The objectives of this study were to estimate frontotemporal dementia (FTD) prevalence, identify FTD-related mutations, and correlate FTD phenotype with mutations in a southern Italian population. The study population consisted of subjects ≥ 50 years of age residing in the Community of Biv. on January 1, 2004, and a door-to-door 2-phase design was used. Genetic and biochemical analyses were done on samples collected from 32 patients. Prevalence rates were 0.6 for Alzheimer's disease, 0.4 for vascular dementia (VD), 3.5 for FTD, 0.2 for Parkinson dementia, and 1.2 for unspecified dementia. Three GRN (1 known and 2 novel) mutations with reduced plasma protein levels were found associated to 3 distinct phenotypes (behavioral, affective, and delirious type). We report an unusually high FTD prevalence in the investigated population, but a low prevalence of Alzheimer's disease. We confirm the heterogeneity of FTD phenotype associated with different GRN mutations.
The epidemiological profile of HCV infection is evolving in Europe, as well as in Italy. We have previously showed genotype distributions and their dynamics in 2,153 HCV RNA positive patients living in Calabria, Southern Italy, over 11 years. In this study, we extend and update this information by evaluating a hospital-based cohort of 945 HCV RNA positive patients attending five hospitals in the Calabria Region from January 2011 to August 2013. We assessed rates of HCV genotypes according to age and gender and the dynamics of HCV genotype distribution over the 3-year period studied. Data showed that genotype 1b is the most prevalent, followed by subtypes 2a/2c and genotype 3. Genotype 4 exhibited an increase between 2011 and 2013. Also, we found a significant decrease in the median age of subjects infected with HCV genotype 3 and 4 during the period studied. Since HCV genotypes are important in epidemiology, pathogenesis and response to antiviral therapy, a continuous epidemiological surveillance is needed.
BackgroundAlthough analysis of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype spread in a particular area has a crucial impact on public health and prevention programmes, there is a lack of epidemiological data regarding HPV in the Calabria region of Italy. We therefore update information on HPV age/genotype distribution by retrospectively analysing a cohort of women, with and without cervical lesions, living in Calabria, who underwent HPV DNA testing; moreover, we also evaluated HPV age/genotype distribution in a subset of patients with cervical lesions.MethodsCervical scrape specimens obtained from 9590 women (age range 20–75 years) from January 2010 to December 2015 were tested for HPV DNA. Viral types were genotyped by Linear Array HPV Genotyping® test (Roche, USA) at the Clinical Microbiology Operative Unit of six hospitals located in four provinces of the Calabria region.Cervical scrape specimens were also used to perform Pap smears for cytological analysis in a subset of 405 women; cytological classification of the samples was performed according to the Bethesda classification system.ResultsA total of 2974 women (31%) (C.I. 95% 30.09–31.94) were found to be HPV DNA positive for at least one (57.3%) or several (42.7%) HPV genotypes. Of single genotype HPV infections, 46.5% and 36.4 % were classed as high-risk (HR, Group 1) and low-risk (LR, Group 3) respectively, while 16.9% were classed as probably/possibly carcinogenic and 0.2% undetermined risk. Stratified by age, total HPV distribution, showed the highest prevalence within the range 30–39 years (37.2%), while single genotype infection distribution displayed a peak in women from the age range 20–29 years (37.5%). The most common high-risk HPV type was HPV 16 (19.1%), followed by HPV 31 (9.1%).ConclusionsWe provide epidemiological data on HPV age/genotype distribution in women living in the Calabria region with or without cytological abnormalities, further to the enhancement of HPV screening/prevention programmes for the local population.
QuantiFERON ® TB GOLD' s applications in the tuberculosis disease.Background. Tuberculosis is the most frequent cause of death from a single infectious agent in humans and remains a serious global health problem. The latent tuberculosis (LTBI) treatment can prevent progression to active disease. People infected with LTBI are a dangerous reservoir, since any immunosuppressive factor can cause a reactivation of Mycobacterium leading to overt disease. Recent production and introduction into the healthcare system, on the other hand, are the IGRAs (Interferon-Gamma Release Assay).Materials and Methods. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold test is an ELISA assay of IFN-γ produced by sensitized lymphocytes that allows to overcome some limitations of Mantoux test, being an in vitro test with specific antigens for M. tuberculosis. In the present study we examined a population of 150 patients tested with the Mantoux test and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold test. The patients were divided into categories (contacts of the case, immigrants, health care personnel, and immunocompromised subjects in biological therapy).Results. The analysis of the obtained results from the comparison of the two tests showed a good concordance rate (47.3%) in the case of double positivity and detected the highest percentage of discrepancy in the profile QuantiFERON negative/Mantoux positive.Conclusions. Our results allow to state that remains valid and effective use of the QuantiFERON test, provided it is flanked by the Mantoux test and a medical history of patients.
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