ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the performance of 2 recently introduced molecular tests for the identification of gastrointestinal viral infections. METHODS: One hundred fecal samples from pediatric patients were analyzed using 2 workflows, each including nucleic acids extraction and multiplex Real-Time PCR: Allplex™ GI-Virus Assay and FTD Viral gastroenteritis. The agreement was evaluated calculating Cohen's kappa and applying McNemar's test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Allplex and FTD assays showed 100% overall agreement for Norovirus GI/GII and Sapovirus (κ: 1.00), and 99% for Astrovirus (κ: 0.66). A lower agreement was detected for Adenovirus (89%; κ: 0.72) and Rotavirus (91%, k: 0.53), owing to samples resulted positive only with FTD test. The discrepancies were attributed to a different efficiency of extraction/amplification and to the different Adenovirus serotype specificity of the tests since Allplex detects only AdVF40 and AdVF41. FTD test should be used when non enteric adenovirus could have a clinical significance.
Subject(s)
Feces/virology , Gastroenteritis/diagnosis , Gastroenteritis/virology , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic/standards , Virus Diseases/diagnosis , Viruses/isolation & purification , Child , Humans , Italy , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques , Pediatrics , Viruses/geneticsABSTRACT
Human herpes viruses (HHVs) have been frequently detected in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and may contribute to the development of gastric cancer. In the present study, the detection rate and viral load of Epstein Barr virus (EBV), HHV-6 and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) were assessed in the GI tract of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients and of uninfected patients. The analysis revealed a significantly higher detection rate of EBV and HHV-6 in HIV-infected individuals than in uninfected subjects (88.5 vs 63%; p = 0.03). Moreover, EBV DNA load was significantly higher in the stomach of HIV patients than in controls. These data suggest that the HIV infection status may increase the persistence of these viruses in the GI compartment. Intriguingly, CMV DNA was undetectable in all biopsy specimens analyzed.
Subject(s)
Cytomegalovirus/genetics , DNA, Viral/blood , Gastrointestinal Tract/virology , HIV Infections/virology , Herpesviridae Infections/virology , Herpesvirus 4, Human/genetics , Herpesvirus 6, Human/genetics , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Cytomegalovirus/isolation & purification , DNA, Viral/genetics , Female , HIV Infections/blood , Herpesviridae Infections/blood , Herpesvirus 4, Human/isolation & purification , Herpesvirus 6, Human/isolation & purification , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) mutational archive of proviral DNA was monitored during a 72-week follow-up in 20 multidrug-experienced HIV-1-infected patients treated with a darunavir/ritonavir-based salvage therapy. At the beginning of the study, all patients harboured a number of intracellular drug resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In some patients, a significant fluctuation in the number of RAMs was observed during the observation period. However, all patients, notwithstanding the presence or the fluctuation of intracellular RAMs, showed a persistently undetectable viraemia. The data suggest that the archived resistant viral variants change during suppressive therapy, but that the variants are unable to re-emerge and to affect virological response.
Subject(s)
Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Drug Resistance, Viral , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/virology , HIV-1/genetics , Mutation , Salvage Therapy/methods , Adult , Aged , DNA, Viral/genetics , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Genetic Variation , HIV-1/isolation & purification , Humans , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/virology , Male , Middle Aged , Proviruses/genetics , Proviruses/isolation & purification , Treatment FailureABSTRACT
A rare case of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infected patient is described. As an association between SMZL and viral infections has been reported, the presence of the hepatitis C virus and HIV-1 genomes was evaluated. Only HIV-1 DNA levels were detected in enriched splenic B lymphocytes, suggesting a HIV-1 involvement in lymphomagenesis.
Subject(s)
HIV Infections/complications , HIV-1/pathogenicity , Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/etiology , Splenic Neoplasms/etiology , Cell Transformation, Viral , Female , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/virology , Humans , Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/diagnosis , Middle Aged , Spleen/pathology , Splenic Neoplasms/diagnosisABSTRACT
The microviscosity of cerebellar membranes from female Wistar rats during aging and subsequent to diet restriction has been investigated. Diet restriction was applied feeding the animals on every-other-day schedule starting from the age of 3.5 months. Undernutrition increased the lifespan of the animals and retarded the appearance of the age-dependent increase of microviscosity of cerebellar membranes.
Subject(s)
Aging/physiology , Cell Membrane/ultrastructure , Cerebellum/ultrastructure , Food Deprivation/physiology , Rats, Inbred Strains/physiology , Animals , Female , Lipid Peroxidation , Membrane Lipids/analysis , Oxidation-Reduction , Rats , ViscosityABSTRACT
Two patients suffering from eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) were treated with sodium cromoglycate (SCG). Before treatment they showed enteric and cutaneous symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and recurrent urticaria and angioedema. The histological findings were a notable amount of eosinophilic infiltration in the lamina propria and gastric glands, a villous shortening and thickening and weak eosinophilic inflammation in the duodenum. The patients were treated with 300 mg SCG, 4 times daily, for 4/5 months. During treatment, the clinical symptoms disappeared and at the end of treatment a reduced inflammation with an almost complete decrease of eosinophilic infiltration was observed. The results provide evidence of SCG efficacy in the treatment of EG and suggest its employment as an alternative to the steroids commonly used in EG.
