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Biomedical subjects

G Privitera

Publications and source records attributed to G Privitera.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Role of PMN's candidicidal activity in the pathogenesis of AIDS-related systemic candidiases.

Phagocytic and fungicidal activity towards C. albicans spores were tested in 9 patients with AIDS-Related Complex (ARC), but without Candida infections, and in 13 patients with AIDS and deep candidiasis. No significant differences were observed between the two mentioned groups as far as PMN's phagocytosis and killing were concerned. PMN's migration in response to a "non-mycotic" chemoattractant was defective in both groups; although, from this point of view, patients with candidiasis were more severely affected. A significant difference was noted, instead, as far as mean T helper values were concerned; in fact, their number was significantly lower in patients with systemic candidiasis than in those with ARC or even AIDS, but oesophageal candidiasis only. In conclusion, defective PMN's activity towards C. albicans spores, as observed in vitro, does not seem in itself to predispose AIDS patients to candidiasis in vivo; mycoses may be rather due to defects of cell-mediated immunity as a whole.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1986

Clinical comparative study on the activity of cefamandole in the treatment of serious staphylococcal infections caused by methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains.

Ninety-two microbiologically documented staphylococcal infections were treated with cefamandole in an open comparative study on the clinical efficacy of this cephalosporin in the therapy of infections caused by both methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. The majority of the episodes (86 of 92) were treated with cefamandole alone, and six were treated with cefamandole in association with other antibiotics. In the evaluable S. aureus infections, 34 of 46 (73.9%) due to methicillin-susceptible strains and 12 of 16 (75%) due to methicillin-resistant strains responded to therapy. In particular, among the patients infected by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus 6 of 9 cases of septicemia, 0 of 2 cases of endocarditis, 2 of 2 cases of pneumonia, 2 of 3 osteoarticular infections, 8 of 12 cases of peritonitis in patients with chronic renal failure in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), 13 of 15 skin-soft tissue infections, and 3 of 3 urinary tract infections responded to therapy. Among those due to methicillin-resistant strains, cure was achieved in 2 of 4 cases of septicemia, 0 of 1 case of endocarditis, 9 of 10 skin-soft tissue infections, and 1 of 1 urinary tract infection. In the evaluable infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci, 9 of 11 (81.8%) due to methicillin-susceptible and 15 of 17 (88.2%) due to methicillin-resistant strains responded to therapy. In particular, among patients infected by methicillin-susceptible, coagulase-negative staphylococci, 4 of 4 cases of septicemia, 0 of 1 case of endocarditis, 1 of 1 case of pneumonia, 1 of 1 case of peritonitis in CAPD, 2 of 3 infections of skin-soft tissue, and 1 of 1 urinary tract infection responded to therapy. Among patients infected by methicillin-resistant, coagulase-negative staphylococci were cured 5 of 6 cases os septicemia, 6 of 6 cases of peritonitis (in CAPD), 4 of 4 infections of skin-soft tissue, and 0 of 1 urinary tract infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of the first 50 cases of AIDS in Milan.

Between April 1984 and December 1985, 50 patients diagnosed as AIDS were observed in our Clinic. Risk factors were homosexuality in 21 cases (42%), drug addiction in 20 (40%), homosexuality and drug addiction in 3 (6%), haemophilia in 1 (2%). In the remaining 5 cases the infection was acquired by vertical transmission in 2 (4%), by promiscuous heterosexual intercourse in 2 (4%) and by a single blood transfusion in 1 (2%). Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) was the main clinical feature in 8 patients, although associated with opportunistic infections (OI) in 7 of them. A total of 91 different OI were diagnosed with a noteworthy prevalence of mycotic infections compared with OI due to other micro-organisms: 40 deep mycoses by Candida albicans, and 5 cryptococcoses. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) was diagnosed in 20 patients. Our data differ from the ones collected in the USA both epidemiologically, since we observed a greater incidence of AIDS in drug-addicts than in homosexuals and clinically, since in Italy a lower rate of neoplastic disease and, conversely, a higher rate of OI other than PCP are reported.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

High homology of membrane proteins electrophoretic pattern in Bacteroides fragilis as confirmed by various solubilizing methods.

Membrane proteins from 25 strains of B. fragilis isolated in different laboratories in Northern Italy were examined by SDS-PAGE and isoelectrofocusing. The electrophoretic patterns of inner and outer membrane after Sarkosyl and SDS solubilization of all the isolates were consistently similar to that of the reference strain. The protein profiles of the different species belonging to the B. fragilis group are clearly distinguishable with negligible similarities. Our data clearly show that this approach is extremely helpful and reliable in providing additional verification of the identity of strains recognized by conventional tests. In this connection PAGIF analysis of triton solubilized isolated envelopes reduces technical time and difficulties, thus improving analytical accuracy.

Bacteroides Infections↗
PubMed1984

The enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serologic diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy.

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is simple, quick, and inexpensive, characteristics that make it particularly suitable for large screening programs. We compared the results obtained by ELISA with those obtained by immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT), indirect hemoagglutination test (IHAT), and Sabin Feldman Dye test in a group of 105 pregnant women in the course of a screening for toxoplasmosis. Prevalence of IgG antibody titers were not significantly different. ELISA results were particularly close to those of the reference tests (IFAT and Dye test).

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Clinical multicentre trial with josamycin propionate in paediatric patients.

Josamycin propionate, a tasteless josamycin derivative suitable for the preparation of paediatric oral suspension, was employed in a large, multicentre clinical study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness and safety of the drug. Two hundred paediatric practitioners participated in the study, and 1908 children (mean age 5.27 years) were treated. Respiratory and pararespiratory infections were the most common diagnosis. The mean daily dose of josamycin was 53.5 mg/kg and the drug was administered for an average of 7.31 days. Josamycin proved to be a highly effective antimicrobial agent for the treatment of infections occurring in paediatric practice, with a success rate of 97.1%. The drug also showed a high degree of acceptance by the young patients and was very well tolerated: only 98 children (5.14%) developed side-effects during the treatment. However, the side-effects observed were reliably attributable to josamycin in only 10 out of 300 subjects who were not receiving other drugs; among these the frequency rate was 3.33%.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1983

Penicillin-binding proteins in Bacteroides fragilis and their affinities for several new cephalosporins.

The penicillin-binding protein (PBP) composition in two strains of Bacteroides fragilis has been investigated using 14C-cefotaxime. This microorganism is unique among the bacteria so far investigated, which show a number of PBPs ranging from 5 to 8 in possessing only three PBPs. It lacks the PBP with molecular weight (MW) lower than 50,000 daltons, which, at least in Escherichia coli, has been demonstrated not to be essential for cell growth and division. The affinities of several cephalosporins including cefoxitin, latamoxef (moxalactam), cefoperazone and cefotaxime for the Bact. fragilis PBPs have been determined by in-vitro competition experiments. The results obtained suggest that further studies with competition experiments performed using intact, growing cells may be useful to ascertain the killing targets of beta-lactam antibiotics in bacteria.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1981

Transposon-like structures in the Bacteroides fragilis MLS plasmid plP 410.

Homoduplexes of plasmid plP 410 encoding MLS resistance in Bacteroides fragilis strain 92 revealed two "transposon-like" structures: a 17.4 kb loop flanked by 0.75 inverted repeats, and a 4.5 kb loop flanked by 0.2 kb inverted repeats. The large structure is deleted in a derivative plasmid harboured by a MLS susceptible strain. We have also showed that the long and short inverted repeats are structurally related.

Bacteroides fragilis↗
PubMed1981

Resistance to tetracycline, erythromycin, and clindamycin in the Bacteroides fragilis group: inducible versus constitutive tetracycline resistance.

The transferability of plasmid-mediated tetracycline, erythromycin, and clindamycin resistance was studied in 63 clinical isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group. Of 48 strains which were tetracycline resistant (Tcr), the regulation of both the expression of Tcr and its transferability was shown to be under inducible control by tetracycline. In 29 of the strains, Tcr was transferable; in the majority of these (26 strains), transferability was inducible (Trai) and it was constitutive (Trac) in only 3 strains. All four possible phenotypes were found (Tci Trai, Tci Trac, Tcc Trai, and Tcc Trac), which indicates independent control of both Tcr expression and its transferability. Resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin was cotransferred with Tcr in 14 of the 48 Tcr strains and transferred independently of Tcr in only 1 strain.

Bacteroides Infections↗
PubMed1981

[Technic for repair of laparoceles by an extraperitoneal approach].

The authors report their experience with a technique for reconstruction of the abdominal wall, without opening the peritoneal sac, in patients with ventral hernia. After detailing the basic principles and advantages of the technique, they conclude by stating that it constitutes an effective procedure for repair of ventral hernias of the median line without endoabdominal morbid associations.

Hernia, Ventral↗
PubMed1981

The colonization of Streptococcus faecium in human intestinal tract after oral administration.

The colonizing ability of Streptococcus faecium strain SF 68 at different levels of the gastrointestinal tract was assessed in ten patients. They were orally treated with a preparation containing the bacteria in lyophilized form for three days. During an abdominal surgical operation a sample of bacterial content of jejunum, ileum and colon was taken and cultured. The Streptococcus faecium was detected in all treated patients in a quite high concentration compared to the counts of both aerobic and anaerobic germs. These data confirms the rapid growth of SF 68 after oral administration in the gastrointestinal human tract.

Humans↗
PubMed1980

[Obstruction of the principal bile duct caused by Fasciola hepatica. First case in Sicily].

The first case of human liver infestation due to liver fluke in Sicily is reported. After a clinical review of parasitosis, the autochthonous nature of the case is mentioned to highlight its epidemiological and prophylactic importance, especially in those regions where climatic conditions and living and working habits favour infestation. Finally, attention is called to diagnostic difficulties, treatment and appropriate hygiene and dietetic measures.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Tetracycline transport in Bacteroides fragilis.

In susceptible strain of Bacteroides fragilis, tetracycline uptake is biphasic. The initial phase is independent of adenosine 5'-triphosphate synthesis, which is coupled to fumarate reduction; this phase is not altered by expression of tetracycline resistance genes in a resistant strain. The second phase appears to occur by active transport, since it is largely reduced by rotenone, an inhibitor of electron transport to fumarate; moreover, this phase is under negative control of the tetracycline resistance gene.

Bacteroides fragilis↗