0000000000405966
AUTHOR
La Rosa M
The color Doppler with contrast agent US in the study of post cholecistectomy syndrome
Purpose. This paper describes the role of MR imaging in the identification of the different macroscopic patterns of lipoma arborescens. Materials and Methods. Between June 1995 and January 2004, a total of 6387 MR examinations of the knee were retrospectively assessed for the presence of lipoma arborescens. The MR examinations were performed using a superconductive 0.5 T MR unit with a transmitting/receiving coil dedicated for the extremities, The MR images were acquired with SE T1-weighted, GE T2*-weighted and STIR sequences in sagittal, coronal and axial planes with 3-mm thickness and 1-mm gap. Results. Lipoma arborescens was identified in 9 patients (mean age: 36 years). In 2/9 cases a l…
Interleukin-12 in Human Boutonneuse Fever Caused by Rickettsia conorii
Interleukin (IL)-12 contributes to the resistance against a number of intracellular pathogens. We examined the potential biological role of IL-12 by studying peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), its production and its effect on cytokine synthesis in 20 Sicilian patients with boutonneuse fever (BF) caused by Rickettsia conorii. Data indicate that PBMC from acute BF patients were able to produce IL-12 in response to in vitro stimulation with rickettsial antigen (Ag): this production was higher than that detected in healed patients. Monocytes were the main source of IL-12 by PBMC from BF patients. IL-12 secretion by in vitro Ag-stimulated PBMC from BF patients was potentiated by recombin…