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Biomedical subjects

A Mele

Publications and source records attributed to A Mele.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and condom use among outpatients at a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Rome.

To assess the prevalence of HIV-1 infection and study selected risk factors among patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases in Rome, 1442 outpatients seen consecutively between 20 February and 12 December 1989 were anonymously tested for anti-HIV-1. An evaluation of the trend of the HIV-1 infection was attempted by comparing the results of the present study with those obtained from a similar sample studied in 1986 in the same clinic. The overall estimated prevalence of anti-HIV-1 was 1.2% among heterosexual non-drug user subjects and 16.1% among homosexual or bisexual men. The anti-HIV-1 seropositivity was significantly higher in heterosexual subjects who reported sexual contact with intravenous drug users, as compared with those who did not report such exposure (12.5% vs 0.8%, p less than 0.005). Comparing the present data with those of a study conducted in 1986 in the same clinic, a lower prevalence of anti-HIV-1 was found among heterosexual subjects (1.2% in 1989 vs 6.0% in 1986, p less than 0.001). The availability after 1986 of several outpatient facilities attracting seropositive subjects and a change in the sexual behaviour of anti-HIV-1 positive subjects could explain this finding. Twenty percent of the heterosexual subjects and 62% of the homosexual or bisexual men reported consistent use of condoms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Tetanus immunity in a partially vaccinated population of children in a district of Naples (Secondigliano).

A general opinion is that compliance with the compulsory immunization programme of children is excellent in Italy. We have studied antitetanus immunity in relation to vaccination history in a sample of 444 school children born between 1977 and 1981 in a district of Naples. Information on vaccination history was collected by interviewing the parents and validated using the official vaccination certificates. Titration of antibodies against tetanus was carried out by the immunoenzymatic method. 0.9% of our study subjects had not been vaccinated at all and only 21.2% had received 4 vaccine doses. In 18 children the presence of antitetanus antibodies was not detected; 14 of them had received one or more doses of vaccine. The lack of compliance with the vaccination programme was associated with a remarkable delay in administering the tetanus vaccine. In the population reported here, the percentage of subjects only partially covered is higher than that found in other regions of Italy.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Malpractice in obstetrics: a contribution of cases in southern Italy.

Looking ahead to the abolition of many intra-European frontiers the Authors offer this contribution to the discussion of the medico-legal aspects of gynecological activity in the United Europe of 1993. It is to this end that they present the data from a review of the material which has been the subject of litigation on the part specialists in Southern Italy, also commenting on the case series in the light of the Italian provisions in force up to date.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1992

Anti D dimer monoclonal antibodies: a possible scintigraphic agent for immunodetection of thrombi.

The aim of this work was to produce a MoAb able to react with clots but not with fibrinogen. Monoclonal antibodies directed towards DD dimers, against specific products of plasmic digestion of cross-linked fibrin, were obtained. One of these antibodies, F 60/43/8, showed a 1.79 x 10(9) l mol-1 binding constant in spite of the presence of fibrinogen at a 4000 times greater concentration than the cross-linked fibrin. In vitro studies with 125I-F(ab')2 of F 60/43/8 showed that 34-80% of the radioactivity can be found in human clots, in the presence of physiologic concentrations of fibrinogen, and that 96-h washing does not remove the labelled F(ab')2 from the clot. 131I-F(ab')2 was injected into rabbits in which a clot had formed in an artery (six rabbits) or in a vein (six rabbits) of the left ear. Scintigraphic images of the clot were always obtained. In conclusion, the results of this work suggest that F 60/43/8 may be used as a specific antibody for the radioimmunodetection of thrombi.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Focal application of alcohols elevates extracellular dopamine in rat brain: a microdialysis study.

Dopaminergic systems are thought to play a major role in the stimulant and reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse, including ethanol. The present study describes the effects of local perfusion with ethanol (and other alcohols) on extracellular dopamine in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. Following the establishment of basal dopamine levels (2-3 h), various concentrations of ethanol in artificial CSF (0.01-10% v/v) were slowly perfused through a microdialysis probe. Each dose of ethanol was found to increase dopamine concentrations in both the striatum and nucleus accumbens. This increase was dose-related in the striatum. The exclusion of calcium and inclusion of 12.5 mM magnesium in the perfusion medium prevented, or greatly attenuated the ethanol-induced dopamine (DA) release. Thus, the release of DA by ethanol is exocytotic in nature and involves calcium-dependent processes. The other alcohols tested, namely methanol and butanol, demonstrated a structure-activity relationship together with ethanol, in their ability to increase extracellular DA. The relative potency was butanol greater than ethanol greater than methanol. The diffusion of ethanol into the brain tissue was investigated following perfusion through the probe. Relatively low concentrations of ethanol were found in striatal tissue during perfusion and they declined rapidly with time, following the removal of ethanol from the perfusate. The concentrations of ethanol achieved in brain tissue following focal application through the microdialysis probe were relevant to human intoxication.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

GBR12909 antagonizes the ability of cocaine to elevate extracellular levels of dopamine.

Rats were administered various IP doses of the high-affinity dopamine (DA) reuptake inhibitor 1-[2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-4-[3-phenylpropyl]piperazine (GBR12909). The caudate nuclei were removed 60 min after drug administration and stored at -70 degrees C. Striatal membranes were prepared later. The results demonstrated that GBR12909 produced a dose-dependent decrease in the binding of [3H]cocaine or [3H]GBR12935 to the DA transporter (ED50 about 10 mg/kg). Saturation binding studies with [3H]GBR12935 showed that this was due to both an increase in the Kd, due to residual drug, and to a decrease in the Bmax. At a dose of 25 mg/kg IP, GBR12909 produced a 50% decrease in the Bmax, and a 3.4-fold increase in the Kd. In the in vivo microdialysis studies, GBR12909 (25 mg/kg IP) produced a modest, long-lasting and stable elevation of extracellular DA. Administration of cocaine through the microdialysis probe to rats pretreated with either saline or GBR12909 (25 mg/kg IP) produced a dose-dependent increase in extracellular DA in both groups. GBR12909 inhibited cocaine-induced increases in extracellular DA by about 50% at all doses. These data collectively indicate that at a dose sufficient to decrease by 50% the Bmax of [3H]GBR12935 binding sites, GBR12909 antagonizes the ability of cocaine to elevate extracellular DA by 50%. Further studies will be needed to evaluate a possible role for GBR12909 in the medical treatment of cocaine addiction.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Heterosexual and homosexual transmission of hepatitis C virus: relation with hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

A seroprevalence study was carried out on 1757 outpatients consecutively seen in a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in order to evaluate the sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV). A total of 1442 consenting patients were tested for hepatitis C, hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HCV, HBV, HIV-1) antibodies. The relations between anti-HCV, anti-HBc and anti-HIV-1 were studied. Of 73 anti-HCV positive reactions, 45 (61.6%) were confirmed by the recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA). The proportion of individuals with anti-HCV was higher in outpatients with a history of sexually transmitted disease than without. It was 2.8% in non drug user heterosexuals and 2.9% in non drug user homosexuals. Intravenous drug users (IDU) had higher anti-HCV prevalence when a history of STD was taken into account (42.3% in subjects with STD versus 36.7% in subjects without STD). Among non drug user heterosexuals an association was found between anti-HCV and anti-HBc. These data suggest that sexual transmission of HCV occurs, although it seems to be less efficient than other parenteral modes of transmission. When a more sensitive and specific marker of HCV infection become available, a more accurate estimate of the frequency and efficiency of the sexual transmission will be possible.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Production of a nef-specific monoclonal antibody by the use of a synthetic peptide.

Monoclonal antibodies have been generated against a synthetic peptide of the nef protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in order to further characterize the biochemical and functional nature of this protein and its role in the control of HIV-1 transcriptional regulation. Earlier studies indicated nef to be a negative regulatory factor for viral transcription, whereas more recent studies report evidence against this original hypothesis. Nef is a protein of 206 amino acids of approximately 27 kD in most HIV-1 isolates; however, in some other isolates a truncated form of 124 amino acids has been described. A peptide sequence of six amino acids, corresponding to a region of the nef protein exhibiting high-sequence homology to thymosin alpha 1 protein, has been synthesized by Merrifield solid-phase methodology. This peptide is coded by a sequence located upstream to the stop codon described in some HIV-1 isolates and then is maintained in both complete and truncated forms of the nef protein. F14.11 is a nef peptide-specific monoclonal antibody (IgG2a/k) exhibiting the ability to recognize natural nef protein in either radioimmunoassay, radioimmunoprecipitation assay, or immunocytochemical analysis. Since F14.11 is able to identify nef protein in the cytoplasm of lymphocytes from HIV-infected seronegative subjects it may prove useful in monitoring the expression of nef during the silent HIV-1 infection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Epidemiology of acute promyelocytic leukemia in Italy. APL Collaborating Group.

This retrospective epidemiologic study on 256 cases of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) observed in 20 Italian hematology centers between 1980 and 1988 demonstrated that APL is different from the other acute non-lymphocytic leukemias (ANLL). The male/female ratio was 0.9; median age at diagnosis was 40 years (with 80% of patients between 15 and 54 years of age). The minimal annual incidence of APL in Italy per 1,000,000 inhabitants was estimated to be 0.6; an increased incidence was observed in spring and in autumn. The overall median survival duration of APL patients was 12.6 months. From an epidemiological point of view APL is a distinctive subtype of ANLL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Methods for the evaluation of a health intervention in developing countries: the case in the Arsi region, Ethiopia].

Since 1989 an evaluation study of the impact of a Primary Health Care (PHC) program is being carried out in Arsi region, Ethiopia. The principal aim of the study is to estimate the mortality rates in those villages mainly involved in PHC activities. A sample of 80 villages will be recruited to allow significant differences in mortality of 20 per thousand between less treated and best treated villages. Considering the absence of routine demographic data, a population census and demographic surveillance of the recruited villages have been carried out. All the activities related to the study are considered together with the principal logistic and methodologic problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Travel-associated hepatitis A: effect of place of residence and country visited.

The association between hepatitis A and domestic or international travel from Italy was investigated. Data from a nationwide surveillance system (SEIEVA) for type-specific acute viral hepatitis were used to compare 1102 hepatitis A cases with 3671 hepatitis B cases. An association between hepatitis A and travel was found in northern Italy, where most young and adult people are susceptible. Estimates of odds ratios vary dramatically according to geographical area of travel. Travellers to Mediterranean countries, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and South and Central America had the highest education and age-adjusted odds ratios for hepatitis A, ranging from 6 to 25. Prophylaxis against hepatitis A for such travellers is recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Seroprevalence of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis IgG in outpatients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Italy.

Prevalence of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis specific IgG antibodies was evaluated in a sexually transmitted disease outpatient population composed of 741 heterosexuals, 470 males and 271 females, and of 147 homosexual-bisexual men. The prevalence rates were 60.0% in heterosexual males, 50.6% in females and 73.5% in homosexuals-bisexuals. A positive association between age and antibody prevalence was found in males. Among heterosexuals there is an increasing trend of seropositivity with number of partners during the previous year. A significant association between anti-chlamydial and anti-herpes simplex, type 2, antibodies has been demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Regional neurotransmitter responses after acute and chronic electroconvulsive shock.

Regional neurotransmitter changes after acute and chronic electroconvulsive shock (ECS) were studied using the technique of repeated microdialysis. Microdialysis was carried out on alternate sides of the brains of anaesthetised rats before and during the first and the eighth ECS or sham (control) treatments. Extracellular fluid release of monoamines and their metabolites was measured in the frontal cortex, striatum and nucleus accumbens using HPLC with electrochemical detection. The first ECS produced selective regional responses, shown by increased concentrations of noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) in frontal cortex, by unchanged DA content in striatum, and by a small rise in NA and a fall in DA concentrations in nucleus accumbens. Concentrations of metabolites increased after ECS in all regions studied, and for homovanillic acid and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, the temporal pattern of these changes did not resemble that of DA. Comparison of neurotransmitter responses as per cent of baseline release after the first and eighth ECS treatments showed they were identical. Basal release of monoamines and metabolites before the first ECS or sham treatment was similar in all regions studied. Prior to the eighth treatment, basal release of NA in the frontal cortex and DA in the striatum was elevated in the ECS-treated animals, while basal release of NA in the nucleus accumbens was reduced in both ECS- and sham-treated animals. These data suggest that acute and chronic ECS have different and region-specific effects on neurotransmitter release, although the overall pattern of these responses is not changed by chronic treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1990

Prevention of hepatitis B in Italy: lessons from surveillance of type-specific acute viral hepatitis. SEIEVA Collaborating Group.

The relative contribution of various risk factors to the incidence of acute hepatitis B in Italy was estimated using a special surveillance system (SEIEVA) for type-specific acute viral hepatitis. At present 146 health departments (USLs) which contain 21% of the Italian population participate in SEIEVA out of the total of 650. Data on 2460 hepatitis B cases and 708 hepatitis A cases were compared. Hospitalization, surgical intervention, dental therapy, other percutaneous exposures, barber shop shaving, i.v. drug abuse and household contact with HBsAg carriers were associated with acute hepatitis B and a large number of cases were attributable to these risk factors. Because the control programme based on vaccination will not be effective in the short term at reducing hepatitis B incidence, other additional interventions are recommended.

Acute Disease↗