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Biomedical subjects

R Iorio

Publications and source records attributed to R Iorio.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Real-time ultrasound reveals gastric motor abnormalities in children investigated for dyspeptic symptoms.

Real-time ultrasonography (US) of the gastric antrum after ingestion of a mixed solid-liquid meal was performed in 60 patients (median age, 8.2 years; range, 3-17) being investigated for symptoms suggesting upper intestinal dysfunction (vomiting, regurgitation, abdominal pain, early satiety, and anorexia) and in 13 controls (median age, 5 years; range, 3-15). The diagnostic work-up allowed identification of 14 patients with esophagitis (group A) and 26 with Helicobacter pylori (HP) gastritis (group B); median age in group A was 9 years (range, 3-15) and in group B was 9.5 years (range, 3-17). Group A patients had significantly more prolonged gastric-emptying times (median, 180 min; range, 110-270) than did controls (median, 150 min; range, 110-180; p < 0.01); however, group A times were not significantly longer than those of group B patients (median, 160 min; range, 90-265). In the remaining 20 patients (group C; median age, 7.1 years; range, 3-15) without a specific diagnosis, markedly delayed gastric emptying was detected (median, 237 min; range, 165-270; p < 0.01 vs. group B patients and vs. controls; p < 0.05 vs. group A patients); in this group, GI manometry revealed findings of deranged motility of the gut. Distension of the antral area (percentage of increase vs. baseline values) 60 and 90 min after feeding was higher in group C (60 min: median, 185%; range, 70-614%; 90 min: median, 175%; range, 60-400%) than in both controls (60 min: median, 80%; range 26-148%; 90 min: median 90%; range 20-253%; p < 0.01) and HP patients (60 min: median, 120%; range, 35-311%; 90 min: median, 98%; range, 23-400%; p < 0.05); there was no significant difference versus esophagitis patients. The latter differed from controls only for the 60-min postfeeding antral distension (p < 0.01), whereas HP patients did not differ from controls. In group C patients, symptomatic dyspeptic score correlated with both 60- and 90-min fed antral distension (r = 0.61 and r = 0.64, respectively; p < 0.05), but no correlation was found with gastric-emptying time. In group A patients, histologic score of esophagitis correlated with 60-min postfeeding antral distension (r = 0.56; p < 0.05), whereas poor correlation was found with 90-min postfeeding antral distension and with gastric-emptying time. However, the latter significantly correlated with 90-min fed antral distension in esophagitis patients (r = 0.70; p < 0.01). We conclude that US imaging of the antral area of the stomach reveals abnormalities of gastric motility in most children referred for dyspeptic symptoms; this technique should be included among the investigative tools in the diagnostic approach to these patients.

Adolescent↗

Cemented revision of failed total hip arthroplasty. Survivorship analysis.

A review of 107 total hip arthroplasties performed with acrylic cement in 89 patients at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center by 1 surgeon from 1971 to 1990 revealed a clinical survivorship of 97% at 5 years and 76% at 10 years. The average followup was 7.7 years. Analysis of radiographs revealed a 94% success rate at 5 years and 62% at 10 years. A transtrochanteric approach was used in 99% of procedures. The 13 definite failures (12.1%) included 8 rerevisions (7.5%) and 5 failures (4.6%) pending revision. Modified Merle d'Aubigné and Postel postoperative scores increased significantly from preoperative values (pain, 2.8-5.3 points; movement, 3.2-5.2 points; function, 2.6-5.4 points). Bone grafting was required in 33% of procedures and did not affect survivorship: 24% of procedures required acetabular bone grafts; 4% femoral bone grafts; and 5% acetabular and femoral grafts. In 46% of hips, removal of the original well-fixed femoral cement and plug was deliberately incomplete. Stems of standard length were used for these partially rechannelized femurs because the old distal cement column served as a plug for the canal. Old osseointegrated polymethylmethacrylate was left behind to bond with the new cement column. Cement fracture, complete demarcation, and young age were negatively correlated with survivorship.

Bone Cements↗

Lack of intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus in family members of children with chronic hepatitis c infection.

Intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was studied in family members of 44 children with chronic hepatitis C infection (index cases). There were 22 males and the mean age of all patients was 9.5 years (range, 1.5 to 16 years). Eleven index patients were multitransfused because of thalassemia major. Aminotransferase serum concentrations and anti-HCV antibodies were evaluated in 77 parents (38 fathers) and 56 siblings (28 males; mean age, 11.2 years; range, 2.5 to 18 years). No sibling showed evidence of liver disease or HCV infection. Eight parents (14%) were found to be anti-HCV positive, but only one of them acquired HCV infection from an index case through an accidental needle stick injury. A nonsexual person-to-person transmission of HCV was conceivable only in a girl (index case) who had no risk factor other than the contact with anti-HCV-positive father. Vertical transmission played a role in five children (index cases) (three males) from five different mothers. Among the eight children belonging to these mothers, three did not show evidence of HCV infection although born after their HCV-infected siblings. Furthermore, we have not identified factors related to activity of disease or to duration of contact with index cases or to peculiar features of family members capable of favoring the spreading of HCV infection. Different from hepatitis b, pediatric age does not seem to represent a reservoir for HCV infection since the majority of children acquired HCV infection through parenteral routes and no HCV-infected child transmitted HCV infection horizontally.

Adolescent↗

Risk factors affecting radiological failure of the socket in primary Charnley low friction arthroplasty. A 10- to 20-year followup study.

To identify the factors affecting Hodgkinson Type 3 or 4 radiological demarcation (presence of complete demarcation or migration, respectively) of the Charnley socket, 328 sockets with 10- to 20-year followup were studied. Fifty-five sockets (16.8%) developed Type 3 or 4 demarcation. In the osteoarthrosis group (237 sockets), removal of eburnated bone at the acetabular roof, the presence of large acetabular angles before and after surgery, and high placement of the socket were related to development of Type 3 or 4 demarcation. In the rheumatoid group (32 sockets), young patient age predisposed the socket to Type 3 or 4 demarcation. Rapid polyethylene wear, correlated with young age, male gender, and thin cement mantle in Zones I and II, was another important factor related to Type 3 or 4 demarcation in both groups and in the entire series. These risk factors should be taken into account when assessing the indications for arthroplasty, when performing arthroplasty, and when educating the patient.

Acetabulum↗

Chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis: role of hepatitis C virus.

Thirty three consecutive children with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) were studied during a four year period to evaluate clinical and histological features and the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV). All patients were asymptomatic. Thirteen (39%) of them were anti-HCV positive. A history of parenteral exposure was significantly more frequent among anti-HCV positive (69%) than anti-HCV negative patients (15%). Aminotransferase serum values were not statistically different between anti-HCV positive and anti-HCV negative patients. Unlike adults, cirrhosis was never found in the children studied. Our results suggest that chronic NANBH is, during childhood, an asymptomatic disease and that the prevalence of HCV infection is lower than in adults. As the majority of the children with chronic NANBH showed no evidence of HCV infection, it seems unwarranted to identify NANBH with HCV infection in children. The lack of cirrhosis in paediatric patients is probably related to a shorter duration of liver disease.

Adolescent↗

A pilot model of vaccination against hepatitis B virus suitable for mass vaccination campaigns in hyperendemic areas.

A hepatitis B vaccination campaign was carried out in a town of 60,000 inhabitants, Afragola, Campania, Italy, a hyperendemic area for hepatitis B where HBsAg prevalence was 13.4% and anti-HBc prevalence was 64.7%. This experimental pilot project aimed to reduce the incidence of both acute and asymptomatic viral hepatitis B and of related chronic liver complications. From 1983-1989, 8,400 subjects were vaccinated: 6,900 children up to 10 years of age and 1,500 subjects from 11-60 years of age. High seroconversion rates were observed: 99.0% in all children under one year of age, 96.0% in the older children, and 86.7% in adults. The rate of infection in Afragola has diminished from 63/100,000 in 1983 to 10/100,000 in 1989. Carriers of HBsAg decreased in the general population (7.3% compared to 13.4%), especially in children up to 10 years of age (1.0% compared to 9.0%). In babies who received hepatitis B vaccine at the same time as compulsory vaccinations compliance was 98% while it was 80% in babies who were vaccinated separately. In June 1991 the Italian Parliament promulgated a decree which imposes hepatitis B vaccination for all newborn babies at 3, 5, and 11 months of age, at the same times as the mandatory childhood vaccinations (diphtheria, tetanus, and polio) according to a new protocol (Piazza scheme) which has been in use since January 1987 in our pilot vaccination campaign in Afragola.

Adolescent↗

Chronicity rate of hepatitis B virus infection in the families of 60 hepatitis B surface antigen positive chronic carrier children: role of horizontal transmission.

It is known that the 5%-10% of adults infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) develop a chronic infection and that HBV infection acquired at birth by an hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)/hepatitis B "e" antigen (HBeAg)-positive mother almost invariably leads to chronic infection. Little information is, however, available about the risk of HBV infection acquired in childhood becoming chronic. We have, therefore, studied the chronicity rate of HBV infection in the families of 60 consecutive HBsAg-positive chronic carrier children. Of parents 81.5% and 78.6% of children showed serological evidence of past or ongoing HBV infection. The chronicity rate was significantly higher among children (73.4%) than parents (35.6%). Such a high chronicity rate in these children was not correlated with vertical transmission, since this was reported in only 1.7% of them. It is noteworthy that the chronicity rate of HBV infection was not significantly different between children of HBsAg-positive mothers and those in whom infection must have been horizontally transmitted because their mothers were HBsAg-negative. Although the families studied represent a selected sample and the role of genetic factors could not be excluded, our results seem to show that the most important factor in determining the outcome of infection is the acquisition of hepatitis B during childhood.

Adolescent↗

Nutritional status and growth in children with chronic hepatitis B.

As reported for other chronic liver diseases, hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronic infection might result in malnutrition. In order to establish whether this disease could be responsible of malnutrition and hence influence growth, 75 children, chronically infected with HBV, have been followed up for 4 years. Thirty-one of them had chronic active hepatitis (CAH), 25 chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), 14 chronic lobular hepatitis (CLH), and five cirrhosis (three active, two inactive). The nutritional status was evaluated every 12 months, with careful physical and laboratory examinations. General nutritional status was estimated according to Waterlow criteria (13, 14). At our first observation, 50 children were following a balanced diet with a caloric intake adequate for age and weight, whereas 25 were on a low-fat diet, begun in the belief of its therapeutic value. For seven patients of this second group, the caloric intake was below the daily requirement. The latter group showed a growth failure in weight when they were first seen at our center and gained weight when the dietary intake was normalized. However, no biochemical feature of malnutrition was observed in all the 75 children. At the end of the follow-up period, the nutritional status was satisfactory for all of them.

Alanine Transaminase↗

[Adaptability of the anti-hepatitis-B vaccine Recombivax HB to the Piazza protocol for the mass vaccination of newborn infants].

27 healthy babies born to HBsAg, antiHBs and antiHBc negative mothers were given three doses of hepatitis B vaccine "Recombivax HB" (5 micrograms/dose/0.5 ml) at 3, 5 and 11 months of age (Piazza's protocol). AntiHBs response was highly satisfactory. Since both in terms of seroconversion rate and of mean antiHBs titre immunogenicity of other hepatitis B vaccines given at 3, 5 and 11 months of age was already demonstrated, it is possible to conclude that Piazza's protocol is valid for all hepatitis B vaccines available in Italy and will certainly facilitate the compulsory hepatitis B vaccination in infants in Italy.

Carrier State↗

A modified immunisation schedule for the hepatitis B vaccine Recombivax HB suitable for mass vaccination in childhood.

Following the demonstration of a fully satisfactory immunogenic activity of a hepatitis B vaccination protocol consisting of three doses of Hevac B Pasteur vaccine given at 3,5 and 11 months of age, it was possible to administer this vaccine at the same times as the vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus and polio which are mandatory in Italy at those ages. We have also shown that both another plasma-derived vaccine, H-B-VAX (MSD), as well as the DNA-recombinant Engerix B (SK&F) are highly immunogenic when given at the same times as the mandatory childhood vaccinations. In this paper we demonstrate that the same schedule can be used for another hepatitis B vaccine prepared by a DNA-recombinant technique, Recombivax HB (MSD) recently introduced in Italy. In fact two doses of this vaccine, the first given at three months of age and the second two months later, resulted in a 100% seroconversion rate and a mean anti-HBs titre of 440 mUI/ml. Although the date are incomplete since the third dose will be given at 11 months of age, we conclude that this hepatitis B vaccine can also be used in the mass vaccination campaigns of infants in Italy, the first of which was initiated in January 1987 in an hyperendemic area near Naples (HBsAg prevalence about 14%). We underline that this mass vaccination campaign is the first in Europe.

Hepatitis B↗

Scoliosis surgery in neurofibromatosis.

Twenty-three patients who were treated by posterior spinal fusion with neurofibromatous scoliosis were reviewed to study the adequacy of spinal fusion, rate of pseudarthrosis, and incidence of complications. Twenty patients achieved a solid fusion with posterior surgery alone. Thirteen patients required one or more posterior augmentation procedures because of progressive deformity. Three patients with dystrophic kyphoscoliosis required an anterior spinal fusion in addition to the posterior fusion to achieve a solid fusion mass. The type of graft material, Harrington instrumentation, and degree of kyphosis or scoliosis had no effect on the rate of pseudarthrosis. Preoperative neuroradiographic evaluation was found to be warranted for all patients with neurofibromatous scoliosis.

Adolescent↗

Immunogenicity of a DNA-recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix B) given at 3, 5 and 11 months of age with a new schedule suitable for mass vaccination programmes.

Following the demonstration of a fully satisfactory immunogenic activity of a hepatitis B vaccination protocol consisting of three doses given at the 3rd and 5th months of age with a booster at 11, it was possible to administer this vaccine at the same times as the vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus and polio which are mandatory in Italy at those ages. A field trial of this protocol in a hyperendemic area near Naples (prevalence of HBsAg about 14%) started on January 1987. The French vaccine, Hevac B, Pasteur, was used. At this time compliance is 99%, and fully satisfactory results both in terms of seroconversion rate (96.3%) and of mean anti-HBs titre (4,352 mIU/ml) two months after the booster dose have been obtained. In this paper we demonstrate that even for a new hepatitis B vaccine prepared by a DNA-recombinant technique (Engerix B, SK & F) recently introduced in Italy, the same schedule can be used. In fact two doses of this vaccine, the first given at three months of age and the second two months later, resulted in a 100% seroconversion rate and a mean anti-HBs titre of 560 mIU/ml. Two months after the booster given at 11 months of age the mean anti-HBs titre was 12,100.

Drug Evaluation↗