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Biomedical subjects

M Quarto

Publications and source records attributed to M Quarto.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Seroimmunity to poliomyelitis in an Albanian immigrant population.

The immunity against poliomyelitis in a representative sample of the Albanian population recently immigrant to Italy was evaluated. A significant number of the subjects examined lacked protective antibodies against one or more polioviruses. The most prevalent seronegativity related to poliovirus type 3 (41.3%), followed by poliovirus type 1 (21.5%). This result was more consistent in the younger age groups. Our data suggest the hypothesis that this problem arises from the use of a vaccine of discontinuous efficacy caused by defective preservation. A poliovaccine booster dose for all emigree subjects aged less than 15 years is suggested.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

In vitro production of HIV-1 specific antibodies from "at risk" seronegative subjects.

We investigated a group of well characterized seronegative subjects "at risk" for HIV-1 infection including heterosexual partners of HIV-1 infected subjects and intravenous drug abusers. Pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were studied for their ability to produce antibodies against HIV-1 structural proteins in vitro. Viral activity by means of HIV-1 isolation from PBMCs and presence of serum p24 antigen were also tested. In 7/42 cases (16.6%) HIV-1 immunoreactive specific antibodies were found, mostly directed against the envelope proteins (gp 120/160). Remarkably, none of these in vitro antibody producers yielded HIV-1 isolation in cell cultures or had detectable serum levels of p24 antigen.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1991

Urethritis caused by neisseria meningitidis: a case report.

Isolation of N. meningitidis from the male urethra has become more common in recent years and this has been attributed to sexual activities and changes in social attitudes. We describe a further case of acute urethritis caused by transmission of N. meningitidis occurring after a single sexual contact (fellatio) in a heterosexual man. The urethritis was initially diagnosed as being caused by N. gonorrhoeae on a presumptive basis, then attributed to N. meningitidis serogroup Y. This case shows the need of accurate diagnostic procedures in all cases resembling gonococcal urethritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Screening for anti-human T-lymphotropic virus antibody in blood donors and polytransfused patients in Apulia (Italy).

A stringent procedure for the diagnosis of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection was applied to 1,732 volunteer blood donors, 401 patients with various hematological disorders and 78 individuals at high risk for HIV infection. It consisted of a viral lysate-based screening assay (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill., USA), and two confirmatory assays (Western blot and radioimmunoprecipitation assay). A confirmed positive sample had to react with at least two different HTLV gene products. Evidence of HTLV infection was not found in either blood donors or patients with hematological disorders. In fact, HTLV infection was only observed in 10 intravenous drug abusers or their sexual partners. Contrary to previous reports that claimed HTLV seroprevalences of between 0.3 and 8% in blood donors from Apulia (Italy), our data suggest that infection with this virus is principally restricted to intravenous drug abusers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Drug dependence and HIV infection: epidemiologic study in a jail population].

We carried out an epidemiological study in jail community of Bari, in order to evaluate the incidence of drug abuse on the presence of HIV infection among prison inmates. During the period 1988-89, 1609 adults have been examined 40% of whom were intravenous drug abusers, and 221 adolescents, the 9.5% included in the mentioned risk groups. The average of HIV infection in adult population resulted of 15.4%. The 85% of drug abusers were aged 18 to 30. In this population the seroprevalence resulted of 33.4%, in front of the 3.5% of non drug abusers prisoners while only two cases of seropositivity were found in adolescents among the 21 drug abusers (9.5%). Prevalence in drug abusers was not different from that observed in a population of drug abusers who lived in the general population. These results further confirm that prisons represent a reservoir for HIV infection in relation to the drug abuse problem.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Efficacy and safety of cefotetan in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections: clinical experience in a selective and single study.

A single, selective study was performed in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cefotetan in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (UTI). Of 34 pre-treatment isolated strains, 60% were pluri-resistant to other antibiotics (ampicillin, carbenicillin, piperacillin, cefalotin, aztreonam) but only 21.2% to cefotetan. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterococci were resistant to cefotetan. Escherichia coli was the common strain isolated (50%). Nineteen adult patients, with complicated UTI caused by sensitive organisms, were treated with a 1 g intramuscular (i.m.) daily dose. Duration of treatment ranged from 5-15 days, with a mean of 13.75 days. Within 24-48 h and 30 days post-therapy, the infection was cured in 84% and 52% of patients, respectively. Reinfection, relapse or super-infection occurred in 42% of the cases. In only one patient, the infecting organism did not respond to treatment. The clinical response was evaluated in only seven patients with symptomatic UTI. Six of them (85.7%) were cured after therapy and the cure persisted at follow-up. In most cases, the adverse reactions were local, mild and negligible. In only 15.8% and 10.5% of patients, side-effects (diarrhoea, headache, abdominal pain, tachycardia, chill, pain and erythema in the injection site) were severe and moderate. In these cases, the adverse reactions were reversible when the therapy was discontinued. The relationship between treatment and side-effects was doubtful in two cases. It is concluded that cefotetan, administered at 1 g i.m. daily dose, is effective in treating complicated UTI caused by sensitive organisms, pluri-resistant to other antibiotics.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High level of immunity against poliomyelitis in Albanian refugees in southern Italy.

BACKGROUND: The Apulia region (Southern Italy) may be considered a "border region" which, due to its position, has to face daily arrivals of refugees, especially from Albania. When the exodus of Albanians took place in 1991, a seroepidemiologic study revealed a low seroimmunity to poliomyelitis. In 1996, a large outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred in Albania. The aim of the study was to evaluate the poliomyelitis immunization level in a sample of Albanian refugees who arrived in the Apulia region between April and May 1997. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained, after informed consent and on a voluntary basis, from 667 subjects housed in seven refugee camps in the Apulia region. Titration of neutralizing antibodies to the three polioviruses was carried out. RESULTS: The findings showed that Albanian refugees had adequate levels of immunity to all polioviruses (95% for poliovirus type 1, 98.6% for poliovirus type 2 and 91.4% for poliovirus type 3). Moreover, a high immunization rate was found in all age groups irrespective of the areas of origin of the refugees and their socioeconomic conditions. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that Albanian refugees in Apulia region have adequate levels of immunity against polioviruses and confirm the effectiveness of mass vaccination campaigns with OPV conducted by WHO in Albania following an outbreak of poliomyelitis in 1996.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiologic study and cost analysis of an Slamonella enteritidis epidemic].

Salmonellosis is one of the most common forms of foodborne infection. An outbreak of gastroenteritidis associated with a wedding party was investigated, even to value the costs falling on individuals, the health services and society as a whole. One hundred and fifty nine wedding guests were interviewed by phone. Multivariate analysis was used to assess which food were significantly associated with infection. One hundred and thirteen cases were identified; ten stool samples were culture positive for Salmonella enteritidis. Handmade ice-cream and babà (a typical Italian pastry) were significantly associated with infection. The cost of a case was estimated to be between US $ 74 (for non hospitalised patients) and US $ 1,896 (for hospitalised patients). The outbreak was caused by a strain of Salmonella enteritidis and the vehicle of infection were unpasteurised eggs used to prepare the ice-cream. The economic impact of this outbreak was considerable and mainly due to the hospitalisation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Researches on the production of inhibitory substances by strains of "N. meningitidis" (author's transl)].

The possibility to produce some inhibitory substances has been researched in 85 strains of N. meningitidis belonging to different serogroups. By the double layer agar method, 9 of these strains have inhibited the growth of one or more indicator strains. We had the best results at 37 degrees C and 30 degrees C in tests made incubating 3 producer strains in different experiment conditions; the "Brain heart infusion agar" and the "Heart infusion agar" were the best and fittest culture media, used for the production of these substances. Several attempts to get the production of bacteriocins in liquid culture media have always given negative results, both by spontaneous growing and by ultraviolet irradiation and mitomycin induction. We were able to get 3 among these substances from as many strains of N. meningitidis (from the 85 tested) in the supernatant, only growing the strains in soft agar and centrifuging these growths. So these 3 bacteriocins had inhibited the growth of the 92% of the tested N. meningitidis, but they were inactive towards 296 bacterial strains belonging to Gram-positive and Gram-negative species (including the 15 strains of Shigella and E. coli given as indicators in the research of colicins), 70 strains of Mycoplasma and 9 L-forms of Pr. mirabilis and of St. aureus. Only 3 L-forms obtained from as many strains of N. meningitidis resulted to be inhibited by the three bacteriocins.

Bacteriocins↗