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Biomedical subjects

V Vullo

Publications and source records attributed to V Vullo.

116 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunological and viral markers of HIV infection and retinal microangiopathy.

The relationship between retinal microangiopathy and some features of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection such as HIV antigenemia, antibodies to the viral proteins, T lymphocyte subsets, were studied in 71 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The absence of antibodies to the HIV p24 protein was significantly related to retinal microangiopathy (p = 0.0051) and more closely to retinal cotton-wool spots (p = 0.0007); the combination of positive antigenemia with the absence of antibodies to p24, which is typical of the later phases of HIV infection, was found in a larger percentage of patients with cotton-wool spots (p = 0.0013) than in subjects with every sign of microangiopathy (p = 0.0546). T-helper (CD4+) cells count below 200 cells/mm3 was also detected in a higher percentage of patients with HIV-related retinal microangiopathy (p = 0.009). These findings suggest that retinal microangiopathy and especially retinal cotton-wool spots are related to the progression of immunodeficiency.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of clinically resistant cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients: combination of intravenous ganciclovir and intravitreal foscarnet.

The treatment of clinically resistant cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients requires a combination of foscarnet and ganciclovir, but the poor clinical condition of some patients may weigh against this intravenous regimen. We treated three patients with high-dose intravitreal foscarnet (2400 micrograms/0.1 ml; 25 injections; mean follow-up 14.6 weeks) combined with intravenous ganciclovir (5 mg/kg twice daily), and obtained complete control of the retinitis in a mean time of 3.4 weeks with no ocular or systemic side effects and no other eye/organ cytomegalovirus dissemination. This combined therapy seems useful for clinically resistant cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circulating levels of interleukin-7 in antiretroviral-naïve and highly active antiretroviral therapy-treated HIV-infected patients.

UNLABELLED: Interleukin (IL)-7 is a critical cytokine regulating T-lymphocyte development, regeneration, and function. PURPOSE: This study analyzes the endogenous IL-7 production in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). METHOD: Plasma levels of IL-7 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 11 patients with untreated advanced HIV disease, in 8 patients who successfully responded to HAART, and in 9 individuals with virological and immunological treatment failure. RESULTS: We found that in the patients with advanced HIV disease and no treatment IL-7 concentrations were elevated and were inversely related to both CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell counts. When IL-7 was assessed in treated patients, this cytokine was below the detection limit of the assay in all participants who responded to HAART. On the contrary, patients with evidence of HAART failure had increased concentrations of IL-7 that were comparable to those found in the untreated group with progressive disease. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that IL-7 may play a role in the immune reconstitution of T-cells during HIV infection, especially in the context of potent antiretroviral treatments.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the diagnosis of amoebiasis (author's transl)].

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique as an aid to the detection of antibodies to Entamoeba histolytica has been evaluated in four groups of 39 individuals. Results were positive in 15 patients with amoebic dysentery harboring trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica, in their stools; negative in 6 patients with enteric symptoms whose faeces contained neither trophozoites nor cysts of Entamoeba histolytica, in 8 patients with other parasitic diseases in whom clinical examination was not indicative of infection with Entamoeba histolytica, and in 10 sera from blood-donors. The ELISA has been shown to be a sensitive method of detecting antibodies to entamoeba histolytica.

Amebiasis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Serological diagnosis of hydatid disease with indirect immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence methods (author's transl)].

Indirect immunoperoxidase (IP) method is compared with indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) in 44 cases of active hydatidosis established at operation (30 cysts of the liver, 9 cysts of the lung and 5 extra-hepatic and extra-pulmonary cysts). The sensitivities of the IP and IFI tests were 88.6% and 63.6%, respectively. The IP test is easy, specific and very sensitive.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sensitivity and specificity of the RAST (radioallergosorbent test) in biological diagnosis of the hydatidosis (author's transl)].

The radioallergosorbent test (RAST) for specific IgE antibodies to Echinococcus granulosus was compared with other immunological methods in regard to sensitivity, specificity and its use as a diagnostic aid for hydatid disease. Sera used were from patients with active hydatidosis proved surgically, from persons operated for hydatidosis during the previous 2-10 years and from patients with other parasitic diseases or healthy subjects. Results with enzyme-immuno assay (ELISA), indirect haemagglutination (IHA), counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) and skin test were compared with those with RAST. The percentage of positive RAST reactions (81.2%) among the patients with active hydatidosis was slightly lower than the percentage of positive ELISA (90.6%), IHA (90.6%) and skin test (87.5%) and was superior to CIEP (75%). Among the patients with previous hydatidosis, the RAST was negative in 90% of case, whereas other serological tests were positive in a considerable proportion of cases (ELISA test, 80%; IHA test, 40%; CIEP test, 40%; skin test, 60%). A high percentage (50%) of false positive RAST reactions have been observed in sera from patients infested with other parasites. Results indicated that the RAST for IgE antibodies not be used as the only method for diagnosis of hydatidosis, but it may be employed, if serological data obtained before surgery are available for comparison, for evaluate the results of surgery and to clarify the prognosis.

Adult↗