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Biomedical subjects

A Mele

Publications and source records attributed to A Mele.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Decline of incidence of A, B and non-A, non-B hepatitis in Italy. Results of four years surveillance (1985-88). SEIEVA collaborating group.

A specific surveillance system for acute viral hepatitis which uses weekly notification of cases and a standard risk factor questionnaire was started in Italy in 1984. From 1985 to 1988 153 Health Departments (27% of Italian population) joined the system. Estimated incidence of reported viral hepatitis was 30 per 100,000 in 1985 and 14 in 1988. The decline was impressive for hepatitis A, particularly in the south. Reduction of incidence was also evident for hepatitis B and Non-A, Non-B hepatitis, particularly in young adults. The decrease of viral hepatitis in Italy is consistent with recent seroepidemiological data. Shellfish consumption was the most frequent risk factor reported for hepatitis A cases at all ages. Hospitalization, surgical intervention, dental therapy and other percutaneous exposures still play a role in the transmission of parenteral hepatitis in Italy. Blood transfusions seem to be important only for Non-A, Non-B. Interventions other than vaccination to prevent B and Non-A, Non-B hepatitis due to hospitalization, surgical intervention, other percutaneous exposures and dental therapy are needed and can further contribute to the decline of hepatitis virus infection rates in Italy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Tight binding dopamine reuptake inhibitors as cocaine antagonists. A strategy for drug development.

The experiments reported in this study tested the hypothesis that tight binding dopamine (DA) reuptake inhibitors might act as cocaine antagonists. Binding studies demonstrated that the high affinity dopamine reuptake inhibitor, 1-[2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-4-[3-phenylpropyl]piperazine (GBR12909) produced a wash-resistant inhibition of the DA transporter in rat striatal membranes as labeled by [3H]cocaine or [3H]1-[2-(diphenyl- methoxy)ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine [( 3H]GBR12935), indicative of tight binding. In vivo microdialysis experiments showed that administration of 25 mg/kg GBR12909 to rats produced a modest, but not statistically significant, increase in the extracellular levels of striatal DA, while this same dose of GBR12909 inhibited the ability of cocaine to elevate extracellular DA levels by 64%. These data suggest that tight binding DA reuptake blockers may provide a fruitful approach for developing a cocaine antagonist.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

High prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus in heterosexual persons attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Italy.

The prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV-1) was determined in 924 outpatients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic. The overall prevalence of anti-HIV-1 was 9%. Six of 14 intravenous drug addicts and 4 of 34 patients of African origin were anti-HIV-1 positive. In the other 876 patients, the anti-HIV prevalence was 6.6% in 467 heterosexual men, 5% in 261 heterosexual women and 22.3% in 148 homosexual or bisexual men. The prevalence of anti-HIV-1 in the heterosexual subjects was much higher than that expected in the general population and than that observed in patients attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in other developed countries. Intravenous drug abusers, who represent the most important group at risk for AIDS in Italy, could contribute to the spread of HIV infection through heterosexual contacts with persons without other known risk factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

A nationwide vaccination programme in Italy against hepatitis B virus infection in infants of hepatitis B surface antigen-carrier mothers.

In order to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection of infants of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers, a nation-wide immunization programme was initiated in Italy in January 1984. During the first 3 years (1984-86), 651,667 out of 1726,000 pregnant women (37.8%) were screened for HBsAg; the percentage of mothers screened increased from 32% in 1984 to 51% in 1986 in 15 of the 21 Italian regions, where data by year were available. HBsAg was present in 15,640 mothers (2.4% of those screened); range by region 0.3-6.4%. All newborns of HBsAg-positive women, regardless of the mother's status of hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg), were given a single dose (0.5 ml Kg-1) of a hepatitis B immune globulin within 24 h after birth and the first dose of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine within 7 days after birth. The immunization coverage rate was 80% in the 3-year period. Protective antibodies were found in greater than 97% of a sample of 1071 infants, immunized from different regions. No serious reactions were observed. On the basis of this field experience, it may be concluded that a nation-wide hepatitis B vaccination programme for infants of HBsAg-carrier mothers would be highly immunogenic and safe. Its implementation, however, requires continuous public education and cooperation from physicians.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1989

Decline in the exposure to hepatitis A and B infections in children in Naples, Italy.

In May 1988, the hepatitis A antibody (anti-HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were studied by radioimmunoassay in 484 apparently healthy children between the ages of 7 and 12, attending a primary school in Naples, Italy. The overall anti-HAV prevalence was 11.2%, increasing from 5.2 in 7-year-old children to 28.2% in children between the ages of 11 and 12 years old. The overall prevalence of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and of other HBV markers were 0.8 and 6.8 respectively. Compared with a similar previous study conducted in Naples in 1980, the results show a significant reduction in the prevalence of anti-HAV in each of the two age-groups (P less than 0.01), in the prevalence of any HBV marker in the 11 to 12-year-old group, as well as in the total population (P less than 0.05). The findings of the present study indicate that today, children in Naples are less exposed to the hepatitis A virus than in the past, most likely because of improvements in both the socioeconomic conditions and in health education during recent years. These same reasons, as well as decreased family size and a lower prevalence of HBeAg among HBsAg carriers could explain the decline, although to a lesser degree, of exposure to HBV infection.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Recurrent epidemic hepatitis A associated with consumption of raw shellfish, probably controlled through public health measures.

Between April 1984 and January 1985, in the Italian seaport of Livorno, the annual incidence of serologically confirmed acute hepatitis A doubled to 46 per 100,000 population. The exposure histories of each of 75 jaundiced subjects with serologically confirmed hepatitis A were compared with up to four, randomly chosen-, age-, sex-, and neighborhood-matched controls. Illness was strongly associated with consumption of raw mussels and clams within six weeks of onset of illness. When the two thirds of the subjects who had been exposed were classified according to the frequency with which they had recently consumed any type of raw shellfish, there was a clear dose-response relation. In February 1985, comprehensive control measures were introduced and the annual incidence of hepatitis A fell to 2.3 per 100,000 population, a 10-fold decrease from the preepidemic period.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

A village outbreak of hepatitis A: acquaintance network and inapparent pre-school transmission compared.

A village outbreak of 38 cases of serologically confirmed hepatitis A is described. The epidemic curve was a propagative one and all of the cases occurred in primary school-age or pre-school children. In 1984 the incidence in this age group was 5,000 per 100,000, about 50 times the corresponding national rate. Although 21 of the cases attended the single primary school, these cases were not clustered within school years or classes and examination of onset dates showed only four cases could have resulted from case transmission within classes. A matched triplet case-control study was undertaken to measure the risk associated with prior contact with a case within the acquaintance network and the risk of household contact with either of the two pre-school nurseries where inapparent transmission may have been occurring. Whereas a similar proportion of cases and controls had direct or indirect contact with the nurseries, 48% of cases, compared with 9% of controls, reported a previous case of jaundice within 6 weeks amongst their acquaintance network (matched triplet analysis P less than .0001).

Child↗
PubMed1988

Hepatitis B and Delta virus infection among heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexual men.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) infection rates were estimated in patients attending a venereal disease outpatient clinic: 759 heterosexuals and 154 homosexual-bisexual men. The anti-HBc prevalence was higher in homo-bisexual men (68.8 per 100) than in heterosexuals (41.8 per 100), whereas HBsAg was roughly the same in the two groups (about 6 per 100). The anti-HBc prevalence rate among heterosexuals was higher than that estimated in hospital personnel from the same geographical area. A positive association between anti-HBc prevalence and present or past sexually transmitted diseases (STD) was found among homo-bisexual men. Anti-HBc was also positively associated with herpes simplex type 2 antibodies in both heterosexuals and homo-bisexual men. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that sexual behavior also plays a role in the spread of infection among heterosexuals. Ten of the 46 HBsAg-positive subjects were anti-HDV positive: 6 of the 36 heterosexuals and 4 of the 10 homosexuals. All HDV-positive subjects had present or past STDs. These findings suggest sexual transmission of HDV infection.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Genital herpes infection in outpatients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Italy.

Prevalence of Herpes Simplex, type 2, specific antibodies was estimated in sexually transmitted disease outpatients: 783 heterosexuals and 158 homosexual-bisexuals. The anti-HSV-2 prevalence rates were 69% in the homosexual-bisexuals and 35% in the heterosexuals. In both groups positive association with age of anti-HSV-2 prevalence was found: only in the homosexual-bisexuals negative association with education level was detected. No difference exists between the two groups regarding the symptomatic/asymptomatic ratio of HSV-2 infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Different effects of acute and chronic stress on two dopamine-mediated behaviors in the mouse.

After two hours of immobilization stress, C57BL/6 mice presented a significant reduction of spontaneous locomotion and a slight reduction of spontaneous climbing. The effect of stress on locomotor activity disappeared after ten daily sessions of immobilization while this chronic treatment increased the effect of stress on spontaneous climbing. Twenty-four hr after the last stressful experience the mice showed an increase of spontaneous locomotion and a decrease of spontaneous climbing in comparison with unstressed mice. Following a single exposure to immobilization stress, an increase of DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA ratios was found in the striatum and in the nucleus accumbens. These effects were still evident following repeated exposure to this stressor but disappeared 24 hr after the last of ten daily stressful experiences. Finally, chronically stressed mice, tested 24 hr after the last stressful experience, showed an increased sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of low doses of apomorphine on climbing behavior and a decreased sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of the same doses of the dopamine agonist on locomotion. These results are discussed in terms of altered sensitivity of different populations of dopamine receptors following chronic stress.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1987

Detection of hepatitis A virus in the stools of healthy people from endemic areas.

One-hundred-ninety-two stool samples were tested for the presence of human Hepatitis A antigen. Sixteen of these were also evaluated for the presence of infectious virus. All samples were obtained from young and apparently healthy people from endemic areas for Hepatitis A disease. The isolation of the infectious virus from these stools demonstrates clearly the wide diffusion of the virus in these areas, and its transmission by the oral-fecal route.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Integrated epidemiological system for acute viral hepatitis in Italy (SEIEVA): description and preliminary results.

An integrated epidemiological system for the surveillance of acute viral hepatitis SEIEVA which linked notifications to available serology results and used a standard risk factor questionnaire is described. Results of over 1300 cases reported by 35 participating local health units (USL's) during the first 18 months of the programme are presented. Overall the annual reported incidence of acute viral hepatitis was 70 per 100,000. There were marked regional and age specific differences in the incidence of each type of viral hepatitis. The annual incidence per 100,000 of hepatitis A in southern children was 133 while in northern young adults the incidence of hepatitis B was 88 and hepatitis non-A non-B was 43. The possible roles of shellfish consumption in the transmission of non-A non-B hepatitis at all ages were highlighted.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

New plasmid expression vectors for Bacillus subtilis.

The construction of new cloning vectors for Bacillus subtilis is described. They are derived from the in vitro joining of parts of pE194 and pUB110 DNAs. Their common feature is to present a cloning site immediately after the promoter and ribosome binding site of the erythromycin resistance gene, allowing the insertion and expression of either sticky or blunt ended DNA fragments coding for any heterologous gene. The cloning and expression of Escherichia coli beta-lactamase and EcoRI methylase are given as examples. The enzymes are efficiently synthesized by B. subtilis cells.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1985

Mortality from cancer of the stomach, colon and rectum in the city of Naples and the provinces of Campania.

Utilizing data on deaths from 1951 to 1981, this study attempts to verify a time trend for stomach, colon and rectum cancer in the city of Naples. Time trend analysis and cohort analysis have shown an increase of colon rectum cancer mortality affecting cohorts born after 1871 and a decrease of stomach cancer mortality for those born after 1886. A comparison of mortality rates in three geographical areas shows that, while there is not any difference for stomach cancer, the mortality curves relating to cancer of the colon and rectum are higher in the city of Naples than in the province of Naples and the other provinces of Campania.

Colonic Neoplasms↗