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Biomedical subjects

P Ferroni

Publications and source records attributed to P Ferroni.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
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

Relevance of HBe/anti-HBe system and DNA polymerase activity in chronic hepatitis-B virus carriers on haemodialysis. A prospective study.

To assess the relevance of HBe/anti-HBe system and DNA polymerase activity in patients on regular dialysis treatment, we prospectively studied 38 patients on haemodialysis, who were chronic carriers of HBs Ag (range 6-66 months), and 26 HBs Ag negative dialysis patients as controls. HBe Ag was present in 74%, DNA polymerase in 60%, and anti-HBe in 13% of HBs Ag positive patients. After a mean follow-up of 23.5 months, only 2 patients, who had been HBe Ag positive, had cleared HBs Ag, and 1 of them had turned to anti HBs positivity. Among the patients who were still HBs Ag positive, only 1 had lost HBe Ag, without developing anti-HBe. Throughout the study, SGOT and SGPT levels were significantly raised in HB virus carriers as compared to controls. In the HBs Ag positive group, the presence of HBe Ag and/or DNA polymerase characterized a subgroup with the most striking abnormalities in enzyme levels. The caused of death in the HBs Ag positive group were not related to liver disease. Viral replication usually takes place in HB virus carrier state, and the underlying liver disease, are not major problems at present in patients on chronic haemodialysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Status and significance of testing for hepatitis B surface antigen and surface antibody.

Following Blumberg's discovery of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), many attempts have been made to develop several in vitro diagnostic techniques for the detection of this antigen and its homologous antibody. The two-dimensional micro-Ouchterlony immunodiffusion has been the first technique used, rapidly replaced by procedures of increasing sensitivity characterized as second-generation and the currently available third-phase tests which include radioimmunoassay (RIA), reverse passive haemagglutination (RPHA), reverse passive latex agglutination (RPLA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Among these, RIA appears to be the most sensitive and specific, whereas EIA, RPHA and RPLA have the advantage of long shelf-life of stable reagents, no need for sophisticated and expensive equipment and no hazard associated with the handling of radioactive isotopes. Moreover, the sensitivity of EIA should increase by objective reading with a colorimeter. The most sensitive method for the detection of surface antibody (anti-HBs) is again RIA, whereas passive haemagglutination (PHA) had the advantage of providing titres. Finally EIA, based on inhibition of a known amount of HBsAg, has at least the same sensitivity as PHA, but has the advantage that reagents are more stable and that it permits screening for both HBsAg and anti-HBs with the same reagents at the same time. The application of these highly sensitive techniques for the detection of HBsAg and anti-HBs has resulted in a consistent reduction in the incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis type B and in a better understanding of the aetiology, epidemiology and natural history of this infection.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1980

A solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for detection of HBeAg and anti-HBe.

A sensitive, reproducible and easily performed enzyme immunoassay (EIA) based on a sandwich technique is described for serological detection of HBeAg and anti-HBe. EIA appears to be 600 times more sensitive than immunodiffusion and counterimmunoelectrophoresis and its performance compares well with available radioimmunoassays.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1980

Chronic asymptomatic HBSAg carriers: histologic abnormalities and diagnostic and prognostic value of serologic markers of the HBV.

Liver histology, the serum "e" antigen system, and DNA-polymerase activity were studied in 68 chronic asymptomatic HBSAg carriers with normal liver chemistries in order to assess the frequency of chronic hepatitis and the diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of serum HBV markers in these subjects. Liver histology was normal in 3 cases, showed nonspecific changes in 46, chronic-persistent hepatitis in 16, and moderate chronic active hepatitis in 3. The "e" antigen and DNA-polymerase activity were positive in 2 and 5 cases, respectively, and were associated with either minimal inflammatory changes or chronic-persistent hepatitis. The "e" antibody was found in 28, evenly distributed among the varios histologic categories; 2 out of 3 patients with chronic active hepatitis carried the "e" antibody. Sixty-four patients have been followed prospectively for 12-30 mo with serial liver tests. During follow-up, 1 patient, with minimal inflammatory changes on liver biopsy and negative for "e" antigen, antibody or DNA-polymerase activity, developed consistently abnormal transaminases, and showed progression to chronic active hepatitis on repeat biopsy. In another patient with chronic-persistent hepatitis, "e" antigen and DNA-polymerase activity reverted to entirely normal serologic status. In our large series, the frequency of chronic hepatitis among HBSAg carriers with normal liver chemistries was somewhat higher than previously reported. In these subjects, the "e" antigen status did not correlate closely with liver histology and did not seem to provide reliable short-term prognostic information.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Decline in incidence of hepatitis A infection in Milan. A serologic study.

The availability of serum samples collected in 1958 and in 1977 from healthy individuals of Milan, has provided an opportunity to compare the prevalence of anti-HAV and anti-HBs in the same area at a distance of about 20 years. The results obtained show a general drop of anti-HAV rate from 1958 to 1977. Difference in antibody prevalence was found to be significantly remarkable (35.7% versus 3.6%, P < 0.05 and 78.6% versus 26.9%, P < 0.01) in the youngest age groups examined (1-5 and 6-15 years old). Moreover the plateau of antibody acquisition was reached over 30 years of age in people selected in 1958 and over 50 years in 1977. No substantial difference was found in anti-HBs prevalence in sera collected in 1958 and in 1977 (29.2% versus 29.3%). The finding of a decline in hepatitis A infection may reflect the improvements in public health and hygienic conditions which occurred in our city in the last decades, whereas with regard to hepatitis B, the maintenance of the same incidence of infection may be due to different contributory factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Radioimmunoassay for the detection of HBeAg and anti-HBe.

We describe a solid-phase radioimmunoassay, based on the "sandwich" principle, using anti-HBe1/anti-HBe2 containing IgG precoated to polystirene beads as the solid-phase, and 125I-anti-HBE as labelled antibody for the detection of HBeAg and a two steps competitive procedure for the detection of anti-HBe. Comparison of titre obtained by ID and RIA or reference sera containing HBeAg and anti-HBe revealed that RIA is about 200 fold more sensitive than ID in detecting both HBeAg and anti-HBe. Moreover an increase in the detection rate of HBeAg from 5.9% (ID) to 15% (RIA) and of anti-HBe from 47.8% (ID) to 74.2% (RIA) and consequently a reduction of the frequency of negative samples for both HBeAg and anti-HBe from 46.3% (ID) to 10.8% (RIA) was determined by testing sera from HBsAg asymptomatic carriers. With regard to specificity, the frequency of presumptive HBeAg positive samples not confirmed was of 1 out of 29 (3.4%). Technical improvements of sensitivity and specificity of the described RIA are under development.

Antibodies, Viral↗
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↗
PubMed1978

[Anti-core antibody in HBsAg negative subjects].

Hepatitis B core antibody was detected by radioimmunoprecipitation test using core antigen radiolabelled with 3H-TTP. Core antigen was prepared from Dane particles isolated from plasma of asymptomatic carriers of HbSAg. Sera samples from 286 blood donors found to be HBsAg negative by RIA, 31 patients with chronic hepatitis HBsAg negative and 12 subjects with a past history of acute viral hepatitis B who became HBsAg negative since 2 to 5 years, were tested for anti-HBc and anti-HBs presence. Co-existence of anti-HBc and anti-HBs was found in 32.8% blood donors, 29% chronic hepatitis patients and in all subjects with a past history of disease. Moreover an average of 8.4% of blood donors and 6.4% of chronic hepatitis patients were anti-HBc positive in absence of anti-HBs. The possible significance of anti-HBc as a useful tool for epidemiologic studies is discussed.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1978

Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus in healthy individuals of Milan.

We have studied by radioimmunoassay the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus in 436 randomly selected individuals of Milan according to age and sex. Taken together, 70% of subjects provided serological evidence of exposure to HAV. Both sexes resulted similarly immunized (69.7% females and 70.7% males). The anti-HAV prevalence was found to be directly related to age, being on the increase from childhood to adulthood and reaching its peak (9l.5%) in people over fifty. An analysis of the distribution of anti-HAV according to presence or absence of anti-HBs in induviduals under 30 years, revealed that anti-HAV was detectable more frequently in individuals anti-HBs positive than in those without such evidence in sera (71.4% versus 39.7%; P less than 0.01). Finally, 96 sera from children and adolescents of low socioeconomic standard of living were also investigated. In these subjects anti-HAV prevalence was found to be higher than in their counterparts randomly slected from general population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Transplacental acquisition of cytomegalovirus antibody. Observations with two different CMV strains.

Titrations of complement fixing antibody (c.f.a.) were done in paired sera of 127 women at delivery and cord blood of their babies using two different cytomegalovirus strains both of which had undergone many passages in WI-38 cells, With High strain 74% of the mother and 41% of the babies were negative at the serum dilution 1:4. With Towne strain the incidence of negative was 5% both among the mother and the newborns. Worth of mention is the study of correlation of the titers in the matched pairs of sera according to the strain. With High strain 23 of the babies had c.f.a. titers significantly higher than their mothers and 14 of them were from negative women. This situation could be suggestive of an active placental transfer of IgG globulins. No such disparities were found using Towne strain as antigen. 48 pairs of sera were then tested with both strains by indirect hemagglutination, indirect immunofluorescence and gel precipitin test. Results are discussed in relation to the possible differences in the antigenic composition of the two cytomegalovirus strains.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[Clinical control, study of viral shedding and evaluation of circulating and local antibody response after administration of live and attenuated "Alice" strain influenza vaccine].

Thirty-four young adults were inoculated intranasally by nose drops with two doses, two weeks apart, of inhibitor resistant "Alice" vaccine strain of A/England/42/72 (H3N2). By the rate of volunteers with clinical reactions, always mild and short-lasting, the vaccine showed a low degree of reactogenicity. Viral shedding was evidenced only the day after the first dose and was limited to two vaccinees. Two weeks after the first dose homologous serum h.i.a. appeared in all the 15 volunteers lacking prevaccination antibody and significant titer rises occurred in a substantial number of vaccine recipients with low titers. The incidence of subjects with h.i.a at titers considered to be protective (larger than or equal to 1:40), which was 26% before vaccination, rose to 93% in fully vaccinated volunteers. Very likely because of the presence of n.i.a. in the prevaccinal serum of all the volunteers, the n.i.a. response was less satisfactory. The vaccine induced h.i.a. to A/Port Chalmers/73 e A Scotland/74 (H3N2) variants, although in a lower titer than to the homologous strain. Serum h.i. and n.i. antibody response appeared not to be significantly increased by a second dose. H.i.a., never present in the first sample, were found in the nasal washings taken two weeks after the second dose from 9 out of 16 vaccinees examined. Antibody was detected more frequently in the specimens with relatively high levels of protein and IgA. Secretory n.i.a., already demonstrable in 7 volunteers before vaccination, were acquired by all but one at the end of the experience.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Hepatitis B infections in renal transplantied patients.

Multiple serum samples collected from ten renal transplanted patients were examined by means of radioimmunoassay procedures in order to check and quantitate both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and antibody to it (anti-HBs). The anticomplementary activity of serum, levels of serum immunoglobulins and other laboratory parameters were also tested and related to the clinical followup of patients in the pre- and post-operative period, during which they underwent immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine, methyl-prednisolone and antilymphocyte globulin. The results obtained provided evdence that all subjects under examination either were currently infected or had been previously exposed to hepatitis B virus. Five basic situations could be detected: state of persistent HBs Ag carrier (I) or of persistent positivity for anti-HBs (II) or reinfections (IV) and presence of HBs Ag/anti-HBs immunocomplexes (V). All HBs Ag and anti-HBs-positive sera were ayw subtype, which is typical for hepatitis B virus circulating in Italy.

Acute Disease↗