Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Bertino

Publications and source records attributed to E Bertino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Postnatal weight increase and growth velocity of very low birthweight infants.

BACKGROUND: Only a few studies have dealt with postnatal growth velocity of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants. OBJECTIVE: To analyse weight growth kinetics of VLBW infants from birth to over 2 years of age. PATIENTS: A total of 262 VLBW infants were selected; inaccurate estimate of gestational age, major congenital anomalies, necrotising enterocolitis, death, and loss to follow up within the first year were the exclusion criteria. METHODS: Body weight was recorded daily up to 28 days or up to discontinuation of parenteral nutrition, weekly up to discharge, then at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of corrected age. Individual growth profiles were fitted with a seven constant, exponential-logistic function suitable for modelling weight loss and weight recovery, two peaks, and the subsequent slow decrease in growth velocity. RESULTS: After a postnatal weight loss, all infants showed a late neonatal peak of growth velocity between the 7th and 21st weeks; most also experienced an early neonatal peak between the 2nd and 6th week. VLBW infants who were small for gestational age and those with major morbidities grew less than reference VLBW infants who were the appropriate size for gestational age without major morbidities: at 2 years of age, the difference in weight was about 860 g. The more severe growth impairment seen in VLBW infants with major morbidities is almost entirely due to the reduced height of the late neonatal peak of velocity. CONCLUSIONS: The growth model presented here should be a useful tool for evaluating to what extent different pathological conditions or nutritional and medical care protocols affect growth kinetics.

Aging↗
PubMed2006

Insulin resistance in pre-school very-low-birth weight pre-term children.

AIMS: To evaluate the metabolic pattern of a group of pre-school small- (SGA) and appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) pre-term very-low-birthweight (VLBW) (<1500 gr) Italian children and retrospectively verify if the growth rate in the first years of life is associated to the laboratory and anthropometric characteristics of these children. METHODS: 58 (16 SGA, 42 AGA) VLBW children, without major congenital malformations/conditions were enrolled; their anthropometric, clinical and (in 34 of them) laboratory characteristics were evaluated at pre-school age (> 2<6 years of corrected age). RESULTS: Clinical, anthropometric and laboratory characteristics at pre-school age were similar in SGA and AGA. Sixty-nine percent of SGA and 51% of AGA children showed a significant weight centile crossing (CC) at 24 months. Fasting serum glucose, insulin and insulin resistance (evaluated by the Homeostasis Model Assessment -HOMA-IR-) were higher in AGA and SGA with CC. The increment in weight standard deviation scores from birth-to-24 months was significantly associated with pre-school BMI SDS, waist, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR values, both in unadjusted and adjusted models. In a multiple regression model, after multiple adjustments, this increment is the only significant predictor of pre-school insulin (B = 0.19; 95%CI 0.07-0.31; P = 0.006) and HOMA-IR levels (B = 0.20; 95%CI 0.08-0.32; P = 0.004) both in SGA and AGA children. CONCLUSIONS: The adverse metabolic pattern of pre-school VLBW children seems related to post-natal events (rapid weight growth) independently by their being small- or appropriate-for gestational age.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

A high neonatal serum eosinophil cationic protein level is a risk factor for atopic symptoms.

AIM: To show whether neonatal eosinophil counts (EC) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) can be used in assessing the risk of atopy, alone or in combination with family history of atopy (FHa). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 63 newborns was included: 38 with FHa, 25 without FHa. A blood sample was collected on the 4th day of life for EC and ECP evaluation. Clinical follow-up was conducted after 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 mo. The chi2 test and the Student's t-test were used to compare dichotomic and continuous variables, respectively. Variables shown to be significant by univariate analysis were evaluated with a multivariate regression model and the relative risks (RR) were estimated. RESULTS: Twenty-six newborns (41%) displayed atopic manifestations during the follow-up. Twenty-one (55%) of 38 newborns with FHa displayed atopic symptoms versus 5/25 (20%) without FHa (p 0.012). Neither EC nor serum ECP levels were significantly different between newborns with FHa and newborns without. ECP levels did not differ between newborns with single heredity and newborns with dual heredity. EC did not differ significantly between newborns who developed atopy and those who did not. Instead, serum ECP levels were significantly higher in newborns who developed atopy (mean 27.9 microU/l vs 16.8 microU/l). Atopic manifestations appeared in 16 (62%) of 26 newborns with ECP > or = 18 microU/l compared with 10 (27%) of 37 with ECP < 18 microU/l (p = 0.006). In the multivariate regression model, with ECP < 18 microU/l and no FHa as reference class, the class 1 (no FHa and ECP > or = 18 microU/l) has a low RR (1.4), class 2 (FHa and ECP < 18 microU/l) an intermediate RR (2.7) and class 3 (FHa and ECP > or = 18 microU/l) a very high RR (16.3). CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal serum ECP levels, in contrast with EC, were significantly higher in newborns who developed atopic manifestations during follow-up. The risk of atopy was about twice as great when ECP was > or = 18 microU/l (and four times as great in multivariate analysis). When serum ECP was combined with FHa, the RR for newborns with FHa and ECP > or = 18 microU/l was 16 times greater than for those without FHa and ECP < 18 microU/l. The identification of newborns at "extremely high atopic risk" (FHa and ECP > or = 18 microU/l) may be expecially useful--in clinical practice--in newborns with only one atopic parent or sibling, for whom it is not universally agreed that dietary and environmental prevention measures should be applied.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed2001

Human proteome enhancement: high-recovery method and improved two-dimensional map of colostral fat globule membrane proteins.

The human milk fat globule membrane protein composition is still largely unknown, although it counts for 2-4% of the total milk protein content and contains several important biologically active components. The aim of this work was to create a two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) map of the human milk fat globule membrane proteins, both integral and membrane-associated, and to identify and characterize as many protein components as possible. A new protocol for the solubilization and extraction of the human milk fat globule membrane proteins with a double extraction procedure is presented, and the results compared with the extraction methods reported in the literature. The proteins were separated, in the first dimension, by isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the pH range 3-10 on strips of 13 cm length and, in the second dimension, by Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) on 11.5% T homogeneous gels. A reproducible 2-DE map of integral and membrane-associated proteins was obtained and the first 23 spots, representing the major components, were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometric analysis and/or by amino acid sequencing.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional↗
PubMed2000

Identification of the human beta-casein C-terminal fragments that specifically bind to purified antibodies to bovine beta-lactoglobulin.

The presence of foreign proteins in human milk after the ingestion of bovine dairy products is thought to be one of the possible causes of allergic sensitization in exclusively breast-fed predisposed infants. The immunologic determination of bovine beta-lactoglobulin (LG) concentration in human milk has been reported by several researchers, but the results are conflicting. Moreover, a strong cross-reactivity between antibodies to bovine beta-LG and human milk proteins and peptides was reported, throwing doubt on the reliability of radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detection and quantification assays for bovine beta-LG in human milk. Thus, the goal of this study was to isolate human milk peptides with a molecular mass >or= 1,000 Da cross-reactive with antibodies to bovine beta-LG in order to identify possible common epitopes between human and bovine milk proteins. The proteins were first isolated by affinity chromatography with purified polyclonal antibodies to bovine beta-LG, followed by gel filtration fast phase liquid chromatography and reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography purification of the components specifically bound in the affinity separation step. Affinity-bound peptides were identified by determining their amino acid sequence. All the sequenced peptides belonged to the C-terminal part of human beta-casein, which confirms the cross-reactivity of human milk proteins and peptides with antibodies to bovine beta-LG and allows the identification of possible common epitopes between the two proteins. No bovine beta-LG peptides with a molecular mass >or= 1,000 Da were found in our milk samples from healthy mothers on a diet rich in bovine milk and dairy products.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

A pilot C282Y hemochromatosis screening in Italian newborns by TaqMan technology.

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a disorder of iron metabolism that leads to iron overload in middle age and can be caused by homozygosity for the C282Y mutation in the HFE gene. Preliminary studies have estimated the frequency of this mutation at 0.5-1% in Italy, but this has not been verified on a large sample. We analyzed 1,331 Italian newborns for the C282Y mutation in the HFE gene using dried blood spots (DBS) from the Neonatal Screening Center in Turin, Italy. The mutation was assessed using a semi-automatable 5'-nuclease assay (TaqMan technology). We detected 55 heterozygotes and no homozygotes in our sampling, resulting in an overall frequency of 2.1% +/- 0.6 for the C282Y allele. Differences in allele frequency were observed, and ranged from 2.7% +/- 1.3 in samples from Northern Italy, to 1.7% +/- 0.9 in samples from Central-Southern Italy. The low frequency of the at-risk genotype for iron overload suggests that genetic screening for HFE in Italy would not be cost effective. The present study, in addition to defining C282Y frequency, documents detection of the major HFE mutation on routine DBS samples from neonatal screening programs using a semi-automatable, rapid, reliable, and relatively inexpensive approach.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Longitudinal distance standards of fetal growth. Intrauterine and Infant Longitudinal Growth Study: IILGS.

BACKGROUND: Most ultrasonographic fetal growth norms are derived from cross-sectional data or from longitudinal data treated as coming from cross-sectional studies, although only longitudinal models may detect particular aspects of fetal growth shape, such as peak of growth velocity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample included 238 singleton normal pregnancies. All the fetal traits under study (biparietal diameter, occipito-frontal diameter, head circumference, femur diaphysis length and abdomen circumference) were measured according to the classical ultrasound techniques by highly trained operators. Individual growth profiles (made up of 5 to 9 measures) were taken at regular intervals between the 12th and the 40th week. Growth norms were traced by means of a two-stage linear model: (I) a 3-constant fetal growth function was fitted to each individual growth profile, (II) growth centiles were based upon the weighted mean and covariance matrix of the individual growth constants. RESULTS: Fetal growth curves show a sigmoid shape with a maximum slope (i.e. a peak growth velocity) which occurs earlier for head diameters (about 18 weeks), later for femur diaphysis length (20 weeks) and abdomen circumference (22 weeks). During intrauterine growth, all traits show a progressive increase in interindividual variability, which is more prominent for abdomen circumference. CONCLUSION: The mathematical model applied to a large sample of growth profiles provided a satisfactory description of the individual fetal development and its biological variability, and allowed the construction of longitudinal distance standards useful for clinical purposes.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2000

[Neonatal anthropometry and early differentiations in embryo-fetal growth].

It is well known that the biologic variability in fetal size increases as pregnancy advances, although the embryonal and early fetal growth patterns as well as how early and how much the genetic, hormonal and environmental variables play a role in its modulation are still debated. It is accepted that growth in the first trimester of pregnancy is relatively uniform, with a minimal biologic variability; this variability may be underestimated, because the transversal studies do not permit the identification of the growth pattern. The aim of this work is to evaluate, by means of a longitudinal study, the time of embryo-fetal growth differentiation related at neonatal anthropometric measurements. We evaluated 238 neonates (123 female; 115 male) delivered at term after low risk, uncomplicated pregnancies. The subjects were divided into three tertles (low, mid and high) according to birth weight, length and head circumference. For each tertle, distance curves, velocity curves, and rate of increase were calculated by using respectively fetal abdominal circumference (for birth weight), fetal femural length (for neonatal length) and fetal head circumference (for neonatal circumference). The distance curves showed clear differences among the tertles only in the second period of pregnancy, whereas the velocity curves showed clear differences among tertles already in the first 12 weeks. The value of growth rates were similar for all the variables during the entire time considered. This study shows that the anthropometric differences between newborn subgroups exist already at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy and, in physiological conditions, until the end of pregnancy. The anthropometric differences observed early in our study, at twelve weeks of gestational age, are still present at the end of pregnancy and let us suppose a very early expression of the genetic potential for individual growth.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed2000

[Microbiological monitoring in neonatal intensive care].

There is no "ideal" method of infection diseases control, but there are some different methods according to the risk degree of patient, the problems, the information accuracy and also the available resources. Some important points need to be stressed about infectious diseases control in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit:--continuous microbiological surveillance in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is necessary, because newborns admitted are at very high risk of infection disease;--continuous microbiological data review is needed: therefore criticism and integration with other clinical and laboratory data are necessary to exclude simple colonisation;--critical analysis of data allows more rational use of antimicrobical agents to avoid the selection of multiresistant bacteric streams;--a rational analysis of laboratory data needs necessarily a strict collaboration among neonatologists, microbiologists and the Committee for infectious diseases control;--in epidemics, techniques of bacterial streams typization are needed, and methods of molecular biology (DNA and proteins analysis) are better;--this implies a collection of microbiological data, by database integrating microbiological, clinical and anamnestic data and allowing retrospective studies too.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2000

[Use of recombinant human erythropoietin in newborns with very low weight: efficacy monitoring].

Chronic anemia is very frequent in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Lowered red cells life span, hemolysis, low production of erythropoietin, phlebotomies, excessive body growth are its most important causes. A reduction of the number of transfusions to babies with chronic anemia was obtained through r-HuEpo. A serie accounting for 89 newborns < 1500 g (18 < 1000 g) with a mean weight of 1069 g (+/- 238) in whom early treatment with r-HuEpo was performed (from 9.55 +/- 3.04 day), 300 UI three times a week s.c., is presented. Therapy with r-HuEpo was carried out for 6 weeks, or until the baby weighed 1800 g. During the treatment, each baby received iron, folic acid, multivitaminic supplements. Patients were monitored with red blood cells count, comprehensive of reticolocytes, ipochromic cells (Ipo-cells), content of hemoglobin of reticolocytes (CHr), each week. Iron, ferritine and transferrine were obtained only twice a month, as they required further blood sampling. 10.1% neonates received transfusions: the percentage of transfused VLBW infants was much higher (55.5%) before than after the introduction of r-HuEpo (p = 0.0002). 33.3% extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants required transfusions (vs 95.5% in pre r-HuEpo period) (p < 0.0001). Our results confirm the importance of Ipo-cells and CHr to monitor early alterations of iron cellular employment.

Anemia, Neonatal↗
PubMed2000

[Early protected discharge of the mother and the neonate: case-control study].

Aim of this study is to compare traditional post-partum hospital stay to hospitalization associated with early protected discharge: a case-control study has been performed to evaluate outcome as mother's appreciation of the experience as well as breastfeeding. The study included 50 healthy-term newborns and their mothers, discharged within 24 and 48 hours of life, and 44 controls, who had traditional "rooming-in" stay, delivered at the Department of Neonatology--University of Turin. The protocol included a midwife daily home visits and a neonatologist and nurse visit within 4th to 5th day of life, to evaluate mother's and baby's health status and to perform metabolic screenings. An ambulatorial follow-up visit at 1 month of life and 2 telephone interviews, at 3rd and 6th month, were also planned. During the first week of life 45 (90%) early discharged newborns had complete nursing (breastfeeding + water or other fluids), 4 (8%) had complementary nursing (breastfeeding + formula) and 1 (2%) received formula. Among controls, 46 (92%) babies received complete nursing, 2 had complementary nursing and 2 had artificial nursing. At 6 months of life breastfeeding was complete for 2% of cases and 6% of controls; in 44% of cases and 56% of controls nursing was complementary. Readmissions to our Birth Center were 2 among early discharged newborns, 1 in the control group. About project's appreciation, 96% of early discharged and 98% of control group mothers declared their availability to repeat the experience. Caring and supporting were judged adequate in 94% of both group. By adequate supporting of mother and newborn, short and traditional hospitalization are both pleasant and don't seem to present significant differences in type and length of nursing.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed2000

[Neonatal arteriovenous thrombosis: report of a case].

UNLABELLED: Limb vascular thrombosis is a severe, rare entity, often needing invasive surgery and sometimes leading to loss of function. An infant with in utero arteiro-venous thrombosis is reported. CASE REPORT: The baby, a female infant, was born at 34 weeks from a mother affected by gestational diabetes. She was referred to Neonatal Care Unit because of mild respiratory distress syndrome. She had no malformations. Spontaneous acute ischemia of right upper limb was noticed soon after admission: the limb appeared pale, cold, atonic and areflexic; no signs were noticed on it. Axillary artery and vein thromboses were soon confirmed by ultrasonography and arteriography. Intravenous administration of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator was carried on for 36 hours and followed by heparin and antithrombin III administration. Partial revascularization was obtained after a few hours: at the beginning of the treatment the limb became cyanotic, then edematous and finally the normal colour appeared everywhere but in the hand, was it became visible after a few days, when edema was reabsorbed. No recurrence of thrombosis occurred with heparin prophylaxis. Pain was treated with analgesic therapy, and motor impairment required physiotherapy. The doppler ultrasonographies which were performed subsequently confirmed a complete revascularization of axillary artery and vein. Coagulation and metabolic parameters (clotting tests, protein C, protein S, prothrombin, aminoacids) were studied but disorders predisposing to thrombosis were not found both in the patient and in her parents. CONCLUSION: Early identification of limb vascular thrombosis through external symptoms is very important, as it can avoid invasive surgical procedures.

Female↗
PubMed1998

Evidence for a common epitope between bovine alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin.

The aim of this work was to check and quantify any cross-reactivities among the main bovine whey proteins, utilizing purified polyclonal antibodies against bovine beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin and serum albumin, and to identify possible common epitope(s). Purified polyclonal anti-bovine beta-lactoglobulin antibodies show 10% cross-reactivity with bovine alpha-lactalbumin, both in its native and its denatured form. A continuous stretch of four amino acids common to alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin that might be responsible for this cross-reactivity has been identified. Cross-reactivity between this antibody and bovine serum albumin is, on the contrary, negligible. Purified polyclonal anti-bovine alpha-lactalbumin and anti-serum albumin antibodies do not cross-react.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Detection of specific IgE to human milk proteins in sera of atopic infants.

Specific IgE (sIgE) for cow's milk proteins (CMP) have been reported to be present in blood sera of exclusively breast-fed infants. The aim of this study was to find whether the presence of sIgE to human milk proteins in the sera of exclusively breast-fed infants could explain the apparent detection of sIgE to CMP in infants that were never previously in contact with cow's milk. sIgE for human milk whey proteins were found in the blood sera of atopic infants, and these sIgE strongly cross-reacted with the corresponding CMP. In none of the sera examined were sIgE to bovine beta-lactoglobulin detected.

Animals↗