HCV infection in hemodialyzed patients: incidence and correlation with dialytic age.

Hemodialyzed patients mean an high-risk population for hepatitis C infection. Our work was performed to evaluate the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in 51 hemodialyzed patients; the presence of anti-HCV antibodies was studied using the EIA and RIBA test of 1st and 2nd generation. 18 patients (35.29%) showed anti-HCV antibodies with the 1st test; 27 patients (52.94%) showed the presence of anti-HCV antibodies using 2nd generation test. The incidence of test positivity is not related to blood transfusions while it is strictly related with dialytic age. All HCV seropositive patients show antibodies against the c22-3 protein of "virus core". The presence in serum of anti-c22-3 antibodies means that in these patients, there is viral replication.

[Considerations on the effectiveness of serum-vaccine prophylaxis in maternal-fetal transmission of the hepatitis B virus]. / Considerazioni sulla efficacia della siero-vaccino profilassi nella trasmissione madre-figlio dell'HBV.

Personal experience of sero-vaccino-prophylaxis for the purposes of vertical interruption of hepatitis B transmitted by mother carriers of HBsAG to their children is reported. Special attention is paid to the problem of the failure of such immunitary strategy in high-risk newborns (children of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV-DNA positive mothers) and some suggestions are made to reduce the risk of this infection.

Preneoplastic lesions and prognostic factors of breast cancer.

The Authors have investigated preneoplastic lesions and the problem of the identification of benign lesions considered with or without preneoplastic potential, comparing for the occasion the presence of transformation markers in these lesions with the positivity of tumor markers in neoplastic tissue. The dosages have been valued on neoplastic tissue (180 cases), dysplastic tissue (50 cases), on cystic fluid (70 cases), and on nipple discharge (80 cases). The data obtained show a marked positivity to the tumor markers and the ionic and hormonal content (K+, Na+ DHEAS, PRL evaluation). The positivity of some lesions, not properly preneoplastic (or atypical) towards some markers of neoplasia could show some differences of great interest between benignity and malignity.

Serum beta 2-microglobulin in patients with monoclonal gammopathies.

Beta-2-microglobulin concentrations were determined in serum samples from 45 patients with benign and malignant monoclonal gammopathies. In the group of patients suffering from multiple myeloma or Waldenström macroglobulinemia the mean beta 2-microglobulin level was significantly higher than in the group with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Values above 3 mg/L were highly indicative of a neoplastic process and were observed in all the Waldenström patients and in greater than 90% of myeloma patients. No significant correlation was noticed between beta 2-microglobulin and monoclonal protein levels in any of the groups examined.