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Biomedical subjects

E Silvestroni

Publications and source records attributed to E Silvestroni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1983

A highly cost effective method of mass screening for thalassaemia.

A simple, fast, and reliable two step procedure for the detection of non-alpha-thalassaemias in mass screening programmes is presented. Step 1 consists of a study of red cell morphology and a one tube red cell osmotic fragility tests. This step eliminates the non-thalassaemic samples; the rest are processed through step 2, consisting of determination of red cell indices and haemoglobin studies. Over the past seven years this procedure has been used at this centre in mass screening secondary school students in Latium. Blood samples from 289 763 students were examined, and 6838 cases of thalassaemia detected. It is estimated that 0.35 +/- 0.25% of subjects with thalassaemia escaped detection by this procedure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Intensive iron chelation therapy in beta-thalassemia major: some effects on iron metabolism and blood transfusion dependence.

Subcutaneous infusions of Desferal (DF) rarely induce negative iron balance in thalassemia major patients less than 6 years old. In nonsplenectomized patients the requirements for blood transfusions increase slightly. Urinary iron excretion decreases during the first days following a blood transfusion. An average of 5.8 mg/day equivalent to 30% of the total iron excretion is eliminated with the feces after subcutaneous infusions of DF. Serum ferritin does not decrease significantly after 18-24 months of therapy. The effectiveness of long-term therapy progressively increases in the splenectomized patients, while it decreases appreciably in the course of the treatment in the nonsplenectomized ones.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Screening of thalassaemia carriers in intermediate school of Latium: results of four years' work.

From 1975 to 1979 the Rome Microcythaemia Centre carried out four health education campaigns and thalassaemia screenings among students of the intermediate schools throughout Latium, under the auspices and with the financial support of the Health Authorities of the Latium region. This project is aimed at avoiding reproduction by pairs of thalassaemia carriers and the birth of homozygous children. During the four campaigns 138 501 students were examined, that is, 70 to 76% of those enrolled. Of these 3343 were found to be thalassaemic. Thus the overall prevalence of thalassaemia in Latium is 2.41%, with minor fluctuations from one province to another and, above all, a slight, though definite, trend towards higher values in the southern part of Latium bordering on Campania. The screening was welcomed by the population and the thalassaemic families, there were no detectable negative side-effects, and it resulted in an increased awareness of the problem of the thalassaemias.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

First premarital screening of thalassaemia carriers in intermediate schools in Latium.

In the 1975 to 1976 school year, under the auspices of the Health Authorities of the Latium Region, the Rome Microcythaemia Centre carried out for the first time a partial screening survey of thalassaemia carriers among the students of the compulsory intermediate school in Latium. This work was the beginning of a new preventive school health service aimed at the prophylaxis of Cooley's disease. In 23 places investigated in Latium, 17724 students were examined, 13354 of whom were in Rome and 4370 elsewhere. The mean percentage of co-operation was 70% and the mean percentage of thalassaemia 2.42%. Thalassaemic students were invited to attend the centre for a check-up along with their families: about half had already come in by the end of June 1976. All students examined, whether normal or thalassaemic, have received written results of the tests. The screening survey aroused notable interest and obtained wide approval both at school and at home. The news of being thalassaemia carriers, even if not welcome, was never the cause of family tragedy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Heterozygous beta-thalassaemia with normal haemoglobin pattern. Haematologic, haemoglobin and biosynthesis study of 4 families.

Thalassaemia with normal levels of Hb A2 and Hb F and with an alpha/beta ratio higher than 1 is described in 4 families. 3 of these families show direct or indirect signs of the presence of the delta-thalassaemia gene along with the beta-thalassaemia gene. The fourth family leaves the question as to whether there is a single mutation of the deltabeta tract or a beta + delta-thalassaemia in coupling unanswered. The necessity of knowing of the existence of this thalassaemia which conceals the presence of a beta-thalassaemia gene, is stressed, above all in view of the danger that mating between a carrier of this thalassaemia and a carrier of classical beta-thalassaemia could result in the birth of children with Cooley's disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Screening for microcytemia in Italy: analysis of data collected in the past 30 years.

Extensive population surveys begun in Italy in 1943 revealed a high incidence of mycrocytemia. Health authorities established a national organization to combat microcytemia which financed and directed activities throughout Italy from 1955 to 1971. The work performed by the microcytemia centers in screening and prophylaxis is described. The results of a screening program underway since 1967 involving 46,559 students of the University of Rome are presented in detail. A preliminary survey of 256 families revealed that the incidence of subsequent births after the births of a child affected by Cooley's anemia was generally low. Results obtained to date are encouraging and justify more extensive programs for the prevention and treatment of microcytemia.

Adolescent↗