Biomedical subjects

F Vichi

Publications and source records attributed to F Vichi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-associated facial lipoatrophy with lipofilling and submalar silicone implants.

In the absence of a current therapy to prevent facial lipoatrophy in HIV+ patients treated with HAART, surgical correction of the defect still remains the best option. We evaluate two different surgical techniques for facial contour enhancing and suggest the right choice related to the lipodystrophy severity. Twelve HIV+ patients underwent surgical submalar correction: eight were treated with lipofilling following Coleman's technique and four had bilateral malar silicone implants inserted after determining their positioning with the aid of a new software. Both techniques gave long lasting results in facial contour reshaping ranging from good to very good. No complication was observed. In the mean follow-up period of 2 years no patient felt uncomfortable with his/her image. Both techniques, lipofilling and silicone implant positioning, for managing facial lipoatrophy in HIV+ patients treated with HAART had good results, but the right choice has to be related to the severity of the lipodystrophy in the patient.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2006

Quality of life and body image in the assessment of psychological impact of lipodystrophy: validation of the Italian version of assessment of body change and distress questionnaire.

Lipodystrophy (LD) includes morphologic changes that are distressing to patients with HIV. We tested the validity of an Italian version of the Assessment of Body Change and Distress (ABCD) questionnaire and analysed its relationship to physical and mental aspects of Health-Related Quality of Life. Two hundred and fifty-two patients completed the questionnaires. Construct validity of the ABCD was tested against the MOS-HIV Health Survey, body mass-index (BMI) and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts. Cronbach's alpha for the ABCD total score was 0.94. The ABCD showed the hypothesized moderate correlations to MOS-HIV scales and clinical variables. Preliminary evidence supports the reliability and validity of the Italian version of the ABCD in people with HIV and LD. This questionnaire may be useful to identify people experiencing greater impact of LD, or to evaluate the impact of interventions to treat LD such as plastic surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Development and field evaluation of a new diffusive sampler for hydrogen sulphide in the ambient air.

A diffusive sampler for the determination of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) based on collection on a paper filter coated with silver nitrate followed by optical densitometric determination of the metal sulphide was developed. Laboratory tests were conducted in controlled atmosphere to evaluate linearity, uptake rate, face velocity effects, sample stability, influence of relative humidity and of interferents, precision and accuracy. The measured uptake rate for H2S was determined in experiments involving sampling at different concentration levels in comparison to a wet standard colorimetric technique. The precision of the measurements for co-located passive samplers was lower than 15%. The accuracy of the data collected is within 20% of the actual value measured by the wet method. The sampler is capable of reliable measurements of H2S at common levels of a polluted atmosphere in urban settings yielding average concentration levels over one month and beyond. Diffusive sampling can be adopted to analyse in detail the temporal and spatial trends of H2S concentration in ambient air and in specific historic buildings or in museums.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Mucosal and systemic immune activation is present in human immunodeficiency virus-exposed seronegative women.

Immune parameters were analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and cervical mucosa biopsy specimens of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative women sexually exposed to HIV (exposed seronegative [ESN]), HIV-infected women, and healthy women without HIV exposure. HIV was not detected in PBMC or cervical mucosa biopsy specimens of ESN women. However, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and -beta mRNA were elevated in PBMC and cervical mucosa biopsy specimens of ESN and HIV-infected women; CCR5 and CXCR4 mRNA were augmented in cervical mucosa biopsy specimens, but not in PBMC, of ESN and HIV-infected women; HIV-specific IFN-gamma-secreting cells were detected in vaginal washes of ESN and HIV-infected women; and phenotypic alterations were present in PBMC of ESN women. These results suggest that active HIV infection is not required for T cell activation; immune alterations occur in women in whom HIV infection cannot be detected virologically or clinically.

Cytokines↗

PubMed1988