Decline of HBsAg antibodies after immunization with hepatitis B vaccines and after natural infection.

The long-term persistence of anti-HBsAg above 10 mUI is conventionally believed to protect against natural infection with hepatitis B virus, while it is not yet clear what is the clinical significance of the fall to below 10 mUI in antibody levels. In our opinion, an important method for evaluating the effectiveness of the vaccine lies in comparing the duration of vaccine-immunity with that following the disease, the later being held to provide life-long protection. In this view, we examined the sera samples of 69 subjects (56 healthy people, and 13 drug-addicts) previously affected from HBV infection looking for anti-HBsAg with an Elisa method. The subjects were aged between 4 months and 73 years and had all suffered from acute fully recovered icteric hepatitis in the previous 2 to 10 years. All the drug addicts (13 males) and 4 healthy children from the group had no or negligible levels of antibodies; 3 out of 8 old people (60 or more yrs old) showed no antibodies only 4-5 yrs after having been infected. In the remaining group of 44 healthy people 14 cases were observed which had antibody levels 10 mUI, regardless of age, sex or occupation; the greater the time between the infection and the test, the greater the probability of finding negligible antibody levels. We conclude that the reduction in antibody levels may not be indicative of a loss of immunity: many of our cases have shown low or undetectable antibody levels, a few years after full recovery from an acute attack of hepatitis B.

[Study on 190 strains of "staphylococcus aureus" isolated in a department of ophthalmology (author's transl)]. / Caratteristiche biochimiche e sensibilità ai chemioantibiotici di 190 ceppi di Stafilococco isolati in un reparto oculistico.

Biochemical features and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents of 190 strains of Staphylococcus isolated from pharinx and conjunctiva of ophtalmological patients and staff were studied. Each strain was investigated for: pigment, coagulase, hemolysis (alpha-toxin), phosphatase and penicillinase production and mannite fermentation. Twentyfour chemotherapeutic angents were used for sensitivity tests. The Authors emphasize that a positive coagulase test is the best laboratory evidence for pathogenicity of a given strain of Staphylococcus, and that the site of isolation of the examined strains is not related with their biochemical features and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents.

[Changes of various lipid fractions in experimental intoxication with diphtheric and tetanic toxins]. / Variazioni di alcune frazioni lipidiche nell'intossicazione sperimentale da tossine difterica e tetanica

In the present study , the Authors have examined the effects of diphtheria and tetanus toxins on the lipid metabolism in the rabbit. Ten animals were treated with diphtheria toxin (five with 1 DL50 and five with 5 DL50 guinea pig). Ten animals were treated with tetanus toxin (five with 1 DL50 and 5 with 5 DL50 guinea pig). Finally, five animals were used as controls. The total lipids, the two cholesterol fractions, the total cholesterol, the triglycerides and the NEFA were measured 4, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after the beginning of the experiment. The animals treated with diphtheria toxin all died within 48 hours, and only those given the higher dose of toxin showed an increase in NEFA, found immediately before they died. The animals treated with tetanus toxin all survived and only those injected with the higher dose of toxin showed an increase in the esterificated fraction of cholesterol. The Authors conclude by affirming that the two toxins tested do not have significant influence on the lipid picture in the rabbit.

[Changes in the blood lipid pattern in experimental poisoning with lipopolysaccharides of E. coli O 127]. / Variazioni del quadro lipidemico nell'intossicazione sperimentale con lipopolisaccaride di "E. coli" O 127

After a short notice on the relations between the endotoxine and lipydic metabolism the AA. refer on the inquiry on 60 animals divided in three groups according to the dosis of the injected endotoxin. The dosis were 0.010-1-5 mg of the lypopolisaccaride from E. coli O-127; seven animals were appointed as controls. In the all animals were examined proofs of blood after 4, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours from the start of experience. The total lipids, the triglycerides, the phospholypids, the NEFA, the free and esterified cholesterol were doses. The data of lethality and the value of determinations of the single fractions obtained were registered. In the all experienced animals, independently from the injected dosis, an independently from the injected dosis, an increase of the lypidic fractions was remarked: the free fatty acids were the first to rise, suived by triglycerides and phospholypids and denn by the two fractions of cholesterol. The highest dosis of endotoxine have comported a blok in the esterification of cholesterol. This early and persistent hiperlypemie can be caused initially by increased incretion of catecolamine.

[Changes in some blood lipid fractions in experimental poisoning with streptococcal toxin]. / Variazioni di alcune frazioni lipidiche nell'intossicazione sperimentale da tossina streptococcica

After an short bibliographic records in the relation between the endotoxine and lipydic metabolism, the AA. expose an inquiry on the rabbit. Ten rabbits (weight 2500-3000 g) were traited with 10 U.E. (haemolitic units) of streptococcal toxine (1/10 of DL50 for the rabbit). A conspicous increase of all the fractions examined, was remarked in all traited animals. The total lipids and the triglycerides reached the biggest value at 24 hours. Even the two fractions of cholesterol have increased, but the biggest concentration was at 48 hours. An hypotesis of interpretation can be that the streptococcal toxine produce the modification of lipidemic outline with the iperincretion of catecolamine, as in first phase of all toxinfections processes.

[Changes in some blood lipid fractions in experimental poisoning with alpha staphylococcal toxin]. / Variazioni di alcune frazioni lipidiche nell'intossicazione sperimentale da tossina stafilococcica alfa

The AA. have studied the effects provoques by alpha staphylococcal toxin in the lipidemic panel of the rabbit. Of 15 rabbits, five were injected with 0.25 emolitic units (U.E.) five with 1 U.E. and five ad control. The blood from heart was frequently with drawed and examined. In the animals traited with lowest dosis of toxin, the two fractions of cholesterol have increased with the maximum at the last control (96 hours). With a quadruple dosis of toxin increased also the total lipids and triglyceridis with the maximum at 48 hours. Remarked after all the different behaviour of the two fractions of cholesterol at the various dosis. The AA. conclude that the staphylococcal toxin provoque at low dosis only the modification on the cholesterol but at greater dosis also of the triglycerids and phospholipidis.

[Production of penicillinase as a parameter of the pathogenicity of staphylococci]. / La produzione di penicillinasi quale parametro di patogenicita dello stafilococco

The research was conducted on 211 strains of Staphylococcus isolated in the three-year period 1972-1974- The coagulase, the hemolytic quality, mannite fermentation, pigment and penicillinase production were studied. The 211 strains of Staphylococcus were divided into 2 groups according to their origin: the 1st group included germs isolated from material which was certainly pathological, the 2nd group included strains isolated from various sources (throat, nasal, rectal, swabs, urine). The results, summarized in the Tables, led to the conclusion that even if the coagulase is the most significant characteristic in establishing pathogenicity of the Staphylococcus, the production of pigment and penicillinase also prove to be valid parameters of pathogenicity.