The persistent problem of late HIV diagnosis in people with AIDS: a population-based study in Italy, 1999-2013.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the wide accessibility to free human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), late HIV diagnosis remains common with severe consequences at individual and population level. This study aimed to describe trends of late HIV testing and to identify their determinants in the late cART era in Italy. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a population-based, nationwide analysis of the Italian National AIDS Registry data (AIDS - acquired immune deficiency syndrome) for the years 1999-2013. METHODS: Late testers (LTs) were defined as people with AIDS (PWA) whose first HIV-positive test preceded AIDS diagnosis by 3 months or less. Odds ratios (ORs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to examine factors associated with being LTs. Joinpoint analysis was used to estimate annual percent changes (APCs) of LTs' proportion over time. RESULTS: Among 20,753 adult PWA, 50.8% were LTs. Italian PWA showed a lower proportion of LTs than non-Italian PWA (46.5% vs 68.2%). Among Italian PWA, the odds of being LTs was higher in men than in women (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 2.38-2.90); in the age groups below 35 years and over 49 years at diagnosis (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.12-1.37 and OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.38-1.67, respectively) vs PWA aged 35-49 years; and in those infected through sexual contact as compared with injecting drug use (OR = 13.34, 95% CI: 12.06-14.76 for heterosexual contact and OR = 8.13, 95% CI: 7.30-9.06 for male-to-male sexual contact). The proportion of LTs increased over time among Italians, especially in the latest period (APC2006-2013 = 5.3, 95% CI: 3.8-6.9). The LTs' proportion resulted higher, though stable, among PWA aged ≥50 years. Conversely, an increasing trend was observed among PWA aged 18-34 years (APC = 5.3, 95% CI: 4.5-6.1). The LTs' proportion was persistently higher among PWA who acquired HIV infection through sexual contact, even if a marked increase among injecting drug users was observed after 2005 (APC = 11.4, 95% CI: 5.7-17.5). CONCLUSIONS: The increasing trend of LTs' proportion in the late cART era highlights the need of new strategies tailored to groups who may not consider themselves to be at a high risk of infection. Active promotion of early testing and continuous education of infection, especially among young people, need to be implemented.

Clinical predictors and microbiology of ventilator-associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit: a retrospective analysis in six Italian hospitals.

The purpose of this study was to assess the main clinical predictors and microbiological features of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) environment. This work is a retrospective analysis over one year from September 2010 to September 2011. Patients' risk factors, causes of admission, comorbidities and respiratory specimens collected in six Italian ICUs were reviewed. Incidence and case fatality rate of VAP were evaluated. After stratification for VAP development, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the impact of patients' conditions on the onset of this infection. A total of 1,647 ICU patients (pts) were considered. Overall, 115 patients (6.9 %) experienced at least one episode of VAP. The incidence rate for VAP was 5.82/1,000 pts-days, with a case fatality rate of 44.3 %. Multivariate analysis showed that admission for neurological disorders (aIRR 4.12, CI 1.24-13.68, p = 0.02) and emergency referral to ICU from other hospitals (aIRR 2.11, CI 1.03-4.31, p = 0.04) were associated with higher risk of VAP, whereas a tendency to a higher risk of infection was detected for admission due to respiratory disease, cardiac disease, trauma and for having obesity or renal failure. A total of 372 microbiological isolates from respiratory specimens were collected in VAP patients. The most common species were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, showing high resistance rates to carbapenems. Neurological disorders and emergency referral at the admission into the ICU are significantly associated with the onset of VAP. A high incidence of multi-drug resistant Gram- species was detected in the respiratory specimens.

Changing epidemiology of Infant Meningococcal Disease after the introduction of meningococcal serogroup C vaccine in Italy, 2006-2014.

BACKGROUND: In Italy, the incidence of Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) was around 0.28 per 100,000 over the last years. Since the risk IMD is usually high among infants aged less than 1 year, we decided to evaluate the trend of IMD cases reported between 2006 and 2014 in this age group. In particular, the study aim was to describe the main characteristics of IMD cases in infants following the introduction of MCC vaccine (2005) and to estimate the number of cases which are potentially preventable through early vaccination. METHODS: The National Surveillance System of Bacterial Meningitis was established in 1994 and in 2007 was extended to all invasive bacterial diseases. Clinical data and isolates and/or clinical samples are collected from hospitalized patients throughout the country. IMD cases are reported by clinicians to the local health authorities, and samples are sent to the Reference Laboratory at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità for further characterization and storage at -80°C. In particular, serogroup identification is obtained by agglutination with commercial antisera or by multiplex PCR. RESULTS: The annual incidence for infants <1 year old remained rather stable of 3.6 per 100,000, with several upward and downward oscillations and a peak in 2010. The incidence of IMD among infants was more than 10 times higher than the overall rate of IMD observed in Italy. Finally, serogroup B was more frequently detected among infants aged <1 year, accounting for 65% of the total (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: During the study period, IMD incidence reported among infants aged less than one year old was 10 times higher than the overall rate, and serogroup B was the most commonly detected over time. The long-term impact of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine and the effect of the introduction of meningococcal B vaccination among infants need to be evaluated.

Molecular surveillance of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) viruses circulating in Italy from May 2009 to February 2010: association between haemagglutinin mutations and clinical outcome.

Haemagglutinin sequences of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) viruses circulating in Italy were examined, focusing on amino acid changes at position 222 because of its suggested pathogenic relevance. Among 169 patients, the D222G substitution was detected in three of 52 (5.8%) severe cases and in one of 117 (0.9%) mild cases, whereas the D222E mutation was more frequent and evenly distributed in mild (31.6%) and severe cases (38.4%). A cluster of D222E viruses among school children confirms reported human-to-human transmission of viruses mutated at amino acid position 222.

Infection with chikungunya virus in Italy: an outbreak in a temperate region.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which is transmitted by Aedes spp mosquitoes, has recently caused several outbreaks on islands in the Indian Ocean and on the Indian subcontinent. We report on an outbreak in Italy. METHODS: After reports of a large number of cases of febrile illness of unknown origin in two contiguous villages in northeastern Italy, an outbreak investigation was done to identify the primary source of infection and modes of transmission. An active surveillance system was also implemented. The clinical case definition was presentation with fever and joint pain. Blood samples were gathered and analysed by PCR and serological assays to identify the causal agent. Locally captured mosquitoes were also tested by PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of the CHIKV E1 region was done. FINDINGS: Analysis of samples from human beings and from mosquitoes showed that the outbreak was caused by CHIKV. We identified 205 cases of infection with CHIKV between July 4 and Sept 27, 2007. The presumed index case was a man from India who developed symptoms while visiting relatives in one of the villages. Phylogenetic analysis showed a high similarity between the strains found in Italy and those identified during an earlier outbreak on islands in the Indian Ocean. The disease was fairly mild in nearly all cases, with only one reported death. INTERPRETATION: This outbreak of CHIKV disease in a non-tropical area was to some extent unexpected and emphasises the need for preparedness and response to emerging infectious threats in the era of globalisation.

Bacterial isolates from severe infections and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Italy: a nationwide study in the hospital setting.

The most frequent agents of severe bacterial infections and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns were determined in patients admitted to 45 Italian hospitals over the years 2002-2003. The most common diagnoses were: sepsis (33.8%), pneumonia (9.4%), intravascular catheter-associated infections (9.3%) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (8.1%). Overall, 5115 bacterial isolates were identified from 4228 patients. Three bacterial species, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, accounted for more than 50% of the isolates. Other prevalent bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis, while Acinetobacter baumanii ranked third among all Intensive Care Unit (ICU) isolates. 7% of S. aureus had intermediate resistance to vancomycin. Although E. faecalis displayed no vancomycin resistance, 34% of vancomycin-resistant isolates were found among Enterococcus faecium, one of the highest rates found to date, emphasizing the difference between these two enterococcal species. All the Gram-positive pathogens were susceptible to linezolid, with the exception of approximately 2% of the enterococcal isolates that were intermediate with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)=4 microg/ml. Almost 10% of Escherichia coli, 14% of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 22% of Serratia marcescens and 50% of Enterobacter cloacae were non-susceptible to cefotaxime. Amikacin was the most active antibiotic against P. aeruginosa that showed lack of susceptibility to ceftazidime, gentamicin, piperacillin and ciprofloxacin ranging from 20 to 35%. Finally, Acinetobacter baumanii showed a high level of resistance to all the antibiotics tested including imipenem (58%). The results obtained in this study, the first of its kind in Italy, offer indications for guiding empirical therapy and implementing specific interventions to fight antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and their transmission in the hospital setting in Italy.

Increasing proportion of late testers among AIDS cases in Italy, 1996-2002.

In recent years, the proportion of individuals who are unaware of being infected with HIV when diagnosed with AIDS (defined as 'late testers') has dramatically increased in several European countries, including Italy. We evaluated the extent and determinants of late testing and its impact in terms of AIDS-defining illnesses among AIDS cases reported to the Italian National AIDS Registry since 1996. Late testers were defined as those persons whose first positive HIV test result was within six months of the AIDS diagnosis. Late testers were more likely to be heterosexual contacts or MSWM, as opposed to IDUs. They were also more likely to come from low prevalence areas of Italy or from foreign countries. At AIDS diagnosis, late testers were less likely to be undergoing HAART or prophylaxis against PCP/toxoplasmosis, compared to non-late testers. The mean CD4 cell count at AIDS diagnosis was significantly lower among late testers. PCP, toxoplasmosis and Kaposi's sarcoma were more frequently diagnosed as an AIDS-defining illness in late testers, who also had a significantly higher risk of presenting with multiple concomitant AIDS-defining illnesses. In conclusion, late testing results in missed opportunities for preventing and treating HIV infection, leading to an increased risk of developing preventable opportunistic infections and death.

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus, herpes simplex virus type 2, and human herpes virus 8 in remote villages of southwestern Papua New Guinea.

To investigate the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted viruses, two serosurveys (the first in 1999 among 56 adults and the second in 2001 among 351 adults) were conducted in remote villages of the southwestern part of Papua New Guinea. Only one individual was positive for antibodies to HIV. In 2001, the seroprevalence of human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) was 32.2%, and the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) was 27.4%. Both prevalence rates increased with age, and were lower in the villages near the Bensbach River. The seropositivity of HSV-2 was independently correlated with HHV-8 infection. Our data show that the inhabitants of the southwestern region of Papua New Guinea currently experience an extremely low circulation of HIV. However, the high prevalence of infectious agents that can be sexually transmitted, such as HSV-2 and to a lesser extent HHV-8, indicates the presence of behavioral patterns that may facilitate the spread of HIV in this area of currently low endemicity.

Synthesis of a polysulfated heparin degradation product.

Two suitable methods for the synthesis of the heparin degradation product 2,5-anyhydro-3-O-(alpha-L-idopyranosyluronate)-D-mannitol hexa O-sulfate are reported. The synthesis pathways start from D-glucose and D-glucosamine.

Response to highly active antiretroviral therapy according to duration of HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether duration of HIV-1 infection influences the response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). DESIGN: Prospective study of individuals (Italian Seroconversion Study cohort) with well-estimated dates of HIV-1 seroconversion. METHODS: This analysis included 277 participants who began HAART (defined as three antiretroviral drugs used in combination). Cox regression models were used to evaluate the association between duration of infection (as categorical variable [7.5 years from seroconversion] or continuous variable) and an immunologic (rise in CD4 count >100 cells/mm3) and a virologic (decline in plasma HIV-RNA to unquantifiable levels) outcome. All analyses were stratified by center of recruitment and adjustment, when used, was for gender, age at inception of HAART, injection drug use, previous antiretroviral therapy, lag-time between positive and negative HIV test result, year of starting HAART, clinical stage, CD4 count, and HIV-RNA at time of HAART. RESULTS: HAART was initiated a median of 6.4 years after seroconversion. There was a median follow-up of 1.6 years after starting HAART to the calendar cut-off (November 1999). One-hundred-eighty-one (65.3%) patients experienced a decline in viral load to below quantifiable levels and 184 (66.4%) experienced a rise in CD4 >100 cells/mm3. In the Cox models, by 1-year increase in duration of infection, we estimated a lower crude hazard of achieving a CD4 count increase >100 cells (relative hazard [RH], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92-1.01; p =.09), and a lower hazard of reaching an unquantifiable level of plasma HIV-RNA (RH, 0.97; 95%CI, 0.93-1.02; p =.20). After adjustment, these values became 0.99 (95%CI, 0.93-1.04; p =.62) and 0.98 (95%CI, 0.93-1.04; p =.48), respectively. When duration of HIV infection was considered as a categorical variable, the results were consistent with those already described. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the duration of HIV infection does not seem to play an important independent role in determining the virologic and immunologic responses to HAART.

Conversion of 2,6-anhydro-D-altrose and--mannose derivatives with 4-substituted phenyl thiols to prepare compounds with potential antithrombotic activity.

Acetolysis of methyl 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-anhydro-D-altropyranoside afforded a mixture containing, besides 1,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-2,6-anhydro-D-altropyranose, the (1R) and (1S) diastereomers of methyl 2,6-anhydro-D-altrose-tetraacetate. Treatment of this mixture with 4-cyanobenzenethiol in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate resulted in a mixture containing the 3,4,5-tri-O-acetyl-2,6-anhydro-D-altrose bis(4-cyanophenyl) dithioacetal, the corresponding O-methyl S-aryl monothiohemiacetal diastereomers and the beta-thiopyranoside, respectively. Acetolysis of methyl 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-anhydro-D-mannopyranoside led to a mixture of the (1R) and (1S) diastereomers of methyl 2,6-anhydro-D-mannosetetraacetate, which was converted into the corresponding O-methyl S-aryl monothiohemiacetals. Treatment of 1,1,3,4,5-penta-O-acetyl-2,6-anhydro-aldehydo-D-altrose and -D-mannose with 4-cyano- and 4-nitrobenzenethiol, respectively, in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate afforded the corresponding dithioacetal derivatives. All arylthio derivatives obtained after deacetylation were tested for their oral antithrombotic activity.

Synthesis of 4-substituted phenyl 3,6-anhydro-1,3-dithio-D-glucofuranosides and -pyranosides as well as 2,6-anhydro-1,2-dithio-alpha-D-altrofuranosides possessing antithrombotic activity.

1,2,5-Tri-O-acetyl-3,6-anhydro-3-thio-D-glucofuranose was synthesised starting from D-glucose and was used as a donor for the glycosidation of 4-cyano- and 4-nitrobenzenethiol. In the latter reaction, besides an anomeric mixture of the 4-nitrophenyl 2,5-di-O-acetyl-3,6-anhydro-1,3-dithio-D-glucofuranosides, the corresponding 2,6-anhydro-1,2-dithio-D-altrofuranosides were also obtained, formed via a rearrangement of the sugar moiety. A similar rearrangement could be observed during the hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond of methyl 3,6-anhydro-2,4-di-O-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-3-thio-alpha-D-glucopyranoside with aqueous trifluoroacetic acid, affording after acetylation besides 1-O-acetyl-3,6-anhydro-2,4-di-O-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-3-thio-alpha-D-glucopyranose (32alpha), 1,1,5-tri-O-acetyl-3,6-anhydro-2,4-di-O-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-3-thio-D-glucose, methyl 3,6-anhydro-2,4-di-O-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-3-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 1,5-di-O-acetyl-2,6-anhydro-3-O-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-2-thio-alpha-D-altrofuranose (40). Glycosidation of 4-cyanobenzethiol with 32alpha in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate as promoter afforded 4-cyanophenyl 3,6-anhydro-2,4-di-O-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-1,3-dithio-beta-D-glucopyranoside as a minor component only, besides 4-cyanophenyl 3,6-anhydro-2-S-(4-cyanophenyl)-4-O-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-1,2,3-trithio-beta-D-glucopyranoside. When boron trifluoride etherate was used as promoter in the reaction of 32alpha with 4-cyano- and 4-nitrobenzenethiol, the corresponding beta-thioglycosides were obtained, while 40 gave under identical conditions the alpha anomers exclusively. All thioglycosides obtained after deacylation were submitted to biological evaluation. Among these glycosides, the 4-cyanophenyl 3,6-thioanhydro-1,3-dithio-D-glucofuranoside possessed the strongest oral antithrombotic effect.

Synthesis of 4-cyano- and 4-nitrophenyl 2,5-anhydro- 1,6-dithio-alpha-D-gluco- and -alpha-L-guloseptanosides carrying different substituents at C-3 and C-4.

Treatment of 1,6:2,5-dianhydro-3,4-di-O-methanesulfonyl-1-thio-D-glucitol in methanol with sodium hydroxide afforded 1,6:2,5:3,4-trianhydro-1-thio-allitol, 1,4:2,5-dianhydro-6-methoxy-1-thio-D-galactitol, 1,6:2,5-dianhydro-4-O-methyl-1 -thio-D-glucitol, 1 ,6:2,5-dianhydro-3-O-methanesulfonyl-1 -thio-D-glucitol and 1 ,6:2,5-dianhydro-4-deoxy-1-thio-D-erythro-hex-3-ulose (14) in 5, 4, 28, 5.5 and 41% yield, respectively. Formation of these derivatives can be explained via a common sulfonium intermediate. Reduction of 14 with sodium borohydride and subsequent acetylation afforded 3-O-acetyl-1,6:2,5-dianhydro-4-deoxy-1-thio-D-xylo-hexitol, the absolute configuration of which was proved by X-ray crystallography. The 1,6:2,5-dianhydro-1-thio-D-hexitol derivatives in which the free OH groups were protected by acetylation, methylation or mesylation were converted by a Pummerer reaction of their sulfoxides into the corresponding 1-O-acetyl hexoseptanose derivatives which were used as donors for the glycosidation of 4-cyano- and 4-nitrobenzenethiol, respectively. The Pummerer reaction of 1,6:2,5-dianhydro-4-deoxy-3-O-methyl-1-thio-D-xylo-hexitol S-oxide gave, besides 1-O-acetyl-2,5-anhydro-3-deoxy-4-O-methyl-6-thio-alpha-L- (23) and 1-O-acetyl-2,5-anhydro-4-deoxy-3-O-methyl-6-thio-alpha-D-xylo-hexoseptanose (25), 1-O-acetyl-4-deoxy-2,6-thioanhydro-D-lyxo-hexopyranose, formed in a rearrangement reaction. The same rearrangement took place, when a mixture of 23 and 25 was used as donor in the glycosidation reaction with 4-cyanobenzenethiol, applying trimethylsilyl triflate as promoter. The oral antithrombotic activity of the obtained alpha-thioglycosides was determined in rats, using Pescador's model.

Synthesis of 4-substituted phenyl 2,5-anhydro-1,6-dithio-alpha-D-gluco- and -alpha-L-guloseptanosides possessing antithrombotic activity.

Two independent approaches were investigated for the synthesis of 3,4-di-O-acetyl-1,6:2,5-dianhydro-1-thio-D-glucitol (18), a key intermediate in the synthesis of 1,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-2,5-anhydro-6-thio-alpha-D-glucoseptanose (13), needed as glycosyl donor. In the first approach 1,6-dibromo-1,6-dideoxy-D-mannitol was used as starting material and was converted via 2,5-anhydro-1,6-dibromo-1,6-dideoxy-4-O-methanesulfonyl-3-O-tetrahydropy ranyl-D-glucitol into 18. The second approach started from 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannitol and the allyl, 4-methoxybenzyl as well as the methoxyethoxymethyl groups were used, respectively, for the protection of the 3,4-OH groups. The resulting intermediates were converted via their 1,2:5,6-dianhydro derivatives into the corresponding 3,4-O-protected 2,5-anhydro-6-bromo-6-deoxy-D-glucitol derivatives. The 1,6-thioanhydro bridge was introduced into these compounds by exchanging the bromine with thioacetate, activating OH-1 by mesylation and treating these esters with sodium methoxide. Among these approaches, the 4-methoxybenzyl protection proved to be the most suitable for a large scale preparation of 18. Pummerer rearrangement of the sulfoxide, obtained via oxidation of 18 gave a 1:9 mixture of 1,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-2,5-anhydro-6-thio-alpha-L-gulo- (12) and -D-glucoseptanose 13. When 12 or 13 were used as donors and trimethylsilyl triflate as promoter for the glycosylation of 4-cyanobenzenethiol, a mixture of 4-cyanophenyl 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,5-anhydro-1,6-dithio-alpha-L-gulo- (58) and -alpha-D-glucoseptanoside (61) was formed suggesting an isomerisation of the heteroallylic system of the intermediate. A similar mixture of 58 and 61 resulted when 18 was treated with N-chloro succinimide and the mixture of chlorides was used in the presence of zinc oxide for the condensation with 4-cyanobenzenethiol. When 4-nitrobenzenethiol was applied as aglycon and boron trifluoride etherate as promoter, a mixture of 4-nitrophenyl 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,5-anhydro-1,6-dithio-alpha-L-gulo- (60) and -alpha-D-glucoseptanoside (62) was obtained. Deacetylation of 58, 61 and 62 according to Zemplen afforded 4-cyanophenyl 2,5-anhydro-1,6-dithio-alpha-L-glucoseptanoside (59), 4-cyanophenyl 2,5-anhydro-1,6-dithio-alpha-D-glucoseptanoside (63) and 4-nitrophenyl 2,5-anhydro-1,6-dithio-alpha-D-glucoseptanoside (66), respectively. The 4-cyano group of 63 was transformed into the 4-aminothiocarbonyl, and the 4-(methylthio)(imino)methyl derivative and the 4-nitro group of 66 into the acetamido derivative. All of these thioglycosides displayed a stronger oral antithrombotic effect in rats compared with beciparcil, used as reference.

Changes in urine 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels of super-marathon runners during a four-day race period.

We have determined the urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels of five well trained supra-marathon runners during a four-day race. The daily running distances of the four-day race were the following; 93 km, 120 km, 56 km and 59 km, respectively. Pre-race and post-race urine samples were collected on each day and analyzed by a monoclonal antibody technique. The urinary 8-OHdG content increased significantly on the first day and tended to decrease from the third day. By the fourth day 8-OHdG content was significantly less than measured on the first three days. The serum creatine kinase activity changed in a similar fashion, showing a large increase (P<0.001) up to the third day when it decreased significantly from the peak value (P<0.05). We conclude that extreme physical exercise causes oxidative DNA damage to well trained athletes. However, repeated extreme exercise-induced oxidative stress does not propagate on increase of urinary 8-OHdG, but rather causes an adaptation leading to normalization of oxidative DNA damage.

Differential expressions of protein kinase C isozymes during proliferation and differentiation of human skeletal muscle cells in vitro.

The mechanism of skeletal muscle regeneration in vivo can be well modeled in vitro by culturing skeletal muscle cells. In these cultures mononuclear satellite cells fuse to form polynuclear myotubes by proliferation and differentiation. The aim of this study was to determine how the different protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes were expressed during differentiation of human skeletal muscle in vitro. The expressions of desmin, used as a muscle-specific intermediate filament protein marker of differentiation, and of different PKC isozymes were detected by single and double immunohistochemical labeling, and by Western blot analysis. In skeletal muscle cells we could identify five PKC isozymes (PKC alpha, -gamma, -etha, -theta and -zeta). The expressions of PKC alpha and -zeta did not change significantly during differentiation; their levels of expression were high in the early immature cells and remained unchanged in later phases. In contrast, the expression levels of PKC gamma and -etha increased with differentiation. Furthermore, the cellular localization of PKC gamma markedly altered during differentiation, with a perinuclear-nuclear to cytoplasmic translocation. The change in the level of expression of PKC theta during differentiation showed different pattern; its expression was high during the early phases, but a decreased immunostaining was detected in the matured, well-differentiated myotubes. We conclude, therefore, that cultured human skeletal muscle cells possess a characteristic PKC isozyme pattern, and that the different phases of differentiation are accompanied by different expression patterns of the various isozymes. These data suggest the possible functional and differential roles of PKC isozymes in human skeletal muscle differentiation.

Differential impact of combined antiretroviral therapy on the survival of italian patients with specific AIDS-defining illnesses.

BACKGROUND: A decrease in HIV-related mortality and morbidity has been observed since 1996 in most developed countries as a consequence of the extensive use of combined antiretroviral therapies. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether combined antiretroviral therapies had a differential impact on the survival of patients with different AIDS-defining illnesses (ADIs). METHODS: In total, 35,318 persons representing all the adults with AIDS (PWAs) diagnosed in Italy from January 1, 1990 to August 31, 1998 were studied. Actuarial life tables and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to estimate the cumulative probability of survival; the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate adjusted relative hazard of death (RH). RESULTS: Among PWAs diagnosed after 1995, the proportion of survivors 24 months after diagnosis was more than doubled (66%) compared with that of PWAs diagnosed before the end of 1995 (31%). Significantly decreased RHs for some ADIs were observed as early as 1996 (i.e., esophageal candidiasis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, brain toxoplasmosis, HIV-wasting syndrome, and pulmonary tuberculosis). In the last period (1997-1998), the decrease was marked and significant for almost all the ADIs, ranging from 55% to 80% compared with the RHs of the reference year (1995). Conversely, primary lymphoma of the brain and Burkitt's lymphoma showed a low and not statistically significant decrease; these were the ADIs with the worst outcome. CONCLUSIONS: After 1995, there was a rather uniform increase in the survival of PWAs diagnosed with most specific ADIs but not for patients affected by primary brain lymphoma and Burkitt's lymphoma. The determinants of this differential effect need to be investigated.

Synthesis of 4-cyanophenyl and 4-nitrophenyl 1,5-dithio-D-ribopyranosides as well as their 2-deoxy and 2,3-dideoxy derivatives possessing antithrombotic activity.

1,2,3,4-Tetra-O-acetyl-5-thio-D-ribopyranose as well as its 1-bromide were used as donors in the reaction with 4-cyano- and 4-nitrobenzenethiol, to give the corresponding thioglycosides in different anomeric ratios depending on the reaction conditions. Zemplén deacetylation afforded 4-cyanophenyl as well as 4-nitrophenyl 1,5-dithio-alpha- and beta-D-ribopyranosides, respectively. 1,3,4-Tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-5-thio-D-erythro-pentopyranose was synthesized from methyl 2-deoxy-D-erythro-pentofuranoside and was coupled with 4-cyano- and 4-nitrobenzenethiol to give anomeric mixtures from which 4-cyanophenyl as well as 4-nitrophenyl 1,5-dithio-beta-D-erythro-pentopyranosides were isolated after deacetylation. 1,4-Di-O-acetyl-2,3-dideoxy-5-thio-D-glycero-pentopyranose was obtained starting from 1,2,5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannitol and used as the donor in the glycosylation reaction with 4-cyano- and 4-nitrobenzenethiol. The resulting anomeric mixtures were separated to give, after deacetylation, 4-cyanophenyl as well as 4-nitrophenyl 2,3-dideoxy-1,5-dithio-beta-D-glycero-pentopyranosides. All of these thioglycosides showed significant antithrombotic activity on rats after oral administration.