Isospin dependence of incomplete fusion reactions at 25 MeV/nucleon.

40Ca+;{40,48}Ca,46Ti reactions at 25 MeV/nucleon have been studied using the 4pi CHIMERA detector. An isospin effect on the competition between fusionlike and binarylike reaction mechanisms has been observed. The probability of producing a heavy residue is lower in the case of N approximately Z colliding systems as compared to the case of reactions induced on the neutron rich 48Ca target. Predictions based on constrained molecular dynamics II calculations show that the competition between fusionlike and binary reactions in the selected centrality bins can constrain the parametrization of the symmetry energy and its density dependence in the nuclear equation of state.

Fast ternary and quaternary breakup of the 197Au + 197Au system in collisions at 15 MeV/nucleon.

A new reaction mechanism of violent reseparation of a heavy nucleus-nucleus system, 197Au + 197Au, into three or four massive fragments in collisions at 15 MeV/nucleon has been observed. After reseparation, the fragments are almost exactly aligned, thus showing a very short time scale of the reseparation process, of about 70-80 fm/c.

Sensitivity and specificity of immunological methods for the detection of anti-topoisomerase I (Scl70) autoantibodies: results of a multicenter study. The Italian Society of Laboratory Medicine Study Group on the Diagnosis of Autoimmune diseases.

BACKGROUND: The ability of immunometric methods to identify anti-topoisomerase I (Scl70) antibodies is controversial. We wished to quantify the performance of the currently available commercial systems for the assay of anti-topoisomerase I antibodies in a large multicenter study. METHODS: Fifty Italian clinical laboratories analyzed 36 serum samples: 27 from individuals with scleroderma/systemic sclerosis, and 9 from a control group. The scleroderma/systemic sclerosis samples were positive in our laboratories by both ELISA and immunoblot (IB), and the control samples were negative. The laboratories used 42 immunoenzymatic (ELISA), 21 IB, 3 counterimmunoelectrophoresis, and 2 dot-blot methods, produced by 23 different manufacturers. RESULTS: We obtained 2389 results. The ELISA methods showed 99.2% specificity and 97.2% sensitivity for detection of anti-Scl70 antibodies. For IB methods, specificity was 97.6% and sensitivity was 96.1%. The Western-blot method had poor analytical specificity (27% false positives for anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibodies other than anti-Scl70). CONCLUSIONS: Excluding Western blots, commercial ELISA and IB reagents as used in clinical laboratories have a sensitivity and a specificity >95% for determination of anti-Scl70 antibodies.

Monoclonal antibody defined T cell subsets in primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome.

Using monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series we studied the blood T lymphocyte subsets of 12 patients with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome, 15 with Rheumatoid Arthritis associated Sjögren's Syndrome and 10 normal controls. We found a marked reduction of T lymphocytes both in Primary and Secondary Sjögren's Syndrome compared with normal controls (p less than 0.001). While no difference was noted in the number of helper-inducer T cells between Primary and Secondary Sjögren's Syndrome, a more important decrease of suppressor-cytotoxic cells was demonstrated in Secondary Sjögren's Syndrome (p less than 0.01). These data may contribute to a better understanding of the disease.

Identification with monoclonal antibodies of T-cell subsets in peripheral blood and ascitic fluid of patients with alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis.

In an attempt to investigate an aspect of the immunoregulatory mechanisms operating in alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis with ascites we have enumerated T-cell subsets in the peripheral blood and ascitic fluid of 16 patients with this disease. The peripheral blood analysis revealed a reduction of OKT3+, OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells compared to those of the control group (p less than 0.001) and an increase of OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio. In the ascitic fluid the OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio, compared to that of the peripheral blood, was decreased (p less than 0.001) because of increase of OKT8+ cell proportion. We suggest that the sequestrated splanchnic OKT8+ subset might be represented by suppressor lymphocytes transuding from the liver.

[Basic therapy of rheumatoid arthritis with thiopronine. Preliminary results]. / Terapia "di fondo" dell'artrite reumatoide con tiopronina. Risultati preliminari.

A long term open study of the use of thiopronine in the treatment of 38 patients with ARA classified "classic" or "definite" rheumatoid arthritis is reported. Doses of the drug were increased from an initial 250 mg per diem by the addition of 250 mg every 15 days to 1 g per diem. After 6 months testing, results were satisfactory (good and fair) in 65% of the cases in both biological and clinical terms. In 15% of the cases, treatment was interrupted mainly due to mucous and cutaneous side effects. These preliminary results confirm reports in the literature and encourage further experiment.

[Hypomagnesemia with magnesium-dependent hypocalcemia and hypopotassemia in a case of alcoholic cirrhosis]. / Ipomagnesiemia con ipocalcemia ed ipopotassiemia magnesio-dipendenti in un caso di cirrosi alcoolica.

An account of the main causes of low blood magnesium and the predominant rôle of this ion in the organism is followed by the description of a case of encephalopathy due to magnesium deficiency in a chronic alcoholic with cirrhosis of the liver. This neuropsychological condition, together with its concomitant low blood calcium and potassium, rapidly regressed when magnesium sulphate was administered. Stress is laid on the desirability of giving attention to and preventing the onset of this electrolytic alteration in clinical practive.