la loro potenzialità di trasformazione oncogena diretta, sia perché capaci di infettare le cellule T e stabilire uno stato di latenza nei tessuti dell'ospite.Alcuni studi molecolari sul ruolo del virus di Epstein-Barr (EBV) nell'eziopatogenesi dei CTCL, hanno portato a risultati controversi anche a causa della diversa sensibilità delle tecniche impiegate.Metodi.In questo lavoro è stata indagata retrospettivamente la presenza e l'eventuale carica virale di EBV in biopsie cutanee di pazienti con MF e SS utilizzando una PCR quantitativa-competitiva (QC-PCR) altamente sensibile (1-10 copie di EBV-DNA/reazione) messa a punto nel Laboratorio di Virologia.Tale metodica prevede la costruzione di una curva di taratura mediante l'utilizzo di uno standard esterno, un controllo interno di amplificazione e l'analisi densitometrica delle bande di amplificazione.Sono stati utilizzati campioni congelati di DNA di 17 pazienti con MF (11 M, 6 F; età mediana 63 anni, range 14-84), 4 con MF evoluta in linfoma ad alto grado (2 M, 2 F, età mediana 74 anni, range 59-82), 10 con SS (3 M, 7 F, età mediana 72 anni, range 46-84).Tutti i casi di MF e SS presentavano un riarrangiamento clonale dei geni del T Cell Receptor (TCR) catena γ.Come controllo sono stati esaminati i campioni di 8 pazienti con dermatosi cutanee reattive (4 M, 4 F, età mediana 64,5, range 33-79).Risultati.
The following study aims to establish the role of MRI in investigation of the CNS in children. 300 patients are examined, 220 affected by CNS disease. The examinations were performed using SE sequence (T1-weighted images TR = 350-700 ms TE = 30-60 ms; T2-weighted images TR = 1500-2000 ms TE = 50-200 ms). In most of the patients general anesthesia or sedation was necessary. Patients are divided into groups based on pathology and the advantages and shortcomings of MRI are discussed. In conclusion, MRI should be the technique of choice in the evaluation of malformative affections, white matter and inflammatory disease; it should be complementary to CT and angiography in tumors and vascular pathology.
The early detection of HIV infection is of paramount either to achieve a better blood supply safety and to pose a prompt diagnosis so that to decrease the involuntary spreading of the disease.The fourth generation screening assays, which measure both the levels of the anti-HIV antibodies and the p-24 viral antigen, and mainly the development and widespread usage of the molecular biology tests, which identify the HIV-RNA in the early stage, have further reduced the diagnostic window period.We report a case about an acute primary HIV infection, occurred in a periodic donor, promptly diagnosed by the combined screening assays and the detection of HIV-RNA using molecular tests.
Our aim was to determine the accuracy of quantitative and qualitative findings of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) by means of differential analysis of small uncalcified solitary pulmonary nodules and to compare the CT diagnosis with the results of transthoracic needle biopsies (TTNB). We assessed a consecutive series of 109 patients with 66 malignant or 45 benign pulmonary nodules before TTNB and surgery with contrast and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Pulmonary nodules were classified as small when equal to or smaller than 15 mm and large when larger than 15 mm. Diagnostic accuracy of CT qualitative evaluation was 95% for large nodules and 92% for small nodules. Specificity was 92% for small nodules, 80% for large nodules. Enhancing regular septa were observed in 28 hamartomas (80%) while except for two cases (3%), inner septa were absent or irregular in malignant tumours. TTNB accuracy was 70% for small nodules and 94% for large ones. Low-enhancing hamartomas are more frequent in Italy than in the US where the prevalence of high-enhancing granulomas in benign nodules reduces the specificity of quantitative CT analysis. We propose that certain geographic areas would benefit from enhanced-CT in place of TTNB in managing lung nodules equal to or less than 1.5 cm.
The stomach is one of the most common organs in which mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma develops. It is well established that Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection plays a major role in the development of gastric MALT lymphoma and that the presence of Hp in the gastric mucosa is connected with mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT).The same tissue is located in the oral cavity and pharynx in Waldayer’s circuit. Recently, the oral cavity was proposed as an extragastric reservoir of Hp infection. We report the case of a 79-year-old female patient with concomitant pharyngeal (MALT) lymphoma and Hp-related gastric MALT lymphoma. Gastric MALT lymphoma was detected both through endoscopic examination as well as in biopsies. Pharyngeal MALT lymphoma was also detected in biopsies. Hp has been recognized in the gastric mucosa by positive serum H. pylori antibody and urease tests. Treatment of the Hp infection in our patient using antibiotics led to the regression of both lesions. This is the first case report on the regression of a pharyngeal MALT lymphoma after Hp eradication.
