ß-HHVs and HHV-8 in Lymphoproliferative Disorders.

Similarly to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is a γ-herpesvirus, recently recognized to be associated with the occurrence of rare B cell lymphomas and atypical lymphoproliferations, especially in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected subjects. Moreover, the human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), a ß-herpesvirus, has been shown to be implicated in some non-malignant lymph node proliferations, such as the Rosai Dorfman disease, and in a proportion of Hodgkin's lymphoma cases. HHV-6 has a wide cellular tropism and it might play a role in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of human diseases, but given its ubiquity, disease associations are difficult to prove and its role in hematological malignancies is still controversial. The involvement of another ß-herpesvirus, the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), has not yet been proven in human cancer, even though recent findings have suggested its potential role in the development of CD4(+) large granular lymphocyte (LGL) lymphocytosis. Here, we review the current knowledge on the pathogenetic role of HHV-8 and human ß-herpesviruses in human lymphoproliferative disorders.

[Prognosis in Hodgkin's disease: verification of a new predictive equation]. / La prognosi nella malattia di Hodgkin: verifica di una nuova equazione predittiva.

A retrospective analysis of a series of 114 patients with Hodgkin's disease was carried out. The patient were male, aged greater than or equal to 45 years, histotype mixed cellularity or lymphocytic depletion, advanced stage (III o IV), ESR greater than 45 mm/1h., serum albumin less than or equal to 3.5 gr/dl appeared to be unfavorable parameters at diagnosis. The application of a predictive linear equation recently proposed by Gobbi et al. revealed a agreement between survival and predicted mean survival.

[Shapiro's syndrome: description of a case and review of the literature]. / Sindrome di Shapiro: descrizione di un caso e revisione della letteratura.

The Authors report a case of spontaneous periodic hypothermia associated with agenesis of the corpus callosum (Shapiro's syndrome). The Authors outline the clinical features and physiopathology of this uncommon syndrome with a review of the literature.

[Prognostic significance of skeletal lesions in multiple myeloma]. / Il significato prognostico delle lesioni scheletriche nel mieloma multiplo.

Prognostic significance of the skeletal lesions in multiple myeloma. Fifty-two patients with multiple myeloma have been analysed and relations between bone X-ray changes and several clinical biohumoral parameters and survival have been found. Our studies show no correlation between the extent of skeletal lesions and the seriousness of anaemia, or between bone marrow infiltration and renal involvement. The results also show that patients with apparently normal bones may also have serious anaemia, wide bone marrow infiltration and serious renal lesions rapidly leading to a poor prognosis. Comparison of survival curves, according to the grade of bone X-ray changes at presentation, shows no significant difference: the grade of bone lesions at diagnosis does not seem to considerably influence survival.

Cyclic AMP levels in lung and spleen tissue of mice treated with pertussis toxin.

The effects of pertussis toxin (PT) on cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) metabolism in lung and spleen tissue of mice were studied. We observed a marked lymphocyte accumulation and concomitant weight increase in the lungs of mice treated with PT. On the contrary, a rapid lymphocyte depletion was observed in the spleens of PT-treated mice. The effects of PT on cAMP metabolism were partially evident in the lungs where early increased levels of cAMP were observed. On the other hand, decreased levels of cAMP in spleen tissues were observed at the time of maximum lymphocyte depletion of such organ.

Effects of pertussis toxin and indomethacin on murine lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids.

The total number of lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids significantly increased in mice injected intravenously with pertussis toxin (PT), while the absolute number of alveolar macrophages markedly decreased. This finding probably reflects the lymphocyte accumulation in interstitial spaces as we previously observed in mice injected with PT. In addition, indomethacin, at lower dosage (0.5 mg/kg) prevented peripheral lymphocytosis and lymphocyte accumulation in the alveolar spaces of the lungs of mice injected with PT. These results provide evidence that PT is responsible for lymphocyte accumulation together with a marked decrease of alveolar macrophages in the lungs of treated mice; moreover, indomethacin is effective in preventing bronchoalveolar changes caused by PT.

Effects of orally administered activated charcoal on ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers.

Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic orally active against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Recent literature indicates that orally administered activated charcoal can alter the bioavailability of many drugs and in vitro studies have demonstrated an interaction with ciprofloxacin. To evaluate in vivo the effects of activated charcoal on ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics, six healthy volunteers received, according to a cross-over design, either ciprofloxacin 500 mg alone or concomitantly 1 g activated charcoal. The coadministration of the latter drug did not influence any of the considered pharmacokinetic parameters. Activated charcoal at a clinically effective dose, therapeutically used in gaseousness, does not alter ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics.

Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in mice treated with pertussis toxin and betamethasone.

Effects of pertussis toxin (PT) and betamethasone on delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in mice were studied. When mice received PT (1 microgram/mouse) at the time of immunization or elicitation, a depression of DTH responses was observed. In addition, when mice received PT five days before and at the time of immunization, the DTH responses were suppressed. The administration of betamethasone along with PT at the time of immunization and elicitation caused an inhibition of DTH responses. These results suggest that PT depressed the DTH responses and that betamethasone suppressed such responses. Based on these findings, possible mechanisms by which PT and betamethasone affect DTH are discussed.

In vitro influence of charcoal on ciprofloxacin activity.

The effect of charcoal-containing media on ciprofloxacin (BAY o 9867) has been evaluated. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin are increased by the presence of charcoal, thus a correction factor has to be calculated to know the real efficacy of the drug, especially in life-threatening infections such as pneumonia due to Legionella spp.