Publications by authors named "Maria Loretana Dell'Anna"

Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates isolated anti-HBV core antigen antibody (anti-HBcAg) in subjects with persistent HBV infection but without detectable HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), highlighting underlying risks of liver disease.
  • - Among 33,048 participants tested at a virology unit in Italy, the prevalence of isolated anti-HBcAg was found to be 3.1%, with higher rates in males and Italians, particularly in outpatients.
  • - The findings suggest that those with isolated anti-HBcAg may have occult HBV infections or co-infections, emphasizing the need for further analysis and raising awareness of increasing HBV prevalence linked to migration from endemic regions.
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Article Synopsis
  • * Out of 154 patients, 90 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with fungal infections more common in these patients compared to those who were SARS-CoV-2 negative.
  • * The overall mortality rate was 40.4%, with higher deaths among SARS-CoV-2 positives; the study noted differing patterns of infections between the two groups, possibly influenced by treatment approaches and ICU duration.
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Background: Malaria is no longer endemic in Italy since 1970 when the World Health Organization declared Italy malaria-free, but it is now the most commonly imported disease. The aim of the study was to analyse the trend of imported malaria cases in Parma, Italy, during January 2013-June 2017, reporting also the treatment and the outcome of cases, exploring the comparison of the three diagnostic tests used for malaria diagnosis: microscopy, immunochromatographic assay (ICT) (BinaxNOW) and Real-time PCR assays detecting Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale curtisi, Plasmodium ovale wallikeri, and Plasmodium knowlesi.

Results: Of the 288 patients with suspected malaria, 87 were positive by microscopy: 73 P.

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The northward spread of leishmaniasis from Mediterranean to Continental Europe affects our area where it is typically associated with Leishmania infantum infection. In this study a 22-year survey was performed in patients (including both patients with and without history of travel through endemic areas other than Italy) attending the University Hospital of Parma, Northern Italy, in order to make a contribution to describe the cases of the visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) diagnosed in this area. One hundred fifty-six samples from 134 patients with clinical suspicion of leishmaniasis (96 suspected of having VL, 37 CL and one both VL and CL) were analyzed in our laboratory during 1992-2013 by microscopy, culture and, from 2005, also by real-time PCR.

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Background: Accurate identification of Plasmodium infections in non-endemic countries is of critical importance with regard to the administration of a targeted therapy having a positive impact on patient health and management and allowing the prevention of the risk of re-introduction of endemic malaria in such countries. Malaria is no longer endemic in Italy where it is the most commonly imported disease, with one of the highest rates of imported malaria among European non-endemic countries including France, the UK and Germany, and with a prevalence of 24.3% at the University Hospital of Parma.

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