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Biomedical subjects

M E Grandolfo

Publications and source records attributed to M E Grandolfo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Persistence of immunity to poliomyelitis among a southern population that received four doses of OPV 5 to over 15 years before.

The immune status against polioviruses was investigated in a population of 545 students aged 11-20 years residing in the Neapolitan area, who had completed the vaccination cycle with four doses of OPV 5 to over 15 years before. Assuming as unprotected those individuals without detectable neutralizing antibodies at the dilution 1:2, nobody resulted without protection against all types of poliovirus; 0.7% lacked antibodies only against type 1, 0.6% only against type 3 and none against type 2. A very slight decreasing trend was observed for GMT values in function of the distance from the last dose of OPV for polio 1 and 2, but not for polio 3. As expected, GMT values for polio 2 resulted higher than those for polio 1 and both were higher than those for polio 3, when calculated by age groups as well as by distance groups. The last four Italian cases of autochthonous paralytic poliomyelitis, occurred in the period 1981/83, regarded unvaccinated children aged 6 months-2 years, residing in the same geographical area to which the study population belong. In the same area a delay of immunization practices was also ascertained in the recent past. Results of this study confirm that a priority for public health services is to devote their human and economic resources to reduce the vaccination delay more than administrate a further fifth dose of OPV at the age of twelve.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Neonatal screening in congenital hypothyroidism in Italy. The National Registry].

Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) began in Italy in 1977 and then progressively developed covering 97% of live births in 1992. The National Register of infants with congenital hypothyroidism was established in 1987 as a project of the Health Ministry and is coordinated by the Italian Institute of Health. The aim of the Register is to provide disease surveillance, to monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of neonatal screening and to allow the identification of possible etiological risk factors in congenital hypothyroidism. The results of the Register provided valuable epidemiological informations about congenital hypothyroidism in Italy and evidenced several areas in whom an increased incidence probably caused by iodine deficiency was observed. Discussion of Register data during annual national meetings has allowed an improvement of the screening program with particular regard to the beginning of therapy with L-thyroxine and its dose. Because of the wide spectrum of collected information, the National Register represents a useful tool for developing of collaborative studies concerning some aspects of CH not yet completely elucidated.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗
PubMed1994

[The association between hypothyroidism and other congenital defects. The experience of the National Registry in 1987-1992].

This study considers the birth defects (BD) observed from 1987 to 1992 in 35/811 newborns with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) diagnosed by neonatal screening and included in the National Register. The BD incidence was higher than in the general population (4.3 vs 2.5-3%) and especially the one of the congenital heart diseases, (CHD) (2.1 vs 0.3-0.8%). Furthermore the CHD were more frequently observed in females than in males (M/F = 1/4.7). These results seem not to be casual but the reasons remain unknown. The most frequent CHD observed were the septal defects and the pulmonary stenosis. Further are presented and discussed the main findings of 2 groups of CH patients (with and without BD). These results are a good instance of the National Register applications, also for less known aspects of the CH like the concomitant BD.

Congenital Abnormalities↗
PubMed1994

[The evaluation of the risk factors for congenital hypothyroidism: the outlook of a case-control study].

The availability of a National Register of congenital hypothyroid infants allowed to perform descriptive studies on characteristics of the cases and the efficiency of the neonatal screening. Continuous and exhaustive recording of data concerning congenital hypothyroidism cases provided valuable epidemiological informations about congenital hypothyroidism in Italy. Moreover, the National Register allowed to develop a network of collaboration which can promote a population based case-control study. As the etiopathogenesis of congenital hypothyroidism has not been completely elucidated, performing of a case-control study can contribute to evidence the most important risk factors of congenital hypothyroidism and to improve the prevention also by prenatal diagnosis of this disease. Screening centers will be involved in the study and questionnaires of the National Register for congenital hypothyroidism will be used to record case and control informations. A biological bank concerning cases, controls and their parents, will be organized.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1993

The National Register of infants with congenital hypothyroidism detected by neonatal screening in Italy.

Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism began in Italy in 1977 and then progressively developed covering 94% of live births in 1991. The National Register of infants with congenital hypothyroidism was established in 1987 as a project of the Health Ministry. The results of the Register provided valuable epidemiological information about congenital hypothyroidism in Italy and evidenced some aspects in the screening organization which had to be improved. Discussion of Register data during annual national meetings has recently allowed an improvement of the screening program with particular regard to the beginning of therapy with L-thyroxine and its dose.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗
PubMed1993

Endocrine response to HIV infection. Involvement of thyroid gland.

Endocrine dysfunctions were associated at different stages of infection, including those early in the course of HIV infection. In fact adrenal insufficiency, hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism, hyponatremia, reduced gonadotropins levels, gonadal abnormalities and changes in hormone-binding proteins were reported in HIV infection. Also a thyroid involvement with autoimmune phenomena was observed in HIV infection by several studies giving different explanations of altered thyroid conditions. These findings suggest an effect of HIV on endocrine system. Recognition of endocrine manifestations in these patients may contribute to better characterize different stages of the infection and improve the management of HIV patients.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1991

[Congenital hypothyroidism: organization and coordination of neonatal screening in Italy].

Congenital hypothyroidism (IC) is the most frequent endocrine disease of the infancy and it is caused by primary deficiency of thyroid hormones. The damages derived by protracted hormone deficiency are diffused to all organs and systems and particularly severe for the development of central nervous system. Mental retardation can be prevented by early diagnosis and therapy. Early diagnosis is assured by neonatal thyroid screening performed on all newborns in the first days of life. The progress report on the screening situation in Italy as well as the national coordination realized in this field are presented.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗
PubMed1990

Three years of experience of the congenital hypothyroidism National Register.

Mental retardation caused by congenital deficiency of thyroid hormones can be prevented by early diagnosis and therapy which are assured by neonatal thyroid screening. Congenital hypothyroidism screening is performed in Italy by regional centres which in 1989 have screened more than 82% of neonatal population. Since 1987 a National Register of children affected by CH has been instituted. The results of the analysis of data collected in the first three years are reported.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗
PubMed1988

Influence of environmental iodine deficiency on neonatal thyroid screening results.

During a multicentric pilot screening program for congenital hypothyroidism a comparison between the results obtained from Urbino, an area characterized by low iodine supply and endemic goiter, and Rome, a non-endemic area, has been made. The evaluation of neonatal urinary iodine excretion in the two areas showed significantly lower iodine urinary excretion levels in Urbino than in Rome. A shift of TSH at screening toward higher values as well as a higher percentage of recall in Urbino area than in Rome was observed. This finding, which well correlates with a low environmental iodine supply, emphasizes the importance of screening for congenital hypothyroidism as a suitable index of the presence and action of goitrogenic factors in the environment.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1987

Paralytic poliomyelitis in Italy (1981-85).

Fifteen cases of presumptive poliomyelitis occurring in Italy between 1981-85 were studied in order to differentiate between paralysis caused by poliovirus and that of different etiology. Out of seven confirmed cases three were "temporally associated with vaccination". Three aspects are discussed: the need for a careful differential diagnosis of paralytic cases; the over concern about the problem of vaccine-associated cases: the risk connected with re-importation of wild poliovirus strains.

Child, Preschool↗