Mycobacterium xenopi isolation from clinical specimens in the Florence area: review of 46 cases.

The occurrence of Mycobacterium xenopi (MX) isolates is not homogeneous in various geographic zones. In the Florence area, between 1975-1989, strains of MX from 64 different patients have been isolated. The review of bacteriological and clinical data of 46 of them, from whose sputum MX had been grown, allowed to diagnose for 26% the commensal nature of this finding, for 41% the concomitance with a tubercular infection and for the remaining 33% the pathogenicity of this microorganism. The increased occurrence of MX isolates, their high rate of pathogenicity and the remarkable homogeneity of their biochemical, cultural and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns seem to suggest the hypothesis of an endemic focus of this species in the Florence area.

[Glycosaminoglycans in pleural effusions. Preliminary results]. / I glicosaminoglicani nei versamenti pleurici. Risultati preliminari.

Distinction between benign and malignant pleural effusions is often a very difficult problem. Glycosaminoglycans play an important role in cellular proliferation and differentiation. The authors examined glycosaminoglycans in 17 samples, 11 malignant and 7 benign. Separation of glycosaminoglycans has been achieved by centrifugation-addition of trichloracetic acid-centrifugation-addition of cold ethanol. Glycosaminoglycans have been analyzed by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate sheets. 6 malignant samples had higher levels of HA and CS than standard. The authors distinguished benign effusions in two subgroups: inflammatory and cardiac. Among inflammatory, 3 had higher levels of HS and 1 of HA and CS. Further investigations are necessary to elucidate possible different patterns.