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Biomedical subjects

F Mannelli

Publications and source records attributed to F Mannelli.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Chronic relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura successfully treated with rituximab: case report.

Plasma therapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of idiopathic Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP); however about one-third of patients relapse. In this subset of patients different immunosuppressive approaches have been reported with variable efficacy. We describe the case of an 11-year-long chronic relapsing TTP, requiring frequent plasma exchange procedures and treated unsuccessfully with several immunosuppressive agents. On the occasion of a further relapse, the patient was treated with rituximab, and achieved normalization of hematological values and clinical status for about one year. Upon further relapse, rituximab therapy was started again successfully. A monthly administration was performed with the aim of maintaining the clinical and hematological response stable. In conclusion, rituximab is a safe and effective alternative to other immunosuppressive therapies for chronic relapsing TTP patients.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1998

Mother to child transmission of hepatitis C virus: prospective study of risk factors and timing of infection in children born to women seronegative for HIV-1. Tuscany Study Group on Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors for and timing of vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus in women who are not infected with HIV-1. DESIGN: Follow up for a median of 28 (range 24-38) months of babies born to women with antibodies to hepatitis C virus but not HIV-1. SUBJECTS: 442 mothers and babies, of whom 403 completed the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus and viral RNA and alanine aminotransferase activity in babies. Presence of viral RNA, method of infection with hepatitis C, method of delivery, and type of infant feeding in mothers. RESULTS: 13 of the 403 children had acquired hepatitis C virus infection at the end of follow up. All these children were born to women positive for hepatitis C virus RNA; none of the 128 RNA negative mothers passed on the infection (difference 5%, 95% confidence interval 2% to 7%). 6 children had viral RNA immediately after birth. 111 women had used intravenous drugs and 20 had received blood transfusions. 11 of the infected children were born to these women compared with 2 to the 144 with no known risk factor (difference 7%, 2% to 12%). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that in women not infected with HIV only those with hepatitis C virus RNA are at risk of infecting their babies. Transmission does seem to occur in utero, and the rate of transmission is higher in women who have had blood transfusions or used intravenous drugs than in women with no known risk factor for infection.

Female↗
PubMed1997

Hepatitis C virus infection and related liver disease in children of mothers with antibodies to the virus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical, biochemical, and virologic features associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection acquired early in life from mothers with antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV). STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter prospective-retrospective study in Italian children. PATIENTS: Two groups of children were investigated. Group 1 included 14 infants, born to mothers with anti-HCV but without human immunodeficiency virus infection, who became seropositive for HCV RNA during the first year of life and were thus considered infected. Group 2 included 16 children with chronic hepatitis C, aged 1 1/2 to 14 years, whose mothers were the unique potential source of infection. Both groups were followed for 12 to 48 months. METHODS: Alanine transaminase (ALT), anti-HCV, and HCV RNA were investigated by the polymerase chain reaction on entry to the study and during follow-up. RESULTS: All children in group 1 had anti-HCV throughout follow-up, and all had ALT abnormalities, ranging from 1.5 to 10.5 times the normal value during the first 12 months. During further follow-up, 5 of 10 children had HCV RNA with abnormal ALT values, 3 had a return to normal of the ALT values but continued to have viremia, and 2 eventually had normal ALT values and clearance of HCV RNA. Of the 16 children in group 2, all were free of symptoms and 62% had only slight ALT elevations; 7 who underwent liver biopsy had histologic features of minimal or moderate hepatitis. CONCLUSIONS: HCV infection acquired early in life from mothers with anti-HCV is usually associated with biochemical features of liver damage during the first 12 months of life. Progression to chronicity seems to occur in the majority of cases, although HCV-associated liver disease is likely to be mild throughout infancy and childhood.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1997

Acellular pertussis vaccine in children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 infection.

The immunogenicity of an acellular pertussis vaccine containing genetically detoxified pertussis toxin, filamentous haemoagglutinin and pertactin was studied in 12 children [median age: 45 (6-107) months] with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Antibody response to all antigens was observed in six cases and another children 3 reacted to two or one antigen(s), but titres were lower than those from healthy controls. Antibody titre fold-rise correlated with preimmunization CD4-positive cell counts. Significant titres were still detectable 4 months after the third dose. The acellular vaccine is immunogenic in a portion of children with perinatal HIV-1 infection but early vaccination might be more effective, taking advantage of still adequate CD4-positive cell numbers.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

Low prevalence of diphtheria immunity in the population of Florence, Italy.

A seroepidemiological study was conducted in 1994 on a representative sample of the population of Florence in order to verify the immunity coverage against diphtheria. Subjects were divided according to sex and age class. Sera from each selected class were at least 1.5/1000 of the residing population. Diphtheria antitoxin was titrated using a quantitative ELISA test. The results show an overall adjusted prevalence of diphtheria immunity (> or = 0.01 IU/ml) equal to 63.7%. Subjects of younger age classes have good protection levels (85.5% immune under 30 years), while only half individuals aged > or = 50 years have antibody titres > or = 0.01 IU/ml. Full protection (antibody titre > or = 0.1 IU/ml) was detected only in a very small proportion of those aged > or = 40 years. Our data show (1) how a recrudescence of diphtheria could theoretically take place in older subjects living in Italy, and (2) stress the importance of periodical re-vaccination of adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Oral hairy leukoplakia in two children with perinatally acquired HIV-1 infection.

We report on two children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a 5-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy, who presented with oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) as a late clinical manifestation of perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. The reasons why OHL is a rare symptom in HIV-1-infected children, compared with HIV-1-infected adults, are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

False diagnosis of non-A/non-B hepatitis hiding two cases of cystic fibrosis.

We report two cases of children followed for many years with an original diagnosis of non-A/non-B hepatitis. One child developed serious cirrhosis with portal hypertension. Long-term observation of the course of their hepatic disease provided the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. These cases demonstrate that cystic fibrosis though rarely presenting with initial hepatic signs, can manifest itself with only long-term hepatic symptoms. We therefore strongly recommend analysis of sweat chloride concentration in cases of hepatic disease of unknown origin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Bacillus subtilis spores as a natural pro-host oral agent. Preliminary data in children.

The commercial preparation of Bacillus subtilis spores may be considered within the classification of biological response modifiers (BRM's) and included among exogenous natural substances. Recently we decided to study the effect of a long-term B. subtilis spores oral treatment in children suffering from recurrent infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. Fifty-three children 5-9 years old have been studied. The clinical valuative parameter was the number of days of absence from school during a 4-month period. In another group of 12 diseased children, mean age 5.5 yrs we recently initiated a laboratory immunological evaluation of peripheral lymphomonocytes in relation to an oral treatment with B. subtilis spores for at least 2 months. Our results show that B. subtilis spore therapy significantly reduced the frequency of respiratory tract infections in the group of treated children. In addition, preliminary immunological laboratory evaluation demonstrated a complete return to the normal lymphomonocyte status after at least 2 months of treatment with B. subtilis spores.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ten-year follow-up study of neonatal hepatitis B immunization: are booster injections indicated?

One hundred and fourteen children, born to HBsAg-positive mothers received in the first year of life passive active prophylaxis for hepatitis B virus (HBV). They have been followed up to 10 years. A booster dose given in a cohort at the 5th year does not seem to increase protection against HBV. No difference in immunological memory was present at the 10th year between the group of children who had received the booster dose at 5 years of age and the group who did not.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of pediatric patients hospitalized for acute diarrhea from 1990 to 1996].

Infectious diarrhea is a common disorder in children in Italy, which may lead to hospitalization especially during infancy. In order to obtain data about epidemiology and clinic pictures of acute diarrhea, the carts of 1295 paediatric outpatients, hospitalized for this pathology in the time between 1990-1996 at the Children's Hospital "Meyer" of Florence, were analyzed. An offending organism could be isolate in 43.3% of patients; Rotaviruses are the leading cause of diarrhea, followed by salmonella spp. Furthermore the role of Campylobacter as common bacterial pathogen worldwide has been clarified.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Subdural effusion during bacterial meningitis].

Twelve children of age ranged from 4 to 34 months with Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis treated at Meyer Hospital of Florence, were retrospectively reviewed. Eight patients had subdural effusion demonstrated with TC, RM and transfontanellar ultrasonography. All patients are cured without sequelae.

Brain↗