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R Gasparini

Publications and source records attributed to R Gasparini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Combination hepatitis C virus antigen and antibody immunoassay as a new tool for early diagnosis of infection.

Reduction of the window period of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents an important goal in the transfusional and diagnostic setting. A prototype assay designed to simultaneously detect circulating HCV antigen and anti-HCV, has been developed. Aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of this new assay in terms of specificity and sensitivity and to compare its efficacy with commercial assays. To evaluate the specificity of the assay, 400 samples from the general population and 100 'difficult' sera, negative for anti-HCV, were tested. To assess sensitivity, the new test was used on 76 PCR-positive and anti-HCV negative sera, seven natural or commercial seroconversion panels that included 17 RNA-positive and anti-HCV negative sera and 31 anti-HCV positive sera, 20 weak anti-HCV positive sera, 80 viraemic and anti-HCV-positive sera from patients infected with different subtypes and 10 sera from patients with HBV-HCV or HIV-HCV co-infections. Of 500 anti-HCV negative samples, 499 (99.8%) were negative with a cut-off index <0.5, while one sample was within the grey zone. Of the 93 HCV-RNA positive and anti-HCV negative sera from patients and panels, 85 (91.4%) resulted positive, and one had the cut-off index in the grey zone. The reduction in the diagnostic window period observed with the new test and HCV-RNA assays were equal, on average, to 24 and 34.4 days respectively. All anti-HCV positive sera were positive. The new assay shows high sensitivity and specificity and could be a useful tool not only in the diagnostic setting, where procedures to reduce the window period, such as antigen or HCV-RNA detection, are not currently recommended, but also in the screening of blood donations, when nucleic acid technologies is not feasible because of costs, organization, emergency and/or logistic difficulties.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed2006

Virological investigation on aerosol from waste depuration plants.

Aerosol from activated mud decontamination plants used for the treatment of urban sewage can represent a vehicle for bacteria, virus and fungi. As a result, they become an infective hazard for plant personnel, the general population residing in the surrounding area and the occasional visitor. The present investigation focuses on the identification of enteric-type viruses in this kind of aerosol. The following methods were employed on 214 samples collected in the 1999-2000 period: cell culture (BGM, RD, Hep-2), electron microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Cytopathic effect was mild in 180 samples, and severe in 14, upon their first passage in culture. Virus identification was based on positivity to both electron microscopy (EM) and PCR. Thus, one positive sample was recognized to be of enteric-type virus and two positive samples were recognized as reovirus-type. All samples were negative for Norwalk-type virus or HAV. There was considerable discrepancy between electron microscopy and PCR concerning the number of enteric-type viruses recognized. A possible explanation is contamination with animal-type enterovirus.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2005

Clinical and socio-economic impact of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infection on healthy children and their households.

This prospective study compared the clinical and socio-economic impact of laboratory-confirmed influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection on healthy children and their families. Among 1,520 otherwise healthy children aged< 15 years attending the Emergency Department for acute conditions other than trauma, influenza viruses and RSV were found in 234 (15.4%) and 116 (7.6%; p<0.0001) patients, respectively. The fact that influenza has a similar global clinical impact on the community to that of RSV infection, but represents a greater socio-economic burden, may contribute to broadening the acceptance of influenza vaccination.

Child↗
PubMed2004

Burden of influenza in healthy children and their households.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective, multicentre study was conducted to evaluate the burden of laboratory confirmed influenza in healthy children and their household contacts. METHODS: The patients were enrolled in four emergency departments (EDs) and by five primary care paediatricians (PCPs) in different Italian municipalities 2 days a week between November 1, 2001 and April 30, 2002. The study involved 3771 children less than 14 years of age with no chronic medical conditions who presented with a respiratory tract infection in EDs or PCP outpatient clinics during the study period. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected for the isolation of influenza viruses and RNA detection. Information was also collected concerning respiratory illnesses and related morbidities among the study children and their household contacts. RESULTS: Influenza virus was demonstrated in 352 cases (9.3%). In comparison with the influenza negative children, those who were influenza positive had an older mean age, were more often attending day care centres or schools, more frequently experienced fever and croup, received more antipyretics, and had a longer duration of fever and school absence. Furthermore, their parents and siblings had more respiratory illnesses, received more antipyretics and antibiotics, needed more medical visits, missed more work or school days, and needed help at home to care for the ill children for a longer period of time. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza has a significant clinical and socioeconomic impact on healthy children and their families. Prevention strategies should also focus on healthy children regardless of their age because of their role in disease transmission.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Surveillance of influenza in Apulia, Italy, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002, and 2002-2003 seasons.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate, within the Italian National Influenza Epidemiological and Virological Surveillance, the rate of vaccination coverage, the incidence of Influenza Like-Illness (ILI), the incidence of Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI), and to identify the virus strains circulating in Apulia from 1999 to 2003. METHODS: Vaccination coverage rates were calculated based on the number of doses administered to individuals > 65 years of age. Every week, sentinel physicians reported ILI and ARI cases having occurred among their patients. Voluntary general practitioners (GPs) and paediatricians (Ps) collected oropharyngeal swab samples from patients suspected with ILI. Influenza viruses were isolated and identified by cell culture (MDCK cells) and RT-PCR. Virological surveillance was carried out by the ISS, in collaboration with a network of peripheral laboratories. RESULTS: In Apulia, vaccination coverage progressively increased to 68.6% during the 2002-2003 season. The analysis of ILI cases showed higher incidence rates during the 1999-2000 and 2002-2003 seasons. ARI rates appeared to have a more constant trend. ILI and ARI incidence rates were higher in the 0-14 year age group. CONCLUSION: The increase in vaccination coverage rates and implementation of the network of clinical, and epidemiological and virological surveillance are fundamental for the control and prevention of influenza.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Seroprevalence of HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection among immigrants in northern Italy.

To assess the prevalence of human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) and 2 (HTLV-II) infection and the associated risk factors among immigrants living in Northern Italy, we surveyed 3017 open-population subjects from three geographical areas and 371 prisoners. In the open population, the overall prevalence was 0.3% for HTLV-I and 0.1% for HTLV-II, while among prisoners, HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection were detected in 1.4 and 0.8% of subjects, respectively. HTLV-I prevalence was higher in subjects with multiple sexual partners or sexually transmitted diseases. This association was significant in the open-population group and close to significance in prisoners. Multivariate analysis showed that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity remained significantly associated with HTLV-I infection in both targeted populations (OR: 11.2 in the open population; OR: 9.9 among prisoners), whereas sexual exposure was associated with HTLV-I seropositivity only for prisoners (OR: 14.3). No independent variable was related to HTLV-II infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Cost-benefit evaluation of influenza vaccination in the elderly in the Italian region of Liguria.

Influenza causes considerable morbidity and mortality and the damage to public health can be considerable. The most effective measures available for the prevention of influenza is vaccination. In most industrialised countries the objective of vaccination is to limit the disease among individuals at risk, especially the elderly. During the winter of 2000/2001, General Practitioners (GPs) monitored 14,818 elderly individuals. The objective was to evaluate the weekly incidence of the disease. Furthermore, we carried out a prospective study on 512 elderly individuals, arranged according to vaccination (304 vaccinated and 208 non-vaccinated), with the main objective of assessing the costs of the disease and the efficacy of vaccination. Finally, in order to assess the percentage of vaccinated elderly individuals, we carried out a telephone survey on 500 subjects. Our clinical surveillance study enabled us to establish that morbidity was particularly low in elderly individuals.The results of the prospective study allowed us to estimate the cost-benefit ratio at 8.22, with a net saving of 110.20 Euros for each vaccinated subject. We were also able to establish that the vaccine coverage among elderly individuals was 63%. Our study, though carried out during a low epidemic year, confirms the economic advantage of vaccination in the elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Increased immunogenicity of the MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccine compared to a conventional subunit vaccine in elderly subjects.

Three-hundred and eight outpatient elderly subjects (> or = 65 years) were randomly assigned to receive the MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccine (FLU-AD; n = 204) or a conventional subunit influenza vaccine (AGRIPPAL S1; n = 104) in order to compare the safety and immunogenicity of the two vaccines. Although mild pain at the injection site was reported more frequently by subjects immunised with the adjuvanted vaccine, both vaccines were shown to be safe and well tolerated. The adjuvanted vaccine was more immunogenic as indicated by higher post-immunisation geometric mean titres (GMTs) and by higher proportions of subjects with post-immunisation > or = four fold increases of antibody titres or subjects with > or = 1/160 post-immunisation HI titres. These differences, statistically significant for all three strains after immunisation, indicated that, by addition of the MF59 adjuvant emulsion, conventional subunit influenza antigens acquire an enhanced immunogenicity without any clinically significant increase of their reactogenicity.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2001

Tyrosine kinase activation in breast carcinoma with correlation to HER-2/neu gene amplification and receptor overexpression.

The HER-2/neu oncogene encodes a transmembrane receptor with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. A pilot study was performed to investigate downstream effects of HER-2/neu (or related growth factor receptor) activation by identifying phosphorylated tyrosine. Fifty-four breast carcinomas were evaluated for HER-2/neu overexpression by the HercepTest (Dako, Carpinteria, CA) and the monoclonal CB11 antibody (Ventana, Tucson, AZ). Phosphotyrosine (an indication of tyrosine kinase activity) was detected by an antiphosphotyrosine mouse monoclonal antibody (Upstate Biotechnology, Lake Placid, NY). The gene amplification status was evaluated in 50 of the 54 cases by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using the Ventana gene probe. The HER-2/neu oncogene amplification was detected in 28% (14 of 50) of cases. Of the 14 cases showing oncogene amplification, tyrosine kinase activity was detected in 9 (64.2%) cases. There was moderate agreement between HER-2/neu gene amplification and tyrosine kinase activity (kappa = 0.43). Immunohistochemical staining of 3+ (with both HercepTest and CB11) showed better agreement with HER-2/neu oncogene amplification and increased tyrosine kinase activity than 2+ immunohistochemical staining. Overall, oncogene amplification and overexpression correlated with increased tyrosine kinase activity, supporting the mechanism of tyrosine kinase activation by HER-2/neu amplification and overexpression. However, 7 cases showing increased tyrosine kinase activity did not show gene amplification or 3+ receptor expression (by either HercepTest or CB11), raising the possibility of other growth factor receptors operating via the tyrosine kinase pathway. There was no apparent correlation between tyrosine kinase activity and hormone receptor status (estrogen or progesterone). Increased tyrosine kinase activity is more commonly associated with higher-grade tumors and thus may correlate with aggressive biologic behavior in breast carcinoma. The results of this pilot study suggest that a larger-scale investigation into downstream activation of tyrosine kinase and correlation to clinical outcome or response to Herceptin therapy may identify subsets of patients whose clinical response or outcome may be predicted by tyrosine kinase activation.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence of diphtheria toxin antibodies in human sera from a cross-section of the Italian population.

A polycentric study was carried out between 1993 and 1995 in order to evaluate diphtheria immunity on a representative sample of population from different areas of Italy. To determine diphtheria antitoxin, sera from 5187 apparently healthy subjects, divided according to sex and age groups, were titrated using an ELISA indirect method. A basic protective titre of diphtheria antitoxin (> 0.01 IU ml-1) was found in 4080 (78.6%) subjects. No statistically significant differences between males and females were observed. Our findings show that the proportion of susceptibles increases with age and a high proportion of adults no longer has diphtheria antitoxin at protective levels since toxigenic C. diphtheriae circulation is presently lacking in Italy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies and angiographically demonstrated coronary artery disease in a sample population from Italy.

Recent reports suggest an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and chronic coronary heart disease. This case-control study investigates the relationship between the presence of immunoglobin G (IgG) and immunoglobin A (IgA) when measured by means of microimmunofluorescence (MIF) and angiographically diagnosed coronary disease. Cases (n = 150) were angiography patients with at least one coronary artery lesion occupying at least 50% of the luminal diameter. Controls (n = 49) were angiography patients with no detectable signs of coronary artery disease and patients (n = 56) without signs or symptoms of coronary disease and with normal ECG results. No significant differences were revealed between the seroprevalence of IgG and IaA and geometric mean titers (GMT) as measured in cases and controls. When cases were compared with controls whose angiographic results were normal, after adjusting for established risk factors (cholesterol, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, age, gender and family history), the estimated risk of coronary artery disease was 0.79 (95% confidence interval (C.I.), 0.31-1.99) for the presence of IgG and was 0.94 (95 C.I., 0.37-2.39) for IgA. When cases were compared with controls with normal ECG results, the adjusted odds ratio (O.R.) for coronary artery disease was 1.17 (95%, C.I., 0.52-2.62) for the presence of IgG and 0.82 195% C.I., 0.36-1.86) for the presence of IgA. These results do not support an association between C. pneumoniae infection and coronary disease.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1999

Impact of routine infant and adolescent hepatitis B vaccination in Tuscany, Central Italy.

BACKGROUND: In Italy routine infant and adolescent immunization against hepatitis B was introduced in 1991. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of (1) coverage with three doses of hepatitis B vaccine in infants and adolescents; (2) seroconversion to anti-hepatitis B surface antigen antibody (anti-HBs) in adolescents receiving three doses of vaccine; (3) concordance of coverage rates in infants with prevalence of neutralizing antibodies in sera from anonymous children; (4) trend of notified cases of acute hepatitis B. METHODS: A sample of infants and adolescents living in Tuscany was studied during 6 years (1992 through 1997) by matching birth records and immunization certificates. Sera from 139 adolescents who completed the vaccination course and from 159 anonymous children belonging to immunized cohorts (1 to 5 years) were tested with a quantitative anti-HBs assay. Incidence of acute hepatitis B by age was calculated from regional statistics on notified infectious diseases between 1992 and 1996. RESULTS: Overall 10,606/11,164 (95%) infants and 10,599/11,100 (95%) adolescents received 3 doses of vaccine. Seroconversion to anti-HBs was detected in 98% of adolescent vaccinees. Anti-HBs titers > or =10 IU/l were detected in 87% of children. A 49% decline of acute hepatitis B cases was registered between 1992 and 1996 in 15- to 24-year-olds living in Tuscany. No case occurred in vaccinated adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Coverage against hepatitis B is excellent in cohorts subject to mandatory immunization. If efforts to vaccinate are maintained at these levels, elimination of hepatitis B virus transmission could occur within few decades in Italy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Immunity to diphtheria in Siena.

The aim of this study, carried out in 1993, was to evaluate diphtheria immunity in Siena. Diphtheria antitoxin levels were measured by means of the immunoenzymatic test (ELISA) in serum samples of 602 apparently healthy subjects (239 males and 363 females) of all ages residing in Siena. According to widely used criteria, 6% of the total population were susceptible to diphtheria (antibody levels < 0.01 IU/ml), 71% had basic protection (0.01-0.09 IU/ml) and 23% were fully protected (> or = 0.1 IU/ml). The results suggested that a high proportion of young population had a protective level of immunity against diphtheria, that susceptibility increased with age and a smaller proportion of males (2.9%) than females (8.3%) were unprotected; this difference was statistically significant. Our results suggest that it may be useful to revaccinate adults with low levels of diphtheria toxoid so that the percentage that remains unprotected does not put the community at risk of an outbreak of diphtheria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of in vitro efficacy of the disinfectant Virkon.

A study was conducted on a new acid peroxygen system based disinfectant (Virkon), in order to assess its in vitro efficacy. The chemical was tested on different bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli), spores (Bacillus subtilis) and on the Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and compared in its activity with phenol and glutaraldehyde (calculation of the 'phenol coefficient' and the 'glutaraldehyde coefficient'). The constancy of speed of disinfection, the coefficient of concentration, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) were also determined, and the destruction of the HBsAg antigenic activity was studied using an ELISA kit. The sporicidal efficacy of Virkon was assessed by cultivating spores in agar nutrient after contact with different dilutions of the disinfectant. The results of the tests showed that Virkon has a high concentration coefficient (mean value of k: 0.374/min) and a wide range of action. The low MIC demonstrates how little concentrations of Virkon can inactivate all studied bacteria. The disinfectant was also able to destroy the hepatitis B surface antigen, and it demonstrated good activity against spores, especially if used in physiologic solution. These characteristics, coupled with the absence of initiation or toxic effects on animals showed by other studies, make wide fields of application for the new disinfectant foreseeable.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Purification and characterization of amine oxidase from soybean seedlings.

A simple and rapid procedure for purification of soybean seedling amine oxidase is reported. The crude enzyme, obtained by ammonium sulfate fractionation was purified by ion-exchange chromatography on a cellulose phosphate column and batch affinity chromatography on 6-aminohexyl-Sepharose. Cyclohexylamine, a competitive inhibitor, was utilized to elute the enzyme. A homogeneous enzyme was obtained with a yield higher than 25%, the content of minor components being < or = 2%. The M(r) estimated by gel filtration is 113,000 and 77,000 by sodium lauryl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme is a dimer and contains two Cu2+ ion per molecule. Its EPR spectrum is typical of Cu2+ in a tetragonal symmetry. The enzyme oxidizes cadaverine at high rate, the specific activity being 4.3 mukat/mg. Molecular, spectroscopic, and kinetic properties of this enzyme are reported.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗
PubMed1993

Pharmacokinetics of sufentanil in general surgical patients under different conditions of anaesthesia.

The pharmacokinetics of sufentanil were studied in 56 surgical patients after an intravenous bolus of 2 micrograms kg-1, in association with neurolept analgesia or volatile anaesthetics (halothane, enflurane and isoflurane). Plasma concentrations of sufentanil were measured by radioimmunoassay. The kinetics of sufentanil were comparable under neurolept analgesia and under anaesthesia with halothane, enflurane or isoflurane. The overall mean elimination half-life was 182 min, Vdss 169 l and the plasma clearance 910 ml min-1. Except for the isoflurane subgroup, there was no significant correlation between half-life, the volume of distribution or clearance with age (24-77 years) or body weight (45-95 kg).

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Molecular analysis of aberrations of Xp and Yq.

Three cases of Y chromosomal aberrations were studied using a panel of Y-specific DNA sequences from both Yp and euchromatic Yq. One case was a phenotypic male fetus with a Y-derived marker chromosome. The short arm of this chromosome was intact, but most of its long arm was missing. The second case had a 46,XYq- karyotype with portions of euchromatic Yq, including the spermatogenesis region, missing. The third case was a phenotypic female with a 46,XXp+ karyotype. The extra material on the Xp+ chromosome was derived from the heterochromatic, and part of the euchromatic, portion of Yq. Application of X-specific DNA sequences demonstrated that the distal portion of the short arm of the translocation X chromosome was deleted (Xpter-p22.3). The three examples demonstrate the importance of diagnostic DNA analysis in cases of marker chromosomes, and X and Y chromosomal aberrations. In addition, the findings in the patients facilitate further deletion mapping of euchromatic Yq.

Adult↗