Prevalence of polyomaviruses BK, JC, SV40, KI, and WU in non-malignant tonsil specimens.

AIM: The recently described polyomaviruses KI and WU have been detected in respiratory samples, stools, tonsils, and blood, particularly in immunocompromised conditions, although little is known about tissue tropism. Herein we investigated the occurrence of KIV and WUV in non-malignant tonsillar specimens by Real-time quantitative PCR; the presence of polyomaviruses BK, JC and SV40-DNA was also evaluated. METHODS: Twenty-nine non-malignant tonsil specimens obtained from children and adults admitted for tonsillectomy were prospectively studied. Real-time quantitative TaqMan PCR for polyomaviruses KI, WU, BK, JC, and SV40 were performed. RESULTS: KI-DNA was positive in 2/29 tonsillar specimens (6.9%), while BK- DNA, JC-DNA, SV-40 DNA, and WU-DNA sequences were not identified. CONCLUSION: Few studies have investigated the prevalence of polyomaviruses in tonsil specimens, with varying results, and data are particularly scant as regards the newly discovered KIV and WUV. Two major questions remain to be definitely answered at this regard: the possibility that human tonsils represent the initial site of infection and/or a latency site and the biological and clinical meaning of KIV and WUV in different contexts and groups of patients, in that it is not clear whether they are simple bystanders or play a role in tonsil disease.

Self-esteem and personality in subjects with and without body dysmorphic disorder traits undergoing cosmetic rhinoplasty: preliminary data.

BACKGROUND: Many individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) seek non-psychiatric treatment. BDD occurs in about 5% of patients who seek cosmetic surgery, and rhinoplasty is the most frequently sought treatment. A correlation exists between individuals' self-esteem and demand for cosmetic surgery. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether those subjects with BDD traits requesting cosmetic rhinoplasty differ from those without BDD traits in self-esteem, personality and quality of life. METHODS: This study included 54 patients applying to the 1st ENT Division of Turin University. Assessment of the patients before cosmetic rhinoplasty includes: nasal obstruction symptom evaluation, health-related quality of life, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, body dysmorphic disorder questionnaire (BDDQ) and temperament and character inventory (TCI). Based on their responses to BDDQ questions 1, 3 and 4, patients were subdivided into subgroups and then compared. RESULTS: No difference emerged in the objective data. Lower self-esteem, higher harm avoidance (HA) and lower self-directedness (SD) are found in subjects who are worried about how they look, in those with interference in their social life due to this worry and in those who spend more than 3h per day thinking about the way they look. Novelty seeking (NS) is significantly higher in subjects who think about their looks for up to 3h than in those who spend less than 1h. CONCLUSION: Different subgroups of patients are identified. The first group includes pessimistic, shy, insecure subjects; people with fragile and immature personality and poor self-esteem; individuals concerned about the way they look and those who spend more time thinking about it. The second group includes more confident subjects with stronger personality and greater self-esteem. A third, less differentiated group, includes more impulsive (high NS) subjects who spend an intermediate amount of time thinking about the way they look. Patients should be carefully screened and assessed before cosmetic surgery interventions to avoid frustration to both, clinicians and patients.

Improvement of clinical response in allergic rhinitis patients treated with an oral immunostimulating bacterial lysate: in vivo immunological effects.

Allergic rhinitis is known to be one of the most common chronic diseases in the industrialized world. According to the concept that allergic rhinitis patients generally suffer from an immune deficit, in order to stimulate specifically or aspecifically their immune system, immunomodulating agents from various sources, such as synthetic compounds, tissue extracts or a mixture of bacterial extracts, have been used. The aim of the present trial is to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment with an immunostimulating vaccine consisting of a polyvalent mechanical bacterial lysate (PMBL) in the prophylaxis of allergic rhinitis and subsequently to analyze its in vivo effects on immune responses. 41 allergic rhinitis patients were enrolled: 26 patients were randomly assigned to the group for PMBL sublingual treatment and 15 others to the group for placebo treatment. For all 26 patients blood samples were drawn just before (T0) and after 3 months of PMBL treatment (T3) to evaluate plasma IgE levels (total and allergen-specific) and the cytokine production involved in the allergic response (IL-4, IFN-gamma). The results of our study indicate that PMBL is effective in vivo in the reduction or in the elimination of the symptoms in rhinitis subjects during the treatment period in comparison to a non-immunostimulating treatment. A significant and clinically relevant improvement was found in 61.5%, a stationary clinical response was registered in 38.4% and no negative side effects associated with the medication or worsening were recorded. At the end of a 3-month follow up period the clinical picture remained the same as that observed at T3. PMBL treatment did not affect the serum IgE levels (either total or allergen-specific) and did not induce significant changes in IFN-gamma concentration. In contrast, PMBL therapy may be accompanied, in some patients, by a potential immunomodulating activity by decreasing IL-4 cytokine expression.

[Recurrent urinary tract infections. Biological suppositions and clinical treatment with thymopentin]. / Infezioni delle vie urinarie recidivanti. Presupposti biologici e risultati clinici del trattamento con timopentina.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a common usual pathological event. They relapse often due to the periurethral colonization of microorganisms from the intestinal bacterial flora. They also constitute an important and considerable social and clinical problem. The absence of inducing organic conditions or an infective focus at the base of the pathogenetic mechanism suggests the existence of alterations of the immune response of the subject. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this work we wanted to verify if, in those subjects with relapsing UTI (more than four events every year) cure with "biological" response modifiers, particularly "thymopentin", meaningfully reduced the number of events. RESULTS: The results obtained confirm that for those cases in which the chemo-antibiotic therapy did not have the expected results, it is rational to support it with an immune-modulating drug (thymopentin). In fact the post-therapy reduction of UTI observed during two years of follow-up is statistically significant when compared to the average of UTI before therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The "cost-benefits" analysis should prove to be a saving in favour of the use of thymopentin, taking into consideration the reduction of chemo-antibiotics consumption and the lower number of working hours lost every year.

[Moraxella catarrhalis: an emerging respiratory pathogen]. / Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis: un patogeno respiratorio emergente.

In the past years Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis has finally gained respect as a pathogen thanks to the many reports of its causal role. The intent of this review is to provide a critical evaluation of the intent of this review is to provide a critical evaluation of the microbiological features (taxonomy, diagnosis, virulence, epidemiology and drug resistance), clinical diseases and therapy of this microorganism

Temporary regression of recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is achieved with a low but not with a high dose of recombinant interleukin 2 injected perilymphatically.

The efficacy of ten daily injections of 500 or 500,000 U of recombinant interleukin 2 (IL-2) day-1 given 1.5 cm from the insertion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the mastoid was evaluated in 31 patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. No toxic effects were noted. One complete response (CR) and three partial responses (PRs) were observed in the 16 patients who received 500 U of IL-2, whereas the higher dose was not effective. The CR was recorded in one of the seven patients with a oropharyngeal recurrence. Partial responses were obtained in 1/5 patients with hypopharyngeal recurrences, in 1/5 patients with oral cavity recurrences and 1/7 patients with laryngeal recurrences. The duration of the responses was 3-5 months and additional courses of ten injections of IL-2 had no further effect.

Interleukin-2 injected around tumor-draining lymph nodes in head and neck cancer.

Twenty patients with recurrent, inoperable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma received perilymphatic injections of natural interleukin-2 (nIL-2) for 10 days. Ten patients received 200 units (U) of nIL-2; five 1,000 U; and five 5,000 U. Irrespective of the location of the recurrence, the injections were always performed 1.5 cm below the insertion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the mastoid. When the ipsilateral lymphatic chain was still present, they were performed on the same side as the tumor site, whereas when it had been stripped as a result of previous surgery, they were contralateral. Patients who had undergone bilateral neck dissection were injected on the tumor side. Whenever possible, the treatment was repeated after 45-day intervals. In 13 patients (65%) with bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, complete or partial disappearance of the lesion was observed. Despite these marked responses, the tumor always relapsed, and subsequent IL-2 courses were poorly effective. There were no systemic disturbances during or after treatment, but only moderate local swelling and pain.

The effect of preoperative local interleukin-2 (IL-2) injections in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. An immunological study.

Clinical, immunological, immunophenotypical, pathological and molecular biological studies were performed on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and lymph node lymphocytes (LN-ly) of 8 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx treated with 10 daily locoregional injections of low doses of IL-2 before surgery. No complications were seen during or after surgery. In 3 cases the LN-ly showed a moderate LAK activity, higher in the LN-ly omolateral to the tumor and near the IL-2 injection site; in 2 of these 3 patients a good LAK activity was induced after 6-day culture with IL-2. The LN-ly derived from nodes next to the tumor showed a decreased NK activity and proliferative ability both in basal conditions and after in vitro lymphokine challenging. LN-ly of 2 IL-2 treated patients showed high levels of mRNA encoding for IL-2-R, while it was absent in 2 untreated cases. Immunophenotypical studies on TIL showed statistically improved levels of CD25+ and LAK1+ cells in treated cases. Clusters of CD11c+ (macrophages) cells were seen close to the neoplastic sheets.

[New perspectives on the pathogenesis of rhinitis]. / Nuove prospettive nella patogenesi delle riniti.

The division of T cells into distinct subsets (Th-1 and Th-2), based upon cytokine production, is a major advance in understanding the immune reactivities particularly those associated with allergy. This report summarizes some of the highlights on pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. Th-2 cells, driven by IL-4, play an important role in allergic reactions inducing IgE switching in B cells and proliferation of mastocytes. In addition, by interaction with IL-5, Th-2 lymphocytes promotes eosinophil growth. By contrast, Th-1 cells antagonize Th-2 activity by IFN-gamma production. Finally IL-10, produced by Th-2, blocks the effects of the cytokines elaborated by Th-1. Recent results of this rapidly expanding area of research provide the background for this review. The intricate connections between Th-1, Th-2, the endothelial cells of the nose vessels and stromal cells are discussed.

[Oncogene expression in malignant head and neck neoplasia]. / Espressione di oncogeni in neoplasie maligne cervico-facciali.

Cellular oncogenes may acquire transforming properties and take part in induction or progression of tumors. In the present study we have examined the expression of c-met, c-ras and c-myc in some head and neck carcinomas. In 3 tumors we have found an elevated expression of the c-met oncoprotein, in 2 tumours of the c-myc one. These data suggest that oncogenes could participate in the development of some head and neck cancers.

Prognostic significance of the expression of immunohistochemically detectable differentiation markers in laryngeal carcinomas.

Expression of immunocytochemically detectable markers in 100 cases of laryngeal carcinomas, homogeneous for staging and treatment, was correlated with clinical evolution of the disease. Follow-up for a minimum of 5 years was obtained in all cases. Paraffin sections were re-cut and stained in immunoperoxidase with monoclonal KL1, detecting medium-to-low molecular weight keratins, and with monoclonal HMFG2, revealing a surface glycoprotein. Expression of KL1-related antigen did not correlate with prognosis, whereas cases extensively positive for monoclonal HMFG2 (more than 50% cells stained) had a significantly better recurrence-free rate. In a group of tumors classified as Grade 3 (histologically poorly differentiated) and expressing a low degree of HMFG2-detectable surface glycoprotein (less than 50% cells stained), a high rate of recurrences (93%) was observed. This study indicates that the combined use of morphologic and biologic (immunohistochemical) criteria may constitute an independent parameter of primary importance in predicting the evolution of laryngeal carcinomas.

[Perilymphatic injection of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck]. / Iniezione perilinfatica di interleuchina-2 (IL-2) in recidive di carcinomi a cellule squamose della testa e del collo.

Twenty patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck received daily injections of interleukin-2 (IL-2) from the Jurkat T-cell line, purified by high pressure liquid chromatography for 10 days. Two hundred (ten patients), one thousand (five patients) and five thousand (five patients) units of IL-2 in 0.5 ml were injected 1.5 cm from the point where the sternocleidomastoid muscle inserts itself on the mastoid. Whenever possible, the treatment cycles were repeated at 45 day intervals. In 13 patients with contralateral or bilateral cervical lymph nodes, complete or partial disappearance of the tumor was observed. There were non systemic disturbances after injection and only moderate local swelling and pain.

[Ecological and microbiological aspects of otitis]. / Considerazioni sugli aspetti ecologici e microbiologici delle otiti.

The indigenous and the pathogenic microorganisms of the various body areas have been compiled but the list is constantly growing. The A.A. have examined the properties of the bacterial flora of the oropharynx and of the ear in regard of the etiology of the otitis and have hypothesized some mechanisms enhancing the growth of certain pathogenic bacteria.

[Bacterial infections of the ear: case contribution on clinical and microbiological aspects]. / Le infezioni batteriche dell'orecchio: contributo casistico sugli aspetti microbiologici e clinici.

Ciprofloxacin was given in oral doses of 250 mg. each 8 hours to 21 patients with otitis. The efficacy of treatment was assessed by clinical and bacteriological parameters. The 61.9% of isolated bacteria are opportunistic. A case of chronic otitis by Achromobacter xylosoxidans is described.

Treatment of recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with low doses of interleukin-2 injected perilymphatically.

Ten patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck received daily injections of interleukin-2 (IL-2) from the Jurkat T-cell line purified by high pressure liquid chromatography for 10 days. Two hundred units of IL-2 in 0.5 ml were injected 1.5 cm from the insertion of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the mastoid. When possible, courses were repeated at 45-day intervals. IL-2 was ineffective in two patients who had already undergone functional or radical neck dissection. By contrast, in six patients with contralateral or bilateral cervical lymph nodes, complete or partial disappearance of the tumor was observed. The injections were occasionally followed by moderate local swelling and lymph node pain, but no systemic disturbances.