Acute respiratory distress syndrome due to influenza virus A/H1N1v in a patient with HIV/HCV co-infection.

The clinical severity of human infection with the novel influenza virus A/H1N1v has not been completely defined, especially in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients. Although most patients develop mild to moderate symptoms, severe disease may occur in a limited proportion of cases. We report the case of a 44-year-old man infected with HIV and HCV with a high CD4 cell count who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with influenza virus A/H1N1v infection.

Serum adenosine deaminase activity in HIV positive subjects. A hypothesis on the significance of ADA2.

Adenosine deaminase activity (ADA) was assayed in the serum of 137 HIV positive subjects: 131 intravenous drug abusers, 3 female partners of HIV positive abusers, 1 son of HIV positive abuser and 2 blood-transfused patients, subdivided into the following groups: 73 asymptomatic, 15 with ARC, 37 with LAS, 5 with L-AIDS and 7 with AIDS. Results show an increase of ADA activity in 100% of L-AIDS group, in 64% of AIDS group, in 62% and 42% of LAS and ARC groups, respectively, and in 36% of the asymptomatic groups. These findings must be confirmed with wider series in order to be further and better evaluated.

Increased red cell calcium, decreased calcium adenosine triphosphatase, and altered membrane proteins during fava bean hemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient (Mediterranean variant) individuals.

RBCs from four glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient (Mediterranean variant) subjects were studied during fava bean hemolysis. In the density-fractionated RBC calcium level, Ca2+-ATPase activity, reduced glutathione level, and ghost protein pattern were studied. In the bottom fraction, containing most heavily damaged RBCs, calcium level ranged from 143 to 244 mumol/L RBCs (healthy G6PD-deficient controls: 17 +/- 5 mumol/L RBCs).

Red cell G6PD decay in circulating cells: a possible marker for variants identification.

The age dependent decay of G6PD activity was studied in G6PD deficient red cells free of leukocytes and platelets and separated on a density gradient. The pattern of decay can be a useful additional parameter to characterize enzyme variants.

Mechanisms of red cell clearance in favism.

Divicine (2,6-diamino-4,5-dihydroxypyrimidine) is a quinoid compound contained in high amounts in all fava bean strains. It elicits a number of metabolic and rheological modifications in G6PD-deficient RBC. Besides this, it stimulates erythrophagocytosis by mouse peritoneal macrophages and formation of crossbonded red cells.

Effect of divicine and isouramil on red cell metabolism in normal and G6PD-deficient (Mediterranean variant) subjects. Possible role in the genesis of favism.

Fava beans contain high amounts (up to 6.7 g/100 g dry weight) vicine and convicine. Their active aglycones divicine and isouramil have equivalent metabolic effects.