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Biomedical subjects

D Torre

Publications and source records attributed to D Torre.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Ventriculoatrial shunt infection caused by Staphylococcus warneri: case report and review.

Staphylococcus warneri, a coagulase-negative species, is a rare cause of infection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts. In one recently studied case of ventriculoatrial shunt infection, the repeated isolation of S. warneri (i.e., from all of six blood cultures and from a CSF sample obtained directly from the valve of the shunt) suggested that this organism can be clinically significant. Review of the literature clearly indicates that S. warneri is a rare but potentially dangerous pathogen in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts with prosthetic devices. The removal of the infected shunt in association with systemic and local antibiotic administration probably constitutes the treatment of choice in such infections. Further experience is needed to determine the prevalence and the pathogenic significance of S. warneri and of the related organisms Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus in patients with prosthetic devices.

Bacteremia↗
PubMed1992

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of IL-6 in patients with acute infections of the central nervous system.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity was measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with acute bacterial or viral meningitis and in AIDS patients with various cerebral disorders. Increased levels of IL-6 were detected in the CSF of patients with bacterial meningitis. On the contrary, most of the samples from patients with viral meningitis (predominantly caused by mumps virus) had no detectable IL-6 activity in CSF. A moderate increase of IL-6 levels was detected in the CSF of AIDS patients with AIDS dementia complex (ADC), progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and cerebral toxoplasmosis. Moreover, higher levels of IL-6 were detected in the CSF of patients with cryptococcal meningitis. We conclude that the initial events of CSF inflammation in patients with acute viral meningitis are different from those in patients with acute bacterial meningitis, and the role of IL-6 is less critical to the process.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1991

In vitro and ex vivo effects of recent and new macrolide antibiotics on chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The effects of five macrolide antibiotics: erythromycin, josamycin, miokamycin, roxithromycin and rokitamycin, on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotaxis was studied in vitro and ex vivo. At therapeutic concentrations none of the antibiotics tested affected in vitro PMN chemotaxis. In vitro, erythromycin, josamycin, miokamycin, roxithromycin and rokitamycin decreased PMN chemotaxis significantly only at the concentration of 10 mg/l, which is not usually reached in vivo. Ex vivo studies after the ingestion of therapeutic doses of erythromycin, josamycin, miokamycin and roxithromycin by five volunteers showed a significant effect on PMN chemotaxis. However, further studies are needed to confirm and better evaluate the clinical significance of recent and novel macrolides on PMN chemotaxis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1991

Cerebrospinal fluid concentration of fibronectin in meningitis.

Fibronectin concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid were assessed in 20 patients with acute meningitis using a turbidimetric immunoassay. A significant increase in fibronectin concentrations was observed in patients with bacterial meningitis; decreased concentrations were observed in patients with viral meningitis. The determination of fibronectin concentration in patients with bacterial meningitis may represent a useful marker in differentiating bacterial from viral meningitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Dermatologic manifestations of AIDS in children.

A wide variety of clinical expressions of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been apparent from the earliest case reports in adult patients and pediatric patients. Both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and AIDS in children are associated with an increased prevalence of several dermatologic manifestations. In this article we present a review of the recent literature describing the cutaneous manifestations of pediatric AIDS. The cutaneous manifestations of AIDS in children can be divided into three categories: (1) neoplastic manifestations; (2) viral, bacterial and fungal manifestations, and (3) vascular lesions and other manifestations. Pediatricians as well as dermatologists may be the first physicians to recognize and to treat the clinical manifestations of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Total serum IgE levels in children with pertussis.

Total serum IgE levels were evaluated in 20 children with pertussis. Increased levels of serum IgE were observed in the group of children between the ages of 3 and 12 years, while normal levels of serum IgE were detected in the groups of children between birth and 24 months old and between 13 and 24 months old. A further and significant increment of serum IgE levels was also found after 10 days of hospitalization.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Group- and type-specific serologic response in infants and children with primary rotavirus infections and gastroenteritis caused by a strain of known serotype.

Antibody response to group A rotavirus (RV), investigated in paired sera from 72 infants and young children with acute gastroenteritis caused by an RV infection, was diagnosed on the basis of a fourfold or greater rise in group A common RV IgG antibody titer. Virus-specific IgM was detected in sera from 64 patients showing seroconversion; these were considered primary infection. RV was detected in stools of 56 (77.8%) patients with serologic evidence of infection and 54 were considered primary infection isolates: 39, serotype 1; 11, serotype 4; and 2, serotype 2. Two could not be typed. Neutralizing antibody studies showed that in primary infections serotype 1 induced an antibody response to serotype 4 at least fourfold lower than the homotypic response; serotype 2 elicited antibody titers to serotypes 1 and 4 at least fourfold lower than homotypic titer; and serotype 4 infections produced a response to serotype 1 as high as the homotypic response. Of 12 patients with primary infection, virus was not typed in 2 or detected in 10; however, the infecting serotype was identified on the basis of distinct patterns of homotypic and heterotypic antibody response.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

Chemotactic activity of pertussis toxin on murine lymphocytes. Its potential role on lymphocyte accumulation in the lung.

The effects of pertussis toxin on lymphocyte migration were studied in vitro. In this study pertussis toxin significantly stimulated lymphocyte migration at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 microgram ml-1 using a microchamber and the leading-front method. Checkerboard analysis demonstrated that pertussis toxin causes directed migration of lymphocytes (chemotaxis). Heat-treatment pertussis toxin abolished its capacity to cause this migration. When murine lymphocytes were preincubated with different concentrations of pertussis toxin, an inhibition of chemotaxis at the dosages of 0.1 and 1 microgram ml-1 was observed. On the other hand, lymphocytes derived from mice treated with pertussis toxin were not inhibited after subsequent exposure to pertussis toxin in vitro. Since lymphocyte accumulation in the lungs of mice treated with pertussis toxin has been well demonstrated, the results of our study could suggest a chemotactic activity of pertussis toxin in determining accumulation of lymphocytes in this organ.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effects of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta on accumulation of inflammatory peritoneal macrophages in mice treated with pertussis toxin.

In this study we report that treatment with recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rIL-1 beta) (10 U per mouse, intraperitoneally) significantly increased the number of inflammatory macrophages in the peritoneal cavity of mice treated with pertussis toxin (PT) (1 micrograms per mouse, intravenously). The administration of rIL-1 beta in a single intraperitoneal dose (10 U per mouse) 1 or 2 days before challenge with PT did not prevent the decrease in the number of inflammatory macrophages in the peritoneal cavity of mice. On the other hand, the simultaneous administration of rIL-1 beta and PT, as well as the administration of rIL-1 beta 24 h after injection of PT, significantly counteracted the inhibitory effect of PT on inflammatory peritoneal macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Plasma fibronectin concentrations in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Plasma fibronectin (PFN) concentrations were assessed in 21 patients with AIDS, in seven with AIDS-related complex (ARC), in 17 asymptomatic seropositive patients, and in 36 age and sex matched healthy control subjects. A single radial immunodiffusion technique was used to determine PFN concentration. A significant decrease in PFN concentrations was observed in patients with ARC and AIDS (especially in those patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis). On the other hand, normal PFN concentrations were observed in asymptomatic seropositive patients. The determination of PFN concentration in patients with AIDS and ARC may contribute to the diagnosis of such patients.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1990

Necrotizing pneumonitis and empyema caused by Streptococcus cremoris from milk.

A 24-year-old heterosexual male, HIV-infected intravenous drug addict, with necrotizing pneumonitis and empyema due to Streptococcus cremoris is presented. The patient had fever, severe dyspnea and chest pain. Chest roentgenogram demonstrated pleural effusion on the left side. A thoracocentesis revealed purulent exudate and S. cremoris was isolated. Fever and pleural effusion disappeared with penicillin and clindamycin therapy. The most likely source of the infection was ingestion of unpasteurized milk and cheese.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Polarization and capping of lymphocytes in HIV infection.

The present study was undertaken to assess the locomotor capacity of lymphocytes from patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection by a polarization assay. In addition, the capping phenomenon of lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients or in vitro preincubation of lymphocytes with HIV-envelope glycoproteins, gp41 and gp120 was evaluated. A significant decrease in polarized lymphocytes from patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was observed. On the other hand, the capping phenomenon either of lymphocytes from AIDS patients or of lymphocytes from healthy donors preincubated with gp41 and gp120 was reduced but not significantly.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗
PubMed1989

Effects of pertussis toxin and indomethacin on murine lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids.

The total number of lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids significantly increased in mice injected intravenously with pertussis toxin (PT), while the absolute number of alveolar macrophages markedly decreased. This finding probably reflects the lymphocyte accumulation in interstitial spaces as we previously observed in mice injected with PT. In addition, indomethacin, at lower dosage (0.5 mg/kg) prevented peripheral lymphocytosis and lymphocyte accumulation in the alveolar spaces of the lungs of mice injected with PT. These results provide evidence that PT is responsible for lymphocyte accumulation together with a marked decrease of alveolar macrophages in the lungs of treated mice; moreover, indomethacin is effective in preventing bronchoalveolar changes caused by PT.

Animals↗