Biomedical subjects
V Marin
Publications and source records attributed to V Marin.
Dyslipidemia and dietary modification in Chilean renal pediatric transplantation.
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Lithostathine and pancreatitis-associated protein are involved in the very early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
According to one of the theories formulated to explain the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), amylosis may reflect a specific inflammatory response. Two inflammatory proteins, lithostathine and PAP, were evidenced by immunohistochemistry in senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of patients with AD. In addition, lithostathine and PAP were significantly increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with AD when compared to patients with multiple sclerosis, another inflammatory disease, and to normal control subjects. However, no correlation was observed with age of occurrence. Furthermore, lithostathine and PAP were increased even at the very early stages of AD, and their level remained elevated during the course of the AD unlike TNFalpha whose level, very high at very early stages, regularly decreased. Finally, if part of lithostathine and PAP are synthesized in the brain, a large part comes from serum by passage over the blood-brain barrier. These results indicate (i) the existence of an acute phase response followed by a chronic inflammation in AD, and (ii) that lithostathine and PAP are involved even at the first pre-clinical biochemical events of AD. In addition, because lithostathine undergoes an autolytic cleavage leading to its precipitation and the formation of fibrils, we believe that it may be involved in amyloidosis and tangles by allowing heterogeneous precipitation of other proteins.
Relationships between blood lead concentration and aminolevulinic acid dehydratase in alcoholics and workers industrially exposed to lead.
Blood lead concentration (Pb-B), aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), and gamma-GT were measured in 265 workers industrially exposed to lead and in 184 patients with liver disease resulting from alcohol consumption. The first group was divided according to alcohol use, i.e., nondrinkers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers. The second group was divided according to the following criteria: hepatopatic without cirrhosis, hepatopatic with compensated cirrhosis, and hepatopatic with decompensated cirrhosis. Heavy drinkers who were industrially exposed had the highest Pb-B (40.4 +/- 14.6 micrograms/dl) and the lowest ALAD (22.2 +/- 9.1 U/L). The correlations between Pb-B and ALAD show no significant change with the increase of Pb-B. In the alcoholic group, 76 patients with alcoholic liver disease without cirrhosis had the highest Pb-B (40.3-9.1 micrograms/dl) and ALAD the lowest (18.6 +/- 7.7 U/L). The negative correlation between Pb-B and log ALAD disappeared completely in individuals with Pb-B that exceeded 50 micrograms/dl, independent from the seriousness of illness.
[Smoking habits and opinions of a sample of high school students].
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[Dietary supplements and doping in a population of non-professional athletes: prevalence study].
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[Sexually transmitted diseases: epidemiological and social aspects].
STDs represent a major public health problem for two reasons: their serious sequelae and the facts that they facilitate transmission of HIV. This article presents WHO estimates new cases of some of curable STDs, and italian data from national reporting system (published from ISTAT and ISS). The number of new reported cases decreases in Italy, but reported cases are not all cases. People with STDs tend not to seek treatment or to self-medicate, this behaviour is common in youths. In many cases STDs are asymptomatic in both sexes, particularly in women. Women are also much more vulnerable biologically, culturally, socioeconomically. There is also a lack of notification by physicians. Important social determinants of STDs diffusion are migration and travels. Prevention and control of STDs need collaboration between medical disciplines: gynaecology, urology, dermo-venerology, microbiology, epidemiology, public health. Contributions of nurses, laboratory technician and social workers are also required. The role of public health specialists in the prevention is strictly related to health education. Health education will promote responsible sexual behaviour and early recourse to health services by people with STDs and their sexual partners.
[Persistence of circulation of Corynebacterium diphtheriae non-toxigenic strains and low prevalence of carriers in a sample of children vaccinated against diphtheria].
This study was carried out with the aim to investigate the presence of carriers of diphtheria bacillus in a sample of 1970 healthy children, 6-14 years aged, residing in eight Italian towns. Three non-toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae biotype mitis were isolated from as many healthy children. Molecular characterization by ribotyping showed close genetic relation of two of the wild strains with the C7(b) reference strain whereas one of the wild strains showed close genetic relation with two collection strains isolated in the same geographic area (Emilia-Romagna) from diphtheria patients in the seventy years. This supports the hypothesis of the persistence of some non toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains derived from ancient endemic strains under the selective pressure of mass immunization against diphtheria. The persistence of carriers of diphtheria bacilli, although non toxigenic, suggests that high levels of immunity must be maintained, not only in children, but also in adults by booster vaccination.
[Effects of ionization of the air on some bacterial strains].
For some time a bactericidal activity is recognized by air ionization. Recently it has been demonstrated that while the bactericidal effect of the positive ions is due to physical factors, the negative ions operate either by physical or chemical effects. This depends on the presence of oxygen: negative air ionization consists mainly of oxygen ions with a strong oxidizing effect. Beneficial effects of negative air ionization on human health have been recently demonstrated in several studies. In this research the bactericidal effect of the negative air ionization on some strains of Gram+ and Gram- bacteria has been estimated. Trials with Escherichia coli ATCC and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC strains have been carried out using a point-acting tester as generator of negative oxygen ions. The ion concentration was estimated in 8-10(6) ion/cm3 air at a distance from the source of 0.5 metric. The tests were performed in a special room of the microbiology laboratory, equipped without metal furniture and in absence of people. Suspensions of bacterial cells were spread on a solid medium in Petri dishes and then placed, without cover, under the ion generator, at different distances from the source, for 24 hours. The results show a greater effect of the negative air ions on the Gram- than on the Gram+ cells; the number of colonies of Escherichia coli grown under ionization was estimated to be 15.1 times less than of the colonies grown without ionization, while the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in the same conditions was only 4.5. time less. No contamination of Petri dishes by environmental bacteria has ever been occurred during trials: this could demonstrate a biocidal effect of the negative ionization also on air bacteria.
[Radiologic aspect of the glandular form of sarcoidosis in the light of differential diagnosis].
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[Bactericidal and bacteriostatic action of mouthwashes used in oral hygiene].
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Immunity status to poliovirus in Veneto region (north-east Italy). A seroepidemiological survey.
The immunity state to poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 of a population aged 2 to 75 years was determined by examining 274 sera collected in the Venice mainland (North-East Italy). Altogether, the neutralizing antibody prevalences (at a titre > or = 1:2) for poliovirus 1, 2, and 3 were 99.0 percent (geometrical mean titres [GMT]: 72.1), 99.6 percent (GMT: 95.9) and 98.2 percent (GMT: 17.3), respectively, and all the age groups also showed very good levels of humoral immunity. High antibody titres (> or = 1:256) to one or more types of poliovirus were demonstrated in older age groups also, possibly indicating exposure to natural polioviruses or contact with vaccine strains. Although probably all the older subjects had practically acquired their antibodies as a result of natural infection and those under 30 through vaccination, these results indicate that the humoral immunity against poliomyelitis in our population is satisfactory, and the maintenance of such good protection level depends on an effective immunization program.
Immunity status to polioviruses among non-European union immigrants in Veneto Region (North-East Italy).
Widespread use of poliovirus vaccines has lead to a dramatic decline on the incidence of paralytic poliomyelitis in the Western Hemisphere. In Italy, the use of live attenuated vaccine (OPV) has lead to virtual eradication of poliomyelitis. However, wild poliovirus is still endemic in some less developed countries, and there is still a risk of importation of wild-virus poliomyelitis as result of immigration from these areas. Therefore, a serologic study of the immunologic status to poliovirus was carried out in 242 immigrants from less developed countries in the Veneto Region (North-East Italy). The overall prevalence of serum neutralizing antibodies was 98.3 percent for poliovirus type 1, 99.6 percent for type 2, and 95.9 percent for type 3. The modal titres were 1:128 (21.1 percent), 1:512 (26.4 percent), and 1:32 (22.3 percent) for poliovirus type 1, type 2, and type 3, respectively. No subject was simultaneously lacking neutralizing antibodies to all three polioviruses. The mean duration of stay in Italy before testing was 1.53 years (range 1 month to 7 years). These results show a good level of the immunity status, similar to those found in the Veneto general population. Although the risk of paralytic poliomyelitis in our population is very low, seronegative immigrants originating from areas of high endemicity could reintroduce wild poliovirus. It is therefore important to maintain a careful surveillance system on the importation of wild poliovirus and to plan vaccination programs for unprotected immigrants.