[P-24 antigenemia: correlation with some clinical and epidemiological aspects in 100 HIV-infected Cuban subjects]. / Antigenemia P24: correlación con algunos aspectos clínicos y epidemiológicos en 100 individuos cubanos infectados por VIH-1.

A non-probabilistic selection of 100 Cuban patients at different stages of HIV infection, according to the revised classification of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of 1987, was made from a set of 130 persons with serologically-confirmed HIV infection. Clinical and epidemiological information about each case was collected and peripheral blood samples were taken to detect HIV-1 p24 antigen. The frequency of p24 antigenemia detection and concentration were correlated with available clinical and epidemiological data. P24 antigenemia was significantly more frequent in AIDS patients. No difference was found between the type of opportunistic diseases diagnosed in the group of patients with detectable p24 antigen and the group that was negative to antigen presence; although in the group with antigenemia concentrations over 100 pg/ml, more than one AIDS-related disease was often diagnosed simultaneously. A history of sexual intercourses with several persons who had been infected with HIV was much more frequent in patients with antigenemia, and it was associated with a shorter time elapsed from the probable date of infection to the date of their classification as AIDS patients. These results were compared with the literature review information.

[Preliminary pilot study in humans with coronary endovascular prosthesis (stent SAQ). Immediate and medium-term results]. / Estudio piloto preliminar en humanos con la prótesis endovascular coronaria (stent SAQ). Resultados inmediatos y a mediano plazo.

We report the results obtained of 23 patients in whom 25 intracoronary stents (SAQ) were placed. All had atherosclerotic coronary artery disease with different clinical types of presentation, such as stable angina, unstable angina, myocardial infarction. In others cases the reason for the procedure was postangioplasty complications. The majority of cases had complex lesions: total occlusion, long plaques and patients in critical and unstable state. The immediate results were considered satisfactory due to the fact that there was angiographic improvement compared to just conventional angioplasty, the final flow was TIMI-3 in 23 and TIMI-2 en two others, in these cases the initial flow was TIMI-0. The arterial diameter improved compared to prior angioplasty. Acute thrombosis occurred in one case and was resolved with repeated dilatation, in two cases the atherosclerotic plaque protruded within the stent, in both cases the occlusion was considered non significant, without modifications in the flow. All patients had a 3 months follow up with treadmill test. In 10 cases angiography was indicated, in 4 due to positive treadmill. Restenosis was resolved in three cases, in another coronary arterial by-pass was necessary. In all other cases angiographic findings were normal, included one patient with two stents.

[The serological diagnosis of HIV-1 in samples of dried blood on filter paper by the HIV-1 DAVIH Dot system]. / Diagnóstico serológico del VIH-1 en muestras de sangre seca en papel de filtro por el sistema DAVIH Dot VIH-1.

Dried blood specimens spotted on filter paper were evaluated by the HIV-1 DAVIH Dot system from DAVIH Laboratories (Havana, Cuba). The samples used, 103 positive and 105 negative, were previously confirmed by DAVIH Blot from DAVIH Laboratories. In order to use the dried blood on filter paper some modifications were made to the original procedure regarding the times of incubation of the samples and conjugate, and the agitation in both stages. Relative sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 99.05%, respectively, were attained.

[Search for antibodies against human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in blood donors and risk groups]. / Pesquisaje de anticuerpos contra el virus linfotrópico de células T humanas tipo I (HTLV-I) en donantes de sangre y grupos de riesgo.

It was studied the presence of HTLV-I antibodies in 3,774 sera, 1,409 of them were from blood donors, 1,444 were from patients who had suffered from some sexually transmitted disease recently, and 921 from transfused patients. The DAVIH HTLV I (ELISA) and DAVIH BLOT HTLV I (Western Blot) systems produced at the DAVIH Laboratories (Havana, Cuba) were used for screening and confirmation, respectively. Of the 68 reactive sera utilized in the ELISA test, it was confirmed the presence of HTLV I/II antibodies in 2, whereas 12 were considered as undetermined by the Western Blot.

[Confirmation of the presence in Cuba of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I using the polymerase chain reaction]. / Confirmación de la presencia en Cuba del virus linfotrópico tipo I de las células T humanas mediante la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa.

The first cases diagnoses in Cuba as HTLV-I/II seropositives (human T lymphotropic virus) were studied by polymerase chain reaction aimed at differentiating the type of virus causing the infection. 3 kits of primer oligonucleotides were used and the amplification products were detected by hybridization with specific oligoprobes. 100% of the cases were HTLV-I positives. No HTLV-II positivity was found. It was confirmed the presence in Cuba of this retrovirus, even though the seroprevalence is low if it is taken into consideration that the Caribbean is an endemic zone for HTLV-1.

[The detection of antibodies against HIV-1 24-kd protein. A clinico-serological correlation]. / Detección de anticuerpos contra la proteína de 24 kd del VIH-1. correlación clínico serológica.

The presence of antibodies against the HIV protein of 24 kd was studies by the parallel use of the DAVIH BLOT western blot and of the DAVIH AC P24 ELISA in serum samples from 176 patients at different HIV-1 infection stages. The results were correlated with the clinical classification of the patient at the moment of taking the sample and with the further evolution during 6 months. 57% of the patients with opportunistic minor infections and 96% of AIDS patients had low antibodies titres. Dead patients showed no reactivity or presented very low titres in samples taken before dying. Different titrations were observed in serum groups with an apparently uniform reactivity in the western blot. The results show and adequate clinical and serological correlation. Therefore, the DAVIH AC P24 ELISA could be useful in the clinical follow-up of HIV-1 infected persons.