PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Baldelli

Publications and source records attributed to F Baldelli.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Inhibition of fungicidal activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from HIV-infected patients by interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of human recombinant interleukin (hrIL)-4 or hrIL-10 on the functional status of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) from normal subjects and HIV-infected patients. DESIGN: In an in vitro system we studied the effect of hrIL-4 or hrIL-10 on phagocytosis, fungicidal activity and superoxide anion production by PMNL. METHODS: PMNL were treated in vitro with hrIL-4 or hrIL-10 or their combination for 6 h and then candidacidal activity was evaluated in a colony-forming unit inhibition assay. Superoxide anion generation by PMNL was measured in the presence or absence of preopsonized zymosan or Candida albicans. RESULTS: Treatment in vitro with hrIL-4 or hrIL-10 of PMNL for 6 h was able to impair candidacidal activity of neutrophils in both normal or HIV-infected patients. The inhibitory effect was time- and dose-dependent and was more evident in PMNL from HIV-infected subjects, and reflected in these latter cells a decrease of superoxide anion generation. The impairment of candidacidal activity in PMNL from HIV-infected patients was accompanied by survival of the yeasts shown by budding formation into phagosomic organelles of cytokine-treated PMNL. CONCLUSIONS: Our data highlight new biological effects of IL-4 and IL-10 evidenced by suppressed effector function of neutrophils; this phenomenon is emphasized in HIV-infected patients suggesting a role for these cytokines in mediating increased susceptibility to microbial infection during AIDS progression.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Prevalence of HBV, HDV and HCV hepatitis markers in HIV-positive patients.

Since HIV infection could condition the natural history of parenterally transmitted viral hepatitis (HBV, HCV, HDV), with possibly differing effects in different risk groups, we decided to retrospectively examine sera from a cohort of 637 HIV seropositive patients in different stages of infection, seen from 1985 to 1992, to study the prevalence and temporal course of these infections. Virological markers of HBV, HCV and HDV were determined by ELISA and RIBA methods. The severity of HIV infection was higher in homosexuals than in drug addicts. Prevalence of antiHBc antibodies was 82% in drug addicts and 77% in homosexuals, whereas antiHCV antibodies prevalence was 72% in drug addicts and only 7% in homosexuals (p < 0.000001). When only antiHBc-positive patients were considered, there was a significant difference in antiHBs antibodies between drug addicts (DA) and homosexuals (OR for DA 0.29, 95% CI 0.08/0.83, p = 0.02), suggesting that drug addicts are less able to produce a protective response. This fact cannot be explained by the severity of HIV infection (which was higher among the homosexual group) and suggests some immunodepressive effect of drug abuse. Delta infection was only detected in the drug addict group, and the prevalence was low. Finally, we cannot confirm the interference of HCV infection with the speed of HBsAg clearance: in this study the prevalence of HBsAg was almost the same in HCV-positive and negative patients.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1995

Role of antigenemia assay in the early diagnosis and prediction of human cytomegalovirus organ involvement in AIDS patients.

The role of an antigenemia assay in the diagnosis and prediction of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) disease in AIDS patients was evaluated. The clinical history of 62 patients with advanced HIV infection from whom a total of 248 blood samples were drawn and tested by the HCMV antigenemia assay was examined retrospectively. Between December 1992 and January 1994, 28 episodes of HCMV disease with organ involvement were recorded; the antigenemia assay was positive in 23 of them (82.1%). In particular, this test was positive in 11 of 12 (91.6%) first episodes and in 3 of 3 (100%) recurrent episodes occurring in patients not receiving maintenance therapy. The same test was positive in 9 of 13 (69.2%) recurrent episodes occurring in patients receiving maintenance therapy. The first occurrence of HCMV disease was always preceded by a positive antigenemia assay 2 and 4 months before diagnosis (in all 7 patients of the 7 for whom a blood sample was available before HCMV disease). A positive antigenemia test result was not always followed by organ involvement, but a high positive cell count (> 100/200,000 polymorphonuclear leukocytes) strongly correlated with the appearance of HCMV disease in the following 1 to 3 months (100% of cases). The antigenemia assay is a useful and reliable indirect method for the diagnosis and prediction of HCMV end-organ disease in severely and persistently immunocompromised AIDS patients.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1995

Beneficial effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on fungicidal activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from patients with AIDS.

The effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) administration on the functional status of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) in neutropenic AIDS patients was investigated. PMNL destructive activity against Candida albicans or encapsulated or acapsular Cryptococcus neoformans was significantly impaired with respect to control subjects before rhG-CSF treatment. After subcutaneous administration of rhG-CSF (5 micrograms/kg), neutrophil counts increased 3- to 11-fold in 24 h and returned to baseline within 96 h. PMNL fungicidal activity showed significant enhancement 48-72 h after rhG-CSF administration that decreased to baseline within 96 h. Enhanced rhG-CSF-mediated destructive activity strictly correlated with augmented superoxide anion production by PMNL. These findings suggest that therapeutic use of rhG-CSF at appropriate schedules in neutropenic AIDS patients could decrease the risk of infection or, in association with antibiotic therapy, more rapidly resolve the occurring infections.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Thrombocytopenia in HIV infected patients. Prevalence and clinical spectrum.

We studied the prevalence, clinical spectrum and epidemiologic features of thrombocytopenia among 442 (333 male, 109 female) HIV infected patients. Thrombocytopenia was defined as a platelet count < 100,000/mmc and severe if platelet count was < or = 30,000/mmc. Intravenous drug abusers were 83% (369/442). At the first clinical evaluation according to Walter-Reed (WR) classification, 90% (396/442) of patients were in stage 1-5 and 10% (45/442) in stage 6. Severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count < or = 30,000/mmc) was present in 24% (11/45) of the entire thrombocytopenic population. Forty percent (18/45) of the thrombocytopenic patients were positive to: HBV (6), HCV (7), HBV+HCV (5). Mild bleeding was present in 16% (7/45) of the patients but one case, with severe thrombocytopenia, died of intracranial hemorrhage. Major hemorrhagic sequelae with even fatal events are possible, especially when a low platelet count is associated with other hemostatic abnormalities (e.g. haemophilia, liver disease, disseminated intravascular coagulation). Zidovudine therapy (range 500-1250 mg/day) is effective in normalizing the platelet count (platelets > 100,000/mmc) only in 29% (9/31) of the patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Enterocytozoon bieneusi detection in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection and chronic diarrhoea: response to albendazole treatment.

Diarrhoea is a common symptom among HIV-infected subjects. An infective cause is often missed. However, more recent knowledge about pathogens has led to the identification of newly recognized unusual microorganisms, such as Microsporidia. We report a case of infestation with these agents in an HIV-infected subject with chronic diarrhoea.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1992

Post operative surveillance of human hydatidosis: evaluation of immunodiagnostic tests.

We investigated the kinetics of antibodies detected by indirect hemagglutination (IHA), IgE Elisa and immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) in patients with hydatid disease operated on and continuously followed in the pre-operative and post-operative periods. In the pre-operative phase the IgE Elisa test was found to be adequately sensitive (68.4%) compared with IHA (79%), with a ratio of IgE Elisa/IHA positivity of 87%, while IEP was positive in 55.3% of cases (IEP/IHA ratio = 70%). During post-operative follow-up IHA became negative late in patients who were cured (7 out of 11 were still positive after 4 yrs), whereas IEP and IgE Elisa became negative within 2 yrs of operation (apart from 1 patient with a persisting positive IgE Elisa 3 yrs later). However, IgE Elisa appeared clearly more sensitive in revealing postoperative recurrences (13 out of 13 patients had positive IgE Elisa, vs. 6 out of 13 IEP).

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Susceptibility of gram positive cocci to teicoplanin. Three year survey (1984-1986) at Perugia University.

From 1984 to 1986, 1038 Gram positive cocci (865 Staphylococci and 173 Enterococci) have been tested for sensitivity to teicoplanin by the agar diffusion method: only one strain (Staphylococcus haemolyticus) resulted to have no zone of inhibition around the teicoplanin disk. All Staphylococcus haemolyticus strains showed higher MIC: 2.79 mcg/ml after 24h of incubation and 20.50 mcg/ml after 48h. The reduced teicoplanin sensitivity of Staphylococcus haemolyticus was not detected by the agar diffusion test.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1989

Technical factors influencing the bactericidal activity of teicoplanin against staphylococci.

Considering 99.9% Killing after 24h of incubation, mean bactericidal activity of teicoplanin against 48 clinical isolates of Staphylococci resulted to be 67.7 micrograms/ml. Fortyfour out of 48 strains (91.7%) resulted tolerant. The high percentage of tolerant was dependent on survivors above the 0.1% allowed in several tube dilutions. Prolonged incubation consistently reduced this number. Only 37.5% of our strains remained tolerant after 48h of incubation. Bactericidal activity of teicoplanin was also significantly influenced by other technical factors. Human serum enhanced the killing of teicoplanin. For 9 strains of Staphylococcus aureus geometric mean MBC decreased from 49.9 muug/ml to 3.9 micrograms/ml (p less than 0.05); also actively growing bacteria demonstrated a higher killing rate, resulting in lower MBCs (mean 3.8 micrograms/ml). Micromethod technique was greatly influenced by the carryover phenomenon. The spot subculture technique is not accurate for bactericidal studies. A standardized technique for determining the minimal bactericidal activity is needed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1989

Killing rate and serum bactericidal activity of oxacillin, rifampin and ciprofloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus.

The bacterial activity of oxacillin, rifampin and ciprofloxacin was examined at two concentrations by the serum bactericidal rate (SBR) technique against 5 strains of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. The activity of oxacillin plus ciprofloxacin and oxacillin plus rifampin was also determined for 5 strains of staphylococci examining in vitro the SBR and the serum bactericidal activity (SBA). We simulated SBR and SBA in vitro using pooled human serum containing know concentrations of antimicrobial agents. The rate at which the antibiotics kill S. aureus did not rise by increasing the concentrations over the MBC. The oxacillin-ciprofloxacin combination was indifferent when tested by the rate of killing, whereas an antagonistic interaction was frequently observed with the oxacillin-rifampin combination. The SBA was determined by two methods: the technique of the Mayo Clinic that uses Mueller-Hinton broth (MHB) as the diluent and the method of Stratton in which the diluent was prepared with MHB supplemented with Ca++ and Mg++ and combined with 50% pooled human serum. The activities of oxacillin and rifampin were decreased in the presence of human serum. These results were attributed to the high protein binding of these antibiotics. Rifampin in combination with oxacillin showed antagonism against S. aureus also by the SBA method. The inhibitory activity of drugs in combination remained substantially the same as the single more active one.

Ciprofloxacin↗
PubMed1988

Teicoplanin in empirical combined antibiotic therapy of bacteraemias in bone marrow transplant patients.

Teicoplanin in combination with amikacin and ceftazidime was used as empirical therapy in treating 46 febrile episodes in 34 consecutive patients undergoing allogenic bone marrow transplantation. All but four of these febrile episodes occurred in neutropenic patients and 50% of them proved to be bacteraemias (23/46). Cure was achieved in 90% of Gram-positive bacteraemias (18/20) and in six of them teicoplanin was the only antibiotic with activity in vitro against the infecting strain. All (3/3) Gram-negative bacteraemias were cured. Central venous catheter removal was required in five patients (three tunnel infections, one exit-site infection and one thrombophlebitis). Two failures occurred among Gram-positive bacteraemias and in one case the patient died of infection. Four instances of side effects were documented but only one was severe (hearing loss).

Adolescent↗