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Biomedical subjects

F Ferrero

Publications and source records attributed to F Ferrero.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum antibodies to diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine components in Argentine children.

The Argentine vaccination schedule against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) recommends three doses of DTP vaccine at 2, 4 and 6 months of age, two boosters at 18 months and 6 years, a booster dose of tetanus vaccine every 10 years and two doses during pregnancy. To evaluate the effect of this schedule, antibodies against pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and against tetanus and diphtheria toxoids were determined by ELISA in serum samples from children (1 month to 6 years) who received different doses of DPT vaccine: 0 dose (n = 50), 1 dose (n = 25), 2 doses (n = 25), 3 doses (n = 55), first and second booster (n = 25); 25 pregnant women and their offspring, and 45 adults. High antibody levels against PT (> 140 EU/ml) and FHA (> 80 EU/ml) were recorded in mothers and in the newborn. Antibody titers against PT increased with the number of doses given and decreased with time. Full protection against tetanus (titers > 0.1 IU/ml) was observed in the group of adults (0.37 IU/ml), in mothers (4.4 IU/ml) and their newborn offspring (5.5 IU/ml), and in children after receiving the second dose of DTP vaccine (1.86 IU/ml). The immune status for diphtheria was far lower, as most of the groups lacked adequate protection. After the third dose of DTP vaccine, only 78% of the children had antibody titers above the protective level (0.1 IU/ml). Since antibody levels considered to provide full protection were only achieved after the first booster dose of DTP vaccine, the primary three-dose schedule seems to be insufficient to confer adequate immunity in all vaccinees. Because of the high proportion of non-protected adults, a booster dose of Td vaccine should be considered for this group.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical relevance of adjustment disorder in DSM-III-4 and DSM-IV.

This study examines the diagnosis of adjustment disorder in DSM-III-R. In view of the methodological problems associated with this, we investigated clinical characteristics of patients to whom the diagnosis had been applied. The patients in question were treated at the University Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic in Lausanne, Switzerland (N = 1,308). Four groups of comparisons are made: between adjustment disorder, other diagnoses, and no diagnosis; between adjustment disorder with depressed mood and other mood disorders; between adjustment disorder with anxious mood and anxiety disorders; and between the clinical subdivisions of adjustment disorder. This diagnosis is characterized by a high number of marital stressors, low age, predominance of women, and short period of treatment. The clinical profile is marked by a predominance of depressive and mixed types, and the relationship between these is demonstrated. Finally, the course of a certain proportion of these disorders goes beyond the 6-month period stipulated by DSM-III-R. This result justifies the modifications introduced in DSM-IV.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Validation of the French Version of the Life Skills Profile with people suffering of schizophrenia].

INTRODUCTION: Since the discovery of neuroleptics and the reintegration of people with schizophrenia in the community, psycho-social reeducation became an essential part of the treatment. The Life Skills Profile is a tool of reference for assessment of the dimensions, which have an impact on the adaptation in community. Each item describes an observable behavior, written in common language, to allow the care-givers and the family to evaluate it without having a specific formation. The long version (39 items) is recommended for therapeutic interventions with a person and the short one (20 items) for large scale studies on outcome in community. AIM OF THE STUDY: In order to dispose of a measure of function and disability in schizophrenia, we have translated the Life Skills Profile (LSP) in French and tested the validity of this translation for the long version (39 items) and the short ones (16 and 20 items). The 4 dimensions of the 16-items version--"withdrawal", "self-care", "compliance" and "antisocial"--were used for people with mental disorders and the 20-items version enhanced with a fifth dimension "bizarre", especially useful for people with schizophrenia. METHOD: 175 people suffering of schizophrenia (DSM IV, codes F20.0 to F20.5) were evaluated by their caregivers in 3 settings: psychiatric hospital, ambulatory care and sheltered homes. Confirmatory factorial analyses were performed to test the dimensional models and their psychometric characteristics were established. RESULTS: The original structure in 5 dimensions of the long version (39 items) is not confirmed. However, the short versions in 16 and 20 items were confirmed, without any modification. The required psychometric qualities of reliability and validity of the 20-items version were fulfilled. The inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.65 to 0.75 for the 5 dimensions; the test-retest reliability ranged from 0.80 to 0.91 and the internal consistency from 0.67 to 0.81. The validity was evaluated by comparison of the LSP scores upon living arrangements (people living in sheltered homes had lesser scores) and pathologies (19 people with severe major depression had higher scores). CONCLUSION: The 39-items version of the Life Skills Profile was not validated in French. However, for clinical practice of social rehabilitation, this tool remains useful for a single person to check specific behaviors, which could hinder his/her integration into the community, to plan specific interventions and to evaluate changes, in addition with other scales. By the validation of the short version of the Life Skills Profile, an instrument is at disposal in French for outcome studies which allow to: 1) quickly assess the social functioning of person suffering of schizophrenia by a caregiver or a family member; 2) to detect insufficient skills in specific domains; and 3) to evaluate therapeutic efficiency.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Expressed emotion: past, present, future].

Expressed Emotion (EE) proved to be the best single predictor of relapse in schizophrenia in 1972. Since then, studies on EE were oriented in three directions: Replication of the original study in different countries, improvement of the methodology and clinical applications. The analysis of different key studies shows that EE is a powerful predictor factor, although it is influenced by other variables such as culture.

Emotions↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A new classification of functional psychoses: the DCR (Diagnostic Criteria for Research) from B. Petho, T.A. Ban et al].

DCR represents an original way of research trying to determine more homogenous clinical entities. It is a research instrument elaborated with the purpose to identify forms and sub-categories of mental diseases which respond or are resistant to pharmacological treatments. This composite and complex system is based on an integration of different schools of psychiatry. The reference to Karl Leonhard represents a break with the kraepelinian tradition. In contradistinction with DSM-III-R, the DCR is based on the historical development of psychiatric concepts. The diagnoses are based on all stages of mental disease, and the syndromes are depending not only on the content of abnormal experiences, but also on their forms.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Tryptophan in the treatment of insomnia in hospitalized psychiatric patients].

In 21 psychiatric in-patients, the efficacy of tryptophan at the dose of 250 and 500 mgr, with or without sodium salicylate, has been evaluated with respect to placebo, according to a double-blind randomized design. The results show that none of the treatment conditions induced significant shortening of sleep latency.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Successful vascular reconstruction after inadvertent femoral artery "stripping".

A case of total stripping of the femoral axis secondary to saphenectomy is reported. This type of accident is followed by amputation unless quickly recognised and corrected. A combined saphenous vein and PTFE graft interposed between the origin of the superficial femoral and the distal part of the posterior tibial remained patent for three months. Its eventual thrombosis, however, did not result in loss of the limb, because a sound compensatory circulation had been established in the meanwhile. It is therefore felt that repair surgery is always worth attempting, even in the case of extensive arterial lesions that will otherwise necessitate amputation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Analysis of the trajectory of care of a cohort of 280 depressive patients. Initial results].

This work presents an analysis instrument and the first results obtained while applying it to 280 depressive patients compared to 496 non-depressive patients who were followed during a 4 year period. The treatment follow-up permits us to present the chronological "history" of the patient's contacts with different services and to establish a classification. One of the interests, for the clinician, consists in specifying the best therapeutical approach possible. A more detailed study should allow us to relate certain patterns with diagnostic subcategories and to determine if the high proportion of short patterns corresponds to the "successful" treatments or to the dropouts.

Adult↗