We report our experience in the treatment with benzoimidazole carbamates (mebendazole and albendazole) of 337 patients affected by hydatid cysts with different localizations. The treated cysts showed degenerative modifications in 50.6% of the cases after mebendazole treatment and in about 80%o after albendazole treatment. Relapses after therapy were observed in 30%o of the cases; about 95% of the recurring cysts showed good susceptibility to a further cycle of therapy with benzoimidazole carbamates. Side effects observed with either drug were not severe and always reversible, consisting mainly of abdominal pains and increased levels of transaminases in serum. Among the factors that may influence the therapeutic results are the drug employed, the age of the cysts, the age of the patient, and the localization of the cysts and their morphological characteristics. Moreover, it can be hypothesized that each hydatid cyst has an intrinsic sensitivity to benzoimidazole carbamates.

Effective control of tuberculosis (TB) includes discrimination of subjects with active TB from individuals with latent TB infection (LTBI). As distinct interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2 profiles of antigen-specific T-cells have been associated with different clinical stages and antigen loads in several viral and bacterial diseases, we analysed these cytokines in TB using a modified QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube test. Detection of IL-2 in addition to IFN-gamma distinguishes not only Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected subjects from healthy controls, but also individuals with LTBI from active TB patients. This may help to improve diagnostic tests for TB.

No abstract

No abstract