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Biomedical subjects

A Sinicco

Publications and source records attributed to A Sinicco.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Attempt of Yersinia enterocolitica isolation from human feces in Senegal.

One-hundred-eight stool samples, collected in a fishing village of Senegal from 72 apparently healthy subjects and from 36 patients with gastrointestinal disorders, were examined for the presence of Y. enterocolitica. After 1, 2, 3 weeks of cold enrichment with PBS 1/15M, pH 7.6, plating was performed on MacConkey Agar after use of the alkali method. No Yersinia strains were isolated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Increased levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in the serum of patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

The serum levels of a soluble form of the interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were investigated in 92 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, ranging from asymptomatic cases to full-blown AIDS. Increased values were found in 69.5% of cases. The overall mean was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in HIV-infected patients (mean +/- SD = 709.3 +/- 369.4 U/ml) than in the seronegative risk group controls (383.9 +/- 140.5) and normal controls (256.4 +/- 114.5). No major differences were found among the patient groups (asymptomatic infection, persistent generalized lymphadenopathy, symptomatic infection, and full-blown AIDS). These data suggest that the measurement of serum sIL-2R levels may represent a useful biological tool for evaluating T-cell activation phenomena occurring in HIV infection. Since the soluble interleukin-2 receptor maintains the capacity of binding interleukin-2, the increased levels found in HIV infection may play a contributory role towards the in vitro and in vivo impairment of a number of interleukin-2-dependent functions described in this disease. On clinical grounds, the excess of sIL-2R could help to explain the lack of therapeutic effect and little immunological variations following the in vivo administration of interleukin-2.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Fungal colonization in patients with cancer of the upper respiratory tract.

Fungal opportunistic infections are a danger for immunocompromised hosts, such as patients with malignancies, especially in a hospital environment. We studied a group of patients with solid tumors of the respiratory tract on admission and after twenty days of hospitalization. Colonization by moulds and/or yeasts was frequently found. Preventive measures should be applied to avoid colonization inside the hospital. The importance of overcrowding, sanitation and diet is pointed out.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phospholipase activity in Cryptococcus neoformans.

Phospholipases have only been detected in a few fungi and yeasts, in particular in Candida albicans. Secreted phospholipases are considered by some researchers to be a potential factor of virulence and pathogenicity in C. albicans. Twenty-three Cryptococcus neoformans strains were tested in order to observe phospholipase production. Twenty-two of the 23 strains tested were able to produce phospholipases, and the ratio diameter of the colony to total diameter of the colony plus zone of precipitation (Pz) ranged between 0.271 and 0.949. C. neoformans, just like C. albicans, can be divided on the basis of the Pz into different strains according to their virulence and pathogenicity. There also appeared to be a correlation between the phospholipase production and the size of the capsule in the strains isolated from AIDS patients. For this reason, further studies on C. neoformans phospholipase activity would be useful in evaluating the virulence of different strains.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Susceptibility to ketoconazole of Candida albicans strains from sequentially followed HIV-1 patients with recurrent oral candidosis.

The MIC values of the antifungal drug ketoconazole were evaluated on 66 Candida albicans strains. These strains were isolated from 26 HIV-1 infected patients with oral recurrent candidosis. Each episode of oral candidosis observed in these patients was orally treated with ketoconazole (200 mg/day) until the clinical disappearance of the lesions. The most frequent MIC values were 20 micrograms/ml and 10 micrograms/ml, observed in 37 and 19 isolates respectively. Only strains from five patients showed changes in their susceptibility to ketoconazole. This fact could indicate that a different strain causes the subsequent reappearance of the oral lesions, rather than the drug selecting resistant fungal strains. Our results stress the role of host characteristics in the occurrence of candidal infections, pointing to the progressing failure of the immunological response as the most important factor responsible for the recurrence of oral candidosis during HIV-1 infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Successful simplification of HAART in patients with acute primary HIV infection.

Aggressive treatment has been advocated for the management of primary HIV infection (PHI), but the composition and the optimal duration of therapy are still to be determined. In addition, time to undetectable viral load (VL), rate and duration of VL suppression as well as subsequent therapeutic choices remain issues widely debated. We evaluated the rate and duration of VL suppression in 12 consecutive patients with PHI given triple-drug treatment with zidovudine, lamivudine and indinavir (highly active antiretroviral therapy, HAART) at onset of the acute illness and subsequently switched to a simplified 2-NRTI-based regimen once VL suppression was maintained for at least 6 months. Throughout the study, no patient discontinued treatment because of symptoms attributed to the study medications. In the study population, undetectable VL was achieved after a median of 84 days (range: 67-135) on HAART and was maintained for a median of 194 days (range: 179-205) before simplification. After switching to simplified maintenace, undetectable VL was maintained in all patients for at least 6 months. Only one patient experienced virological failure, plasma HIV-RNA remaining suppressed for a median foliow-up of 33 months (15-54) and T-CD4+ being steadily higher than 500/mL in the remaining patients. Our results suggest that simplification of HAART in patients promptly treated during PHI and maintaining undetectable VL for at least 6 months before simplification may be a valid option capable of controlling viral replication and maintaining an optimal immunological profile for a prolonged time.

Adult↗