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B Suligoi

Publications and source records attributed to B Suligoi.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

HIV infection increases the risk of squamous intra-epithelial lesions in women with HPV infection: an analysis of HPV genotypes. DIANAIDS Collaborative Study Group.

We assessed the association between different HPV genotypes, HIV infection, and cervical squamous intra-epithelial lesions (SIL) in 236 women with known HIV serostatus enrolled in a longitudinal multicentric study in Italy. Of these women, 135 were HIV-infected, and were not markedly different from HIV-negative women with regard to demographic characteristics, sexual practices, smoking, or intravenous drug use. We obtained 232 cervical smears suitable for cytological examination and HPV-genotype analysis (134 from HIV-positive women and 98 from HIV-negative women). For 86 HIV-positive and 89 HIV-negative women, the smears appeared normal at cytomorphological analysis. Cytological dysplasia of varying degrees was detected in 48 smears from HIV-positive women and in 9 from HIV-negative women. HPV prevalence, assessed using polymerase-chain-reaction analysis, did not significantly differ between HIV-positive and HIV-negative women. The prevalence of HPV-associated SIL was much greater among HIV-infected women. The most frequently detected genotypes in both groups were HPV 16 and HPV 18. The prevalence of HPV 16 among HIV-positive women was similar to that for HIV-negative women; this was also true for HPV 18. However, in the HIV-positive group, most of these genotypes were associated with SIL. HIV-positive women showed a wider spectrum of genotypes, including non-oncogenic and rare types. An association between SIL and HIV infection was confirmed for all HPV genotype classes.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Sexually transmitted diseases among foreigners in Italy. Migration Medicine Study Group.

A sentinel surveillance system for the control of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among foreigners was developed in Italy in 1991. From January 1991 to June 1995, 4030 foreigners with a new STD episode were reported. More than one-third of them were North-Africans. The most frequent STDs were non-specific urethritis and genital warts among men, and non-specific vaginitis and latent syphilis among women. The overall HIV prevalence was 5%, with large differences in rates in people from different continents. Very high HIV-positivity rates were observed among homosexuals and homosexual IDUs from Central-South America, with 39.1% and 77.8% seropositive individuals respectively. These data stress the need for increased knowledge of both the spread of risk factors for STDs among immigrants. Particular attention should be paid to counselling procedures focused on the prevention of risk behaviours for acquiring STDs and HIV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

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. The strength of the association between SIL and possible risk factors was assessed calculating crude and adjusted odds ratios derived from univariate analysis and multivariate models. We enrolled 236 women, of whom 135 (57.2%) were HIV-infected. SIL was diagnosed in 57 women (24.1%); of these, 48 (35.6%) were HIV-infected and 9 (8.9%) were HIV-negative. HPV-DNA was detected in 41 (72%) women with SIL and in 45 (25%) women without SIL. HPV-DNA was more often detected among HIV-infected women than among HIV-negative women (40% vs. 32%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Women infected with high-risk types or with low-risk-uncharacterised types of HPV both had a higher risk of SIL compared with HPV-negative women (respectively, AOR: 17.53 and AOR: 2.89). HIV-infected women with severe or moderate immunosuppression were more likely to have SIL than HIV-negative women (respectively, AOR: 7.29 and AOR: 3.09) also independently from HPV infection. Women reporting use of a contraceptive pill had a 2.5 times higher risk of SIL compared with those who never used hormonal contraceptives. The results confirm that high-risk HPV types are strongly associated with SIL, and that HIV infection may strengthen the effect of HPV at cervical level. The use of oral contraceptives may slightly increase the risk of SIL in women with at-risk behaviour for HIV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The natural history of human immunodeficiency virus infection among women as compared with men.

There has been growing interest in the issue of human immunodeficiency virus infection among women, both because of the increasing number of women worldwide infected in recent years (and consequently a higher number of infected children) and because of the higher efficacy of male-to-female transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, which leads to higher risk for women of acquiring the infection compared with men. The present reviews is an attempt to outline the main results obtained from the most recent longitudinal studies conducted among cohorts of human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals that include analyses of the differences between males and females in the progression of the infection. No evidence of major gender differences between males and females in progression to acquired immune deficiency syndrome or to death is shown by any o the reviewed articles.

Female↗
PubMed1992

Hormonal and immunological pattern in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome related complex and Cushing's syndrome.

A case of Cushing's syndrome in a 24-yr-old homosexual with an AIDS-related complex is reported. In this patient certain symptoms common to both diseases, i.e. weakness, myalgia and muscle atrophy were accentuated, whereas other symptoms pathognomic of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, i.e. lymphoadenopathies and weight loss, were less pronounced by the high levels of circulating adrenal steroids. Ketoconazole was administered po in order to block adrenal steroidogenesis, the drug caused a remarkable fall of cortisol serum concentrations, but was unable to modify significantly the immunological pattern of the patient. Our data suggest that changes of serum adrenal steroid levels have little effect on the immune network of patients with AIDS.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1992

The National Surveillance System for Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Italy. STD Surveillance Working Group.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have increased in importance in recent decades as a result of their wider dissemination, the emergence of new etiologic agents, and changes in sexual behaviors. In Italy, gonorrhea and syphilis are among the 71 diseases for which reporting is legally mandated. Despite these legal requirements, however, considerable underreporting has been documented. The need for more reliable data has led to the establishment of a formal sentinel surveillance system for STDs. The Italian National STD Surveillance Network, which involves 47 reporting centers, was established in 1990. A total of 5,049 patients were reported during the pilot study and the first 6 months of surveillance. For men, the most frequently reported diseases were genital warts and nongonococcal urethritis; for women, the most frequent diagnoses were nonspecific vaginitis and genital warts. The objectives of this system are threefold: a) to obtain a rapid and accurate assessment of the occurrence and spread of STDs; b) to identify trends in disease occurrence; and c) to monitor changes over time by geographic area.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Sexually transmitted diseases in Italy: clinical returns versus statutory notifications.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) surveillance has caught the attention of the Italian public health authorities during the past decades. The spread of HIV infection increased the awareness of the need for a better STD surveillance system. This paper reports a retrospective survey of STD clinics in Italy, intended to form an epidemiological base for further development of STD surveillance. The data for 1986-87 and 1988 on a predefined set of diseases, all of them sexually transmitted, were collected from 85 of 127 centres contacted. The data obtained offer the first national figures for some STD not included in the statutory notification list, such as chlamydial infection, herpes and genital warts, as well as HIV infections. Those data show an increase in time frequencies. For gonorrhoea and syphilis, it was possible to compare our data with statutory notifications, showing a large gap between notified and reported cases. This gap is not stable in time (increasing in time) or in geographical area (increasing from north to south).

Gonorrhea↗
PubMed1989

A national voice for information about HIV infections: the Italian state AIDS hot-line.

Because of the variety of problems connected with the AIDS epidemic, there is an urgent need for qualified information and counselling. In June 1987, The Italian Ministry of Health established a hot-line, acting within the National AIDS Operational Centre. Through the analysis of more than 39,000 calls received during the first year of activity, a clear outline has been obtained of the emotional impact of the disease on Italian public opinion, and of the problems raised. 67% of callers belong to 20-39 age group; the male/female ratio is 2:1. Interesting correlations have been found between the content of the questions and the sex, age, and type of caller. The vast majority of questions concerning basic concepts and notions about HIV infections are asked by no-risk-related subjects. During the first year, the percentage of questions asked by subjects actually at risk increased, and the questions themselves have become more specific.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

HBV infection in chronic alcoholics. A survey on 287 cases.

Out of 287 chronic alcoholics, 21 of whom (7.32%) resulted HBsAg positive, 106 were tested for other serum HBV markers. An overall HBV prevalence of 55.66% was found. Cirrhotic patients were slightly older than non-cirrhotics (median age: 51 vs. 47), but the prevalence of both HBsAg and other HBV markers did not differ significantly between the two groups, neither among age classes. A relevant number of subjects (18.87%) had anti-HBc alone (or associated with anti-HBe) as the unique marker of HBV infection; this leads to some uncertainties in the evaluation of active viral disease. HBV positivity rate resulted significantly higher (p less than 0.01) in alcoholics than in two control groups, composed by health-care staff and open population (respectively 34% and 32.81% of positivity). Even if hepatitis B virus did not seem to affect directly the progress to liver cirrhosis in chronic alcoholics, a large number of patients seemed unable to clear the virus, whose importance in the development of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma is well established. For these reasons, it seems advisable to include chronic alcoholics in high-risk groups that should be vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The national STD surveillance system in Italy: results of the first year of activity. STD Surveillance Working Group.

A prospective STD surveillance system was developed in Italy in 1990. Newly diagnosed cases of sexually transmitted disease (STD) are reported by a network of 45 sentinel STD clinics throughout the country. A total of 10,253 patients were reported between September 1990 and December 1991. The most frequent diagnoses were genital warts (30.8%), non-specific genital infection (male) (12.8%), and non-specific genital infection (female) (11.5%). All patients were asked to undergo an HIV test; 68.4% accepted, of whom 9.3% were seropositive. During the 16-month study period HIV prevalence decreased among IDUs and homo-bisexuals, but increased among non-IDU heterosexuals. These data suggest that STD patients may represent a useful early warning system to detect changes in the epidemic and in the spread of the virus among low-risk heterosexuals. A better counselling programme is needed to improve the acceptance rate of HIV testing among STD patients, and to draw more attention to at-risk sexual behaviours.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Human herpesvirus-8 and other viral infections, Papua New Guinea.

We studied residents of remote villages and the capital (Port Moresby) of Papua New Guinea to determine the distribution of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection. Our data suggest that HHV-8 has been endemic on the island for a long time and that the epidemiologic pattern of HHV-8 is more similar to that of herpes simplex virus-2 than hepatitis C virus.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Longitudinal analysis of the 90K glycoprotein in the Italian HIV-seroconversion study: temporal trend and predictability of the maturity of HIV infection.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the level of 90K as a predictor of AIDS; to describe 90K levels over time after HIV serconversion; and to evaluate the 90K level as a marker of the maturity of infection. DESIGN: Prospective incident cohort of HIV-infected individuals with documented dates of seroconversion. METHODS: Cox models were applied to estimate the crude and adjusted relative hazards (RH) of AIDS by level of 90K. Regression models were applied to describe the temporal trend and the correlates of the level of 90K over time after HIV-seroconversion. Logistic models were applied to evaluate the probability of a sample of 90K having been taken within a certain time period after HIV-seroconversion. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 150 participants of the Italian Seroconversion Study. A total of 429 measurements of 90K were taken. Both early and later measurements of 90K were highly predictive of AIDS, also when adjusting for CD4 lymphocyte count and HIV load. The 90K level (U/ml) increased by 10% annually (95% CI: 7%-13%); the increase over time was linear. IDUs had higher 90K levels than heterosexuals and homosexuals over the course of HIV disease. High 90K levels were highly predictive of distant seroconversions (age-adjusted probability, 74%), whereas were poorly predictive of recent seroconversions (age-adjusted probability, 5%); the results were similar for the predictability of CD4 lymphocyte count. CONCLUSIONS: The level of 90K is a useful prognostic tool for clinical purposes. As a marker of the maturity of infection, 90K is similar to the CD4 lymphocyte count, with the advantage of being able to use serum instead of fresh whole blood. It has a good capacity to identify distant infections.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗