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G Caramia

Publications and source records attributed to G Caramia.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The vinification of partially dried grapes: a comparative fermentation study of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains under high sugar stress.

AIMS: The study of the fermentation performance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains under high sugar stress during the vinification of partially dried grapes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microvinification of partially dried grape must with sugar concentration of 35 degrees Brix was performed using four commercial strains to carry out alcoholic fermentation. A traditional red vinification without nutrients addition was applied. Yeasts displayed different efficiency to convert sugar in ethanol and varied in glycerol yield. Sugar consumption and ethanol level were attested at 80-87% and 143.5-158.0 g l(-1) respectively. High correlation between sugar and assimilable nitrogen consumption rate was observed. Statistical treatment of data by principal component analysis highlighted the different behaviours that strains exhibited in regard to the production of higher alcohols and other compounds important to wine quality. CONCLUSIONS: Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains displayed appreciable capability to overcome osmotic stress and to yield ethanol fermenting high sugar concentration grape must in winemaking condition. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results provided insights on the strain contribution to wine quality subordinate to stress condition. This investigation is of applicative interest for winemaking and processing industry that use high sugar concentration musts.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗
PubMed2005

[Antipneumococcal vaccine: up date and prospective].

The authors, after a brief survey of the historical evolution of the antipneumococcal vaccines, concentrate on the most recent acquisitions concerning epidemiologic infections of pneumococcus in Italy and abroad. What emerged is the importance of prevention through an efficacious vaccination of the invasive forms particularly frequent in infants. Among there, and above all, meningitis; when not fatal, is very often the cause of serious illness. For this motive with the availability today of efficacious conjugated vaccine in infancy, a period with more frequent and invasive forms, it was first proposed to offer an antipneumococcal vaccination to children under 5 years of age that present particular clinical pathological conditions and later reconsidered the opportunity to extend the vaccination. Discussed and underlined are the differences between antipneumococcal vaccines available today, the importance of vaccinal coverage with conjugated vaccine from the first months of birth, and the fact that on extended vaccination campaign with such a vaccine can reduce the state of nasopharyngeal carriage of serotypes contained in the vaccine ever though penicillin resistant with an increase, however, of the state of carriage for serotypes not contained in the vaccine giving place to a phenomenon some call ''replacement'' of pathogens with non-pathogen germs. An ulterior benefit over the pneumococcal pathology is represented by the significative effect of ''herd immunity'' on subjects not vaccinated, factor that underscores the opportunity to extend the vaccination as much as possible. The importance of a precocious and rapid diagnosis with the tests available today and the necessity to vaccinate ever subjects that have overcome a serious pneumococcal infection in order to protect the subject from other types of pneumococcal particularly aggressive. Even though the vaccines actually available do not represent a final solution in the prevention of pneumococcus disease and the struggle against such pathology is destined to continue, the success obtained merits a certain satisfaction.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

Uric acid, phosphate and oxalate stones: treatment and prophylaxis.

Medical treatment for the most commonly encountered types of renal stones is described. Nowadays treatment for uric acid stones is well-defined: alkalinizing urine is easy with drugs that are sufficiently active and well enough managed. Relapse is avoided in a high percentage of patients. Medical treatment of phosphate or calcium stones is a more open question as results are far from satisfactory compared with intra- and extra-corporeal approaches which are often minimally invasive and well accepted by both patient and urologist. Relapses are not easy to control because prophylactic measures such as changes in lifestyle and diet are never activated or because they are adopted for a brief period of time. Water therapy is examined, with the choice of water depending on the type of stone, together with drug therapy. Drugs such as citrate, with or without magnesium, and thiazides are considered excellent for curing renal stones and relapses. Although medical therapy has a limited role in many types of stones, its use is decisive in some others.

Calcium Oxalate↗
PubMed2004

[Transfusions in paediatric emergencies].

The interest in pathological emergencies and their therapeutical options has underscored the need for immediate, precise and evidence based criteria in the administration of blood products. In fact these often are an extremely important therapeutical option, above all for children less than 3 years old. Therefore our work pointed out a precise and easy to follow diagnostic and therapeutic alghoritm as already done for other clinical emergencies. We tried to supply all the indications for the correct use of whole blood, red packed cells, platelets, granulocytes, plasma and albumin. This alghoritm includes the history, the ethiological and clinical aspects, the domiciliary interventions, the indications to the admission, the diagnostic investigations, the therapeutical aspects and the indications to the discharge. Starting from our assigned aims and following the above mentioned alghoritm, we also try to give some practical updated and evidence based hints to face the difficult situations arisen by the anxious attentions of the relatives. In fact these can sometimes be cause of mistakes. Medicine is, however, a ever changing science. The new knowledges and technologies and the changes according to the new acquisitions are at the basis of the continuous development of new diagnostic and therapeutical approaches. Our aim was therefore to provide a state of art in this field using the data published in the most recent and authoritative literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Post-operative monitoring of cortical taurine in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage: a microdialysis study.

Intracerebral MD enables the retrieval of endogenous substances from the extracellular fluid (ECF) of the brain and has been demonstrated to be a sensitive technique for early detection of subtle vasospasm-induced neurometabolic abnormalities in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this study was to monitor cortical extracellular concentrations of energy metabolism markers, such as glucose and lactate, neurotransmitter amino acids, such as glutamate, aspartate, GABA and taurine to identify any neurochemical patterns of cerebral ischemia. A prospective clinical study was conducted on a group of 16 patients with non-severe SAH operated on within 72 hours after initial bleeding. Following aneurysm clipping, an MD catheter was inserted in the cortical region where vasospasm could be expected to develop, and perfused with artificial CSF at 0.3 microl/min flow rate. Dialysate was collected every 6 hours and then analyzed on High Performance Liquid Cromatography (HPLC) for glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glutamate, aspartate, GABA and taurine. Mean ECF taurine concentrations ranged from 1.4 + 0.7 to 12.3 + 7.8 micromol/l in single patients: global mean value was 5.8 + 3.8 micromol/l. In this series, the highest absolute taurine value was 25.7 micromol/l, observed in a patient who developed clinical and radiological signs of cerebral ischemia. Nine patients presented clinical disturbances related to cerebral vasospasm. In this setting, representing a mild-to-moderate hypoxic condition, MD data demonstrated that lactate is the most sensitive marker of cellular energy imbalance. Increased lactate levels positively correlated with glutamate (P<0.0001), aspartate (P<0.0001), GABA (P<0.0001) and taurine (P<0.0001) concentrations. These results suggest that also in humans increased taurine levels reflect a condition of cellular stress. This study confirms that MD is a sensitive technique to reveal subtle metabolic abnormalities possibly resulting in cell damage.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Epidemiology and treatment of otitis media with effusion in children in the first year of primary school.

In this multicentre study we evaluated the prevalence and risk factors of otitis media with effusion (OME) in Italian school-children and the effectiveness of medical treatment of chronic OME with a new cephalosporin, ceftibuten. During two winter periods, 3413 children, aged 5 to 7 years, were examined for the presence of OME by means of pneumotoscopy and a portable, hand-held tympanometer. The prevalence of asymptomatic OME was 14.2%, with no difference as regards sex, age, month of examination or geographic area. Younger children had significantly more bilateral than unilateral effusion. A recent episode of acute otitis media and previous tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy were associated with an increased risk of OME in multivariate logistic regression models. The presence of OME was unrelated to such factors as birthweight, prematurity, sibling or parental history of allergy, duration of daycare attendance, family history of ear infections. After 12 weeks, 26.6% of children with OME still had middle-ear fluid: 52 were randomized to ceftibuten (9 mg/kg q.d. for 14 days) and 59 to no treatment (nasal saline drops allowed). Children treated with ceftibuten had a significantly better resolution of middle-ear effusion after 4 and 8 weeks. As mass screening programmes for OME in the year of school entry are questioned, a focus only on children with known risk factors seems advisable. Ceftibuten can be useful in reducing the duration of middle-ear effusion.

Ceftibuten↗
PubMed1997

Genetic history of cystic fibrosis mutations in Italy. I. Regional distribution.

Earlier analysis of the Italian population showed patterns of genetic differentiation that were interpreted as being the result of population settlements going back to pre-Roman times. DNA disease mutations may be a powerful tool in further testing this hypothesis since the analysis of diseased individuals can detect variants too rare to be resolved in normal individuals. We present data on the relative frequencies of 60 cystic fibrosis (CF) mutations in Italy and the geographical distribution of the 12 most frequent CF mutations screened in 3492 CF chromosomes originating in 13 Italian regions. The 12 most frequent mutations characterize about 73% of the Italian CF chromosomes. The most common mutation, delta F508, has an average frequency of 51%, followed by N1303K and G542X, both with average frequencies around 5%. Multivariate analyses show that the relative frequencies of CF mutations are heterogeneous among Italian regions, and that this heterogeneity is weakly correlated with the geographical pattern of non-DNA 'classical' genetic markers. The northern regions are well differentiated from the central-southern regions and within the former group the western and eastern regions are remarkably distinct. Moreover, Sardinia shows the presence of mutation T338I, which seems absent in any other European CF chromosome. The north-western regions of Italy, characterized by the mutation 1717-1G-->A, were under Celtic influence, while the north-east regions, characterized by the mutations R1162X, 2183AA-->G and 711 + 5G-->A, were under the influence of the Venetic culture.

Cystic Fibrosis↗
PubMed1997

Spondylo-mesomelic-acrodysplasia with joint dislocations and severe combined immunodeficiency: a newly recognised immuno-osseous dysplasia.

A newborn girl is described with an association of spondylo-acrodysplasia, mild short limbed dwarfism without significant metaphyseal changes, joint dislocations, and severe immune system dysfunction. This association is distinct from other known immuno-osseous dysplasias, including Schimke dysplasia, ADA deficiency with osseous changes, and Omenn phenotype with short limbed dwarfism.

Female↗
PubMed1996

The efficacy of E.P.D., a new immunotherapy, in the treatment of allergic diseases in children.

A double blind study was made on a group of 35 children, 8 of whom were allergic to Grass and 27 allergic to Pteronyssinus and Farinae Dermatophagoides. We verified the efficacy and tolerability of a new immunotherapy called E.P.D. (Enzyme Potentiated Desensitization). This particular immunotherapy consists in an intradermal injection of a mix made up of an allergic solution at extremely low doses and an enzyme, beta-glucuronidase. The vaccine is administered once a year, two weeks before pollen peaks for children with seasonal allergies and two times a year, in February and November, for children with non-seasonal allergies (Dermatophagoides). The results, statistically analyzed on the basis of a symptoms score, showed good clinical efficacy in patients affected by both seasonal and non-seasonal allergies. Due to the clinical effectiveness, easy administration and excellent tolerability of the immunotherapy, E.P.D. is particularly suited for treating or reducing allergic symptoms in allergic children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Role of the low zinc bioavailability on cellular immune effectiveness in cystic fibrosis.

An altered cellular immune response as a secondary phenomenon has been suggested to be probably involved in the bronchopulmonary infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF). The difficulty to eradicate with modern anti-pseudomonal antibiotics the bronchopulmonary infections has led us to further investigate the possible existence of other cellular immune defects and their cause. Alterations in zinc turnover are present in CF. Zinc is relevant for good immune functioning. In particular, zinc is required to confer biological activity to thymulin (ZnFTS), a biochemically defined thymic hormone with a modulating action on cell-mediated immunity. The zinc-unbound form (FTS) is inactive and it can be unmasked by in vitro zinc addition to the plasma samples revealing the total amount of circulating thymulin (active + inactive). Marginal zinc deficiencies may prevent peripheral biological activation of active thymulin. Total zinc-saturable thymulin fractions in CF are similar to those observed in normal subjects, whereas the active quota is strongly reduced associated with concomitant high plasma levels of inactive thymulin compared to the values of healthy children (P < 0.01). A strict correlation exists between zinc and thymic hormone-saturable fraction (r = 0.87, P < 0.01) in CF. These findings suggest that the defect is not due to a thymic failure but to a reduced peripheral saturation of thymulin by zinc ions. This defect might depend on augmented plasma concentration of alpha 2-macroglobulin, which has a higher binding affinity for zinc than thymulin. T cell subsets are normal in CF. Reduced NK cell number and activity are present. Also, plasma IL-2 levels are reduced. The existence of positive correlations between zinc and IL-2 (r = 0.79, P < 0.01) and between zinc or active thymulin and NK activity (r = 0.70, P < 0.01 and r = 0.88, P < 0.01, respectively) suggest a close link among zinc failure, impaired IL-2 activity, low thymulin level, and reduced NK activity in CF patients with both normal and growth retardation. Although the role of NK cells is unknown in CF, a zinc supplementation, in order to induce a complete saturation of thymulin molecules, to correct some cellular immune defects and to improve the growth, may be suggested.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Varicella in immunocompetent children in the first two years of life: role of treatment with oral acyclovir. Italian Acyclovir-Chickenpox Study Group.

An open multicenter study has been carried out to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of oral acyclovir in the treatment of varicella in immunocompetent patients in the first two years of life. Fifty-three children aged 3-24 months received acyclovir at 80 mg/Kg/day in four divided doses for 4 to 6 days; 24 of them were treated in the first 24 hours following disease onset, while the remaining 29 patients were enrolled within 48 hours. The assessment of evolution of disease signs and symptoms showed a rapid resolution of fever, itching and other constitutional symptoms, with interruption of vesicle formation and acceleration of cutaneous healing processes. No statistically significant differences have been demonstrated as to disease progression between patients treated in the first 24 hours, when compared with subjects receiving acyclovir in the following 24 hours. Acyclovir confirmed its excellent clinical and laboratory safety profile. By acting favorably on both the duration and severity of disease signs and symptoms, acyclovir treatment should be recommended in young children and infants with varicella, since a higher incidence of severe and complicated disease has been observed in these patient groups.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1994

Efficacy and safety of pidotimod in the treatment of recurrent respiratory infections in children.

The activity of pidotimod ((R)-3-[(S)-(5-oxo-2-pyrrolidinyl) carbonyl]-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, PGT/1A, CAS 121808-62-6) was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multicentre trial, on 120 pediatric patients affected by recurrent respiratory infections. The clinical course of acute infections was favourable both in placebo and in treatment group, but recovery was quicker with pidotimod than with placebo. Antibiotic therapy and time of hospitalization were shorter in the patients taking pidotimod, and main symptomatic parameters (pharyngalgia, dysphagia, mucous membrane inflammation, adenopathy, anorexia) receded quickly. In patients receiving the drug as well as in placebo group changes in laboratory parameters, indicating recovery from the acute infectious events, were observed. A significant trend to normalization of the immune response, evidenced by chemotaxis and leukocyte phagocytosis index, was found only in patients treated with pidotimod. A significant decrease in the risk of relapses was observed in patients treated with pidotimod (35%), as well as a reduction of hospitalization (86%) and a decreased antibiotic therapy (47%). If a relapse occurred, the response of treated patients was quicker (fever, antibiotic therapy, hospitalization). These findings allow to correlate the individual immune response activation to the resistance to recurrent infections and also to a better response to therapy in case of clinically relevant disease. No side effects were observed. Only in 12 patients (5 pidotimod, 7 placebo) mild reactions were observed, but they were attributed to concomitant antibiotic treatment or other factors. No alterations in main laboratory parameters were seen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1994

Therapeutic efficacy and safety of pidotimod in the treatment of urinary tract infections in children.

The activity of pidotimod ((R)-3-[(S)-(5-oxo-2-pyrrolidinyl) carbonyl]-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, PGT/1A, CAS 121808-62-6) was studied vs. placebo in a double-blind, randomized, multicentre trial, involving 60 pediatric patients with recurrent urinary tract infections. Recovery from acute events was quicker with pidotimod than with placebo (9.6 vs. 12.3 days). In treated patients antibiotic therapy was shorter (6.9 vs. 8.3 days) and main symptomatic parameters (body temperature, vesical tenesmus, stranguria, pollakiuria, total number of symptoms, total symptomatic intensity, rate of asymptomatic patients, haematuria, leukocyturia, positive urinary culture) receded quickly. In patients receiving the drug as well as in patients treated with placebo changes in laboratory parameters were observed, indicating recovery from the acute infectious disease. A significant trend to normalization of the immune response, expressed by chemotaxis and index of leukocyte phagocytosis, was found only in patients treated with pidotimod. After the acute episode a significant decrease of risk of relapses (69%) was observed in these patients. If a relapse occurs, the response of treated patients is quicker (duration of fever, total time of relapses) than for control patients. These findings allow to correlate the individual immune response activation to the resistance to recurrent infections and also to a better response to therapy if the disease occurs and becomes clinically relevant. No side effects were observed. Mild reactions (4 nausea/vomiting, 1 erythema) occurred only in 5 patients (2 pidotimod, 3 placebo) but were attributed to concomitant antibiotic therapy. No alterations of main laboratory parameters were found. These findings confirm the tolerability of the drug also in long-term treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary↗
PubMed1990

Streptococcal pharyngitis in Italian children: epidemiology and treatment with miocamycin.

A prospective multicentre study of Italian children with acute pharyngotonsillitis was carried out to determine the incidence of beta-haemolytic streptococcal infection and its epidemiological characteristics and to evaluate the effectiveness of a recently marketed macrolide, miocamycin. From February 1988 to March 1989, 865 children (aged 5 months to 14 years) were enrolled in 11 paediatric departments. Of these 31.9% had a positive throat culture for beta-haemolytic streptococci (26.6% group A streptococci, 5.3% group B, C, D or F). In 68.1% of the patients the throat culture did not yield any pathogen and the disease was considered to be probably viral. No epidemiological (age, season of occurrence, sex) or clinical characteristics (fever, pharyngeal hyperaemia, exudate etc.) could differentiate children with streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis from those with a probably viral one. Breese's score correctly identified only 19.1% of the cases with group A streptococcal infection. Miocamycin was given 50 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses for 10 days in 225 children with streptococcal pharyngitis. The drug exhibited good clinical efficacy (resolution or improvement of acute signs and symptoms) in 96.3% of the children and a microbiological efficacy (eradication of the causative bacteria) in 85.3%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Vaginal metastasis from renal cell carcinoma: the role of electron microscopy.

A case of vaginal metastasis from a renal cell carcinoma is reported. This rare localization is often the first clue leading to the diagnosis of an occult renal adenocarcinoma. The role of electron microscopy is emphasized, since the histologic aspect of the lesion is similar to that of a primary vaginal mesonephric adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Transurethral ultrasonography, CT scan, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and pathological control in staging and follow up of invasive bladder carcinoma.

Diagnostic accuracy in clinical staging of bladder cancer, using traditional methods, is still imperfect. Clinical and pathological staging do not always correlate. The accuracy of the new imaging techniques in the staging and in the follow-up of this kind of neoplasia, has yet to be assessed. Our study involved 7 patients with invasive bladder cancer who had undergone transurethral ultrasonography, CT scan, NMR and transurethral resection of the tumour. We have compared the clinical staging accuracy of the three imaging methods with the pathological reports. We conclude that transurethral ultrasonography is superior to the other methods, as far as local staging is concerned. In regional staging, NMR has shown very promising results and, in our preliminary opinion, may be more accurate than CT scan.

Carcinoma↗