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Biomedical subjects

R Bologna

Publications and source records attributed to R Bologna.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Concordance between the CC chemokine receptor 5 genetic determinants that alter risks of transmission and disease progression in children exposed perinatally to human immunodeficiency virus.

If CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5)-dependent mechanisms at the time of initial virus exposure are important determinants of virus entry and disease outcome, then the polymorphisms in CCR5 that influence risk of transmission and disease progression should be similar; this hypothesis was tested in a cohort of 649 Argentinean children exposed perinatally to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Two lines of evidence support this hypothesis. First, CCR5 haplotype pairs associated with enhanced risk of transmission were the chief predictors of a faster disease course. Second, some of the haplotype pairs associated with altered rates of transmission and disease progression in children were similar to those that we previously found influenced outcome in European American adults. This concordance suggests that CCR5 haplotypes may serve as genetic rheostats that influence events occurring shortly after initial virus exposure, dictating not only virus entry but, by extension, also the extent of early viral replication.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

Protective effect of CCR2-64I and not of CCR5-delta32 and SDF1-3'A in pediatric HIV-1 infection.

The effects of chemokine and chemokine receptor genetic polymorphisms such as stromal derived factor 1 (SDF1-3'A), CCR2-64I, and CCR5-delta32 associated with HIV-1 transmission and/or rate of disease progression in infected study subjects remain highly controversial and have been analyzed primarily only in adults. We have investigated whether these polymorphisms may provide similar beneficial effects in children exposed to HIV-1 perinatally. The prevalence of CCR2-64I allele was significantly increased (p = .03) and the CCR2-64I genotype distribution was not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, among HIV-1-exposed uninfected infants. Moreover, in the HIV-1-infected group, a delay to AIDS progression was observed among carriers of CCR2-64I allele. This is the first report that suggests a protective role of CCR2-64I allele in mother-to-infant HIV-1 transmission and documents a delay in disease progression, after the child has been infected with HIV-1. However, SDFI-3'A and CCR5-delta32 alleles did not modify the rate of HIV-1 transmission or disease progression in HIV-1-infected children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Reliability of laboratory markers of HIV-1 infection in Argentinian infants at risk of perinatal infection.

Early and accurate diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in infants born to HIV-1-seropositive mothers is of great importance. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), HIV culture, and p24 antigen detection assays were evaluated for their ability to detect the presence of HIV in 195 infants at risk of perinatal infection. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for assessing HIV infection status in children younger than 18 months, 70 infants (36%) were diagnosed as HIV-1 infected and 125 (64%) lacked virologic and clinical evidence of infection. PCR and HIV culture were the most sensitive laboratory markers, detecting 100% and 98% of positive samples, respectively, regardless of age at testing. HIV-1 p24 antigen assay was detected in 26 of 38 positive samples but not in negative samples. PCR was performed with three different sets of primers (SK38/SK39-SK19-gag, SK68/SK69-SK70-env, and SK150/SK431-SK102-gag). The sensitivity/specificity of the individual assays were for SK19, 96.1%/94.25%; SK70, 89.6%/100%; and SK102, 100%/100%. A sample was considered HIV-1 positive when two positive PCR results were obtained with two different pairs of primers, and negative if the sample was negative when three sets of primers were used. False-positive results were occasionally obtained with probe SK19 in six seroreverter infants before serologic status was known. This suggested that the infection was caused by nonreplicative strains or were false-positive results probably by nonspecific amplification due to cross-reaction with other microorganisms; contamination was discarded because there was no specific amplification with the other two primers. All the HIV-1-infected infants were correctly identified with PCR; all except one could be identified with coculture and only 68.4% were confirmed with p24 antigen assay. No seroreverter infant was misdiagnosed using the criteria selected.

Argentina↗
PubMed1997

Monocyte phagolysosomal fusion in children born to human immunodeficiency virus-infected mothers.

BACKGROUND: Previously we demonstrated that monocyte phagolysosomal fusion is impaired in chronic HIV infection in adult patients. METHODS: We studied the phagolysosomal fusion of peripheral blood monocytes from 45 children vertically infected with HIV, 38 noninfected infants born to HIV-positive mothers and 14 children born to HIV-seronegative women, by a cytomorphologic method in which acridine orange is used as a fusion marker. RESULTS: The mean percentages of phagolysosomal fusion +/-SD were 42 +/- 16.1 for HIV-positive children, 55.3 +/- 15.5 for HIV-negative infants born to HIV-infected mothers and 58.2 +/- 12.7 for normal controls. Monocyte phagolysosomal fusion of HIV-infected children was significantly decreased in comparison to noninfected and normal infants (P < 0.001), while there was no difference between the two latter groups. Phagolysosomal fusion impairment in HIV-infected infants inversely correlated with age (r = -0.4527; P < 0.002) and directly correlated with CD4+ T cell counts (r = 0.393; P = 0.03). Moreover, phagolysosomal fusion strongly correlated with clinical manifestations; this function was significantly impaired in moderately and severely symptomatic HIV-infected children with respect to those who remained asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that monocyte function in HIV-infected children progressively deteriorates, closely related to the severity of the clinical symptoms.

CD4 Lymphocyte Count↗
PubMed1997

[Viral encephalitis].

Viral infections of the nervous system make up a wide range of disorders with a mainly benign outcome. However, in some cases there is severe, morbimortality. In viral encephalitis there is direct involvement of the brain parenchyma which is seen clinically as reduced consciousness, convulsions and/or focal neurological deficit. The especial attraction of some viruses for particular cells or structures determines the variety of clinical findings. The incidence and frequency of the various agents depends on several factors (geographical location of a certain virus, age and general health of the population concerned, etc.). In areas free of arbovirus the commonest aetiologies are; varicella, herpes simplex, parotiditis and enterovirus. Modern treatment (transplants, chemotherapy) of previously fatal diseases and the AIDS epidemic have increased the number of immunodeficient patients; the population is susceptible to viral infections of the nervous system which are infrequent (e.g. cytomegalovirus, papovavirus) or which follow a different course (e.g. measles, enteroviruses) to that in immunocompetent patients. Specific conditions are reviewed. Improvement in the general health and sanitation of the population, and the universal use and development of new vaccines will significantly reduce the incidence of viral encephalitis. Improved prognosis will be related to the use of modern laboratory techniques which permit early, sensitive, specific diagnosis and the development of antiviral agents.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1996

Inter-observer and test-retest reliability of the Italian version of the Karolinska Psychodynamic Profile in two groups of psychiatric patients.

A total of 64 psychiatric patients were tested with the Italian version of the Karolinska Psychodynamic Profile in order to investigate interobserver and test-retest reliability. The mean inter-observer agreement coefficients (rho) ranged from 0.75 to 0.80 with less experienced psychiatrists, while the mean rho value was higher (0.96) with more experienced raters. Test-retest values were good, ranging from 0.53 to 0.93. Overall, reliability was comparable with that reported in the original Swedish study.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Children with fever of unknown origin in Argentina: an analysis of 113 cases.

The aim of this study was to determine the causes of fever of unknown origin, to evaluate new diagnostic tests and to elucidate risk factors for chronic or life-threatening disorders. The medical records of 113 children who had undiagnosed fever for at least 3 weeks were reviewed. Infection (N = 41) was the most frequent cause of fever of unknown origin. Respiratory tract infections were the most common causes in infants and endocarditis and tuberculosis were more frequent in older children. Neoplastic disorders (N = 11) occurred in children older than one year. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (N = 9) was the most common collagen-vascular disorder (N = 15). Miscellaneous disorders and factitious fever occurred in 21 and 4 cases, respectively. Twenty-two patients remained undiagnosed. History and physical examination led to a final diagnosis in 81% of cases. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed in 71 patients (61%) and was helpful for diagnosis in 15%. Children with life-threatening or chronic disorders (N = 58) were older than those with self-limiting conditions (N = 55; P = 0.017). Cardiovascular and articular signs and symptoms were more frequent in the former group (P = 0.01).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Cisplatin-induced erythroid differentiation in K562 cells: modulation of transferrin receptor.

The human erythroleukemia cell line K562 can be induced to erythroid terminal differentiation by several chemical agents. The property of inducing cellular differentiation in vitro has also been demonstrated for different antineoplastic agents commonly used in therapeutic protocols. The molecular events involved during erythroid differentiation are wholly unknown. Here we demonstrate that K562 cells, undergoing differentiation by the alkylating agent Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloro platinum (II), CDDP) employed in clinical protocols for the treatment of solid tumors, are induced to produce haemoglobin. Down modulation of the transferrin receptor (Tfr), highly represented on the cell surface, is also observed during the early stages of differentiation. Furthermore, Tf receptor expression correlates with cell growth, is down regulated and lost during terminal differentiation. The Tfr down regulation is an early event, before haemoglobin production, during cell differentiation. The data suggest that CDDP can induce terminal differentiation in K562 cells in vitro, like other antineoplastic agents.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antibiotic management of outpatients with endocarditis due to penicillin-susceptible streptococci.

Thirty patients with endocarditis caused by penicillin-susceptible streptococci were enrolled in one of two groups in this study. Fifteen patients received ceftriaxone (2 g once daily) for 4 weeks; the other 15 received the same dosage of ceftriaxone for 2 weeks and then received oral amoxicillin (1 g four times a day) for 2 weeks. For the 27 patients treated predominantly as outpatients, 380 days of hospitalization were avoided. Clinical cure was achieved for all patients in both groups. We conclude that ceftriaxone, alone or followed by a course of amoxicillin, is an efficacious mode of treatment for infective endocarditis caused by penicillin-susceptible streptococci. Treatment with these agents can be administered predominantly on an outpatient basis.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fever and neutropenia in children with cancer in one pediatric hospital in Argentina.

The authors retrospectively analyzed 863 episodes of neutropenia and fever in 635 children with cancer or hematological disease hospitalized between October 1988 and November 1994. The most frequent underlying diseases were solid tumors (45%) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (29%). Clinical site of infection could be determined in 454 (53%) episodes. Bacteremia was documented in 114 (13%) cases. Gram-positive cocci were the microorganisms most frequently isolated (47% of the cases). Noninfectious complications could be determined in 140 (16%) episodes, and were mainly severe bleeding and metabolic impairment. The episodes were divided in two groups for comparative evaluation: group A, 404 episodes, study period 1988-1991, and group B, 459 episodes, 1992-1994. According to the results, more patients in group A than group B were younger than 1 year old and had profound neutropenia; fewer patients in group A than group B had an endovascular catheter, a higher frequency of manifest clinical site of infection at admission, and a prevalence of isolation of gram-negative bacilli. A higher percentage of patients in group B had neutropenia of more than 14 days, gram-positive cocci in culture, and lower mortality. Multivariate analysis by logistic regression in 340 patients revealed that the presence of a severe noninfectious complication, severe neutropenia, and positive blood culture correlated with high mortality rate (p < or = 0.001).

Adolescent↗