[Notes on immunology in a series of cases of chronic hepatitis. Cellular immunity and stimulation with PPD]. / Note di immunologia in una casistica di epatiti croniche. Immunità cellulare e stimolazione con P.P.D.

The authors estimated E, E.A.C., and E-active rosette in 13 chronic active hepatitis (C.A.H.), 5 chronic persistent hepatitis and 4 cirrhosis. The results showed a significant decrease of the concentration of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes in patients with C.A.H., C.P.H., cirrhosis. E.A.C. rosette forming cells were not significantly different from the control population in all groups studied. E-active rosette were decrease in patients with C.A.H. and C.P.H. and were increased after stimulation by P.P.D. (5 U.V.I.) in C.A.H. and C.P.H. and in control group studied.

[Meaning and development of markers of acute hepatitis]. / Osservazioni sul significato e la evolutività dei markers delle epatiti acute.

The Authors analyse the results of their tryls about the markers of HBV and HAV acute hepatitis (HBsAg, anti-HAVAb) by R.I.Z. method. HAVAb was in 75% of the cases, its meaning was of post-contact with HAV. The title of HAVAb was effected in 18 patients with viral acute hepatitis; the results were 3 cases of HAV acute hepatitis and in other 7 cases no Ano B viral acute hepatitis. The 58.3% of acute viral hepatitis was HBsAg positive, the study of other markers of HBV and the title of HAVAb showed a viral acute hepatitis caused by HBV. We were not able to demonstrate the viruses which caused 7 HBsAg negative acute virale hepatitis, anti-HBcAg was in 97.8% of HBV acute hepatitis; its the most sensitive of HAV past-infection. The system c-anti-e was in 78.2% of HBsAg viral acute hepatitis. The persistence after 7th week of illness of HBeAg coincided with the hepatitis cronicity. On the contrary anti-HBeAg has not always a protective meaning.

[Hepatitis B and hepatitis A markers in 33 cases of acute hepatitis B surface antigen-negative, hepatitis A virus antibody-positive viral hepatitis. Importance of immune complexes]. / Studio dei markers dell'HBV, dell'HAV in 33 casi di epatiti virali acute HBsAg negativi, HAVab positivi. Importanza degli immunocomplessi.

The authors have looked for the markers of HBV by R.I.A. method (HBsAg, anti HBsAg, HBeAg, anti HBeAg, anti HBcAg), of HAV (by measurement on two samples of HAVab or by measurement of HAVab IgM), the immune-complexes (I.C.C.) by C1q solid-phase binding assay method with E.L.I.S.A. with determination after division I.C.C. of HBsAg by R.I.A. method in 33 cases of HBsAg negative acute viral hepatitis. The 9% (3 cases) were HAV acute hepatitis, the 42,4% (14 cases) no A no B acute hepatitis, the 36,3% (12 case) were HBV acute hepatitis, in 9 anti HBcAg positive cases the I.C.C. with HBsAg positive after division resulted positive, the 12,3% (4 cases) had a positivity for HAVab by stereoconversion (2 cases) or HAVab IgM (2 cases) with HBsAg positivity after division I.C.C. This result puts a nosologic problem about the 4 cases of acute viral hepatitis, which, from epidemiological and clinical point of the view are HAV acute hepatitis.

Changes in serum pancreatic enzymes after hormonal stimulation in chronic pancreatitis.

Eighteen patients with chronic pancreatitis and 12 healthy controls were subjected to hormonal stimulation by continuous secretin plus cerulein intravenous infusion or a rapid injection of secretin. In both tests total serum amylase, lipase, and TLI (trypsin-like immunoreactive substances) levels were measured. Continuous intravenous infusion does not bring about changes in the serum levels of the enzymes studied; rapid injection of secretin, however, induces changes in the serum levels of TLI and lipase (but not amylase) which makes it possible to distinguish patients with chronic pancreatitis in its early stages from advanced chronic pancreatitis but is of doubtful value in distinguishing healthy subjects from those suffering with chronic pancreatitis.

[Behavior of the functional reserve of the exocrine pancreas compared to its morphologico-echographic aspect in subjects recently recovered from acute pancreatitis]. / Comportement de la réserve fonctionnelle du pancréas exocrine comparé à son aspect morphologico-échographique, chez des sujets récemment gueris d'une pancréatite aiguë.

Fifteen patients, who recovered from acute pancreatitis approximately one month earlier, were subjected to rapid intravenous injection of secretin. Serum trypsin (or rather trypsin-like immunoreactive substances: TLI) and lipase levels were measured serially both before and after stimulation. At the time of the test, the patients' pancreatic ultrasonograms were normal. Results were compared to those in 13 healthy controls. Our findings show that restoration of a normal ultrasonographic image coincides with almost complete recovery of the exocrine function of the pancreas. In fact, though a very slight exocrine pancreatic deficiency persists, this has neither statistical significance nor clinical and/or ultrasonographical significance.

Different electrophysiological modes of action of oral quinidine in man.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral quinidine on the normal sinus node (SN) and A-V node and to determine if the drug exerts in man the same effects observed in cardiac tissue preparations (i.e. both direct and vagolytic action). Electrophysiological studies were performed twice in each of 16 patients (mean age: 57.7 +/- 12 years) with normal resting and intrinsic heart rates and normal A-H intervals. In the first study, the parameters of SN and A-V node were evaluated both in the basal state and following pharmacological autonomic blockade (AB), (propranolol 0.2 mg kg-1 and atropine 0.04 mg kg-1), Oral quinidine was administered for 3-4 days (1200 mg day-1) and the electrophysiological study was then repeated using the same methods. From the comparison of data obtained in the two studies in the basal state the overall effect of quinidine was evaluated, and by comparing those obtained following AB the direct action of the drug was assessed. The overall effect of quinidine on SN and A-V nodal functions was very slight since sinus cycle length, corrected SN recovery time, sino-atrial conduction time, A-H interval, A1-H1 interval at a cycle length of 600 ms and Wenckebach periods did not change significantly after the drug. On the contrary, following AB these measures increased significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01). These results provide evidence of dual effects of oral quinidine in man: a direct depressant action and an autonomically mediated opposing action, very probably vagolytic. The overall effect of the drug is very slight.

[Nosology of contraceptives: hematological and ultrastructural observations after experimental administration of low dosage contraceptives (author's transl)]. / Nosografismo iatrogeno da contraccettivi: rilievi ematochimici ed ultrastrutturali dopo somministrazione sperimentale di estroprogestinici a basso dosaggio.

A further experimental study on changes produced in rabbits by low dosage contraceptives is presented. The administration has been continued for six months. Serum biochemical and hepatic ultrastructural findings are in agreements with literature data. On the contrary the early changes of cardiac microcirculation and chiefly renal glomerular tuft seem to be rather unusual. The weight to be attached to the knowledges descending from the presented data in assessing allowance of contraceptive treatments in human subjects and aiming preventive medicine purposes is emphasized.