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Biomedical subjects

O Schiraldi

Publications and source records attributed to O Schiraldi.

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

Prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in hemodialysis patients: study of risk factors.

The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) was assessed in 246 hemodialysis patients who attended a dialysis unit in Bari, using a recombinant enzyme immunoassay test (Abbot Lab.). Fifty-six (22.8%) sera were reactive to anti-HCV. The reactivity was confirmed in 46 specimens (18.7%) using the Abbott EIA HCV neutralization test. The anti-HCV prevalence was higher in males than in females and increased with age, duration of dialysis and number of transfusions. Moreover, a correlation between the presence of anti-HCV and the persistent increase of ALT was noted. The HCV-infection attack rate was calculated using the frozen sera collected from 1984 to 1990: the incidence of infection in the first year was 6.1%, and in following years 4.6%, 4.9%, 3.1%, 2.1% and 2.2%, respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Hepatitis B virus infection in hospital staff: epidemiology and persistence of vaccine-induced antibodies.

To establish the epidemiology of viral hepatitis B (HBV) infection in hospital staff the sera of 2462 workers and 176 professional nursing students were examined. The prevalences of HBsAg and anti-HBs among the workers were 4.5 and 42.2% and among the students were 2.3 and 15.3%, respectively. The risk of infection showed a correlation with the profession of the hospital workers, the various jobs carried out in different departments, age, and the number of working years. The anti-hepatitis vaccination with HBVax and HEVAC-B vaccines was used on 142 professional students and 996 hospital workers. Five years after the beginning of the vaccine cycle the percentage of responders observed among the students was 75 (HBVax) and 79% (HEVAC-B). Among the hospital staff the response registered was 66 and 71%, respectively. The best recorded response among the youngest subjects suggests that the anti-hepatitis vaccination should be obligatory for hospital workers at the beginning of their working period or professional training.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Hepatitis C virus infection in anti-HBe-positive HBsAg carriers with chronic liver disease.

In the present study, sera from chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers positive for antibody to hepatitis B 'e' antigen (anti-HBe) with evolutive liver disease as correlated with anti-HBe-positive healthy carriers, were examined for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 32/124 (25.8%) anti-HBe-positive carriers with chronic liver disease and in none of the 46 healthy carriers. When anti-HCV positivity was evaluated in relationship to the degree of severity of liver disease and possible confounding factors such as hepatitis B virus replication or other potential hepatolesive factors were eliminated by using logistic regression, the odds ratio of liver cirrhosis versus chronic persistent hepatitis was 18 (95%, CI 3.5-92.5). Therefore, our results indicate that HCV may be implicated in the determinism and severity of liver damage in a significant proportion of anti-HBe-positive chronic HBsAg carriers.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiological research on trichinellosis in Apulia and Basilicata (southern Italy).

Trichinellosis is a zoonotic infection and has a worldwide distribution. In Italy numerous sporadic cases and outbreaks of human trichinellosis have been reported. The authors report an epidemiological survey of trichinellosis in Apulia and Basilicata, two regions of southern Italy, where two outbreaks of human trichinellosi (about one hundred cases) have recently occurred, due to ingestion of wild boar meat (sausages). Serological and/or parasitological research was carried out in the trichinellosis patients, in uninfected people (control group), and in wild and synantropic animals. The incidence of infection found in various animal species (sylvatic trichinellosis) in these two regions is high and can represent a serious health risk.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Expression of preS antigens in serum during the chronic phase of hepatitis B virus infection.

Serum patterns of preS gene encoded proteins during the chronic phase of hepatitis B virus infection and their relationship with hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid and hepatitis B 'e' antigen were investigated. The results indicate that the presence of preS1 and/or preS2 antigens in serum does not correlate with circulating hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid and hepatitis B 'e' antigen. It is, therefore, suggested that preS antigens cannot be regarded as specific markers of active viral replication in chronically hepatitis B virus infected patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Munchausen syndrome. Apropos of a case].

The study of a case of Munchausen's syndrome allows for considerations of problems involved in factitious illness, both in terms of clinical methods and evaluation of psychosocial conditions. The case described is interesting not only because of the diagnostic commitment involved but also for the role which environmental situations may have in aiding or conditioning such a form of factitious illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Prevalence and occurrence of infections caused by hepatitis B virus in the dialysis units in the Apulia region].

Sera of 803 hemodialysis patients and 413 staff members were tested to evaluate the relationship between infectivity markers and spread of HBV infection in dialysis units. HBsAg was detected in 13.8% patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis and 3.9% staff members. High prevalence of HBeAg and DNA polymerase activity was observed only in HBsAg positive patients. The highest titers of HBsAg and anti-HBc were detected in hemodialysis patients, whereas asymptomatic carriers showed low titers of these markers. A highly significant correlation was recorded between detection of HBeAg in patients and presence of serum DNA activity. These data suggest that in HBsAg hemodialysis patients a more active viral replication occurs and a higher contagiousness of these subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Effect of a new sulfa-trimethoprim combination (trimethoprim-sulfamethopyrazine) in typhoid fever. A double-blind study on 72 adult patients.

A double-blind study on 72 adult patients affected by typhoid fever was done utilizing a new sulfa-trimethoprim combination (trimethoprim-sulfamethopyrazine) versus the well-known combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The dosage used for the new drug was 2 capsules (250 mg trimethoprim + 200 mg sulfamethopyrazine per capsule) the 1st day and 1 capsule for the following 14 days or 2 capsules (trimethoprim 80 mg + sulfamethoxazole 400 mg per capsule) twice daily for 15 days. Both drugs proved to be very effective according to the parameters considered. No complications (intestinal bleeding, perforation, etc.) occurred in any of the patients, and untoward effects were not observed. It is therefore our opinion that treatment of typhoid fever with a sulfa-trimethoprim combination is both effective and safe.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Monophasic and polyphasic pattern of alanine aminotransferase in acute non-A, non-B hepatitis. Clinical and prognostic implications.

One-hundred-and-two out of 788 consecutive patients (12.9%) hospitalized for an attack of acute hepatitis fulfilled criteria for non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis, and were followed prospectively for 8 to 70 months. Forty-one out of 97 patients showed a monophasic pattern of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and all recovered completely. In contrast, 22 of 56 (39.2%) subjects with a polyphasic pattern of ALT exhibited persistent hypertransaminasemia for more than 14-18 months, and all of them developed chronic hepatitis. Thus, a polyphasic pattern of ALT seems to characterize one of two forms of NANB hepatitis, more frequently associated with parenteral exposure, absence of jaundice and a high tendency for the development of chronic hepatitis. This suggests distinct immunopathogenetic mechanisms from two unrelated NANB agents. Benign, non-progressive chronic persistent hepatitis is the prevalent form of chronic sequela of NANB hepatitis observed in our patients. Although many of these patients show a tendency to spontaneous remission of the disease, there is the possibility in some of a deterioration of inflammatory activity of the liver that has need of immunosuppressive therapy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1984

Treatment of typhoid fever in pregnancy.

Ethical and medical problems arise with typhoid infections in pregnant women. In spite of preventive care, this disease is still present and dangerous. Thirty such cases have been studied in our Clinic where treatment was carried out with four different drug regimens: chloramphenicol, ampicillin, these two drugs in association, and cotrimoxazole. On the whole the therapy was proven efficient: the infection was resolved and pregnancy continued. Only three cases of abortion and two malformed babies were observed. Aspects of reciprocal interference between infection and pregnancy are discussed and the choice of the most effective therapy is evaluated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Changes in laboratory and clinical parameters in subjects with chronic brucellosis treated with an immunomodulator: methisoprinol].

In order to evaluate the immunomodulating activity of isoprinosine in chronic infections, 7 patients with chronic brucellosis unresponsive to antibiotic and corticosteroid therapy were treated with 4 g/die of isoprinosine in association with antibiotic therapy from 3 to 6 months. Immunoserologic and clinical evaluation were obtained at regular intervals from each patient. The treatment induced a significant increase of E rosette formation, reduction of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, associated with improvement or disappearance of clinical symptoms. These data suggest that isoprinosine may favourably influence the clinical course of chronic brucellosis, probably modifying host cell-mediated immune response.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1983

Chronic viral hepatitis in thalassemic liver disease. A long-term study in patients with acute hepatitis with nontransfusion-dependent thalassemia minor.

To evaluate the effective role of hepatitis viruses in thalassemic (Th) liver disease, we carried out a long-term study in 42 subjects with nontransfusion-dependent Th minor hospitalized for an episode of acute viral hepatitis. 10 patients had serologic evidence of hepatitis A, 23 of hepatitis B and 9 of hepatitis non-A, non-B. In the follow-up chronic hepatitis was detected histologically in 5/23 patients with hepatitis B and 5/9 with hepatitis non-A, non-B. All hepatitis A patients recovered completely. The prevalence in 7 out of 10 patients with chronic hepatitis of piecemeal necrosis and of inflammatory changes over hepatic siderosis and fibrosis evidenced a determinant role of chronic viral infection in the development of liver damage in these patients. Thus, heterozygous nontransfusion-dependent Th patients seem to have a high risk of developing a chronic inflammatory liver disease especially after an episode of non-A, non-B hepatitis. Therefore, in our geographical area, chronic hepatitis of viral origin should be taken into account, among other pathogenetic factors, in many cases of cryptogenic thalassemic liver disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Characterization of the circulating immune complexes in acute and chronic liver diseases.

The composition of immune complexes (IC) found in 28 patients with HBsAg positive and negative acute and chronic hepatitis was analysed. Components were defined in PEG-precipitated material isolated by preparative ultracentrifugation on linear sucrose density gradients and analysed by the Ouchterlony plate technique and by the radioimmunoassay of hepatitis B virus markers. Sedimentation rate ranged from 8 to 19s in the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis, whereas heavier IC (greater than 19s) were present in the active phase of the disease. The participation of hepatitis B virus in acute hepatitis was shown by the presence of its antigens. In contrast, a low incidence of vital components was seen in IC of chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. Thus, other causes must contribute to the formation of IC in chronic liver disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1982

[Comparative evaluation of 5 third-generation methods for the detection of HBsAg].

Five third generation methods for detection of HBsAg in serum were evaluation: AUSRIA II, Micro-RIA, Hepanosticon, Enzygnost, Antigen-TG. Sera of 340 patients with acute and chronic hepatitis and 160 controls were examined with these techniques. The haemoagglutination and latex tests were less sensitive than the RIA, Micro-RIA and ELISA methods. The RIA procedure remains the more sensitive, as demonstrated with sera diluted. False positive results, frequently depending on the excess of antibodies, were observed in ELISA, haemoagglutination and latex tests. The results confirm that the RIA procedure is still highly specific and sensitive, but ELISA is also a very alternative method for HBsAg detection.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1981

Hepatitis B virus markers, alpha-fetoprotein and survival in fulminant viral hepatitis.

The serological markers of hepatitis B virus and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels have been studied in 28 consecutive cases of fulminant hepatitis, correlating the data with survival. On admission, 20 patients were found to be positive for HBsAg and eight for anti-HBs. All anti-HBs-positive cases showed high titers of anti-HBc, and six patients were positive for specific anti-HBc-IgM. DNA polymerase activity was detected in serum of 11 HBsAg-positive (55%) and four anti-HBs-positive (50%) patients. HBeAg was detected in six (21.4%) subjects (five HBsAg-positive and one anti-HBs-positive), whereas anti-HBe was present in nine (32.1%) subjects (six HBsAg-positive and three anti-HBs-positive). AFP levels greater than 60 ng/ml were found in sera of 14 patients (50%). No significant difference was evidenced in the survival rate between HBsAg-positive and anti-HBs-positive and between HBeAg-positive and HBe Ag-negative patients. However, a statistically significant difference (P less than 0.05) in the survival rate was found in patients positive and negative for DNA polymerase activity and in those with AFP levels higher and lower than 60 ng/ml (P less than 0.005). Pathogenetic and prognostic significance of these findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Infectivity markers in HBsAg chronic carriers and intrafamilial spread of hepatitis B virus infection.

Sera from 28 HBsAg chronic carriers were tested for the presence of HBeAg, anti-HBe and Dane particle-associated DNA-polymerase activity, in order to evaluate the relationship between the presence of these markers and the spread of HBV infection in their family contacts. A highly significant prevalence of HBV infection was observed in the relatives of HBsAg carriers who were positive for either HBeAg or DNA-polymerase activity or both. These observations support the inference of a striking correlation between the presence of these markers and the infectivity of HBsAg carriers. Therefore, serological determination of HBeAg and DNA-polymerase activity may be considered in the epidemiological control of HBV infection

Adult↗