Intranodal palisaded myofibroblastoma: report of three new cases.

Intranodal palisaded myofibroblastoma is a well-defined entity in the group of spindle-cell neoplasms of lymph nodes. The authors report 3 new cases of this unusual tumor. The nature of the proliferating cells is discussed.

HIV-related Hodgkin's disease. Report of nine cases.

Background: The association between lymphoproliferative disease and AIDS is now well known, but only non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (LNH) are surely related to HIV infection. Hodgkin's disease (HD) occurs rarely in HIV seropositives, so it is impossible to establish a connection between AIDS and this neoplasm.

Methods And Result: We describe nine cases of HIV seropositive patients who developed HD in different stages of the HIV infection.

[Correlation between the nucleolar organizer region in adenocarcinoma of the prostate and the Gleason system].

Using a silver staining, technique, Nucleolar Organizer Region-associated proteins (NORs) were studied on paraffin sections of 25 resected prostatic adenocarcinomas classified with Gleason grading and 11 hyperplastic lesions. Then 7 inclusions was selected for each grade of Gleason system and 7 inclusions of normal prostatic tissue. The mean numbers of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) increased significantly (P less than 0.

Immunoglobulin G3-specific antibodies as a marker for early diagnosis of HIV infection in children.

Early diagnosis of HIV infection in the child of an HIV-infected mother may be difficult as HIV-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies are transmitted to the fetus transplacentally. In an attempt to provide a new, simpler tool for early identification of HIV-infected children we analysed the HIV-specific IgG subclass pattern during the first year of life. One hundred and one samples were collected from 35 children born to HIV-seropositive mothers, among whom 18 seroreverted during follow-up and 17 were HIV-infected (two P1 and 15 P2 according to the Centers for Disease Control classification).

Neurophysiological markers of central and peripheral involvement of the nervous system in HIV-infection.

Peroneal motor and sural sensory conduction velocities (MNCVs/SNCVs), somatosensory evoked potentials to median nerve stimulation (MN-SEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to transcranial stimulation were examined in 138 HIV-infected patients (in the different stages of the disease), 20 seronegative intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs), and 20 healthy subjects. Findings of peroneal MNCV slowing in patients ranged from 16% (asymptomatic HIV patients) to 63% (AIDS) and of sural SNCV slowing from 13% to 40%. Altered MN-SEPs ranged from 10% to 30%, and MEPs ranged from 44% to 72%, mostly due to a prolongation of the central motor conduction time (CMCT).

Phagocytosis of human erythrocytes by Naegleria is not related to species pathogenicity. A phase-contrast cinemicrographic study.

This phase contrast cinemicrographic study evaluated the phagocytic activity of Naegleria spp. (Naegleria fowleri, Naegleria australiensis and Naegleria lovaniensis) towards human red cells. Thus erythrophagocytosis, a marker of pathogeneicity for Entamoeba histolytica, did not correlate with virulence in either the pathogenic or non-pathogenic Naegleria spp.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection in "sine causa" recurrent abortion.

One hundred and one women suffering from "sine causa" recurrent abortion were screened for Chlamydia trachomatis (C.T.) infection by using direct examination, cultural and serological procedures.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection in primary unexplained infertility.

In recent years Chlamydia trachomatis has emerged as a significant cause of acute salpingitis and reproductory failure. In this study, 85 women suffering from primary infertility and 85 parous women as control group were screened for C. trachomatis genital infection by means of cell culture and antigen detection on genital samples as well as the detection of anti-chlamydial antibodies in blood.

[Nucleolus organizer regions in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm].

Using a silver staining technique, Nucleolar Organizer Region-associated proteins (NORs) were evaluated on paraffin sections of 16 resected prostatic adenocarcinomas stage A1. Then 30 histological areas was selected which comprised 6 areas for each grade of Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia: PIN 1, PIN 2, PIN 3, 6 areas of normal glandular prostatic epithelium and 6 areas of well differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma (Gleason I). The mean numbers of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) increased from normal glandular prostatic epithelium to PIN 3, while the mean numbers of well differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma was similar to PIN 1.

Kinetics of p24 antigenemia, IgM, IgG antibodies to p24 and p41 and Ig virus isolation in rabbits experimentally infected with HIV-1.

In rabbits experimentally infected with 1.10(5) u.i.

Use of monoclonal antibodies to human breast-tumor-associated antigens in the diagnosis of fine-needle aspirates of breast nodules: results of a multicenter study.

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is being increasingly employed in conjunction with physical examination and mammography in the pre-surgical diagnosis of breast nodules. In the present study, we have submitted to multicenter validation an immunocytochemical test which employs monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to breast-tumor-associated antigens (BTAA) for the diagnosis of breast cancer. The results of this analysis, which has evaluated 846 FNAs, show that the immunological test has a sensitivity of 88.

Bone marrow morphology and proliferative activity in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Peripheral cytopenia has been reported in a number of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), but the mechanism of bone marrow (BM) failure is unclear. We have examined the BM morphology and cytokinetics of 16 untreated HIV-positive patients whose clinical condition ranged from asymptomatic (stage 1 WR and II CDC classifications) to overt AIDS (stage 6 WR and IV CDC classifications). BM aspirates and iliac crest threphine biopsies were obtained for myelogram and histologic examination, as well as for propidium iodide flow cytometric (FMC) DNA analysis.

Therapy of entamebiasis.

Therapy of entamebiasis is critical in that, if untreated, the disease can be fatal. Recently, a new method for differentiating pathogenic and non-pathogenic amebae has been standardized. This method relies upon the electrophoretic analysis of 4 isoenzymes which allow the identification of 20 different zymodemes.

Usefulness of computerized electroencephalography in diagnosing, staging and monitoring AIDS-dementia complex.

One hundred and one subjects, with various degrees of HIV infection, were enrolled in a longitudinal study aimed at evaluating the correlation between clinical and instrumental findings in the development of HIV-related subacute encephalitis. The method used was electroencephalography coupled with computerized spectral analysis (EEG-CSA) and mapping. The findings recorded by this method were compared with those obtained by computed tomography (CT) scan and neurological examination.

[Intraepithelial prostatic neoplasia: a new dysplastic lesion of the prostate].

Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia were studied retrospectively in 455 cases of surgically resected prostates: 387 benign hypertrophies and 68 adenocarcinomas. The frequency of PIN was highest among prostatic adenocarcinomas well differentiated while the benign hypertrophies showed a lower frequency and a moderate increase with age. The prognostic importance of this lesion in prostatic biopsies is discussed on account of its strong predictive value.

Detection of IgG anti-HIV antibodies in mice experimentally infected with HIV-1.

In the present work we report our preliminary data demonstrating the susceptibility of mouse to HIV infection. IgG antibodies were found in mice intraperitoneally inoculated with H9/HTLV-IIIB infected cells. Infected mice showed a humoral response and the antibodies detection includes specific immunoglobulin directed against the major gene product of HIV.

Ultrasonographic and microbiological diagnosis of mycetic liver abscesses in patients with AIDS.

A rare case of multiple mycetic abscesses in a patient with AIDS is reported: the diagnosis was suspected after an ultrasound (US) examination and was obtained with US guided percutaneous puncture. The US appearance and differential diagnosis of mycetic liver abscesses are discussed and the increasing role of US and US guided percutaneous puncture in the screening of these patients is stressed.

The spectrum of chronic hepatitis in the last two decades in a university hospital for infectious diseases.

During the last eighteen years (1970-1987) at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the University of Pavia, Ospedale Policlinico S. Matteo, IRCCS, Pavia (referral Center for hepatitis in our district: 502534 inhabitants) we observed 4238 patients (2706 M = 63.8%; 1532 F = 36.

An in vitro comparative study on the effect of amphotericin B, econazole, and 5-fluorocytosine on Naegleria fowleri, Naegleria australiensis, and Naegleria australiensis s.sp. italica.

We tested in vitro amphotericin B (AMP-B), econazole (ECO), and 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) on pathogenic Naegleria fowleri (KUL strain), Naegleria australiensis s.sp. italica (AB-T-F3, original strain) to assess their sensitivity to chemotherapeutic compounds.

Serial study of liver-directed autoantibodies and autoreactive T-lymphocytes in acute viral hepatitis B.

To explore the mechanisms underlying liver-directed autoimmune reactions in acute Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, we followed five subjects who were identified in the early incubation phase (30-70 days before the first elevation of transaminases). We assessed serially cellular (using a T-lymphocyte migration inhibitory factor assay) and humoral (RIA) immunity to LSP (a macromolecular, liver-derived lipoprotein complex) and hepatic lectin (HL), the liver-specific receptor for desialylated glycoproteins, which appears to be a major target antigen for autoreactions in autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. Anti-LSP and anti-HL autoantibodies were found, at some stage during acute HBV infection, in 4/5 subjects, whereas cellular immunity to the same antigens was detected in only two patients.

Sequential studies of pre-S2 antigenemia and anti-pre-S2 antibodies in relation to viral replication in acute hepatitis B followed from the early incubation phase.

To determine the time sequence of expression of pre-S2 peptide (120-150) during the presymptomatic phase of acute hepatitis B, we used a monoclonal antibody radioimmunoassay in five subjects followed from 30 to 70 days before the onset of liver damage. Pre-S2 peptide was present in serum at low levels from the early incubation phase and started to increase immediately after the first detection of HBV-DNA in serum, in parallel with the increase in HBsAg levels. During the symptomatic phase, levels of pre-S2 peptide declined rapidly; it was no longer detectable after recovery.

Prospective study of cellular immunity to hepatitis-B-virus antigens from the early incubation phase of acute hepatitis B.

Cellular immunity to hepatitis-B-virus (HBV) antigens was followed prospectively in five patients who were identified in the early incubation phase of acute HBV infection, between 30 and 70 days before the onset of liver damage. Cellular immunity to pre-S antigens was the first detectable immune response, appearing 30 days before the first rise in serum aminotransferases in every case. T-cell sensitisation to HBcAg followed, with IgM anti-HBc appearing 10 days later.