Splenic marginal zone lymphoma in a HIV-1 infected patient: evidence favouring a pathogenetic role of HIV-1 itself in the lymphomagenesis.

A rare case of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infected patient is described. As an association between SMZL and viral infections has been reported, the presence of the hepatitis C virus and HIV-1 genomes was evaluated. Only HIV-1 DNA levels were detected in enriched splenic B lymphocytes, suggesting a HIV-1 involvement in lymphomagenesis.

B lymphocyte subsets and their functional activity in the early months of life.

In the present study we evaluated B-cell subsets and their functional development in 74 newborns from birth to 6 months of life. Moreover, we evaluated natural antibody production in vitro. The results documented a predominance of naive B-lymphocytes at all time-points evaluated, decreasing from birth to 6 months (p=0.009). The percentages of CD27+IgD+ and CD27+IgDneg memory B-cells were very low at birth and significantly increased only at 6 months (p=0.02 and p less than 0.001, respectively). We found a significant increase only in in vitro stimulated IgG production at 6 months as compared to birth (p less than 0.001). Moreover, a lower secretion of anti-Pn IgM antibodies up to 6 months of age, as compared to controls was observed. Our results underline that the susceptibility and severe course of infection in the neonate can be attributed, at least in part, to the lack of pre-existing immunological memory and competent adaptive immunity.

Undifferentiated connective tissue disease - an unsolved problem:revision of literature and case studies.

In clinical practice, patients with a range of signs and symptoms suggestive of connective tissue disease, but who do not fulfil the classification criteria for a defined disease are often found. This condition is defined as, Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD). Most of the authors consider UCTD as a distinct clinical entity, generally stable during follow-up. Despite this, no mutual agreement regarding criteria for its diagnosis has been reached. The clinical, serological, therapeutical and evolutional patterns of 41 patients initially diagnosed as having early UCTD during a 3-year followup are described in this study. At the end of the observational period, 21 percent of the enrolled patients, followed throughout the follow-up, demonstrated clinical evolution to a defined connective tissue disease (CTD), whereas 52 percent of the observed subjects maintained an undifferentiated profile with variable clinical findings and presenting a generally stable disease over time. The remaining patients showed clinical improvement or complete regression of the symptoms associated with normalization of the inflammatory indexes. The role of therapy in these different clinical courses is discussed.