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espanolLa pandemia del covid-19 supuso cambios en la manera de actuar de las personas, im-pactando la economia, la politica, la salud y la educacion. Ante este contexto, este articulo trae parte de una investigacion realizada con alumnos, profesores y funcionarios de una escuela de Ensenanza Secundaria de la Rede Estadual de Ensino de Cajuri-MG. Un total de 56 personas participaron de la encuesta: 44 alumnos de la ensenanza secundaria, 7 docentes y 5 funcionarios de la escuela. Todos los participantes contestaron a un cuestionario elaborado por la investigadora. Los profesores con-testaron a un cuestionario con 4 preguntas abiertas y 36 cerradas con escala Likert. El cuestionario entregado a los alumnos era compuesto por un total de 41 preguntas – 37 cerradas y 4 abiertas. Y el cuestionario de los funcionarios comprendia 31 preguntas cerradas y 4 abiertas. Ante los resultados, en ese contexto de pandemia, los participantes de la investigacion pasaron a valorar y a comprender la importancia de las relaciones, sobre todo en la escuela. Los estudiantes citaron la falta de interaccion con los colegas y profesores; los docentes y funcionarios tambien hablaron sobre la falta de alumnos. El centro escolar adopto la ensenanza remota que, segun la vision de los educadores y estudiantes, consideraban que el aprendizaje habia sido perjudicado con esa metodologia EnglishThe covid-19 pandemic caused changes in the way people act, impacting the economy, politics, health, and education. In this context, this article is part of a research carried out with students, teachers and employees of a high school inserted into the State Education System in Cajuri, Minas Gerais State. The public surveyed was composed by 56 participants: 44 high school students, 7 tea-chers and 5 employees of the investigated school. All participants answered a questionnaire prepared by the researcher. The teachers answered a questionnaire with 4 discursive and 36 multiple choice questions using the Likert scale. The questionnaire delivered to the students contained a total of 41 questions - 37 multiple choice and 4 discursive questions. And the employee questionnaire contained 31 multiple choice and 4 discursive questions. Given the results, in this pandemic context, the research participants began to value and understand the importance of relationships, especially at school. The students addressed the lack of interaction with colleagues and teachers; teachers and staff also spoke about the absence of students. The school institution adopted remote teaching, which, according to both educators and students, considered that learning had been impaired with this methodology. portuguesA pandemia da covid-19 acarretou mudancas na maneira de agir das pessoas, impactando a economia, politica, saude e educacao. Diante deste contexto, este artigo traz parte de uma pes-quisa realizada com alunos, professores e funcionarios de uma escola do Ensino Medio da Rede Estadual de Ensino em Cajuri-MG. O publico pesquisado foi de 56 participantes: 44 alunos do ensino medio, 7 docentes e 5 funcionarios da escola investigada. Todos os participantes responderam a um questionario elaborado pela pesquisadora. Os professores responderam a um questionario com 4 questoes abertas e 36 fechadas com escala Likert. O questionario entregue aos discentes continha um total de 41 perguntas – 37 fechadas e 4 abertas. E o questionario dos funcionarios continha 31 questoes fechadas e 4 abertas. Diante dos resultados, nesse contexto de pandemia, os participantes da pesquisa passaram a valorizar e compreender a importâncias das relacoes, sobretudo na escola. Os estudantes abordaram a falta de interacao com os colegas e professores; os docentes e funcio-narios tambem falaram sobre a falta dos alunos. A instituicao escolar adotou o ensino remoto que, na visao dos educadores e estudantes, consideravam que o aprendizado tinha sido prejudicado com essa metodologia.

The pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) has been attributed to autoantibody-mediated neural dysfunction, vasculopathy, and coagulopathy. Several autoantibodies specificities have been reported in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of NPSLE patients (i.e., antineuronal, antiribosomal P proteins, antiglial fibrillary acidic proteins, antiphospholipid, and anti-endothelial antibodies). We have recently demonstrated an association between serum anti-endothelial antibodies and psychosis or depression in patients with SLE. Subsequently, by screening a cDNA library from human umbilical artery endothelial cells with serum from a SLE patient with psychosis, one positive strongly reactive clone was identified encoding the C-terminal region (C-ter) of Nedd5, an intracytoplasmatic protein of the septin family. Anti-Nedd5 antibodies have been found significantly associated with psychiatric manifestations in SLE patients, strengthening the view of a possible implication of autoantibodies in the development of psychiatric disorders.

Background: Hepatitis C virus genome (HCV-RNA) has been detected in whole salivary gland tissue of chronically infected patients. However, contamination of the tissue by plasma or blood cells was not excluded by the previous reports. Aims: To assess whether HCV infects the salivary gland epithelial cells in patients with chronic HCV liver disease. Methods: Twenty unselected patients with chronic active hepatitis (11 cases) or active cirrhosis (nine cases) were examined. Serum and saliva samples were obtained from all patients, 12 of whom (seven, chronic active hepatitis; five, active cirrhosis) underwent salivary gland biopsy. PCR for HCV-RNA was performed on RNA extracted from serum, saliva and salivary gland epithelial cells collected by isokinetic gradient separation after trypsin digestion of whole salivary gland tissue. Saliva samples were also examined for the presence of secretory IgA anti-HCV by gel chromatography and ELISA testing. Results: HCV-RNA was detected in all sera with titers ranging from 5.42×10 5 genome equivalents/ml to 123.2×10 5 genome equivalents/ml. Thirteen patients were infected with genotype 1b, four patients had genotype 1a, two patients had genotype 2a and one patient was unclassifiable. Low titer HCV-RNA ( 5 genome equivalents/ml) was detected in 320 saliva samples (15%) from highly viremic patients infected with 1b genotype. RNA extracted from salivary gland epithelial cells consistently tested negative for HCV-RNA. In addition, all saliva specimens tested negative for secretory-IgA (S-IgA) anti-HCV, even after a 10-fold concentration of the samples. Conclusions: There was no evidence that HCV infects the salivary gland epithelial cells in our viremic patients with HCV chronic liver disease. Low level HCV-RNA in saliva is most probably due to virus spillover from blood.

To assess the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in liver disease in Somalia, antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) was studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) in 110 patients with chronic liver diseases, in 309 healthy adults, in 179 institutionalized subjects with a high prevalence of intestinal parasites and Schistosoma haematobium, and in 287 children with diseases other than hepatitis. According to the RIBA test, anti-HCV was present in three healthy adults (0.97%), in four institutionalized individuals (2.2%), but in none of the children. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 4.8% in patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive chronic liver diseases and 20.6% in patients with HBsAg-negative chronic liver diseases. Thus, HCV infection appears to play a minor role in HBsAg-positive liver disease in Somalia but may be an important factor in HBsAg-negative chronic liver disease. The low anti-HCV prevalence in individuals with no hepatic disorders is consistent with the fact that HCV does not spread by nonpercutaneous transfer. We found also a large proportion of both patients with hepatic disease and institutionalized individuals who tested positive by ELISA but not confirmed by RIBA. However, the likelihood of a true positive result increases proportionally with the ELISA value; thus, in most cases a low ELISA value probably represents a false-positive reaction, while a high ELISA value probably represents a true positive reaction.

To assess the participation of the four subclasses of IgG in the humoral response to Echinococcus granulosus infection, we determined total and parasite-specific IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 in sera from 46 patients with hydatid disease using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Parasite-specific IgG subclass antibodies were quantitatively measured by means of standard curves obtained by affinity chromatography. Sera from 35 healthy individuals served as controls. The total component of IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 showed a slight increase in patients with hydatidosis in comparison to normal control subjects with no significant differences. For the IgG4 subclass, however, a marked elevation was found in the patients group (p = 0.001 by analysis of variance). IgG1 and IgG4 subclasses showed a high anti-echinococcus antibody response, whereas there was a low parasite-specific IgG2 and IgG3 response. Indeed IgG-specific antibodies were found to belong mainly to IgG1 (63%) and to IgG4 (30%) and to a lesser extent to IgG2 (5%) and IgG3 (2%). The percentage of the total serum IgG4 antibodies that were specific for hydatid antigen reached a mean level of 18%, significantly higher than that of any of the other three IgG subclasses (p0.001 by Student's t test). Thus, the continuous antigenic stimulation of hydatidosis may result in an enhanced IgG4 subclass response.

We have shown that Echinococcus granulosus infection can induce an enhanced sensitivity of basophils to IgE-dependent stimuli. To determine whether a cytokine, histamine releasing factor, could account for it, we evaluated 35 patients with active hydatidosis, 5 patients with past E. granulosus infection, and 20 normal volunteers. The spontaneous production of a factor in vitro that provoked the release of histamine from basophils was observed by mononuclear cells from patients with active disease, but not by those from subjects with past infection or from normal individuals. The histamine releasing factor was found to activate basophils through surface-bound IgE. It is concluded that E. granulosus infection induces both generation of histamine releasing factor and production of IgE that can bind this cytokine.

The immunoglobulin (Ig) E immune response in patients with Helicobacter pylori-associated chronic gastritis has been evaluated. Of 26 patients with H. pylori infection, 22 (84%) tested positive for basophil-bound specific IgE (determined by the histamine release test) and 18 (69%) for serum specific IgE (determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). In contrast, only 1 of 17 persons in whom the bacterium was not detected presented cell-bound and serum specific IgE. In the 4 histamine release test--positive but enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay--negative patients, removal of antibody from the basophil surface by acid elution showed that histamine release occurred through an IgE-dependent mechanism. When normal basophils, passively sensitized with serum from IgE-positive patients, were exposed to the H. pylori antigen, a significant release was observed, confirming the class specificity of the response. Inhibition experiments with bacteria other than H. pylori showed that the IgE antibody was specifically directed against this organism. The percentage of antigen-induced histamine release did not correlate with serum specific IgE level. However, the response of basophils to antigenic challenge was proportional to IgE-dependent cellular releasability. This finding suggests that target cell sensitivity may be the most important factor in determining the entity of biological response to the antigenic challenge. The ability of H. pylori to induce a specific IgE immune response could answer key questions regarding the mechanisms inducing gastric inflammation.

Objective: P-selectin is an adhesion molecule expressed by activated endothelial cells and platelets favouring the leukocyte adherence to microvascular endothelium. A soluble form of this molecule has been described, whose serum levels were found to be elevated and correlate with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Aim of this study was to determine soluble P-selectin levels in synovial fluid (SF) and serum from patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), where it has never been investigated, to define its involvement in PsA synovial damage. Methods: we analysed, by ELISA, soluble P-selectin serum and SF levels in 100 patients presenting a knee joint effusion: 38 of them presented PsA, 40 RA and 22 osteoarthritis (OA). We examined the main clinical and laboratory parameters of these patients. Soluble P-selectin serum levels were also detected in 15 healthy subjects. Results: soluble P-selectin SF levels were significantly higher in PsA and RA patients respect to OA subjects. Soluble P-selectin SF levels were lower than those found in serum and the SF/serum ratio was higher in PsA and RA patients respect to OA. Soluble P-selectin serum levels were not significantly different among patients and controls. No correlation was found between SF and serum levels of soluble P-selectin and the main clinical parameters. Conclusions: our study of soluble P-selectin in PsA reveals a prominent local role of this molecule, with no differences respect to RA. Histological findings may be of help in understanding the role of this adhesion molecule in PsA.

In this study, we investigated whether hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and progenitors present in human cord blood can express nerve growth factor (NGF)-specific receptors, TrkA and p75. Our results showed a marked expression of TrkA and NGF in cord blood CD34 + cells. A gradient of TrkA and NGF expression exists and is highest in cord blood CD34 + cells, reduced in cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC) and minimal in mononuclear cells isolated from adult peripheral blood. Our findings suggest that NGF may play a role in the differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors and indicate a different requirement for NGF by immune cells, depending on their state of maturity. D 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Hepatitis C virus genome (HCV-RNA) has been detected in whole salivary gland tissue of chronically infected patients. However, contamination of the tissue by plasma or blood cells was not excluded by the previous reports.To assess whether HCV infects the salivary gland epithelial cells in patients with chronic HCV liver disease.Twenty unselected patients with chronic active hepatitis (11 cases) or active cirrhosis (nine cases) were examined. Serum and saliva samples were obtained from all patients, 12 of whom (seven, chronic active hepatitis; five, active cirrhosis) underwent salivary gland biopsy. PCR for HCV-RNA was performed on RNA extracted from serum, saliva and salivary gland epithelial cells collected by isokinetic gradient separation after trypsin digestion of whole salivary gland tissue. Saliva samples were also examined for the presence of secretory IgA anti-HCV by gel chromatography and ELISA testing.HCV-RNA was detected in all sera with titers ranging from 5.42 x 10(5) genome equivalents/ml to 123.2 x 10(5) genome equivalents/ml. Thirteen patients were infected with genotype 1b, four patients had genotype 1a, two patients had genotype 2a and one patient was unclassifiable. Low titer HCV-RNA (2 x 10(5) genome equivalents/ml) was detected in 3/20 saliva samples (15%) from highly viremic patients infected with 1b genotype. RNA extracted from salivary gland epithelial cells consistently tested negative for HCV-RNA. In addition, all saliva specimens tested negative for secretory-IgA (S-IgA) anti-HCV, even after a 10-fold concentration of the samples.There was no evidence that HCV infects the salivary gland epithelial cells in our viremic patients with HCV chronic liver disease. Low level HCV-RNA in saliva is most probably due to virus spillover from blood.

Menière's disease appears with the classic triad of symptoms in about 1/3 of cases so that, on the whole, diagnosis is delayed until full symptomatology develops. Spontaneous reversibility and effective control, if any, of the disease mechanism are limited to the beginning phases and thus it seems appropriate focus attention on the earliest symptoms. Unfortunately, the pre-diagnosis period is poorly known and, for this reason, we decided to investigate it in our series. The purposes of this research were: 1) to estimate the prevalence of isolated symptoms in subjects successively found to be menieric; 2) to make a clinical outline of the pre-diagnosis period; 3) to investigate the relationship between the pre-diagnosis period and the post-diagnosis disease course. From a group of 216 Menière's patients (diagnosed according to the 1985 AAOO criteria), 170 were selected on the basis of availability of audiometric and clinical data pertaining to the pre- and post-diagnosis disease course. Isolated symptoms in the pre-diagnosis period were found in 107/170 subjects (63%). The nature of the symptoms was cochlear (71.9%), vestibular (22.4%) and mixed (5.6%). In the largest group of patients (41 cases), the pre-diagnosis period lasted from 2 to 5 years. This period was shorter in the cases with mixed symptoms in comparison with patients suffering from either cochlear or vestibular symptoms. Between the 2nd and 5th year following diagnosis, hearing was seen to deteriorate more significantly in patients with a history of isolated cochlear symptoms. Furthermore, patients whose first disturbances were of cochlear origin suffer significantly shorter vertigo attacks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

When vertigo attacks and balance disorders stop, menieric patients are generally considered recovered although they complain of more or less severe sensorineural hearing loss. As far as a true clinical recovery is concerned, the Authors think that it should correspond not only to absence of vertiginous spells but even to a long lasting normal and stable hearing level. On the basics of this presumption, they select the files of 7/207 patients showing complete recovery since not less than 8 years. Age at the onset of the disease, associated disease, isolated symptoms before the appearance of the classic triade, age at the first attack, total number of crises, length of active period of the disease, maximum hearing loss, shape of audiometric tracing are all analyzed. Healed patients are characterized by a smooth evolution, which reverses in the very first phases of the disease, as well as by the following: 1) absence of head injury and viral labyrinthitis in clinical history; 2) onset of disease with complete symptomatology; 3) slight hearing loss and up-sloping audiometric configuration; 4) few attacks of vertigo (less than 30) lasting no longer than 12 hours; 5) active period of disease not exceeding 18 months. Recovery from Ménière's disease seems possible as long as labyrinth lesions are not stabilized.

We report the results of a study carried out to evaluate the extent of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) circulation in Somalia. Serum samples were collected from 593 subjects (age range 0-83 years) and tested for anti-hepatitis A (HAV) and anti-HAV IgM. Serum samples taken from 1272 individuals (age range 0-83 years) were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBsAg, anti-HBcAg, HBeAg and anti-HBeAg. We confirmed a very high rate of HAV exposure (about 90% of the subjects tested had circulating anti-HAV) as is typical of fecal-orally transmitted infectious agents. The age-specific anti-HAV IgM prevalence suggests that HAV infection is acquired very early in life. Our data also indicate a high rate of HBsAg carriers (range: 10.5%-27.4%) in the Somalian population. When all markers are considered, 60% of the adult population showed evidence of HBV exposure. HBV spreads very subtly: in fact, it is generally transmitted via non-overtly percutaneous routes. In Somalia, hepatitis A virus infection is highly endemic and occurs very early in life. Hepatitis B virus infection is also widespread in this country.

An enzyme isotopic assay was used to determine the histamine concentration in the gastric mucosa of patients positive for Helicobacter pylori with (n = 11) and without duodenal ulceration (n = 9) and in negative controls (n = 7). A significant difference was observed when the histamine content of H pylori negative subjects was compared with that of positive patients. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in histamine concentration between H pylori positive patients with duodenal ulceration and those without duodenal ulceration. H pylori positive patients with and without duodenal ulceration had significantly lower gastric histamine concentrations than H pylori negative subjects. The lower gastric histamine concentration observed in H pylori positive patients might be due to increased histamine release which could in turn induce increased gastric acid secretion.

Summary The use of a new immunoassay, time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA), in the diagnosis of human hydatid disease has been evaluated. This technique, which is based on the labelling of antibodies with europium (Eu), was compared with a well-established method, the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of 102 patients with hydatid disease, 97 (95·1%) were positive according to TR-FIA and 83 (81·4%) according to ELISA. The rate of non-specificity for other parasitic infections ( n = 206) was 8·7% for TR-FIA and 17·5 % for ELISA. It is concluded that TR-FIA is more sensitive and more specific than ELISA in the diagnosis of human hydatid disease.

Numerous epidemiologic investigations have been conducted regarding the incidence of Menière's disease, but the values obtained for different countries vary greatly. This can be attributed to the fact that different criteria have been applied in defining Menière's disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of Menière's disease in Italy following the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology guidelines. A total of 111 cases with Menière's disease were diagnosed in a district of southeastern Latium over a 13-year period, with an incidence of 82 per 10(6). A figure 3.4 times greater was found in hospital personnel, thus showing that a greater availability of medical facilities increases the number of diagnoses. Sex was found not to be a determining factor. The authors suggest that the incidence reported in this paper is an underestimate and that the actual one remains undetermined, but probably higher than generally believed.

We studied immunoglobulin E (IgE)- and non-IgE-mediated releasability in basophils from 31 patients with hydatidosis. Histamine release to non-IgE-dependent stimuli did not differ significantly between normal individuals and patients with hydatidosis. On the contrary, an increased histamine liberation was obtained by challenging basophils from hydatid patients with anti-human IgE. It is concluded that Echinococcus granulosus infection induces an enhanced sensitivity of basophils to IgE-dependent stimuli.

Research has been carried out on 55 subjects suffering from Menière's disease; 15 patients showed plasmatic hyperosmolality (300 mOsm./1. or more) and 6 of them were in a vertiginous attack. Statistical calculations have shown significant differences between the numbers of patients with hyperosmolality during a crisis and after one.

57 patients suffering from Meiere's disease have been examined: metabolic alkalosis has been found in 39 and metabolic acidosis in 4. Electrolytes (Na, K and Cl) were normal. Among the 31 subjects in the control series a slight metabolic alkalosis qas detected only twice. Follow-up of several patients, from one to three years, resulted in a realization of a parallel between metabolic disturbance and Meniere symptoms. A provocation test, by sodium bicarbonate oral administration, has beem attempted twice: in both instances alkalosis did increase strongly but, only once, vertigo was elicited. Meniere patients found in alkalosis were given acidifying drugs to normalize their acid-base equilibrium. Such treatment proved effective in preventing acute cochleo-vestibular crises and in improving tinnitus and deafness (in the fluctuating stage). On the interruption of treatment symptoms reappeared. The physiological-pathological significance of metabolic alkalosis in Meniere's disease still remains unclear and, consequently, this can be considered merely a predisposing factor in endolymphatic hydrops.

The effect of osmotic treatment on cases with fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss other than Menière's disease is described in this paper. Complete normalization of the hearing threshold has been obtained in eight patients suffering from cochlear hydrops (one case), sensorineural concussion deafness (five cases), temporary noise threshold shift (one case), sudden deafness (two cases). Relief of tinnitus has been observed in a case of post-stapedectomy deafness. The audiometric pattern of end organ disease in a case of cohlear otosclerosis showed a change into a classical otosclerosis audiograph after glycerol administration. The action of osmotic drugs on the inner ear is though to be twofold, i.e. reabsorbing hydrops and normalizing rheological alterations. Therefore, an osmotic treatment is indicated for menieric and non-menieric hydrops and for microcirculatory impairment of the labyrinth. On the basis of these statements the glycerol test for the diagnosis of Menière's disease is called into doubt as not being absolutely specific.

Extensive evidence suggests that mediator release from inflammatory cells plays a role in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders in humans.‘.2 Most studies have focused on the identification of new mediators de novo synthesized by human inflammatory cells; two such examples are AGEPC and leukotrienes.‘” In addition, a number of laboratories are striving to understand the immunologic and biochemical mechanisms underlying the release of chemical media-. tors.6-8 However, few studies have been devoted to clarifying the pathophysiologic mechanisms that control the release of mediators from human inflammatory cells (i.e., the concept of “releasability”). The concept and the study of releasability in humans originated in the laboratory of Lichtenstein and Conroy’ almost a decade ago. They foresaw that, in addition to quantitative immunologic parameters such as IgE and IgG antibody levels, the study of allergic disorders should include the evaluation of cellular releasability. Until then, releasability was defined on an almost philosophic plane because it was impossible to characterize and separate immunologic from releasability parameters. Schleimer et al.’ selected the basophil system, a reliable experimental model of human anaphylaxis, to initiate the study of releasability. For example, they showed that histamine release is not correlated to the absolute quantity of IgE antibody present on human basophils challenged with the appropriate antigen. 9 ” Similarly, the release of histamine in response to anti-IgE is not related to the number of IgE molecules on the basophil surface.” In addition, they demonstrated that significant differences in IgEand non-&E-mediated releasability exist in some allergic conditions.“-” These pioneering studies supported the notion that basophil releasability is a real entity that could be of some relevance in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders. Stimulated by the lack of information on the factors that affect basophil releasability, we initiated a series of investigations to identify and characterize factors that physiologically control basophil releasability. We also used the ba

The application of a new serological method, time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA), is described for the diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis. A chelate of lanthanides (europium) with a long fluorescent life-time is used as label. The intensity of fluorescence is measured after a delay selected to eliminate almost completely the background fluorescence, which decays rapidly. TRFIA was compared with an established method, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Using sera from proven cases of Schistosoma haematobium infection, 98.1% of the samples were positive by TRFIA and 86.5% by ELISA. Sera from patients infected with helminths other than schistosomes produced only 1.5% of false positives with TRFIA, compared with 12.3% by ELISA. TRFIA is more sensitive and specific than ELISA.

Histamine release and leukotrienes (LTB4 and LTC4) production from circulating basophil have been studied in 13 patients with episodic cluster headache (CH) during the remission phase of symptoms, and in 9 normal subjects. Cell suspensions of basophils were stimulated with scalar dilutions of anti-IgE, f-met-peptide and Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Histamine was measured by an automated fluorimetric method; LTB4 and LTC4 with RIA in individual cases, and with Reverse-Phase HPLC in the two pools obtained from the supernatants of CH patients and controls. Mean values of histamine release in patients with CH were significantly lower when compared to those obtained in control subjects after stimulation with anti-IgE at the three dilutions used. LTC4 mean levels measured in CH patients were significantly lower than those of supernatants from controls after stimulation with 0.05 gamma/ml of A23187. A reduction of LTC4 and LTB4 levels in CH patients was also observed in R-P HPLC, which showed different elution patterns in the two groups. The histamine release in individual cases was related to leukotriene production: LTC4 levels were significantly (p less than .05) higher in "high histamine releasers" than in "low histamine releasers". Our results indicate that CH patients have complex abnormalities of histamine release and of leukotriene production during the painless phase of the disease.

The object of the present paper was to investigate the presence of other diseases in patients suffering from Menière's disease and to identify any common etiopathogenetic factors. In a group of 100 patients there was a high incidence of three pathological associations: 1) anxiety and depression; 2) dyspepsia; and 3) vasomotor headache. The percentages were then compared with the data found in the literature and with the non menieric population. The association of dyspepsia proved statistically significant. The relationship between anxiety and vasomotor headache remains suspect while awaiting more precise definition of these diseases and findings more comparable with the total population.

The effect of acetazolamide was assessed in 25 patients with Menière's disease. During the test session hearing threshold and plasmatic osmolality were monitored along with fluctuations in hearing loss, fullness, tinnitus and balance. A single, 250 mg dose of acetazolamide was administered to all patients via os early in the morning on an empty stomach. Hearing was tested prior to administration and every hour for five hours thereafter. Plasmatic osmolality was also assessed during the same session. In 52% of this group an improvement in the threshold was seen. The greatest shift was observed two hours after administration of acetazolamide at 250 Hz, whereas the smallest threshold shift corresponded to 2000 Hz. In all cases, plasmatic osmolality remained constant throughout. Of the patients 44% presented an improvement of all or one of the symptoms: hearing loss, tinnitus, fullness, balance. The data were compared with data obtained for a control group (9 patients) which received a placebo while following the same testing criteria. The results of this study suggest that acetazolamide can have a positive effect on endolymphatic hydrops. It should be stressed, therefore, that acetazolamide could be introduced in the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies applied in Menière's disease.

The Authors report a new case of chondrosarcoma of the mandible. After stressing the rarity of the tumour in the facial bones, they discuss the treatment problem. They propose a surgical approach as long as metastases are absent and recommend radio and chemotherapy just for palliation of advanced cases.

An evaluation of the use of the histamine release test (HRT) in the diagnosis of human hydatidosis is presented. This technique, which makes it possible to evaluate directly IgE dependent immediate hypersensitivity by measuring the histamine released from leucocytes (basophils) after antigenic challenge, was compared with the detection of serum specific IgE by the radio-allergosorbent test (RAST), and with the determination of serum specific IgE by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the 54 patients with hydatidosis, all were positive according to HRT, 42 according to RAST and 47 according to ELISA. No false positive results were obtained by HRT in 43 patients with parasitosis other than hydatidosis, however, of these 43, 10 resulted in false positives according to RAST and five according to ELISA. It is concluded that HRT is more sensitive and more specific than RAST and ELISA.

In developing countries, HAV seems to be responsible for a widespread, inapparent and protective infection during early childhood. This report emphasizes early infection and its relationship to protection by passive immunity from maternal antibody in a highly endemic area such as Somalia. Our result show that HAV infection in Somalia primarily occurs during the first 4 years of life (4 months to 4 years). Cases are infrequent in the first 3 months due to passive immunity secondary to maternal antibody (cord-blood and colostrum anti-HAV). As the level of protection declines, the rate of acute infection rises as determined by the presence of IgM-specific anti-HAV.