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Biomedical subjects

C Campello

Publications and source records attributed to C Campello.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Haemangioblastoma of the central nervous system in von Hippel-Lindau disease. French VHL Study Group.

Haemangioblastoma of the central nervous system (CNS) is the most characteristic lesion and the most common presenting manifestation of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease and has a striking tendency to multiple occurrence. Its sites of predilection are the posterior fossa (cerebellum++), and the spinal cord. Haemangioblastoma may cause increased intracranial pressure and/or neurological deficits and remains the main cause of morbidity and mortality in VHL. Treatment of symptomatic haemangioblastoma remains neurosurgical and is often in emergency. Haemangioblastoma appears to be more commonly associated with VHL than previously reported and suggests that all patients with 'sporadic' haemangioblastoma should be investigated for evidence of VHL disease. From a fundamental point of view, haemangioblastoma is a benign neoplastic entity with a double, vascular and cellular differentiation. Mutational inactivation of both copies of the VHL gene plays a major role in the pathogenesis of haemangioblastoma. Over-expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-receptors has been recently demonstrated in these tumours, raising the possibility of angioblastic origin, and is of very great interest in view of the direct implication of the VHL gene in negative regulation of VEGF.

Central Nervous System Neoplasms↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms in an adult population sample from Verona. ECRHS Verona. European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms in the general population of Verona. A screening questionnaire, with seven questions on respiratory symptoms, was sent by mail to 3000 randomly selected subjects, aged 20-44 yrs. After three subsequent mailings, nonresponders were interviewed by telephone. The overall response rate was 92%. At least one respiratory symptom was reported by 44% subjects. The prevalence of the most frequent symptoms differed according to the type of contact: early respondents (i.e. those who responded by mail) were more likely to report symptoms than late respondents (i.e. those who were interviewed by telephone). Wheezing was reported by 11.3% of males and 8.0% of females (p < 0.01). The allergic rhinitis and hay-fever prevalence was 16.9% with no differences owing to sex or age. The prevalence of an "episode of asthma" (defined as a self-reported attack of asthma or treatment for asthma) and of "current asthma" (defined as a self-reported attack of asthma, treatment for asthma or wheezing other than due to a cold with dyspnoea in the last 12 months) was 4.1 and 4.7%, respectively. No differences were found on the basis of age and sex. The prevalence of asthma was greater in urban (5.0%) than in suburban (2.7%) areas (p < 0.05), where lower pollution levels were registered. The greater prevalence in urban areas suggests that some factors related to the urban environment could play a role in the development of asthma and asthma-like disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of a commercially available ELISA for detection of Giardia lamblia antigen in faeces: preliminary results in unconventional samples.

The sensitivity and specificity of a commercial ELISA for the diagnosis of G. lamblia were assessed on a series of 52 formalin-ether concentrated, unrefrigerated faecal samples after prolonged storage. Before storage the CELISA did not perfectly accord with microscopy. All the 30 microscopically positive samples scored highly positive on ELISA after storage, including 2 samples that had given a false negative result when examined soon after collection. There was no false positive ELISA. The sensitivity of the test therefore seems to be enhanced by storage at room temperature without any corresponding fall in specificity.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Hepatitis C virus infection in homosexual men: a seroepidemiological study in gay clubs in north-east Italy.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV antibodies was studied in a group of 259 apparently healthy homosexual men of the Veneto Region (Italy). Subjects were recruited between 1987 and 1989 from homosexual men's clubs. Seropositivity was evaluated in relation to main risk factors associated with the lifestyle and sexual behaviours of this population. Serological evaluation revealed an overall prevalence of HCV infection of 18.9% in the study population as a whole, but on breaking the samples down into three subgroups according to optical density (O.D.) values and to the year of sera collection, different seroprevalences were observed. Prevalence of anti-HCV was higher in 1987 and steadily decreased in 1988 and 1989; 4.1% of subjects gave positive results at O.D. greater than 2.0, while 6.2% were positive at O.D. between 0.8 and 2.0 and 9.6% at O.D. between cut-off and 0.8. Anti-HCV positivity was not correlated with HIV nor HBV positivity. No correlation was found between HCV seropositivity and either the type of anogenital intercourse or sexual promiscuity, but the prevalence increased (p = n.s.), as observed for HIV (p less than 0.05) and HBV (p = n.s.), with the number of intercourses per month. Epidemiological and preventive aspects arising from the investigation are discussed herein.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Meningeal hemorrhage at a neurological intensive care unit. Study of a series of 234 unselected cases].

In a 6-year-period, 234 cases of subarachnoid haemorrhage were observed in a neurological intensive care unit: 74 were male and 69 were female, aged from 15 to 94 years. In 15 cases no other investigation than C.T. scan or lumbar puncture was performed. In 143 patients, cerebral angiography demonstrated a ruptured aneurysm of cerebral vessels and 99 were operated. The prognosis was poor in old age, with aneurysms located on the anterior part of the circle of Willis, severe neurological involvement and extensive subarachnoid or ventricular haemorrhage. A recurrence of the haemorrhage occurred in 18 cases and cerebral ischaemia was present in 69 patients. The mortality rate of patients with ruptured aneurysms was 47.5 p. 100 (30.4 p. 100 when operated). Seventeen patients probably had a ruptured cerebral aneurysm but cerebral angiography was not conclusive; 12 of them died. In 15 other cases, the haemorrhage was related to cerebral angiomas (3 cases), endocarditis (2), coagulation disorders (6), cranial trauma (3) and Moya-Moya disease (1). In 44 patients, the aetiology of subarachnoid haemorrhage was unknown and the mortality rate was 14 p. 100. The poor prognosis of subarachnoid haemorrhage, worse than in neurosurgical series, is emphasized. It may be explained by the lack of selection of the patients in a non-surgical department.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Retrospective study of coxsackie B virus infections and congestive cardiomyopathy].

Thirty patients with congestive cardiomyopathy (C.C.) have been studied for the prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to coxsackie B viruses in comparison with age and sex matched controls. Seropositivity toward each antigen was similar in cases and controls: an exception was coxsackie B5 virus, where a significantly seropositivity was found in the control group. As a whole, high antibody titers to any antigen were observed more frequently on sera of cardiopathic patients; however the difference between cases and controls of g.m.t. to each antigen tested was not statistically significant, with the exception of coxsackie B1 virus. The absence of a clear relationship between C.C. and viral infections might be explained through biological as well as epidemiological considerations; of particular relevance, the long duration of cardiac disease (average length 71 months, median 54). Final considerations are offered regarding the methodologic approach for a better understanding of the etiology of this elusive disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

[Human listeriosis in the Trieste area].

This report concerns 3 cases of human listeriosis occurred in the area of Trieste between 1974-1979. Two newborns with a listeric early disease were observed in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. One child was colonized during the delivery from the infected vaginal mucosa of the mother; no signs of sepsis nor systemic involvement was observed. In the second case a bacteremia was documented with clinical signs of sepsis, and in spite of negative cultures of the mother, an intra-uterine infection was hypothesized. During an investigation carried out in 1977 on prevalence of listeric infection in pregnant women of Trieste, 127 vaginal and rectal swabs were examined and one subject (0.8%) was found harbouring a strain of Listeria monocytogenes in the vaginal secretions. Some bacteriological and epidemiological topics on human listeriosis are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of HCV antibodies in health-care workers from northern Italy.

The prevalence of HCV antibodies was assessed in 407 health-care workers and in 253 control subjects by means of immunoassays based on recombinant antigens. The seroprevalence in the study group was fairly low (1.2%) and not statistically different from that of controls (0.8%). The relation of HBV and HCV infections was evaluated in 83 health-care workers and in 82 controls: in both groups anti-HCV positivity was weakly related (p less than 0.05) to the HBV infection. HCV infection was associated with working in high risk wards (4/5 cases) and with report of accidental needle pricks (4/5 cases). As evaluated by means of the available markers, HCV infections in health-care workers seem to be rare.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Seroprevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in a young adult population sample living in Verona. European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) Verona.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae in a random population sample of 369 young adults (aged 20-44 years), living in Verona, Italy. IgG and IgM titers were measured by micro-immunofluorescence. IgG antibodies, greater or equal to 16, were found in 104/177 (58.8%) men and 76/192 (39.6%) women (p < 0.001). No relationship was found between IgG seropositivity, age, social class, education and family size. Factors positively associated with IgG seropositivity included smoking (p < 0.001), occupational status (employed vs unemployed: p = 0.02; students vs unemployed: p < 0.01) and living area (suburban [65.0%] vs urban area [45.3%]: p = 0.03). The geometric mean of IgG titers was higher in students (GM: 26.05) than in both employed (GM: 11.02) and unemployed persons (GM: 4.80) (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). IgG titres > or = 512 and/or IgM titers > or = 16 (suggestive of a recent C. pneumoniae infection) were found in 39 subjects (10.6%). Recent infection was more frequent in spring (14.9%), with no significant variation in the other seasons (mean prevalence 6.7%) (p < 0.01). Recent infection was also associated with cigarette smoking. On the other hand, no significant association was found between respiratory symptoms and serologic evidence of recent infection. IN CONCLUSION: 1) the prevalence of antibodies to C. pneumoniae in young adults from Verona is similar to that found in European countries, and therefore, in Europe, it seems not related to latitude or climate; 2) male sex, tobacco smoking, employment status and living in a suburban area are independent risk factors of infection; 3) the infection is subclinical in most cases.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Case report: Salmonella panama osteomyelitis in a Ghanaian child with sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease is a rare condition in italian patients and even rarer are its complications, in particular Salmonella osteomyelitis. We describe a case of a Ghanaian child with sickle cell disease who developed osteomyelitis due to Salmonella panama, treated successfully with surgical debridement, followed by a prolonged period of specific antibiotic therapy.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗