Search results for "SICILY"

Suboptimal performance of APRI and FIB-4 in ruling out significant fibrosis and confirming cirrhosis in HIV/HCV co-infected and HCV mono-infected pat…

2018

Purpose: We aimed to assess the diagnostic reliability of two indirect biomarkers, APRI and FIB-4, for the staging of liver fibrosis using transient elastography (TE) as reference standard, among HIV/HCV co-infected and HCV mono-infected patients. Methods: This is an observational, retrospective study on subjects who had access to the RESIST HCV from October 2013 to December 2016, a regional network encompassing 22 hospitals and academic centers throughout Sicily. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of indirect biomarkers for liver stiffness measurement (LSM) < 9.5 kPa (significant fibrosis) and LSM ≥ 12.5 kPa (cirrhosis) were determined by receiver operator characteristics …

HCV viraemia is more important than genotype as a predictor of response to interferon in sicily (Southern Italy)

1996

Abstract Background/Aims: To investigate host- and virus-related factors predictive of early and sustained alanine aminotransferase normalization after interferon therapy for HCV-related chronic liver disease, in an area where genotype 1 is highly prevalent. Methods: We studied 100 patients with HCV-RNA positive chronic liver disease (73 chronic hepatitis and 27 cirrhosis) undergoing alpha-interferon treatment. Thirty-four patients had an early response but relapsed, 15 patients remained into sustained response for at least 12 months after therapy, and 51 patients did not respond. Serum HCV-RNA levels were assessed by bDNA (Chiron), and genotype by LiPA (Innogenetics) and by sequencing of t…

Characterization of measles virus strains circulating in Southern Italy (Palermo area, Sicily) between 2010 and 2011

2015

Measles virus (MV) was classified in 24 genotypes that show a distinct geographic distribution. Genotypes contain multiple distinct lineages. In 2011 large outbreaks of measles occurred in Italy and in many European countries. Aims of this study are to analyze the intra-genotype variability and to follow the importation and the spread of new MV strains in Sicily. A fragment of 450. bps of MV C-terminal nucleoprotein was sequenced from sera of 73 Sicilian patients with symptomatic measles infections, occurred between 2010 and 2011. Five MV strains were D4 genotype and 68 were D8 genotype. The MV/D4 sequences were related to MV/D4-Enfield variant. Two lineages of MV/D8 genotypes, related to M…

Determinants of influenza vaccination among solid organ transplant recipients attending Sicilian reference center

2016

Among solid organ transplant recipients, influenza infection is commonly associated with higher morbidity and mortality than immunocompetent hosts. Therefore, in these subjects influenza vaccination is of paramount importance. The main objective of the study was to assess compliance to vaccination and analyze factors associated with influenza vaccination of solid organ transplant recipients admitted to the Sicilian solid organ transplant Reference Center IRCCS-ISMETT in Palermo during 2014–2015 influenza season. Thirty one (37.8%) out of 82 solid organ transplant recipients were vaccinated against influenza. The main reason for vaccination refusal was fear of adverse reaction (n = 16, 31.4%…

Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFRs) travelers and imported malaria in the Palermo district (Sicily).

2014

Abstract Introduction. Although Italy has been malaria-free since 1970, the infection is commonly introduced into the country by travelers and immigrants from endemic areas. The term VFRs refers to immigrants from malaria-endemic countries who are regularly resident in a malaria-free area, and who travel to their countries of origin to visit friends and relatives (VFRs). This group is at special risk of malaria as they are unaware of having lost their transitory immunity to the disease. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study at the International Travelers Department of Palermo (Italy), examining records of malaria cases (67) reported over the period from 1998 to 2013. Results. VFRs rep…

Unusual clinical variants of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sicily

2009

Background  The term “leishmaniasis” defines a group of vector-borne diseases caused by species of the genus Leishmania and characterized by a spectrum of clinical manifestations. Parasite properties (infectivity, pathogenicity, virulence), host factors, and host responses regulate heterogeneous disease expression. Sicily is one of the major islands of the Mediterranean Basin and is considered to be a hypo-endemic area for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Leishmania infantum is the most common species on the island. Methods  Fifty patients (both sexes and different ages) with lesions clinically suggestive of cutaneous leishmaniasis were recorded over a 1-year period. The diagnosis was based on posi…

Cardiac involvement in Friedreich's ataxia: our experience.

2009

HLA-Cw4 Association with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in Sicilian Patients

1988

The HLA frequencies of 50 Sicilian patients affected with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) were examined. The frequency of Cw4 antigen was significantly increased in patients. Thus results obtained in our homogeneous population confirm in part previous reports suggesting that Cw4-related genetic factors might be involved in the susceptibility to aetiological or pathogenetic mechanisms which play a role in some haematological malignancies.

Familiar history and predictive risk factors to type 2 diabetes: a cross sectional study in young Sicilian subjects of both sexes.

2006

Aim. For many industrialised populations, family history to type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor to the development of illness, inducing early anthropometric and metabolic modifications. Aim of this study was to confirm in Sicilian population the influence of family history to type 2 DM on anthropometric data and basal blood pressure, considering the different degrees of familiar history to illness. Methods. In a cohort of 680 young healthy Sicilian subjects (278 men and 402 women) we analysed the relations of family history degree of DM on anthropometric data, such as body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR) and triceps skinfold. Degree of family history of DM was defined as …

Gambling in nursing students of the University of Palermo.

2020

INTRODUCTION: Gambling disorder is recognized as a psychiatric disorder. It is shown that the prevalence of pathological gambling is on the rise among university students, especially involving students attending the nursing degree course. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of gambling's problem and to analyze the associated factors in the population of nursing students at the University of Palermo. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It's a cross-sectional study. In April 2019, a self-administered, anonymous and voluntary questionnaire was provided to students who attend daily lessons of the 3-years nursing degree course of University of Palermo, after they gave informed consent. The que…