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D Dionisio

Publications and source records attributed to D Dionisio.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Use of furazolidone for the treatment of microsporidiosis due to Enterocytozoon bieneusi in patients with AIDS.

The efficacy of furazolidone for treatment of intestinal microsporidiosis due to Enterocytozoon bieneusi was studied in three patients with AIDS. All patients had chronic diarrhoea and weight loss. Mean CD4 cell count was 34.6/mm3. A course of furazolidone (100 mg orally four times a day) was given for 20 days. The drug was well tolerated and neither side effects nor alterations in the laboratory parameters were noted. Diarrhoea ceased within a mean of 12 days of starting treatment and clearance of microsporidian shedding in stool was observed. In one of the patients, however, symptomatic microsporidiosis recurred. Therefore furazolidone seems to have a transient but significant effect on intestinal infection due to Enterocytozoon bieneusi.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Cultural studies on two isolates of "Mycobacterium genavense" from patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Two strains of the newly proposed species "Mycobacterium genavense" have been isolated, using the radiometric system (Bactec, Becton Dickinson), from the blood of two HIV-infected patients. Disseminated infections due to the new organism closely resemble those of the Mycobacterium avium complex, with prevalently intestinal symptomatology. We report here on the cultural behavior of the isolates, which are enhanced at pH 6, are inhibited by NAP, do not require supplements, and grow best at 37 degrees C. We also report on the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections

[Intestinal mycobacterial infections in AIDS. Clinical course and treatment of infections caused by Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium genavense].

Digestive apparatus is a common target of atypical mycobacteriosis in AIDS patients (at least 50% of patients with CD4+ lymphocytes < 50/mm3). We describe the clinical-histological features of two cases of Whipple-like syndrome likely caused by Mycobacterium avium (MAI) (study performed by light and electron microscopy), of one case of infection caused by two morphological variants of a MAI strain with a different sensitivity to antibiotics, of one case of M. kansasii infection and of two cases of M. genavense infection accompanied by sensitivity tests to antibiotics (as far as we know, these are the first described quantitative sensitivity tests of M. genavense to antibiotics). In conclusion, we discuss the present therapeutical outlines for M. kansasii and avium, together with the teramporary pharmacological options for M. genavense as suggested by antibiotic sensitivity tests performed on the strains isolated from the studied patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

[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. enterocolitica has been isolated in 3.8% of 208 inflamed appendices from both pediatric and adults surgical florentine patients). At the end, the pathogenetic role of "new" other bacteria, like Buttiauxella agrestis, Aeromonas hydrophila, Arizona, Streptococcus lactis, is debated on the basis of a personal study.

Acute Disease

[Isosporiasis and sarcocystosis. The current findings].

A review on infections by Isospora belli and Sarcocystis spp. both in healthy and in AIDS patients is done on the basis of literature and personal data. In this view a special focus is made on isospora belli infection in AIDS because of its high recurrence after successful attack therapy. Consequently the most recent protocols for maintenance and attack therapy in these patients are reported. At the end, concerning ultrastructural pathology, the features of some Isospora belli developing stages are described by means of electron microscopy on duodenal biopsy specimens from a patient.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections

[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.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

[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.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Campylobacter laridis bacteraemia in an AIDS patient.

The likely first case of Campylobacter laridis bacteraemia in AIDS is reported. Microbiological, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of C. laridis human infection are also described.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

[Acute viral hepatitis in the Florence area: I. Epidemiologic study].

The sera of 401 patients admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases [U.S.L. (Unità Sanitaria Locale) 10 D] in Florence in one year were screened for the presence of markers of hepatitis A and B viruses. On the basis of clinical and serological data, the diagnosis of viral hepatitis was confirmed for 302 patients. Among the se, 73 (24.18%) were affected by hepatitis A, 182 (60.26%) by hepatitis B and 47 (15.56%) by nonA nonB hepatitis. The prevalence of B nonA nonB hepatitis in 133 drug addicts was 69.37% and 25.51% respectively. A previous infection with hepatitis A virus, as demonstrated by the presence of anti A antibodies of the IgG idiotype in the sera, was demonstrated in 201 of 328 patients (62.03%) not affected by hepatitis A. Only 14% of them reported data related to a possible former acute hepatitis. Markers of B virus were found in 62 of 167 sera of patients (37.12%) not affected by acute B hepatitis or chronic HBsAg positive hepatitis. However the prevalence of virus B markers increases up to 50% in the sera of drug addicts. According to our data the spreading of virus hepatitis in the area of Florence is similar to that observed in other Regions of Central and Northern Italy with fairly good social and hygienic conditions. High prevalence of nonA nonB hepatitis and of HBsAg carriers among the drug addicts are noteworthy.

Acute Disease

[Acute viral hepatitis in the Florence area: II. Immunologic study].

Sera obtained from 302 patients with acute viral hepatitis were studied for the presence of organ and non organ specific autoantibodies and of circulating immune complexes (CIC). Autoantibodies were determined by indirect immunofluorescence techniques and CICs were detected by 125 J - C1q assay (C1qBA according to Zubler et al., 1976). A high prevalence of anti smooth muscle autoantibodies (SMA) was found in the sera of the patients. In particular, SMA were found in the sera from 44/73 (60.2%), 92/182 (50.55%) and 10/47 (21.3%) of A, B and nonA nonB hepatitis, respectively. The highest prevalence of SMA was observed within 10 days after the clinical onset of the disease in hepatitis A patients and within 10-15 days in nonA nonB hepatitis. The prevalence of SMA in hepatitis B is persistently high during the first two weeks of illness, then decreases and, about the 3rd week, increases again. CIC were detected in 156 sera from 302 patients (51.65%) affected by acute viral hepatitis. The prevalence of CIC was significantly higher in hepatitis A (78.08%) than in B and nonA nonB hepatitis (45.6% and 34.03% respectively). CIC were demonstrated in almost all the sera of hepatitis A patients admitted between the 6th and the 15th day after the onset of the disease. A strict connection was observed between SMA and CIC and, although to a lesser extent, between CIC and markers of A and B viruses. No significant connection between CIC and serum aminotransferase or bilirubin levels was noted. CIC screening was performed weekly for 1 month after admission in 225 patients with acute viral hepatitis. According to our data, the clearance of immune complexes from serum seems to occur more quickly in B and nonA nonB hepatitis than in virus A hepatitis.

Acute Disease

[Proctocolitis caused by Schistosoma mansoni in AIDS. A clinical and immunohistochemical study of a case].

An imported case of intestinal schistosomiasis in AIDS is analysed by the relationships between immune response, diagnostic methods, pathogenetic mechanisms. The inconclusiveness of negative results from both serology and stool parasitology is remarked whereas the efficacy of associated histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods is emphasized in order to get better data on aetiological diagnosis and on cell types and size of reactive granulomas. In the case studied, negative serology, absent fecal egg excretion and uneffective granulomatous response with scarcity of T and B lymphocytes have been documented by means of the above methods.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

[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.

Adult