Bollettino dell'Istituto sieroterapico milanese最新文献

A therapeutic trial is described which concerns 6 patients with AIDS and 6 patients with ARC who were submitted to a 6 month course of Ribavirin. Ribavirin was administered orally as the following doses: 3.000 mg daily the first week, 2.000 mg daily the second 2 weeks, and 1.000 mg daily up to completion of the 6 months period. No major side-effects were recorded; only a transient anemia was observed in almost all patients at the higher dose; none of them, however, required to be transfused. No improvement was shown by any of the 6 AIDS patients, neither clinically nor according to laboratory test, whereas all 6 patients with ARC experienced a sense of well-being, a clearing of their symptoms and an average weight gain of about 2.5 kg. No significant changes, though, were recorded as for their immune parameters. A remarkable drop of aminotransfereas was also observed in 4 of the patients, who were affected with chronic hepatitis as well. We conclude that additional, if any, Ribavirin trials should be carried out only in ARC patients.

The likely first case of Campylobacter laridis bacteraemia in AIDS is reported. Microbiological, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of C. laridis human infection are also described.

The Clostridium difficile is the etiologic agent most often isolated in patients with antibiotic-associated colitis. Rarely this symptomatology is complicated by postinfection arthritis. The following describes 2 cases of acute colitis by clostridium difficile associated with acute polyarthritis.

Fourteen cases of Essential Mixed Cryoglobulinemia (EMC) are described in this report. Clinical and laboratory manifestations in our patients were similar to those previously reported in literature, although involvement of the peripheral nervous system was much more prevalent in our series. We suggest that peripheral neuropathy should be systematically searched in EMC patients.

In this work we reported the results obtained using two ELISA-tests (the seropositivity was confirmed by Western-Blot) for detection of HIV-Ab in normal and at risk population (according by the classification from C.D.C. 1982) exposed to screening for various, sanitary measures. Our results concerning the percentage of seropositivity to HIV-Ab in drug-addicts (49%) are in agreement with the results obtained in the most qualified Italian Centres. The incidence of congenital infection is high, pointed 50%; the 100% of seropositive children were infected by drug-addicts seropositive parents. Casuistry among haemophilic patients we have demonstrated a greater seropositivity in B haemophilic subjects than A haemophilic ones. The seropositivity (24%) verified among prisoners is totally related to drug-addiction. Prevalence of seropositivity among heterosexual partners of HIV positive subjects was 22% among female partners of infected men, and 9% among male partners of infected women. Checking performed upon nursing staff who casually were contaminated by seropositive patient's blood confirmed 100% of seronegativity after eight months. No seropositive subjects were performed in every not a risk group.

The aim of Authors was to study the presence of an atopic component in subjects suffering from recurrent headache attacks not depending on other pathology. The survey was carried out on 24 children and 18 adults. Total IgE level, specific IgE for food, prick test for food, symptom scores during free-diet, elimination diet and challenge test were parameters evaluated. This study confirm hypothesis in order to some cases headache is depending on a food allergy or food idiosyncrasy.

D53 (Immucytal) is a compositive vaccine made of immunogenic ribosomes extracted from 4 bacterial species (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae) associated with a membrane proteoglycan from a non-encapsulated strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae (MPG-Kp). In this work we have studied the effect of the compound on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function "in vitro". We have demonstrated that D53 was able to significantly increase Fc- receptor dependent phagocytosis without modify the C3-receptor dependent activity. Furthermore D53 enhanced the oxidative metabolism (evaluated by chemiluminescence) both using cells in resting conditions or after stimulation with phagocytable or soluble stimuli. On the contrary D53 caused a dose-dependent inhibition of PMN migration toward different chemoattractants. Using the two constitutive fractions of the compound (ribosomes and proteoglycans) we have observed that the MPG-Kp component was mainly responsible for the modulating activity of the drug on human PMNs.

A toxoplasma gondii antigen, has been obtained by sonication, separated by SDS gel electrophoresis system in 10% acrylamide and blotted onto nitrocellulose paper (Western Blot). The antigen has been tested against: serum samples from subjects T. gondii negative; serum samples from patients with acute Toxoplasma infection; serum samples from subjects who had serologic evidence of infection with T. gondii, but IgM negatives. IgG and IgM immune response has been evaluated. Gel stained with Coomassie Blue revealed 48 protein fractions; only twenty fractions reacted as antigen. In particular, we have observed that only one protein fraction has been recognized by IgM antibodies present in the serum of patient with acute Toxoplasma infection (with lymphoadenopathy); some protein fractions have been recognized only by IgG antibodies; some protein fractions have been recognized in the same time by IgG and IgM antibodies in the same serum sample.

We are carrying on a trial with subcutaneous injections of thymopentin in a group of patients that presented more than 2 infectious episodes of uro-genital tract in the latest 18 months. Microbiological investigations were performed with microscopic and cultural examinations before and after six weeks of treatment with thymopentin (TP5) associated with antibiotic therapy chosen on the basis of cultural response. The follow-up was prolonged to 6 months. The immunological studies were performed at the same moments, by a panel of monoclonal antibodies and by the evaluation of the NK activity and granulocytic phagocytosis. The cellular immunity was studied by skin tests. In our patients, during the follow-up period, we observed a significant reduction of infectious episodes, an increase of NK activity, and a restoration of cellular immunity in hypoergic subjects.

The effect of histamine control on the reaction produced by adjacent allergens or diluent control during skin test was evaluated in 742 patients sensitized to one or more inhalant allergens. In 4 cases (0.7%) both the diluent control and all the tested allergens were positive thus indicating an altered cutaneous reactivity. The allergens placed near the histamine control were positive in 183 cases (24.7%). Among these 144 (19.4%) were strong positive results according to the history. In 39 cases (5.2%) the positive result didn't correlate with the history. Of note in 35 cases (4.7%) the reaction was classified as weak positive (+) according to Berg and Johansson (1974). Although our findings confirm only partially those from Terho and Coworkers, we agree with the Authors on the opportunity of positioning the histamine control at a suitable distance from other allergens during skin test.