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Biomedical subjects

G Giammanco

Publications and source records attributed to G Giammanco.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Molecular typing of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Wien by rRNA gene restriction patterns.

Analysis of digested DNA from 40 Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Wien isolates revealed five different rRNA gene restriction patterns for HindIII (H1 to H5) and five for PstI (P1 to P5). The isolates had been selected on the basis of the year of isolation, the geographic origin and the antibiotic resistance pattern and were distinguished as follows: a) 13 pre-epidemic isolates from different French towns in 1958-69 and from Senegal in 1968; b) 7 epidemic isolates from Algiers in 1969; c) 20 post-epidemic isolates from different French and Italian towns in 1970-90. Three different rRNA patterns (H1P1, H3P3 and H4P4) were observed among the pre-epidemic isolates. Conversely, the epidemic isolates, which were characterized by the previously described large antibiotic resistance patterns and by the presence of 1.3 and 80-109 MDa plasmids, belonged to the same H1P1 ribotype. All but two post-epidemic isolates were of the H1P1 ribotype. The determination of rRNA gene restriction patterns together with the plasmid content proved to be useful for a better characterization of the serovar Wien endemic and epidemic isolates.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Pyrazinamidase activity in Enterobacteriaceae.

Pyrazinamidase activity was tested in 1,033 strains of 15 different genera of Enterobacteriaceae. The test was performed by a simple method which reveals the production of pyrazionic acid by a heavy bacterial suspension in 0.2 ml of a 0.5% pyrazinecarboxamide solution in Tris-maleate (0.2 M, pH 6) buffer after incubation for 18 h at 37 degrees C. Positivity was revealed by the development of a pink to red color after addition of 2 drops of 1% extemporaneously prepared ferrous ammonium sulphate aqueous solution. Pyrazinamidase activity proved to be a useful characteristic for the differentiation of some species from other enterobacteria devoid of this property. Because of its simplicity, this test is suitable for its introduction into the miniaturized diagnostic kits for the identification of enterobacteria.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1992

An enzymatic procedure for the confirmation of total coliforms and Escherichia coli enumeration from water.

A new procedure for the confirmation of total coliforms and Escherichia coli from presumptive most probable number (MPN) test is described. The procedure utilizes an enzymatic test apparatus composed of a couple of devices, one charged with ONPG-medium for the detection of beta-galactosidase, the other with PNPG-medium for the detection of beta-glucuronidase. The results obtained demonstrate that the procedure is sensitive, specific and accurate. Further, it presents some advantages from the practical point of view: the cost of the devices is relatively low, their use is extremely simple and short time consuming, a single thermostatic apparatus adjusted at 36 degrees C for the incubation of the devices is only required, the results can be obtained after 18 h without any apparatus for the lecture (e.g. UV apparatus), they are not submitted to subjective interpretation.

Colony Count, Microbial↗
PubMed1991

Immune response to simultaneous administration of a recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine and multiple compulsory vaccines in infancy.

The reactogenicity and immunogenicity of simultaneous administration of recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DT) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) in 111 infants were compared with those of DT and OPV alone in a control group of 21 infants. All subjects received three doses of the vaccine according to one of three different schedules of vaccination. Reactions following simultaneous administration of vaccines were all but absent, with mild pain reported for four out of 111 subjects, compared with one of 21 in the control group. Seroconversion rates of 98-100% and high anti-HBs geometric mean titres (GMTs) were observed in all study groups after three doses of hepatitis B vaccine. Significantly higher anti-HBs were seen in Group III, where six months is allowed between the second and the third hepatitis B vaccine doses, compared with Group I and II, where only 1-2 months separate the second and third doses. A fourth dose of vaccine was needed in both these groups to obtain anti-HBs levels as high as seen in Group III after three vaccine doses at 3, 4 and 10 months of age. The immune response to DT and OPV was similar in the study groups and the control group. It is concluded that a course of 10 micrograms doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine given simultaneously with DT and OPV elicits a strong anti-HBs response and does not interfere with the immune response to the other antigens.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1989

Epidemiology of acute diarrhea in children living in Sicily.

A longitudinal survey (February 1984 - January 1985) on the incidence of acute diarrhea episodes in a sample of 8,164 children (aged 0-12 years) living in southeastern Sicily was carried out by means of weekly telephone interviews with doctors practising in the territory. The incidence rate was 0.479 (0.472-0.485 95% C.I.) per child per year and the frequency of episodes was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in children aged 0-4 years (0.86). Diarrhea was more frequent in industrial areas than in rural ones, and almost half (45.1%) of the total episodes had a mild course. No death from diarrhea occurred and admission to hospital was reported for 8.4% of all cases.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Interference of oral poliovirus vaccine on RIT 4237 oral rotavirus vaccine.

A vaccination trial, performed on 86 3-month-old infants, has shown that the ability of the RIT 4237 live attenuated rotavirus strain to induce seroconversion is dramatically reduced when administered with live poliovirus vaccine. In a subsequent trial performed on 93 infants the attempt to overcome the poliovirus interference by administering two doses of associated vaccines was unsuccessful. No interference by the RIT 4237 strain on live attenuated polioviruses was observed.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1987

Immunological changes in beta-thalassemia major patients positive for HTLV-III antibodies.

Antibodies to HTLV-III were found in 6 of 206 Sicilian patients with thalassemia major, aged 1 to 30 years. None of the patients showed clinical signs related to immuno-deficiency syndromes. Immunological investigations carried out in all positive patients showed alterations similar to those found in thalassemic patients without antibodies to HTLV-III. These immunological changes could not depend on the HTLV-III infection, but could be related to the thalassemic condition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Antibiotic resistance and R plasmids in endemic strains of Salmonella typhimurium isolated in Sicily.

The characteristics of R plasmids in strains of Salmonella typhimurium isolated in Sicily during 1983 from apparently isolated cases of human infection have been determined. A plasmid of the Inc group 10-B-0, characterized by ApSm resistance markers and with a molecular weight of 70 Md, was found in strains belonging to different phage types (2, 3, 117, 135, NT). The data obtained suggest that strains of the same phage type harboring such plasmids come from the same bacterial clone which has continued to be endemic through interhuman contagion. Instead, the presence of the same plasmid in strains of different phage type could indicate its spreading in different bacterial clones.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1987

Yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine in thalassaemic patients: a preliminary report.

Preliminary results of a trial involving a yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine administered to 41 transfusion-dependent thalassaemic patients and 2 patients with spherocytosis are reported. Twenty-microgram doses of HBsAg were administered according to either a 0, 1, and 6 month or 0, 1, and 2 month schedule. Serum specimens collected prior to vaccination, one month after each vaccine dose, and again at 5 and 15 months, were tested for HBV markers and ALT. To date, seroconversion (anti-HBs titres greater than 10 IU/l) was observed in 15%, 67%, and 86% of patients one month following the three vaccine doses, respectively. Although the study is still in progress, a comparison of these results with those previously obtained using plasma-derived vaccine indicates that seroconversion to the recombinant yeast-derived vaccine is at least as high as that obtained by plasma-derived vaccines in patients affected by thalassaemia major.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

A simple chromogenic test for rapid screening of Proteus and Providencia bacteria.

A rapid test for detection of p-nitrophenylalanine ammonia-lyase is described. The test is performed by suspending a loopful of bacteria in 0.5 ml of a buffered 1 mM solution of p-nitro-DL-phenylalanine (PNPA). The enzymatic activity is revealed by the formation of a yellow colour after 2 hours of incubation at 35 degrees C. Out of 285 strains of different enterobacteria species positive results were shown only by 75 Proteus and Providence strains. Thus, the PNPA test can be useful for rapid screening of these enterobacteria.

Ammonia-Lyases↗
PubMed1985

A rapid multistrips tests for determination of the enzyme profile in enterobacteria.

A simple test for the detection of bacterial enzymes has been developed using paper strip impregnated with different chromogenic substrates. The test was applied to 145 strains belonging to various species of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Positive reactions were revealed after four hours of incubation at 35 degrees C by the formation of a yellow colour indicating released nitrophenol or nitranilide where a loopful of bacteria had been placed. The results of the multistrips test were in agreement with those obtained by previously described methods for the detection of beta-galactosidase, beta-xylosidase, beta-glucuronidase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and phenylalanine ammonialyase. The suitability of the test for rapid determination of the enzyme profile in enterobacteria is discussed.

Colorimetry↗
PubMed1983

Possible diagnostic value of aminopeptidases detected by chromogenic substrates in Enterobacteriaceae.

The presence of aminopeptidases revealed by three chromogenic substrates (chromozym PL, chromozym TH, and carbobenzoxy-glycyl-prolyl-arginine-p-nitranilide) has been investigated by a simple method in 153 strains of different genera and species of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The results suggest that the AP-PL, AP-TH, and AP-CGPA tests can be of diagnostic value for the identification of enterobacteria.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1981

[Multicenter study on the distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains in Italy].

Pneumococcal serotyping by quellung reaction has been performed in five Italian areas on 267 strains, isolated from throat swab, sputum, blood, liquor, etc. 37 serotypes have been identified. The most frequent types resulted 19, 6, 3, 20, 9, 4 (in 50% of total samples), with no difference from those detected in other European countries. The proportion of type 19 was the highest among all age group, in four out of five different areas and in bacteremic pneumonia and meningitis. 36 strains were isolated from infection sites among which type 19 resulted more frequent than in isolates from throat swab and sputum (27.7% versus 16.1%). Pneumococcal serotyping should be routinely done in the light of forthcoming use of polysaccharide vaccine.

Adult↗
PubMed1972

Chloramphenicol combined with ampicillin in treatment of typhoid.

Fifty out of 100 patients with typhoid fever, matched for age, stage of illness, and degree of fever, were treated with chloramphenicol and the other 50 were treated with chloramphenicol combined with ampicillin. The febrile period was shortened by up to 29% in patients treated with the combined drugs compared with those given only chloramphenicol. Moreover, no patient on combined therapy had a febrile relapse, whereas two relapses occurred among patients treated with chloramphenicol only. We conclude that chloramphenicol and ampicillin together are better than chloramphenicol alone in the treatment of typhoid fever.

Adolescent↗