Maria Cannone

Normal and cancer-prone human cells respond differently to extremely low frequency magnetic fields

Human lymphoblastoid cells of normal origin and from genetic instability syndromes, i.e. Fanconi anemia (FA) group C and ataxia telangectasia, were continuously exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF‐MF). We report that ELF‐MF, though not perturbing cell cycle progression, increases the rate of cell death in normal cell lines. In contrast, cell death is not affected in cells from genetic instability syndromes; this reflects a specific failure of the apoptotic response. Reintroduction of complementation group C in FA cells re‐established the apoptotic response to ELF‐MF. Thus, genes implicated in genetic instability syndromes are relevant in modulating the response of cells to ELF‐MF.

Facial granulomatous diseases: a study of four cases tested for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA using nested polymerase chain reaction.

The histopathologic diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB) is often troublesome, because there are several other entities (tuberculids, demodicidosis, granulomatous rosacea, and acne agminata) that may display granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis. The current study describes four cases of granulomatous disease of the face. The final diagnosis (assessed on the basis of the clinical response to therapy) was CTB in three cases and granulomatous rosacea in one case. Histologically, epithelioid granulomas were a constant feature; in one case of CTB, they displayed a palisading (granuloma annulare–like) arrangement. Caseation necrosis was a prominent feature only in the case of granulomatous rosacea. Routinely processed biopsy specimens were evaluated with nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) DNA. The correlation between nPCR results and clinical outcome was less than optimal; in fact, one case showed an excellent clinical response to the antituberculous drug therapy despite the absence of MBT DNA amplification. In granulomatous diseases of the face, the importance of evaluating not only nPCR but the overall clinicopathologic picture so as to avoid diagnostic misinterpretations is emphasized.

LOCAL IMPAIRMENT OF IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN HIV-INFECTED WOMEN WITH HPV-RELATED SQUAMOUS INTRAEPITHELIAL LESIONS OF THE CERVIX

Aims and background The aim of this study was to compare the local immune response in two groups of patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial squamous lesions (SIL): one with HIV infection and the other with HPV infection alone. Materials and methods 16 conization specimens (8 from HIV-infected and 8 from non-HIV-infected patients) of HPV-related, high-grade SIL were selected. The specimens from non-HIV patients were considered as controls. The total number of Langerhans cells, CD4 and CD8 cells present in 10 field areas (3.120 mm2) was recorded in each case. In HIV patients CD4 and CD8 peripheral counts were performed immediately before surgery. Results The CD4/CD8 ratio never exceeded 0.71, whereas the lowest ratio in controls was 0.81: this difference was statistically significant (P=0.0009). The mean number of Langerhans cells was markedly reduced in the high-grade SILs in the HIV patients in comparison with controls (P=0.001). The number of CD4 cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio correlated with the peripheral CD4 count (P=0.001 and 0.02). Conclusions In our study a marked local impairment of cervical immunoreactivity was observed, which may play a major role in the progression of these lesions in HIV-infected women.

Magnetic field effects on human lymphocytes

The results are discussed of a systematic investigation into the electromagnetic field (EMP) exposure consequences on human lymphocytes. These artificial fields have intensities comparable to the Earths magnetic field, and are used for exposures up to 4 days. Different and complementary techniques are used to safely assess the consequences of EMFs on the cells; in particular, morphology, metabolism, and population dynamics are investigated. The recourse to ultramicroscopy, pressure monitoring in sealed bottles, atomic mass spectroscopy, and cytofluorimetry techniques give good insight into the EMF-induced changes. A statistically significant deviation of irradiated samples with respect to control samples is reported. A critical analysis and a survey of similar experiments reported in the literature led us to examine the experimental setup with attention to the geometry of the irradiation system. Yeast cells were used as a model system to statistically test the different steps in the overall procedure, thanks to information gathered during a radiobiology experiment performed at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Finally, the role of different magnetic field detectors in the reproducibility of the experiments is carefully discussed.

Polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA : Use on negative archival Ziehl-Neelsen cytologic samples

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the usefulness of a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex on routinely stained cytologic samples from patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis. STUDY DESIGN Nested PCR for the detection of a fragment of the IS6110 insertion sequence of M tuberculosis complex was applied to Ziehl-Neelsen-negative archival cytologic slides of serous effusions (pleural [n = 7], peritoneal [n = 1] and pericardial [n = 1]) and a lymph node fine needle aspirate (n = 1) from nine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients with autopsy-proven active extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Malignant effusions and aspirates from nine HIV-positive patients with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and pleural effusions from seven HIV-negative patients with heart failure were used as controls. DNA was extracted after removing the coverslip and gently scraping the cytologic sample from the slides. RESULTS In all cases, enough DNA was obtained for PCR without any significant loss of integrity, as demonstrated by PCR positive for HLA-Dq. PCR for M tuberculosis was positive in 8 of the 10 samples (80%) from patients with tuberculosis but also in three samples (30%) from HIV-positive patients in the control group. None of the samples from the HIV-negative patients was positive. CONCLUSION PCR for M tuberculosis can be reliably performed on archival cytologic slides from extrapulmonary samples, but although it is highly sensitive, it may lead to positive results in immunocompromised patients without any sign of active tubercular disease.