, Seminara R +2 more
Plain English This study looked at 13 patients with unexplained swollen lymph nodes, fever, weight loss, and diarrhea, who were at risk for AIDS due to factors like being homosexual, drug users, or hemophiliacs. The findings showed that these patients had a significant drop in certain immune cells (OKT4+ T cells), lower natural killer cell activity, and high antibody levels to a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV). Importantly, 10 out of the 13 patients tested positive for antibodies to a virus linked to AIDS, called HTLV III, and 3 of them had the virus itself in their systems, indicating serious immune system issues that could lead to AIDS.
Who this helps: This research helps doctors and healthcare providers understand immune system changes in high-risk patients, guiding better treatment and monitoring.
D'Amelio R, Bellavite P, Bianco P, de Sole P, Le Moli S +5 more
Plain English This study focused on two sisters diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a condition that affects the immune system. The researchers found that while both sisters had low activity in certain immune cells that help fight infections, one sister showed mild symptoms while the other had very few symptoms. These findings matter because they highlight how CGD can vary greatly between individuals, which is important for understanding and managing the disease.
Who this helps: This helps patients and doctors by providing insight into the variability of CGD and guiding personalized treatment approaches.
Interferon production in primary immunodeficiencies.
1984
Journal of clinical immunology
Matricardi PM, Capobianchi MR, Paganelli R, Facchini J, Sirianni MC +3 more
Plain English This study examined how immune cells from 18 patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders produce certain proteins called interferons, which help fight infections. Researchers found that while the production of alpha-interferon was normal in all patients, gamma-interferon production was low or not present in some specific conditions like ataxia-telangiectasia and hyper-IgE syndrome. Understanding these differences is important because it sheds light on how these immunodeficiencies affect the immune system, which can help develop more effective treatments.
Who this helps: This helps patients with immunodeficiency disorders and their doctors.
Defective interferon-gamma production in ataxia-telangiectasia.
1984
Clinical immunology and immunopathology
Paganelli R, Capobianchi MR, Matricardi PM, Cioè L, Seminara R +2 more
Plain English This study looked at how immune cells from patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (a genetic disorder) produce certain proteins called interferons, specifically interferon-gamma. The researchers found that while patients produced normal levels of another protein (interferon-alpha), they had little to no interferon-gamma, which is important for fighting infections. This lack of interferon-gamma may be a reason why people with ataxia-telangiectasia often get more infections and tumors.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients with ataxia-telangiectasia by improving understanding of their immune challenges.
In vitro effect of ketoconazole on human neutrophil chemotaxis and Candida albicans killing.
1983
Bollettino dell'Istituto sieroterapico milanese
Le Moli S, Seminara R, D'Amelio R, Pontesilli O, Nisini R
Plain English The study looked at how ketoconazole, a medicine used to treat fungal infections, affects immune cells called neutrophils and their ability to kill a type of fungus called Candida albicans. Researchers found that at a concentration of 1 microgram/ml, ketoconazole did not enhance neutrophils' ability to move toward infection or kill the Candida, but it did have a direct effect on the Candida cells themselves. This is important because it indicates that ketoconazole might work separately from immune cells rather than improving their function.
Who this helps: This helps patients with fungal infections, particularly those caused by Candida.
Usefulness of monoclonal antibodies in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with primary immunodeficiencies: combined experience in three clinical immunology centers.
1983
Diagnostic immunology
Aiuti F, Quinti I, Seminara R, Sirianni MC, Vierucci A +2 more
Plain English This study focused on patients with primary immunodeficiencies, analyzing the levels of specific immune cells (T-cells and NK cells) in 78 patients compared to 35 children with recurrent infections and healthy individuals. It found that about 60% of patients with common variable immunodeficiency had low T-cell levels, while infants with severe combined immunodeficiency had almost no T-cells or NK-cells but normal numbers of other blood cells. These findings help understand how different immune deficiencies affect the immune system and may improve diagnosis and treatment options.
Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and patients with immunodeficiencies.
In vitro and in vivo effect of sisomicin and gentamycin on polymorphonuclear chemotaxis and phagocytosis.
1983
International journal of immunopharmacology
Le Moli S, Seminara R, D'Amelio R, Aiuti F
Plain English This study looked at how two antibiotics, sisomicin and gentamycin, affect the immune system's cells involved in fighting infections in ten patients with acute bacterial infections. The researchers found that, after five days of treatment, neither antibiotic changed the ability of these immune cells to respond to infections. This finding is important because it suggests that these antibiotics do not negatively impact the immune response while treating bacterial infections.
Who this helps: This helps patients with bacterial infections who are being treated with these antibiotics.
Thymopoietin pentapeptide treatment of primary immunodeficiencies.
1983
Lancet (London, England)
Aiuti F, Businco L, Fiorilli M, Galli E, Quinti I +3 more
Plain English This study looked at how a treatment called thymopoietin pentapeptide (TP-5) affects patients with primary immunodeficiencies, a group of disorders where the immune system doesn’t work properly. Out of 26 patients treated, only 6 showed notable improvements in their health and immune responses, especially those with DiGeorge syndrome and certain T-cell defects. The treatment did not help patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), ataxia-telangiectasia, and hyper-IgE syndrome.
Who this helps: This research primarily benefits patients with DiGeorge syndrome and some T-cell defects.
Severe combined immunodeficiencies, primary T-cell defects and DiGeorge syndrome in humans: characterization by monoclonal antibodies and natural killer cell activity.
1983
Clinical immunology and immunopathology
Sirianni MC, Businco L, Seminara R, Aiuti F
Plain English This study looked at blood samples from patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), T-cell defects, and DiGeorge syndrome to understand their immune cell characteristics. It found that patients with classical SCID had no detectable T cells or natural killer (NK) cells, while those with SCID who also had B cells showed some immature cells in their blood. In contrast, children with DiGeorge syndrome had a drop in certain immune cells but normal levels of NK cells. These findings are important because they clarify how different immunodeficiency conditions affect the immune system and may guide treatment options.
Who this helps: This helps patients with immunodeficiencies and their doctors.
Serum and salivary IgA levels in normal subjects: comparison between tonsillectomized and non-tonsillectomized subjects.
1982
International archives of allergy and applied immunology
D'Amelio R, Palmisano L, Le Moli S, Seminara R, Aiuti F
Plain English This study looked at the levels of a certain antibody called IgA in the blood and saliva of 1,000 healthy people, including 274 who had their tonsils removed. They found that 27.4% of people who had their tonsils out had a partial IgA deficiency, while overall, 1.9% of the participants had some level of IgA deficiency. These findings highlight that having tonsils plays a significant role in maintaining proper IgA levels, which is important for immune health.
Who this helps: This helps patients and doctors understand the importance of tonsils for immune function.
Circulating immune complexes detected by C1q solid phase assay in leprosy.
1981
International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association
Nuti M, D'Amelio R, Seminara R, Milano CF, Palmisano L +1 more
Plain English This study looked at blood samples from 63 leprosy patients to check for special proteins called circulating immune complexes (CIC). The researchers found that leprosy patients had much higher levels of CIC compared to healthy individuals from their region and Europe. Importantly, the presence of CIC was linked to autoantibodies, which are proteins that can attack the body's own tissues.
Who this helps: This finding can benefit doctors treating leprosy patients by providing better insight into their immune responses.