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Biomedical subjects

M Quarto

Publications and source records attributed to M Quarto.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Diffuse necrotic hepatic lesions due to visceral leishmaniasis in AIDS.

A rare case of an AIDS patient who developed scattered necrotic involvement of the liver caused by Leishmania infantum is described. Of interest, marked splenomegaly, hypergammaglobulinemia and serum anti-Leishmania antibodies were absent and an incomplete response to therapy was observed. Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was achieved by the demonstration of numerous amastigotes in both hepatocytes and macrophages on liver biopsy. Hepatic necrotic lesions, which when extensive could lead to acute hepatic failure, possibly reflect an atypical manifestation of liver involvement caused by L. infantum and depend on the immunological impairment which characterizes AIDS patients, thus preventing the formation of granulomas. Our observation confirms that VL can manifest atypical aspects in HIV-positive patients depending on the degree of the immunodeficiency. The frequency and severity of this pathology accounts for the need to list VL among AIDS-defining conditions.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1997

In vitro photo-activation of newly synthesized chlorin derivatives with red-light-emitting diodes.

We investigated the in vitro photo-activation properties of two chlorin derivatives, i.e. 8-cis-heptylchlorin dicarboxylic acid and 3-trans-heptylchlorin bisamidoglucose derivative, which exhibit lipophilic properties similar to those of the active fractions of Photofrin II, on a normal epithelial cell line (FRTL-5). We used as an irradiation source an array of diodes emitting red light (lambda = 675 nm), which produced a fluence of 7mW cm-2 on the cells. We found that photo-activation with chlorin derivatives in the concentration range 1-100 ng ml-1 greatly enhanced the mortality of the irradiated cells (energy density, 0.25 J cm-2) with respect to the control cells kept in the dark. This response is immediate and appears to be an "all or none' effect. Taking into account that compounds exhibit a strong absorbance peak in the long wavelength region of visible light where tissues are relatively transparent, our results suggest that chlorins can be considered to be good candidates for application in photodynamic therapy.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Lack of HTLV-II infection in newborns born from HIV-1 infected mothers in southern Italy.

In order to evaluate the presence of HTLV-II infection in a cohort of newborns born from HIV-1 infected mothers, a retrospective study was conducted on 80 newborns. Only 1 birth serum sample (1.25%) was found seropositive for HTLV-II by Western Blot suggesting a transplacental transmission of anti-HTLV-II antibodies. Two consecutive PCR performed on PBMCs of the seropositive newborn resulted negative suggest the absence of the infection. More extensive studies are needed to assess the risk of transmission in areas with a higher prevalence of HTLV-II infection.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1997

Bordetella parapertussis infections.

The rate of isolation of Bordetella parapertussis among children with cough during the follow-up of different clinical efficacy studies has been evaluated. In the Italian trial, a comparison of clinical characteristics between B. pertussis and B. parapertussis infections showed lower frequencies and shorter duration of typical symptoms of whooping cough such as paroxysmal coughing, whooping, and vomiting in the group of children affected with B. parapertussis infections. In about 70% of B. parapertussis infections, there was a two-fold increase of IgA or IgG anti-FHA from acute- and convalescent-phase serum specimens. The analysis of the distribution of B. parapertussis cases in children fully immunized with each pertussis vaccine suggested that vaccination is irrelevant in preventing B. parapertussis infection.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1997

In vitro antimicrobial properties of azidothymidine (AZT).

In addition to the activity against a number of retroviruses, azidothymidine (AZT) has antibacterial activity against many bacteria. The effect of AZT on 224 bacterial species, including 25 strains of Salmonella spp. isolated from HIV-positive patients, was tested. AZT had no activity against all the strains of tested Gram-positive bacteria and Pseudomonas species (MIC > 128 micrograms/ml), whereas a different activity against Enterobacteriaceae (MIC range, 128 to 0.06 micrograms/ml) was found. In particular 76% of Salmonella spp. isolated from HIV-positive patients showed MICs > 1 microgram/ml, whereas similar MICs value were found in 50% of the Salmonella strains isolated from HIV-negative subjects. In addition, strains of Salmonella isolated from stools were more resistant to AZT when compared to strains isolated from blood even if this difference was not statistically significant. No correlation was found between length of therapy and Salmonella resistance to AZT in HIV-positive patients and a low incidence of Salmonella relapses in subjects treated with AZT was observed. The possibility that AZT may have an ancillary benefit in controlling some bacterial infections in AIDS patients is discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections in subjects at risk for HIV-I infection from southeastern Italy (Apulia region).

To assess the prevalence of HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections in different groups at risk for HIV-I infection, a study on 867 subjects was carried out by means of serological and PCR analyses. Serum specimens were collected from 268 intravenous drug users (IVDU), 66 homosexual men, 248 subjects with sexually transmitted diseases (STD), 105 thalassemics and 180 hemophiliacs. Sera from 3 IVDU and a sample from an STD patient were confirmed as HTLV-II seropositive; a thalassemic patient was seropositive for HTLV-I; a homosexual man, though confirmed as HTLV-I/II-seroreactive, could not be typed by serological methods. No hemophiliac was found to be HTLV-I/II-reactive. All 3 HTLV-II-seroreactive IVDU and the HTLV-I-infected thalassemic were confirmed by PCR; an additional sample from an IVDU, indeterminate by Western blot, was confirmed to be positive for HTLV-II by PCR. Subtyping of HTLV-II samples indicated the presence of II/b subtype in all 4 cases. Up to now, the reservoir for HTLV-II infection in southeastern Italy is mainly represented by IVDU, while HTLV-I infection seems to be sporadic.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1996

An outbreak of hepatitis A in Puglia, Italy, 1996.

In the region of Puglia, in the south east of Italy (population: 4 million), the number of notifications of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection increases in a two yearly cycle. In 1992 a very large outbreak was observed, but no epidemiological investigation

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

P24 antigen detection, viral isolation, DNA-PCR and in vitro antibody production for the diagnosis of HIV-1 latent infection in heterosexual women at high risk for HIV-1 infection.

INTRODUCTION: The report of the existence of at-risk seronegative subjects, latently infected with HIV-1 and producing "in vitro" HIV-1 specific antibodies, prompted the authors to evaluate extensively twenty-five heterosexual HIV-1 seronegative women at high risk for HIV-1 infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The capability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from such subjects to produce "in vitro" HIV-1 specific antibodies after pokeweed-mitogen stimulation, was studied. Silent HIV-1 infection was investigated by HIV-1 DNA PCR, viral isolation and serum p24 Ag detection at entry and after 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Three seroconversions took place within 12 months, but no HIV-1 infections were found in the absence of detectable serum anti HIV-1 antibodies, even in subjects who apparently produced such antibodies in vitro. The antibodies produced in vitro by the seronegative women studied appeared of narrow specificity, reacting mainly with gp 160/120 envelope glycoproteins. CONCLUSIONS: A strong concordance was found between the serological status and the other markers for HIV-1 infection, suggesting that the phenomenon of HIV-1 "latent infection" is a very rare event, if it occurs at all. Seronegative women sexually exposed to the virus may produce in vitro anti HIV-1 antibodies of narrow specificity in the absence of other signs of infection and this phenomenon might be related to an anamnestic response to the virus.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Serum beta 2-microglobulin in intravenous drug users and its correlation with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

High levels of serum beta 2-microglobulin have been associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection and beta 2-microglobulin has been used with other serological and immunological markers for monitoring disease progression. The usefulness of beta 2-microglobulin as a prognostic marker during human immunodeficiency virus infection has been demonstrated in homosexual men and hemophiliacs; few and contradictory data have been reported in intravenous drug users. We have evaluated a cohort of 160 intravenous drug users (81 seronegative and 79 seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus infection) with normal renal function to assess whether serum beta 2-microglobulin could be used as a serological marker for monitoring infection; 78 healthy subjects were used as controls. Of 79 seropositive drug users, 54 were asymptomatic or had persistent generalized lymphoadenopathy the remaining 25 had the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Seropositive patients were tested for CD4+ lymphocyte number, p24 antigen and anti-p24 antibodies. A significant statistical difference was found in mean serum beta 2-microglobulin levels between seronegative and seropositive drug users. Moreover, higher levels of beta 2-microglobulin were observed in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients compared with asymptomatic or patients with persistent lymphadenopathy. A significant relationship was also observed between increased concentration of beta 2-microglobulin and the serological and immunological markers which indicate human immunodeficiency virus disease progression.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Modified western blot with recombinant antigens for serological differentiation between HTLV-I and HTLV-II.

Some epidemiological and clinical features of HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections remain unclear due to the inability to confirm and distinguish between the two retroviruses. Since HTLV-I and HTLV-II have a high degree of genomic and aminoacid sequence homology, serologic crossreactions are frequent, making it difficult to establish an accurate serologic diagnosis. To confirm and differentiate HTLV-I/II infections, different serologic confirmatory assays were compared. Fourteen serum samples from 11 IVDU, a bisexual subject, a polytransfused and an ATL patient were examined. The sera repeatedly reactive by Elisa and indeterminate with a conventional Western Blot with viral lysate, were retested by new modified Western Blots containing recombinant antigens. All sera from IVDU but one were confirmed and typed as HTLV-II while serum from ATL was serologically typed as HTLV-I. Serum from the polytransfused patient was not confirmed while serum from the bisexual remained indeterminate. These findings suggest that recombinant antigens are useful for serological diagnosis of HTLV-I/II infections.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1993

Current problems in treating tuberculosis in Italian HIV-infected patients.

31 Italian HIV-infected patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB) were reviewed to verify the effectiveness of the most common antituberculosis drugs. The patients were mostly intravenous drug addicts (90%), and 14 (45%) had recently been in prison. 5 patients (16%) had pulmonary TB, 15 (48%) had both pulmonary and extrapulmonary involvement, and 11 (30%) had extrapulmonary disease alone. 6 patients received the association of HRZ, and a 4-drug association including ethambutol was given to an additional 7 patients. The remaining 18 patients were administered the association of HRE. Response to therapy was good in 13 patients (42%), and lacking or delayed in 18 patients (58%). Treatment failure was partly related to the increased occurrence in our area of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. These observations, along with the need of a faster response to therapy than that currently obtained for TB in AIDS and in view of epidemiological effects, should prompt the definition of alternative therapeutic and prophylactic regimens.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1993

Salivary effects on polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions.

Respiratory burst, enzymatic degranulation and bacterial killing were investigated on peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (polymorphonuclear leukocytes) incubated with a pool of salivary fluids elicited from healthy donors. Low saliva concentrations primed polymorphonuclear leukocytes for enhancement of O2 consumption, O2- and beta-glucuronidase release and Staphylococcus aureus killing. Whole saliva, on the contrary, depressed all tested phagocytic activities.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A simple method to detect HIV-1 protein specificity of IgG intrathecal synthesis in HIV-1 infection.

There is currently no simple method to detect the antigen specificity of anti-HIV-1 IgG intrathecal synthesis (IS). Fifty-seven pairs of serum and corresponding CSF from 29 HIV-1 seropositive patients were adjusted to an identical concentration of total IgG and tested by a commercial HIV-1 Western Blot (WB) assay. IgG IS to a given HIV-1 protein was demonstrated when the corresponding band was present in CSF but absent or significantly less represented in serum. A total anti-HIV-1 IS was defined as the presence of an IS to one or more HIV-1 antigens. Our WB analysis of CSF and serum, compared with conventional mathematical formulas, showed a higher sensitivity in demonstrating anti-HIV-1 IgG IS. Moreover, the method disclosed which HIV-1 proteins represent the target of IgG IS. This procedure is easy to perform and therefore may represent a valuable tool to study central nervous system (CNS) involvement by HIV-1 during different stages of infection.

Antibody Specificity↗