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Biomedical subjects

I Mastroeni

Publications and source records attributed to I Mastroeni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Case Report. Multiple etiology post-surgery endophthalmitis.

The case describes a septic endophthalmitis arisen in a convalescence period following surgery of cataract extraction. The infection was due to Staphylococcus aureus and three fungal components, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Acremonium kiliense, which were subsequently isolated. A careful and prompt laboratory investigation allowed the clinicians to adjust the antimycotic therapy and attain an excellent clinical result.

Acremonium↗
PubMed1998

Diphtheria antitoxin levels in the 14-30-year age group in Italy.

In order to verify diphtheria immunity a seroepidemiological survey was performed in 1996-1997. Serum samples were obtained from 501 subjects 14 years old, recruited at 8 schools in Rome, and from 490 subjects 20-30 years old recruited from 15 Italian regions. Serum diphtheria antitoxin was titrated using the Vero cell assay. The minimum protection level of antitoxin was set at 0.01 IU ml-1. The results show that the younger population have a good immunity to diphtheria while a large proportion of young adults is devoid of protective levels of diphtheria antitoxin. Out of the 501 subjects 14 years old, 495 (98.8%) had a diphtheria antitoxin titre > or = 0.01 IU ml(-1). Only 6 (1.2%) teenagers were susceptible. Out of the 490 subjects 20-30 years old, 109 (22.2%) were susceptible, 381 (77.8%) had a diphtheria antitoxin titre > or = 0.01 IU ml(-1). The data stress for booster immunization at the end of junior high school.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Immune response of the elderly to rabies vaccines.

A serological study has been performed to detect the antibody response to full schedules of two anti-rabies vaccines (PDEV and HDCV). Subjects aged > 50 years, compared with subjects 11-25 years, showed significantly lower titres after the 4th dose (and, to a lesser extent, after the 5th dose), suggesting that, among the elderly, the 6th dose is strongly desirable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Viral hepatitis and drugs: a continuing problem.

A seroepidemiological survey of a group of drug abusers has been carried out to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus, hepatitis D virus, hepatitis A virus infection markers in sera, as well as to evaluate the role of potential risk factors. A total of 645 symptomless subjects with a history of injecting heroin were recruited as volunteers from methadone maintenance centres in Rome. For all hepatitis viruses the total figures showed high prevalence rates giving considerable viral circulation in this group. Among heroin addicts the prevalence was 63.4% for HCV, 65% for HBV, 13.3% for HDV and 50.9% for HAV. Anti-HCV prevalence correlated with serological evidence of HBV infection. A significant correlation was also found between presence of HCV antibodies and exposure time to drug addiction > 5 years earlier. The data reveal the important role played by needle sharing in the spreading of multiple infections among intravenous drug abusers (IVDA).

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Lymphocyte proliferative response to rabies virus antigen.

Rabies virus (RV) infection, as well as active immunisation using viral antigen, elicit both humoral and cellular reactions whose protective effects are still unclear. We evaluated both responses in order to find valuable monitoring parameters for the immunisation procedure. Three laboratory workers repetitively immunised with booster human diploid cell vaccine against rabies virus, 13 patients from the anti-rabies centre (vaccinated for the first time) and 10 healthy volunteers (not immunised nor exposed to rabies virus antigen), were monitored for: (i) in vivo RV-specific antibody production; (ii) in vitro anti-RV lymphocyte proliferative response and (iii) in vitro phenotype modulation induced by the viral antigen. In particular CD3, CD4, CD8, and surface immunoglobulins were monitored. All 3 subjects receiving the booster immunisation and, to a lesser extent, those receiving 4 doses of vaccine did recognise the antigen in vitro. The proliferation involved mainly CD4 positive cells leading to an increased number of cell bearing surface immunoglobulins, i.e. B cells. The proliferation index was in good correlation with the in vivo antibody production (p = less than 0.00009441). Nevertheless the presence of some cases without correlation between those parameters (in particular 5 out of 6 patients over 65 years of age failed to mount an adequate cellular proliferative response) reveals the need to use cellular response in parallel to the current humoral response, in order to evaluate and monitor the immunisation procedure. This conclusion is further stressed by the fact that protection against rabies infection is mainly cellular.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Findings on the occurrence of complications caused by DEV and HDVC (delta) vaccines].

The complications arising from two different anti-rabies vaccines were compared: DEV (duck embryo vaccine; the schedule included 14 daily doses plus 3 boosters) and HDCV (human diploid cells vaccine; the schedule included 5 doses plus 1 booster). 2646 patients were immunised, following a post-exposure prophylaxis, at the Antirabies Unit of the Institute of Hygiene of Rome. Among the 1434 patients immunised with DEV, 364 (25.38%) developed side-effects, whilst among the 1212 subjects immunised with HDCV only 47 (3.88%) developed side-effects. Using DEV the more frequent complications were as follows: fever (48.62%), regional adenopathy (49.45%), erythema (89.29%), local induration (41.48%). Using HDCV the main complication was fever (65.96%). The principal association of complication in DEV were: erythema + induration + edema + adenopathy + fever; general malaise + asthenia + adenopathy; dizziness + headache. Hyperthermia resulted often associated with regional adenopathy and the general malaise with the headache in the vaccinated with HDCV. All complications were widely distributed during the period of immunisation. However most side-effects arose following the 5th DEV dose or the 2nd HDCV dose. Regional adenopathy, was the more persistent and less tolerated symptom, also local erythema showed a long persistence, whilst the other symptoms regressed within 48-72 hours with proper therapy and rest. Sex and age did not influence the incidence nor the type of complications. Neither neuroparalysis was detected nor serious impairment of health. In our study the coincidence of unwanted effects, following an antirabies immunisation, seems lower than that described in the literature. This was probably due to the high level of purification of the vaccine and possibly to the different recording of the minor symptoms.

Drug Eruptions↗
PubMed1985

[Effect of previous anti-rabies treatment with Fermi type vaccine on the antibody response to one dose of HDCV].

We report the effect of previous anti-rabies treatments following a single HDCV challenge. The aim is to obtain guidelines for the re-vaccination of patients previously already immunised. 37 adults at risk for rabies, vaccinated 5-10 years before using a Fermi vaccine, were challenged with a single HDCV dose. 29 adults, previously not immunised were used as a control. Neutralizing antibodies' titres (indirect fluorescent antibody microtest) were monitored on day 0 (HDCV challenge) and 15. The best group produced an optimal response to the antigenic challenge: all subjects reached responses higher than the serum-conversion limit (0.5 U.I./ml), and 43.2% of patients had titres higher than 8 I.U./ml. Neither the number of previous injections of antirabies vaccine (5, 15, 20), nor the years between the first and the second vaccination were related to the antibody response. In the control group the serum-conversion limit was obtained in 31% of patients, and only 13.8% of them produced titres higher than 0.5 U.I./ml. Our data support a short vaccination schedule for patients at risk, who had an history of vaccination. In agreement with nerve-tissue vaccines, specific World Health Organisation Committee (1984), and in our researches of Fermi type, we suggest that in patients having an history of vaccination (documented by antibody titres), a single HDCV dose, monitoring the antibody response, is sufficient to control a new, not dangerous infection (site and type of the wound, animal, local epidemiology). Patients without a laboratory documentation of the previous antibody titres, or patients with a dangerous infection, should be challenged with three HDCV doses on day 0, 3, 7.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1980

[Persistence of antibody levels for 5, 10 or more years after tetanus vaccination and immunological response to a "booster" immunization].

By means of the indirect haemagglutination test the rate of antitetanic antibodies in male individuals (532 subjects), vaccinated from 5 or more years has been estimated. According to the time elapsed from the last administration of the vaccine three groups have been formed: vaccinated from 5 to 10 years (353 subjects), from 11 to 15 years (133 subjects), from over 15 years (46 subjects). According to the previous vaccine history, the group, being considered, resulted as being composed of: 86% vaccinated with 3 doses, 13% vaccinated with 2 doses, while the vaccinated rate with 1 dose (8 men) appeared practically negligible. 79.0% of this population resulted as being completely protected (limit 0.1 I.U./ml) and 94.2% resulted as being protected at the minimum limit (0.01 I.U./ml) The number of those protected diminished as the time elapsed from the vaccination increased. Considering the limit 0.1 I.U./ml, there are values of 87.9% for the group 5-10 years, 80.1% for the group 11-15 years and 76.0% for the one of those over 15 years. Considering the limit 0.01 I.U./ml the above-mentioned values result respectively equivalent to 95.3%; 94.1%; 87.0%. The administration of the booster has determined effective increases of the antibody rates; after one month from the inoculation the number of the non protected (less than 0.01 I.U./ml) appears completely nonexistent and the number of those protected at the minimum limit results contained in 1.2%. In conclusion we suggest the extension of the interval for the booster from 4 to 8-10 years as well as we suggest a review of the legislation which provides complete vaccination for all those who undertake a wide range of agricultural or industrial works prescinding completely, at the time of their engagement, from the state of immunity of the subjects to be treated.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunity status against poliomyelitis in persons 13-14 years old living in Rome.

The immunity against poliomyelitis in 1000 subjects 13-14 years old was evaluated. Neutralizing antibodies against poliovirus type 1, 2 and 3 were detected in 97.6%, 95.8% and 70% of samples, respectively. 3/1000 (0.3%) subjects were simultaneously seronegative to the three types. WHO does not suggest a protective level of International Units (IU), but our data indicate that such level is 0.45 IU for polio type 1, 0.65 IU for the type 2 and 0.138 for the type 3. A booster dose of vaccine in adolescence to ensure personal and herd immunity is recommended.

Adolescent↗