Biomedical subjects
S Ferrucci
Publications and source records attributed to S Ferrucci.
Human herpesvirus-8 infection among heterosexual partners of patients with classical Kaposi's sarcoma.
BACKGROUND: DNA sequences of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) are found in lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). OBJECTIVES: To verify the hypothesis of the sexual transmission of HHV8 infection. METHODS: We used the immunoperoxidase assay to study the prevalence of serum antibodies to HHV8-related antigens in 27 consorts of patients with classical KS, and in a control group of 25 healthy women. RESULTS: Forty-four per cent of the study group were positive, compared with 8% of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The sexual route may be one of the possible ways of transmission of the HHV8 virus.
Human immunodeficiency virus negative Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoproliferative disorders.
BACKGROUND: The concomitant occurrence of more than one primary neoplasm in the same individual has led researchers to seek possible common etiopathogenetic factors. Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a multicentric neoplasm of vascular origin and perhaps viral etiology. Four forms of KS are known: classic or Mediterranean, endemic or African, posttransplant, and epidemic or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated KS. In its classic form KS mainly affects elderly people and often has a long and indolent course that occasionally allows other malignancies to appear. Previous studies of the possible association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative KS and lymphoproliferative disorders (LDs) have produced discordant results. METHODS: To verify a possibly significant association between HIV negative KS and LDs, data relating to 250 evaluable Italian patients with HIV negative KS were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 250 KS patients, only 6 (2.4%) were found to have had an LD: 2 with Hodgkin lymphoma, 1 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 1 with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, 1 with acute promyelocytic leukemia, and 1 with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia. CONCLUSIONS: No significant association was found between HIV negative KS and LDs in the patient population in the current study. The authors believe that age, LD, or therapy-related immunodepression played a role in the cases in which KS appeared after the LD by determining the passing to the lytic phase of the herpes-virus HHV8 already present in anatomic sites of latency/persistence.
Retinitis pigmentosa inversa.
BACKGROUND: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is one of the most common inherited retinal diseases, with a prevalence of about 1 in 3500 to 4500. Retinitis pigmentosa inversa is a rare variant of this disorder characterized by areas of choroidal degeneration with pigment migration and bony spicule formation in the macular area. In contrast to more typical forms of RP, this anomaly destroys central vision, leaving peripheral vision intact. CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old white male was followed for about 7 years with evidence of progressive retinal pigment epithelial atrophy and hyperpigmentation affecting both maculae. Since 1970, he had noted difficulty seeing at night as well as an acquired hearing deficit that appeared to be getting worse, ultimately impairing his ability to safely drive a truck. Medical history was positive for either chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine use for 2 to 3 years as malaria prophylaxis while he served in Vietnam. In addition, his father in Louisiana had visual loss of unknown cause. During the 7-year period, the condition progressed rapidly. The patient became virtually blind secondary to visual acuity loss with dense central and paracentral scotomas. The peripheral visual fields remained intact. After several years of extensive examinations, including laboratory, electroretinography, and genetic testing, a definitive diagnosis of RP inversa was made. DISCUSSION: RP inversa is a rare form of tapetoretinal degeneration that is characterized by decreased central vision with normal peripheral vision. A recessive form of inheritance has been postulated but never substantiated. Although there is currently no treatment, recent studies have indicated that 15,000 IU of vitamin A palmitate daily may slow the progression of retinitis pigmentosa; however, it is unknown whether this treatment would be effective for the inverse form of RP. Differential diagnoses include Leber's congenital amaurosis, central gyrate atrophy, central areolar choroidal sclerosis, progressive cone-rod dystrophy, syphilitic retinopathy, retinal toxicity from phenothiazine use, and chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine retinopathy.
Vinorelbine therapy for Kaposi's sarcoma in a kidney transplant patient.
We report the case of a patient with Kaposi's sarcoma after kidney transplantation. Despite the discontinuation of azathioprine and a reduction in the cyclosporin dosage, the disease continued to evolve, and antineoplastic treatment became necessary. After 14 cycles of vinorelbine chemotherapy, there was a 75% regression of the initial lesions, despite the continuation of cyclosporin A.
Growth conditions of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells affect the degree of DNA methylation.
We have investigated differences in C pG methylation between F9 embryonal carcinoma cells in vitro and as tumor cells grown in vivo using Msp I and Hpa II restriction isoschizomers. Southerns were hybridized with two low copy number probes, mouse major beta-globin (f7) and a class I, histocompatibility-2 cDNA clone (pH-2d-4). In each case, the tumor-DNA was hypomethylated while the DNA from F9 cells grown in vitro was moderately methylated. We conclude that growth conditions or cell-cell interactions can greatly affect methylation of C pG sites.
alpha-Thalassemia and HbF concentration in sickle cell anemia.
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