Risk factors for HTLV-I and II in individuals attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases.

Background: To date, few studies have provided information on risk factors for human t-lymphotropic viruses (HTLV) types I and II in European countries. In particular, few data are available from published studies conducted in STD centers.

Goals: To identify risk factors for HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection and to better distinguish the epidemiologic patterns of the two viruses in Italy.

Tolerability of recombinant-methionyl human neurotrophin-3 (r-metHuNT3) in healthy subjects.

This phase I, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluated the safety of single and multiple (daily for 7 days) subcutaneous administrations of recombinant-methionyl human neurotrophin-3 (r-metHuNT3) in healthy human volunteers at seven doses, ranging from 3 to 500 microg/kg/day. No serious or life-threatening adverse events occurred. The most frequently recorded adverse effects were mild injection-site pain, diarrhea, and elevation of liver function tests.

Sensory Neuropathy With Sjögren's Syndrome, Thymoma, and Hypogammaglobulinemia.

We report a 63-year-old woman with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and an indolent distal sensory neuropathy. Despite having negative serologic tests for Sjögren's syndrome, evaluation of the neuropathy led to a new diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome based on the presence of sicca symptoms, an abnormal Schirmer's test, and histologic evidence of sialadenitis. In addition, a thymoma was discovered.

Comparison of different modalities for detection of small fiber neuropathy.

Objectives: In general, large fiber sensory function is easier to assess than small fiber function both clinically and electrophysiologically. Therefore, small fiber sensory neuropathies are more difficult to diagnose. The relative sensitivities of different electrodiagnostic tests for small fiber neuropathy are not known.

Multifocal small fiber sensory neuropathy.

Purpose: : To report four patients with unusual multifocal patterns of small fiber sensory neuropathy

Methods: : Four patients who developed multifocal sensory symptoms after infectious illnesses underwent neurologic examinations, nerve conduction studies, and serologic testing. All had one to three types of electrodiagnostic assessments of small nerve fibers by evaluation of thermal and vibratory thresholds. quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing, or autonomic cardiovascular testing.

Fluctuating clinical myotonia and weakness from Thomsen's disease occurring only during pregnancies.

Advances in molecular genetics are allowing better phenotype to genotype correlation of the non-dystrophic myotonic disorders. We report a 32-year-old woman, who first noted myotonia that was associated with weakness during her first pregnancy. The work-up disclosed that she had Thomsen's disease which is not known to be associated with weakness.

[Multiple symmetrical lipomatosis (MSL): a clinical case and a review of the literature].

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis (MSL) is a rare condition of the fatty tissue affecting mostly white men between 20 and 65 years old especially in the mediterranean region. The disease is characterized by a massive development of large unencapsulated lipomas mainly located on the subcutaneous tissue of the cervical, deltoid, thoracic, abdominal and lumbar areas and it is often accompanied by hyperuricemia, dyslipemia, macrocytic anaemia, peripheral neuropathy, impaired glucose tolerance and alcohol consumption. Alcohol could both promote the development of lipomas through changes in the number and function of beta-adrenergic receptors and because of its lipogenic and antilipolytic action.

HIV incidence among repeat HIV testers with sexually transmitted diseases in Italy. STD Surveillance Working Group.

Objectives: To provide data on the incidence of HIV infection among repeat testers with sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in Italy.

Design: Retrospective longitudinal study.

Methods: Study participants, enrolled by 47 STD centres throughout Italy, included individuals with a newly diagnosed STD who were tested for HIV at the time of the STD diagnosis and who had a previous documented HIV-negative test.

Alpha interferon inhibits human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) reactivation in primary effusion lymphoma cells and reduces HHV-8 load in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Infection by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is associated with the development of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Since regression of KS can be achieved by treatment of the patients with alpha interferon (IFN-alpha), we analyzed the effects of IFN-alpha or anti-IFN-alpha antibodies (Ab) on HHV-8 latently infected primary effusion lymphoma-derived cell lines (BCBL-1 and BC-1) and on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with all forms of KS and from at-risk subjects. IFN-alpha inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the amplification of HHV-8 DNA in BCBL-1 cells induced to lytic infection with tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA).

High impedance low energy pacing leads: long-term results with a very small surface area steroid-eluting lead compared to three conventional electrodes.

We evaluated the handling performance at implant, and the long-term atrial and ventricular electrical performance of a new generation using a very small surface area (1.2 mm2) steroid-eluting electrode (Medtronic CapSure Z). We compared the performance of CapSure Z to that of traditional passive fixation leads, with and without steroid elution.

Risk factors for cervical presence of human papillomavirus DNA among women at risk for HIV infection. DIANAIDS Collaborative Study Group.

Risk factors for cervical infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) were assessed among 236 Italian women at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (intravenous drug users (IVDU) or sexual partners of males at risk for HIV infection). All study participants underwent a structured interview, determination of HIV serostatus and detection of HPV cervical infection by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Overall, the cervical presence of HPV DNA was ascertained in 86 of these 236 women (36.

Clinical reliability of single-lead VDD pacing from evaluation of P-wave sensing under dynamic conditions.

In a group of 20 patients implanted with a single-lead VDD pacing system, a wide interindividual variability was found in P-wave amplitude changes occurring under dynamic conditions, even though they were of minor clinical relevance because constant atrial tracking was maintained.

Mucosal immunogenicity of genetically detoxified derivatives of heat labile toxin from Escherichia coli.

Using a fixed dose of antigen, the immune response to detoxified mutants of LT-WT following intranasal (i.n.), subcutaneous (s.

Prevalence and determinants of anti-lytic and anti-latent antibodies to human herpesvirus-8 among Italian individuals at risk of sexually and parenterally transmitted infections.

Three hundred seventy-nine individuals [137 non-injecting drug using (non-IDU) heterosexuals, 130 homosexual men and 112 IDU] attending the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing program of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Rome were studied to estimate the prevalence and to identify the modalities of transmission of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection. Serological analysis was performed by using an immunofluorescence assay able to detect anti-latent and anti-lytic HHV-8 antibodies. Twelve acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) patients and 94 blood donors were tested as reference population groups.

Mononeuropathies associated with liver transplantation.

Mononeuropathies associated with orthotopic liver transplantation were evaluated in a prospective manner. Ten percent of liver transplant recipients were noted to have focal peripheral nerve lesions in the postoperative period. The ulnar nerve was most commonly involved, with intraoperative compression or postoperative trauma as possible mechanisms of injury.

Protection against Helicobacter pylori infection in mice by intragastric vaccination with H. pylori antigens is achieved using a non-toxic mutant of E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) as adjuvant.

We have previously shown that infection of mice with H. pylori can be prevented by oral immunization with H. pylori antigens given together with E.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy: non-French-Canadian pedigrees.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a late adult onset, autosomal dominant muscular dystrophy characterized by ptosis and dysphagia. The OPMD gene has been localized to chromosome 14q11.2-q13 in French-Canadian pedigrees.

Mucosal adjuvanticity and immunogenicity of LTR72, a novel mutant of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin with partial knockout of ADP-ribosyltransferase activity.

Heat-labile Escherichia coli enterotoxin (LT) has the innate property of being a strong mucosal immunogen and adjuvant. In the attempt to reduce toxicity and maintain the useful immunological properties, several LT mutants have been produced. Some of these are promising mucosal adjuvants.

Causes of neuromuscular weakness in the intensive care unit: a study of ninety-two patients.

The spectrum of neuromuscular disorders among intensive care unit (ICU) patients has shifted toward disorders acquired within the ICU and away from "traditional" neuromuscular disorders that lead to ICU admission. We sought to assess this spectrum by determining the causes and relative frequencies of neuromuscular disorders that led to electromyography (EMG) examinations in our ICU population. Ninety-two patients were studied over a 4 1/2-year period.

Neuropathy associated with hyperoxaluria: improvement after combined renal and liver transplantations.

Little is known about oxaluria-associated neuropathy, and no effective treatments have been described. We report two patients with clinically severe and progressive sensorimotor polyneuropathy associated with oxaluria. Electrodiagnostic testing and sural nerve histopathology revealed evidence of severe axon loss and demyelination.

Acute onset of colchicine myoneuropathy in cardiac transplant recipients: case studies of three patients.

Colchicine causes both muscle and peripheral nerve toxicity of subacute onset in patients with renal insufficiency. We report three cardiac transplant recipients, treated with colchicine for cyclosporin A (CyA)-induced gout, who developed acute weakness due to colchicine myoneuropathy. The onset of disabling weakness occurred over a 1-2 week period.

[Saliva: clinical and diagnostic usefulness. Review of the literature].

Modern clinical pathology is mainly based on the analysis of blood samples, carried out through more and more sophisticated techniques. Being the blood test an invasive technique, it certainly reduces the possibility of carrying out blood analysis, especially in patients such as children, old people, handicapped people and every person who needs continuous biochemical or pharmacological monitoring. In these cases it is very important to find other body fluids that can be easily obtained and that can offer the same reliable data as blood.

Determinants of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) on Pap smear: the role of HPV infection and of HIV-1-induced immunosuppression. DIANAIDS Collaborative Study Group.

This study aimed to identify risk factors for squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) in women with known HIV status and to explore the association between SIL, HPV subtype, and HIV-induced immunosuppression. The study population consisted of women with known HIV serological status who were attending a network of 16 clinical centres in Italy. Detailed behavioural data, clinical and laboratory parameters, and samples for diagnosis of SIL by Papanicolau smear and HPV infection using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were obtained from each study participant.