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T Stroffolini

Publications and source records attributed to T Stroffolini.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Tetanus immunity among Italians born after the introduction of mandatory vaccination of children.

In Italy systematic mandatory tetanus immunization of children started in 1968. In a national sample of 241 young males born after 1968 the prevalence of non-immune subjects was 11.2% (5.5% in the North-Centre, 15.9% in the South-Islands; p < 0.02). Comparing these data with the corresponding figure obtained in a previous study of subjects born before 1968 a significant decrease (11.2% versus 32.6%; p < 0.01) is observed. The prevalence of non-immune subjects born after 1968 is significantly (p < 0.01) lower than that observed in subjects born before 1968 by geographical area as well as by area (urban/rural) of residence. These findings indicate that the introduction of compulsory tetanus vaccination for all newborns has favourably affected the immune status of younger Italian men. However, more efforts should still be addressed to decrease regional inequalities in the delivery of health care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence of cytomegalovirus seropositivity in an urban childhood population in Cameroon.

In 1989, the prevalence of antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV) was determined by the ELISA method in serum samples from 198 apparently healthy children 4-14 years old in Kumba City (Cameroon). Children were randomly recruited from six primary schools located in different districts of the city. The overall prevalence was 94.0%, increasing from 88.5% in 4-6 years old to 98% in subjects 11-14 years old. A slight male predominance was observed (96.2% versus 92.4%), which was not statistically significant. Family size and father's occupation were not associated with anti-CMV prevalence. These findings demonstrate a virtually total exposure to CMV infection by late childhood in Cameroon. However, the undesirable consequences of congenitally acquired CMV infection are rare, because nearly 100% of the women are seropositive by the time they reach childbearing age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Changing epidemiology of hepatitis B in Italy: public health implications.

In Italy, a dramatic decline of hepatitis B infection occurred in recent years as a result of nonmedical and medical factors. The national type-specific surveillance system shows that the age of maximum incidence changed from early childhood, when the risk of becoming a chronic carrier after infection is very high, to late adolescence. Data of several seroepidemiologic studies are consistent with this picture, but could not be compared with previous data on similar age groups. In 1981, a seroepidemiologic study on a national sample of 5,005 recruits showed a high prevalence of serologic markers of hepatitis B infection among young adults in Italy. In 1990, the authors replicated that original study on a national sample of 4,993 recruits. The adjusted prevalence of hepatitis B core antibodies among Italian male recruits dropped from 16.8% to 5.8% in 9 years. The authors anticipate a substantial reduction in the rate of production of chronic carriers and the rates of liver cirrhosis and primary liver carcinoma in Italy in the next decades. Vaccination campaigns, especially if combined with nonimmunologic preventive measures, will further reduce the rate of hepatitis B infection in Italy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Typhoid fever in the Neapolitan area: a case-control study.

Typhoid fever is endemic in the Neapolitan area, where its yearly incidence rate largely exceeds the corresponding national figure. During the period from January to June, 1990, a matched case-control study was carried out in order to identify risk factors of the disease in this area; 51 subjects (mean age 27.2 years) with typhoid fever were compared with 102 controls matched with respect to age, sex and educational level. Consumption of raw shellfish was reported by 76.5% of the cases, as opposed to 19.6% of the controls (P < 0.01). Subjects who had eaten this food item had a 13.3-fold risk (C.I. 95% = 5.5 - 32.8) of contracting typhoid fever. In contrast, no risk was found to be associated with consumption of cooked shellfish, raw vegetables, ice-cream, non-potable water, or unpasteurized milk. The risk factor identified in this study shows that hazardous dietary habits and inadequate sewage treatment facilities, combined with lack of sanitation in the harvesting and marketing of shellfish, play a major role in the endemicity of typhoid fever in the Neapolitan area.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1992

Meningococcal disease in Italy in 1989.

Meningococcal disease in Italy decreased by 13.4% from 1988 to 1989. The incidence rate was 0.5/100,000 in the general population and 1.3/100,000 in army recruits. The highest proportion of cases (27%) was seen in subjects 5-14 years old. The sex ratio was 1.3. Forty-four percent of the isolates belonged to serogroup B; 37% belonged to group C. Forty-six percent of the strains were resistant to sulphonamides and 10% were resistant to minocycline; only 4% were resistant to rifampicin. None of the four military cases observed could be attributed to vaccine failure. One secondary case and no coprimary cases were observed among civilians. The shift in prevalence from serogroup C to serogroup B isolates is the most important finding of this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The epidemiology of hepatitis delta infection in Italy. Promoting Group.

The epidemiology of HDV infection in Italy was assessed in a retrospective study involving 1556 HBsAg chronic carriers on their first presentation at one of the 35 Liver Units in 1987. Total anti-HD was detected in 23.4% of HBsAg carriers and was significantly more frequent in southern than in northern Italy (26.6% vs. 19.1%, p less than 0.01). Age distribution showed that 73% of the anti-HD-positive subjects, but only 56% of the anti-HD-negative subjects, were under 40 years of age (p less than 0.01). Anti-HD prevalence increased with the severity of the liver disease from 3.8% in healthy carriers to 42.5% in cirrhosis. No geographical statistical difference was found among HBsAg healthy carriers or subjects with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), while among patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) or cirrhosis anti-HD prevalence was much higher in the south (p less than 0.01). The various potential risk factors were evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis. HDV infection was independently related to young age, residence in the south, i.v. drug abuse, a large family and household contact with an anti-HD-positive carrier. No association was found with blood transfusion or male homosexuality. These findings confirm that HDV infection is endemic in Italy, particularly in some southern areas, where intrafamily contact probably at a young age may favour the spread of the infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Hepatitis C virus infection, HBsAg carrier state and hepatocellular carcinoma: relative risk and population attributable risk from a case-control study in Italy.

In 1990, a case-control study was conducted in Italy to investigate the possible association between HCV infection and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Serum samples from 65 subjects with newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma and 99 hospital control subjects were tested for the presence of anti-HCV by second-generation ELISA test; positive sera were assayed by RIBA anti-HCV second-generation test. In addition, samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to the hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs). The presence of HCV and/or HBsAg serologic markers was significantly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma risk: the relative risk (RR) of HCC was 21.3 (95% CI = 8.8-51.5) for anti-HCV positivity in the absence of HBsAg; the relative risk of HCC was 13.3 (95% CI = 5.5-32.2) for the presence of HBsAg in the absence of anti-HCV. A higher risk (77.0) was observed when both markers were present. These findings indicate that HCV and HBsAg are independent risk factors for HCC. The results of multivariate analysis showed that the adjusted RR linking anti-HCV and HCC was 26.9 (95% CI = 9.9-72.5), the adjusted RR linking HBsAg and HCC was 11.4 (95% CI = 3.1-41.4), whereas no association (RR 1.5; 95% CI = 0.6-3.6) was found to link HCC with anti-HBc and/or anti-HBs positivity. Through the computation of population attributable risk we estimate that 25% of HCC cases occurring in Italy could be attributed to anti-HCV positivity alone and 20% to HBsAg carrier state alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Seroprevalence of anti-HCV in an urban child population: a pilot survey in a developing area, Cameroon.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is the principal agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis and its spread in the community is not well defined. We evaluated the prevalence of anti-HCV (ortho ELISA System) in 696 children (4-14 years) in Kumba, Cameroon. Children were selected by systematic random sampling in six primary schools. A seroprevalence of 14.5% (101 children) was found which increased steadily with age. No significant differences were observed with respect to sex or to family size. There was a highly significant association both with parents' social class, the lowest class presenting a 2.2-fold risk factor, and with area of residence, suburban children showing a significantly higher prevalence (P less than 0.01). These results suggest that Cameroon is endemic for HCV infection, that children are infected at an early age and that infection increases with age. We can therefore hypothesize that transmission of HCV infection in this population is from child to child. Furthermore, the infection seems to be influenced by social factors but not by demographic ones.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Hepatitis B virus DNA in chronic HBsAg carriers: correlation with HBeAg/anti-HBe status, anti-HD and liver histology.

Hepatitis B virus DNA was determined in the sera of 198 chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers by the spot hybridization technique. The results were correlated with hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) and antibody (anti-HBe), delta antibody (anti-HD) and liver histology. All subjects had a liver biopsy. The prevalence of HBV DNA was 63% in HBeAg-positive subjects and 8.8% in anti-HBe positives. HBV DNA was not found more frequently in chronic HBsAg carriers who had histological evidence of liver disease than in carriers without such evidence. Anti-HD was detected in 48.5% of subjects, with an increasing trend (p less than 0.001) according to the severity of liver disease. Among patients with more severe liver disease (CAH and cirrhosis), HBV DNA and HBeAg were detected less frequently in anti-HD-positive than in anti-HD-negative subjects (7% vs. 42.3%, p less than 0.001 and 7% vs. 34.4%, p less than 0.005, respectively). These findings indicate that HDV infection jointly affects both HBeAg status and HBV DNA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Hepatitis B virus infection in Cameroon: a seroepidemiological survey in city school children.

A pilot survey conducted in Cameroon comprising 702 children of primary school age revealed that 58.5% of the children were positive for at least one HBV marker. An overall HBsAg prevalence of 19.9% was observed. Both any HBV marker and HBsAg prevalences increased with age (P less than 0.01). Of the HBsAg-positive subjects, 28.4% were positive for HBV-DNA; none was positive for anti-HDV. There was no significant difference among sexes for either any HBV marker or for HBsAg prevalence. However, a significant difference by sex was found in the percentage ratio HBsAg+/and any marker + (41.0% in males against 28.2% in females; P less than 0.05). No significant difference with respect to the father's occupation and family size was observed. When the zone of location of school was taken into consideration it was observed that suburban school children had a higher prevalence of any HBV marker as compared to central town school children (73.9% vs. 56.6%; P less than 0.001). These results place Cameroon among countries of high endemicity for HBV. The results also indicate an early acquisition of infection, a high infectivity, and probably continuous infection even in the primary school ages.

Cameroon↗
PubMed1991

Seroepidemiology of pertussis infection in an urban childhood population in Cameroon.

In 1989, the prevalence of IgG antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT) in a sample of 367 unvaccinated apparently healthy children 5-14 years old was estimated by ELISA in Kumba City (Cameroon). Children were recruited using a systematic random sampling from six primary schools located in different districts of the city. The sample was representative of the various socioeconomic classes. The overall prevalence was 75%; it increased from 62% in 5 year old children to 81% in children 12-14 years old (P less than 0.01). IgG antibody prevalence was positively related to the family size. Children belonging to households of nine or more members had a 2.2-fold risk (C.I. 95 per cent = 1.1-4.6) of previous exposure to B. pertussis infection. No association was found with the father's occupation (O.R. = 1). These findings demonstrate a great impact of pertussis infection in Cameroon, with a nearly total exposure by late childhood.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Baseline sero-epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in children and teenagers in Italy. A survey before mass hepatitis B vaccination.

During the period May 1987 to November 1989, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers was determined by ELISA in serum samples of 7405 (55% male, 45% female) apparently healthy persons 3-19 years of age in Italy. Earlier studies of adults there had shown an intermediate degree of HBV endemicity (hepatitis B surface antigen carrier rate greater than 2%). Persons were selected by systematic cluster sampling in five different geographical areas of Italy. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was 0.6%. The overall prevalence of at least one marker of HBV was 2.8%; it increased from 1.7% among children 3-5 years of age to 4.5% in teenagers 17-19 years of age (P less than 0.001). The prevalence of any HBV marker was higher in southern then in northern areas (3.5% vs. 1.8%, P less than 0.001). A significant association was found with sociodemographic features. Persons whose fathers had less than 6 years of schooling had a 2.3-fold risk (C.I. 95% = 1.5-3.4) while those belonging to a household of six or more under one roof had a 1.7-fold risk (C.I. 95% = 1.2-2.4) of previous exposure to HBV infection. These findings indicate that, today in Italy, exposure to HBV infection at a young age is very low and suggest a shift towards a low degree of endemicity following improvements in socio-economic conditions, decreased family size and increasing use of disposable syringes during recent years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Immunity to diphtheria in the 3-19 year age group in Italy.

In Italy, immunization with diphtheria toxoid has been compulsory for all newborns since 1939. The last two clinical cases of diphtheria were reported in 1987. During the period 1987-1989, immunity against diphtheria was assessed by neutralization test in a random sample of 1740 healthy subjects 3-19 years old, from five geographical areas of Italy. Of the total population, 76.5% showed antibody levels considered to be protective (greater than or equal to 0.1 IU ml-1), 17.2% had a relative degree of protection (0.01-0.09 IU ml-1), and 6.3% lacked immunity (less than 0.01 IU ml-1). The percentage of unprotected subjects increased from 6.1% in the age group of 3-5 years to 11.4% in the age group of 18-19 years (p less than 0.01). A smaller proportion of males (5.3%) than of females (7.2%) was unprotected, but this difference was not statistically significant. Subjects residing in the south and the islands were more likely to be unprotected than those residing in the north (7.4 versus 4.1%, p less than 0.01). No association was found between lack of protective antibodies and family size (odds ratio 1.35, confidence interval 95% = 0.77-2.36). However, paternal education of less than 12 years was associated with a higher prevalence of non-responders. In order to maintain a high degree of immunity in the adult population, a routine adult booster dose of diphtheria toxoid is advisable.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in Italy.

Between 1987 and 1989, the prevalence of antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV) was determined, by the ELISA method, in serum samples from 1494 apparently healthy subjects, 3-18 years old. Subjects were selected by a systematic cluster sampling from five geographical areas in Italy. The overall prevalence of antibody was 64.2%, increasing from 54.4% in 4-6-year-olds to 73.3% in subjects 17-18 years old (P less than 0.01). Prevalence of antibody was significantly higher in females (P less than 0.05) and in subjects residing in the South of Italy (P less than 0.01). A significant association was found with sociodemographic factors. Subjects belonging to a household with six or more persons had a 1.5-fold risk (C.I. 95% = 1.11-2.04) and subjects whose fathers had less than 6 years of schooling had a 1.4-fold risk (C.I. 95% = 1.1-1.87) of previous exposure to CMV infection. The high prevalence (74.4%) of young women who are naturally immune when entering childbearing years does not guarantee that there will be a low risk of fetal infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Age- and sex-related study of HBV-DNA in HBsAg asymptomatic children from an endemic area (Cameroon).

A sero-epidemiological survey was carried out in Cameroon in January 1989 on a sample of 702 children of primary school age. A high HBV endemicity level was observed: 60.3% of the sera were positive to any HBV marker, 23.2% (163 sera) were HBsAg-positive. HBV-DNA positivity was observed in 38/163 (23.3%), thus showing a high level of infectivity among these carriers. Seventy-seven HBsAg-positive sera were tested for HBeAg/anti-HBe: 20 (26%) were HBeAg-positive 31 (40%) anti-HBe-positive, and 26 (34%) were negative for both. All sera were anti-HD-negative. Twenty-five per cent of HBeAg-positive sera were HBV-DNA-negative. This finding could be explained by a delayed HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion phase with fluctuant HBV-DNA. Only one case of HBV-DNA-positive anti-HBe-positive serum was observed. This study showed that HBV-DNA prevalence was significantly higher in boys (31.8%) than in girls (14.1%) (p less than 0.02). This difference was not observed for any HBV marker. We therefore conclude that in boys a prolonged HBV replicative phase might explain the observed high chronicity rate.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Clonotypic analysis of human antibodies specific for Neisseria meningitidis polysaccharides A and C in adults.

Serum antibodies to the capsular polysaccharides A and C (PSA and PSC) of N. meningitidis in healthy adults before and after vaccination with the sole polysaccharides were analysed by isoelectric focusing (IEF). Before vaccination, 49% and 28% had naturally acquired antibodies against PSA and PSC, respectively, whereas 18 days after vaccine administration 84% and 91%, respectively, showed a detectable spectrotypic pattern. Oligoclonality appeared to be the main feature of naturally acquired and vaccine-induced antibodies for both polysaccharides. In all subjects the anti-PSA response, showing dominant bands at the same pH position, was more homogeneous than anti-PSC one. Most subjects with naturally acquired antibodies (25 out of 38 for PSA and 20 out of 22 for PSC) showed a spectrotypic pattern after vaccination, similar to that observed before vaccination (any differences were just related to band intensity), suggesting that PSA and PSC are able to recruit the same B cell clones previously primed with a T-dependent form of the antigen, i.e. the whole bacterium. However, in one-third of subjects with naturally acquired anti-PSA antibodies, the appearance of new alkaline bands after vaccination was observed. Furthermore, in subjects with absence of detectable natural antibodies, the vaccine-induced antibody response started in correspondence of alkaline pH areas, subsequently extending to neutral and acidic areas. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that alkaline antibody-secreting B cell clones are the first to be recruited. The final spectrotype in these subjects was similar to that observed in subjects with naturally acquired antibodies. This observation, together with the above reported data, allow us to conclude that natural (T-dependent pathway) and vaccine (T-independent pathway) immunization induce the expression of the same antibody repertoire, for both meningococcal PSA and PSC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Age-specific prevalence of hepatitis A virus infection among teenagers in Sardinia.

In 1989, the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) in a sample of 1350 Sardinian teenagers aged 14 to 19 years was estimated by Elisa method. The overall anti-HAV prevalence was 20%; it increased from 12.3% among 14-16 year old subjects to 27.4% in subjects aged 17-19 years (P less than 0.01). A slight female preponderance was observed (22.1% versus 17.9) but no statistically significant difference was attained. Compared with the corresponding figure (71.6% of prevalence rate) observed in North Sardinia in 1980, the results of the present study show a dramatic reduction in anti-HAV prevalence among teenagers. A significant association was found with sociodemographic factors: subjects whose fathers had less than six years of schooling, had a 2.1-fold risk (C.I. 95% = 1.5-3.1) and subjects belonging to a household of 6 or more under one roof had a 1.7-fold risk (C.I. 95% = 1.2-2.3) of previous exposure to hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. These findings indicate that exposure to HAV in Sardinia is decreasing, probably because of improvements in socio-economic conditions during recent years. However, overcrowding and short paternal education appear to be important determinants of infection.

Adolescent↗