Combined antiretroviral therapy reduces hyperimmunoglobulinemia in HIV-1 infected children

Objective: To evaluate the effect of combined antiretroviral therapy on serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in HIV-1 perinatally infected children. Methods: Data from 1250 children recorded by the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children from 1985 to 2002 were analysed. Since Ig levels physiologically vary with age, differences at different age periods were evaluated as differences in z-scores calculated using means and standard deviations of normal population for each age period. Combined antiretroviral therapy has become widespread in Italy since 1996, thus differences in Ig z-scores between the periods 1985-1995 and 1996-2002 were analysed. Data according to type of therapeutic regimen were also analysed. Results: Between the two periods 1985-1995 and 1996-2002, significant (P < 0.0001) decreases in IgG (6.29 ± 4.72 versus 4.44 ± 4.33), IgM (9.25 ± 13.32 versus 5.61 ± 7.93), and IgA (10.25 ± 15.68 versus 6.48 ± 11.56) z-scores, together with a parallel significant (P < 0.0001) increase in CD4 T-lymphocyte percentages, were found. These decreases were confirmed regardless of whether the children were receiving intravenous Ig or not. Ig z-scores were significantly higher in children receiving mono-therapy than in those receiving double-combined therapy (IgC, P < 0.0001; IgM, P = 0.003; IgA, P = 0.031) and in the latter children than in those receiving three or more drugs (P < 0.0001 for all z-scores). Ig z-scores correlated inversely with CD4 T-lymphocyte percentages and, directly, with viral loads. Conclusions: Our data show that in HIV-1 infected children combined antiretroviral therapy leads to reduction of hyperimmunoglobulinemia which parallels restoration of CD4 T-lymphocyte percentage and viral load decrease, which it turn probably reflects improved B-lymphocyte functions. © 2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Strategie di sussistenza nel Paleolitico inferiore a La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (Roma). Lo sfruttamento di una carcassa di Palaeoloxodon antiquus

RIASSUNTO – Strategie di sussistenza nel Paleolitico inferiore a La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (Roma): lo sfruttamento di una carcassa di PALAEOLOXODON ANTIQUUS. Il deposito di La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (Roma, Italia centrale) si trova nella zona occidentale della Campagna Romana. Le campagne di scavo condotte dal 1985 al 2013 hanno messo in luce i depositi di un antico fiume per un’area di 1200 metri quadrati. I sedimenti sono stati depositati nel corso di due fasi sedimentarie. Nel corso della prima, a carattere marcatamente fluviale, sono state deposte migliaia di resti scheletrici, uccelli ma soprattutto mammiferi insieme a manufatti litici e ossei. Nella successiva fase palustre alcuni elefanti vennero intrappolati in stagni fangosi. Scavi recenti hanno portato alla luce uno scheletro leggermente disarticolato di un Palaeoloxodon antiquus circondato da strumenti litici. L’analisi delle tracce d’uso dei manufatti litici, scheggiati sul posto, suggerisce un’attività di macellazione finalizzata allo sfruttamento alimentare della carcassa ed anche delle ossa come materia prima per utensili.SUMMARY – Subsistence strategies in The Lower Palaeolithic at La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (Rome): the exploitation of a carcass of PALAEOLOXODON ANTIQUUS – The deposit of La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (Rome, central Italy) is located in the western area of the Campagna Romana. From 1985 to 2013, deposits of an ancient river were excaveted in an area covering 1200 square meters. Sediments were deposited during two main sedimentary phases. First a fluvial episode led to the deposition of thousands of skeletal remains, birds but mainly mammals, and lithic and bone artefacts. Then a swampy phase occurred during which some elephants became trapped in muddy ponds. Recent excavations brought to light a slightly disarticulated skeleton of a Palaeoloxodon antiquus surrounded by lithic implements. The use-wear analysis of the lithic artefacts, knapped on the spot, suggests activities of butchering aimed to collect meat for food and bones as raw material for tools. Since the Lower Palaeolithic several archaeological sites are known where a human butchery activity on proboscideans similar to the behaviour documented at La Polledrara di Cecanibbio is attested

Palaeoloxodon exploitation at the Middle Pleistocene site of La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (Rome, Italy)

The site of La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (Rome, Central Italy) clearly documents a close connection between elephant remains and the subsistence strategies of human beings. A carcass of a straight-tusked elephant was recently discovered in sediments that represent the edge of a former swampy area. Some limbs are still in anatomical connection and the skeleton is associated with a lithic industry that, according to taphonomic data, was produced in situ. The spatial distribution of elephant bones, exceptionally well preserved because of the characteristics of the sediment, allows hypothesizing the dynamics of death and burial. The almost complete articulated skeleton lies gently bent on its left side, though the anterior and posterior limbs maintain a nearly standing position. The forelimbs are pointing slightly downward. The left hind limb is stretched, while the knee of the right one is bent downward with the foot sole facing up. The anatomical connection of the bones association excludes any fluvial transport, even though some skeletal elements, such as vertebrae, ribs, pelvis, and scapulae are missing. The carcass belongs to an adult Palaeoloxodon antiquus as suggested by the morphological and biometric characteristics of molariform teeth and long bones. A large quantity of lithic tools was recovered around the carcass, mainly along its right side. The presence of more than six hundred lithic implements (cores, tools, flakes, and working debris), some of them presenting wear traces indicating their use on soft animal tissues (meat and hide) and associated with the elephant skeleton, documents human activity related to the exploitation of the carcass by scavenging. The lithic industry, on small flint pebbles, was produced at the site as indicated by the refitting and by the presence of working debris, and indicates very simple chaînes opératoires. Traces of intentional fracturing on the femurs, evidence the exploitation on the elephant carcass by humans. A marrow extraction and the procurement of raw material for the production of bone tools are also documented by various remains found in sediments deposited during both fluvial and palustrine phases

Strategie di sfruttamento delle risorse animali a La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (Pleistocene medio-superiore, Roma).

ItIl sito di La Polledrara di Cecanibbio è ubicato alle pendici del complesso vulcanico Sabatino, a quota 83 s.l.m., a circa 22 chilometri da Roma nei pressi della via di Boccea. Il giacimento, caratterizzato, da depositi fluviali che passano a palustri, si è formato durante una fase di alto stazionamento del livello marino. La recente datazione di 325±2 ka (inizio MIS 9), ottenuta con il metodo 40Ar/39Ar, ne conferma l'attribuzione alla sequenza deposizionale del quarto ordine PG6 di Ponte Galeria, e quindi alla Formazione Aurelia. Nella mammalofauna Palaeoloxodon antiquus e Bos primigenius sono le specie dominanti seguite da cervidi, perissodattili, carnivori, primati e, tra i piccoli mammiferi, leporidi e vari roditori; ben rappresentate anche l'erpetofauna e l'avifauna, quest'ultima costituita soprattutto da anseriformi. La presenza antropica è testimoniata da centinaia di manufatti in selce e numerosi strumenti su osso di elefante. Nelle ultime campagne di scavo è stato rimesso in luce uno scheletro di Palaeoloxodon antiquus con varie ossa, in particolare degli arti, in connessione anatomica. La carcassa fu oggetto di sfruttamento da parte dell'uomo, come è evidenziato sia dalla fratturazione intenzionale dei femori, sia dalle centinaia di manufatti litici rinvenuti principalmente lungo il fianco destro, molti dei quali permettono dei rimontaggi anche complessi e presentano tracce d'uso riferibili ad attività di macellazione.EnThe site of La Polledrara di Cecanibbio is located on the slopes of the Sabatini Volcanic complex at 83 a. s. l., about 22 kilometers from Rome, close to via di Boccea. The deposit, characterized by deposits passing from fluvial to palustrine, formed during a phase of sea level high-standing. The recent date of 325±2 ka (early MIS 9), obtained by 40Ar/39Ar method, confirms its attribution to the forth order depositional sequence PG6 of Ponte Galeria and to the Aurelia Formation. In the mammalofauna Palaeoloxodon antiquus and Bos primigenius are the dominant species followed by cervids, perissodactyla, suids, carnivores, primates and among small mammals leporids and rodents; the herpetofauna and avifauna are quite rich, the latter mainly includes anseriform species. Human presence is documented by hundreds of flint artifacts and numerous tools made on elephant bones. During the most recent excavation a skeleton of a Palaeoloxodon antiquus, in partial anatomical connection, was unearthed. The carcass had been exploited by humans as documented by the intentional fracturing of both femurs, as well as by the hundreds of lithic artifacts recovered mainly along the right side of the animal. A complex refitting was obtained for most of the artifacts, which in many cases show wear traces related to butchering activities