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Biomedical subjects

F Chiodo

Publications and source records attributed to F Chiodo.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

[Evaluation of the lysozyme and DNAase activity for the identification of pathogenic staphylococci].

The sensitivity of two tests recently proposed for the classification of pathogen staphylococci were evaluated: --production of DNA-ase with the modified method of Lachica et al.; --production of lisozyme. The two above tests were studied with other six tests on 1,000 strains of staphylococci showing a very high specificity. The Authors propose that the DNA-ase production and the lisozyme production, also for their very simple execution, should become routine tests to identify the strains of pathogenic staphylococci.

Deoxyribonucleases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum protease inhibitors in acute viral hepatitis.

Serum levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) and alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M) and, as controls, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AG) and haptoglobin were evaluated by means of laser nephelometry in 17 patients with acute viral hepatitis (AVH) type A, 16 with AVH-B, 12 with AVH-NANB and 8 with fulminant hepatitis B. On admission, alpha 1-AT levels were elevated in one third of AVH-A and AVH-B cases, but subsequently declined; alpha 2-M levels were elevated in about 40% of AVH-B patients during the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week after admission. No significant correlation was found between elevated levels of protease inhibitors and aminotransferase values or drug addiction and delta coinfection. alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin levels were always normal or low. Protease inhibitors did not show any elevation in fulminant hepatitis, while changes were found only in a few patients with AVH-NANB. Thus, no clearcut pattern of changes in protease inhibitors has been found in association with each type of hepatitis, although alpha 1-AT and alpha 2-M elevations are mainly found in AVH-B.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

First-line nevirapine in combination with nucleoside analogues compared with nevirapine added to a salvage HAART.

BACKGROUND: Although non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are presently recommended as a part of an initial triple antiretroviral regimen, or as an adjunct to a rescue therapy in patients with poor response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), no controlled data are available comparing these two different strategies of administration of nevirapine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Laboratorys data of 59 consecutive patients were prospectively followed up to compare the virologic and immunologic response to nevirapine in those starting a triple therapy combination (group A), versus subjects with prior HAART failure (group B). Laboratory data of 59 consecutive were prospectively followed up. RESULTS: In group A (33 cases), nevirapine was started with two nucleoside analogues in six subjects naïve to antiretrovirals, while in 27 cases it was added to a novel combination of nucleoside analogues. In group B (26 cases), highly experienced patients failing a protease inhibitor-containing HAART, were given nevirapine concurrently with nelfinavir in 19 cases, and with two protease inhibitors in seven patients. Compared with group B patients, subjects belonging to group A showed a more favorable 9-month virologic response (-2.2 Log10 after 9 months with two thirds of patients attaining viral suppression, versus -0.8 Log10 in group A, with only 34.6% of patients with undetectable viremia) (p < 0.001). A greater rise of mean absolute CD4+ lymphocyte count was also observed in group A as opposed to group B (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found comparing the laboratory response of antiretroviral-naïve versus -experienced patients, as well as of participants who changed one versus both nucleoside analogues at the time of nevirapine adjunct in group A, and between patients who switched to nelfinavir versus those treated with two protease inhibitors in group B. CONCLUSION: Nevirapine used as a component of an initial triple anti-HIV regimen seems to ensure a significantly more favorable virologic and immunologic outcome, compared with nevirapine adjunct to a salvage regimen carried out after HAART failure. Controlled data are needed, to better define the role of nevirapine in different therapeutic situations.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Typhoid fever and HIV infection: a rare disease association in industrialized countries.

Typhoid fever is still a global health problem, mainly in tropical and subtropical areas of the world and in developing countries, where relatively elevated morbidity and mortality rates still are present, mostly because of persisting poor hygienic conditions. In the majority of Mediterranean regions, including Italy, the disease is constantly present, though with a low prevalence rate, as a result of an endemic persistence of Salmonella typhi infection.1-4 On the other hand, in industrialized countries, most cases of S. typhi infection are related to foreign travel or prior residence in endemic countries.4-6 In the United States, 2445 cases of typhoid fever have been reported in the decade 1985 to 1994, and the annual number of cases remained relatively stable over time: over 70% of episodes were acquired in endemic countries (mostly Mexico and India).6 The persisting morbidity of S. typhi also may be supported by the increasing resistance rate of this pathogen against a number of commonly used antimicrobial compounds. For instance, 6% of 331 evaluable S. typhi strains were resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and cotrimoxazole, and 22% of isolates were resistant to at least one of these three agents in a recent survey performed in the United States.6 The spread of antibiotic resistance among S. typhi isolates is emerging in many countries, and multidrug-resistant strains have been isolated, as well as isolates with poor susceptibility to fluoroquinolones,3-5,7-9 so that in vitro susceptibility should be determined for all cultured strains, and antimicrobial treatment should be adjusted accordingly. Nevertheless, fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin) or third-generation cephalosporins, still represent the best choice for empirical treatment,2,4,6-8,10 and mortality remains rare in Western countries (less than 1% of episodes), although it is expected to be greater in developing areas of the world. The aim of this report is to describe two cases of typhoid fever that occurred in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, a rarely reported disease association in industrialized countries.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recurrent 'migrainelike' episodes in patients with HIV disease.

Recurrent transient neurological deficits have been described in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects, but their frequency, pathogenesis, and outcome are still unsettled. We describe 10 HIV-infected patients with transient neurological deficits (0.8% of all patients followed in our department during the last decade). All patients were in the advanced stage of immunological disease. None of the clinical or special investigations performed outside of the attacks indicated an underlying structural lesion of the central nervous system. In 80% of these patients, anticardiolipin antibodies were present. The final outcome was unrelated to these transient neurological deficits which, per se, had a benign course. We discuss the possible etiopathogenetic mechanisms of such episodes and suggest that they may be "migrainelike" events, possibly related to transient functional circulatory abnormalities secondary to an immunological antiphospholipid antibody-dependent mechanism.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Invasive mycotic and actinomycotic oropharyngeal and craniofacial infection in two patients with AIDS.

Two cases of invasive oropharyngeal and craniofacial infection caused by fungal and actinomycotic pathogens are described in HIV-infected patients. Two women with a previous diagnosis of AIDS, one with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and one with Candida oesophagitis, developed a subacute, invasive inflammatory process characterized by ulcerative necrotizing lesions spreading from the oropharynx up to the soft and hard palate, maxillary sinuses and nasal cavity, with extensive soft-tissue necrosis. Although presenting with a very similar clinical picture, infection was due to Actinomyces spp. in the first case, while an apparent dual fungal aetiology (Aspergillus flavus and Candida spp.) was demonstrated in the second patient. Both cases were characterized by remarkable diagnostic difficulties leading to a late final recognition (confirmed by histological examination), and by a partial response to antimicrobial treatment.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗