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Biomedical subjects

M Chiaramonte

Publications and source records attributed to M Chiaramonte.

72 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Immunological study of HB-AG carriers.

The serum immunoglobulin levels, the presence of circulating autoantibodies, the number of peripheral "atypical" lymphocytes and the number of DNA and RNA synthesizing mononuclear cells were studied in a group of "healthy" HB-Ag (australia Antigen) carriers and in a group of healthy HB-Ag negative control subjects. In the HB-Ag carriers, in spite of the persistent antigenaemia, all these immunological findings were normal (as in the control subjects).

Autoantibodies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Baseline seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus infection among children and teenagers in Italy.

During the period from May 1987 through November 1989, the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus infection (anti-HAV) was assayed by the ELISA method in the serum samples of 5,507 (54% males, 46% females) apparently healthy subjects three to 19 years old in Italy. Subjects were selected by a systematic cluster sampling in five different geographical areas of Italy. The overall prevalence of anti-HAV was 9.5%; it increased from 2.3% among children three to five-years-old to 16.3% in teenagers 17 to 19 years old (p less than 0.001). A slight preponderance of females was observed (10% versus 9.1%), but the difference was not statistically significant. The prevalence was significantly higher in Southern Italy than in Northern Italy (27.4% versus 4.8%; p less than 0.01). The prevalence of anti-HAV was inversely related to the fathers' years of schooling (O.R. 3.3; 95% C.I. = 2.5-4.2) and positively related to the family size (O.R. 2.4; 95% C.I. = 1.9-3.1). These findings indicate that, today, exposure to HAV infection at a young age in Italy is very low. However, sociodemographic factors are still important determinants in the spread of this infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biochemical markers of hepatic fibrosis in primary biliary cirrhosis.

We studied the behavior of some biochemical markers of fibrosis, the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (P-III-P), laminin, hyaluronate and fibronectin, in the sera of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Significant increases were found in serum laminin, hyaluronate and P-III-P and, more important, a significant correlation was found between the histological stage of the disease and serum hyaluronate. This parameter seems to distinguish between early PBC (I and II stages) and advanced disease with fibrosis. Moreover, a correlation between the histological stage and serum levels of both laminin and P-III-P was observed. Serum laminin, however, increases particularly in advanced disease, whereas high levels of sP-III-P are already present in the early stage. Finally, no significant differences were found between the plasma fibronectin levels of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and those of controls.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Seroepidemiology of pertussis in Italy.

During 1988 and 1989 the prevalence of serum IgG antibodies to pertussis toxin in a sample of 3,875 unvaccinated, apparently healthy persons between the ages of 1 year to 19 years was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The participants were recruited by means of systematic cluster sampling from public and private schools in five geographic areas of Italy. The overall prevalence of IgG antibodies was 80.8%, with a steady increase from 33.5% among 1- to 3-year-old children to 95% among 17- to 19-year-old individuals. The prevalence of natural immunity was 50% and 75% at the ages of 4 and 6 years, respectively. No gender-related difference in immunity was observed. For children greater than 10 years of age, the seroprevalence of pertussis antibodies was significantly higher in northern regions than in southern regions until the age of 17-19 years, when the pattern reversed. There was no association of a child's immune status with the father's number of years of schooling or with family size. For children aged 1-3 years, serologic studies showed that the history of pertussis reported by parents in questionnaires was highly specific (97.6%) in predicting antibody status, with positive and negative predictive values of 90.5% and 79.2%, respectively. However, 20.8% of children had antibodies to pertussis toxin even though they had no history of whooping cough.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Teaching gastroenterology using the problem-based learning method.

The need to change the methods of teaching medical students has become self-evident in the past two decades, and strategies for revision are indicated in the new course curriculum, Tabella XVIII. A modern teaching method is the problem-based learning (PBL) method, which has already been adopted by over 100 medical schools throughout the world. This method can also be a satisfactory tool for teaching gastroenterology to undergraduate students, and its implementation requires only a few resources that are available in most universities. The theoretical principles of the method are illustrated and practical suggestions are given to set up a course in gastroenterology using this method.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changing epidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection: a comparative seroepidemiological study (1979 vs 1989) in north-east Italy.

A comparative seroepidemiological study (1979 vs 1989) on HAV infection, was carried out in children and adolescents from North-East Italy. Anti-HAV was tested in 850 subjects 6 to 8 years of age and the results were compared to those observed in 1979, in 462 subjects of the same age range and from the same geographical area. Overall anti-HAV prevalence was 1.9% (ranging from 0.5 to 5.2) in 1989 vs 32.5% (ranging from 7.8 to 70.7) in 1979. This dramatic decline of HAV infection in children and adolescents reflects the improved sanitation standard of our country but, on the other hand, indicates that the number of non-immune adults is increasing, with a higher risk of symptomatic infection in the near future.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changing pattern of hepatitis B infection in children: a comparative seroepidemiological study (1979 vs 1989) in north-east Italy.

Hepatitis B infection was endemic in Italy and household transmission has been considered to be the main mode of HBV spread. Prevalence of HBsAg positive subjects was therefore higher in children than in adults. Serum samples from 500 children (aged 6-15 year) without overt liver disease were tested for HBV serum markers in 1979. Serological evidence of HBV infection was present in 16% of the subjects. To verify a possible decline of HBV infection we designed a seroepidemiological study in school children from the same town. Three classes of age (6 yrs, 10 yrs, 14 yrs) were selected. Children were recruited from those attending primary and secondary schools using a systematic cluster sampling. After parents' informed consent sera were collected in May 1989. All were tested for anti-HBc: anti-HBc + ve sera were then tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs (EIA Abbott Lab., Chicago, Ill. USA). Of the 1635 children one was HBsAg positive and 21 were positive for any HBV marker. Both the prevalence of HBsAg and that of any HBV marker were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) in 1989 when compared to the corresponding age-class of 1979.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Infections caused by hepatitis virus A and B in hospital personnel. Prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis virus A, HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc].

In order to evaluate the risk of hepatitis A and B virus infection among hospital staff in our area, 584 medical and paramedical employees of the Hospital of Ferrara (Italy) were studied for the presence of anti-HAV, HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc serum. HAV infection was found to be less frequent among medical and nursing staff than the general population, matched for age (78.6% vs 72.2%) indicating that HAV spread within the hospital is irrelevant. However, the evidence of HBV infection is higher in hospital staff than in the general population (37.6% vs 23.0%) with a maximum prevalence in surgeons and in the operating-theatre staff, followed by nurses (both from surgical and medical wards) and physicians. The prevalence in auxiliary staff is not significantly higher than in the general population. The incidence of antibodies against HBV (anti-HBs and anti-HBc) increases with age and duration of employment, while the prevalence reaches a maximum during the initial years. The anti-HBc testing allowed for the detection of further 10% of subjects evidencing previous HBV infection.

Adult↗