Biomedical subjects

L Pagani

Publications and source records attributed to L Pagani.

81 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Reappearance of human diphyllobothriasis in a limited area of Lake Como, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Very few sporadic cases of autochthonous diphyllobothriasis have been reported in Italy during the past 20 years, probably due to the drastic decrease or disappearance of some fish species, mainly Perca fluviatilis L., known as the intermediate host of the infective larval stage of this tapeworm. However, increasing consumption of raw or undercooked fish during the last years as influenced by Oriental cuisine, played an important role in a number of new single cases of the infection or microepidemics. PATIENTS: We describe six cases which were diagnosed within a period of 4 months, which all originated from the area of Lake Como (Lombardy region). All subjects had previously eaten raw perch fillets. Four individuals complained of gastrointestinal signs and symptoms, whereas two were asymptomatic. DISCUSSION: Parasitological diagnosis was achieved in four cases by recovery of typical operculated eggs in stool specimens; in two others by morphological features of proglottids recovered from feces. Treatment with niclosamide, as a single oral dose, cured the infection in all subjects. This is the first report of this infection in Italy in the last 10 years.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis of an hydrophilic, pK 8.05 buffer for isoelectric focusing in immobilized pH gradients.

The synthesis of a new, pK 8.05 acrylamido weak base for isoelectric focusing in immobilized pH gradients (IPG) is here reported. This compound N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-N'-acryloyl-1,3-diaminopropane is strongly hydrophilic, and thus inhibits any potential hydrophobic interaction among proteins and the grafted basic groups in an IPG matrix. In addition, this novel buffer represents a step ahead towards the goal of closing the 'gap' between the commercially available Immobilines, pK 7.0 and 8.5. Owing to the large distance between these two neighboring pK values, it is difficult to arrange for linear narrow pH gradients in this region. IPG compositions obtained with this new buffer give highly linear pH gradients and protein profiles identical to those obtained with commercial Immobilines.

Acrylates↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative activity of piperacillin/tazobactam against clinical isolates of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

beta-Lactam resistance on the part of the Enterobacteriaceae causes serious therapeutic problems in our institutions due to their production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESbetaLs). We studied the in vitro activity of beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations and third-generation cephalosporins and monobactams against 71 clinically relevant Enterobacteriaceae which produced TEM- and SHV-derivative ESbetaLs. Of the single drugs and combinations tested, piperacillin/tazobactam proved to be the most effective. Piperacillin/tazobactam was highly active against Proteus mirabilis, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.125 to 16 microg/ml; Escherichia coli (MICs from 2 to 16 microg/ml) and Serratia marcescens (MICs from 4 to 8 microg/ml), while its activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae ESbetaL producers turned out to be closely related to the type and the amount of enzyme produced, the MIC ranging from 1 to 128 microg/ml. The antibacterial activity of piperacillin/tazobactam was stronger than that of ticarcillin/clavulanate, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, ceftazidime and aztreonam, and the combination shared favorable in vitro activity properties against the ESbetaL producers with imipenem which, however, should be kept as reserve product.

Clavulanic Acids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Extramedullary plasmacytoma in a patient with AIDS: report of a case and review of the literature.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is likely to play a role in the onset of plasma cell tumors (PCT). In fact, HIV could be involved in plasmacytomagenesis in several ways: it has the ability to lessen the immunosurveillance to such a degree as to impair the immune response against tumor cell growth. This decreased immunosurveillance could further facilitate the transforming malignant role of possible Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection occurring in this setting. Lastly, a murine retrovirus has been shown to be able to accelerate plasmacytomagenesis in mice, thus indicating that these viruses may be directly involved in the onset of PCT. According to cases previously reported in the literature, the clinical features of this case of HIV-associated PCT were more aggressive and the survival was shorter than expected for PCT cases in the general population. Further, the pattern of alteration of gammaglobulinemia differed in this setting. These alterations strongly suggest a direct role of HIV in PCT. Further in-depth investigations are therefore warranted to elucidate this issue.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied