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Biomedical subjects

F M Gritti

Publications and source records attributed to F M Gritti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Serum non-organ specific autoantibodies in human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection.

Serum samples from 66 seropositive subjects (56 with a history of intravenous drug abuse), including asymptomatic carriers and patients with persistent generalised lymphadenopathy (PGL), AIDS related complex (ARC), and AIDS, were tested by indirect immunofluorescence on rat tissue sections and HEp-2 cells for the presence of antibodies to nuclei, smooth muscle, intermediate filaments (anti-IMF) and microfilaments (anti-MF). Counterimmunoelectrophoresis was also used to detect antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens. Smooth muscle antibodies with the V pattern or antinuclear antibodies, mainly of the speckled type, or anti-IMF, occurred in 35 cases, being widely distributed in all groups. Such an autoantibody response resembles the "viral" autoimmunity described in various infectious diseases and in particular that of non-A, non-B post-transfusion hepatitis. Autoantibodies may be of some prognostic relevance, as the prevalence of smooth muscle antibodies V increased as the disease progressed (asymptomatic carriers 20%, those with PGL 29%, those with ARC 47%, and those with AIDS 63%. In the PGL group autoantibody positivity correlated with the presence of skin anergy. The fact that autoantibodies were more frequently detected in patients with circulating immune complexes suggests that these can contain autoantibodies and the corresponding autoantigens.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1990

Electroencephalogram and HIV infection: a prospective study in 100 patients.

In order to study the correlation between central nervous system (CNS) involvement and EEG abnormalities in HIV infection we studied 100 consecutive HIV patients. Patients were divided into 4 groups; Group I: 42 neurologically asymptomatic subjects; Group II: 6 patients with peripheral neuropathies; Group III: 28 patients with AIDS Dementia Complex; Group IV: 24 patients with secondary CNS involvement. The results of this study emphasize that abnormal EEGs are correlated with CNS involvement. Neurologically asymptomatic patients showed no abnormal tracings, but the presence of borderline EEGs (33%) in asymptomatic patients should be evaluated prospectively.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1988

Thymostimulin treatment in AIDS-related complex.

Thirty-four patients with AIDS-related complex (ARC) were treated for 6 months with thymostimulin, a thymic hormone. Clinical and immunological findings after a 1-year follow-up were compared with those in 24 age- and sex-matched controls receiving no immunotherapy. Statistical evaluation after 6 and 12 months showed significant differences in the two groups. The thymostimulin-treated group had higher leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, more positivity in intradermal tests with multiple recall antigens, and less lymphadenopathy and weight loss. The number of OKT3+ and OKT4+ lymphocytes decreased significantly in the control group, but did not change in the thymostimulin-treated patients. Finally, after 18 months of follow-up, no progression to AIDS was seen among the treated subjects, whereas 3 of the controls developed the disease. We conclude that thymostimulin, alone or in combination with antiviral drugs, may be helpful in the management of ARC patients.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1988

[Pneumocystosis].

On the basis of personal experience, the microbiological, epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia are analysed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

A clinical-immunological evaluation of AIDS cases and related syndromes.

The clinical features of our cases demonstrated some of the already known characteristics of the variable spectrum of HIV infection. DA are the most important risk category in Italy. 10% of the ARC cases evolved into AIDS during a 12-month follow-up, on average. The most frequent OI in our AIDS cases were PCP, C. albicans esophagitis and chronic mucocutaneous ulcers. An high percentage of neurologic involvement from HIV was observed, and malignancies were encountered in AIDS (3 KS and 1 undifferentiated B lymphoma) as well as in ARC (1 Hodgkin's lymphoma). Statistically, significant worsening of the immunologic situation is evident as the disease progresses from LAS to AIDS. Activated B lymphocytes represent most of the cells of the germinal center during the hyperplastic stage of lymphadenopathy. Reversal of the T4/T8 ratio appears early during the initial stage of lymphadenopathy and is due to a decrease of CD4 and a relative increase of CD8. Also, destruction of the follicular dendritic cells is an early feature which becomes more evident as the disease advances and the lymph node evolves toward progressive involution. Activated B-lymphocyte augmentation with polyclonal Ig secretion appears to be related to T-independent B stimulation by coinfection such as CMV, EBV and HBV. The increase of cytotoxic/suppressor lymphocytes seems to be partly related to the excessive activation of B lymphocytes and partially directed to the cells infected by HIV or coated with its proteins (6,7,8,9). The destruction of follicular dendritic cells has been interpreted not only as a killer effect of the virus but also as a result of the intervention of CTL sensitized to the cells containing the virus (10,11). Their destruction may contribute to the impaired recognition of soluble antigen which is one of the main features of the immune deficiency of HIV infection (9,13,16).

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1986

The value of lymph node biopsy in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the AIDS-related complex (ARC): a morphological and immunohistochemical study of 90 cases.

The morphological and immunohistochemical findings in lymph nodes of nine patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 81 patients with the AIDS-related complex (ARC) are presented. Three basic histological patterns were observed: follicular hyperplasia (29 cases), mixed hyperplasia (49 cases) and lymphocyte depletion (12 cases). While the first two variants were detected in typical ARC patients, lymphocyte depletion was always associated with AIDS. Immunohistochemistry on frozen sections showed that the number of B-cells varied throughout the series, being higher in the follicular type and significantly lower in the lymphocyte depletion nodes. The content of T-lymphocytes of the helper/inducer (T4) phenotype was reduced in all instances; this reduction was more pronounced in the germinal centres in follicular hyperplasia, while it involved all compartments of the node in the mixed and lymphocyte depletion types. In contrast the cytotoxic/suppressor (T8) subset was increased in the follicular and mixed hyperplasias only. Partial disintegration of the dendritic network in at least some of the follicles could be demonstrated in all lymph nodes. In the follicular and mixed hyperplasias there was a high number of proliferating B-cells in the germinal centres. Our data indicate the usefulness of grading the changes occurring in lymph nodes of patients with ARC and AIDS, and allow speculation as to the pathophysiology of these conditions.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1986

Clinical epidemiological survey of Legionella pneumophila infections in Italy.

A clinical epidemiological survey of Legionella pneumophila infections occurring in Italy between 1 December 1985 and 31 May 1986 was carried out to evaluate the incidence of sporadic, epidemic and nosocomial L. pneumophila pneumonia. A total of 355 cases of pneumonia were studied of which 11.5% were due to Gram positive bacteria, 11% were due to Gram negative bacteria, 7.9% were due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, 4.5% were due to L. pneumophila and 8.5% were due to sundry aetiological agents. The remainder (45.6%) could not be diagnosed accurately. In addition, the anti L. pneumophila antibody titres were assessed. The results are discussed in terms of the occurrence of the disease in Italy and regarding the importance of considering the possibility of legionellosic aetiology when diagnosing pneumonia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Hepatitis in thalassemia minor: incidence and evolution].

Incidence, clinical course and outcome of viral hepatitis was evaluated during a 42 mo. study in 118 Thalassaemia minor patients, compared with a paired group of 123 nonthalassaemic subjects, matched for age, sex and number of drug addicts. In the thalassaemics, which account for 13% of residents in our area, acute hepatitis showed to have an incidence of 1.3-1.7 higher than the control group. The acute course was milder and more protracted and the number of evolution into chronicity was more elevated: 19.7% vs. 11.3%, following hepatitis B, and 40.6% vs. 23.7% following NANB hepatitis. However data were statistically significant only as regard as differences between ALT (p less than or equal to 0.05, B-H; p less than or equal to 0.01, NANB-H) and IgM in the group of B hepatitis only (p less than or equal to 0.05) Differences between elongation of course were also significant in both types of hepatitis (p less than or equal to 0.01). Pathogenetic aspects such as depressed cellular immunity and hepatic disorders due to thalassaemia, which may explain the higher incidence of hepatitis and the tendency of evolution into chronicity, are discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

[Considerations on a series of malaria cases].

Stress is laid on the seriousness of malaria and the causes of its unusual clinical pictures. Results obtained in the evaluation of G-6-PD, PK, intracellular K and globular resistance, in addition to other parameters, suggest (as pointed out in the literature) that altered cell metabolism may be the primary cause of haemolysis. Attention is also drawn to the lengthy persistance of gametes after gametocidal management in some patients, and the risks that this involves.

Anemia↗