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With the aim of evaluating the correlation between dysplastic lesions of the uterine cervix associated or not with condylomatosis and Chlamydia T. infection, we carried out a serological study of anti-Chlamydia species-specific antibodies and a direct and/or a cultural investigation on a sample of 320 women who performed a Pap-test. The serological examination showed positivity (titer greater than or equal to 1:32) in 49 control subjects (with negative cytology) (23.7%); in 27 cases (43.5%) with actual diagnosis of condylomatosis/CIN associated or not with condylomatosis and in 28 cases (54.9%) with previous diagnosis of condylomatosis/CIN associated or not with condylomatosis. The cultural investigation did not show any significant difference among the groups above mentioned. Finally, the frequency of positive cases for anti-Chlamydia antibodies was estimated for each grade of actual or previous CIN: a greater frequency of positivity was noted in cases with CIN 3 (75%).

Thirty patients with congestive cardiomyopathy (C.C.) have been studied for the prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to coxsackie B viruses in comparison with age and sex matched controls. Seropositivity toward each antigen was similar in cases and controls: an exception was coxsackie B5 virus, where a significantly seropositivity was found in the control group. As a whole, high antibody titers to any antigen were observed more frequently on sera of cardiopathic patients; however the difference between cases and controls of g.m.t. to each antigen tested was not statistically significant, with the exception of coxsackie B1 virus. The absence of a clear relationship between C.C. and viral infections might be explained through biological as well as epidemiological considerations; of particular relevance, the long duration of cardiac disease (average length 71 months, median 54). Final considerations are offered regarding the methodologic approach for a better understanding of the etiology of this elusive disease.