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Biomedical subjects

G Giammanco

Publications and source records attributed to G Giammanco.

72 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Persistence of circulation of Corynebacterium diphtheriae non-toxigenic strains and low prevalence of carriers in a sample of children vaccinated against diphtheria].

This study was carried out with the aim to investigate the presence of carriers of diphtheria bacillus in a sample of 1970 healthy children, 6-14 years aged, residing in eight Italian towns. Three non-toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae biotype mitis were isolated from as many healthy children. Molecular characterization by ribotyping showed close genetic relation of two of the wild strains with the C7(b) reference strain whereas one of the wild strains showed close genetic relation with two collection strains isolated in the same geographic area (Emilia-Romagna) from diphtheria patients in the seventy years. This supports the hypothesis of the persistence of some non toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains derived from ancient endemic strains under the selective pressure of mass immunization against diphtheria. The persistence of carriers of diphtheria bacilli, although non toxigenic, suggests that high levels of immunity must be maintained, not only in children, but also in adults by booster vaccination.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Domestic injuries in childhood. Results of a survey carried out in a Sicilian area].

A retrospective investigation was performed with an anonymous questionnaire administered to the mothers of 2208 children aged between 3 and 11 years, randomly selected from the residents of three target areas: a country town, a residential and a popular quarter of a chief town (Catania, Sicily). Of the 2208 mothers in the three areas, 1151 completed the questionnaire with an overall response rate of 52.12%. In the last 6 months a large number of children (17.29%) suffered at least one accident at home. Predominating injuries were falls (71.86%) followed by cutting or stab-wounds (13.57%). The more frequent lesions were contusions (42.13%), wounds (29.95%) and fractures (14.22%). Almost the half of children victims of injuries required hospital care (44.72%). The majority of domestic accidents occurred in the bathroom (17.10%), in the kitchen (15.10%) and in the bedroom (10.55%). Fractures and wounds were more frequent among children aged 6-11 and 3-5 years, respectively. The highest frequency of domestic accidents among children of all ages living in the popular quarter (20.89%) and in the country town (19.18%) compared with those living in the residential quarter (11.67%) (chi2= 12,768, P<0.01) could be related to their lower socio-economic condition.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Interest of gamma-glutamyltransferase in "Enterobacteriaceae" (author's transl)].

Gamma-Glutamyltransferase (gammaGT) could be detected in 86,6% of 3,027 strains of Enterobacteriaceae, by the use of gamma-L-glutamin-p-nitranilide acid for substrate. The following species produced gamma GT: Citrobacter freundii, Levinea malonatica, L. amalonatica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. oxytoca, K. ozaenae, Enterobacter aerogenes, E. cloacae, E. agglomerans, E. gergoviae, K. ozaenae, Enterobacter aerogenes, E. cloacae, E. agglomerans, E. gergoviae, Hafnia alvei, Erwinia carotovora, Serratia marcescens, S. liquefaciens, S. plymuthica, S. marinorubra, S. odorifera, S. ficaria, Proteus vulgaris, P. mirabilis, P. morganii, P. rettgeri, Providencia alcalifaciens, P. stuartii, Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis. Most strains of Escherichia coli and Alkalescens Dispar group are gamma GT+. The following species did not produce gammaGT: Shigella sonnei, Edwardsiella tarda, Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis and Yersinia pestis. Within the Salmonella, most strains of subgenus I, II and IV, and diphasic strains of subgenus III (S. arizonae) produced gamma GT, whereas monophasic strains of subgenus III did not produce gammaGT. Salmonella enteritidis (gammaGT+) and S. dublin (gammaGT-) can readily be distinguished. This test (gammaGT) could also serve as a biochemical marker for S. typhi-murium strains. Shigella dysenteriae serotypes 3 to 9 were gammaGT+ whereas other serotypes were gammaGT-. Within S. flexneri serotype 6, varieties Boyd 88 and Newcastle were found gammaGT+; and varieties Sussex and Manchester were gammaGT-. The use of gammaGT test as an epidemiological marker for other Shigella serotypes is suggested.

Enterobacteriaceae↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Incompatibility groups of resistance plasmids of Shigella sonnei].

The antibiotic resistance of 12 strains of Shigella sonnei isolated in Sicily was studied. All the strains were proved to carry autotransferable R plasmids belonging to 4 incompatibility groups: Inc I1, FI, FII and B-10-0. The variety of R plasmids identified gives evidence of the frequency of exchange of S. sonnei with other enterobacteria.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗