[Variability in immunologic aspects of Whipple's disease. Is a unitary interpretation possible?]. / Variabilità degli aspetti immunologici nella malattia di Whipple. E possibile una interpretazione unitaria?

A case of Whipple's disease with histological and ultrastructural studies, characterized by unusual bacteriological and immunologic findings, is reported. Alpha hemolytic Streptococcus and Candida tropicalis were isolated from the culture of the intestinal biopsy specimens. The immunological function study showed a global defect both of humoral and cellular immunity. On the basis of the literature review, the Authors debate a unitary interpretation of the various immunological dysfunctions reported in this disease.

[Aplastic anemia and myelodysplasia: a not-always-easy distinction]. / Anemia aplastica e mielodisplasia: una distinzione non sempre agevole.

The differential diagnosis between Myelodysplasia and Aplastic anaemia may be sometimes difficult, because clinical and morphological features may appear similar. Two cases, a Myelodysplastic syndrome with hypocellular and an Aplastic anaemia with hypercellular BM aspirates, are described in this report. Reciprocal connections between these two pathological entities, some biological aspects and the value of BM biopsy are also discussed.

[Tissue polypeptide antigen: significance and prospective use in the clinical laboratory]. / L'antigene polipeptidico tessutale: significato e prospettive di impiego nel laboratorio clinico.

Sequential determination of tissue polypeptide antigen were carried out in patients with neoplastic diseases. Blood specimens were taken before surgery and one week, one month and every months after the operation. The values obtained were compared with those of a control group of blood donors and those of a control group of healthy persons. The values obtained in control groups suggest that alcohol could cause significant increase of tissue polypeptide antigen values.