Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Gioannini

Publications and source records attributed to P Gioannini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Growth of Yersinia species in artificially contaminated blood bags.

Transfusion blood bags were inoculated with less than 0.1 colony-forming units (CFU) of Yersinia enterocolitica (serotypes O:3, O:5, and O:9) and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis I per mL and stored at 4 degrees C for 41 days. During storage, samples were collected periodically and colony counts of serial dilutions were performed by plating on tryptic soy agar. After a lag-phase, the growth of Yersinia species from less than 0.1 CFU per mL to 10(9) CFU per mL was observed in 3 of 10 bags. The data showed that prolonged storage of contaminated blood bags allows Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis to multiply to high levels.

Blood↗
PubMed1992

[Emergent infections].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Effects of long-term zidovudine treatment on cell-mediated immune response and lymphokine production.

The effects of long-term zidovudine treatment on functional parameters of cell-mediated immunity were investigated in 15 symptomatic HIV-antibody-positive patients with clinical evidence of opportunistic infections. Mononuclear leukocytes were obtained before administering the drug, and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. The cells were stimulated with lectins in order to assess variations of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and production of gamma-interferon (IFN) and interleukin-2 (IL-2), and with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) to assess variations of alpha-IFN production. Mean proliferative responses to PHA and Con-A did not show any significant change between baseline, 3 months, and 6 months values (25,158 +/- 11,763, 24,662 +/- 8,955, and 34,924 +/- 16,283 D-cpm, respectively, for PHA, p greater than 0.05; and 5,470 +/- 1,890, 4,953 +/- 2,518, and 4,539 +/- 3,286 D-cpm, respectively, for Con-A, p less than 0.05). Mean response to PWM (9,707 +/- 4,429 D-cpm at entry) increased significantly after 3 months, but returned to baseline values at 6 months (17,039 +/- 5,123 and 10,314 +/- 3,855 D-cpm, respectively, p = 0.016). IL-2 production (5.51 +/- 4.0 I.U. at entry) rose particularly at 3 months and persisted at the same levels at 6 months (9.6 +/- 4.8 and 9.5 +/- 6 I.U., respectively, p less than 0.05). By contrast, a moderate but significant decrease in gamma- and alpha-IFN production was observed (65 +/- 2.2, 35.1 +/- 1.6, and 22 +/- 2 I.U., respectively, for gamma-IFN, p less than 0.05; 60 +/- 3, 64 +/- 2.6, and 12 +/- 1.5 I.U., respectively for alpha-IFN, p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Acute HIV-1 infection: clinical and biological study of 12 patients.

We observed 12 patients with acute human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. The clinical syndrome was characterized by fever (all cases), generalized lymphadenopathy (11), arthralgias and myalgias (9), sore throat (9), rash (7), splenomegaly (6), and other less frequent signs and symptoms. All patients had a spontaneous resolution of their symptoms within 5-30 days. Anti-HIV-1 serum antibodies, as measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) at the onset of clinical illness, were negative in every patient. HIV antigen (p24), on the contrary, was detectable in nine cases. Western blot IgM and IgG analysis was serially performed: IgMs were positive in nine cases and IgGs in three. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio was low in all patients because CD8+ were remarkably increased and CD4+ slightly reduced. A laterocervical lymph nodes biopsy was performed in four patients. The morphological and immunohistological pattern of the acute HIV-1-related lymphadenopathy did not correspond to any of the typical ones. The envelope virus protein gp120/160 was found in interfollicular and follicular lymphocytes, in endothelial cells, and in interdigitating and dendritic reticulum cells. The p17 and p24 core virus proteins were mainly detected in endothelial, interdigitating, and dendritic reticulum cells, but in only a few lymphocytes. The follow-up suggests a rapid evolution to ARC and AIDS in patients showing an acute symptomatic HIV infection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Endemicity of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 3 in a hospital water supply.

A microbiological and epidemiological investigation at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Turin, Italy, demonstrated Legionella pneumophila serogroup 3 at 10(2) to greater than 4 X 10(3) cfu l-1 from 24 of 32 hot water samples collected from hand-basins in six separate buildings. A sample taken from the public water supply, and a hot water sample (80 degrees C) collected from hot water tanks, did not yield legionellas. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 3 was found in samples taken at the first point of mixed hot and cold water (50 degrees C) at 3 X 10(2) cfu l-1. 12 of 26 samples from the shower-heads yielded 10(3) to 2.5 X 10(5) cfu l-1 and one of 12 water samples from oxygen bubble humidifiers tested yielded 1.6 X 10(4) cfu l-1. No other legionellas species or serogroups of Legionella pneumophila were isolated during the study. No cases of nosocomial pneumonia were detected among 3653 patients' records, nor was there serological evidence of Legionella infection in the 180 patients tested.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed1985

Relationship between circulating immune complexes, serum interferon and clinical features in sarcoidosis.

In order to assess the importance of circulating interferons and immune complexes as hypothetical mediators of some immune derangements observed in sarcoidosis, we evaluated serum interferon and immune complex levels in 45 patients with active disease. In none of our patients could circulating interferon be detected, suggesting that an infectious (viral) etiology is very unlikely, and that a great difference exists between sarcoidosis and true autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, circulating immune complexes could be found in 64.4% of our patients. A good correlation could be found with disease stage and duration, but only with 67Ga lung scan among other activity indexes.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Circulating acid-labile interferon in chronic versus acute, HBV-related liver disease. A marker of immune-mediated hepatocellular damage?

An acid-labile Interferon was detected in the circulation of 76.1% of patients with chronic active type B hepatitis, in 30% of patients with acute type B hepatitis, studied within 15 days from starting of symptoms, and in 25% of patients with acute type B hepatitis studied 4 to 6 weeks after the admission. Patients in the third group showing evidence of circulating Interferon had also a delayed recovery and tardive HBsAg clearance. Circulating immune complexes were detected in 85.7% of patients of the first group, in 63.3% of patients of the second group, and in 25% of patients of the third group. We suggest that an acid-labile circulating Interferon could be related to immune-mediated hepatocellular damage (evidenced by circulating immune complexes) in hepatitis B virus infection, gradually disappearing during recovery from acute hepatitis or persisting indefinitely in chronic active hepatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Normal lymphocyte interferon production in adult HBsAg-positive chronic active liver disease.

To challenge the hypothesis that interferon (IF) production in chronic hepatitis-B virus liver disease is defective, lymphocytes from 14 patients with chronic active liver disease (CALD); from nine patients with chronic inactive liver disease (CILD), and from six healthy chronic carriers (HCC) were stimulated by Newcastle Disease virus. The patients with CILD showed a weak IF response by comparison with the controls (P less than 0.0005), whereas IF production by CALD patients and the HCC did not statistically differ from IF production in the healthy hepatitis-B surface antigen negative subjects who served as controls. These results indicate that IF treatment of CALD does not rely on a completely proved background.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

[Pertussis].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adenoviruses, Human↗