Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Donati.
Ten Chlamydia trachomatis isolates were tested for their sensitivity to roxithromycin, in comparison with erythromycin and tetracycline. The minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of roxithromycin ranged from 0.03-0.12 and 0.25-1 microg/ml, respectively.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
We report a case of IgG lambda type multiple myeloma treated by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. After transplant the monoclonal protein persisted for 2 years with no other sign of disease. Thereafter the monoclonal protein was no longer detectable and the patient was considered to be in complete remission for the next 4 years.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The specific humoral immune response against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was compared to that of patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) and other EBV-seropositive subjects using immunoblotting technique. Almost all sera from EBV serologically associated NPC reacted reproducibly with a major group of polypeptides (four to six) of early antigen (EA) complex with molecular weights ranging from 50 kD to 58 kD, and with some additional polypeptides. Sera from IM-patients reproducibly recognized only one polypeptide of 50 kD belonging to the major group of polypeptides of EA-complex. Sera from patients with other types of head and neck cancer and relatively high levels of IgG antibody against viral capsid antigen (VCA) and EA did not react reproducibly with any of the EBV-associated proteins.
Adenoviruses were detected in the stools in 459 of 3932 (11.6%) pediatric children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis from January 1981 to December 1985. Out of the 459 adenovirus specimens 325 (8.3%) were presumptively identified as enteric adenovirus both by an adenovirus genus specific ELISA and by growth characteristics of adenovirus isolates in HEp-2 cells and in 293 cells. Enteral adenoviruses were found endemic since these viruses have been found for 5 successive years. A seasonal variation in the rates of adenovirus was also observed. Comparative data of rotavirus prevalence in the same study population are reported.
A new method of testing antimicrobial activity in vitro against Chlamydia trachomatis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed by using a monoclonal antibody reacting with the major outer membrane protein of C. trachomatis LGV2 serotype. ELISA was compared with standard iodine stain, with immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and immunoperoxidase assay (IPA) performed with the same monoclonal antibody as in the ELISA. The MICs and MBCs of rifampicin, oxytetracycline, erythromycin, chloramphenicol and cefazolin detected by ELISA were higher than those determined by iodine stain and slightly lower than those determined by IFA and IPA. Since ELISA was at least as informative as the previously described techniques, but more rapid and standardizable and easier to perform, the assay may be useful in measuring the antimicrobial drug susceptibility of C. trachomatis.
In order to evaluate the possibility of a patient with thalassemia finding an HLA-identical sibling donor, we performed an analysis of HLA antigens in families of thalassemic patients. The pattern distribution was not significantly different from the expected ratio 25:50:25. When the siblings were subdivided according to the age of the patients (under or over 5 years), the above pattern remained unmodified for both the age groups. The average size of the 129 thalassemic families was 2.4. Thus, taking into account that thalassemic patients have an average of 1.4 siblings and that the HLA genotype distribution is expected as such, HLA-matched siblings are available for 33% of the patients. Because an additional 8.5% of the patients were found HLA-phenotypically identical to one parent, the chance for a patient with thalassemia to find a suitable donor for bone marrow transplantation would be increased to 41.5%. Our preliminary data cannot be extrapolated to the overall Italian thalassemic population; however, it can be inferred that for a patient with thalassemia, the chance of finding a suitable donor for bone marrow transplantation is not reduced.
An association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has been established serologically in Italian patients. The finding of IgA antibodies to EBV-capsid antigen (VCA) and to early antigen (EA) showed a high degree of correlation for patients with NPC, thereby confirming previous reports. In addition, when considered together, IgA anti-VCA and IgG anti-EA antibody titres appeared to distinguish NPC-patients from those in control populations. Poorly differentiated and undifferentiated carcinomas with lymphoid cellular infiltrations showed the highest frequency of association with positive EBV serological tests.
A four-component solid-phase capture enzyme immunoassay was set up to test for serum IgM antibody to respiratory syncytial (RS) virus and was compared with immunofluorescence assay (IFA). A total of 128 young children with acute respiratory infections were studied. Thirty-six were shown to be RS virus-positive by the detection of RS virus in nasopharyngeal secretions and 92 were RS virus-negative. A serum specimen was collected after admission to the hospital (days 0-4) and a further specimen was obtained during days 10-14. Out of 36 RS virus-positive patients, 28 (77.7%) were found to be positive for IgM by both capture-ELISA and IFA. Out of 92 RS virus-negative patients 5 (5.4%) were IgM-positive. Four false-positive results were obtained by IFA due to the presence of rheumatoid factor. The capture-ELISA was shown to be a reliable technique in detecting specific IgM antibody to RS virus.
Sera from 10 women with Chlamydia trachomatis culture positive cervicitis and sera from six men with C trachomatis positive non-gonococcal urethritis were studied for the presence of IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies to polypeptides of C trachomatis elementary bodies and reticulate bodies using immunoblotting techniques. All the sera with IgG, IgM, or IgA immunoglobulins specific to C trachomatis recognised the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of elementary bodies. IgG antibodies also detected several other proteins, whereas IgM immunoglobulins recognised only MOMP and proteins of 60 kD, 62 kD, and 66 kD. The IgA reacted with MOMP and the 60 kD and 62 kD proteins in elementary bodies. Class specific antibody response against the proteins of reticulate bodies was similar to that observed for elementary body antigens--with one substantial difference: no reaction was observed in the 60 kD and 62 kD positions. This suggests that 60 kD and 62 kD proteins are deficient in reticulate bodies.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A technique which includes the use of indirect immunoperoxidase antibody (IPA) has been developed for detecting enteric adenovirus and rotavirus antigens in cell cultures and has been compared with immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA). The IPA technique was as sensitive as the IFA. The number of positive cells detected by both techniques in tissue cultures was the same; false positive results were not observed. The applicability of IPA in clinical virology is discussed.