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Biomedical subjects

O Zardi

Publications and source records attributed to O Zardi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Acquired cutaneous toxoplasmosis.

We examined more than 1,400 dermatologic patients with clinically defined (but having unknown or presumably multiple etiology) affections. The investigation revealed the presence of antitoxoplasma antibodies in more than 50% of the patients, but in only 11% of the cases did the serological analyses give evidence of an active form of disease. It was possible to prove the toxoplasmic etiology of 29 cases of chronic prurigo and of 4 cases of dermatocellulitis. The same infection was involved in a few cases of different dermatoses and in two cases of dermatomyositis-like syndrome. Pseudotumoral granulomatous localizations occurred in immunosuppressed patients. We suggest an 'immunological key' to explain the polymorphism of the cutaneous manifestations. The practical interest of this new knowledge and its importance as a field of interdisciplinary studies are emphasized.

Adult

[Possible rickettsial etiology of Buerger's disease].

We have established a serologic study with method of direct microagglutination described by Babudieri and Zardi, by 31 patients affected from a Buerger's disease, to determine the positivity of antibody title which desposes on rickettsiosis infection. Positivities have been confirmed for the Rickettsia Burnetii from 41,9% of cases, for R. Mooseri from 6,4% and for the R. Conori only from one case. Since the positivity varies in the normal population from the 0.7% to 1.1% the data related appears very significant for a possible rickettsiosis etiology of the Buerger's disease.

Adolescent

Serological survey of toxoplasmosis in Somalia.

Of 356 samples of human sera collected from native patients in two distinct zones of Somalia, 53% were positive (greater than or equal to 1:8) to the dye-test for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. A significantly lower incidence (P less than 0.01) of infection was found in patients living in the arid Mogadishu area, compared to that in patients from villages on the river borders, situated in humid soil zones. Furthermore, in 4.2% of the river area cases the titres were over 300 I.U., indicating that acute T. gondii infection exists among the Somalian population. These differences were regarded as being due to climatic and geographical conditions rather than to diet or socio-economic conditions.

Antibodies

The behaviour of antitoxoplasmic antibodies during pregnancy.

The authors have studied the antitoxoplasmic antibody behaviour longitudinally in a sample of pregnant women and in one of nonpregnant women, all of them not affected by an active infectious process. No significant difference has been found between the various pregnancy trimesters. The antibody titre in non-pregnant women has proved significantly higher than in the pregnant ones. In a sample of 131 women it has been found that the antibody titre before pregnancy is significantly higher than the one present in the first trimester. The authors conclude that during pregnancy the antitoxoplasmic antibody level is lower as compared to the one of non-pregnant women; and this phenomenon implies various hypothese calling for further discussion.

Antibodies

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.

In this note we described the E.L.I.S.A. test, applied to diagnostic of Toxoplasmosis, at short period of reaction. The reading has been made with naked eye. The examined sera have been previously titred to the Dye test. The authors have been able to establish the antigenic dilution as well as the short period of the best reaction to carry on the E.L.I.S.A.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Dermatomyositis-like syndrome due to toxoplasma.

A woman had the typical clinical, cutaneous, and muscular picture of dermatomyositis but without some of the biochemical alterations of that disease. The positive serological investigations for toxoplasmosis, the pressure in muscles of very numerous toxoplasms and their culture in mice, and the improvement after treatment with pyrimethamine and sulphametoxypyridine demonstrated that the signs of dermatomyositis had been caused by infection with toxoplasmosis.

Adult

Biology of Toxoplasma gondii, its survival in body tissues and liquids, risks for the pregnant woman.

After briefly outlining the biology of Toxoplasma gondii the authors discuss the resistance of the parasite in body liquids and tissues under certain environmental conditions. Parasite resistance and its consequent risk of human infection, particularly for the pregnant woman, is emphasized. Toxoplasma oocysts, the sexual expression of the parasite, and the cyst facilitate the diffusion of Toxoplasma, as they are much more resistant than the trophozoite.

Animals

Histoplasmosis diffusion in Somalia: study of skin-test and serological survey.

Histoplasmin skin-test was applied to 1014 patients in two different parts of Somalia: in Mogadishu, an arid area, and in Jilib, a southern village on the banks of the Juba river. Among these patients only three gave areas of induration greater than 5 mm in diameter; all reactors were from Jilib. Results of a serological survey (latex-agglutination test) of histoplasmosis antibodies among 203 Somalian patients from three villages in river valleys are compared with the results of 171 inhabitants of the town of Mogadishu. Indirect agglutination antibody titers greater than or equal to 20 were found in 21.6% of the Mogadishu population as compared to 52.2% found in the river villages. In 96.2% of our cases in which the two tests were contemporarily used, the skin-test was completely negative despite high titres of positivity in the serological test. The results indicate the existence of founts of histoplasmosis infection in Somalia, particularly in humid areas bordering the rivers rather than in the surrounding arid semi-desert area characteristic of most of the country.

Female

The present prophylactic trends of rubella and measles.

Starting from the epidemiological investigation on a sample of 22.560 subjects of different chronological age classes in the Latium region with the research of hemoagglutinoinhibiting antibodies of the Rubella virus, and of 9.800 subjects with the research of hemoagglutinoinhibiting antibodies of the Measles virus, the authors observe that the diffusion of the seroprotection presents on an average 82.5% for Rubella and 79.8% for Measles. On the strength of the results, referred also according to the established chronological age classes, any obligatory treatment against Rubella is excluded in prepuberal age. In order to prevent the risk of congenital malformation in cases of pregnant and not seroprotected subjects who, during the first three months of gestation might come into contact with sick affected by Rosolia or with healthy carriers, the authors suggest the vaccination three months before the conception. Evidently, this involves a screening of the adult female population before their marriage. On the contrary as concerns Measles, the vaccination within the second year of life is being hypothesized exactly on the basis of the consideration that this is a matter of a serious illness and not always free from grave complications. In these cases, after shortly referring on the results of the experiments of different authors, the mixed anti-Measles and anti-Rubella vaccination might be taken into consideration, though with all the precautions that are suggested.

Adolescent