Molecular evolution of HCV genotype 2c persistent infection following mother-to-infant transmission

Summary.  The molecular evolution of HCV 2c in a case of vertical transmission was studied by comparing the virus quasispecies in the sera from the mother and from the child in a two-year follow-up. The positivity of HCV-RNA since the delivery accounted for an in-utero infection. The Core-E1 genome region (nt 928-1225) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from serum samples collected at delivery and at 3, 9, 18 and 24 months after birth. The RIBA pattern was characterised by isolated anti-c22 positivity in the serum from mother and in sera from the child during the first 9 months. Additional presence of anti-c33 was observed afterwards. Genetic relatedness among isolates and with a mother minor variant serum (Mo1.13) was found (mean variability ranged between 0.79% and 1.20%). From phylogenetic analysis this variant was identified as the origin of one of the two main lineages that included all isolates from child sera at 9, 18 and 24 months. The variability analysis has shown that high viral heterogeneity is present in the child serum collected at birth (3.16%). In this phase the d_n/d_s index (1.26%) indicates the presence of strong selective pressures. The development of child specific immune response at 9^th month was concurrent with the disappearance of two mutants at positions 11 and 104 of E1.This rare case of inutero mother-to-infant transmission can be considered as a model to elucidate the HCV quasispecies diversification during the first stage of infection. Received July 12, 1999/Accepted November 29, 1999     

Studies on the haemostatic system in peripheral arterial disease I. Factor VIII, fibrinolytic activity, and changes induced by venous occlusion and nicotinic acid administration

Factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C) and fibrinolytic activity (FA) were measured in a group of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and in a comparable control group.

The effects of two stimuli, venous occlusion (VO) and nicotinic acid administration (NA), were also investigated.

Significant or highly significant increases of both activities were found after VO and after NA in both groups. A linear correlation was seen between basal and post-stimulus values for FVIII:C, while only a logarithmic relation was present for FA in the same conditions. No correlation was observed between the two activities, either before or after stimuli. The response of FVIII:C to VO was correlated with that to NA, while no similar correlation was evident for FA.

No significant difference was recorded between patient and control group, both for FVIII:C and for FA, before and after the considered stimuli.     

Stereotactic thalamic lesions studied by CT scanner

Summary The authors illustrate four cases of stereotactic CM-PF thalamotomy for pain syndromes and their evolutions seen on computer tomograms. The brain specimen from one is shown.The CT appearance of these lesions is composed of two relatively clear distinct parts: a discrete central core of increased attenuation, and an area of decreased attenuation surrounding the central core.In all CT slices the position of the lesion in relation to the ventricular landmarks shows good agreement with the Schaltenbrand Atlas demonstration of the thalamic nuclei.This work was supported by a grant from the Italian Research Council (C.N.R.).     

Changes of cerebral density in dialyzed patients

Summary CT studies were made of 38 patients receiving different dialytic treatment, 10 patients with chronic renal failure not yet dialyzed, and 15 healthy subjects. No morphological modifications were observed. On the contrary, significant changes of density were demonstrated after a dialysis session in the population treated intermittently. In these patients the density values were similar to those registered in the controls 1–6 h after a dialysis session. End stage renal failure and CAPD patients always had normal density values. Therefore cerebral density changes are caused only by the intermittent dialytic treatment.This paper was presented at the 10th Congress of the European Society of Neuroradiology, Milan, September 1981.     

Increased prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in patients with cholelithiasis

The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme activity was determined in 299 Northern Sardinian patients with cholelithiasis. Sixteen (12.80%) of the 125 male patients studied were G6PD deficient; 33 (18.96%) of the 174 females were heterozygous and 1 (0.57%) homozygous. Thus, the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in male subjects with cholelithiasis is about 35% higher (p less than 0.02) than that of a normal male control group (7.29%). As regards female patients, the incidence of the GdMed allele was also significantly different (p less than 0.05). Thus, G6PD-deficient subjects may have a predisposition to develop gallstones, even in the absence of clinical signs of chronic hemolysis.