1,721,023 research outputs found
Malattie infettive del viaggiatore: principali aspetti epidemiologici e preventivi.
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Response of influenza vaccines against heterovariant influenza virus strains in adults with chronic diseases
No full textThe ability of influenza vaccination to provide cross-protection against heterovariant influenza strains was evaluated in a double-blind, randomized, trial in north-east Italy during the winter of 2005-2006. Of 238 adult subjects with underlying chronic diseases, 120 received MF59-adjuvanted subunit vaccine (Sub/MF59) and 118 received a conventional subunit vaccine (Subunit). Immunogenicity was measured for A/H3N2 and B influenza strains against both the homologous vaccine strains (A/New York/55/2004 and B/Jiangsu/10/2003), and the heterovariant strains recommended for the 2006-2007 season (A/Wisconsin/67/2005 and B/Malaysia/2506/2004). Although both vaccines conferred serological protection against the homologous vaccine strains and the 2006-2007 heterovariant A/H3N2 strain for a majority of subjects, the antibody response was highest in the Sub/MF59 vaccine group. For example, MF59-adjuvanted vaccination conferred significantly greater (P = 0.002) protection against the heterovariant A/H3N2 strain than the conventional subunit vaccine (79.2% vs. 61.0% of subjects, respectively). In conclusion, these results demonstrate that protection provided by influenza vaccination in adults affected by chronic diseases is lower against heterovariant strains than for homologous strains. However, addition of MF59 adjuvant to a subunit vaccine enhances immunogenicity against the A/H3N2 heterovariant strain, conferring broader protection than a conventional subunit vaccine in this population, who are at higher risk of influenza-related complications
Prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus the elderly: a seroepidemiological study in a nursing home and in an open population. T collaborative Group.
No full textBACKGROUND:
The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) increases in the general population with advancing age. Several discrepancies exist in the epidemiology of HCV, however, when selected elderly population groups are tested.
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the HCV prevalence in two groups of elderly people living in the same geopgraphical area of northeast Italy, i.e., one including residents of a nursing home, the other including subjects living at home.
METHODS:
The overall sample included 496 subjects (mean age 79.31 +/- 8.9 years); 288 were in a nursing home, and 208 were living at home. Enrollment in the latter group was based on all subjects over 65 years old listed under the public health service in the same district. The overall rate of adhesion to the study was 90%. Each subject was administered an anonymous questionnaire testing sociodemographic data and risk factors for HCV infection. Serological tests included: anti-HCV and hepatitis B virus serum markers. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for anti-HCV positivity.
RESULTS:
Anti-HCV positivity was found in 34 of 288 (11.8%) elderly in the nursing home and in 23 of 208 (11.1%) in the open population. When the total population was considered, females exhibited a significantly a higher prevalence of anti-HCV than males (13.4 vs. 7.5%, p < 0.05). In both males and females, the highers rate of anti-HCV prevalence was found among the 75- to 79-year-old subjects. A decline in anti-HCV prevalence was observed in the very old subjects (over 80 years of age). None of the anti-HCV-positive subjects was found to be coinfected with hepatitis B surface antigen. However, multiple logistic regression analysis identified the age group between 70 and 79 years, female gender, and positivity for antihepatitis B surface antigen and/or antihepatitis B core antigen as independent variables significantly associated with HCV prevalence.
CONCLUSIONS:
The prevalence of anti-HCV proved identical among elderly people living in the nursing home or at home, suggesting that nursing homes do not represent a risk factor for HCV infections; the significant association between HCV prevalence and antihepatitis B surface antigen and/or antihepatitis B core antigen positivity supports a common route of transmission of the two viruses; these findings would suggest that there was an epidemic of HCV infection during the Second World War and in the years immediately afterwards
Response to influenza vaccine in people with non-protective HI antibody titers.
No full textThe purpose of the study was to determine which factors correlate directly with response to vaccination in such a group of subjects with non-protective HI antibody titers before vaccination. Two vaccines were used, a subunit virus vaccine adjuvanted with MF59 and a split virus vaccine. The analysis indicated that immunization with vaccine adjuvanted with MF59 was an independent variable for immune response against A/H3N2 (OR: 3.51; 95% CI: 1.81-6.79) and B (OR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.37-3.89). The results suggest that antibody response to vaccine is satisfactory in elderly people previously lacking a protective antibody titer, and that the adjuvanted vaccine reveals a better immunogenicity
Object oriented influence diagram fo cost effectiveness analysis of influenza vaccination in the elderly population.
No full textnfluenza infection is a major cause of illness, morbidity and mortality throughout the world, mainly amongst the elderly. Since vaccination has proven to be effective in the reduction of all acute complications, deciding whether to implement a vaccination campaign and which vaccine to prescribe is an important task. The aim of this review is to build a decision model, which allows the decision makers to evaluate the possible results under different scenarios, and to choose the decision associated with the highest expected utility. The analysis is based on Bayesian networks methodology. Vaccination is more effective in the long run and is cost saving compared with the null option. Moreover, the innovative MF59 adjuvanted flu vaccine proves to be cost effective with respect to standard vaccine
Complement fixing antibody to varicella-zoster virus in different age groups and after zoster
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