[Lead in the environment].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L Becchio.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Variations in anti-CMV antibody affinity have been studied in 106 renal transplant patients. Maturation of immune response has been followed during two years after transplantation evaluating antibody affinity by ELISA before and after urea denaturation treatment. In primary infections while the antibody titer rises, the resistance to denaturing treatment rises as well, indicating an increased antibody affinity. In patients already seropositive at transplantation, the increase of antibody affinity has also been found: comparing the affinity index (AI) at transplantation and one year later, only 16.5% of patients showed an AI value between 80 and 100 at transplantation, whereas after one year 62.3% of patients reached such AI values (p = 0.0001).
Anti-HTLV-I antibody presence in drug addicts dead in 1987-1988 in Turin, was evaluated. Comparing the prevalence of HTLV-I infection with that of HIV and HBV infections, a different way and/or rate of spread of HTLV-I infection is suggested.
The problems raised by ambient lead are examined with reference to its uptake, absorption and metabolism in man, animal metabolism and toxicology, sub-clinical effects, and health aspects. The existing research picture of this very complex field is surveyed.