Massimo Meregalli

Thymostimulin therapy in melanoma patients: Correlation of immunologic effects with clinical course

Thirty-two nonmetastatic melanoma patients with low T-lymphocyte values were treated with a thymic extract, thymostimulin (TS) (8 patients), DTIC (8 patients), or surgery alone (16 patients). In the 8 patients receiving TS, active E-rosette (T-Ea) and total E-rosette (T-Et) counts rose to normal levels and there was a significant rise in IgM and IgD receptors. Six out of eight patients treated with TS showed no evidence of metastases after 34 months, while 7/8 patients on DTIC and 13/16 patients on surgery alone developed metastases. Twenty metastatic patients with low T-lymphocyte values received either DTIC plus TS or DTIC alone. Total lymphocyte, T-Ea, and T-Et counts did not increase in either group nor was there a significant difference between the group on DTIC plus TS and the group on DTIC alone. The survival rate of patients on DTIC plus TS did not differ significantly from that on DTIC alone.

The prognostic value of T-lymphocyte levels in malignant melanoma. A five-year follow-up.

Serial immunologic tests (active E‐rosettes = T‐Et; total E‐rosettes = T‐Et; total lymphocytes and null cells) were performed every 3 months for 5 years on 113 melanoma patients. A significant reduction in absolute T‐Ea, T‐Et, null cells, and total lymphocytes was noted in the patients who died, by comparison with those who are still alive. The latter presented a significant reduction in absolute T‐Et only, plus a significant increase in null cells when compared with normals. The 38 patients without metastases, at the end of the study, presented a reduction in T‐Et and an increase in null cells compared with the normals, while the 75 patients with metastases presented a reduction in T‐Et, null cells and total lymphocytes when compared with the patients without metastases and a reduction in T‐Ea, T‐Et, and total lymphocytes when compared with the normals. Null cells show a linear decrease in patients who died and a linear increase in those who survived. A total of 80.2% of patients with a fall in T‐Et displayed metastases usually within 2 to 10 months (mean, 6.8). Patients with normal T‐Ea, T‐Et, and total lymphocyte values showed a significant prolonged survival when compared to those with lower values. In addition, survival seemed to be always a function of immunologic test values, irrespective of the tumor site.

Immunomodulation and Sézary syndrome: experience with thymopentin (TP-5)

The clinical, histological and immunological effects of long‐term treatment with thymopentin (TP‐5), administered 50 mg i.v. three times a week on alternate days, in four patients with Sezary syndrome is reported.

Chemotaxonomic significance of surface wax n-alkanes in the Cactaceae

Abstract Surface wax alkanes were determined in several species of Cactaceae and used as chemotaxonomic characters. Extraction of alkanes was performed with hexane and determination was carried out by GCMS on a data set including 105 species belonging to two subfamilies: Opuntioideae and Cactoideae. The Cactoideae examined were subdivided into seven tribes: Cacteae, Cereeae, Echinocereeae, Notocacteae, Pachycereeae, Rhipsalideae and Trichocereeae. The data obtained were statistically processed using multivariate methods including cluster analysis and discriminant analysis. The results obtained revealed a clear partition among species at both the subfamilial and tribal level, confirming the usefulness of wax alkanes as chemotaxonomic markers in the Cactaceae.

The in vitro effect of a calf thymus extract on the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with warts

T and B lymphocyte populations were evaluated in forty‐one patients with multiple recurring warts. Active rosettes (T‐Ea) and total T lymphocytes (T‐Et) were significantly decreased.

Functional properties in Sézary cells with an unusual phenotype

The immunological and functional characteristics of Sézary cells with an unusual phenotype are reported. The clinical, histologic, and hematologic picture was typical for Sézary syndrome. Studies with monoclonal antibodies showed that 80% Sézary cells had an CD3+, CD4+, CD5+, CD7-, CD8-, Leu-7+, Leu-8-, Leu-11-, OKM1- phenotype. By two-color immunofluorescence assay 80% FACS-sorted Leu-7+ cells coexpressed CD4 antigen and did not express the myeloid antigen OKM1, CD8, and antigens characteristic of immature T cells. The cells had no NK activity but did display a high helper activity. Unseparated and FACS-sorted Leu-7+ and Leu-7- Sézary cells did not respond to mitogens but were able to grow in the presence of exogenous IL-2. FACS sorted Leu-7- cells, cultured for 7 days in the presence of 20% IL-2, acquired the receptors for Leu-7. IL-2 and IFN-gamma production was studied in unseparated Leu-7+ and Leu-7- FACS-sorted Sézary cells. IL-2 production was lower than in normal cells. The addition of PHA or PHA plus TPA led to an increase in IL-2 production. Also IFN-gamma production was marked lower than in normal controls but increased after 7-day culture in exogenous IL-2. In conclusion in this case the Sézary cells may represent a neoplastic expansion of the CD3+, CD4+, CD5+, Leu-7+, Leu-11- subpopulation which is equivalent to the 2-4% of the Leu-7+ population in normal lymphocytes.

Notes on the genus Pachycerus Schoenherr 1823 with description of a new species from Somalia (Coleoptera Curculionidae Lixinae)

Pachycerus somaliensis n. sp., a new weevil species from Somalia (Coleoptera Curculionidae Lixinae) is described. The genus Pachycerus Schoenherr 1823 is re-defined and the taxonomic position of the new species is analysed. The following new combinations for some species attributed to Pachycerus are established: Rabdorrhynchus granulatus (Olivier 1807) n. comb., Centrocleonus blucheaui (Fairmaire 1898) n. comb.

In Vitro and In Vivo Effect of Thymostimulin in Melanoma Patients

In addition to skin tests, numerous in vitro methods have been employed for the evaluation of cell-mediated immunity in melanoma. Mitogens such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA), PPD and concanavalin A (ConA) have proved to be of little use in most cases of melanoma.1–5 Also, lymphocyte microcytotoxicity tests, while displaying a certain difference between metastatic and non-metastatic patients, have provided inconsistent results with respect to prognosis.6–9

Plinthus persicus n. sp. with biogeographic considerations on the P. illotus species group (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae)

Abstract Plinthus persicus n. sp. is described; type locality: Iran, Mazandaran, 10 km SW of Rudbarak. The new species belongs to the group of Plinthus illotus, composed of some species distributed in Armenia and Transcaucasus; it expands the range of the genus to northern Iran. Some biogeographical and ecological notes are discussed. A key to the P. illotus species group is added.

Pseudeumecops n. gen., a new genus of Cleonini from East Africa (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Lixinae)

Abstract Pseudeumecops n. gen., a new genus of Cleonini, is proposed, with Cleonus (Cossinoderus) lutulentus Fairmaire, 1888 as the type species. A second species of Pseudeumecops, P. carpanetoi n. sp., from Somalia [type locality: Soomaaliya, Muqdishu (Somalia, Mogadishu), 02°04’ N 45°22’ E] is also described. The phyloge‐netic significance of 20 traits of Pseudeumecops and the high level of homoplasic states among the genera of the tribe are discussed. An additional analysis of the states of several characters of Pseudeumecops compared with Eumecops Hochhuth, 1851, Poro‐cleonus Motschulsky, 1860 and Calodemas Faust, 1904 suggests that Pseudeumecops is the sister taxon of Calodemas.