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Biomedical subjects

G Nigro

Publications and source records attributed to G Nigro.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Therapy or prevention of fetal infection by cytomegalovirus with immunoglobulin infusion in pregnant women with primary infection].

OBJECTIVE: Administration of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific immunoglobulins to pregnant women with primary CMV infection in order to inhibit viral activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We considered 2 groups of patients including 24 pregnant women. GROUP A: 12 women with primary maternal-fetal CMV infection, shown by CMV culture and CMV DNA detection in 9 (75%) and by only CMV DNA detection in 3 (25%) of the amniotic fluid (AF) samples. These pregnant women were treated with infusions of CMV-specific immunoglobulins (200 U/Kg of maternal weight and 400 U/Kg of fetal weight to prevent CMV pneumonia and gastroenteritis). As control group we considered 15 pregnant women, 5 of whom had CMV-positive AF samples demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 10 also by CMV culture. GROUP B: 12 women with primary CMV infection, who were treated with monthly infusions of specific immunoglobulins to prevent the transmission of CMV to the fetus. In the control group we followed up 53 patients who were not treated, including 15 subjects with CMV-positive AF samples, 20 with CMV-negative AF samples and 18 women who did not accept amniocentesis. RESULTS GROUP A: All 9 neonates born to mothers with culture and DNA positive AF samples were CMV infected. On the contrary, the babies born to 3 women with only PCR-positive amniotic fluid were CMV-negative by culture and DNA detection. Of 9 neonates infected, 8 were asymptomatic and 3 became culture-negative before they were one year old. The only symptomatic baby (IUGR and ventriculomegaly diagnosed by ultrasound during the pregnancy) was treated with ganciclovir and foscarnet. Of 15 non-treated patients, 11 had ultrasound signs of placental and/or fetal CMV involvement. Seven of these (46%) aborted and 4 (27%) delivered neonates with severe symptomatic infection. The other 4 patients delivered oligo-symptomatic CMV infected neonates positive by culture or PCR only. Overall, the prevalence of symptomatically infected neonates or fetuses was significantly higher (p = 0.02) among non-treated than treated women. Moreover, the babies of treated women showed less prolonged (p = 0.01) viruria than those of non-treated patients. GROUP B: all 11 pregnant women, treated with immunoglobulins delivered CMV-negative neonates. One patient, who had interrupted infusions at the 24th gestation week, delivered an asymptomatic CMV infected baby. In the control group, 4 women with CMV-negative AF samples delivered neonates with asymptomatic infection. Of 18 patients who did not undergo amniocentesis, 9 (50%) aborted; of remaining 9 women, 3 (33%) delivered CMV infected neonates. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that CMV immunoglobulins may be effective for treatment or prevention of fetal CMV infection.

Cytomegalovirus Infections↗
PubMed1999

Multi-system cytomegalovirus fetopathy by recurrent infection in a pregnant woman with hepatitis B.

A pregnant woman with acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection had her second pregnancy terminated at 25 weeks' gestation because of fetal ascites and ventriculitis. Meconium peritonitis was also found at autopsy. No HBV DNA but cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA was detected in the fetal liver and ascitic fluid. Recurrent maternal CMV infection was demonstrated by pre-existing CMV IgG antibodies, high IgG avidity and low IgM levels. After abortion, the patient developed chronic active hepatitis. Nevertheless, having become pregnant again with a new partner, she had an uneventful third pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy boy.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1999

Hyperimmunoglobulin therapy for a twin fetus with cytomegalovirus infection and growth restriction.

OBJECTIVE: Cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin was administered to a pregnant woman with primary cytomegalovirus infection and placental involvement of 1 twin fetus, in whom growth restriction had developed. STUDY DESIGN: Inhibition of viral activity was attempted by administration of high-titer cytomegalovirus neutralizing antibodies for therapy of the involved fetoplacental unit and prevention of cytomegalovirus infection in the uninfected twin fetus. RESULTS: After cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin infusions the placental edema decreased and the infected fetus started to grow once again, showing at birth only hepatosplenomegaly associated with viruria and cytomegalovirus deoxyribonucleic acidemia. Moreover, cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin G avidity increased and cell-mediated immunity improved. The other twin, who had negative results of cytomegalovirus culture and deoxyribonucleic acid detection at birth, was found to have cytomegalovirus deoxyribonucleic acid in the urine after 1 week. From the age of 9 months, however, both twins had persistent negative results of cytomegalovirus deoxyribonucleic acid detection. CONCLUSION: Although large-scale studies are needed to establish the real efficacy and the best therapeutic regimen, cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin may be considered for treatment or prevention of fetal cytomegalovirus infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Prenatal diagnosis of fetal cytomegalovirus infection after primary or recurrent maternal infection.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability of prenatal diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in women with primary or recurrent infection. METHODS: Amniotic fluid (AF) samples from 117 pregnant women were evaluated for cytomegalovirus culture and cytomegalovirus-DNA detection. Neonatal and postnatal samples also were examined to confirm or exclude transmission of maternal-fetal cytomegalovirus infection. RESULTS: Of 25 women with primary cytomegalovirus infection, 13 (52%) had cytomegalovirus-positive AF samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nine of which also were diagnosed by culture. All eight neonates born to mothers whose AF was cytomegalovirus-positive by PCR and culture were cytomegalovirus infected, and three were symptomatic. One aborted fetus had cytomegalovirus-DNAemia. Of four women with cytomegalovirus-positive AF samples by PCR only, two delivered asymptomatic cytomegalovirus-infected neonates and two aborted (one fetus had cytomegalovirus encephalopathy). Of 45 mothers with recurrent infection, two with AF cytomegalovirus-positive by PCR and culture, and another with cytomegalovirus-positive AF samples by PCR only, aborted cytomegalovirus-DNA-positive fetuses. Of the other seven women with cytomegalovirus-positive AF samples by PCR only, two delivered asymptomatic cytomegalovirus-infected neonates, two delivered neonates cytomegalovirus-positive by PCR only (one was symptomatic), and three delivered infants cytomegalovirus-negative by PCR and culture. All 47 mothers with nonactive cytomegalovirus infection and cytomegalovirus-negative AF samples had uninfected neonates. Polymerase chain reaction was superior to viral culture in sensitivity and negative predictive value (100% compared with 57% and 94%, respectively) but was lower in specificity and positive predictive value (97% and 83%, respectively, compared with 100%). CONCLUSION: Prenatal diagnosis of fetal cytomegalovirus infection should include PCR in addition to viral culture, particularly for congenital cytomegalovirus infections following maternal recurrence.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The effect of primary cytomegalovirus infection on fetal lung maturity indices.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on fetal pulmonary surfactant production as assessed by different tests for the diagnosis of fetal lung maturity (FLM) on amniotic fluid (AF). A cross-sectional cohort study. AF samples from 11 pregnant women with primary CMV infection were examined for FLM between the 26th and 37th week of gestation. Normal pregnancies (n = 11) were matched for gestational age at amniocentesis and at delivery, birth weight, Apgar score and gender sex. FLM was assessed by planimetric and stoichiometric lecithin to sphingomyelin ratio (L/S), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) presence and lamellar bodies count (LB). Maternal immunological parameters (T-cells, natural killer [NK] activity) were also considered. Mean planimetric L/S ratio (4.2+/-2.1 vs 2.3+/-0.7, P < 0.01) and LB count (42.6 x 10(3)+/-19.0 x 10(3) vs 16.8 x 10(3)+/-11.5 x 10(3), P < 0.004) were higher in controls when compared to CMV infected patients. Moreover, planimetric L/S ratio was higher in five CMV non-infected babies compared to six CMV-infected babies (3.1+/-1.3 vs 1.9+/-0.8, P < 0.05). When FLM was related to maternal immunological results, planimetric and stoichiometric L/S and LBs count were negatively correlated with CD8+ T-cells (r = -0.8, P < 0.05; r = -0.9, P < 0.05; r = -0.9, P < 0.01, respectively); LBs was also negatively correlated with CD14+ T-cells (r = -0.8, P < 0.03). In contrast, a positive correlation was found between stoichiometric L/S and NK activity (r = 0.9, P > 0.01). Maternal primary CMV infection impairs FLM indices as a possible result of reduced surfactant release and/or production. Significant correlations were found between immunity status of CMV-infected mothers and FLM tests.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1999

Low levels of natural killer cells in pregnant women transmitting Toxoplasma gondii.

The role of cell-mediated immunity in the maternal-fetal transmission of Toxoplasma gondii was investigated in 17 pregnant women with primary T. gondii infection, in 7 of whom fetal infection occurred. 18 healthy pregnant women were followed-up as controls. Fetal outcome was uneventful in six women who were treated early in pregnancy with spiramycin, while stillbirth due to T. gondii encephalitis occurred in the offspring of one patient who started with therapy at 34 weeks' gestation. All patients who transmitted T. gondii showed significant changes in the mean levels of immune cells. The most prominent finding was a significantly lower level of natural killer (NK) cells in the mothers transmitting T. gondii to the fetus compared with non-transmitters and controls both in the number (99.7 (71.8-107.5)/microl versus 320.9 (307.9-356.4)/microl and 172.1 (122.4-213.3)/microl: median (25 degrees-75 degrees). p<0.001) and the percentage of NK cells (4.0+/-1.5 per cent versus 13.2+/-2.3 per cent and 10.2+/-3.4 per cent; mean+/-SD, p<0.001). Although limited by the small number of patients, our data suggest that the assessment of NK cells may be considered as a prognostic marker of primary T. gondii infection in pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Evaluation of psychological disorders in patients with cancer of the oral cavity].

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the possible onset of forms of anxiety, major and minor depression and behaviour towards the disease shown by patients with oral cavity neoplasms. METHOD: An explorative comparative study was performed in 28 patients referred to the department of Stomatological Surgery at the Odontostomatology Clinic of Turin University. Ten patients were examined before surgery and 18 after. The tests were performed using Hamilton's scale, STAI X1 and X2 and IBQ. These tests were carried out either during hospitalisation or during outpatient check-ups by an interviewer who was not familiar with the diagnosis or the patient's personal history. RESULTS: In the group of subjects evaluated before surgery, there was a scant presence of psychological correlations to disease. This shows that negation is widely used. Almost all subjects revealed the presence of anxiety symptoms and 60% of subjects were affected by minor depression. The level of negation was even higher in the postoperative group. This shows that the characteristics of the defensive structure did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Patients showed a psychological structure, even some time after surgery, which was similar to that in the first group of subjects, namely those facing an active phase pathology. The above findings underline the need for greater attention to be paid to the quality of life of these subjects who, owing to improved treatment, are becoming increasingly numerous. The scores obtained show that the majority of these patients encounter major difficulties at a psychological level, even if they manage to overcome the disease in physical terms. In conclusion, this study highlights the need to offer these subjects valid psychological support during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. It also underlines the need for longitudinal studies in larger and more homogeneous groups of patients suffering from this disease since they appear to be somewhat neglected by modern literature.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1998

Cytomegalovirus infection and schizencephaly: case reports.

Two children with left open-lip schizencephaly are reported. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was demonstrated on the second day of life in Patient 1; in the other patient CMV infection was observed at the age of 4 years. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed polymicrogyric cortex lining the clefts. In Patient 2 polymicrogyria was also present in the corresponding area contralateral to the schizencephaly. Computed tomography revealed the presence of subependymal periventricular calcifications. Genetic analysis did not demonstrate the presence of EMX2 homeobox gene. The possible role of CMV infection in the complex multifactorial pathogenesis of schizencephaly is therefore suggested.

Brain↗
PubMed1998

The effect of glucocorticoid therapy on fetal lung maturity indices in hypertensive pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To assess fetal lung maturity tests in hypertensive pregnancies and to examine the effect of glucocorticoid therapy. METHODS: In a cohort study involving 68 pregnant women with hypertension, 34 received antenatal betamethasone before amniocentesis and 34 did not. Controls were 68 women with uncomplicated pregnancies, matched for gestational age at amniocentesis and fetal gender. Amniotic fluid (AF) samples were analyzed by lamellar body count, planimetric and stechiometric lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio (L/S), and presence of phosphatidylglycerol. RESULTS: Fetal lung maturity, as determined by lamellar body counts and by planimetric L/S, was lower in hypertensive pregnancies not treated with steroids than in controls (19,600 +/- 14,500 versus 39,800 +/- 22,700, P < .009, and 1.9 +/- 0.6 versus 3.9 +/- 1.8, P < .01, respectively). In the period of 24 to 33 weeks' gestation, the percentage of untreated pregnancies with mature lamellar body counts and mature L/S was significantly lower than that of controls (13% versus 33%, P < .001; 6% versus 40%, P < .002 and P < .003, respectively). In contrast, in patients treated with betamethasone, the percentage of cases with mature indices for both tests was not significantly different from that of controls, but was higher than that of untreated hypertensive patients (40% versus 13%, P < .001; 33% versus 6%, P < .001). Phosphatidylglycerol did not differ among groups. From 34 to 38 weeks, no difference was found in the percentage of mature cases for lamellar bodies in pregnant women with hypertension not treated with steroids in comparison with controls (68% versus 84%), nor between cases treated and controls (74% versus 84%). In the same period, no difference in L/S values was found among groups, and the percentage of cases positive for phosphatidylglycerol was lower in hypertensive pregnancies than in controls (47% versus 95%, P < .001) and was not affected by steroid treatment (37% versus 95%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Fetal lung maturity, as reflected in AF tests, is delayed in hypertensive pregnant patients, and steroids increase all lung maturity indices except phosphatidylglycerol between 24 and 33 weeks' gestation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Autonomic nervous system imbalance and left ventricular systolic dysfunction as potential candidates for arrhythmogenesis in Becker muscular dystrophy.

We evaluated the arrhythmic profile in a population of 20 Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) patients searching for possible correlations between the severity of the arrhythmic events, the cardiac autonomic balance (assessed by heart rate variability analysis in the time domain) and the degree of left ventricular systolic impairment. A population of 14 male healthy individuals served as the control group. BMD subjects exhibited lower values of SDNN (P=0.013), SDANN index (P=0.008) and 24-h mean heart rate (P=0.002). The total number of premature ventricular beats (totPVB) and the number of PVB out of 1000 heartbeats (PVB/1000) appeared also higher in BMD subjects (P=0.05 and P=0.046, respectively). No difference was found in terms of 24-h mean QTc and 24-h longest QT among the two groups. TotPVB and PVB/1000 were inversely related to both the ejection fraction (r= -0.620, P=0.004 and r= -0.517, P=0.019) and to the shortening fraction (r= -0.568, P=0.009 and r= -0.469, P=0.037). Twenty-four-h mean QTc was also inversely related to both the ejection fraction (r= -0.520, P=0.019) and the fractional shortening (r= -0.491, P=0.028). These data suggest that in BMD there is cardiac autonomic imbalance characterized by sympathetic predominance and an increased susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias, even in the absence of overt cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, the severity of the arrhythmic profile in BMD appears closely related to the degree of left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Mother to infant transmission of coinfection by human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus: prevalence and clinical manifestations.

The prevalence and the clinical course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections were studied in 23 HIV-1-infected children, who were born to 22 mothers with HIV-1/HCV coinfection. During the follow-up only two children (8.7%) showed persistent anti-HCV antibodies and circulating HCV RNA. Both children, who were aged 10 and 10.6 years respectively at the end of follow-up, had chronically-evolving liver disease and autoimmune thrombocytopenia but no signs of progressive HIV disease. Based on our experience, vertically-acquired HIV-1/HCV coinfection is less frequent than is generally reported and may be associated with the development of chronic thrombocytopenia in addition to liver disease. Moreover, perinatal HIV-1/HCV coinfection appears to be associated with a slow progression of HIV disease.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1997

Ganciclovir therapy for cytomegalovirus-associated liver disease in immunocompetent or immunocompromised children.

Ganciclovir therapy was given intravenously to 20 children with cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated liver disease, of whom 6 were immunocompetent and 14 were immunocompromised (9 had AIDS and 5 had solid tumors). Immunocompetent children had isolated liver disease diagnosed at birth (4 children), or systemic congenital CMV infection including liver disease (2 children). Ganciclovir was used following two regimens: A) 5 mg/kg twice daily for 8 to 86 days (mean 21); B) 7.5 mg/kg twice daily for 14 days followed by 10 mg/kg three times weekly for three months. CMV infection was diagnosed by viral isolation, detection of viral antigens, and/or CMV DNA from blood and urine. All immunocompetent children had negative CMV culture and CMV DNA detection from blood and/or urine after 14 weeks of treatment. However, the three children who were treated with regimen B showed normal ALT levels at the end of the maintenance course, whereas the children who received ganciclovir with regimen A had normal ALT levels only after about 1 year. All children with tumors initiated regimen B, but only three, who had negative CMV detection and markedly decreased ALT levels, received full treatment; of the remaining two children, one recovered after only an initial course, and the other had therapy interrupted because of hepatic failure and died 9 days later. In contrast, the children with AIDS received several ganciclovir courses for different periods at the lower dosage: they generally improved during treatment but did not recover completely, and five children died with active CMV infections. Based on our study, CMV-associated liver disease can be efficiently treated with ganciclovir both in immunocompetent and immunodeficient children. However, a single ganciclovir course including a higher dosage and prolonged therapy appeared to be more effective than several courses with lower dosages.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1997

Identification of the Syrian hamster cardiomyopathy gene.

The BIO14.6 hamster is a widely used model for autosomal recessive cardiomyopathy. These animals die prematurely from progressive myocardial necrosis and heart failure. The primary genetic defect leading to the cardiomyopathy is still unknown. Recently, a genetic linkage map localized the cardiomyopathy locus on hamster chromosome 9qa2.1-b1, excluding several candidate genes. We now demonstrate that the cardiomyopathy results from a mutation in the delta-sarcoglycan gene that maps to the disease locus. This mutation was completely coincident with the disease in backcross and F2 pedigrees. This constitutes the first animal model identified for human sarcoglycan disorders.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Left ventricular function and perfusion in Becker's muscular dystrophy.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) perfusion and function in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). METHODS: Fourteen male patients (age range 14-40 yr) with BMD were evaluated by 201Tl SPECT and radionuclide angiography both at rest and after dipyridamole stress test. RESULTS: All patients showed uptake defect demonstrated by 201Tl SPECT (mean 4.1 +/- 2.2 uptake defect/patient). Significant relationships (p < 0.05) were found between the number of uptake defects and rest LV ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = -0.54); peak filling rate (PFR) (r = -0.57) and dipyridamole LVEF (r = -0.65). Dipyridamole induced reversible uptake defects were found in 7/14 (50%) patients with BMD. The 14 patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the presence (Group A, n = 6) or the absence (Group B, n = 8) of severe irreversible uptake defect (i.e., < 50% 201Tl uptake). Group A showed lower values of PFR and LVEF when compared to patients of Group B. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with BMD there is a relatively high incidence of uptake defects and LV function (both at rest and after dipyridamole) appears to be related to the number of uptake defects. Moreover, the presence of severe irreversible uptake defects identifies a subgroup of patients with BMD characterized by a severely depressed LV function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Postpartum lupus erythematosus associated with parvovirus B19 infection.

We describe postpartum onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with parvovirus B19 infection in a mother presenting with fever, polyarthritis, erythema, and multiorgan involvement. B19 infection was revealed by detection of B19 DNA and IgM antibodies. In addition, our patient showed low CD4+ (384 x 10(6)/l) and CD8+ (213 x 10(6)/l) T cells, high immunoglobulin values (23.77 g/l), hypocomplementemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and anemia. Her daughter had rash associated with increasingly high B19 IgG levels and transient antinuclear and anti-ds-DNA antibodies, suggesting that both development of SLE and active B19 infection occurred in pregnancy and B19 was transmitted prenatally. A 2 year followup showed persisting polyarthritis in the mother and atopy in the daughter.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

["Pediatric" forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (nvCJD)].

The authors propose the name of pediatric CJD disease (nvCJD) for those forms of this pathology which appear in childhood and adolescence (about twenty cases have been reported in Europe: 1996). The "pediatric form" differs both in terms of age ("teenagers" and also 16-year-old), but also owing to its long course (mean of 14 to 35 months) and the early onset of psychiatric and sensory symptoms. Until a few years ago, discussion of a new pediatric-adolescent form of the disease (new variant of CJD) would have been laughable.

Child↗