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Biomedical subjects

V Vidotto

Publications and source records attributed to V Vidotto.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

[Study on the presence of yeasts in the feces of the rock pigeon (Columba livia Gmelin 1789) from rural areas].

The diffusion of rock-pigeon (domestic form of Columba livia Gmelin 1789) is greatly increasing owing to its high reproductivity; for this reason it is present in both countries and cities. This bird is considered an important vector of pathogens to man and domestic animals, and today it represents a serious hygienic-sanitary problem. Therefore we checked for the presence of yeasts in feces of rock-pigeons nesting in the Regional Park "La Mandria" (near Turin), visited mostly by school-children and retired. The yeasts isolated were: Candida albicans, C. krusei, C. guillermondii, C. intermedia, C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, C. pseudotropicalis, C. rugosa, C. tropicalis, Cryptococcus albidus, C. laurentii, C. neoformans, C. terreus, Pichia membranaefaciens, Rhodotorula rubra, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. oleaginosus, S. telluris, Torulopsis candida, Trichosporon cutaneum. The incidence of the species isolated is reported on Tables 1 and 2.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Epidemiology of dermatophytosis in the metropolitan area of Turin.

The study here presented deals with the problem of the dermatophytoses in Piedmont, with regard to their etiologic and, more generally, their epidemiologic aspects. From 586 patients who presented themselves at the Dermatology Clinic of the University of Turin, for mycological examinations, between the period of March-November 1979, 100 positive cases were selected. The study was set under way with the filling in of special forms for the epidemiologic investigation and with the classification of some species of fungi which had been isolated beforehand, using the methods of Ajello, Rebell and Taplin (1, 12). From the data collected, it was ascertained that the principal etiologic agents isolated were, in order of frequency: Microsporum canis, Tricophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum and T. mentagrophytes. The subjects that were affected most by these dermatophytes were the young (babies and schoolchildren) with the location of the infections being mostly in the scalp. As regards the period of manifestation, May - June and September - October were the periods with the highest incidence. It is noteworthy that the diffusion of the principal dermatophytes could be attributed to domestic animals such as cats and dogs.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A review of cardiovascular complications accompanying AIDS.

Manifestations of cardiovascular system involvement are not uncommon complications of HIV infection, especially in AIDS patients. However, the frequency of these manifestations is influenced by different variables including: survival prolongation in HIV-infected patients, because of advances in antiretroviral treatment; improvement of immunodepression and reduction in the occurrence of opportunistic infections; adverse effects of some drugs. At present, on the whole cardiovascular complications that are HIV correlated in the western world, including Italy, occur less frequently than in the past. However complications associated with alterations in lipometabolism prevail because they can be promoted by some protease inhibitors in predisposed subjects. The most frequently reported questions and a careful analysis of recent data in the medical literature regarding the most common HIV-correlated cardiovascular complications are discussed in this review.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A review of HIV-1 Tat protein biological effects.

The authors have reviewed some biological properties of HIV-1 Tat protein, and have also reported some personal data. This viral regulatory protein is endowed with multifunctional activities, acting as an endogenous factor in the infected cells and exogenously, on those uninfected. In particular, Tat-induced proliferation and differentiation of HIV target cells which promotes viral infection, is discussed in this review. However, exogenous Tat protein can sometimes also produce, directly or indirectly, damaging effects in different organs and host systems, such as myocardium, kidney, liver and central nervous system (CNS). For example some data also demonstrate an increase in the apoptotic index induced by Tat at various levels, including the immune system. The effective role of HIV-1 Tat protein in promoting viral replication and its high immunogenicity suggest useful employment of this protein for therapeutic or preventive vaccine preparations.

Gene Products, tat↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phospholipase activity in Cryptococcus neoformans.

Phospholipases have only been detected in a few fungi and yeasts, in particular in Candida albicans. Secreted phospholipases are considered by some researchers to be a potential factor of virulence and pathogenicity in C. albicans. Twenty-three Cryptococcus neoformans strains were tested in order to observe phospholipase production. Twenty-two of the 23 strains tested were able to produce phospholipases, and the ratio diameter of the colony to total diameter of the colony plus zone of precipitation (Pz) ranged between 0.271 and 0.949. C. neoformans, just like C. albicans, can be divided on the basis of the Pz into different strains according to their virulence and pathogenicity. There also appeared to be a correlation between the phospholipase production and the size of the capsule in the strains isolated from AIDS patients. For this reason, further studies on C. neoformans phospholipase activity would be useful in evaluating the virulence of different strains.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Paracoccidioidomycosis in Quillabamba, Peru, and its surroundings.

Three cases of paracoccidioidomycosis observed in 1990-1991 in Quillabamba, Peru, and its surroundings are described. The climate and the living conditions of the inhabitants favour paracoccidioidomycosis. It can be assumed that a majority of cases could not be identified, because the symptoms are disguised as other tropical diseases. The application of ketoconazole to the patients showed different results, from optimal to scarce, while temporary remission of the disease was obtained with itraconazole. The best therapy for paracoccidioidomycosis appears to be the application of amphotericin B plus sulphamidics.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vaginal yeast flora of pregnant women in the Cusco region of Peru.

A study of the vaginal yeast flora in pregnant women living in Cusco and in its region (Peru), located approximately 3000 m above sea level, is reported. We observed 300 pregnant, healthy and non-diabetic women who attended a gynaecological clinic in the Lorena, Regional or IPSS (Instituto Peruano de Seguridad Social) hospitals in Cusco. A comprehensive clinical history was obtained from each patient. It included age, work, parity, time of pregnancy, use of contraceptives or antibiotics, type of vaginal symptoms, type and amount of vaginal secretion. The yeasts were isolated from 44.3% of the cases. The positive cases were more frequently found in the following categories: 20-30 year-old patients (69.2%), ninth month of pregnancy (49.6%), first pregnancy (41.4%), no delivery (58.7%) and no abortion (66.9%). Most women complained of leukorrhea (75.9%) with mucus, scarce without odour (18.8%) or lumpy, regular, without odour (15.8%) secretion. The yeasts isolated were Candida albicans (66.2%), other Candida species (12.8%), Torulopsis glabrata (8.3%) or other Torulopsis species (2.2%), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (7.5%), Rhodotorula sp. (1.5%) and Trichosporon cutaneum (1.5%).

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of Aspergillus sulphureus mycotoxins on Cryptococcus neoformans.

Many studies have evaluated the toxicity of mycotoxins to mammals, but there is little information on their action against fungal cells, even although mycotoxins are frequently active against fungi in nature. A crude extract of Aspergillus sulphureus was tested for its growth-inhibitory effect on Cryptococcus neoformans. The reduction in cell growth of Cr. neoformans caused by the extract was dose dependent. Using a liquid medium containing 2% A. sulphureus extract, the RNA content of Cryptococcus amounted to about 60% of that of non-treated cells. Capsule thickening, demonstrated biochemically and with cytological stains, occurred at doses that had minimal effect on cell growth and RNA content. Our results suggest that the virulence of Cr. neoformans may increase in cases of coenobiosis with A. sulphureus, which is theoretically possible in places where corn-fed pigeons are numerous.

Aspergillus↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Caries risk tests and salivary levels of immunoglobulins to Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans in mouthbreathing syndrome patients.

The aim of this study was to compare microbiological and salivary variables possibly related to caries risk in treated and untreated mouthbreathing syndrome (MBS) children and control children. Thirty control children, 30 mouthbreathers and 25 treated mouthbreathers were studied for the numbers of lactobacilli, mutans streptococci and yeasts in their saliva. Snyder's test, salivary flow and buffering capacity were also evaluated. Levels of immunoglobulins to Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans in the saliva were quantified using ELISA. Considering the results obtained for the microbiological and salivary caries risk tests, no significant differences were observed among the proportions of patients with small/negative and high/moderate caries risk in the studied groups. The level of IgG to S. mutans was significantly higher in the treated MBS group in relation to MBS patients. On the other hand, the median anti-S. mutans IgM level was lower in the treated MBS patients than in the other groups. For the studied anti-Candida immunoglobulins, IgM level was significantly lower in the treated MBS group than in the other groups. No differences were observed for anti-S. mutans and anti-Candida IgA levels among the groups. The findings suggest that mouthbreathing cannot be considered a risk factor for dental caries.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dermatophytoses in Cusco (Peru).

A total of 90 cases of suspected dermatophytoses was observed over a period of 9 months in the city of Cusco (Peru) and in its environs. The age groups most commonly infected were 1-10 and 11-20 year old. The most common tineae diagnosed were tinea capitis (13.3%) and tinea unguium (11.1%). Only four species of dermatophytes were isolated: Microsporum canis (52.4%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (35.7%), Tr. rubrum (9.5%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (2.4%). Dry weather, low temperature and high altitude do not seem to affect proliferation and infections by dermatophytes.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Presence of pathogenic yeasts in the feces of the semi-domesticated pigeon (Columba livia, Gmelin 1789, urban type) from the city of Turin].

The results of a survey on the presence of pathogenic yeasts in pigeon droppings collected in Turin, are shown. The study was carried out in 8 densely populated areas, where human-animal contact is highest. A total of 427 pigeon dropping samples, most of which fresh, were collected. 550 yeast colonies, clinically interesting or at least pathologically significant, were isolated by the identification routine methods. The yeasts belong to the following species: Candida albicans, C. humicola, C. krusei, C. guillermondii, C. lypolitica, C. lambica, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. rugosa, C. zeylanoides, Cryptococcus albidus, C. laurentii, C. neoformans, Hansenula anomala, Geotrichum sp., Kloekera apiculata, Rhodotorula glutinis, R. rubra, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Torulopsis candida, T. glabrata, Trichosporon beigelii, T. capitatum, T. cutaneum, T. pullulans.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Antiproliferative effect of an extract of Aspergillus terreus].

We have studied antiproliferative effect of Aspergillus terreus extract on various cell lines: I-407 normal human cells, L-929 normal murine cells, K-562 erythroleukemic human cells, IAD lymphoblastoid human cells and B 95-8 monkey lymphoblastoid cells. K-562 and lymphoblastoid cells showed higher sensitivity to the extract. Moreover, "a cytostatic dose" of the extract on K-562 cells (12.5 micrograms/ml showed a reduction of 3H-thymidine (but not of 14C-uracil) incorporation, leading us to hypothesize a prevalent action on DNA synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Influence of the substrate on culture and morphological characteristics of dermatophytes. Initial results relating to strains isolated from 586 patients].

During an epidemiological study on Dermatophytosis in the Metropolitan area of Turin were isolated: Microsporum canis, Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The isolation of the species, was in the mean time, carried out on three different media: agar Sabouraud, Potato dextrose agar and Mycosel agar. In this work were observed the morphological differentiations of the species isolated, besides was compared the fertility of the media at different time of incubation.

Arthrodermataceae↗