[HIV infection: results of 4 years of observation (May 1984-May 1988)- of the admitting department of the V. Cervello Hospital in Palermo]. / L'infezione da HIV: risultati di quattro anni di osservazioni (maggio 1984-maggio 1988) presso il centro operativo dell'Ospedale "V. Cervello" di Palermo.

During a period of four consecutive years (1984-1988) more than one thousand of serum samples were obtained from different "at risk" categories of patients with the aim to investigate on the prevalence of anti-HIV antibodies in these populations. Also HIV antigen and HBV markers were investigated in the same people. Some of them were followed up to monitor the various HIV markers and to cultivate biological material from symptomatic cases. All serological investigations were carried out by means of ELISA methods and the Western Blot technique, to confirm positive results. Data obtained from this study showed that: 1. in our area anti-HIV positive people prevail among intravenous drug addicts (IVDA) (42-48%) in contrast to 3.3% of homosexuals, and in 14-16% of subjects or patients declaring themselves "at risk" without stating what of risk it is. 2. HIV antigen was demonstrated in 5% of symptomatic IVDA patients but only in two cases of anti-HIV negative people. 3. HBV markers were found in all categories examined, prevailing in IVDA subjects (72%). 4. Five percent only of anti-HIV negative people followed up through 2-36 mo. seroconverted while only 39.7% of anti-HIV positive people showed an HIV markers variation (increase, decrease or disappearance) in different periods of time (1-8 mo.). 5. Opportunistic infections were observed in 50% of symptomatic patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Microbiological and serological study in cases of infertility with or without sterility with particular emphasis on the etiological role of Chlamydia trachomatis]. / Indagini microbiologiche e sierologiche in casi di infertilita' e/o sterilita' con particolare riguardo al ruolo svolto in essi da Chlamydia trachomatis.

Microbiological investigations were carried out on two groups of men and women--a) with genital non gonococcal pathology and--b) in infertile/sterile people of the same sex and age (mean age 28.4 y) with the aim to document in them the prevalence of various microorganisms particularly of Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma and Chlamydia trachomatis as aetiological agent of their pathology. Serum antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis were also studied by microimmunofluorescence, immunoperoxidase and ELISA methods in the same population in comparison with apparently healthy blood donors of the same sex and age as control. Finally, 56 infertile/sterile couples were included in this study to investigate the possible role of Chl. trachomatis. Various microorganisms were isolated more frequently from women of the group b) (45.5%-22.9% respectively p less than 0.01). Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma in comparison with Chl. trachomatis were prevalent in all groups investigated (p less than 0.01). Infertile/sterile women had higher anti Chl. trachomatis antibodies than did women with genital non gonococcal pathology or women of the control group (p less than 0.01). Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma strains were isolated from infertile/sterile couples more frequently than Chl. trachomatis but the women of these couples had high titres (greater than 128) of anti Chl. trachomatis antibodies. Finally, IgA as well as IgG anti Chl. trachomatis antibodies were demonstrated in two out of nine peritoneal fluid samples obtained from women affected by PID. In one case, a pregnancy underwent after an ad hoc therapy of the two partners from whom two Ureaplasma strains were isolated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)