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Biomedical subjects

S Carbonara

Publications and source records attributed to S Carbonara.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Chronic cryptococcal meningitis in an intravenous drug addict without evidence of infection by HIV-1,2 in southern Italy.

Before the emergence of AIDS, extrapulmonary cryptococcosis was very rare. By contrast, meningeal cryptococcosis is a very common opportunistic infection in AIDS patients. We report an intravenous drug addict with cryptococcal meningitis, who was not infected with HIV and had no apparent predisposing conditions. This case, as those elsewhere described, supports the potential existence of viral agents, other than HIV-1,2 capable of encouraging the occurrence of unusual infections as have emerged during the AIDS pandemic.

Adult↗
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

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↗
PubMed1991

Lack of HBV and HDV replicative activity in HBsAg-positive intravenous drug addicts with immune deficiency due to HIV.

The effects of HIV infection on HBV and HDV replication and liver damage were evaluated by comparing the findings from 48 anti-HIV-positive HBsAg chronic carriers with those from 22 matched anti-HIV-negative subjects. The state of HBV/HDV infection was also related to the degree of immunodeficiency of the anti-HIV-positive patients. Most patients were intravenous drug addicts (IVDA) (84.2%); male homosexuals represented only a small proportion (7.1%). Serum HBV-DNA was detected more frequently in anti-HIV-negative than in anti-HIV-positive patients (50% vs. 35%) despite evidence of HDV replication in the anti-HIV-negative group (P = 0.02). Seroconversion from ongoing to inactive HBV infection occurred in 45% of anti-HIV-negative patients as well as in 23% of anti-HIV-positive patients (P = ns). The difference in severity of liver damage between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.84). Furthermore, in the anti-HIV-positive subjects, HBV and/or HDV activity was detected in 63% of patients with mild immunodeficiency (CDC groups II and III with a total CD4 count greater than 400/mm3) and also in 75% of ARC-AIDS patients (CDC groups IV A-IV C) (P = ns). Severe hepatic disease occurred in subjects with CD4 counts above or below 400/mm3 (13 vs. 6, respectively). In conclusion, the data do not demonstrate that HBV or HDV infections are modified by HIV. The epidemiological background of the patients investigated and the extensive spread of hepatitis viruses in Italy before the appearance of HIV may account for the lack of relationship between HIV and HBV/HDV infections.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

HIV isolation from whole blood: a new approach to HIV detection.

The authors present a simple and sensitive culture technique for isolation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from small amounts of heparinized whole blood. This method appeared to be highly sensitive at all stages of disease. Among asymptomatics HIV was isolated from 41.3% of subjects by using peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a standard co-cultivation technique and in 89.6% of cases using whole blood. In the group of AIDS patients, in contrast, HIV isolation rate of the two techniques was the same (94.4%). The presence of detectable p24 Ag in plasma did not affect cultural results and no false positive was observed in the control group. Although further studies are needed to better understand the biological significance of a positive cultural result obtained by this method, HIV isolation from whole blood can be routinely employed, especially when small amounts of blood are available.

Blood↗
PubMed1990

[A case of human brucellosis caused by accidental injection of animal vaccine].

The Authors describe the case of an acute brucellosis in a young veterinarian due to accidental injection of animal vaccine. The past history of the patient and the serological follow-up of the animals contacted by the professional did not evidence other risk contacts. The case evidence the real possibility that attenuated Brucella melitensis strains used in animal's vaccination can represent a source of occupational risk for this infection. In addition, it is important to notify similar cases to monitor the real extent of this phenomenon.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Isolation of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from the cerebro-spinal fluid].

The authors describe a simple and available technique for HIV isolation from cerebrospinal fluid and report preliminary results obtained. Exposed data indicate that neurological involvement occurs early in the natural history of HIV infection and that the virus may be recovered in CSF at all stages of the disease, regardless of immunological conditions of patients. Virological evaluation of CSF may be important in understanding pathogenetic aspects of HIV infection and in clinical management of infected patients.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1990

[Technical note on the isolation of HIV from peripheral lymphomonocytes: use of PHA].

As a part of ongoing study about the role that different technical factors may play in influencing the sensibility of HIV isolation procedures, the authors have evaluated the effects of PHA stimulation of infected cells on HIV replication in cell cultures. Data presented demonstrate that the use of PHA in cell cultures for HIV isolation causes a slower viral replication and, in some cases, inhibits HIV growth.

Cell Division↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intrathecal synthesis of IgG in HIV infections].

CSF and serum of 80 HIV-seropositive patients in various stages of the disease were examined. Total as well as intrathecal IgG synthesis appeared to be frequently elevated in each diagnostic group. Abnormal CSF oligoclonal IgG fractions were significantly more frequent in asymptomatic patients. CSF pleocytosis was found with a lower percentage in neurological AIDS patients. In patients subdivided according to blood T helper cell count, the distribution of the abnormal CSF parameters confirms that the immunological response in the CNS is mediated by interaction with systemic immunity.

Adult↗