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F Pirali

Publications and source records attributed to F Pirali.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Isolation of HTLV-1 from an aggressive form of ATL in a Romanian patient not at risk of infection and with seronegative family members.

We present the clinical, virological and haematochemical data of a 22 year old patient from Romania with Adult T Cell Leukaemia (ATL). Viral isolation in peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PMBC), detection of DNA sequences of HTLV-1 by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and of antibodies by Elisa and Western blot were performed. The patient does not belong to any risk group and additionally all members of her family are seronegative for HTLV-1, the aetiological agent of ATL. The role of viral infection remains open.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Persistence of human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) sequences in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with mycosis fungoides.

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a rare form of cutaneous T cell lymphoma suspected of having a viral etiology. As in adult T cell leukemia, the virus involved may be human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). We cultured the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 29 patients with MF HTLV-1 seronegative by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. The presence of reverse transcriptase (RT) and p24 antigen was investigated in the concentrate supernatant of the culture. The DNA of all studied patients was submitted to polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis using primers and probes recognizing the tax region of HTLV-1/2 and the pol region of HTLV-1. 10 of 29 patients were found positive to HTLV-1, whereas they were always negative to RT and p24. The same results were confirmed in double blind after 6 mo. Our findings suggest HTLV-1 may be involved in the etiology of MF, at least in certain cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Diagnosis of bronchopulmonary infections by quantification of microflora.

The quantification of bacteria and fungi in sputum or bronchoaspirate is of clinical value for the diagnosis of respiratory tract infections. We have developed an easy method to count the micro-organisms in patients with respiratory tract infections. This consists of the quantification of micro-organisms by subsequent streakings of a calibrated loop on agar. The correlation between microbiological quantitative data and the clinical status of patients with lower respiratory tract infections is discussed. The data seem to indicate that certain bacteria present in sputum or bronchoaspirate above a certain concentration may be responsible for lower respiratory tract infections. In patients with immunological disorders or chronic pathologies even lower concentrations of micro-organisms in bronchial secretions probably are enough to cause infections. The advantage of this counting method of the microbic species from the respiratory tract consists of their quantification: thus we can attribute an etiological role to a high concentration of the germs, while micro-organisms at low concentrations are probably contaminants. By this method isolated colonies are obtained after 12-18 hours. The bacterial quantification, by respiratory samples examination of the same patient in the following days, allows us to evaluate the efficacy of antibacterial therapy, producing a reduction of bacterial concentration.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

In vitro antibacterial activity of the new quinolone Bay y3118 against clinical isolates.

The in vitro antibacterial activity of the new fluoroquinolone Bay y3118 against 609 clinical isolates was evaluated. Bay y3118 exhibited activity against a broad spectrum of organisms, including Gram-negative bacilli, Gram-positive cocci, mycobacteria. The activity of Bay y3118 was often superior to that of other quinolones. Against Gram-negative bacilli its activity was similar to that of ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, ceftazidime and imipenem except for Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp. and Xanthomonas maltophilia, where its activity was superior. Gentamicin and piperacillin sometimes were less active. Bay y3118 was active against a large number of Gram-positive cocci. The fluoroquinolones tested were active against all the strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but only Bay y3118 was effective against Mycobacterium avium.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1993

Rapid methods for microbial diagnosis of mycobacterial infections.

The Authors describe their experience in rapid diagnosis of mycobacterial infections using a combination of a radiometric blood culture (Bactec 13 A) and a nucleic acid hybridization system (Gen probe, Accuprobe) to detect and identify Mycobacteria. They found out that a high number of septicaemias in HIV positive patients are due to Mycobacterium avium, while in HIV negative subjects Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the most frequent mycobacterium.

HIV Seropositivity↗
PubMed1993

HTLV-1 sequences in lymphocytes of a patient with non-tropical spastic tetraparesis and her asymptomatic husband.

We describe a 65-year-old woman born and living in Northern Italy affected by non tropical spastic tetraparesis and her asymptomatic husband presenting HTLV-1 sequences in their lymphocytes detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We discuss the significance of the case and the mechanism involved in HTLV-1 infection and the relationship with neurological disorders, stressing that this case is the first reported in Italy.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1989

HTLV-1 seroprevalence in AIDS patients and in HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative subjects at risk for AIDS in northern Italy.

Sera of 1023 subjects belonging to categories at risk for AIDS, positive for HIV-1, were tested for antibodies to human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) by ELISA, Western blotting, and radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Sera of these subjects were positive for antibodies to HTLV-1 in a percentage of 18.54%. Nine out of 18 sera from patients with AIDS had antibodies to HTLV-1 (50%). Sera of 207 intravenous drug abusers and 64 homosexual males, seronegative for HIV-1, were tested for antibodies to HTLV-1 and 6.7% of intravenous drug abusers and 7.8% of homosexual males were found to be HTLV-1 antibody positive, showing that HTLV-1 infection occurred independently of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections. In fact the same HIV-1 seronegative patients were also tested for the presence of antibodies to HIV-2 and none of them was found to be positive.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Antibacterial activity of the new carbapenem meropenem (SM-7338) against clinical isolates.

The in vitro antibacterial activity of the new carbapenem antibiotic meropenem (SM-7338) against 567 clinical isolates was evaluated. SM-7338 exhibited activity against a broad spectrum of organisms, including aerobes and anaerobes, and was superior to the other beta-lactam drugs tested (piperacillin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefoxitin). SM-7338 was more active than imipenem, gentamicin and amikacin against Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. SM-7338 was less potent than imipenem against staphylococci and enterococci, but the activity of the two antibiotics against anaerobes was similar. SM-7338 and imipenem showed a high bactericidal activity at a concentration of 2-4 x MIC.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1989

In-vitro activity of meropenem against clinical isolates in a multicentre study in Italy.

A multicentre in-vitro study was undertaken to evaluate the susceptibility of bacterial pathogens isolated in different Italian hospitals to meropenem. A total of 1399 aerobic and 452 anaerobic strains was analysed. Comparative agents were imipenem, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, piperacillin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, amikacin, plus vancomycin when appropriate. The MIC ranges (mg/l) of meropenem were: 0.015-2 for Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Morganella morganii and Providencia spp.; less than 0.008-1 for Escherichia coli; 0.016-32 for Serratia spp.; 0.03-2 for Enterobacter spp. and Citrobacter spp.; 0.03- greater than 128 for Acinetobacter anitratus; 0.03-32 for Pseudomonas spp.; less than 0.008-0.5 for Haemophilus spp. and Neisseria spp.; 0.015-64 for Staphylococcus spp.; 0.06- greater than 128 for Enterococcus spp.; less than 0.008-0.25 for Streptococcus spp.; 0.016-8 for Fusobacterium spp.; 0.03-8 for Bacteroides spp.; less than 0.06-0.5 for anaerobic Gram-positive cocci; 0.08-2 for Clostridium spp. Meropenem exhibited superior antibacterial activity against the aerobic and anaerobic strains tested when compared to the other beta-lactam drugs. The new carbapenem was as active as ciprofloxacin and more active than imipenem and the aminoglycosides against Enterobacteriaceae and Ps. aeruginosa. It was also more active than ciprofloxacin against most strains of Gram-positive cocci. Meropenem was slightly less potent than imipenem against staphylococci and enterococci, with the exception of oxacillin-susceptible Staph. aureus against which meropenem and imipenem exhibited similar antibacterial activity.

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of BACTEC system for urine culture screening.

We compared urine culturing performed by the calibrated loop method with a screening system (BACTEC). A total of 852 urine specimens were examined by both the conventional loop method and the BACTEC system. With the loop method, 193 (22.6%) urine samples were positive, whereas with the BACTEC system, 185 (21.7%) were positive (sensitivity, 96.01%). At a breakpoint of 10(4) CFU/ml, eight false-negatives were detected (sensitivity, 87.09%), and at a breakpoint of 10(5) CFU/ml, four false-negatives were observed (sensitivity, 97.6%). The specificity of the BACTEC system was 100%. We propose the BACTEC method as an effective alternative to the other growth-dependent screening tests for bacteriuria.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1989

Rufloxacin (MF-934): in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity.

Rufloxacin (MF-934) is a new quinolone which shows in vitro antibacterial activity against E. coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Proteus and Staphylococcus spp. Lower in vitro activity was observed with Pseudomonas, Serratia, Enterobacter and the streptococci group D. The antimicrobial activity of MF-934 in vitro is higher than that of nalidixic acid but lower than that of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin or norfloxacin. The protective effects of MF-934 in systemic infections in mice are lower than those of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. In respiratory infections in rats and in subcutaneous infections in guinea-pigs, the protective effects of MF-934 are of the same order as ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. This is probably due to the pharmacokinetic properties of MF-934, i.e. the long half-life and tissue concentrations higher than plasma levels.

4-Quinolones↗
PubMed1987

Comparison of the in vitro antibacterial activity of teicoplanin and vancomycin against gram-positive cocci.

The antibacterial activity of teicoplanin and vancomycin against 231 clinical isolates of staphylococci and enterococci was evaluated by standardized agar dilution testing. The two antibiotics showed similar activity against staphylococci. However teicoplanin was significantly more active against enterococci. Killing curves indicated that the bactericidal activity of teicoplanin at the concentration of 2 X MIC was equal to its activity at 8 X MIC.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1985

Resistance to beta-lactam antibacterial agents in hospitals.

In recent years, due to the frequent use of antimicrobial agents, strains resistant to antibiotics have been seen with increasing frequency among hospital isolates. We have compared the susceptibility to different beta-lactam drugs of Pseudomonas spp. and Staphylococcus aureus strains, isolated during a 10-yr period (1974-1984) from pathological specimens of different units of Spedali Civili of Brescia Medical School. We have also analyzed the plasmid DNA profile of representative Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated in 1984.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗