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Biomedical subjects

M De Martino

Publications and source records attributed to M De Martino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Incidence of nosocomial rotavirus infections in a pediatric hospital over a 3-year period].

AIM: To estimate the incidence rate of hospital-acquired rotavirus infections (HRI) in a paediatric hospital in a 3-year period; the risk of HRI associated to age, sex, ward, season; the cost determined by HRI for the healthcare system. METHODS: Retrospective epidemiological study, carried out using hospital datasets, with the analysis of some clinical records. RESULTS: In the 2003-2005 period the HRI incidence rate was 1.9% (mean age 15.2 months, SD 11.8, range 1.5-49), with a decreasing trend over years. Children aged less than 8 months were at higher risk of HRI than others (RR 1.83, CI 95% 1.18-2.85) as well as were children admitted to a 0-18 months pediatric medicine ward (RR=2.84, CI 95% 1.78-4.5) and to an infectious diseases ward (RR=4.9, CI 95% 3.4-7). The incidence of HRI was higher in the winter than in the rest of the year (RR 1.59, CI 95% 1.07-2.36). The hospital stay of children with HRI was prolonged by a mean of 5.2 days compared to age, sex and comorbidity-matched controls. (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The method used in this study is easily reproducible. Data obtained can be used as internal quality indicators and to evaluate the performance of different hospital wards in infection control. Infection prevention activities should involve mothers and families of hospitalized children, as they perform on them a great deal of basic care and hygiene activities which are at risk for hospital cross-infections.

Child↗
PubMed2005

The degree of serological sensitization to cat allergen in patients with or without cat at home.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between exposure to cat/dog in domestic environments and development of allergic sensitization to pet allergens is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: To test the role of indirect exposure to cat, we aimed to evaluate the amounts of cat specific IgE in sensitized subjects with or without cat at home. METHODS: Three hundred six adult patients with a previous diagnosis of allergic sensitization to cat allergens (by skin prick test) were enrolled for this study. Among 306 men and women sensitized to cat (and other allergens), 150 owned a cat for at least 10 years ( direct exposure) and 156 had never owned this animal (indirect exposure). An internal questionnaire specifically designed for the study was completed by the same allergists during the screening consultation: the results of skin prick tests, personal and clinical data, periods of symptoms and characteristics of cat ownership were carefully recorded. Specific IgE to cat extract was determined by the Pharmacia CAP System FEIA (Pharmacia Diagnostics, Uppsala, Sweden) and Immulite 2000 (Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angeles, USA) RESULTS: Although specific IgE to cat allergen were significantly higher in patients with cat at home (F = 42.77; p < 0.001), high amounts of these antibodies were found also in sera of subjects indirectly exposed to cats. DISCUSSION: The results of our study demonstrate that the degree of serological sensitization to cat allergens may be relevant also in subjects without any direct contact with cats (indirect exposure).

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2002

Highly active antiretroviral therapy restores in vitro mitogen and antigen-specific T-lymphocyte responses in HIV-1 perinatally infected children despite virological failure.

To analyse the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on T-lymphocyte functions we selected seven HIV-1 perinatally infected children (CDC immunological category 1 or 2) who had neither a fall in their plasma HIV-1 RNA levels nor a significant rise in CD4+ lymphocyte counts while receiving HAART. Clinical signs and symptoms were monitored monthly. Plasma viral load, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+ lymphocyte counts and in vitro T-lymphocyte proliferative responses to mitogens (anti-CD3, phytohaemoagglutinin, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen) and recall antigens (Candida albicans and tetanus toxoid) were tested at baseline and after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of HAART. Twenty-two healthy age-matched children were studied as controls. A gain in body weight, no worsening of the disease and no recurrence of opportunistic infections were observed. At baseline, the majority of the children had low responses to mitogens, and all of them had a defective in vitro antigen-specific T-lymphocyte response (<2 standard deviations below the mean result for controls). During HAART, a significant increase in the response to mitogens and antigens was observed in all the patients. The T-lymphocyte response was restored more consistently against antigens to which the immune system is constantly exposed (Candida albicans, baseline versus 12 months: P < 0.001) compared with a low-exposure antigen (tetanus toxoid, baseline versus 12 months: P < 0.01). HAART restores in vitro T-lymphocyte responses even in the absence of a significant viral load decrease and despite any significant increase in CD4+ lymphocyte counts. It implies that a direct mechanism might be involved in the overall immune recovery under HAART.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Pure dislocation of the ankle: three case reports and literature review.

Ankle dislocation without fracture is an extremely rare injury. The results of treatment are reported for three patients who had a posteromedial open dislocation, a lateral open dislocation, and a posterior closed dislocation of the ankle. Management consisted of immediate reduction, debridement and capsular suture in the open dislocations, and immobilization with a short leg cast in all patients. At followup no patient had tibiotalar joint instability; a 10 degrees to 15 degrees loss in the range of dorsiflexion was observed in two patients. One patient reported paresthesia in the area of the superficial peroneal nerve. The three patients achieved good long-term functional and radiographic results. Predisposing factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of this lesion are internal malleolus hypoplasia, ligamentous laxity, weakness of the peroneal muscles, and previous ankle sprains. Among the three patients, medial malleolus hypoplasia was present in one patient and previous sprains were seen in the clinical history of another patient.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Inhibition of natural killer cell cytotoxicity and interferon gamma production by the envelope protein of HIV and prevention by vasoactive intestinal peptide.

Natural killer (NK) cell dysfunction is common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects, although its mechanisms are poorly understood. A direct effect of HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 may be involved. We investigated the in vitro effects of gp120 on the major NK cell effector functions, natural cytotoxicity and cytokine production. In addition, the ability of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) to modulate these effects was investigated. Our results indicated that gp120 inhibits NK natural cytotoxicity and showed, for the first time, that the inhibition affects also the production of the proinflammatory cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Interestingly, the inhibitory effect on NK cell functions was obtained with gp120 at concentrations within the range measured in the serum of HIV-infected subjects. Furthermore, we showed that the inhibitory activity of gp120 can be prevented by coincubation with VIP, even if VIP has no stimulatory activity by itself. Taken together these data suggest that (1) an inhibitory effect of gp120 may account for the NK cell dysfunction in HIV-infected subjects; (2) the gp120-mediated decrease in IFN-gamma production by NK cells may contribute to the cytokine imbalance observed in HIV infection; and (3) VIP counteracts the inhibitory effect of gp120 on NK cell functions.

Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic↗
PubMed1999

Human milk 90K (Mac-2 BP): possible protective effects against acute respiratory infections.

Eighty-six children fed human milk were followed prospectively from birth to 12 months of age to assess the effect of milk 90K, a secreted glycoprotein with immune-stimulatory properties, on development of acute respiratory infections (ARI). The level of human milk 90K was inversely related to episodes of ARI (r = - 0.34; P = 0.001). The average 90K level in human milk fed to children who did not develop ARI was significantly higher than in milk fed to children in whom infection occurred on multiple occasions (156.6 +/- 144.8 microg/ml versus 70.9 +/- 92.3 microg/ml; P = 0.001). These data suggest that the protective effects of human milk against ARI may be due in part to immune maturation effects by secreted 90K.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Viral load and CD69 molecule expression on freshly isolated and cultured mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes of children with perinatal HIV-1 infection.

HIV-1 in adults changes the proportion of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes expressing the CD69 activation molecule, but little is known about this molecule expression on lymphocytes of HIV-1-infected (HIV-1+) children. Freshly isolated CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes co-expressing CD69 were investigated cross-sectionally (adopting a MoAb double-staining technique) in 24 HIV-1+ children with severe disease and given anti-retroviral therapy and in 24 age-matched healthy children. CD69 results in HIV-1+ children were correlated with plasma HIV-1 RNA load prospectively determined. HIV-1+ compared with healthy children had higher frequencies of freshly isolated CD3+CD69+ (2.4 +/- 2.2% versus 0.9 +/- 0.5%; P = 0.002) and CD8+CD69+ (1.5 +/- 1.1% versus 0. 5 +/- 0.2%; P < 0.0001) lymphocytes. The frequencies of CD4+CD69+ and CD19+CD69+ lymphocytes were similar. High viral load correlated with an elevated proportion of freshly isolated CD3+CD69+ and CD8+CD69+ lymphocytes. HIV-1+ children showed reduced frequencies of PHA-stimulated CD3+CD69+ (60.7 +/- 7.6% versus 86.1 +/- 7.6%; P < 0. 001), CD4+CD69+ (73.6 +/- 18.2% versus 92.6 +/- 5.1%; P < 0.001), and CD8+CD69+ (51.0 +/- 19.1% versus 65.3 +/- 15.4%; P = 0.007) lymphocytes. Virologic worsening within 6 months correlated with a low proportion of PHA-stimulated CD3+CD69+ and CD8+CD69+ lymphocytes. CD69 molecule expression reflected the coexistence of immune activation and immune deficiency in HIV-1 infection. Changes partly differed from those observed in HIV-1+ adults. CD8+CD69+ (but not CD4+CD69+) lymphocyte proportion correlated with virologic course, and an impaired ability of CD8+ lymphocytes to express CD69 upon PHA stimulation preceded a virologic worsening.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1999

Insulin resistance in short children with intrauterine growth retardation.

Scientific evidence is accumulating for an association between intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and an increased risk of developing adult degenerative diseases, such as essential hypertension, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and ischaemic heart disease. A possible underlying mechanism for these conditions is insulin resistance. In this paper, mechanisms and methods of measurement of insulin resistance are briefly reviewed, and recent studies on the evaluation of insulin resistance in short children with IUGR are summarized. In our experience, short prepubertal children with IUGR show consistent insulin resistance, which becomes particularly evident during pubertal development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Horizontal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from father to child.

An unusual case of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in a child was studied. The child, identified as HIV-1 infected at 5 years of age, lived with his parents and a 3-year-old sister. HIV-1 infection was excluded in the mother and sister, but confirmed in the father, who was unaware of his infection and was in good health, apart from an atopic dermatitis on the face and limbs. A portion of the HIV-1 proviral envelope gene was amplified from the father's and child's peripheral blood cells, and the amplified products were cloned and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis disclosed that the father's and child's viral sequences clustered together, and were clearly distinct from the sequence sets obtained from six epidemiologically unlinked mother-child HIV-1-infected pairs included in the analysis. HIV-1 variability was lower in the child's sequence set than in the father's, and the variability between father's and child's sequences was significantly lower than that found between epidemiologically unlinked cases (p < 0.001). An uncommon APGR motif on the tip of the V3 domain was found in both the father's and child's viral clones. These data, together with the epidemiological investigations, strongly suggest that the child acquired the infection from his father, possibly by exposure to bleeding skin lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Association between white blood cell count and risk factors of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies have shown a correlation between white blood cell (WBC) count and risk of developing myocardial infarction. Aim of this study is to assess the association between WBC and the other risk factors of coronary heart disease in a southern Italian population. METHODS: Baseline data for the 1091 subjects (522 males and 569 females) enrolled in the "Montecorvino Rovella Project" were used to study factors associated with leukocytes. RESULTS: WBC count was significantly higher in smokers (8711.1 +/- 1892 cells/dl) than in ex-smokers (6720 +/- 1608 cells/dl) and in those who never smoked (6674 +/- 1608 cells/dl). By multiple linear regression analysis, WBC count showed a positive association with triglycerides (p < 0.01), cholesterol (p < 0.05) fasting glucose levels (p < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this southern Italian population, elevated WBC count has been associated with other risk factors of coronary artery disease, particularly smoking, and has identified a high risk atherogenic profile. Even if the independency of the role of WBC is still under investigation, WBC count should be taken into account in establishing the coronary risk of apparently healthy people.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

High levels of IgA in HIV-1-perinatally-infected children. Antigen specificity and possible role of increased substance P plasma levels.

The specificity of IgA against food, inhalant, bacterial and fungine antigens as well as for HIV-1 proteins was investigated in 14 HIV-1-infected children (CDC stage P-2) and 15 controls. IgA against food- and inhalant antigens as well as against tetanus toxoid were significantly more often present in the HIV positive children than in controls. No difference between the two groups was present for IgA against Candida albicans. A significant increase of substance P, a strong IgA synthesis inducing neuropeptide, was demonstrated in the plasma of HIV-1 infected children. In conclusion, high levels of IgA seem to reflect a complex immune dysfunction in which many factors are involved. The importance of neuroimmune dysregulation is discussed.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed1994

[The Montecorvino Rovella Project: prevalence of coronary disease risk factors in an area of Campania].

BACKGROUND: The "Montecorvino-Rovella Project" is a clinical epidemiological study, whose aim is to ascertain the distribution of the coronary risk factors and to treat the high risk people in a southern Italian community (21,328 inhabitants) with a reference area. METHODS: The project consists of three phases: 1) identification and classification of high risk subjects among people aged 25-74 years at Montecorvino Rovella and Bellizzi (intervention area) and in a significant sample at Battipaglia (reference area); 2) treatment of high risk people at Montecorvino Rovella and Bellizzi; 3) periodic rescreening (after 5 and 10 years) of the enrolled cohorts and monitoring of morbidity and fatal cardiovascular events. In the first phase (1988-1990) 569 females and 522 males were examined. The participation response was high: 72.7% (75.9% females and 69.6% males). RESULTS: In this paper were described the main risk factors prevalence. The mean values (age-standardized) of total serum cholesterol (tc), triglycerides (tg) and fasting blood sugar (gl), for all males were of 204.8 mg/dl (tc), 159.4 mg/dl (tg), and 93.5 mg/dl (gl). In the females the mean values were lower: 202.9 mg/dl (tc), 134.2 mg/dl (tg), and 87.8 mg/dl (gl). The prevalences of this risk factors are the following hypercholesterolemia (serum cholesterol = > 240 mg/dl): males 20.7%, females 19.8%; hypertriglyceridemia (serum triglycerides = > 170 mg/dl): males 38.3%, females 23.1%; hyperglycemia (blood glucose = > 120 mg/dl: males 8.8%, females 6.6%. The mean levels of systolic blood pressure were: males 130.3 mm Hg and females 129.2 mm Hg; diastolic blood pressure: males 80.5 mm Hg and females 78.6 mm Hg. The male subjects with hypertension (B.P. = > 160/95 mm Hg) were 16.3% while female subjects were 26.1%. Hypertension control level in the examined sample was quite low. The prevalence of smokers was: 46% males and 17.3% females. Smokers were more frequently observed in young people (men > 50%), than in the oldest groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Damage from reperfusion: no-reflow phenomenon].

It is well known that rapid myocardial reperfusion, obtained using thrombolysis and/or PTCA, continues to be the best treatment for evolving myocardial infarction. However, a number of experimental studies have drawn attention to the fact that myocardial recovery following reperfusion may be limited by the onset of numerous deleterious biochemical events which occur during reperfusion. Studies carried out after thrombolysis have shown that the perviousness of the vessel and the existence of flow at the level of the epicardial vessels do not necessarily correspond to the recovery of tissue perfusion since a perfusion defect may persist in the presence of angiographically documented anterograde flow. This discrepancy, which occurs during reperfusion, has been attributed to marked cellular enlargement caused by ischaemia both in irreversibly damaged areas and in those which may potentially recover. In basal conditions, endothelial-neutrophil interaction is inhibited by negatively charged molecules present on endothelial cell membranes and by the production of numerous anti-inflammatory substances. During ischemia, on the other hand, anti-inflammatory and endogenous vasodilating substances are depleted in association with the appearance, on the surface of endothelial cells, of molecules favouring leukocyte adhesion. Of these the glycoprotein which has been characterized in greatest detail is the endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule (ELAM 1) whose production and appearance on the endothelial surface is linked to cytokine-dependent endothelium activation. Ischemia may also stimulate the activation of neutrophils secreting chemiotactical and vasoconstricting factors, and cytotoxic compounds (reactive oxygen metabolites and proteolyte enzymes).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cell Adhesion Molecules↗
PubMed1993

[The use of thymopentin in the prevention of recurrent infections of the respiratory system. Multicenter study].

Eighty children, between 1-12 years, suffering from recurrent respiratory infections were admitted to a multicentre study and treated with thymopentin, an immunomodulating compound that represents the active site of the natural thymic hormone thymopoietin. Thymopentin efficacy, measured as reduction in the number of infective episodes, and tolerability were assessed and, at the end of the study a global evaluation was made by each investigator. Moreover, the following factors were recorded: clinical course, duration of symptoms/signs, frequency of administration of antipyretic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and mucolytic therapy, school attendance and hospitalization. Thymopentin treatment resulted in a statistically significant decrease of infective recurrences. The use of symptomatic and antibiotic drugs was also reduced. Side effects were few and mild. The investigators' overall evaluation of thymopentin's efficacy and tolerability was favourable. In conclusion, thymopentin, administered subcutaneous for 5 weeks in winter, may be useful in the treatment of children with recurrent infections of the respiratory tract.

Child↗
PubMed1990

Screening for delayed-hypersensitivity in Italian children: multicentric study by multitest skin testing.

The Multitest skin test allows the simultaneous intradermal application of seven standardized recall antigens in a reproducible manner. Response reading is based on a scoring system that distinguishes between normal and diminished delayed hypersensitivity (DH). To determine incidence and size of DH responses for each antigen in relation to age and sex in healthy Italian children, a multicentric study was performed on a representative paediatric population of 491 subjects (285 males and 296 females) aged from 4 months to 16 years. In both sexes DH reactivity as measured by score and number of positive responses increased significantly with age. The incidence of anergy was 8.8% for the whole population and decreased significantly with age in both sexes. Incidence of positive responses was highest for tetanus and diphteria toxoids, intermediate for Candida, Proteus and Streptococcus, and lowest for tuberculin and Trichophyton antigens. There was no significant difference between sexes in the incidence of positive response to each antigen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Superoxide anion production by circulating polymorphonuclear leucocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.

In twelve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, receiving only nonsteroid anti-inflammatory therapy, superoxide anion (02-) generation by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) was assessed by Cytochrome C reduction. The 02- production by non-activated PMNs in RA patients was significantly higher than in healthy controls. The 02- production by PMNs activated by zymosan and phorbol myristate acetate was significantly lower than in controls. PMNs from controls preincubated with rheumatoid sera generated higher 02- levels than the same PMNs incubated in normal sera.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Primary lymphoma of the central nervous system in two children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Postmortem examination disclosed central nervous system non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in two children who died of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) at 6 and 14 months of age, respectively. Systemic signs of lymphoma were not present. The B-cell origin and clonality of the neoplastic cells were established by immunohistochemistry in one case and by molecular analysis of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement in the other. Moreover, in the latter case the neoplastic cells were characterized by the presence of a single episomal EBV genome. According to these data, the monoclonal B-cell proliferation occurred after EBV infection, thus suggesting a possible pathogenetic role of EBV in the early stages of lymphomagenesis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗