Serological diagnosis of respiratory viral infections. A five-year study of hospitalised patients.

The results of a five-year study of paired sera from 410 hospitalised patients-mainly children-with respiratory illness are reported. Samples were divided into groups based on clinical diagnosis. The data of each group were analysed in relation to patient age (under or over 1 year of age).

M genotyping and DNA fingerprinting of Streptococcus pyogenes isolates from an area of central Italy.

M protein gene typing was used to analyse Streptococcus pyogenes clinical isolates collected between 1983 and 1995 in an area of central Italy from patients presenting different types of infections; the same isolates were also characterized by means of DNA fingerprinting. M type 1 was the most common (50% of study strains), followed by M types 4, 12 and 6. The proportion of M type 12 decreased with time, whereas M type 1 increased, in agreement with data obtained in many different areas.

Unusual species of campylobacters isolated in the Siena Tuscany area, Italy.

From January 1989 to December 1990, stool samples from 288 children with enteritis were examined for the presence of unusual campylobacters which represented about 20% of all campylobacteria isolated when the filtration technique was used. The isolation percentage was the following: C. jejuni ss.

Species, biotype and serogroup of Campylobacter spp. isolated from children with diarrhoea over a ten-year period.

From 1981 to 1990, stool samples from 6403 gastroenteritis cases were examined for the presence of campylobacters as well as Salmonella, Shigella, Aeromonas species and Yersinia enterocolitica. The percentages of isolation were the following: campylobacters 10.8 (86.

Two-dimensional electrophoretic patterns of acute-phase human serum proteins in the course of bacterial and viral diseases.

Acute-phase serum proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis with isoelectric focusing in 3-10 immobilized pH gradients. Most spots were identified by reference to the plasma map in the SWISS-2DPAGE database. Serum amyloid A protein spots were identified by immunoblotting with specific antiserum and by matching determined with predicted values of electrophoretic parameters.

Two-dimensional electrophoresis of human serum proteins modified by ampicillin during therapeutic treatment.

Two-dimensional electrophoretograms of serum proteins from ampicillin-treated patients were analyzed-by immunoblotting with an antiserum specific for penicilloyl groups. As expected, human serum albumin (HSA) was the main ampicilloylated serum component. Transferrin main form II was found to be the second most important component as regards immunoblotting intensity.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting of human serum albumin modified by reaction with penicillins.

A two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting procedure has been developed to assess the level of modification by penicillins in human serum albumin. The procedure can be used in in vitro experiments and in clinical studies with sera from patients treated with penicillins.

Retrospective survey on the epidemiology of H. influenzae type B meningitis in Italy (1987-91).

A retrospective survey on the epidemiology of H. Influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis was carried out in seven Italian hospitals. During the period 1987-1991, 95 (16.

Antibiotic susceptibility of 206 Haemophilus influenzae isolates collected from children in central Italy.

Susceptibility of 206 H. influenzae isolates was evaluated by disk diffusion method for 11 antimicrobial agents. No isolates were found to be resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, amoxicillin+clavulanic acid, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin.

Two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis of human serum proteins during the acute-phase response.

The serum of patients with meningitis, due to infection by Haemophilus influenzae type b, was analyzed. Several known acute-phase proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and estimated quantitatively. In addition, hitherto undescribed reactants were recognized.

Molecular epidemiology of nasopharyngeal corynebacteria in healthy adults from an area where diphtheria vaccination has been extensively practiced.

In addition to conventional biochemical tests, a DNA probe specific for Corynebacterium diphtheriae was used to characterize 53 cystinase-positive and urease-negative corynebacteria strains isolated from pharyngeal and nasal swabs obtained from 515 healthy adults living in an urban area of central Italy. No Corynebacterium diphtheriae strain was found. Six "atypical" strains were isolated, which could not be classified in any of the species so far defined in the Corynebacterium genus.

The usefulness of the acridine-orange stain in identifying Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies.

The efficacy of the Acridine-orange stain (AOS) in identifying Helicobacter pylori (HP)-like organisms in biopsy smears from adults with gastroduodenal disease was studied. The results obtained indicate that AOS can replace Gram Stain in HP organism identification in gastroduodenal mucosa specimen.

Immunity to diphtheria, six to 15 years after a basic three-dose immunization schedule.

The results of a study of the immunity to diphtheria of 283 girls (9-18 years of age) vaccinated at the age of two years with three doses of vaccine, are reported. The rabbit skin test was used to determine the titre of serum diphtheria antitoxin. 55.

Cytotoxin production by Campylobacter pylori strains isolated from patients with peptic ulcers and from patients with chronic gastritis only.

A total of 66.6% of Campylobacter pylori strains isolated from patients with peptic ulcers produced a cytotoxin active against mammalian cells in vitro, versus 30.1% of strains isolated from patients with chronic gastritis of various degrees of severity only.

[Evaluation of the specific immune response after anti-rubella vaccination].

A selective rubella immunization program was carried out in the Siena (Italy) area since 1984. 912 schoolgirls aged 10 to 18 were screened for rubella antibodies. Seropositivity rates, increasing with age, appeared quite heterogenous among subjects living in different villages.

Specific antibody patterns over a two-year period after rubella immunization with RA 27/3 live attenuated vaccine.

Screening for rubella antibodies was carried out on 1557 schoolgirls aged 9-20. Of seronegative subjects 70% (442/631) were immunized with RA 27/3 rubella vaccine and some of the vaccinees underwent a serological and clinical follow-up over a two year period. Adverse reactions occurred in 27% of vaccinees, usually 1-2 weeks after immunization; late reactions were never observed.

[Comparison of methods for the identification of Campylobacter pylori in gastric biopsies of patients with dyspepsia].

Campylobacter pylori has been associated with gastro-duodenal inflammatory disease. Ninety-five adults with dyspepsia were examined for the presence of C. pylori in the gastric antrum and near gastric or duodenal ulcers (when present) by means of culture, Gram and acridine orange stains, and urease activity of biopsies.

Viral childhood gastroenteritis.

Viruses were detected in 150 hospitalized subjects with gastroenteritis during the years 1983-1984. The samples were collected on admission in the day care unit and after three and seven days. The research was carried out using electron microscopy (E.

Rubella in teenagers: epidemiology and prophylaxis in Siena, Italy.

Six hundred and fifty-three teenagers (aged 11-13 year) living in Siena and its surroundings (Tuscany, Italy) were the sample for serological screening intended to ascertain immunity to rubella. It was found that 324 of the teenagers (49.62%) lacked antibodies and, hence, were unprotected against the infection.

A prospective etiological and clinical study on gastroenteritis in Italian children.

Stool cultures of 188 children hospitalized for gastroenteritis in a two-year period (1981-1982) yielded Salmonella in 25.5%, Campylobacter in 16.0%, and Y.

[Vaccination against rubella].

The infection caused by the rubella virus is a mild disease usually with no or rare complications in children and adults. On the contrary, intrauterine fetal infection may result in defects of the child, which may either be present at birth or become apparent later in life. Such a risk led to the preparation and use of active immunoprophylaxis against rubella in females of child-bearing age, in order to prevent congenital rubella.