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Biomedical subjects

G Orlando

Publications and source records attributed to G Orlando.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of the first 50 cases of AIDS in Milan.

Between April 1984 and December 1985, 50 patients diagnosed as AIDS were observed in our Clinic. Risk factors were homosexuality in 21 cases (42%), drug addiction in 20 (40%), homosexuality and drug addiction in 3 (6%), haemophilia in 1 (2%). In the remaining 5 cases the infection was acquired by vertical transmission in 2 (4%), by promiscuous heterosexual intercourse in 2 (4%) and by a single blood transfusion in 1 (2%). Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) was the main clinical feature in 8 patients, although associated with opportunistic infections (OI) in 7 of them. A total of 91 different OI were diagnosed with a noteworthy prevalence of mycotic infections compared with OI due to other micro-organisms: 40 deep mycoses by Candida albicans, and 5 cryptococcoses. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) was diagnosed in 20 patients. Our data differ from the ones collected in the USA both epidemiologically, since we observed a greater incidence of AIDS in drug-addicts than in homosexuals and clinically, since in Italy a lower rate of neoplastic disease and, conversely, a higher rate of OI other than PCP are reported.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Albendazole in the treatment of cystic hydatid disease.

Four cases of cystic hydatid disease treated with albendazole are described. The first patient had previously undergone surgical treatment with only partial removal of her hepatic cysts. The size of the remaining cyst resulted remarkably reduced after three courses of the drug. The second patient had recurrent hydatid disease involving the lumbar spine. After therapy, an evident diminution in the size of the cyst was detected. Two patients (one with a partially calcified cyst of the liver, the other one with multiple pulmonary lesions) did not show any objective evidence of improvement. Failures were probably due to the presence of calcified or thick-walled cysts. In all the patients, neither side-effects were observed, nor recurrences were noted during a 2 years' follow-up. In cystic hydatid disease, whenever radical surgical procedures are impracticable, albendazole treatment can achieve significant clinical results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Increasing prevalence of HTLV-III infection in intravenous drug users in Liguria, Italy.

Anti-HTLV III prevalence has been investigated in serum samples of 638 intravenous drug users collected over May 1981 - March 1985 and stored at -20 degrees C. Separately, in a prospective way, we have studied 68 IV drug abusers (53 Genoese and 15 of Sanremo area) of whom we have collected, at least, one serum specimen for each year, starting with 1981. We have also tested for anti-HTLV III presence serum samples of: 91 subjects of Hospital staff (Infectious Diseases Department and Laboratory workers); 32 workers in Therapeutic Communities for drug users and 24 family contacts of anti-HTLV III positive drug users. And then serum samples of two groups of general population collected for other seroepidemiological investigations in 1982 (256 subjects) and 1984 (538 subjects) were tested. No IV drug user was positive in 1981 whilst from 1982 up to 1984 there was a strong rising of the prevalence of anti-HTLV III positive subjects: 2, 22, and 39 per cent, respectively. The prevalence remained about 40% in the first months of 1985. The investigations carried out also show that HTLV III spread in Sanremo area slightly before than in Genoa and neighbourhood. No subject positive for anti-HTLV III has been detected among the Hospital staff and in workers of Therapeutic communities who have more probability to get in contact with infected subjects or their blood, as well as in the general population. A positive case has been discovered in a family contact (the wife of a positive for anti-HTLV III IV drug user). Some epidemiological and public health questions linked to the situation observed, at present, in Liguria, are discussed.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1985

[Transitory increase of OKT4+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome treated with beta-interferon].

A therapeutic trial with IFN-beta (Hu. Interferon beta lyophilized, Sclavo S.p.A., Siena, Italy), administered thrice weekly but once monthly in six courses was performed for immune-modulating purposes in five parenteral drug addicts affected with lymphadenopathy syndrome. Each dose consisted of 12 X 10(6) international units I.V. Preliminary observations evidenced a significant increase of OKT4+ cells after the first course of therapy. No significant differences from the basal values, though, were found after the following courses, while in a control group of untreated LAS patients, a significant decrease of OKT4+ lymphocytes was observed. Partial remission of symptoms and/or reduction in size of the lymphatic masses were also achieved in all treated patients, although so far none of them can be considered as actually cured.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1985

Defect of leukocyte functions and circulating immune complexes in visceral leishmaniasis.

Seven patients affected with visceral leishmaniasis have been tested for polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions and for presence of circulating immune complexes during the course of the disease and on recovery. These parameters have been correlated with clinical features; phagocytic and killing defects observed during acute stages of the disease seem to be dependent from high levels of circulating immune complexes observed in same period. Reduction of CIC levels observed after a first course of therapy are probably related to the gradual improvement of phagocytic functions which are almost complete in all patients at recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Polymorphonuclear leucocyte function during acute viral hepatitis.

Polymorphonuclear (PMN) phagocytosis was tested in three groups of 12 patients (non drug-addicts) hospitalized for acute A, B and non-A, non-B hepatitis. The same test was performed in 12 parenteral drug-addicts (P.D.A.) with non-A, non-B hepatitis, in 12 P.D.A. with type B hepatitis and in 30 P.D.A. without evidence of acute hepatitis. Percent of phagocytosis was evaluated at time of admission to hospital, at discharge and three months after the acute episode. A statistically significant reduction of phagocytosis was present in each of the non-addicts group at time of admission to hospital. At the discharge this reduction was confirmed for type B and non-A, non-B hepatitis, whereas an improvement was noted for type A hepatitis. Control tests carried out 3 months later evidenced that also in patients affected with type B and non-A, non-B hepatitis the percentages of phagocytosis had reached almost normal values. An increased percent of phagocytosis resulted from incubation of patients' PMN with normal human serum. Among drug-addicts the percentages of phagocytosis do not differ from the data recorded in non-addicts patients during the acute stage of the disease. However, three months after the acute episode, a deficit of phagocytic activity was still present in drug-addicts. These data would support the hypothesis that a serum factor impairing the PMN phagocytosis in acute hepatitis is present. Circulating immune complexes were found in the same sera. They might play an important role in inhibitory effect on neutrophils phagocytic activity.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Apraxia in deep cerebral lesions.

In a series of 50 patients with cerebrovascular lesions (demonstrated with CT scan), seven patients had lesions located in the basal ganglia and/or thalamus. All these seven patients were apractic. Ideomotor apraxia was present in all patients; five also had constructional apraxia, and one had bucco-facial apraxia. None of the patients had utilisation apraxia. These observations indicated that apraxia is not only a "high cerebral (cortical) function", but may depend also on the integrity of subcortical circuits and structures.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Humoral immune responses in human loaiasis.

Some immunological parameters in three white patients who contracted loaiasis in endemic areas are reported. Microfilariae count in peripheral blood was elevated in one patient, discrete in another while in the third no microfilariae were detected. Serum IgE levels were elevated in two patients and normal in one of them. High eosinophils percentage (greater than 30%) and high titres of specific anti-filarial antibodies were detected in all patients. C3 and C4 levels fell between the normal values and C3PA was low in one patient. No circulating immune complexes were demonstrated. Two patients showed high anticomplementary activity. Our results are in accord with the possibility of a suppression mechanism in immune response in patients with high microfilaremia. Clinical features of loaiasis could be related to a type 1 (reaginic) reaction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Hormones in the seminal fluid. The transport proteins of the thyroid hormones.

The study of the retention of titrated T3 on columns of Sephadex G-25, (Resin T3 Uptake), in the presence of untreated plasma, or plasma treated with charcoal, indicates that there are very small quantities of protein-hormone compounds present in the seminal fluid. In cases of phlogosis of the genital tract, the increase of albumin in the seminal fluid might determine an increase in the binding capacity with titrated T3. This would therefore give the possibility of a further test in the diagnostics of male infertility.

Albumins↗
PubMed1981

Hormones in the seminal plasma. Cortisol.

The data from previous studies on the seminal concentrations of proteic hormones result in the hypothesis that there exists a selective filter for these hormones, which is between the systemic circulation and the male genital canal. Previous data regarding sexual steroids are insufficient to verify if such a filter system also operates in the case of hormones of minor molecular weight. It would appear that the study of cortisol, a non-sexual steroid, will be more useful. The concentrations of this hormone in the peripheric blood (176 +/- 59, mean +/- ds, ng/ml) prove to be much greater than in the seminal plasma (20 +/- 9.6). No significant differences are found between normozoospermic and oligo-azoospermic subjects, either in the blood (173 +/- 184 +/- 53), or in the seminal plasma (21 +/- 12 versus 20 +/- 8). These data would seem to support the hypothesis under discussion.

Humans↗
PubMed1981

Male fertility and thyroid hormones.

On the basis of the results in vitro, it seems that the testicle does not respond to the action of the thyroid hormones. The study of the relationship between the blood concentrations of these hormones and the reproductive function of the organ is being made by the Authors as a means of verifying this in vivo. The total blood concentrations of T4, (triioothyronine), and the index of free Thyroxine (IT4L) were therefore evaluated both in normal and infertile subjects. The concentrations of T4 showed a correlation both with the sperm count (r = 0.43, p = less than 0.02), and with the percentage of motile spermatozoa, (r = 0.48, p = less than 0.01). This type of correlation is not found, however, either for the T3 or for the IT4L. These data indicate that the function of the thyroid gland is linked to that of the hypothalamo-hypophyseotesticular axis. It would appear that the peripheric metabolism of the circulating hormones is not involved.

Humans↗