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G Piccolo

Publications and source records attributed to G Piccolo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Search for malaria parasites by PCR and Southern blot in patients with imported malaria in Italy.

The present study evaluates the sensitivity, specificity and usefulness of a PCR method with Southern blot hybridization to detect malaria parasites in blood samples from subjects with a suspect clinical diagnosis of malaria imported to Italy. Plasmodia were detected by PCR using a genus-specific primer-set corresponding to the sequences common to P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale, as described by Arai (Arai et al., Nucleosides Nucleotides, 1994, 13, 1363-1364) and Kimura (Kimura et al., Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 1995, 33, 2342-2346). In addition, four distinct tandemly repetitive species-specific probes, described by Kawai (Kawai et al., Analytical Biochimestry, 1993, 209, 63-69), were synthesized to specifically detect the four malaria parasites species by Southern blot hybridization. Fifteen blood samples from 12 patients (7 with malaria) were tested and the genus-specific PCR method showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100%, when compared to microscopy, in detecting malaria parasites in the tested blood samples. Fourteen samples (nine were positive and five negative by PCR) were confirmed by Southern blot, whereas only one P. vivax positive sample was not hybridized with the species-specific probes. We conclude that this PCR method with Southern blot hybridization may be useful in detecting malaria parasites in patients with malaria imported to Italy.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of OptiMAL Assay test to detect imported malaria in Italy.

This study evaluated a newly developed rapid malaria diagnostic test, OptiMAL Assay, to detect "Plasmodium falciparum malaria" and "non Plasmodium falciparum malaria" in blood samples from 139 individuals with a presumptive clinical diagnosis of imported malaria in Italy. OptiMAL Assay utilizes a dipstick coated with monoclonal antibodies against the intracellular metabolic enzyme, plasmodium Lactate Dehydrogenase (pLDH) present in and released from parasite-infected erythrocytes. Blood samples from 56 cases out of 139 were found "Plasmodium falciparum malaria" positive by microscopy; with these samples OptiMAL Assay and the ParaSight-F test, which is a kit detecting the P. falciparum histidin-rich protein 2 (HRP-2), showed an overall sensitivity of 83% and 94%, respectively, in comparison with microscopy. Parasitemia levels tested in the 56 P. falciparum positive blood samples by microscopy ranged from <0.004% to 20%. A correlation between sensitivity and parasitemia was evident and OptiMAL Assay and ParaSight-F test were more sensitive (96-100%; 100%) with samples with 0.1%-20% levels of parasitemia, while proved less sensitive (0-44%; 50-88%) with <0.004-0.01% levels of parasitemia.

False Positive Reactions↗
PubMed2000

[Organ transplantation: results and perspectives].

Nowadays organ transplantation is a life-saving procedure, or anyhow it can considerably improve the life quality of patients suffering from irreversible organ impairment. Monitoring transplantation outcome is the last step of a long process that starts with cadaver donor identification, selection and clinical management, and continues with organ allocation, patient evaluation, surgical operation and clinical follow-up. The National Transplantation Committee has been discussing many of these items and, in 1995, it set up two protocols, one on liver exchange for urgent patients and the other on transplantation in the pediatric patient. The protocols application has met many difficulties, mainly due to the uneven behaviours of the different inter-regional organizations. In this paper we comment on the two main aspects to be submitted to the next National Committee: organ allocation and transplantation outcome. As far as the last point is concerned, the enclosed data are based on the experience of the North Italy Transplant program (NITp), and on that of the major international registries. Without any doubt these data demontrate that organ transplantation is to be ascribed among the successes of medicine in the just closed century.

Humans↗
PubMed1999

Long-term immunologic effects of thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND: Thymectomy (Tx) is a common therapeutic option to treat myasthenia gravis (MG), but its effects on the immune system are still obscure in humans. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate long-term immunologic effects of therapeutic Tx in patients with MG. METHODS: T- and B-cell subsets and T-cell repertoire were analyzed in 35 patients with MG, 16 with previous Tx (at least 8 years before), 6 with recent (<1 year) Tx, and 13 without Tx, as well as in 32 healthy subjects used as normal control subjects. Serum immunoglobulins and a variety of autoantibodies were also measured. A subsequent 3-year clinical follow-up was performed to verify the possible appearance of systemic autoimmune diseases. RESULTS: The long-term thymectomized (Txd) patients had mild T-cell lymphopenia and an expansion of some Vbeta families among circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. They displayed a normal number of total B and CD5+ B-circulating lymphocytes, but they also displayed a polyclonal increase in serum IgM and IgG associated with the presence of high levels of a variety of organ- and nonorgan-specific autoantibodies, including anti-dsDNA and anticardiolipin, without clinical evidence of autoimmune disease. These serologic abnormalities were not detectable in both non-Txd and recently Txd patients. After 3 years, 2 long-term Txd patients had systemic lupus erythematosus and an undifferentiated connective tissue disease. CONCLUSIONS: The association between MG and laboratory findings of systemic autoimmune disease may be in part related to Tx rather than to MG. Tx may represent a risk for the development of systemic autoimmune disorders over years in patients with MG.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Anisakidae larval infection in fish fillets sold in Belgium.

Fish fillets (n = 1760) sold on the Belgium market were examined for Anisakidae larval infection. Seven sea fish species were examined by means of the candling technique over a period of 4 months, from November 1996 to February 1997. Third-stage larvae of Anisakis simplex and Pseudoterranova decipiens were identified. A. simplex was the most abundant species with a prevalence of 84.5%, and was found in 192 of the examined fillets (10.9%). Pollock (Pollachius pollachius) was the most heavily infected fish species (82.9%). The prevalence in cod (Gadus morhua), saithe (Pollachius virens), and whiting (Merlangius merlangus) was 34.7%, 26.7%, and 15.4% respectively. The prevalence in the three other fish species examined was low, namely 8.9%, 6.6%, and 3.8% for ling (Molva molva), catfish (Anarchias lupus), and Northeast red fish (Sebastes marinus), respectively. Pollock was the fish species with the largest number of Anisakis larvae (7.8 larvae/kg fish fillet).

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Opsoclonus in a patient with cerebellar dysfunction.

After two days of malaise, headache, nausea, and vomiting, a 26-year-old man suddenly developed opsoclonus and stance and gait ataxia, without myoclonus. Having excluded a paraneoplastic etiology, we assumed that the disorder was probably related to a viral infection. Spontaneous resolution occurred in about two months. Opsoclonus became flutter dysmetria and then resolved. Saccadic eye movement recording disclosed the occurrence of hypermetria, increased velocity, and delayed latency, which also resolved. In this patient, the correspondence between clinical and ocular motor abnormality courses suggests a transient cerebellar dysfunction as the possible pathophysiologic mechanism for opsoclonus.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Restrictive cardiomyopathy, atrioventricular block and mild to subclinical myopathy in patients with desmin-immunoreactive material deposits.

OBJECTIVES: We present clinical data and heart and skeletal muscle biopsy findings from a series of patients with ultrastructural accumulations of granulofilamentous material identified as desmin. BACKGROUND: Desmin cardiomyopathy is a poorly understood disease characterized by abnormal desmin deposits in cardiac and skeletal muscle. METHODS: Clinical evaluation, endomyocardial and skeletal muscle biopsy, light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry were used to establish the presence of desmin cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: Six hundred thirty-one patients with primary cardiomyopathy underwent endomyocardial biopsy (EMB). Ultrastructural accumulations of granulofilamentous material were found in 5 of 12 biopsy samples from patients with idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy and demonstrated specific immunoreactivity with anti-desmin antibodies by immunoelectron microscopy. Immunohistochemical findings on light microscopy were nonspecific because of a diffuse intracellular distribution of desmin. All five patients had atrioventricular (AV) block and mild or subclinical myopathy. Granulofilamentous material was present in skeletal muscle biopsy samples in all five patients, and unlike the heart biopsy samples, light microscopic immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated characteristic subsarcolemmal desmin deposits. Two patients were first-degree relatives (mother and son); another son with first-degree AV block but without myopathy or cardiomyopathy demonstrated similar light and ultrastructural findings in skeletal muscle. Electrophoretic studies demonstrated two isoforms of desmin--one of normal and another of lower molecular weight--in cardiac and skeletal muscle of the familial cases. CONCLUSIONS: Desmin cardiomyopathy must be considered in the differential diagnosis of restrictive cardiomyopathy, especially in patients with AV block and myopathy. Diagnosis depends on ultrastructural examination of EMB samples or light microscopic immunohistochemical studies of skeletal muscle biopsy samples. Familial desminopathy may manifest as subclinical disease and may be associated with abnormal isoforms of desmin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Fresh and cryopreserved arterial homografts in the treatment of prosthetic graft infections: experience of the Italian Collaborative Vascular Homograft Group.

Following the experience of cardiac surgeons with homografts in the treatment of infective aortic valve endocarditis, cardiovascular surgeons have investigated in situ revascularization by means of homografts in the management of vascular prosthetic graft infections. Preliminary results are encouraging, but their late fate in long-term follow-up and the influence of preservation techniques are still under investigation. This article reports the experience of the Italian Collaborative Vascular Homograft Group, with the use of fresh and cryopreserved arterial homografts for the treatment of prosthetic graft infections. Between March 1994 and December 1996, 44 patients with prosthetic graft infection were treated with homografts (13 preserved at 4 degrees C, 31 cryopreserved). The mean age of the patients was 65 years. Emergency surgical procedures were performed in eight patients (18%). Sepsis was diagnosed in 11 patients, aortoenteric fistula in 13, and false aneurysms in 10. Staphylococcus was the main cause of infection. The types of vascular reconstruction with homograft were: 32 aortobifemoral, 3 aortoaortic, 2 iliofemoral, 4 peripheral, and 3 axillobifemoral. Human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) and antibody (ABO) blood group system compatibility between donors and recipients was not respected. The mean duration of follow-up was 15 months (range 1-33). Clinical and duplex scanning evaluations were routinely performed. Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) scanning or arteriography were performed on the basis of duplex scanning results. There were six deaths during the early postoperative period (30 days) with a mortality rate of 13.6%. During the follow-up there were five late deaths with a mortality rate of 11.4%. Eight patients had graft occlusion. Three cases were successfully treated with thrombectomy. Two cases were successfully treated with femoropopliteal bypass with autologous vein. In three cases leg amputation was necessary. The results of fresh and cryopreserved homograft were compared. No significative differences of early postoperative mortality, late mortality, homograft related mortality, and graft occlusion were observed. We have evaluated the actuarial survival of the patients and the actuarial patency of the homografts on the aortoiliac reconstructions. Twelve months after the surgery the actuarial survival of the patients was 73% and the actuarial patency of the homografts was 56%. In our preliminary experience, we have not observed any significant difference in terms of clinical outcome by using fresh rather than cryopreserved homografts. In the near future it will be our policy to employ only cryopreserved homografts. Moreover, we will extend vessel harvesting to nonheart-beating donors, thus maximizing retrieval. The aforementioned solutions will supply the best graft availability to obtain dimensional and ABO compatibility between donors and recipients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Parasites of Italian sea turtles. II. Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta [Linnaeus, 1758]).

Eleven out of fourteen sea turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the coast of the Adriatic sea (Mediterranean sea) were found infected with helminths. Seven trematode species (Rhytidodes gelatinosus, Orchidasma amphiorchis, Enodiotrema megachondrus. Pachypsolus irroratus, Pleurogonius trigonocephalus, Calicodes anthos, Plesiochorus cymbiformis) and one nematode (Sulcascaris sulcata) were found. S. sulcata was the most frequent species in the stomach and R. gelatinosus in the intestine. These species were also the most abundant. The redescriptions of C. anthos (Braun, 1899) and P. trigonocephalus (Rudolphi, 1809) Looss, 1901 are included. The accuracy of Braun's original description is questioned because it refers to specimens studied in dorsal view.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Prognosis of myasthenia gravis: a retrospective study of 380 patients.

The 9139 follow-up records of 438 myasthenia gravis (MG) patients were reviewed. Excluding those patients who were diagnosed 5 or more years after symptom onset (n = 37) and those who experienced only oculomotor symptoms throughout follow-up (n = 21), there were 380 patients. A survival analysis approach was used to assess the influence of prognostic factors on the following endpoints: (a) stable complete remission, (b) complete remission of at least 6 months and (c) pharmacological remission of at least 6 months. Early diagnosis was associated with a better prognosis with respect to all endpoints. Thymectomy also improved the prognosis but only for those patients without thymoma. Later MG onset was associated with a higher tendency to achieve pharmacological remission.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Soluble CD8 and ICAM-1 in serum and CSF of MS patients treated with 6-methylprednisolone.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the effects of large doses of 6-methylprednisolone (6-MP) on serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) soluble CD8 (sCD8) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels in clinically active multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Paired serum and CSF samples were from 16 patients with definite MS, treated with 6-MP (1 g daily for 6 d) during an active phase of the disease. sCD8 and sICAM-1 levels were determined with ELISA before and after the therapy. RESULTS: Before 6-MP treatment, sCD8 levels in CSF were higher in MS patients than in patients with noninflammatory neurological disease and in healthy controls; sICAM-1 levels in serum and in CSF were higher in MS patients than in the two control groups. Ten of the 16 patients showed clinical improvement at the end of the treatment. After the therapy, serum and CSF sCD8 levels increased, whereas serum and CSF sICAM-1 levels decreased. There was no correlation between clinical improvement and laboratory parameters. We evaluated sCD8 and sICAM-1 in serum samples from 10 patients 6 months after the 6-MP treatment, when the disease was clinically silent. Neither sCD8 nor sICAM-1 levels differed from those of the control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that high doses of 6-MP can influence serum and CSF sCD8 and sICAM-1 levels in active MS. At least part of the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment in MS might be ascribed to its effect both on the suppressive circuits of immune response, and on the expression of an adhesion molecule that favours lymphocyte trafficking across the blood-brain barrier.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Influence of a DLE-extracted lymphocytic suppressor factor on CsA-induced immunosuppression.

From dialyzable leucocyte extracts (DLE) we have purified a hydrophilic low-mol. wt. factor (about 1 kDa) which we have named lymphocytic suppressor factor (LSF) as it is able to suppress antigen- and mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation and to prolong allograft survival in C57b/6N mice (H-2b) transplanted with fully mismatched skin from C3H/HeN mice (H-2k). At the molecular level LSF acts by inhibiting DNA replicational and transcriptional processes in activated lymphocytes, isolated rat hepatocyte nuclei, and cell-free systems. Amino acid analysis indicates that LSF is a peptide composed of Asp, Glu, Ser, Thr, Ala, Gly, Arg and probably Met, with the N-terminus blocked, possibly by pyroglutamic acid. When combined "in vitro" with cyclosporine A (CsA), LSF increased about 20 times the potency of CsA in inducing suppression of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes. In C57b/6N mice with skin graft from C3H/HeN mice and undergoing immunosuppression with CsA (50 mg/kg/day), the splenocyte LSF content increased about 5 times. However, LSF values returned to normal in mice recovering normal responsiveness due to progressive withdrawal of CsA. These data show that LSF has an important role in the development and maintenance of CsA-induced immunosuppression. We suggest that, by influencing DNA replicational and transcriptional processes of lymphocytes, LSF may play a role also in the onset and progression of AIDS induced by retroviruses.

Animals↗