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Biomedical subjects

G Di Perri

Publications and source records attributed to G Di Perri.

103 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

[Direct immune response against hepatic antigens in patients with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency].

We have investigated the possible role of cell-mediated immunity in the pathogenesis of liver disease associated with alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency in 16 children with PiZZ phenotype, who presented with liver disease in infancy. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 13 patients were incubated with autologous hepatocytes in a microcytotoxicity assay. There was a clear trend for cytotoxicity to increase with age and thus significantly increased cytotoxicity was found in four cases older than 2 years, while intermediate values were recorded in three children between 6 months and 2 years and normal values in children younger than 6 months. Fractionation of PBL into T and non-T-enriched subsets showed that both were involved in the cytotoxic reaction. A purified liver membrane lipoprotein preparation (LSP) inhibited both T and non-T-cell cytotoxicity suggesting that LSP is a major target antigen in this system. Sensitization to LSP was also present in 2 of the 3 children studied using a recently developed T-lymphocyte migration inhibitory factor (T-LIF) test. Control experiments performed in infants with neonatal hepatitis syndrome, but with normal Pi phenotype showed consistently increased cytotoxicity values. Cell-mediated immune reactions directed against autologous hepatocytes develop late in the course of the liver disease associated with AAT deficiency. While this reaction cannot be involved in the pathogenesis of the initial liver lesion, it may contribute to perpetuation of liver damage.

Antigens↗
PubMed1986

Vitamin D status in the extreme age of life.

The aim of the present study was to investigate vitamin D status in the extreme age of life and to assess the ability of elderly people to synthesize vitamin D in skin, in response to artificial ultraviolet irradiation, and to hydroxylate the newly synthesized vitamin in the liver. The authors have determined the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in 43 healthy subjects (17 males and 26 females) aged 84 years or more. The changes induced in 25-OHD serum levels by whole-body artificial ultraviolet irradiation have also been studied in 10 healthy volunteers aged 41-90 years and, as a control, in 8 normal subjects aged 24-40 years. Serum 25-OHD has been determined, after lipid extraction of samples and column chromatography, by competitive protein binding assay using rat serum as the source of binding protein. The mean 25-OHD serum level in the group studied was 5.7 +/- 4.3 ng/ml, much lower than the mean observed in normal subjects aged 20-40 years (21.3 +/- 8.2 ng/ml). Men had higher levels than women. In the age group 84-89 years 25-OHD levels were higher than in subjects aged 90-96. Serum 25-OHD increased remarkably in all our normal subjects in response to artificial ultraviolet irradiation. Age-related differences in 25-OHD response to irradiation were not significant. The results of the present study indicate that vitamin D deficiency is common in the extreme age of life. It is probably a consequence of poor diet and lack of exposure to sunshine rather than of an impairment of cutaneous synthesis or liver hydroxylation of vitamin D.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Isoenzyme analysis of Entamoeba histolytica for evaluation of pathogenicity: detection of zymodeme XIX in South America.

Authors report the results of the isoenzyme analysis of strains of Entamoeba histolytica isolated from international travellers. This recently developed method allows the detection of pathogenic strains by evaluating the electrophoretic mobility of cytoplasmic enzymes and was proved to be more reliable and quickly feasible than previous ones. The experience reported refers to three strains isolated from travellers coming from Ecuador, Brazil and Indonesia, respectively; the zymodeme XIX (in accordance with the Sargeaunt's classification) was identified in all the three cases. This zymodeme has been first detected in 1981 and should currently be considered rare; moreover, it has never been previously reported from the Americas.

Amebiasis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The ParaSight-F rapid dipstick antigen capture assay for monitoring parasite clearance after drug treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Three methods for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum infection in peripheral blood were compared during antimalarial treatment and follow-up in 32 Burundian patients: dipstick antigen capture assay, standard (TBF) and prolonged thick blood film examination (PTBF) (3 x 5 min and 3 x 20 min examination respectively). Parasitaemia was determined daily by comparison with total white blood cell counts (determined by Coulter counter) until no parasite was detected on 2 consecutive days by PTBF. Cumulatively, 231 observations were made with each assay: 64 were negative and 167 positive by PTBF (59 had parasite counts < or = 100/microL). Compared to PTBF, the sensitivities of TBF and the dipstick assay were 1.0 for parasite counts > 100/microL and 0.458 and 0.966 respectively for counts < or = 100/microL. Overall, the dipstick assay was significantly more sensitive (0.988 vs. 0.808; P < 0.001) but less specific (P = 0.013) than TBF. The dipstick assay is of potential use for monitoring response to drug treatment and for detecting low parasitaemias.

Adolescent↗
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↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Is a 3-month course of treatment with Peg-interferon effective in acute HCV hepatitis?

From February 2002, all the consecutive patients referring to the Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Turin, who were diagnosed as having acute HCV hepatitis were included in a prospective cohort study to evaluate if a 3-month course of Peg-Interferon alpha-2b (1.5 microg/kg once weekly) is effective to decrease the risk of progression to chronic disease. ALT and HCV-RNA measurements were scheduled at week 4 and 12 during treatment, and 24 weeks after the end of therapy. As of April 2003, ten patients were enrolled in the study. As to HCV genotype, seven patients had type 1 and 3 type non-1. At entry, median HCV-RNA level was 129500 (range: 3000-3100000 copies/mL) and six patients were symptomatic. Treatment was given within 20 days (range: 8-30) of the ALT peak. All patients completing 4 weeks (n = 9) and 12 weeks of treatment (n = 7) had undetectable HCV-RNA. Five patients who completed the 24-week follow-up after the end of treatment had a sustained viral response with ALT levels within normal range. Therapy was well tolerated in all patients. Even if our data are not definitive, our results show that once-weekly administration of Peg-interferon alfa-2b in patients with acute HCV infection may be an effective and convenient regimen.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nosocomial epidemic of active tuberculosis among HIV-infected patients.

In an investigation of a nosocomial outbreak of tuberculosis, 18 HIV-infected inpatients were found to have been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis; active tuberculosis developed in 8, 7 within 60 days of diagnosis of the index case. The patients with lower total lymphocyte and CD4 lymphocyte counts were more likely to get the disease than were those with higher counts. A low score on multiple antigen skin testing was also associated with the development of active tuberculosis. 4 of the 18 patients had a positive tuberculin skin test before exposure to M tuberculosis; none of them subsequently got the disease.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗