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Biomedical subjects

D Di Luca

Publications and source records attributed to D Di Luca.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

DNA rearrangements impairing BK virus productive infection in urinary tract tumors.

Eighty-nine tissue specimens from the urinary tract and prostate were analyzed for the presence and physical state of BK virus (BKV) DNA. Large T antigen gene sequences were amplified by PCR from prostate, kidney, ureter, and bladder with prevalences ranging from 50 to 83%. Sequence analysis of PCR products from the high variable BKV regulatory region showed that these tissues contained a new BKV strain (URO1). URO1 presents a duplication of part of the 68- and 39-bp elements of the viral enhancer, and a 68-bp deletion spanning part of the 39- and 63-bp enhancer elements. Six neoplastic specimens (11.5%), but none of the control tissues, contained viral DNA in amounts detectable by Southern blot hybridization (P < 0.05). The tumors positive by Southern blot hybridization harbored rearranged and/or integrated DNA sequences whose size was apparently incompatible with assembly into a viral particle. A full-length, macroscopically intact BKV early region was amplified from these tumors by PCR. The restriction pattern of the rearranged sequences was simple, suggesting that tumors were clonal and that DNA rearrangement occurred at an early stage of neoplastic initiation or progression.

Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming↗
PubMed1995

Isolation of human herpesvirus 7 from an infant with febrile syndrome.

A viral isolate obtained from peripheral blood lymphocytes of an infant with a nonspecific febrile syndrome was identified as human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) on the basis of PCR analysis of its DNA with one set of primers specific for HHV-7. The correlation of HHV-7 with the febrile episode affecting the infant is suggested.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMed1995

Human herpesviruses 6 and 7 in salivary glands and shedding in saliva of healthy and human immunodeficiency virus positive individuals.

The presence of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) was investigated by the polymerase chain reaction in saliva specimens from healthy persons, donors affected by common cold or recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients, and in salivary gland biopsies. The sensitivity of the technique made it possible to detect as few as 5-10 target molecules in 15 microliters of saliva. HHV-6 was present in 63% of salivary gland biopsies and in 3% of salivas from healthy persons. No significant difference in the presence of HHV-6 was detected in specimens from donors with common cold, RAU, or HIV-infected patients. HHV-7 was present in 75% of salivary glands and in 55% of salivas from healthy persons. HHV-7 was detected with similar frequency in salivas from donors with common cold or RAU. Salivas from HIV-infected patients harbored HHV-7 with higher frequency (81%) and increased viral load. These results show that salivary glands are a site of persistent infection for both HHV-6 and HHV-7. However, the two viruses seem to differ in their biological properties: 1) HHV-6 is rarely present in saliva in detectable amounts, while HHV-7 is frequently detected; and 2) immunosuppression by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) increases the frequency of detection and the viral load of HHV-7, but does not have a significant effect on HHV-6 shedding in saliva.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Human herpesvirus 6 and human herpesvirus 7 in chronic fatigue syndrome.

We analyzed lymphocytes of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) for the presence of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7 DNA. HHV-7 was present in over 80% of CFS patients and healthy controls, while the prevalence of HHV-6 variant A increased significantly in CFS cases (22 versus 4%; P = 0.05).

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Chimeric BK virus DNA episomes in a papillary urothelial bladder carcinoma.

BK virus (BKV) DNA sequences were identified in a papillary urothelial bladder carcinoma by Southern blot hybridization. The carcinoma contained both integrated and extrachromosomal DNA. Integrated sequences had a clonal restriction pattern, suggesting that BKV was integrated at some early stage of neoplastic initiation or progression. Viral episomes consisted of a population of covalent polymers based on a high-molecular-weight DNA unit, about 11-12 kb in size. DNA sequences non-homologous to the BKV genome were encompassed within DNA episomes, suggestive of acquisition of cellular sequences by viral DNA replication at the integration site. Extrachromosomal, chimeric DNA molecules were present at an average level of about 50 copies per cell, but their size, apparently incompatible with viral assembly, showed that BKV productive infection was impaired. The data suggest that infected cells underwent reversible changes affecting autonomous BKV DNA replication.

BK Virus↗
PubMed1995

Beta-interferon treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a multicenter clinical trial.

Forty-nine women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade II were treated with systemic and/or local beta-interferon (beta-IFN) applications. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of different routes for the administration of beta-IFN, evaluate local and systemic beta-IFN tolerance, and determine whether disappearance of neoplastic lesions was related to the resolution of the concomitant human papillomavirus infection. The patients were randomized to receive intramuscular, intralesional or a combination of intramuscular and intralesional administration, or conventional treatment. Significant differences in the rate of lesion regression were observed between treated and untreated women. The highest frequency of complete response was observed with the therapy combining intramuscular and intralesional treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Impact of sexual habits on the clinical evaluation of male HPV infection.

A series of 199 male regular sexual partners of women attending an STD clinic for the examination and treatment of HPV-associated diseases was examined by peniscopy, surgical biopsy and nucleic acid hybridization for the presence of clinical, histological and molecular markers pathognomic of HPV infection. There was a 100% correlation between condylomata acuminata and detection of HPV type 6 or 11 DNA. Papillary lesions displayed neither histological signs of HPV infection, nor did they harbor HPV DNA (viral types 6, 11, 16, 18, 33) while 44.9% (22/49) of acetowhite epithelia showed HPV-suggestive histological changes. Of the 19 analysed for HPV DNA, 15.8% (3/19) harbored HPV 6/11 and 16 DNA. Regular male and female sexual partners did not always harbor the same HPV types, showing that latent or occult infection and the sexual habits of each individual play an important role in the clinical manifestations of HPV infection observed in sexual couples. The present data show that: i) the likelihood of developing a clinical HPV lesion was affected, to a large extent, by the previous sexual history and habits in the partners of women with flat condylomata, while partners of women with condylomata acuminata or CINs displayed a higher correlation with the current state of infection in their regular partner; ii) despite the assessed infective state of their consorts, men with a low lifetime number of sexual partners seldom displayed HPV-associated acetowhitening.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetates↗
PubMed1994

Human herpesvirus 6: a survey of presence and variant distribution in normal peripheral lymphocytes and lymphoproliferative disorders.

The presence and distribution of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) variants was investigated by polymerase chain reaction in samples from healthy donors and biopsies from non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease. HHV-6 DNA was present in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 17% of healthy donors, variant B three times more frequently than A. HHV-6 was not present in 35 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of B cell origin and was in only 1 of 10 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in AIDS patients. HHV-6 DNA was present in 29% of Hodgkin's disease samples; variant B was more frequent than A. Epstein-Barr virus DNA was detected in 38% of Hodgkin's disease biopsies and did not correlate with HHV-6. Thus, the two HHV-6 variants are differently distributed in the healthy population, and the virus probably has no direct role in the development of B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The detection of HHV-6 DNA in about one-third of Hodgkin's disease biopsies suggests that HHV-6 might be associated with a subset of this disorder.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMed1994

Antigenic outline of HHV-6 variants from infants with febrile illness.

The surface antigenic make-up of 10 HHV-6 isolates from cases of infantile disease was analyzed by immunofluorescence assay with 5 monoclonal antibodies (Mabs). Three Mabs were directed to glycoproteins (gps) expressed in cells infected with the HHV-6 variant A prototype GS, and 2 to gps expressed in cells infected with the HHV-6 variant B prototype Z29. Of the 10 viral isolates, all belonging to HHV-6 variant B, 9 showed a similar Mab reactivity, while 1, from a case of gastroenteric illness, differed widely from the others. The HHV-6 isolates studied also differed from the variant B prototype Z29 for the absence of reactivity to one of the Mabs. The choice of the HHV-6 new isolates as variant B prototypes is recommended.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1993

Human herpesvirus-6 infections in infants admitted to hospital.

Virological studies were carried out on 3 to 36-month-old patients admitted to the Children's Hospital of the University of Modena with febrile syndrome from September 1990 to February 1991. Virological tests were carried out for human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses 1, 2 and 3, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza viruses A and B. Viral infections were confirmed in 60.7% patients: 39.6% were correlated with HHV-6, 5.4% with EBV, 5.4% with both HHV-6 and EBV, 5.4% with adenoviruses, 1.8% with HSV-1, 1.8% with CMV and 1.8% with an unidentified herpes-like lymphotropic virus. HHV-6 isolates were obtained from either peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) or pharyngeal secretion of the infected children. HHV-6 infections included both primary infections (72%) and reactivations (28%). Among HHV-6 infected children, 40%, with exanthem subitum, had infections presenting serological evidence of primary infection and virus isolation from PBLs. The remaining cases of primary infection and the cases of reactivation were found in patients with febrile syndrome without rash (60%). HHV-6 isolates were obtained either from PBLs or pharyngeal secretions from these patients. Southern blot hybridization of the DNAs of 4 HHV-6 isolates showed that the circulating HHV-6 strains all appeared similar, but differed from the HHV-6 strain U1102 used as a positive control.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1993

A comparative study of vertebrate eye lens crystallins using isoelectric focusing and densitometry.

1. The crystallin proteins of numerous species belonging to different classes of vertebrates have been studied. 2. Species-specific crystallin patterns are revealed which unequivocally characterize the different species. 3. A marked variability in the number and percentage of alpha-, beta- and gamma-crystallins were found in the various species. 4. The gamma-crystallin family, with a meagre number of common bands, has proved to be most representative of the species. The beta-crystallins, with their greater number of common bands, have been best preserved throughout vertebrate evolution. 5. From the similarity coefficient matrix a dendrogram is drawn up, a visual phylogenetic summary of the interrelationships between the vertebrates considered. 6. In the Discussion, other aspects are considered, such as lens morphology, functionality, animal age, post-synthetic modifications and genetic factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Presence and physical state of HPV DNA in prostate and urinary-tract tissues.

Neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissues from the urinary tract and the prostate were analyzed for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. The analysis was performed by PCR using primers specific for HPV 6/11 and 16. HPV DNA was present in bladder, ureter, kidney and prostate, with percentages ranging between 46% and 87%. Benign and oncogenic HPV types were detected with similar frequencies both in non-neoplastic and in neoplastic biopsies, and HPV 16 was not preferentially associated with malignant lesions. In all instances, small amounts of HPV DNA were present in the tissues, suggesting the absence of productive infection. Analysis of the physical state of HPV DNA performed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and Southern blot hybridization revealed that HPV 16 DNA harbored in the urinary tract can be integrated also in non-neoplastic tissues. The results indicate that HPV 16 does not seem to be associated with urinary-tract and prostate oncogenesis, but that these tissues may represent an important reservoir for the transmission of HPV types normally infecting the genital tract.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of Southern blot analysis with isotopic and nonisotopic in situ hybridization for the detection of human papillomavirus sequences in invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

To compare the efficiency of hybridization methods for the detection of HPV genome, 22 cases of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were analyzed by Southern blot analysis and in situ hybridization carried out with 35S- and biotin-labeled probes. These cases contained from less than one to as many as 50 copies per cell of HPV 16 and 18 types. To increase the sensitivity of biotinylated probes, a silver enhancement procedure of the peroxidase reaction product was applied. Results showed that in situ hybridization performed with isotopic probes is as sensitive as Southern blot analysis and is more sensitive than that performed with biotin-labeled probe. However, the application of the silver enhancement procedure increases the percentage of HPV-positive cases from 27 to 50%.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Is vestibular papillomatosis associated with human papillomavirus?

The origin and clinical significance of vestibular papillae were evaluated by comparing histological features with the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6/11 and 16/18, as revealed by Southern blot DNA hybridization. Twenty women with vestibular papillomatosis underwent clinical evaluation and follow-up. When available, male partners were also examined. Histological changes suggestive of HPV infection were present in all the 20 specimens. Sixteen cases (80%) contained DNA sequences homologous to the viral probes. In particular, 12 cases (60%) reacted with the HPV 16/18 probe. Follow-up for more than 18 months revealed no variation in the distribution and appearance of vestibular papillae. No male partner showed signs of HPV lesions. The study shows that HPV 16 is frequently associated with vestibular papillae but does not support a productive infection. Therefore the most appropriate management of these patients should be evaluated clinically in each individual case.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A study of some biologic properties of Bovid herpesvirus-4.

This article summarizes the results of a study on several strains of Bovid herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4), isolated from cattle. The study had several objectives, namely, to verify (a) the disease-causing potential of the virus, (b) the possibility by BHV-4 to induce a latent infection in the natural host and (c) the entity of the relationships among strains of the virus isolated from different disease syndromes. The following data were obtained: (1) All strains tested were able to replicate in experimentally infected calves; however, only one strain (85/BH 16TV) caused an overt systemic disease. (2) The nervous system as well as the lymphoid structures appeared to be the target organs for replication of the virus. (3) BHV-4, like other herpesviruses, was able to establish latent infection in cattle. (4) When two strains of the virus, isolated from cattle affected by different disease syndromes, i.e. respiratory disease (strain DN-599) or vulvovaginitis (strain 85/BH 16TV), respectively, they resulted to be closely related to each other. In particular, they revealed a similar DNA pattern and both strains were able to cause respiratory disease in calves. Moreover, the two viral strains were mutually protective in that calves were generally found to be refractory to challenge inoculation with either the homologous or the heterologous virus. (5) All BHV-4 strains tested generally failed to evoke a significant production of neutralizing antibody in the experimental calves.

Animals↗