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Biomedical subjects

C Amato

Publications and source records attributed to C Amato.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Paralytic poliomyelitis in Italy (1981-85).

Fifteen cases of presumptive poliomyelitis occurring in Italy between 1981-85 were studied in order to differentiate between paralysis caused by poliovirus and that of different etiology. Out of seven confirmed cases three were "temporally associated with vaccination". Three aspects are discussed: the need for a careful differential diagnosis of paralytic cases; the over concern about the problem of vaccine-associated cases: the risk connected with re-importation of wild poliovirus strains.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1984

Serum antibodies to poliomyelitis in Italy.

A seroepidemiological survey was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the Italian nationwide immunization programme against poliomyelitis. Over 3800 serum samples were collected from persons, aged between 6 months and 79 years and residing in urban and rural areas with different socioeconomic conditions and geographic locations.A very high level of protection was found in the target population, confirming the almost 100% history of complete immunization. Almost all subjects over 30 years of age were found to have poliovirus antibodies, although they had never been vaccinated. In Naples, a higher proportion of subjects susceptible to all 3 types of virus was found in the age group 6-23 months, suggesting a delay in the administration of vaccine. This was confirmed by the analysis of the immunization history. No difference was observed between urban and rural areas, in either serological results or history of immunization.The results confirmed the higher immunogenicity of poliovirus type 2 with respect to the other two types, the effectiveness of the vaccine, and, finally, the efficiency of the operational procedures adopted for its administration.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum antibodies against Coxsackie B1-6 viruses in type 1 diabetics.

Twenty-two newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetics and 46 control subjects have been examined for Coxsackie B1-6 serum antibodies. Evidence for CoxB4 neutralizing antibodies at titers greater than or equal to 16 and two seroconversions for this single virus type were shown in the diabetic group (31.8% of patients with titers greater than or equal to 16 in comparison with 10% of controls, p = 0.08). Reduced titers against CoxB2 and CoxB5 in diabetics were also observed. In agreement with the majority of publications, these data suggest the hypothesis that CoxB4 infections are frequently associated with type 1 diabetes, and the positive relationship found only for this type of virus may be related to greater tropism for the pancreas. The specificity of this viral infection, as shown by our serologic results, could suggest a possible causative role in the development of type 1 diabetes only in a limited number of cases. The authors propose new studies with monoclonal and IgM specific antibodies, obtained from new isolates, to detect more accurately the qualiquantitative differences between type 1 diabetics and controls.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

EuCliD (European Clinical Database): a database comparing different realities.

Quality and variability of dialysis practice are generally gaining more and more importance. Fresenius Medical Care (FMC), as provider of dialysis, has the duty to continuously monitor and guarantee the quality of care delivered to patients treated in its European dialysis units. Accordingly, a new clinical database called EuCliD has been developed. It is a multilingual and fully codified database, using as far as possible international standard coding tables. EuCliD collects and handles sensitive medical patient data, fully assuring confidentiality. The Infrastructure: a Domino server is installed in each country connected to EuCliD. All the centres belonging to a country are connected via modem to the country server. All the Domino Servers are connected via Wide Area Network to the Head Quarter Server in Bad Homburg (Germany). Inside each country server only anonymous data related to that particular country are available. The only place where all the anonymous data are available is the Head Quarter Server. The data collection is strongly supported in each country by "key-persons" with solid relationships to their respective national dialysis units. The quality of the data in EuCliD is ensured at different levels. At the end of January 2001, more than 11,000 patients treated in 135 centres located in 7 countries are already included in the system. FMC has put the patient care at the centre of its activities for many years and now is able to provide transparency to the community (Authorities, Nephrologists, Patients.....) thus demonstrating the quality of the service.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Metabolic syndrome and breast cancer risk.

States of hyperinsulinemia with insulin resistance are frequently associated with proliferative tissue abnormalities, via stimulation of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation through the IGF-1 receptor. Such elements of metabolic syndrome (hyperinsulinemia/insulin-resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia) are explored in a population of 125 women (n. 50 with histologically confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer, Group A; n. 50 with benign breast pathology, Group B; n. 25 with no breast pathology, Group C, controls), affering to a Center for the prevention of breast cancer, in order to investigate for an eventual relationship between these pathologies. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, was higher in group of women affected by breast cancer vs. benign breast pathology and controls. This finding is in agreement with the hypothesis of the interrelationship of hyperinsulinism/insulin resistance with the growth-related abnormalities of breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Changes in the cranio-cervical junction in Down's syndrome].

Twenty-eight subjects with Down syndrome, 9-29 years old, were examined for instability of the cervical spine at the atlanto-axial and atlanto-occipital joints. This region was studied by evaluating the atlanto-odontoid space and the basilar line both in neutral position and during functional movements. Two patients (7.2%) presented atlanto-axial anomalies, while 3 patients (10.7%) showed atlanto-occipital instability. Clinical goniometric measurements demonstrated specific and significant improvement in the extension movement of Down patients, when compared to the control group.

Adolescent↗