[Chronic viral hepatitis due to the hepatitis C virus (HCV): treatment experience with lymphoblast interferon-alpha]. / Epatite cronica da virus dell'epatite C (HCV): esperienza sul trattamento con interferone alfa linfoblastoide.

Ten patients affected with HCV-related chronic hepatitis received alpha lymphoblastoid-IFN, 3 mU i.m. TW, for 12 months. We obtained: 4 complete responses, 5 partial responses, 1 non-response (therapy stopped after 3 months). During the fourteen months follow-up, 4 patients (1 complete responder, 3 partial responders) relapsed.

[Role of the cerebral CAT examination in the diagnosis of neurotoxoplasmosis]. / Ruolo dell'esame TAC cerebrale nella diagnosi di neurotoxoplasmosi.

A case of central nervous system toxoplasmosis is reported. Attention is called to the diagnosis of this infection; moreover, the authors emphasize the importance of the TAC brain for the diagnosis and evaluation of the clinical evolution and response to the therapy.

[On the subject of leptospirosis. Description of a case]. / In tema di leptospirosi. Segnalazione di un caso.

The Authors report a case of leptospirosis. Stress is laid on the sporadicity of this infection in their region; attention is also drawn to the variety of the clinical expression of this disease.

[Clinico-epidemiologic considerations in cases of acute viral non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANB)]. / Considerazioni clinico-epidemiologiche su una casistica di epatite virale acuta non-A, non-B (NANB).

Personal experience with a series of 69 cases of non-A, non-B viral hepatitis out of 164 cases of acute viral hepatitis observed at hospital admission between January 1985 and June 1988 is reported. Agreement is expressed with other Italian series as regards the incidence of sex, of the most involved age classes, of the most affected professional categories and of the incubation period of posttransfusional forms. The prevalence of sporadic forms over those transmitted intraparenterally and more prolonged course in icterus patients and in parenteral forms is pointed out.

[Induced pemphigus and brucellosis]. / Pemfigo indotto e brucellosi.

A case of induced pemphigus occurring in a patient affected with a brucellosis is reported with emphasis on the definitive remission of the pemphigus after antibiotic therapy against brucellosis and in the absence of corticosteroid treatment. Attention is also drawn to a possible autoimmune mechanism of the pemphigus triggered by brucellosis.

[Visceral leishmaniasis as an opportunistic infection. Our experience]. / La leishmaniosi viscerale come infezione opportunista. Nostra esperienza.

A case of visceral leishmaniasis in a female patient suffering from acute nonlymphoid leukaemia is reported. Stress is laid on the atypical nature of the clinical picture, falsified by the underlying disease, and attention is called to the behaviour of Leishmania as an opportunistic agent in the immunodepressed host.

[Behavior of serum immunoglobulins in boutonneuse fever]. / Comportamento delle immunoglobuline sieriche in corso di febbre bottonosa.

The behaviour of serum immunoglobulins in 35 patients suffering from Mediterranean exanthematous has been studied. No particular quantitative or qualitative change lieve noted. Supported by the scanty and contrasting data in existing literature, it is maintained that aspecific immunological serum doses are of little use, but research is urged into specific antibodies by means of indirect immunofluorescence and the Elisa method.

[Hepatitis virus and pregnancy. Our experience]. / Virus epatite e gravidanza. Nostra esperienza.

The importance of perinatal infection in the mother-foetus transmission of HbsAg positive hepatitis is stressed. The role of type A hepatitis has no influence and that of the NANB is little known. The Authors maintain that in no case is the hepatitis virus a valid motive for the interruption of pregnancy, even when it occurs in the first months of gestation.

[Significance and limits of serum transaminases in the diagnosis of viral hepatitis]. / Significato e limiti della transaminasemia nella diagnosi di virus epatite.

The Authors considering four cases of obstructive jaundice with hepatocellular onset, point out the possibility of errors and of misleading diagnostic views resulting from the excessive credit given to the increase of serum transaminases also in viral hepatitis diagnosis.

[Humoral immunity in epidemic parotitis]. / Aspetti dell'immunità umorale in corso di parotite epidemica.

The authors have studied the behaviour of the Immunoglobulins and of the hemoagglutination-inhibiting and complement-fixing antibodies in 9 subjects suffering from a complicated form of parotitis and coming from the same epidemic focus. A considerable movement of antibodies was noticed, while contrary to the findings of other authors, an increase in the IgA was not evident.