p53 expression in cultured blood human monocytes infected with mycobacterial strains.

BACKGROUND: An upregulation of the cell-cycle associated proteins p53 and p21/Waf1/Cip1 induced by mycobacteria was previously reported. We aimed to evaluate the expression of such proteins in peripheral blood human monocyte cultures infected with strains of different mycobacterial pathogens. METHODS: The study relied on the immunocytochemical determination of p53, p21/Waf1/Cipl, bcl-2 and on the Tunel detection of apoptosis in monocytes populations cultured on four-welled chamber slides (10(6) cells/well) infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis and M. avium for four consecutive days (mycobacterium/monocyte ratio 10:1). The results were expressed as mean values and SD of the percentages of stainings recorded in five fields per slide. RESULTS: The statistical analysis with Fischer test demostrated that at most sampling times the p53 and p21/Waf1/Cip1 expression and the apoptosis index were significantly higher in M. tuberculosis infected cultures than in controls (p<0.05). The M. bovis related picture diverged from the previous one for a lower p53 expression (p<0.05) at all sampling times. The M. avium infected culture values did not diverge significantly from the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The p53 and p21/Wafl/Cipl upregulation is compatible with both host defense strategies and pathogen strategies (safeguard of intracellular sanctuaries). The discrepancies among different cultures suggest a direct relationship between p53 activation and mycobacterial ability to enter host cells.

The release of thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha following pulmonary embolism.

It has been shown in animals that acute obstruction of pulmonary artery branches is followed by an early but shortly lived increase in blood levels of thromboxane B2 and a subsequent longer-lasting increase in blood levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Our study was conducted on twelve patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Nine were treated with urokinase; three could not be given thrombolytic or anticoagulant drugs due to bleeding peptic ulcer (2 cases) or recent cerebral hemorrhage (1 case). HPLC and RIA tests were performed on arterial blood samples at diagnosis and after 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours. Findings were compared with those in a control group of 6 healthy subjects. There was a difference in prostanoid behaviour between the untreated and urokinase treated patients. Among the former mean TxB2 was significantly raised at clinical onset and began to decline after 6-12 hours, approaching the mean level found among the controls after 24 hours. In contrast 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was raised after 1 hour and gradually declined thereafter. In the subjects treated with urokinase TxB2 was already close to the mean control level after 1 hour; 6-keto-PGF1 alpha had increased after 1 hour but had returned near the control level after 12. The behaviour of prostanoids appears to match the clinical course.

Tuberculosis of the larynx. Today.

Forty-one cases of laryngeal tuberculosis accounting for 0.79% of the TB cases observed in 1975-85 are examined. The M/F ratio was 9.2:1; the mean age 52 years 9 months. In all cases current or earlier tubercular lesions on the pulmonary parenchyma were also noted. The laryngeal sites affected were as follows, in order of frequency: true vocal cords, epiglottis, false cords and laryngeal ventricles, arytenoid and interarytenoid area, subglottic area. The patients were treated with R/AMP, INH, EMB or SM, EMB with satisfactory results. Two cases required exeresis of laryngeal lesions and 3 tracheotomy.

[Aluminum lung as an occupational disease. Case reports]. / Il polmone da alluminio come malattia professionale. Contributo casistico.

The cases are examined of 13 males, mean age 53, granted disability pensions by the Turin I.N.A.I.L. in 1975-86 as suffering from lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust and exhalation of aluminium. The patients had worked in bauxite smelting for Al2O3 production and the preparation of synthetic abrasives (8 cases), in milling using synthetic abrasives (1 case) in the cold grinding of aluminium for paint production (3 cases) and in the electrolytic processing of aluminium (1 case). In line with the latest reports in the literature the present series confirms the possibility that interstitial fibrosis can be caused by exposure to aluminium in industries other than bauxite processing. The relatively benign character of modern aluminium lung is also confirmed.

[Double-blind study of the bronchodilating action of the aminophylline-clenbuterol combination in asthmatic patients]. / Studio in doppio cieco dell'attività broncodilatatrice dell'associazione aminofillina-clenbuterolo nei pazienti asmatici.

The results obtained with the administration of aminophylline and clenbuterol either separately or in association, to a group of patients with chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathies are reported. The two drugs had a more or less identical broncho-dilatory effect with the beta 2-stimulant acting earlier but for a shorter time. The simultaneous administration of both drugs gave distinctly better results.

[Talcosis as an occupational disease. Case histories]. / La talcosi come malattia professionale. Contributo casistico.

The case are examined of 49 people (45 males, 4 females), mean age 60 exposed to the risk of talc inhalation in a talc processing and packing factory who were granted disability pensions by the Turin I.N.A.I.L. on the grounds of silicosis in 1975-86. Radiologically the cases presented small round patches in 28 subjects small irregular ones in 15 and large patches in 6. In functional terms, examination revealed ventilatory insufficiency that was primarily restrictive in 17 cases, obstructive in 11 and mixed in 21.

[Tuberculosis in dialysis patients]. / La tubercolosi nei pazienti in dialisi.

Seven cases of T.B. were observed in 300 patients subjected to dialysis in period 30.4.1977-30.1.1980. This frequency is much higher than that in the ordinary population. An account is given of the statistical and clinical aspects of this morbid associations. The way in which it can be treated is also discussed.

[Comparative study of the bronchodilating action of fenoterol and ipratropium bromide administered by aerosols in acute attacks of asthma]. / Raffronto comparativo tra l'attività broncodilatatrice del fenoterolo e dell'ipratropium bromuro somministrati per via aerosolica nell'attacco acuto d'asma.

Eighteen patients hospitalised with acute bronchial asthma are examined. Nine were given aerosol treatment with an ipratropium bromide solution and 45 minutes later with a phenoterol solution. The remaining 9 were given the same treatment in reverse order. The results obtained showed that phenoterol has a stronger bronchodilatory activity than ipratropium bromide, especially when administered after the anticholinergic product.

[Possibilities of using cardioselective beta blocking agents in patients with chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathies]. / Possibilità d'impiego dei beta-bloccanti cardioselettivi nei pazienti affetti da broncopneumopatia cronica ostruttiva.

The use of four cardioselective beta-blockers in a group of patients with chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathies was examined. Of the 4 drugs the only possible one for use in this patient category was atenolol which produced significant bronchial dilation after spray treatment, thus demonstrating the responsiveness of beta 2-receptors to pharmacological stimulus.

[Data on cellular subpopulations in bronchoalveolar lavage in silicosis and asbestosis patients. Case contribution]. / Dati sulle sottopopolazioni cellulari nel lavaggio broncoalveolare nei silicotici ed asbestosici. Contributo casistico.

Data on the cytology of BAL performed on 8 silicosis and 5 asbestosis patients with different degrees of radiological profusion and functional impairment are examined. The prevalently neutrophilic alveolitis reported in the literature in these forms of pneumoconiosis is confirmed, while differences were found between the percentage of lymphocyte subpopulations in the two diseases.

[Scintigraphic findings with a positive marker in generalized lymphadenopathy syndrome (L.A.S.)]. / Rilievi scintigrafici con marcante positivo nella sindrome linfoadenopatica generalizzata (L.A.S.).

The behaviour of gallium scintigraphy in a group of 15 drug addicts suffering from LAS is examined. The examination was positive in 11 patients with no pleuro-pulmonary lesions that could be demonstrated by clinical or radiological examination. This is in line with similar observations in AIDS cases and may reflect the preactivation of monocytes and macrophages documented in HIV infection.

[Radioscintigraphic correlation in interstitial pneumopathy. Case presentations]. / Correlazioni radioscintigrafiche nelle pneumopatie interstiziali. Contributo casistico.

Radiological and scintigraphic findings in 82 patients (58 male, 24 female) were compared. The patients were hospitalised in 1981-86 with sarcoidosis (43 cases), silicosis (26), asbestosis (9) extrinsic allergic alveolitis (3), lung disease caused by hard metals (1). Gallium scintigraphy was positive in 61 patients (74.39%). More precisely, the response was positive in 57 cases in both analogic and quantitative terms and in 4 only quantitatively. The radiological (radiography and stratigraphy) finding was significant in 42 of the 61 gallium-positive cases and negative in the remaining 19. In the 21 gallium-negative cases (25.61%) the radiological finding was significant in 9, negative in 12. The study confirms the real value of gallium scintigraphy in the diagnosis and follow-up of interstitial lung disease in line with views presented in the recent literature.

[Histo-radiological and histo-bronchoscopic correlates in neoplastic pathology of the lung. Personal case series]. / Correlazioni isto-radiologiche e isto-broncoscopiche nella patologia neoplastica del polmone. Casistica personale.

Data are presented on a series of 100 lung cancer patients, diagnosed histologically and encountered in 1984-87. The percentage distribution of the various histotypes and their relationship with radiological and endoscopic aspects were examined. The data obtained are then compared with those reported in the literature.

[Skin reactions with ubiquitous multiple antigens as a test of survival in patients with inoperable bronchogenic carcinoma]. / La cutireazione con antigeni plurimi ubiquitari come test di sopravvivenza nei pazienti affetti da carcinoma broncogeno inoperabile.

Fifty-three patients suffering from inoperable, non-microcytoma, bronchogenic carcinoma in which a skin reaction with ubiquitous antigens (tetanus, diphtheria, streptococcus, tuberculin, proteus, tricophyton, candida) had been carried out were followed up to check on the possible relationship between skin reactivity and survival period. A significant correlation was found between the degree of positivity and duration of survival, with mean survival values greater than 69.1 weeks being observed in patients positive to five or more antigens. Among preliminary tests, it would therefore appear that skin reaction with ubiquitous may provide indications for predicting survival.

[Problems of pulmonary pathology in drug addicts]. / Problemi di patologia polmonare nei tossicodipendenti.

The hospitalisation of a group of drug addicts with pulmonary diseases leads to an examination of the relationship between drug addiction and bronchopneumopathies in the light of experience and reported data. After a brief examination of cases, the most frequently observed forms of bronchopulmonary disease are reviewed together with differences in the clinical course of the diseases in drug-addicted and other patients.

[Blood chemical parameters in the monitoring of inoperable bronchogenic carcinoma]. / Parametri ematochimici nel monitoraggio del carcinoma broncogeno non operabile.

Serum variations of 3 standard lung cancer markers (ferritin, carcinoembryonic antigen, gastrointestinal cancer antigen) were assessed in 27 patients with inoperable lung cancer diagnosed histologically and confirmed by cytology and/or histology. The study reveals that ferritin is the most sensitive marker.

[Tolerability to terizidone (TZ) in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in dialyzed patients]. / Tollerabilità del terizidone (TZ) nel trattamento della tubercolosi polmonare in pazienti dializzati.

Six dialysed patients affected by tuberculosis involving the respiratory apparatus were included in the study. Antimycobacterial treatment consisted of polychemiotherapeutic combinations using terizidone (TZ). The need to resort to this drug may be explained by the need to exclude normally used drugs (R/AMP, INH, SM) due to resistance, allergy or organ meiopragia. Five patients received terizidone at a dose of 600-900 mg/day for the entire course of treatment, whereas it was necessary to abandon treatment in one patient due to the onset of depressive symptoms which then rapidly regressed following the suspension of TZ therapy. The good level of tolerance demonstrated in the 5 remaining cases confirm the inclusion of this drug in the treatment of a limited number of cases of tuberculosis in dialysed patients.

[Clinical aspects of respiratory pathology in scleroderma. Case reports]. / Aspetti clinici della patologia respiratoria nella sclerodermia. Contributo casistico.

Six cases of scleroderma with pulmonary involvement, either isolated or accompanied by other visceral signs, observed between 1985 and 1987 have been examined. Patients were undergoing treatment with cortisone drugs in 4 cases and azathioprine in 2. Chest X-ray documented a picture of nodular opacities in 3 cases, reticular in 2 and miliariform in 1. B.A.L. revealed a picture of prevalently neutrophil alveolitis in all subjects, while transbronchial biopsy showed a finding of macrophagic infiltration in 2 cases, and one of fibroblastic proliferation in 4. The anatomoclinical damage was reflected adequately by spirometric tests and above all by the DLCO, while Gallium 67 scan and measurement of the A.C.E. were not very sensitive.

[Comparison of protective effects induced by the ultrasonic mist of nicardipine + fenoterol versus nicardipine + fenoterol + ipratropium bromide]. / Raffronto tra la protezione nei confronti della nebbia ultrasonica indotta dalla nicardipina + fenoterolo versus quella indotta da nicardipina + fenoterolo + ipratropium bromuro.

A comparison is presented of the protective effect of ultrasound mist induced by nicardipine + fenoterol and nicardipine + fenoterol + ipratropium bromide in a group of 11 patients with chronic bronchial asthma in a phase of relative clinical stability. The data collected show that the three-drug combination was more effective than the use of nicardipine and fenoterol.

[Post-actinic pulmonary fibrosis. Longitudinal study of 279 cases]. / La fibrosi polmonare post-attinica. Indagine longitudinale su 279 casi.

The incidence and extent of postactinic pulmonary fibrosis was investigated in relation to the different types of radiation therapy. For this purpose, 131 patients treated with fast electron (for breast cancer) and 148 patients treated with TCT (for breast cancer and cancer of other nature) observed in the period 1976-1987 were followed up (from 13 months to 7 years). The frequency of postactinic fibrosis was much less in the first group of patients than the second (6.61% vs 18.99%); further, the functional damage in these patients proved less and developed in a less unfavourable way.