[Phenotyping of peripheral lymphocytes with monoclonal antibodies in newborn infants and adults]. / Fenotipizzazione linfocitaria periferica con anticorpi monoclonali nel neonato e nell'adulto.

The authors investigated and compared lymphocyte subsets natural killer in 33 newborns and in 33 healthy adults. From 5 ml of heparinized venous blood were separated mononuclear cells on density-gradient Ficoll-Hypaque. The vitality was determined with immunofluorescent method (orange acridine and ethiobromide). It was positive if resulted at least 95%. Lymphocyte phenotype was also examined after incubation with monoclonal antiserum Becton-Dickinson conjugated with FITC and PE for 45' at 4 degrees C. Two hundred cells were counted on each slide with fluorescent microscopy. Total number of T-lymphocyte (Leu-4) was increased in newborns; total B-cells (Leu-12) were similar in newborns and healthy adults; T-helper/T-suppressor (Leu-3a/Leu-2a) ratio was above the normal range for increase T-helper. The percentage of subsets with double marker Leu-2a+/Leu-3a+ was always about 15-20%. NK cells with phenotype HNK-1 (Leu-7) were a little number in newborns while the percentage of NK-cells-Leu-11a was similar among adults and newborns.

[ASLO levels in 1174 patients admitted to the Turin University Paediatrics Clinic during the period 1996-1972]. / Il titolo antistreptolisinico (ASLO) nell'infanzia. Incidenza fra i ricoverati presso la Clinica Pediatrica di Torino nel quadriennio 1969-1972.

Pathological ASLO levels were observed in 1174 patients out of 48,074 admitted to the Turin University Paediatrics Clinic during a four-year period. An analysis is made of this series and the importance of routine determinations as a diagnostic and phophylactic aid is stressed.

[Critical appraisal of Jones's criteria in the diagnosis of rheumatism]. / Valutazione critica dei criteri di Jones nella guida alla diagnosi della malattia reumatica.

Jones's criteria for rheumatism diagnosis are reviewed in the light of clinical and statistical data. Views expressed in the literature are presented, together with a personal case series. It is submitted that no suggestion of absolute value can be admitted for criteria of this type. Complete evaluation of the clinical and, in the case in point, the laboratory data is essential.

[ASLO values as a pointer to rheumatism]. / Rapporti fra titolo antistreptolisinico (ASLO) e malattia reumatica.

Emphasis is laid on the utility of ASLO determination in the detection of rheumatism and reference is made to the 96.5% incidence of above-normal values in a series culled from the University of Turin's Paediatrics Clinic. Pathological values were most commonly in the 333 to 625 U. range and these are proposed as an early warning sign.

[Congenital malformations and asymmetric crying facies]. / Malformazioni congenite e asimmetria della bocca nel pianto.

Asymmetric crying face (ACF) means a congenital anomaly caused by either agenesis or hypoplasia of the depressor anguli oris muscle. This defect is on only one corner of the mouth since the birth, affects lower lip, and is particularly evident when the newborn is crying. Lesions at different levels of seventh nerve can cause similar and confounding weakness of the facial expressions. But, in case of ACF, forehead wrinkling, eye closure, nasolabial fold depth, and tearing are normal and symmetric functions. ACF can be either as single plain aesthetic defect or as early only index of several congenital malformations, especially of heart and genitourinary tract. Our study recognized 80 ACF cases in 11,643 newborn's population during a 34 consecutive month period: 34 on right side and 46 on left side of the mouth. ACF population presented a higher malformative risk than general population (on average 4.73% versus 3.3% of our base-line). Congenital anomalies were found more frequently associated with left ACF (3 versus 1, for a general rate of 6.52% versus 2.94%), on the same body side when anomaly was affecting pair organs. Those 3 congenital malformations were on genitourinary tract, 2 of which detected by ultrasonography. We did not find any congenital cardiac defects. According to opinion of numerous other researchers, we think ACF is not to be considered a simple aesthetic anomaly: therefore, in front of all ACF cases, a thorough search for associated anomalies should be performed.

[Steinert's myotonic dystrophy: severe neonatal form with unknown family history]. / Distrofia miotonica di Steinert: grave forma neonatale con famigliarità misconosciuta.

UNLABELLED: A child with severe generalized hypotonia and respiratory insufficiency, with an unknown positive family history for Steinert's disease, is referred. We want to point out the importance of correct anamnesis and of physical examination during pregnancy to suspect and diagnose rare and incurable fetal pathologies. CASE REPORT: The child was born after caesarean section. Polyhydramnios and decreased fetal movements were noticed during pregnancy. At birth, the baby presented asphyxia (Apgar 4/6) and respiratory insufficiency: he was then intubed. He received assisted ventilation for 37 days. At the physical examination, the child appeared hypotonic, hyporeflexic, without sucking reflex, with arthrogryposis and ligament laxity. On first day, chest X-ray showed paralysis of the right hemidiaphragm. His mother presented with hypotonia of the facial muscles, lid drop, light muscular weakness, positivity to neostigmine test: we then assumed that the baby was affected by transient neonatal myasthenia gravis and neostigmine was carried on. Anyway, the general conditions of the baby didn't improve. We were able to establish diagnosis of Steinert's disease (a form of muscular dystrophy with autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance) after some other examinations (negativity of acetylcholine receptor antibodies, elevation of creatine kinase level, myopathic pattern on electromyography). Gene DMPK alteration was documented with a molecular genetic test.