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Biomedical subjects

C Jannuzzi

Publications and source records attributed to C Jannuzzi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Detection of HIV-1 sequences in children using radioactive and colorimetric polymerase chain reactions.

The detection of HIV-1 proviral DNA in children born to seropositive mothers was studied using the polymerase chain reaction with either a radioactive electrophoretic method or a noval procedure that employs colorimetric microwell visualization. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell lysates from 18 HIV-1 infected children and 28 uninfected subjects were assayed for a 142 bp fragment of DNA from the gag region of HIV-1 using the primer pair SK145-431. Detection of amplified DNA was carried out by hybridization with a radiolabeled SK102 probe, or with a tagged SK102 probe permitting colorimetric detection. The radioactive detection procedure demonstrated 100% specificity and correlated with the serological results. The assay was more sensitive than the p24 antigen test, but two false negative results were obtained. One was from a sample taken at 2 weeks, an age at which undetectable provirus levels were reported in almost all HIV-1 infected newborns. The second was probably due to a low copy number of proviral DNA, as positive results were obtained in all other (6) samples from this child. Comparative analysis in a limited number of specimens of radioactive and colorimetric detection following PCR revealed 100% specificity and comparable sensitivity with 4 discordant results. The results show that PCR is the best method for early diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in pediatric subjects. The study also demonstrated the value of a colorimetric detection method for PCR products. This colorimetric microwell plate procedure may prove a useful technique in routine diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in children.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Clinical comparative study of azithromycin versus erythromycin in the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections in children.

The efficacy and tolerability of azithromycin and erythromycin in the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections in children were compared in an open, multicenter, randomized trial. A total of 151 children, aged from 2 months to 14 years, suffering from upper airways infections (60), or lower respiratory tract infections (91), were randomized to be treated either with azithromycin, 10 mg/Kg/day per os once daily for 3 or 10 mg/Kg/day 1 and 5 mg/Kg/days 2-5 (77 patients) or with erythromycin, 50 mg/Kg/day thrice daily for at least 7 days (74 patients). The two treatment groups did not significantly differ as to sex, age, weight, type and severity of infection, and infecting pathogens. Clinical evaluation was performed prior to therapy, on treatment days 1, 3, 5 and 7, and on day 10. Microbiological and laboratory assessment were carried out at baseline and after the end of therapeutic course. Chest X-ray and serologic assays for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection were obtained in patients suspected to have lower respiratory tract infections. At the end of therapy, clinical cure was achieved in 73 out of 77 patients (94.8%) in the azithromycin group, and in 60/72 evaluable subjects (83.3%) in the erythromycin group. A significantly more rapid remission of several illness-related signs and symptoms was observed in patients treated with azithromycin. A total of 75 bacterial pathogens were isolated at baseline microbiological examination; at the end of the therapeutic course bacteriological eradication was obtained in 34/34 cases (100%) treated with azithromycin, and in 40/41 children (97.5%) treated with erythromycin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Correlation between e/anti e system and evolution of B virus chronic hepatitis in pediatric patients.

The authors have performed a longitudinal study of 118 children affected with B virus chronic hepatitis. Our first observation revealed 92 children with HBeAg positive (26 CPH, 66 CAH), 22 children with anti HBe positive (6CPH, 15 CAH, 1 cirrhosis), 4 children (CAH) with e/anti-e negative. A correlation between the severity of clinical forms and the behaviour of the e/anti-e system was not observed. Seroconversion was observed during the follow up period in 37 of 92 subjects in an average time of 59.83 +/- 32 months, time rather prolonged in patients under immunosuppressive therapy. To compare the clinical progress and the evolution of CPH and CAH respectively, always with regard to the e/anti-e system, statistically significant differences did not result. Only anti HBe positive recovered subjects, inclusive of seroconverted patients and those anti HBe from the first observation, showed significant results to the statistical analysis. Still, seroconversion corresponds frequently to a stable improvement of hepatitis. On the contrary evolution into cirrhosis was observed in 5 patients that had anti HBe antibodies.

Child↗
PubMed1981

Evaluation of the dye test, IgM-IFAT, and ELISA for the diagnosis of toxoplasmic infection in pregnancy.

This study was undertaken to determine, first the relationship between the Sabin-Feldman dye test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as far as the antitoxoplasmic IgG antibodies are concerned, and secondly the relationship between the indirect immunofluorescence test and the ELISA as regards the antitoxoplasmic IgM antibodies. The results achieved through this research show a good relationship between the dye test and IgG-ELISA, especially satisfactory with the low and medium values of the antibody titers. Furthermore, a very good agreement could be documented between IgM-ELISA and IgM-IFAT in the detection of IgM-specific antibodies in the early phases of toxoplasmic infection.

Coloring Agents↗
PubMed1979

Chronic autoimmune neutropenia due to anti-NA1 antibody.

A 12-month-old child neutropenic since the age of 8 months, was referred to our institute for a sepsis from Candida albicans. On exploring the cause of neutropenia, an anti-NA1 antibody could be detected in the patient's serum. This antibody seemed to be responsible for the neutropenia because the child's PMN type was NA1+. The reactivity of the autoantibody with the patient's own granulocytes was confirmed by direct and indirect immunofluorescence studies performed on blood and marrow cells. A reduced number of T lymphocytes with poor PHA responsivity has been interpreted as the possible cause of the autoimmune disease. Steroid therapy did not cure the neutropenia but the child's general condition improved.

Agranulocytosis↗
PubMed1976

[Behavior of specific antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen in children with acute and chronic hepatitides in healthy carriers and in various co-habitants of chronic hepatitis patients].

The Authors studied the behaviour of ABsAb in a pediatric case-list made up of 8 cases of virus B acute hepatitis, and 63 cases of chronic hepatitis in different evolutive phases: besides, this investigation was extended to 48 healthy carriers (29 of whom bioptically confirmed) and 35 cases of cohabitants with HBsAg-positive hepatic chronic patients. In acute hepatitis the antibody pattern, even if delayed in time, mimics the modalities of the organic response against exogenous stimulations, therefore it constitutes an index of past disease and recovery. In chronic hepatitis (both HBsAg-positive and negative) the specific antibody to the surface antigen is present only at a low percentage (27%) and generally at low titres. In healthy carriers, bioptically ascertained, it is practically absent as to suggest more careful consideration when it turns out present (pseudo-carriers?), while in the cohabitants with virus B patients, especially if chronic, along with HBsAg detection, it consitutes an indispensable element for their classification in patients, ex-patients, not infected and healthy carriers. A very interesting finding, requiring further confirmation, is the unusual behaviour of these antibodies in some cases of relapsed chronic hepatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1976

[Behavior of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies against measles and rubella in a group of children with chronic hepatitis].

The Authors studied the amount of anti-measles and anti-rubella heteroantibodies during chronic hepatitis and the possible role of these antibodies in eliciting and maintaining the hypergammaglobulinemic picture, characteristic of this morbid condition. The results they obtained in an almost exclusively pediatric case-list (37 cases) show, whenever the contact with these viruses (measles and rubella) occurred, a percentage of subjects with comparatively higher levels among chronic liver patients in comparison with control patients, of the same age. The percentage of subjects with previous rubella infection and hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody levels higher than 1:256 is about 45% among chronic liver patients, compared with 13% in healthy subjects. As far as measles virus is concerned the percentage drops from 11% to 4%. The most reliable hypotheses to explain this interesting phenomenon, which, however, does explain only partially, and concerning some cases only, the entity of the hypergammaglobulineamia, are set forth briefly.

Antibodies, Viral↗