PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Gauci

Publications and source records attributed to C Gauci.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

The magnitude and distribution of infectious intestinal disease in Malta: a population-based study.

Routine sources of information on infectious intestinal disease (IID) capture a fraction of the actual disease burden. Population studies are required to measure the burden of illness. A retrospective age-stratified cross-sectional telephone study was carried out in Malta in order to estimate the magnitude and distribution of IID at population level. A random sample of 3504 persons was interviewed by a structured questionnaire between April 2004 and December 2005. The response rate was 99.7%. From the study, the observed standardized monthly prevalence was 3.18% (95% CI 0.7-5.74) with 0.421 (95% CI 0.092-0.771) episodes of IID per person per year. The monthly prevalence was higher in the <5 years age group and in females aged 31-44 years. The mean duration of illness was 6.8 days and a median duration of 3 days. A bimodal seasonal distribution was observed with peaks in June-July and October-November.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Challenges in identifying the methodology to estimate the prevalence of infectious intestinal disease in Malta.

Routine surveillance systems capture only a fraction of infectious intestinal disease (IID) that is actually occurring in the community. Different methodologies utilized among various international studies in the field were reviewed in order to devise an appropriate survey to obtain current estimates of prevalence of IID in Malta. An age-stratified retrospective cross-sectional telephone study was selected for the study due to its feasibility in terms of limited resources necessary (funds, time and human). The disadvantages of this type of study include the inherent biases such as selection bias (sampling, ascertainment and participation bias) and information bias (recall and observer bias). A pilot study was carried out using a random age-stratified sample of 100 persons over a 3-month period. A total of 5.0% (95% CI +/-4.27) of the population was estimated to have suffered from IID during that period. This estimate was used in order to assist in sample size calculations for a large-scale community study. It also served to test the survey instrument and methodology and to identify operational problems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Gelsolin superfamily proteins: key regulators of cellular functions.

Cytoskeletal rearrangement occurs in a variety of cellular processes and involves a wide spectrum of proteins. Among these, the gelsolin superfamily proteins control actin organization by severing filaments, capping filament ends and nucleating actin assembly [1]. Gelsolin is the founding member of this family, which now contains at least another six members: villin, adseverin, capG, advillin, supervillin and flightless I. In addition to their respective role in actin filament remodeling, these proteins have some specific and apparently non-overlapping particular roles in several cellular processes, including cell motility, control of apoptosis and regulation of phagocytosis (summarized in table 1). Evidence suggests that proteins belonging to the gelsolin superfamily may be involved in other processes, including gene expression regulation. This review will focus on some of the known functions of the gelsolin superfamily proteins, thus providing a basis for reflection on other possible and as yet incompletely understood roles for these proteins.

Actins↗
PubMed1998

The use of recombinant ovine IL-1beta and TNF-alpha as natural adjuvants and their physiological effects in vivo.

In the present study we have investigated the use of recombinant ovine IL-1beta and TNF-alpha both alone and in combination, as natural adjuvants in vaccination trials in sheep. Initial experiments were conducted to investigate the physiological effects of the cytokines in vivo and determine what dose could be administered without adverse pyrogenic effects. Even at the maximum dose tested (100 microg) the only significant physiological effect was a transient increase in body temperature of approximately 2 degrees C in sheep injected with TNF-alpha. Administration of either cytokine had profound effects on the levels of circulating leucocytes for up to 5 days postinjection. The incorporation of either IL-1beta or TNF-alpha in aqueous or Al(OH)3 vaccine formulations enhanced antibody responses to a recombinant antigen from the cestode parasite Taenia ovis. The addition of IL-1beta to aqueous vaccine formulations increased antibody responses 15-20-fold and in Al(OH)3 formulations by three to six fold. TNF-alpha stimulated 1.5 to six-fold and 2.5 to seven-fold increases in antibody levels in aqueous and Al(OH)3-based formulations, respectively, in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of either cytokine to Quil A or IFA vaccines did not enhance the antibody levels elicited. When 10 microg of both IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were incorporated in the aqueous or Al(OH)3 vaccine formulations, increases of 21-fold and 25-fold, respectively, were observed in antibody levels. The adjuvant activity of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in combination in the Al(OH)3-based vaccine resulted in antibody levels commensurate with those obtained using Quil A or IFA.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1997

Sequence analysis of a gene family encoding Taenia ovis vaccine antigens expressed during embryogenesis of eggs.

The 45W vaccine antigen of the cestode parasite Taenia ovis is a member of a small gene family estimated to comprise six members. All six genes were cloned and characterised. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the different family members identified a set of closely related genes exhibiting between 75.2 and 98.6% DNA sequence homology. Intron/exon structure for the various genes constituting the family was found to be conserved. Open reading frame analysis and pairwise alignments of predicted polypeptides from the various members of the family revealed that the encoded proteins share between 51.8 and 96.5% amino acid identity with the host-protective 45W antigen. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed which allowed amplification of individual family members in a transcript-specific manner. These were used to investigate gene expression in different developmental stages of the parasite by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). All members of the gene family were expressed during the T. ovis life-cycle. 45W gene family transcription correlates with embryogenesis of eggs and expression is increased in activated eggs (oncospheres). One family member, ToW3S, was expressed in the early larvae (cysticercus) stages. Expression of genes closely related to the 45W vaccine antigen has important implications for immune evasion under selection from the application of a 45W-based vaccine.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Identification and cDNA cloning of two novel low molecular weight host-protective antigens from Taenia ovis oncospheres.

Oncosphere antigens of Taenia ovis were solubilised in sodium dodecyl sulphate and separated by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels (SDS-PAGE). Antigen-containing gel fractions cut from the region covering 18-12 kDa were shown to be highly immunogenic in sheep challenge experiments. Specific antisera against 2 candidate antigens at 18 and 16 kDa were used to screen a cDNA library prepared from T. ovis oncosphere mRNA. Recombinant proteins selected with antibody to the 16 and 18 kDa native antigens were expressed as GST fusion proteins. Vaccination trials using either of the 2 fusion proteins To16.17-GST and To18-GST, revealed that each was capable of inducing high levels of immunity in sheep against challenge infection with T. ovis eggs. Antibodies induced by vaccination with the recombinant antigens reacted specifically with their respective 18 or 16 kDa native oncosphere antigens. There was no apparent homology between the T. ovis cDNA coding for To18 and To16.17, or with another host-protective antigen, To45W, described previously. These additional host-protective antigens should prove a valuable adjunct to To45W and permit the development of effective vaccination strategies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1976

Blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukaemia: the effect of intensive chemotherapy.

24 patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in blast crisis were treated with intensive chemotherapy. 16 patients showed either partial or complete response to this treatment, but median survival remained short (13 weeks), and much of this time was spent in hospital. These results were not significantly better than those obtained by others using vincristine and prednisolone alone, and this combination of drugs can often be given on an outpatient basis. It is concluded that until more effective intensive therapy becomes available patients in CML blast crisis should be managed in such a way that the quality of life is not impaired; and that at present vincristine and prednisolone appears to be the most impaired; and that at present vincristine and prednisolone appears to be the most appropriate initial treatment, though even this is far from satisfactory.

Adolescent↗