Human infections due to Mycobacterium lentiflavum.

Three cases of human disease due to Mycobacterium lentiflavum are reported. In the first, the mycobacterium was responsible for chronic pulmonary disease in an elderly woman; in the second, it gave rise to cervical lymphadenitis in a child; and in the third, it caused a liver abscess in a young AIDS patient.

Archetypal and rearranged sequences of human polyomavirus JC transcription control region in peripheral blood leukocytes and in cerebrospinal fluid.

Two forms of human polyomavirus JC (JCV) genome are known based upon the structure of the transcriptional control region (TCR) of the virus: the archetypal form, which is commonly detected in urine, and the rearranged form, which was first detected in brain tissue from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) patients. The latter actually includes a group of TCR variants that, relative to the former, are characterized by various deletions and/or duplications. The aim of this study was to establish whether or not a correlation exists among the TCR type, the spreading of the virus within the host and its ability to cause PML.

Correlation between plasma HIV-1 RNA levels and the rate of immunologic decline.

To determine the influence of HIV-1 replication on immunologic decline and clinical outcome, we quantified the HIV-1 plasma viral load in 20 patients at different times over a mean period of 10.8 months. Quantitation was performed by branched DNA signal amplification (bDNA) and p24 antigenemia.

Human herpesvirus-6 reactivation in a longitudinal study of two HIV-1 infected patients.

After primary infection, human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) persists in latent form and can be reactivated in immunocompromised subjects. A longitudinal study of HHV-6 infection was carried out in two HIV-1 seropositive patients to provide in vivo evidence of HHV-6 reactivation. Concomitant with a significant rise of anti-HHV-6 IgG detected by IFA, a transient increase of HHV-6 viral load was shown in PBLs by PCR.

Quantitation of HCV viraemia by branched DNA signal amplification in patients treated with alpha-interferon--a longitudinal study.

Using bDNA, the plasma viral load trend of HCV-infected patients undergoing IFN therapy was analyzed. Nine patients were enrolled, each assigned to one of three groups, based on IFN response as determined by ALT and AST level trend. HCV was genotyped using DEIA.

Electrophysiological study of neurologically asymptomatic HIV1 seropositive patients.

EEGs, brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 33 individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV1+ patients: 13 CDC Class II or III; 20 Class IV). All were neurologically asymptomatic, non-demented, and had a past history of intravenous drug abuse. Sixteen age- and sex-matched normals and 10 HIV1- former drug addicts served as controls.

[Appendicitis: microbial interactions and new pathogens].

The Authors present an exhaustive review on microbial agents of appendicitis by means of literature and personal research data. Thus, a detailed analysis is made on common autochthonous agents and their pathogenetic interactions and on less common exogenous bacterial, viral, mycotic, protozoan and helminthic agents with emphasis to the role of Yersinia enterocolitica. In fact this bacterium seems responsible for 3% to 8% of cases in accordance with literature and personal research data (more detailed, Y.

[Intestinal microbial pathology in AIDS. A clinical case series].

Microbial isolates from 60 diarrheic AIDS patients hospitalized to the Infectious Disease Division of Careggi hospital (Florence) are described. Clinical, microbiological and diagnostic features of each case are discussed with emphasis to some rare or underestimated entities in Europe: Campylobacter laridis bacteremia, Whipple-like disease by atypical Mycobacteria, Schistosoma mansoni proctocolitis. Results regarding newly AIDS-related microorganisms are also stressed.

[Pseudo-Whipple disease caused by atypical mycobacteriosis in AIDS: a clinical and electron microscopic study of 2 cases].

The Authors focus on two cases, studied by electron and light microscopy, of Whipple-like disease caused by atypical mycobacteria in AIDS. Differential characteristics between the cases and classical Whipple's disease are analyzed with regard to the diagnostic and therapeutical peculiarities of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection which accounts for over 80% of atypical mycobacterial infections in AIDS. In this regard the Authors stress the role of histological findings of pale blue striated histiocytes as a marker of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection.

[Amebic liver abscess: 2 imported cases].

Two imported cases of amebic liver abscess are discussed with regard to laboratory, diagnostic and therapeutic peculiarities. The diagnostic role of ultrasonography and especially of specific serology is stressed, whereas in therapeutic terms, the efficacy of medical approach alone is emphasized even when complications until yesterday surgically treated occur.