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Biomedical subjects

E Riva

Publications and source records attributed to E Riva.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Hepatitis B vaccination in infants of mothers infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

Eighteen infants of mothers with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were given hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Seroconversion occurred in all 13 infants whose HIV antibody disappeared, versus one of five HIV-infected children. The four of five HIV-infected infants who did not mount an antibody response progressed rapidly to full-blown acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Thus HIV-infected infants respond poorly to hepatitis B vaccine.

Female↗
PubMed1994

Antigen-reduced infant formulas versus human milk: growth and metabolic parameters in the first 6 months of life.

OBJECTIVE: To compare growth and metabolic parameters of infants fed special formulas for atopy prevention to breast-fed infants. METHODS: Eighty-two infants with family history of IgE-mediated diseases completed a 6-month nutritional follow-up within a clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of the dietary intervention in preventing atopy. Infants were subdivided according to the type of milk feeding from the end of the first month of life up to sixth month: human milk (HM) group (29 infants); soy formula (SF) group (15 infants); whey-based low-degree hydrolysate (WHy) group (15 infants); casein-based high-degree hydrolysate (CHy) group (13 infants); soy plus collagen-based high-degree hydrolysate group (10 infants). Anthropometric indices were determined at 0, 3 and 6 months of life and a fasting blood sample for hematochemical parameters was obtained at 5 months of life before beginning the introduction of solid foods. RESULTS: Lower values of body mass index and higher blood urea nitrogen were displayed by the CHy group at 3 months. Plasma aminoacidograms showed higher essential amino acids (AA)/total AA in SF, WHy and CHy groups but lower branched chain AA/essential AA in all formula-fed infants in comparison with the HM group. CONCLUSIONS: Special formulas (in particular high-degree protein hydrolysates) should be carefully evaluated when used for prolonged periods of time in healthy infants at familial risk of atopy.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1994

Effects of diet on the lipid and fatty acid status of full-term infants at 4 months.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of the exogenous supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP) and cholesterol on the lipid and fatty acid status in full-term, 4-month old infants. METHODS: Twenty-three infants received a standard infant formula while twenty-one were given a formula enriched with LCP and cholesterol in a prospective, randomized study. The composition of the two formulas differed only in fat quality. A group of fifteen breastfed infants fed was used as reference. No one was complemented with solid foods before blood sampling at 4 months of life. RESULTS: Differences in total-cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels between feeding groups were mainly gender-related. Dietary cholesterol tended to increase LDL-C plasma levels. The breastfed and the enriched formula-fed groups had higher levels of circulating LCP than the group that received the standard formula. In the erythrocytes of infants fed the standard formula, C22:6 n-3 levels were less than 50% those of the breastfed and the enriched formula-fed ones. Higher C20:4 n-6 levels were found in the erythrocytes of the enriched formula-fed group. CONCLUSIONS: Formula-fed, full-term infants maintain a lipid and fatty acid status close to that of breastfed infants when supplied with dietary LCP and cholesterol.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed1994

Infectious virus with reduced cytopathogenicity resulting from persistent infection of normal lung fibroblasts by HIV type 1 strains.

We asked whether HIV-1 had the capacity to establish a persistent infection of cultured human diploid fibroblasts. Human strains of normal diploid embryo lung fibroblasts were infected with HIV-1 of the HTLV-IIIB and HIV-1P1 strains. Infection was followed over time, to analyze HIV expression. Virus production (intra- and extracellular virus) was evaluated as follows: ability to form syncytia in the C8166 T cell line, production of p24 and other viral antigens (ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence), search for a gag sequence in cell DNA by the polymerase chain reaction followed by hybridization to an HIV-1-specific probe (SK19). Cell-free culture supernatant was used as a virus source to infect de novo fibroblasts and C8166 T cells. Infection of cultured fibroblasts with either the HTLV-IIIB or HIV-1P1 strain led regularly to the establishment of persistently infected cultures. Fibroblast cells were capable of continuous virus production for at least 10 months. The released virus was capable of reinfecting cultured fibroblasts and of producing cytopathic effects in the C8166 T cell line. However, when compared to wild-type strains, the infectious virus derived from fibroblasts showed a prolonged replication cycle and a decreased ability to form syncytia in the T cell line. Therefore, HIV-1 can establish a persistent and productive infection in normal lung fibroblasts. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that in vivo, at least in the lung, fibroblasts may represent a virus reservoir and that infection of these cells may lead to the production of attenuated variants of HIV.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1994

Zidovudine induces the expression of cellular resistance affecting its antiviral activity.

We have previously shown that multidrug-resistant cells expressing the multidrug transporter P-glycoprotein are less sensitive to the antiviral activity of AZT. Subsequently, we addressed the question whether AZT itself is able to induce cellular resistance to the drug. Indeed, CEM cells propagated in the presence of increasing concentrations of AZT become resistant to the antigrowth and antiviral activity of AZT but do not express detectable level of P-glycoprotein. Sensitivity of these cells to other compounds, such as vinblastine, vincristine, ddI, and ddC remained unchanged, indicating that, in contrast to P-glycoprotein-positive cells, AZT-induced resistance is specific for AZT. Interestingly, in AZT-induced resistant cells the intracellular accumulation of AZT and exogenous deoxythymidine, as well as thymidine kinase activity, are significantly reduced when compared with the parental cell line. Our findings show that AZT itself may directly induce the expression of cellular mechanisms leading to the acquisition of specific cellular resistance that can affect its antiviral activity.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1994

Biological and clinical significance of neutralizing and binding antibodies to interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) during therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

It is known that IFN therapy can induce the development of anti-IFN antibodies. In order to evaluate the biological and clinical significance of both neutralizing (NA) and non-neutralizing (binding) antibodies, 123 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with recombinant IFN-alpha were examined. Among them, 15 were positive for NA and 24 for binding antibodies. The kinetics of NA appearance show that, in general, they develop early during the first 3 months of treatment. Moreover, NA seem to be clinically relevant, since they may be responsible for non-responsiveness to treatment in 53% of patients who develop them. The evaluation of the clinical significance of binding antibodies is more difficult. They appear significantly earlier in non-responders than in responders, but no differences were observed in the overall percentage of seroconversion between responders and non-responders. Thus, it is not possible at the moment to establish their possible role in inducing non-responsiveness.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1994

Fat needs of term infants and fat content of milk formulae.

Term infants have precise dietary fat requirements for their metabolic, energy and structural needs. The fat content of commercial milk formulae differs from maternal milk in that it contains no long-chain polyunsaturated derivatives or cholesterol. Artificially fed children thus have less of these molecules available for their biological needs, and hence lower levels of long-chain polyunsaturated derivatives in circulating and membrane lipids than breast-fed children. The functional effects of this difference have not been investigated thoroughly in term infants. Dietary lack of essential fatty acids and their derivatives is evident also in weaned children during the second half of their first year of life. Qualitative changes in the fat content of commercial milk formulae could help to correct some widely encountered dietary imbalances, using the pattern of fats provided in breast milk as the ideal.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Identification of an amino acid substitution involved in the reduction of sensitivity of HIV-1 to an inhibitor of viral proteinase.

Clones derived from HIV variants previously characterized as resistant to Ro31-8959, an inhibitor of viral proteinase (PR), were sequenced. Substitution of glycine by valine at position 48 of the PR protein was found. None of the 20 clones derived from wild type HTLV-IIIB contain this mutation. Since such a position is located in a conserved region of PR, it is possible that the substitution can affect the interaction of the enzyme with the inhibitor.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Compliance with pharmacologic prophylaxis and therapy in bronchial asthma.

Between January 1 and December 31, 1988, 288 children [185 boys and 103 girls, mean age 8.75 +/- 4.98 years (range 2.50 to 16.83)], followed at the Outpatient Clinic for Lung Diseases of the University of Milan 5th Pediatric Department, were interviewed blindly in order to assess their compliance with pharmacologic therapy. All children were suffering from episodic, frequent, or chronic asthma requiring therapy as needed and preventive drugs for at least 30 days. Prophylaxis (including cromolyn, beclomethasone, theophylline retard, ketotifen, oxatomide, albuterol, and prednisone, alone or in combinations) and therapy in case of symptoms (albuterol, with or without theophylline prompt or beclomethasone) were prescribed. A study questionnaire was completed 30 to 45 days after the prescription with no advance warning by a physician unaware of the prophylactic and therapeutic prescriptions. Out of the 288 patients, 31 (10.8%) failed to return for the second visit. Understanding of prophylaxis was full in 61.1% of cases, partial in 23.3% and nil in 4.9%. Therapy as needed was fully remembered by 77.1% of parents, partially by 9.4% and totally forgotten by 2.8%. Compliance with single-drug prophylaxis was full in 60.1% of cases, partial in 22.2% and nil in 6.4%. Statistical analysis showed compliance was significantly better for ketotifen than for disodium cromoglycate (chi squared 9.85, P < .02), for ketotifen than for theophylline (chi squared 9.98, P < .02), and for beclomethasone than for theophylline (chi squared 8.77, P < .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1994

Personality disorders and psychopathologic symptoms in patients with androgenetic alopecia.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: The few articles published on the interactions between psychological factors and alopecia seem to yield contrasting results. To assess the relationships between alopecia, gender, Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition personality disorders, and psychopathologic symptoms reactive to alopecia, we administered the Personality Disorders Questionnaire-Revised and the Symptoms Checklist-90 to a randomly selected sample of 116 outpatients with androgenetic alopecia. RESULTS: The prevalence of personality disorders in subjects with androgenetic alopecia proved to be significantly higher than the prevalence of such diagnoses in the general population. Women did not show a higher prevalence of personality disorders or more psychopathologic symptoms than men. The factor analysis demonstrated the existence of three personality profiles (F1, F2, and F3) significantly and specifically associated with the subject's gender and with the psychopathologic reactive symptoms, measured using the Symptoms Checklist-90. CONCLUSIONS: The most important factor in developing a psychopathologic reaction to alopecia seems to be the presence of a Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition personality disorder and not the subject's gender.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Mutational spectrum of phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency in Sicily: implications for diagnosis of hyperphenylalaninemia in southern Europe.

Hyperphenylalaninemia due to a deficiency of hepatic phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) is the most common inborn error of amino acid metabolism. Clinically, the disorder is highly heterogeneous, spanning from nonphenylketonuria hyperphenylalaninemia to classical phenylketonuria. Only little is known about the molecular defects underlying hyperphenylalaninemia in Southern Europe. In this study, we conducted a systematic analysis of 53 patients from the Sicilian population. Each patient included in the study had persistently elevated blood levels of phenylalanine and met the differential criteria for PAH deficiency. Genomic DNA was analysed by scanning all PAH-coding exons for mutations by PCR in combination with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). 52 patients were completely genotyped. A spectrum of 40 different mutations was established including 17 novel PAH mutations. Our results explain the clinical heterogeneity of hyperphenylalaninemia in Southern Europe, and form the basis for the establishment of phenotype-genotype correlations in Sicily and surrounding countries.

Alleles↗
PubMed1993

Lipid and apoprotein A-I and B levels in obese school-age children: results of a study in the Milan area.

The association between lipids and apoproteins and indices of fat patterning was assessed in a sample of school-age children of both sexes. The study included 361 children between 6 and 15 years of age in two urban centers in the Milan area. Ages, weights, and skin folds were recorded, and percentages of overweight and body mass index were derived. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (C-HDL), triglycerides (TRIGL), apoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and apoprotein B (apoB) were assayed. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (C-LDL) was calculated. The obese boys had significantly higher levels of TRIGL and apoB than nonobese boys. The obese girls had significantly higher TC, TRIGL, C-LDL, and apoB levels than the nonobese girls, but lower C-HDL. The LDL/apoB ratio was lower in obese than normal-weight boys. The subscapular/tricipital fold ratio (S/T) was correlated positively with TRIGL and inversely with C-HDL in boys, while in girls it was correlated with TRIGL and apoB. The subscapular/iliac fold ratio (S/I) was correlated with the C-LDL/apoB ratio only in girls. These data underline the importance of anthropometric parameters and indices of fat patterning in determining early cardiovascular risk factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Control of the cardiac consequences of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion by L-propionylcarnitine: age-response and dose-response studies in the rat heart.

We assessed the protective effects of L-propionylcarnitine, a liposoluble analogue of carnitine, in the isolated heart from rats of different ages subjected to global ischemia and reperfusion. Hearts from neonatal (3- to 7-d-old), immature (2- to 3-wk-old), and adult rats were retrogradely perfused with a modified Krebs bicarbonate buffer and subjected to ischemia and reperfusion. L-Pro-pionylcarnitine was given either before ischemia and throughout reperfusion (protocol 1) or during reperfusion only (protocol 2). Coronary flow, heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure, and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were measured throughout the perfusion period. Ventricular arrhythmias and creatine kinase leakage were measured at the time of reperfusion. Postischemic recovery of coronary flow and left ventricular developed pressure were age dependent and were not affected by L-propionylcarnitine, but recovery of heart rate was decreased in neonatal and immature hearts by 10(-4) M and 10(-5) M (p < 0.05), compared with controls (protocol 2). L-Propionylcarnitine always reduced creatine kinase leakage in the adult (p < 0.05) compared with controls (protocol 1). No effects on creatine kinase leakage were observed in neonatal and immature hearts. This study found that injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion was age dependent. Neonatal and immature hearts were more resistant to injury than adult hearts. The recovery of cardiac function was not affected by L-propionylcarnitine. However, in the adult rat hearts, L-propionylcarnitine given before ischemia and throughout reperfusion was protective by reducing creatine kinase leakage.

Aging↗
PubMed1993

A comparison of nimesulide and placebo in the treatment of minor traumatic soft tissue lesions in children.

A total of 40 children with minor traumatic injuries of soft tissues were randomly assigned to oral treatment with nimesulide (50mg twice daily) or placebo for 5 days in a double-blind investigation. Results demonstrated that therapy with nimesulide was associated with a significant resolution of symptoms (pain at rest and during movement) and signs (oedema, immobility and haematoma), which was statistically superior to that demonstrated for placebo. Furthermore, nimesulide was well tolerated by all patients and was not associated with gastrointestinal problems. These findings suggest that nimesulide is a suitable therapy for children with minor traumatic lesions.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1993

Single-dose versus multi-dose cardioplegia in the immature rat heart: studies with normothermic and hypothermic ischemia.

The efficacy of cardioplegia in the neonatal heart has been questioned and some studies have suggested that, in the rabbit, multi-dose hypothermic cardioplegia may be damaging. We have therefore compared the protective properties of multi-dose and single-dose cardioplegia in the immature rat heart with normothermic and hypothermic ischemia. Isolated Langendorff perfused hearts (n = 6 per group) from 8-10 day-old rats, were arrested with a single-dose (2 min at the onset of ischemia) or multi-dose (2 min at onset of ischemia and repeatedly throughout ischemia) of warm (37 degrees C) or cold (10 degrees C) St Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution. The hearts were then subjected to 1 h of normothermic global ischemia or 24 h of hypothermic ischemia, followed by normothermic reperfusion of 30 min. In the normothermic studies the post-ischemic recovery of left ventricular developed pressure was 44 +/- 6% of its pre-ischemic value with single-dose cardioplegia versus 56 +/- 4% with multi-dose (cardioplegic infusion every 15 min). In the hypothermic studies the trend was in the opposite direction; the postischemic recovery of left ventricular developed pressure was 46 +/- 2% in the single-dose group, whereas in the multi-dose (cardioplegic infusion every 6 h) group the recovery was 28 +/- 3% (p < 0.05). Thus, in accord with other studies in other species we have demonstrated that multi-dose cardioplegia fails to afford any substantial additional protection when compared with single-dose cardioplegia. Under conditions of extended hypothermia there may even be a detrimental effect of multi-dose cardioplegia.

Analysis of Variance↗