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Biomedical subjects

M R Biffi

Publications and source records attributed to M R Biffi.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Immunity to poliomyelitis: situation in northern Italy and in some other European population groups.

The aim of the program to eradicate poliomyelitis is expected to be achieved in the space of very few years and therefore, as they approach this goal, countries find themselves faced with various problems to be tackled. Among these is the decision about how and when to stop polio vaccination, which also depends on seroepidemiological evaluations, necessary because of the possible persistence of circulating strains of poliovirus of vaccine origin which might continue even after the suspension of vaccination. For this reason, the results of seroepidemiological surveys carried out in some European countries in different periods of time and on various samples of the population are discussed. Although the status of immune coverage is satisfactory, a few situations of susceptibility were found; these should be better monitored and, if necessary, corrected to guarantee a homogeneous and lasting resistance of the European population towards polioviruses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Antipoliomyelitis immunity status in a cohort of young men drafted into military service, residing in the suburban Milan area.

The aim of this study was to verify the antipolio immune status of a cohort of eighteen year-olds residing in the suburban Milan area for whom vaccination histories were available. Seropositivity (titres of neutralizing antibodies > or = 1:8) for the three virus serotypes was detected in 89.2% of the 530 subjects tested, whereas simultaneous seronegativity for all three polioviruses was found for only 0.6% of the subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Diffusion of thermophilic Campylobacter in the Pesaro-Urbino area (Italy) from 1985 to 1992.

The results of research on the spreading of campylobacter in the Pesaro-Urbino area carried out from 1985 to 1992 are presented. Materials of different origin were examined: 822 samples of human faeces, 533 animal rectal swabs, 192 samples of domestic sewage, 48 of river water, 96 of sea water and 632 of various types of food. Two hundred and nine strains of campylobacter were isolated (9%), most of which were Campylobacter jejuni (80%), with particular frequency in food products (chicken carcass 45.7%, ground meat and sausage 18.1%) and in river water (31.3%). In contrast, the samples of sea water and dairy cheese products were always negative. It may be concluded that the spreading of campylobacter in the Pesaro-Urbino area is mainly associated with food products of animal origin. Therefore, better controls in the processing of these products may be necessary.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of anti-HCV in subjects of various age groups.

812 serum samples from 382 males and 430 females from various age groups were examined. All the samples were tested for anti-HCV hepatitis C virus, anti-HBc and HBsAg with an enzymeimmunoassay. The total serum prevalence was 2.9% for anti-HVC, 22.2% for anti-HBc and 4.6% for HBsAg. The seropositivity rates of anti-HCV and anti-HBc tended to increase with age, while for HBsAg a more regular pattern was observed for the different subject groups. The fact that anti-HCV are more frequently found together with HBV markers confirms the existence of similar modes of transmission of the two viruses.

Adult↗
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↗
PubMed1990

Yersinia enterocolitica and related species isolated in the Pesaro and Urbino area (Italy) from 1981 to 1986.

A total of 23 strains of yersinias, Y. enterocolitica (17), Y. frederiksenii (5) and Y. intermedia (1) characterized according to bio-serogroup and phage type, were isolated from human, animal and environmental samples during a 5-year period. It appears that in the Pesaro-Urbino area Yersinia spp. are infrequent and the strains of Y. enterocolitica belong to environmental and rarely to human pathogenic bioserogroups.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Comparison of media for isolation and prevalence among patients with nongonococcal nonchlamydial genital infections.

One hundred and twelve genital specimens were cultured for Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum using a conventional system and the Mycotrim GU biphasic culture system. Both systems gave the same percentage of recovery (60%) of Mycoplasma hominis, while the recovery rates of Ureaplasma urealyticum were 95% with the conventional system and 83% with the Mycotrim GU. The media contamination was similar for both systems. The average time for Mycoplasma isolation and identification was shorter with the Mycotrim GU in comparison with the conventional system. The prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis in 91 patients with nongonococcal nonchlamydial urethritis and/or cervicitis was 8%, that of Ureaplasma urealyticum was 31%.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗