Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Ferrante

Publications and source records attributed to P Ferrante.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

[Capacity of anti-influenza subunit vaccines to elicit the formation of heterologous antibodies].

The hemoagglutination-inhibiting antibody (h.i.a) response to A/Brazil/11/78 (H1 N1), A/Bangkok/1/79 (H3 N2) and B/Singapore/222/79 strains was evaluated in children and adults after administration of trivalent A/USSR/ 90/77 (H1 N1), A/Texas/1/77 (H3 N2), B/Hong Kong/8/73 influenza vaccines, two containing sub-unit and one whole virus. For each group of vaccinees, the behaviour of heterologous h.i.a. was compared to that of homologous antibodies. The rates of titer increases and the post-vaccinal geometric mean titers indicate that sub-unit vaccines are as immunogenic as whole virus vaccine in evoking heterologous antibodies. The greater difference between homologous and heterologous h.i.a. titers was found in adults for H3 N2 strains, the smaller for H1 N1 viruses. For the latter strains low post-vaccinal h.i.a. levels have been observed in all groups of vaccinees. In this regard the hypothesis has been put forward that immunogenicity of vaccines may be dependent on some intrinsic virus properties.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Measles antibodies in multiple sclerosis patients.

The Authors have assayed in this work the antimeasles antibodies in serum and CSF in subject affected by M.S. and controls. The M.S. patients have been subdivided in two groups with and without immunosuppressive therapy. In 27% out of 48 patients production intrathecal antimeasles antibodies was demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Seroepidemiologic survey of the spread of rotavirus infection in a Milan population].

The increasing evidence of involvement of Rotaviruses in the etiology of viral gastroenteritis prompted us to carry on a seroepidemiological survey on the population of Milan. The aim was to get informations on the extension of the circulation of these agents in our population. Utilising a commercial antigen prepared with the "Oslo" bovine strain, c.f.a. were titrated in sera from 575 healthy subjects (age 0 to > 60 years). Of them 232 were children under 4 years of age homogeneously distributed into 6 age classes: at birth, 1 day to 3 months, 4-6 months, 7-12 months, 13-24 months, 2-4 years. Rotavirus infection appears very common. About 80% of the subjects over 10 years have c.f.a. As it is shown by the sharp increase of antibody acquisition after an initial drop in the first 6 months (82% positive at birth and 41% between 4-6 months), the infection seems to occur very early in life, as much as the plateau is reached under 10 years of age. Moreover consistent antibody titers (greater than or equal to 1:32), which could indicate recent infection, first appear in babies 4 to 12 months of age. Such titres are absent in the adults and could be found again in people over 50. Positivity was significantly higher in females than in males (0.01 < P < 0.025). Transplacental c.f.a. passage was studied in paired sera of 37 women at delivery and in cord blood sera of their babies; 28 matched pairs of sera had coincidental titres, but there were additional three cord blood specimens with c.f.a. from newborns whose mothers were negative.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[Comparison between killed subunit influenza vaccines and whole virion preparations: study of reactions and protective efficacy in children and adults].

Three hundred eight subjects (of whom 103 children aged 6-12 years) were vaccinated with trivalent--A/USSR/90/77 (H1N1), A/Texas/1/77 (H3N2), B/Hong Kong/8/73 strains--influenza virus vaccines, two of them sub-unit and the third whole-virus preparation. Children and adolescent received two doses with an interval of 4 weeks, adults one dose only. The results of the determination by single radial diffusion test of the hemagglutinin amount for each of the three vaccinal strains and the data of the mouse immunogenicity test show that the antigenic content of A/USSR/90/77 strain in the sub-unit preparations was lower than expected from the concentration in I.U. reported by the vaccine manufacturers. Therefore it is pointed out the necessity to control the antigenic content of inactivated influenza virus vaccines with methods more adequate than those currently adopted. Sub-unit vaccines were much less reactogenic than the whole-virus preparation particularly in the youngest group of vaccinees. The immunogenicity (assessed by serum h.i.a. titers) of sub-unit vaccines, even after a single dose, turned out to be good and equal to that of the whole-virus preparation in primed subjects. In unprimed individuals, as it is shown by the data relative to the A/USSR/90/77 strain in sero-negative children, a two dose regimen is required. In these vaccines the whole-virus vaccine was more immunogenic than the sub-unit preparations, probably because of the lower content in the H1N1 strain of the latter. The increase from 1 ml (1 dose) to 1.6 ml the amount of vaccine, as experimented in adults with one sub-unit preparation, was not followed by an increase in reactogenicity. The larger dose did not influence the antibody response of primed subjects. On the contrary in unprimed vaccinees, as the youngest under 24 years without preexisting antibodies to the H1N1 strain in the present trial, the higher antigenic content produced a marked positive effect.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Type 1 diabetes and Coxsackie virus infection.

The role played by viruses in the aetiopathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus has been studied by several authors; in particular the importance of Coxsackie virus B4 infection has been stated by some authors and not confirmed by others. 43 diabetic children were studied at the time of the diagnosis of the disease. No viruses could be isolated from stools; the titres of anti-Coxsackie viruses B1 to 6 complement fixing antibodies and anti-Coxsackie virus B4 neutralizing antibodies, compared to controls, indicated that Coxsackie virus infection was not associated with the onset of diabetes in these children. A cross-reaction with anti-Coxsackie viruses sera and a human pancreas demonstrated that there are not antigens in common between these viruses and the human pancreas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Role of the virologic laboratory in the diagnosis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Report of 12 cases studied between May, 1977 and March, 1978].

Measles h.i.a. and c.f.a. were titrated in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 12 SSPE patients. Specific IgM h.i.a. in the same specimens were also determined. Pretreatment of the sera by monkey red blood cell absorption, by kaolin or by heparin MnCl2, did not significantly affect h.i.a. titres, but h.i.a. were no more demonstrable in cerebrospinal fluids after kaolin and titres were somewhat lowered by heparin-MnCl2 treatment. By both h.i. and c.f. tests measles antibody were found at much higher titres in sera of SSPE patients than in controls of the same age. H.i.a. and, with one exception, c.f.a. were found in each of the 9 available cerebrospinal fluids from patients, but in none of the 6 specimens from non-SSPE cases. Ratio GM titers h.i.a. over GM titers c.f.a. in sera of SSPE patients was about 1, a value far from that found under different immunization conditions. In control sera, for instance, the ratio was 5.3. Specific IgM were never found in the cerebrospinal fluids and in only 2 out of the 10 sera examined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Age of measles vaccination in Lombardy from the results of a seroepidemiological survey in Milan].

In view of the introduction of measles vaccination in Lombardy and since the age of vaccination is of paramount importance, measles h.i.a. were titrated in sera from 209 children between 0 and 6 years of age (of whom 171/0--2) and from 40 woman in the child-bearing age. As it could be expected from the high prevalence of adults with antibody (95%), 90% of umbelical cord sera have h.ia.,, Over 50% of children 15 days-3 months of age are still positive and afterwards the positivity decreases progressivley till a minimum of 8% in children 10--12 months old. Beginning with the second year of life the percentage of immune children grows slowly to reach 50% in the age group 3--6 years. The distribution of antibody titers between 6 and 12 months, time at which maternal antibody are largely waned, suggested that the infection with measles virus is a rare event in the first year of life, while a substantial number of children gets the infection between 18 and 24 months. From these results it appears that also in Lombardy measles vaccination should be given not before 13 months and not after 18 months of age.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Incidence of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies in the population of Milan and of Bari against strains of influenza viruses of epidemiological importance in the winter of 1977-78].

A sero-epidemiological survey was carried out on 555 serum samples from normal subjects of both sexes (age: from few months to over 60 years) collected in the late summer 1977 in Milan and Bari, two towns with rather different climatic conditions. In both localities a further large spread of A/Victoria/3/75 strain seems unlikely, since 54% of sera from Milan and 58% of those from Bari have h.i.a. at protective titers. On the contrary, the degree of immunity against B/Hong Kong/8/73 virus is still faiitical level for the survival of A/Hong Kong/68 pandemic strain appears almost reached in the population of Milan, where 76% of subjects have antibody at protective titers. In Bari such percentage is 60%. The statistical analysis (X2 test) of the data concerning the subjects with h.i.a. at titers greater than or equal to 1:40 shows only one significant difference between Milan and Bari, that is the A/Hong Kong/68 antibody prevalence. Probably this is due to the low number of males of Bari with protective antibody levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

[Optimal temperature of enzyme activity and heat resistance of neuraminidases as attenuation markers for influenza viruses].

Neuraminidase activity of virulent and vaccinal strains A/England/42/72, A/Scotland/840/74 and A/Victoria/3/75 assessed at different temperatures did not show significant differences in the temperature optima of enzyme activity. Vaccinal strains were attenuated by APR-8 recombination and selection of mutants resistant to serum inhibitors (Alice, RIT 4025, RIT 4050 strains). On the contrary, differences were found in the thermal inactivation of the neuraminidase between wild and vaccinal strains, the latter being more thermolabile. Increasing from 0.5 to 5.0 mM/1 the Ca++ concentration, an enhancement of the heat stability was observed, more marked for the attenuated strains. The amount of NANA released by 1 hemagglutinating unit varied widely between strains. To be pointed out, however, that within each antigenic variant the vaccinal strain showed a lower enzymatic activity than the corresponding wild strain.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1976

[Prevalence of antibodies to A/New Jersey/76, A/Victoria/3/75 and B/Hong Kong/5/72 influenza viruses in the population of Milan examined in the late spring of 1976 and evaluation of the past experience of the same population with probable agent of the 1918-20 pandemics].

Hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies (h.i.a.) to influenza viruses A/New Jersey/76, A/Victoria/3/75 and B/Hong Kong/5/72 were titrated in 227 serum samples collected in Milan in the late spring 1976 from healthy subjects of 0 to 90 years of age. In 185 of these neuraminidase-inhibiting antibodies (n.i.a.) for the type A strains were also titrated. Subjects up to 40 years of age lack h.i.a. to A/New Jersey/76 strain; antibody levels equal to or greater than 1:40 are occasionally present in the 41-50 year group and the incidence rises to 75% and more after 60 years. N.i.a. are absent in the sera from persons of 0-30 years and titers equal to or greater than 1:100 were found only in the age group over 40. Of the sera examined 44% is lacking in h.i.a. to A/Victoria/3/75 strain and antibodies at protective levels were found in 14% of the subjects, usually among the youngest (0-15 years) and the elderly (over 60 years). N.i.a. for this strain are present in 40% of the samples and 10% have titers equal to or greater than 1.100. Half of the sera under test has h.i.a. to B/Hong Kong/5/72 strain, but only 19% with titers equal to or greater than 1:40. The age distribution of h.i. and n.i. antibodies to A/New Jersey/76 virus suggests that strains antigenically related to the swine virus were widespread in our population until about 1929. The presence of n.i.a., but not of h.i.a. in subjects born between 1935 and 1946 supports the hypothesis of cross-reaction between the neuraminidases of the swine and of the A-O strains.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Outbreak of persistent, unexplained, generalized lymphadenopathy with immunological abnormalities in drug addicts in Milan.

Persistent unexplained lymphadenopathy (LAS) with intermittent fever, weight loss, night sweats and malaise was observed from March to October 1983 in 16 of 133 intravenous drug addicts who had been followed for at least two years in a Center for Drug Addicts Assistance in Milan, Italy. All the subjects lived in a restricted suburban area and indulged in frequent toxicomanic practices and mutual sexual intercourse. The subjects showed immunological alterations such as lymphopenia (50%), decreased T helper/T suppressor ratio (93%), both these abnormalities (43%), decreased T helper cells (75%), increased T suppressor cytotoxic cells (81%), decreased natural killer (NK) activity (77%), anergy (50%) or hypoergy (43%) to recall skin testing and elevated levels of IgG (87%). Anti-HTLV III antibodies were found in 14 of 16 (87%) patients with LAS and in 3 of 11 (27%) symptom-free drug addicts belonging to the same group. It will be important to assess in the future whether this clinical and immunological picture results in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in an area so far untouched by this disease.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Meningoencephalitis caused by human herpesvirus-6 in an immunocompetent adult patient: case report and review of the literature.

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is the etiologic agent of roseola infantum, and has been implicated as a possible cause of encephalitis in pediatric and adult patients. A case of meningoencephalitis in an otherwise healthy, immunocompetent 59-year-old woman is described. The diagnosis of HHV-6 meningoencephalitis was confirmed by detecting viral DNA in cerebrospinal fluid collected in the acute stage of the disease by polymerase chain reaction. The patient was treated with acyclovir and recovered without any sequelae. The current knowledge of the pathophysiology, clinical course and outcome of HHV-6 meningoencephalitis in immunocompetent adult patients is also reviewed.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lymphocyte subsets in schizophrenic disorders. Relationship with clinical, neuromorphological and treatment variables.

Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and serum immunoglobulin levels were assessed in 42 patients and 37 healthy controls. 24 patients were free from neuroleptic medication and 15 had never been treated with neuroleptics. 31 patients had a diagnosis of schizophrenia (DSM-III criteria) and 11 a diagnosis of a disorder of the schizophrenic spectrum. As compared to healthy subjects, the drug naive schizophrenic patient group showed an increase of T suppressor lymphocytes, while the drug-treated schizophrenic group showed an increase of T helper lymphocytes. The drug-treated schizophrenic group differed from the drug naive one relative to a decrease of T suppressor lymphocytes. As compared to healthy subjects, the drug naive spectrum disorder patients showed an increase of absolute number of lymphocytes, while the drug treated spectrum group showed an increase of B lymphocytes. These findings did not correlate with any clinical or neuromorphological variables taken into account.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of synthetic malaria pigment (beta-haematin) on adhesion molecule expression and interleukin-6 production by human endothelial cells.

The effects of synthetic malaria pigment (beta-haematin, BH) on the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1) and the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by human microvascular endothelial cells were measured using flow cytometry analysis and immunoenzymatic assay. BH alone did not affect basal levels of ICAM-1, PECAM-1 or IL-6. When added to cell cultures before or with, but not after, lipopolysaccharide or tumour necrosis factor alpha, BH at 1-100 micrograms/mL induced a dose-dependent inhibition of ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 expression and IL-6 production. Cell viability and human leucocyte antigen A,B,C expression remained unaffected. Similar, though more variable, results were obtained using human umbilical vein endothelial cells. These results suggested that accumulation of pigment within endothelial cells following repeated malaria infection reduces local inflammation and parasite sequestration through inhibition of either cytokine production or parasitized erythrocyte receptors on endothelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunological patterns during regular intensive training in athletes: quantification and evaluation of a preventive pharmacological approach.

The effects of regular intensive exercise training on immune system homeostasis and the potential value of treatment with an immunostimulating agent were assessed in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. A total of 60 athletes were studied over a 3-month period of regular intensive physical activity. After 1 and 3 months there were significant decreases in the immunoglobulin levels in the whole athlete population compared with baseline values. Specifically there were significant decreases in immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G (G1 and G2 subclasses). There was also a significant decrease in natural killer cells and a slight but significant increase in B and T lymphocytes. In the thymomodulin-treated group, unlike the placebo group, there was no significant decrease in the immunoglobulin G2 subclass and there was a significant increase in the T-helper cell subpopulation. The clinical relevance of these immunological findings should be evaluated in larger clinical and epidemiological studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors following peripheral blood progenitor cell rescue after high-dose chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer: a prospective study.

The use of high-dose chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic rescue is increasing worldwide for solid tumors. Several studies have suggested that the period of absolute neutrophil count (ANC, < 500/ml) may be shortened in patients who receive peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC). To estimate the clinical value of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, we examined a cohort of 26 consecutive patients with advanced breast cancer who received one or two cycles of high-dose chemotherapy with PBPC rescue with or without filgrastim. Thirty-five courses of high-dose ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide) chemotherapy were administered and evaluated. All patients received PBPC rescue. Sixteen patients (21 courses) received subcutaneous filgrastim (5 mg/kg) following PBPC infusion. Recovery to > or = 500 ANC occurred at a median time of 7 days post PBPC infusion among patients who received filgrastim versus 10 days among patients who received standard support care only (P < 0.01). The administration of filgrastim was not associated with a reduction in the duration of hospitalization, in the total number of days on nonprophylactic antibiotics, number of red blood cell transfusions, time to platelet engraftment, or number of febrile days. This could be the consequence of the high hematopoietic cell dose administered in the study. Therefore, any effect of filgrastim was probably masked by the use of a large number of PBPC. Larger prospective randomized studies, specifically focused on the utility of the administration of growth factors following high-dose chemotherapy and PBPC rescue, may be warranted to know whether the administration of filgrastim after PBPC transplantation is really necessary.

Adult↗