Search

Argania spinosa(L.) Skeels is an endemic Moroccan species belonging to Sapotaceae family. In this work, lipophilic and aqueous extracts were obtained from leaves and subjected to a chemical profiling by MS and LC-MS/MS. Pentacyclic terpenoids were identified and quantified in the lipophilic fraction, while phenolic compounds (mainly belonging to flavonols and flavan-3-ols) were identified in the aqueous fraction. The antibacterial activities of fractions were evaluatedin vitroagainst both reference Gram-positive and -negative bacterial strains and clinical isolates of methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA); in addition, the compounds quantified as main components in each extract were assayed against reference strains. A relevant antibacterial activity was observed against reference MSSA and MRSA strains ofS. aureus: for the lipophilic fraction, MIC50values obtained were 177.8 and 170.6 μg/mL for the former and the latter, respectively, while for the aqueous fraction were 215.5 and 233.3 μg/mL. These inhibitory activities could be mainly ascribed to ursolic and oleanolic acids, among pentacyclic terpenoids, and to quercetin concerning phenolic compounds. A remarkable antibacterial activity was also observed against clinical isolates, thus argan leaves can be considered of interest in the chemotherapy of human infections. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective The purpose of our work was to examine the most reliable laboratory diagnosis of fetal parvovirus B19 infection in hydropic fetuses by evaluating the most appropriate clinical sample and laboratory test. Design B19 DNA detection in fetal samples and serological signs of B19 infection in the respective mothers. Samples collected between January 2000 and July 2008. Setting Microbiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Samples One hundred thirty-five fetal samples (58 fetal cord blood and 77 amniotic fluid samples) and 109 serum samples collected from 109 pregnant women. Methods Validated and certified in situ hybridisation assay (ISH) and polymerase chain reaction–enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) were performed on fetal samples to detect B19 DNA. B19-specific antibodies were investigated in maternal serum samples by a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Main outcome measures Parvovirus B19 DNA detection in fetal specimens was analysed in relation to maternal serological signs of infection. Results Parvovirus B19 DNA was detected in 22.41% of fetal cord blood and 36.36% of amniotic fluid samples. A statistically significant difference was found between DNA detection by ISH (23.70%) and PCR-ELISA (14.81%) ( P= 0.004). Only 11.76% of fetuses with virological diagnosis of B19 infection were from women with serological signs of acute/recent B19 infection. Conclusions Diagnosis of fetal parvovirus B19 infection cannot always rely on maternal serological investigations but rather on the virological analysis of fetal samples. Both fetal cord blood and amniotic fluid samples are suitable for diagnosis, but the detection of B19 DNA in the cells of amniotic fluid samples by ISH proved to be the most reliable diagnostic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clearance of B19 parvovirus from peripheral blood was followed after acute infection to determine how long the virus is present in blood, even at low titer. The presence of B19 DNA in serum was investigated with dot blot hybridization during an epidemic. Fourteen patients positive for B19 DNA were followed for up to 1 year for its presence in samples taken monthly, using both dot blot hybridization and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All patients examined showed medium to high viremic titers (detectable with hybridization assay) only at the beginning of observation; later the virus titer decreased and was detectable only by nested PCR. Of the 14 patients followed, 13 were positive for B19 DNA by nested PCR for 2-6 months; 1 patient showed a persistent infection associated with chronic arthritis and was positive for B19 DNA for 1 year without clearance of the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An in situ hybrido-immunocytochemical assay, with a digoxigenin-labelled probe, was used to show the presence of cytomegalovirus DNA in both paraffin and frozen sections from tissue blocks of 5 AIDS patients. The hybridization probe was constructed by using two different DNA fragments of the repeated sequences of the CMV genome. The CMV DNA probe hybridized in situ was immunocytochemically visualized by anti-digoxigenin Fab fragments labelled with alkaline phosphatase. This hybridization procedure proved to be sensitive, specific, and provided good resolving power. Thus, it might effectively be employed in immunohistological and virological laboratories for the diagnosis of CMV infections in AIDS patients; indeed it might even be applied further in the virological context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic variability in human parvovirus B19 was analysed by direct partial sequencing of different isolates collected in Italy between 1989 and 1994. DNA was purified from viremic serum samples and the region of viral genome coding for structural proteins was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and partially sequenced (nt. 2400-3400). Data were compared to reference isolates Wi (U.K., 1973) and Au (U.S.A., 1982). The average relative distance between isolates was estimated at the low level of 0.61%, comparable with the distance to reference isolates. Out of 22 nucleotide substitutions found, 9 resulted in amino acid changes. From our results, this region of human parvovirus B19 genome appears to be stably conserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS--To evaluate the presence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with AIDS and suspected viral encephalitis using an in situ hybridisation assay with digoxigenin labelled CMV DNA probes. METHODS--The presence of CMV DNA was evaluated in cerebrospinal fluid cells of 10 patients with AIDS using in situ hybridisation. The positivity of CMV DNA was confirmed by the presence of CMV induced antigens in the same specimens. The presence of CMV DNA and CMV induced antigens was also analysed in peripheral blood leucocytes. The time required to perform the in situ hybridisation assay was about eight hours. RESULTS--The in situ hybridisation assay was sensitive, specific, and provided good resolution. Six patients proved positive for the presence of CMV DNA in CSF cells and all six also proved positive for CMV DNA in blood leucocytes. Of the six CMV positive patients, five were treated with specific antiviral drugs: of these, one died during the treatment while four clinically recovered after one month of treatment. CONCLUSIONS--The in situ hybridisation assay using digoxigenin labelled CMV DNA probes can be used as a valuable diagnostic test for the detection of CMV DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid cells of patients with suspected CMV encephalitis and can therefore prompt adequate antiviral therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The immune response against two herpesviruses has been determined in sera and matched synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compared with that of a healthy control population. The increased level of antibody to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induced antigens in patients with RA resembles the antibody pattern observed against cytomegalovirus (CMV) induced antigens, which suggests the presence of a pathological condition in patients with RA that can reactivate latent viral infections. The antibody response against EBV and CMV observed in synovial fluids excludes the local production of specific antibodies against EBV and CMV antigens. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The broad spectrum of clinical manifestations associated with B19 parvovirus often allows the infection to go unrecognized. We tested for the presence of B19 parvovirus and the specific serological response in serum from hospitalized patients submitted for viral investigations without any specific indications for B19 parvovirus. We diagnosed human parvovirus B19 infection in four paediatric patients showing different clinical manifestations. The patients, aged between 5 and 8 years, were admitted to hospital for: (1) petechial rash; (2) mononucleosis-like syndrome; (3) neurological syndrome; and (4) respiratory disease (in an immunodeficient patient). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twin pregnancies complicated by infection due to parvovirus B19 are uncommon. We report a case in which only one fetus developed a symptomatic infection, which presented at first as ascites and pleural effusion; later, meconium peritonitis developed. Hydrops spontaneously resolved, and at birth meconium peritonitis was successfully treated with surgery. However, even with the positive outcome of this pregnancy, a long-term follow-up is needed to exclude damage other than injury to the erythropoietic system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]