Hepatitis: Bossi P

Bossi P, Tegnell A, Baka A, Van Loock F, Hendriks J, Werner A, Maidhof H, Gouvras G, Anonymous00206. · Task Force on Biological and Chemical Agent Threats, Public Health Directorate, European Commission, Luxembourg. · Euro Surveill. · Pubmed #15677840 links to  free full text

Abstract: Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Its interest as a potential biological weapon stems from the fact that an aerosol of very few organisms could infect humans. Another route of transmission of C. burnetii could be through adding it to the food supply. Nevertheless, C. burnetii is considered to be one of the less suitable candidate agents for use in a bioterrorist attack; the incubation is long, many infections are inapparent and the mortality is low. In the case of an intentional release of C. burnetii by a terrorist, clinical presentation would be similar to naturally occurring disease. It may be asymptomatic, acute, normally accompanied by pneumonia or hepatitis, or chronic, usually manifested as endocarditis. Most cases of acute Q fever are asymptomatic and resolve spontaneously without specific treatment. Nevertheless, treatment can shorten the duration of illness and decrease the risk of complications such as endocarditis. Post-exposure prophylaxis is recommended after the exposure in the case of a bioterrorist attack.

Zeller V, Caumes E, Bossi P, Bricaire F, Katlama C. · Service des Maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, F75013 Paris. · Presse Med. · Pubmed #11850990 No free full text.

Abstract: OF NEW CLINICAL DEMONSTRATIONS: Since the use of HAART, morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected patients have decreased dramatically. But increased survival in these patients is associated with other diseases (malignant diseases, inflammatory reactions after initiation of HAART) and with drug toxicity (lipodystrophy, mitochondrial toxicity). TRANSMISSION AND REVELATION: Despite widespread information on HIV, new HIV-infected patients with an AIDS-defining illness are still detected. At present, heterosexuality is the most frequent risk factor for HIV-infection (51%). Pneumocystis pneumonia remains the most common opportunistic illness in HIV-infected patients (28%).

Bossi P, Peytavin G, Lamotte C, Calvez V, Bricaire F, Costagliola D, Katlama C. · No affiliation provided · AIDS. · Pubmed #12700471 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Dioguardi N, Grizzi F, Bossi P, Roncalli M. · Department of Pathology, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Milan, Italy. · Anal Quant Cytol Histol. · Pubmed #10560501 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of a reliable and reproducible mathematical scoring system based on fractal geometry for quantifying the irregular pattern in fibrosis commonly seen in liver biopsy specimens from chronic liver diseases. STUDY DESIGN: The study used 26 standard liver biopsy specimens obtained from patients with chronic hepatitis C virus-related liver disease. The degree of fibrosis in each specimen was estimated using a quantitative scoring system based on the computer-assisted evaluation of both the fractal and spectral dimensions of deposited collagen. The fractal dimension was then compared with the percent area of collagen measured using an image analysis system. RESULTS: The fractional dimension of its irregular shape defines fibrosis as a natural fractal structure. The complex distribution of its collagenous components (unmeasurable by means of the usual morphometric parameters) can be optimally quantified using a single numerical score that seems to be a better alternative to the semiquantitative methods adopted so far. The proposed method is reproducible, rapid and inexpensive; furthermore, supported by specific software, its mathematical approach excludes subjectivity and eliminates the external factors capable of influencing staging and classification. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that it is possible to quantify the irregularity of the structures of the liver in an objective manner and that the box-counting fractal dimension does not depend on the amount of collagen deposited on the slide. Furthermore, as has been found in other fields of investigation, study of the fractal properties of the liver is likely to reveal more about its structure and the pathogenesis of liver diseases.

Dioguardi N, Grizzi F, Franceschini B, Bossi P, Russo C. · Laboratori di Medicina Quantitativa, Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano MI, Italy. · World J Gastroenterol. · Pubmed #16610019 links to  free full text

Abstract: AIM: To provide the accurate alternative metrical means of monitoring the effects of new antiviral drugs on the reversal of newly formed collagen. METHODS: Digitized histological biopsy sections taken from 209 patients with chronic C virus hepatitis with different grade of fibrosis or cirrhosis, were measured by means of a new, rapid, user-friendly, fully computer-aided method based on the international system meter rectified using fractal principles. RESULTS: The following were described: geometric perimeter, area and wrinkledness of fibrosis; the collation of the Knodell, Sheuer, Ishak and METAVIR scores with fractal-rectified metric measurements; the meaning of the physical composition of fibrosis in relation to the magnitude of collagen islets; the intra- and inter-biopsy sample variability of these parameters; the"staging" of biopsy sections indicating the pathway covered by fibrosis formation towards its maximum known value; the quantitative liver tissue architectural changes with the Hurst exponent. CONCLUSION: Our model provides the first metrical evaluations of the geometric properties of fibrosis and the quantitative architectural changes of the liver tissue. The representativeness of histological sections of the whole liver is also discussed in the light of the results obtained with the Hurst coefficient.