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Biomedical subjects

M S Mura

Publications and source records attributed to M S Mura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Two cases of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Sardinia, Italy confirmed by PCR.

In this work we report the first two cases of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) in Sardinia. In early September 2004, a 69-year-old woman (patient 1) was admitted to the Infectious Diseases Institute of Sassari for rickettsiosis like-syndrome: high fever (39.5-40 degrees C), dyspnea, reduced consciousness, vomiting, and cutaneous rash. In late September 2004, a 30-year-old man (patient 2) with high fever was admitted for an evident palmar and oral erythema, edema of the labium, very intense arthralgia, myalgia, and dyspnea. In these two hospitalized patients, the diagnosis was made through indirect IgM and IgG immunofluorescent technique and confirmed by the presence of the specific DNA in the leukocytes. The two patients were A. phagocytophilum-PCR positive.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Correlates of HIV, HBV, and HCV infections in a prison inmate population: results from a multicentre study in Italy.

A cross-sectional study was undertaken on the correlates of infection for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis viruses B and C (HBV and HCV) in a sample of inmates from eight Italian prisons. A total of 973 inmates were enrolled [87.0% males, median age of 36 years, 30.4% intravenous drug users (IDUs), 0.6% men who have sex with men (MSWM)]. In this sample, high seroprevalence rates were found (HIV: 7.5%; HCV: 38.0%; anti-HBc: 52.7%; HBsAg: 6.7%). HIV and HCV seropositivity were associated strongly with intravenous drug use (OR: 5.9 for HIV; 10.5 for HCV); after excluding IDUs and male homosexuals, the HIV prevalence remained nonetheless relatively high (2.6%). HIV prevalence was higher for persons from Northern Italy and Sardinia. The age effect was U-shaped for HIV and HCV infections; HBV prevalence increased with age. Tattoos were associated with HCV positivity (OR: 2.9). The number of imprisonments was associated with HIV infection, whereas the duration of imprisonment was only associated with anti-HBc. The probability of being HIV-seropositive was higher for HCV-seropositive individuals, especially if IDUs. In conclusion, a high prevalence of HIV, HCV, and HBV infections among inmates was observed: these high rates are in part attributable to the high proportion of IDUs. Frequency of imprisonment and tattoos were associated, respectively, with HIV and HCV positivity. Although it is possible that the study population is not representative of Italy's prison inmate population, the results stress the need to improve infection control measures users was prisons.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Bone mass loss and vitamin D metabolism impairment in HIV patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

AIM: Given the few controversial data about the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on bone mass in HIV patients, we investigated whether a relationship between osteopenia/osteoporosis risk and HAART exists. METHODS: In 172 HIV patients, 152 on HAART, 92 including and 60 not including protease inhibitors (PI), 20 naïve and 64 controls, we measured spine/femur bone mineral density (BMD) by DEXA, and assayed serum osteocalcin (O), bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), 1,25(OH)2 D, parathormone (PTH), calcium (Ca) and urinary pyridinium cross-links (PYD & DPD). RESULTS: Following WHO BMD t-score criteria, osteopenia was ascertained in >35% of all HAART groups and in 30% of naive. Only HAART patients had osteoporosis, PI patients more frequently, significantly (p<0.03) in spine (21.7% vs 8.3%). Males, intravenous drug users and B-C stage patients have a higher risk for low bone mass. Mean t-score was significantly lower in both spine and femur and O and PYD & DPD higher in PI than non PI patients and controls; 1,25(OH)2 D was significantly lower in all HIV groups than controls, PI patients having the lowest values positively correlating with BMD and negatively with OC and PYD & DPD, and it decreased further in 27 non selected monitored patients continuing on HAART. PTH was higher and Ca lower in HAART patients than controls but not significantly, PTH negatively correlating with BMD. CONCLUSION: HAART could be associated with osteopenia, even osteoporosis, and it could aggravate the loss in bone mass due to HIV infection itself. We hypothesize that HAART may directly affect bone remodelling and/or may indirectly affect vitamin D metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Usefulness of 99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy in different variants of Kaposi's sarcoma.

We investigated (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy in 27 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma: 20 had classic (CK), 5 AIDS-associated (AK) and 2 transplantation-associated (TK) variants. Twenty-three patients had clinically evident cutaneous and/or mucosal lesions, 9 of them with associated sarcomatous lymphadenopathy; 2 TK patients had only lymph nodes or other extracutaneous Kaposi sites. Both planar and SPECT (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin scintigraphies were performed in all cases and neck pinhole (P)-SPECT in selected patients. (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin uptake was observed in 88% of patients with clinically evident cutaneous and/or extracutaneous Kaposi lesions. Scintigraphy gave additional information on cutaneous lesion extent, particularly SPECT regarding deep invasion and subclinical sites in some cases. However, scintigraphy was less sensitive in the detection of small, isolated and scattered lesions. SPECT/P-SPECT were positive in 8/8 patients with sarcomatous lymph nodes, planar imaging in 5/8, ultrasonography in 7/8, while all procedures were negative in 6 other patients with reactive or HIV infection lymph nodes. SPECT demonstrated lymphadenopathy remission in 1 TK patient after immunosuppressive therapy modification and, like planar imaging, ascertained an associated lymphoma with (67)Ga-citrate combined. (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy, especially SPECT, can be useful both in the detection and staging of Kaposi sarcoma lesions as a complementary tool to clinical and other conventional diagnostic methods.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Identification of HIV patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis using urine based polymerase chain reaction assay.

BACKGROUND: Despite the increased dissemination of tuberculosis among HIV infected patients, the diagnosis is difficult to establish. Traditional microbiological methods lack satisfactory sensitivity. We have developed a highly sensitive and specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) capable of detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in urine specimens and have used this test to examine urine specimens from HIV patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: Urine specimens from 13 HIV infected patients with microbiologically proven active pulmonary tuberculosis, 10 AIDS patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection (documented by blood culture), 53 AIDS patients with no evidence of mycobacterial disease, and 80 healthy subjects (25 with positive skin test to purified protein derivative) were tested for M tuberculosis using PCR, acid fast staining (AFS), and culture. RESULTS: Of the urine specimens from patients with active tuberculosis, all tested positive by PCR, two by culture, and none by AFS. No reactivity was observed in urine specimens from patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection. Of the 53 AIDS patients without mycobacterial infection, one had a positive urine PCR. Normal subjects were all negative. CONCLUSIONS: Urine based nested PCR for M tuberculosis may be a useful test for identifying HIV patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1987

[HIV infection in northwestern Sardinia].

The prevalence of anti HIV antibodies was investigated in the sera of 150 drug addicts and of 62 patients not drug addicts hospitalized in the Institute of Infectious diseases of the University of Sassari in the years 1980-86. No seropositivity was detected in not drug addicts patients in the years of observation and in the drug addict ones in the years 1980-81-82. The seropositivity discovered in 1983 in 24% of drug addicts raised to 75% in the first 8 months of 1986. As regards the prevalence of anti HIV antibodies in 1986 the sera of different categories were investigated. Seropositivity was detected in 55% of 20 drug addicts prisoners, in 6.25% of 16 homosexual men, 13 of which prisoners and 3 drug addicts, in 3.7% of 27 transfused individuals, 26 of which under dyalitical treatment, and in 33.3% of sexual partners of HIV positive patients. Anti HIV antibodies were not detected in the sera of 20 laboratory workers, 22 prisoners with a negative history for homosexuality and drug addiction, 45 prison guards and 100 individuals taken at random from general population. The stages of infection in 27 drug addicts were classified according to Atlanta CDC criteria as follows: 63% of cases asymptomatic, 22.2% persistent generalized lymphoadenopathy, 7.4% minor clinical features, 3.7% serious clinical picture, 3.7% full clinical picture of AIDS.

Blood Transfusion↗
PubMed1983

[Anti-cytomegalovirus antibodies in Kaposi's sarcoma].

16 patients with Kaposi's Sarcoma were examined with in vitro tests for cellular immunity and with determination of antibody titres to Cytomegalovirus. It was stated that the Cytomegalovirus antibodies were related with new viral infections favoured by the immunosuppression.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

[Immune response in the course of Kaposi's sarcoma].

9 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, not treated with immunosuppressant drugs, were studied. In the Kaposi's disseminated form an impaired function of T mediated immunity (Leukocytes migration inhibition for PHA and PPD and skin test for DNCB) was found. The number of T lymphocytes (E rosettes) was normal. In the Kaposi's initial form with multiple dermal plaques and nodules, these alterations of cellular immunity were absent. In 4 patients elevated titles of Cytomegalovirus antibodies were found. The occurrence of an impairment of cellular immunity only in the serious and disseminated Kaposi's form is emphasized by the Authors.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

[Cytogenic analysis in HBsAg positive subjects, healthy carriers and patients with acute-phase hepatitis].

A highly significant incidence, ranging from 3% to 20% of chromosomal stickiness and agglutination, has been found in 100% of patients with viral hepatitis HBsAg positive and, in lower grade, in carriers of HBsAg. Whereas, such a structural aberration does not occur in normal subjects. No statistical difference has been found as regard chromosomal fragmentation, presence of incisures and numerical anomalies. A possible role of the observed alterations for an impaired cellular immune function observed in healthy HBsAg carriers has been discussed.

Acute Disease↗