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Biomedical subjects

G Pastore

Publications and source records attributed to G Pastore.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

[Antinuclear antibody (anti-HBc) and liver pathology in acute and chronic virus B hepatitis].

HBsAg and anti-HBc, the antibody to core antigen of hepatitis B virion, were titrated by solid phase radioimmunoassay in 40 sera of HBsAg carriers with acute and chronic hepatitis and in 20 healthy subjects carrying anti-HBc alone or associated with anti-HBs. No correlation was found between HBsAg and anti-HBc titers in the single category of patients. In contrast, geometric mean titer of anti-HBc (ranging from 2(14) to 2(15)) of patients with chronic active hepatitis was significantly higher ( p = < 0.01) than that of patients with acute or chronic persistent hepatitis and healthy HBsAg carriers (ranging from 2(9) to 2(14)). Anti-HBc titer of 20 subjects without detectable HBsAg was less than 2(7). These data suggest that in subjects with persistent B virus infection, anti-HBc response is correlated with synthesis of viral genome rather than of surface antigens, so that a much higher titer of anti-HBc was detected only in patients with a more active liver disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

[Distribution of anti-HAV in a population sample from Puglia].

To investigate the prevalence and distribution of antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV), we tested by solid phase radioimmunoassay method 461 sera of selected people of Bari, according to age. In addiction, sera from cord blood of 11 newborns and their mothers at delivery were also investigated for anti-HAV. Taken together 64.4 per cent of subjects tested were found to be anti-HAV positive. The rate of antibody detection was strongly correlated with age. The prevalence were 4.5 per cent from 6 months to 3 years but gradually increased throughout childhood (from 35.6 to 80 per cent). Anti-HAV was detected in all cord blood samples from newborns whose mothers carried anti-HAV. These data suggest that circulation of hepatitis A virus in our area is very high, so that serological evidence of infection become evident in the majority of individuals during infancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Serodiagnosis of acute hepatitis A].

Hepatitis A antibody (anti-HAV) was detected by specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) method in sera from 10 patients with acute icteric hepatitis. Anti-HAV was detectable in many subjects very early before the onset of jaundice, but the diagnosis of type A hepatitis in all patients was confirmed by the demonstration of seroconversion during convalescence. Since the initial antibody detected by RIA is predominantly IgM, while IgG specific anti-HAV appears later reaching peak levels within 1 to 2 months, we treated serum specimens of these patients with 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) in order to differentiate acute-from convalescent-phase hepatitis A sera. Inactivation of IgM fraction with 2ME produced a significant reduction of anti-HAV titer only in acute-phase sera, so that this procedure may be used for early diagnosis of acute type A hepatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Persistence of e antigen as prognostic marker in acute hepatitis B.

Serial determinations of HBeAg and anti-HBe were made in sera of 155 selected patients with acute hepatitis B who were followed up for one to four years. In the early phase of hepatitis, HBeAg was present in 43 cases (27.7%) and anti-HBe in 12 cases (7.7%). Evaluation of the outcome of hepatitis showed that development of chronic hepatitis occurred in 11 out of 43 HBeAg positive patients, in 10 out of 100 HBeAg negative patients (P = less than 0.05) and in 2 out of 12 patients carrying anti-HBe. Nine out of 11 HBeAg positive chronic subjects showed persistent HBe antigenemia over two months, while the remaining 32 patients, who recovered completely, lost HBeAg within two to three weeks from the onset of the disease. These data suggest that the prognostic value of HBeAg in acute hepatitis patients may be taken into account when HBeAg persists in the serum and that anti-HBe does not invariably protect from the development of chronic hepatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Radioimmunoassay in the detection of the hepatitis B e antigen/antibody system in asymptomatic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen. Correlation with serum Dane particle associated DNA polymerase activity.

A radioimmunoassay for hepatitis e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody to e (anti-HBe) was developed and sera of 71 asymptomatic chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), in 44 of whom liver biopsy was obtained, were tested. In addition, testing for Dane particle associated DNA polymerase activity was performed in all sera. HBeAg was detected in 14 subjects (19.7%) and anti-HBe in 46 (64.8%). The highest proportion of HBeAg positivity (40%) was found among carriers with histological evidence of chronic hepatitis, whereas anti-HBe was present in 80% of carriers with normal liver histology, in 58% of carriers with non-specific reactive hepatitis and in 60% of carriers with chronic liver lesions. DNA polymerase activity was present in 92.8% of sera positive for HBeAg, in 13% of sera positive for anti-HBe, and in 9% of sera negative for both markers. Our results demonstrate that not all HBsAg carriers reactive to HBeAg show evidence of chronic hepatitis nor, conversely, that anti-HBe is invariably associated with the healthy carrier state of HBsAg. Finally, circulating Dane particles, as revealed by the presence of serum specific DNA polymerase activity, may also be present in anti-HBe positive sera other than those of some HBsAg carriers lacking both HBeAg and anti-HBe.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1979

[Prognostic value of alpha-foetoprotein in fulminant hepatitis (author's transl)].

Serum concentrations of alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) were measured sequentially by radioimmunoassay in 32 patients with fulminant hepatitis and coma, 22 of whom died. Levels were significantly elevated in 100% of patients who survived and in 7 out of 22 patients (38.5%) who died (P = less than 0.005). In the survivors the rise of AFP levels was found early after the development of coma and subsequently in all serum samples obtained during acute phase of illness. In 2 of 7 fatal cases who had raised AFP levels and the more protracted illness, AFP levels fall after 6 days. The high levels of serum AFP observed in severe forms of hepatitis may represent active hepatocyte regeneration after extensive hepatic necrosis. Although the correlation between survival and serum concentration of AFP is not absolute, our finding indicate that the rise in serum of this protein in patients with massive hepatic necrosis may be considered a favorable prognostic sign.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Role of chronic HBsAg carriers in intrafamilial diffusion of hepatitis B virus infection].

To assess the hepatitis B virus infection risk to household contacts exposed to HBsAg-positive chronic carriers, 169 family members of 20 healthy carriers of HBsAg and of 12 with chronic hepatitis were followed up prospectively for two to five years. All family members are investigated for the presence of serum HBsAg/antiHBs system and for the presence of liver disease. Our results indicate that the family contacts of HBsAg carriers with evidence of chronic liver disease are at greater risk of exposure to HBV than the contacts of healthy carriers and that acquisition of HBsAg is more common among males than among females. Evidence of exposure to HBsAg is very frequent in young age with a striking rise between 10 and 20 years. On the contrary acquisition of anti-HBsAg is more common after 40 years of age. These data suggest that persistent circulation of HBV in a family of chronic HBsAg carrier increases the risk of infection in household contacts and that HBV is eliminated in a more infective form from the carriers with chronic liver disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[HBsAg and anti-HBs in thalassemia non-transfused patients (and in their relatives)].

The sera obtained from 105 non transfused adult heterozygous thalassaemic subjects and from 119 members of 25 thalassaemic families have been tested with radioimmunoassay methods for the presence of HBsAg and anti-HBs. 11 out of 105 thalassaemic patients (10.4%) showed HBsAg in their serum and 41 (40%) anti-HBs antibodies. Family studies revealed that the incidence of HBsAg was 8.9% in 89 thalassaemic members and 10% in 30 non thalassaemic relatives. The incidence of anti-HBs was 34.8% and 13.3% respectively. The frequency of HBsAg in thalassaemic subjects, independently of blood transfusion as shown by our data, suggests some difficulty in eliminating the antigen. So these subjects become rather easily carriers of the antigen and source of the infection particularly in the family.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Clustering of HBsAg in a family.

A study was performed on a family of 7 followed up over a 4-year period in which an outbreak of B-antigen-positive hepatitis occurred. Of the 5 male members who acquired HBsAg, 1 became a chronic asymptomatic carrier and 4 had episodes of acute icteric hepatitis during a 15-month period with development of histologically documented chronic hepatitis with persistent HBs antigenaemia in all. Of the 2 female members, 1 had an attack of acute HBsAg-positive hepatitis but recovered normally and cleared HBsAg from her serum, while the other was found to have anti-HBs with no evidence of liver disease. Serological and immunological studies carried out in all members of this family suggested that a sex-linked defect of T cell function itself could explain the differing host immune response to HBV infection in genetically related subjects.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1977

[Wilms' tumor. Our clinical experience].

The survival of children with Wilms' tumour is evaluated in 11 males and 12 females treated between 1967 and 1975 in the light of the clinical stage, age at diagnosis, and sex. The subjects were aged from 4 months to 6 years. Six were in stage I, 4 in stage II, 4 in stage III, 7 in stage IV, and 2 in stage V. Survival in stage I was 100% at 36 months and gradually decreased with the stage. Patients aged less than 2 years presented a survival of 50% two years after diagnosis, compared to 24% in those over 2 years old. Sex appears to be irrelevant to prognosis.

Age Factors↗