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The value of ultrasonography as an adjunct for diagnosis and monitoring malaria was investigated. In all, 118 patients (male/female 65/53; age 2-78 years, median 29 years) with malaria underwent a standardised abdominal ultrasound examination at baseline. In 62 out of 118 patients, ultrasonography was repeated 21 days later. In the results at baseline, huge splenomegaly with firm organ consistency, consistent with hyperreactive malarious splenomegaly syndrome, was observed in two Cameroonese children. In the other 116 patients, the most common finding was non-specific splenomegaly (96/116, 82.76%), occurring more frequently in non-immune patients (71/78, 91.03%) than in patients who had grown up in malaria-endemic areas (25/38, 65.79%; P<0.002). No correlation was found between liver or spleen size and any clinical parameter. The results on day 21 show that, although splenomegaly after therapy persisted more frequently in patients with malaria recrudescence or relapse (8/8, 100%) than in patients cured (32/54, 59.26%; P<0.0421), the practical value of this finding is questionable. Ultrasonography cannot be regarded as a first-line diagnostic method in patients with malaria.

A case of Dirofilariasis by Dirofilaria repens localized in the left temporalis muscle, in a 43-year-old woman, is described. It was acquired in South-western Sicily but became apparent in Pisa. It is the seventh case of human Dirofilariasis reported from this area, confirming the existence of an endemic focus. In spite of the numerous investigations to identify clinically the illness (needle-aspirate, Echography, CTScan) the diagnosis was possible only upon discovery of the nematode in the histological sections of the surgically removed nodule.

Four cases of percutaneous treatment of hydatid cysts are reported. Cytologic examination of the cyst fluid is important to confirm the diagnosis in patients who did not develop antibodies. Gomori stain gives the best results in identifying the three elements of a hydatid cyst: scolices, hooklets and laminated membranes. Moreover, staining for viability assessment gives information about the success of drug treatment.

Antibody response to antigen A60 (a mycobacterial antigen) was evaluated in ELISA in 18 HIV+ subjects with clinical and cultural evidences of mycobacterial infections, in 10 HIV+ subjects without Mycobacterial infections and in 22 healthy donors. We found higher levels of specific IgG in the HIV+ patients with Mycobacterial infections (mean 179.2 +/- 83 U) compared to the values of the donors (mean 92.5 +/- 35.5 U: p < 0.01). This test may be useful in the diagnosis of tuberculosis, but it needs clinical validation.

Nowadays, the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is most certainly the major cause of the increased incidence of tuberculosis (TBC). A total of 138 patients (pts) with AIDS were referred to the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Hospital of Pisa, 1990-1991; 14 of them (10.1%) presented pulmonary TBC. In our study, we analyzed the chest films of the latter group of patients. Based on the X-ray patterns, the findings were classified as follows: hilar lymph nodes were observed in 4 pts (28.6%), isolated lymph nodes in 2 cases; associated with parenchymal involvement in 2 pts; acute alveolar TBC was seen in 4 cases (28.6%), with escavations in 3/4 (21.4%). Linear and reticular TBC were found in 4 pts (28.6%), and miliary interstitial involvement in 1 case (7%), extrapulmonary adenopathy in 4 pts (28.6%). In 4 pts (28.6%) chest X-ray findings were negative. All pts underwent serial chest X-rays in the course of therapy. HRCT was performed in 6 patients: our results are in agreement with those reported in literature. Thus, we can conclude that the major diagnostic findings in our series were: frequent isolated involvement of hilar lymph nodes, as observed in primary TBC; the infiltrates are most frequently located in the middle and basal lobes; escavations are uncommon; pleural effusion is unusual; in some pts chest X-ray findings may be negative.

Both prednisone and cytostatic drugs have an ulcerogenic effect on digestive mucosa. The protective action of the antisecretory drugs pirenzepine and ranitidine are compared against gastroduodenal lesions induced by antiblastic therapy. Twenty patients affected with lymphoproliferative disorders were endoscopically examined: none of them suffered from gastric or duodenal peptic ulcers or erosions. Ten out of the 20 patients received pirenzepine 100 mg/die/p.o. and the other 10 received ranitidine 300 mg/die/p.o. The study was performed according to a double-blind, randomized sequence. The antisecretory medication was administered together with antitumoral therapy for periods of 3-6 months. Four patients died of haematological complications before the course of treatment was completed. A further endoscopic examination was performed at the end of treatment: no patient showed evidence of gastric or duodenal peptic ulcers or erosions. Among the pirenzepine-treated cases, 1 out of the 7 evaluable patients showed a histological worsening of a pre-existing gastritis, while a slight duodenitis was observed in 1 out of the 9 ranitidine-treated patients. The comparable effectiveness of the two drugs is probably related to their antisecretory action, but cytoprotective mechanisms cannot be excluded.