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F Pregliasco

Publications and source records attributed to F Pregliasco.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Immunogenicity and safety of three commercial influenza vaccines in institutionalized elderly.

Influenza is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly people. This prospective, observed-blind, randomized, multicenter trial compares the immunogenicity and safety of three influenza vaccines in a sample of 635 elderly residents of four nursing homes in Milano (Italy). All vaccines were well tolerated: no serious adverse events were recorded, and a small number (9 subjects) of local and systemic reactions were observed. Twenty-nine oropharyngeal swabs were taken during the season from ILI (influenza-like illness) patients, none of whom was positive for influenza and other respiratory viruses. Immunogenicity was evaluated in a subgroup of 111 subjects with blood samples obtained just before vaccination and after 4 and 12 weeks. The adjuvanted vaccines, subunit vaccine with MF59 (a-SUV) and virosome subunit vaccine (v-SUV), induced a higher antibody response than whole virus vaccine (WVV). There was no significant difference between groups that received a-SUV and v-SUV, but the a-SUV group had higher values of geometric mean titres than the v-SUV group for H1N1 and B influenza strains. These findings suggest that influenza vaccination is effective, and they underscore the importance of vaccination programs for institutionalized elderly. Further studies are needed to compare other adjuvanted vaccines in order to define their different properties.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1999

Influenza vaccination among the elderly in Italy.

This article surveys the attitudes and perceptions of a random sample of the elderly population in three regions of Italy on the use and efficacy of influenza vaccine. The data were collected by direct interviews using a standard questionnaire. The results show that vaccination coverage against influenza is inadequate (26-48.6%). The major reasons for nonvaccination were lack of faith in the vaccine and disbelief that influenza is a dangerous illness. These data emphasize the need for a systematic education programme targeted at the elderly and the provision of influenza vaccination, with the increased cooperation of general practitioners.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of RT-PCR with other diagnostic assays for rapid detection of influenza viruses.

To compare the effectiveness of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), shell vial culture and cytospin assay as laboratory techniques for rapid diagnosis of influenza infections, a retrospective study was carried out on 270 aliquots of oropharyngeal swabs collected from October 1993 to March 1996 and already characterized by standard isolation procedures, and a prospective study in which 65 clinical samples taken from patients with influenza-like syndrome between October 1996 and March 1997 were tested. In the retrospective study, using conventional isolation as the gold standard, the sensitivity of RT-PCR and cytospin assay for virus A was 100% (95% confidence interval (CI), 89.1-100) and for virus B it was 100% (95% CI, 56.1-100) compared with 77.5% (95% CI, 61.1-88.6) and 71.4% (95% CI, 30.3-94.9) for shell vial culture. The specificity of all the three assays was 100% (95% CI, 98.0-100) for virus A and 100% (95% CI, 98.2-100) for virus B. In the prospective study the sensitivity of RT-PCR was greater than that of the other tests considered, both rapid and standard. It is suggested that RT-PCR should be employed in combination with conventional culture techniques in routine diagnosis of influenza infections in order to obtain results more rapidly and to improve virus detection even in circumstances in which standard isolation could be problematic.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1997

Does immunoglobulin interfere with the immunogenicity to Pasteur Mérieux inactivated hepatitis A vaccine?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the immunogenicity of Pasteur Mérieux (P.M. s.v.) inactivated hepatitis A vaccine when given alone with its immunogenicity when given in combination with immunoglobulin. METHODS: We enrolled 80 healthy volunteers who were seronegative for anti-HAV. Forty subjects (group A) were given two doses of vaccine at 0 and 6 months plus 4 ml of immunoglobulin given simultaneously with the first vaccine injection; and 40 subjects (group B) were given vaccine alone. The population characteristics (age, sex, height and weight) of the two groups were comparable. RESULTS: Anti-HAV antibody was detectable at week 1 in 100% of group A and in 5.7% of group B, and in 100% of both groups at 4 and 8 weeks. Seroconversion rates (> or = 20 mIU/ml) were 97.4% in group A and 100% in group B at week 24 and were 100% in both groups 4 weeks after a booster injection at 6 months. The antibody response level was lower after concomitant administration of vaccine with immunoglobulin. The antibody geometric mean titer was higher at week 1 in subjects who had been given vaccine and immunoglobulin, but nearly 50% lower at week 4 and thereafter, indicating inhibition of the vaccine-induced immune response by immunoglobulin. At week 28, i.e. 4 weeks after the booster injection, geometric mean titers had increased about 13-15 times in both groups, reaching highly protective antibody levels (3351 mIU/ml in group A and 5843 mIU/ml in group B). No serious adverse effects were observed during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that P.M. s.v. hepatitis A vaccine is highly immunogenic and safe, even when given simultaneously with immunoglobulin. Despite the interference of the immunoglobulin with the active immune response, individuals who were immunized passively plus actively also developed high titers of anti-HAV antibody. It is therefore reasonable to expect that this inhibition will not affect the overall protection conferred by the vaccine.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Simultaneous influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in elderly individuals.

The study was performed to evaluate the effects of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines administered alone or in combination. 124 elderly subjects living in community were vaccinated either with influenza split vaccine or with pneumococcal 23-valent or with both vaccines at the same time in different sites. Sera were tested for hemoagglutination inhibiting antibodies for influenza and for antibodies against 23-valent vaccine for streptococcus pneumoniae. No side effects were observed in the vaccinated population. Serological results indicated that influenza vaccine increased significantly antibody levels. No difference was observed between the group which received influenza vaccine alone and that which received influenza and pneumococcal vaccines associated, considering either G.M.T or the percentages of protected individuals or the percentages of subjects who seroconverted. When pneumococcal vaccine was administered at the same time with influenza vaccine, there was a not statistically significant reduction in both mean antibody concentration and mean fold increase. It is concluded that the simultaneous administration of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines to elderly individuals, including subjects at risk, is safe, effective and economically advantageous.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Clinical efficacy of a vaccine-immunostimulant combination in the prevention of influenza in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic asthma.

Influenza is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. This study compares two influenza prevention schemes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic asthma. We enrolled 66 patients, distributed as follows: Group A: 32 subjects treated with influenza vaccine; Group B: 34 patients treated with influenza vaccine and bacterial immunostimulant. The rate of influenza episodes was recorded. Hemoagglutination inhibiting antibody titers for vaccine strains H1N1, H3N2, and B were determined at time 0 (prior to vaccination), and on days 30 and 90 following vaccination. We observed a lower rate of influenza episodes in Group B patients (8.82%) compared to Group A (31.25%) (p < 0.05). At day 90 Group B patients presented higher geometric mean antibody titers for strains H1N1 (p = 0.07) and H3N2 (p = 0.08). Bacterial immunostimulants appear as possible adjuvants in the prevention of influenza episodes, and may prolong antibody response to influenza vaccine strains.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1996

Immune response to a booster dose of enhanced potency inactivated polio vaccine administered in association with HBV vaccine in adolescents.

The immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a booster dose of enhanced potency inactivated polio vaccine (EIPV) were evaluated in 492 healthy 12 year old adolescents. The booster was administered at the same time as the HBV vaccine compulsory in Italy at this age. Blood samples and questionnaires on reactogenicity were collected over 9 months. Analysis of pre-vaccination immunity showed that 97.4% of the subjects were protected against all polio types, 1.9% were negative for two polio types and 0.6% for one. After vaccination 98.4% of the vaccinees showed a significant increase ( > or = 4 times) of antibody titre; the geometric mean titres (GMT) were markedly higher than before vaccination, particularly for poliovirus type 3. The polio booster dose did not affect HBV vaccination. An anti-HBs response > 10 mIU ml-1. (GMT = 2951 mIU ml-1) was observed in 781 (98.6%) of 792 vaccinees (492 given EIPV+HBV and 300 given only HBV) 9 months later. Only mild local and rare general reactions were noted for both the vaccines studied. These data confirm the suitability and efficacy of an EIPV booster dose and HBV vaccination in adolescents.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1995

A seroepidemiologic survey of immunity against poliomyelitis in a group of HIV positive and HIV negative drug addicts.

In a seroepidemiological study performed to investigate immunity against poliomyelitis in a population of drug addicts in a rehabilitative residential centre we demonstrated a widespread lack of poliovirus neutralizing antibodies. This was more evident in the HIV positive subjects, 27% of whom were seronegative for poliovirus type 1, 27% for type 2 and 34% for type 3, with 11% seronegative for all three types. These results indicate a gap in immunity to poliomyelitis in the examined population.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1994

Prevalence of anti-HCV in institutionalised mentally handicapped subjects.

Data on the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus among 278 subjects in an institution for the mentally handicapped were analysed by risk factors. A prevalence of 4% was found, higher than blood donors belonging to the same area (1.4%). No differences in prevalence with regard the length of residence, age, sex, degree of retardation or for presence of HBV markers were observed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Identification of four epitopes in hepatitis C virus core protein.

We identified four epitopes in hepatitis C virus core protein by using the algorithm of Jameson and Wolf. G15V (amino acids [aa] 31 to 45) appears to be the immunodominant epitope, since it was able to detect antibodies to the core protein in all 40 patients and in 44 of 45 recombinant immunoblot assay-confirmed positive blood donors. This epitope is associated with a low frequency of false-positive results, as found with 522 negative blood donors. A strong reactivity was also observed with the Q15V epitope (aa 7 to 21), although this was associated with low specificity. Occasional reactivity to the R15P (aa 49 to 63) and P15R (aa 99 to 113) epitopes was observed. Q15V and G15V detected antibodies to core protein earlier than the other two epitopes.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1992

Immunization in children with HIV seropositivity at birth: antibody response to polio vaccine and tetanus toxoid.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the humoral response to routine childhood immunization of HIV-infected children. DESIGN: Response rate, antibody titres and persistence after polio and tetanus vaccination were compared in 72 children with HIV seropositivity at birth and divided according to HIV infection status as determined by clinical and laboratory tests. METHODS: Polio antibodies were titred in a microneutralization test (positive titres, > or = 1:4), and antibody to tetanus toxoid with a passive haemagglutination method (protective titres, > or = 1:1024). RESULTS: The response rates to polio and tetanus vaccination (> 80 and > 75%) were similar in the HIV-infected and non-infected children, as were antibody levels. In the subgroup with sera obtained some months after the last dose of vaccine, polio antibody levels decreased in all four HIV-infected and in three of the seven non-infected children; protective tetanus antitoxin levels were detected in three of the six infected and in all three non-infected children. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the ability of children with HIV infection to respond adequately to the two vaccines considered, although tetanus antitoxin levels were inferior, compared with those in the seroreverted children. The unsatisfactory antibody levels observed in the admittedly few HIV-positive children studied some months after the last vaccination could be the result of a lower initial protective level and not necessarily an expression of severely impaired immunocompetence. The administration of booster doses in addition to the traditional immunization schedule could be useful in children with HIV infection.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1991

Antibodies to hepatitis C virus in community-acquired acute non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Circulating antibodies to the recently identified hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) have been investigated by ELISA in a series of 129 adult Italian patients with acute, community-acquired non-A, non-B hepatitis. Anti-HCV was detected in 50 (38%) cases with a prevalence rate which increased from 19%, in sera taken during the first 2 weeks of illness to 52% in samples obtained 5-6 weeks after onset, indicating a rather late appearance of the antibody. Anti-HCV positivity was independent of risk factors in the clinical history, but correlated with the outcome of the disease. Eighteen (26%) of 68 patients who recovered were anti-HCV positive compared to 10 of 14 (71%) who progressed to chronicity (p less than 0.01). In this latter group the antibody persisted for more than 12 months after the onset of the illness. Conversely, in 12 (85%) of 14 serially tested patients who recovered, anti-HCV positivity was transient, lasting from a few weeks to a few months. These findings indicate that HCV is implicated in a consistent proportion of acute community-acquired non-A, non-B hepatitis cases, particularly cases which progress to chronicity. A large proportion of cases remained unclassified, however, and it will be important to define whether they represent cases of HCV infection with poor serologic response, or are due instead to other, as yet unidentified, non-A, non-B agents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Antibodies to hepatitis C virus in blood donors.

Recently a recombinant polypeptide of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been developed by the Chiron Corporation in California. This antigen has been used to develop an ELISA test (Ortho Diagnostic Systems for serum anti-HCV antibodies. Preliminary data have shown that this virus is the major cause of NANB hepatitis in the world. We examined differences in anti-HCV prevalence among subgroups of blood donors (total sera examined 639) classified for past or present exposure to HBV or not, and for ALT levels. The anti-HCV prevalence found in regular blood donors with normal ALT levels and no antibody to HBcAg was 1.2%. No significant difference in the anti-HCV prevalence was found among other subgroups of blood donors except that a higher prevalence (10%) was found in a group with both elevated ALT and HBV markers. These preliminary findings suggest that the policy of blood supply should take into account the advent of HCV antibody test.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1985

Metabolites of chlorinated solvents in blood and urine of subjects exposed at environmental level.

After a two-level selection, 141 blood donors living in Milan, Italy, were analyzed for their content of plasma and urinary trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and trichloroethanol (TCE). Environmental levels of exposure to trichloroethylene (TRI) and tetrachloroethylene (PER) through drinking water and air were also measured. The plasma TCA levels were in the range of previously found concentrations. Relationships among plasma and urinary metabolites were found and discussed.

Adolescent↗