Serological survey of hepatitis E virus infection in farmed and pet rabbits in Italy.

The recent identification in rabbits of hepatitis E viruses (HEV) related to viruses infecting humans raises the question of the role of this species as possible HEV reservoir. A serological survey on rabbit HEV infection was conducted in Italy during 2013-2014, including both farmed and pet rabbits. We found an anti-HEV antibody seroprevalence of 3.40 % in 206 farmed rabbits (collected on 7 farms) and 6.56 % in 122 pets. RNA was extracted from IgG-positive sera and analyzed by HEV-specific real-time RT-PCR. None of the samples were positive, confirming that no viremia was present in the presence of IgG. Only one serum sample from a farmed rabbit was positive for IgM, but no HEV RNA was detected in it. Pet rabbit feces were also tested for HEV RNA, with negative results. This finding suggests that HEV is circulating in rabbits in Italy.

Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in a newborn with transposition of the great arteries: successful treatment.

A newborn with transposition of the great arteries developed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis a few days after cardiac catheterization and atrial septostomy performed through the umbilical vein. The association of vancomycin and rifampicin was successful after vancomycin alone proved insufficient.

Digitalis 'receptors' during chronic digoxin treatment.

The effect of digoxin treatment on Mg-dependent [Na+-K+]-ATPase (the receptor for cardiac glycosides) was assessed by comparison of intracellular Na+-K+, 86Rb uptake and number of digoxin binding sites in the erythrocytes of 138 patients on long term digoxin and of 133 control subjects. The parameters were also assessed in thirty-two patients followed longitudinally for 1 y. The results indicate that the cells adapt to chronic exposure to 'therapeutic' dosage of digoxin with an overcompensatory synthesis of new receptors, a possible mechanism through which the normal intraerythrocytic ionic equilibrium is re-established. The process of synthesis of new receptors appears to be completed in erythrocytes in a period of 4 months after the start of digoxin treatment.

Comparison of the antihypertensive activity of cadralazine (ISF 2469) and dihydralazine during chronic treatment.

The antihypertensive activity of a new vasodilating agent (ISF 2469) cadralazine (CD) was compared in a randomized, crossover, intrapatient study with that of hydralazine (HD) in 20 hypertensive patients whose diastolic blood pressure (BP) was greater than 95 mmHg during treatment with atenolol (AT), 100 mg 1 X daily. The initial dose of CD was 15 mg 1 X daily; after 15 days in case of poor response, the dose was increased to 20 mg 1 X daily. HD was given at a dose of 25 mg 3 X daily and was increased to 50 mg 2 X daily in case of poor response. BP values (standing) during AT were 174/108; they fell to 144/88 during CD and to 138/88 during HD. No significant difference was detected between the two drugs for both systolic and diastolic BP (supine and standing). Heart rate increased with both drugs, with a greater increase during CD. The difference was clinically nonsignificant. A total of 24 patients were enrolled, but 4 had to cease treatment because of side effects during HD. The overall prevalence of side effects was much higher during HD, especially during the first days of therapy. Also the severity of side effects was greater during HD. Our data show that CD has the same antihypertensive activity as HD with a lesser incidence of side effects and with a single dose/day administration in contrast with three administrations of HD. This can result in greater patient compliance.