Pietro Amoroso - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Pietro Amoroso

I INTRODUZIONE L a malaria è tra le malattie trasmesse da vet-tori quella di maggiore prevalenza ... more I INTRODUZIONE L a malaria è tra le malattie trasmesse da vet-tori quella di maggiore prevalenza a livel-lo mondiale ed è responsabile di circa 300/500 milioni di casi e di oltre due milioni di morti all'anno [1]. E' ormai dal 1970 che, grazie alla campagna di eradicazione effettuata l'Italia, al pari del resto dell'Europa, possiede la certificazione di paese indenne da parte della Organizzazione Mon-diale della Sanità. Al contrario che nei Paesi Europei, nei Paesi tro-picali Africani ed Asiatici si è assistito ad un fal-limento delle campagne di eradicazione [2], e ciò per vari motivi di ordine epidemiologico e so-ciale fra i quali:-il clima caldo-umido che favorisce l'espleta-mento del ciclo sporogonico nell'insetto vetto-re [3];-la bionomia dei vettori anofelinici e soprattut-to le loro seguenti caratteristiche: esofilia, esofagia, antropofilia e la resistenza al DDT di oltre 50 spe-cie [4, 5];-situazioni socio-economiche delle popolazioni endemiche: guerr...

PloS one, 2016

Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in... more Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and l...

Xenotransplantation, 2005

Currently a number of bioartificial livers (BAL) based on porcine liver cells have been developed... more Currently a number of bioartificial livers (BAL) based on porcine liver cells have been developed as a treatment to bridge acute liver failure patients to orthotopic liver transplantation or liver regeneration. These xenotransplantation related treatments hold the risk of infection of treated patients by porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) released from the porcine cells, as in vitro infection experiments and transplantations in immunocompromised mice have shown that PERV is able to infect human cells. The Academic Medical Center (AMC)-BAL, unlike other BALs, is characterized by direct contact between porcine liver cells and human plasma, and might therefore be permissive for PERV transfer. Prior to a clinical phase I trial, human plasma perfused through the AMC-BAL was investigated for PERV DNA and RNA. Moreover productive infectivity was analyzed by exposing the plasma to HEK-293 cells that were subsequently tested for PERV DNA, PERV RNA and reverse transcriptase activity. Although PERV DNA was detected in the perfused plasma, no productive infectivity was detected. Consequently fourteen patients were treated with the AMC-BAL and monitored for PERV transmission. Immediately after treatment the plasma of the patients was positive for PERV DNA, most probably due to porcine liver cell lysis. The PERV DNA was cleared within 2 weeks post-treatment and no PERV RNA was detected. No productive infectivity in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells exposed to plasma of treated patients was detectable. To conclude, no release of infective PERV particles from the AMC-BAL was observed. Therefore we consider the AMC-BAL as safe, however careful surveillance of patients will be continued.

Recenti progressi in medicina, 2001

The impact of infections in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is remarkable. Studies have sh... more The impact of infections in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is remarkable. Studies have shown that about 60% of patient may develop at least 1 infectious episode during the first 3 months after transplant. Within the frame of a Finalized Research Project of the Italian Ministry of Health, during the year 2000 a group of investigators belonging to the major Italian Liver Transplant Centers (LTC) - 18 out of 20 Centers - met three times in Genoa with the aim of constituting a Research Group aimed at improving our knowledge of infectious complications in liver transplant recipients (PITF = Program of Infections in Liver Transplantation). The group first collected information about anti-infective procedure in LTC. The study shows that no Center is supported by a Intensive Care Unit (ICU) exclusively dedicated to the LTC, although 37% of them have a partially dedicated Unit. Surveillance cultures are routinely performed and are frequently used to adress the choice of the antibacte...

Transplantation Proceedings, 2001

... Title, Functional evaluation of the AMC-BAL to be employed in a multicentric clinical trial f... more ... Title, Functional evaluation of the AMC-BAL to be employed in a multicentric clinical trial for acute liver failure. Published in, TRANSPLANT P, Vol. 33, p.647-649. Author, Calise, F.; Mancini, A.; Amoroso, P.; Belli, A.; Bracco, A.; Ceriello, A.; Florio, di E.; Nicuolo, di G.; Martino, di A ...

Cell Transplantation, 2003

Recently a phase I clinical trial has been started in Italy to bridge patients with acute liver f... more Recently a phase I clinical trial has been started in Italy to bridge patients with acute liver failure (ALF) to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) by the AMC-bioartificial liver (AMC-BAL). The AMC-BAL is charged with 10 x 10(9) viable primary porcine hepatocytes isolated from a specified pathogen-free (SPF) pig. Here we report a patient with ALF due to acute HBV infection. This patient was treated for 35 h by two AMC-BAL treatments and was bridged to OLT. There was improvement of biochemical and clinical parameters during the treatment. No severe adverse events were observed during treatment and follow-up of 15 months after hospital discharge. Possible porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) activity could not be detected in the patient's blood or blood cells up to 12 months after treatment.

Minerva Medica

BACKGROUND Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare but often lethal syndrome. In Italy, recent data o... more BACKGROUND Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare but often lethal syndrome. In Italy, recent data on its incidence and causes are lacking. We report here the epidemiological analysis of ALF cases observed in Campania, a Southern Italian region, over the last 25 years. METHODS Medical records of ALF cases hospitalized from 1992 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS Two hundred ten ALF cases occurred during 1992-2018: 103 (49%) hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related (including 5 cases also infected with Delta virus), 39 (19%) from undetermined cause, 36 (17%) drug-induced, 11 (5%) Wilson's disease-associated, 8 (4%) hepatitis A virus (HAV)-related and 12 (6%) from other causes. Separate time-periods analysis of data showed a significant progressive decrease in ALF incidence mainly attributable to a decline of HBV and other viruses aetiology. Already before 2010, HAV or Delta virus-related cases have no longer been observed. No hepatitis C or E virus-related ALF was detected through the study period. A progressive decrease in frequency of ALF due to undetermined causes or drug was also evident. CONCLUSIONS A decrease in ALF incidence and a changing in its aetiology were observed in Campania during 1992-2018. Both results were likely mainly due to 1991 introduction of HBV universal vaccination and may be considered generalizable nationwide.

International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Dec 1, 2014

Intestinal parasites represent a major public health problem in developing countries. In 2004, th... more Intestinal parasites represent a major public health problem in developing countries. In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 3.5 billion people, mostly in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, were infected with intestinal parasites, and that 450 million people, mainly children, had evidence of related disease. 1 Most parasites are ubiquitous, and until a few decades ago, Italy was also considered to be an endemic area for some of them. Indeed, before the year 2000, different studies reported the circulation of numerous protozoa and helminths in our country (e.g. Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia duodenalis, Dientamoeba fragilis, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis, Ancylostoma duodenale, Ascaris lumbricoides, Hymenolepis nana, Taenia saginata/Taenia solium, Echinococcus granulosus, and Enterobius vermicularis), some of which are associated with major illnesses. 2-5 The current opinion is that the incidence of intestinal parasitosis in Italy is low, with only sporadic cases identified, while the occurrence of disease outbreaks represents a rare event.

World Journal of Hepatology, 2016

All authors of CLEO study group equally contributed to conception and design of the study, acquis... more All authors of CLEO study group equally contributed to conception and design of the study, acquisition of data, review the draft, and approved the final version. Institutional review board statement: The study was reviewed and approved by the CLEO Governing Board. Informed consent statement: All study participants, or their legal representative, provided verbal informed consent prior to study enrolment as decided by the CLEO Governing Board and according to the local rules.

Research in …, 1998

A revision of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) core procedure was performed for genotyping hep... more A revision of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) core procedure was performed for genotyping hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 139 patients from Italy. This procedure, developed prior to the identification of new genotypes, may be inadequate in several geographical areas. We proposed a new typing mixture in which primers for types 2c and 4, that are reported to be circulating in ltaly, were added and a primer for type 2b was substituted. Using the modified procedure, 139 HCV-positive patients were analysed. The HCV genotype was identified in 96.4% of the cases. We observed double infections and unclassified genotypes in 5 (3.6%) and 5 (3.6%) patients, respectively. The classification of isolates into genotypes and subtypes 2b, 2c and 4 was confirmed by sequence analysis. Furthermore, the efficiency and accuracy of the modified core procedure were evaluated by parallel testing of 107 out of 139 samples using the line probe assay, and demonstrated a 98.9% degree of concordance. The results demonstrated the specificity of the selected primers for type 2c, 2b and 4 and confirmed the circulation of types 2c and 4 in Italy. In conclusion, the proposed modified PCR procedure is the only primer-specific PCR genotyping method available for identification of the 2c and 4 genotypes reported to be circulated in ltaly and other European countries.

The Lancet, 1999

Hepatitis A vaccine for secondary hepatitis A infection. By - Alfonso Mele, Tommaso Stroffolini, ... more Hepatitis A vaccine for secondary hepatitis A infection. By - Alfonso Mele, Tommaso Stroffolini, Luciano Sagliocca, Pietro Amoroso.

Journal of …, 1998

Results:The majority of cases presented hepatitis C virus infection of substype 1a (38.1%) or 1b ... more Results:The majority of cases presented hepatitis C virus infection of substype 1a (38.1%) or 1b (33.9%). Six cases showed the presence of genotype 3a (14.3%). Subtype 2c was observed in three out of four cases infected with genotype 2. No significant association was ...

Hepatology, 2004

We read with great interest the recent article by Kugelmas et al., 1 reporting plasma cytokine le... more We read with great interest the recent article by Kugelmas et al., 1 reporting plasma cytokine levels in patients with NASH and the effect of diet and vitamin E on this disease. They found that plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 8, and interleukin 6 concentrations were significantly elevated compared with control values, and only plasma interleukin 6 levels significantly decreased with diet therapy. This article further reported that vitamin E therapy did not independently influence the biochemical data and plasma cytokine levels in patients with NASH. We previously investigated the plasma transforming growth factor-␤1 (TGF-␤1) level and the efficacy of vitamin E in patients with NASH. 2 We enrolled 12 patients with NASH and 10 with fatty liver. All patients were given dietary instruction for 6 months, and thereafter vitamin E (␣-tocopherol acetate, Juvera™, Eisai Pharmaceutical Co., Tokyo, Japan, 300 mg/day; 100 mg is equivalent to 100 IU) was given for 1 year. In consequence, the plasma TGF-␤1 level in patients with NASH (37 Ϯ 5 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in patients with fatty liver (10 Ϯ 4 ng/ml) and healthy subjects (9 Ϯ 5 ng/ml). Moreover, this elevated plasma TGF-␤1 level decreased after a 1-year vitamin E treatment, together with the improvement of biochemical markers and hepatic pathological findings (Table 1). In 5 out of 9 NSAH patients in whom liver biopsy was performed after vitamin E treatment, inflammation and fibrosis were improved. On the other hand, diet therapy improved biochemical data only in patients with fatty liver, but not in those with NASH. We conducted our previous study to assess the efficacy of a long-term vitamin E treatment (a 1-year vitamin E administration after a 6-month diet). However, in the studies performed by Kugelmas et al., 1 vitamin E was given for only 12 weeks and the patients were given diet therapy at the same time. In fact, Kugelmas et al. 1 mentioned that longer study duration might have shown the efficacy of vitamin E on NASH. However, we had already reported the efficacy of a 12-month treatment of vitamin E on NASH. Moreover, long-term treatment with vitamin E for patients with NASH was tried for obese children and Japanese adults, and the beneficial effect of this vitamin has already been confirmed. 3,4 In addition, the NIH plans to conduct randomized controlled trials of insulin-sensitizing agents and vitamin E therapy for NASH. 5 Although the role of tumor necrosis factor is currently debated in the literature, 6,7 elevated blood level of TGF-␤ has recently been ascertained. 8 The role of TGF-␤1 in hepatic inflammation and fibrosis has been well documented in both animal and clinical studies. 9,10 Therefore, for better understanding of the cytokine network in NASH, we believe that the investigation of plasma TGF-␤1 is essential, as well as long-term observation of vitamin E treatment.

La responsabilità dei dati scientifici e tecnici è dei singoli autori.

Cell Transplantation, 2003

Recently a phase I clinical trial has been started in Italy to bridge patients with acute liver f... more Recently a phase I clinical trial has been started in Italy to bridge patients with acute liver failure (ALF) to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) by the AMC-bioartificial liver (AMC-BAL). The AMC-BAL is charged with 10 x 10(9) viable primary porcine hepatocytes isolated from a specified pathogen-free (SPF) pig. Here we report a patient with ALF due to acute HBV infection. This patient was treated for 35 h by two AMC-BAL treatments and was bridged to OLT. There was improvement of biochemical and clinical parameters during the treatment. No severe adverse events were observed during treatment and follow-up of 15 months after hospital discharge. Possible porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) activity could not be detected in the patient&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s blood or blood cells up to 12 months after treatment.

Journal of Hepatology, 1998

Forty-two patients with the diagnosis of acute hepatitis C virus hepatitis were studied to invest... more Forty-two patients with the diagnosis of acute hepatitis C virus hepatitis were studied to investigate the relationship between hepatitis C virus genotype and progression to chronic infection. The patients were followed for more than 1 year (mean age 29 years, male/female ratio 2.5). Intravenous drug use was documented in 15 cases, blood transfusion in four, surgical intervention, dental therapy or other parenteral exposure in 15, and unknown factors in the remaining eight. The evolution to chronicity was diagnosed on the basis of a persistent increase in transaminase levels, the presence of HCV-RNA and the histological pattern of chronic hepatitis. The majority of cases presented hepatitis C virus infection of subtype 1a (38.1%) or 1b (33.9%). Six cases showed the presence of genotype 3a (14.3%). Subtype 2c was observed in three out of four cases infected with genotype 2. No significant association was demonstrated with documented risk factors. The overall chronicity rate was 59.5%. This value increased to 92% in individuals infected with genotype 1b. By multivariate analysis the age-adjusted odds ratio for infection with genotype 1b as compared with all other genotypes was 14.4 (95% confidence interval; 1.52-137). Moreover, significant differences (p= 0.0002) were present in this group for histological activity index (8.7 as compared with 5-7). The results of this prospective study are consistent with an independent association between hepatitis C virus genotype 1b and a poor prognosis.

Hepatology, 2004

We read with great interest the recent article by Kugelmas et al., 1 reporting plasma cytokine le... more We read with great interest the recent article by Kugelmas et al., 1 reporting plasma cytokine levels in patients with NASH and the effect of diet and vitamin E on this disease. They found that plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 8, and interleukin 6 concentrations were significantly elevated compared with control values, and only plasma interleukin 6 levels significantly decreased with diet therapy. This article further reported that vitamin E therapy did not independently influence the biochemical data and plasma cytokine levels in patients with NASH. We previously investigated the plasma transforming growth factor-␤1 (TGF-␤1) level and the efficacy of vitamin E in patients with NASH. 2 We enrolled 12 patients with NASH and 10 with fatty liver. All patients were given dietary instruction for 6 months, and thereafter vitamin E (␣-tocopherol acetate, Juvera™, Eisai Pharmaceutical Co., Tokyo, Japan, 300 mg/day; 100 mg is equivalent to 100 IU) was given for 1 year. In consequence, the plasma TGF-␤1 level in patients with NASH (37 Ϯ 5 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in patients with fatty liver (10 Ϯ 4 ng/ml) and healthy subjects (9 Ϯ 5 ng/ml). Moreover, this elevated plasma TGF-␤1 level decreased after a 1-year vitamin E treatment, together with the improvement of biochemical markers and hepatic pathological findings ). In 5 out of 9 NSAH patients in whom liver biopsy was performed after vitamin E treatment, inflammation and fibrosis were improved. On the other hand, diet therapy improved biochemical data only in patients with fatty liver, but not in those with NASH. We conducted our previous study to assess the efficacy of a long-term vitamin E treatment (a 1-year vitamin E administration after a 6-month diet). However, in the studies performed by Kugelmas et al., 1 vitamin E was given for only 12 weeks and the patients were given diet therapy at the same time. In fact, Kugelmas et al. 1 mentioned that longer study duration might have shown the efficacy of vitamin E on NASH. However, we had already reported the efficacy of a 12-month treatment of vitamin E on NASH. Moreover, long-term treatment with vitamin E for patients with NASH was tried for obese children and Japanese adults, and the beneficial effect of this vitamin has already been confirmed. 3,4 In addition, the NIH plans to conduct randomized controlled trials of insulin-sensitizing agents and vitamin E therapy for NASH. 5 Although the role of tumor necrosis factor is currently debated in the literature, 6,7 elevated blood level of TGF-␤ has recently been ascertained. 8 The role of TGF-␤1 in hepatic inflammation and fibrosis has been well documented in both animal and clinical studies. 9,10 Therefore, for better understanding of the cytokine network in NASH, we believe that the investigation of plasma TGF-␤1 is essential, as well as long-term observation of vitamin E treatment.

PloS one, 2016

Xenotransplantation, 2005

Recenti progressi in medicina, 2001

Transplantation Proceedings, 2001

Cell Transplantation, 2003

Minerva Medica

International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Dec 1, 2014

World Journal of Hepatology, 2016

Research in …, 1998

The Lancet, 1999

Journal of …, 1998

Hepatology, 2004

La responsabilità dei dati scientifici e tecnici è dei singoli autori.

Cell Transplantation, 2003

Recently a phase I clinical trial has been started in Italy to bridge patients with acute liver f... more Recently a phase I clinical trial has been started in Italy to bridge patients with acute liver failure (ALF) to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) by the AMC-bioartificial liver (AMC-BAL). The AMC-BAL is charged with 10 x 10(9) viable primary porcine hepatocytes isolated from a specified pathogen-free (SPF) pig. Here we report a patient with ALF due to acute HBV infection. This patient was treated for 35 h by two AMC-BAL treatments and was bridged to OLT. There was improvement of biochemical and clinical parameters during the treatment. No severe adverse events were observed during treatment and follow-up of 15 months after hospital discharge. Possible porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) activity could not be detected in the patient&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s blood or blood cells up to 12 months after treatment.

Journal of Hepatology, 1998

Hepatology, 2004

We read with great interest the recent article by Kugelmas et al., 1 reporting plasma cytokine le... more We read with great interest the recent article by Kugelmas et al., 1 reporting plasma cytokine levels in patients with NASH and the effect of diet and vitamin E on this disease. They found that plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 8, and interleukin 6 concentrations were significantly elevated compared with control values, and only plasma interleukin 6 levels significantly decreased with diet therapy. This article further reported that vitamin E therapy did not independently influence the biochemical data and plasma cytokine levels in patients with NASH. We previously investigated the plasma transforming growth factor-␤1 (TGF-␤1) level and the efficacy of vitamin E in patients with NASH. 2 We enrolled 12 patients with NASH and 10 with fatty liver. All patients were given dietary instruction for 6 months, and thereafter vitamin E (␣-tocopherol acetate, Juvera™, Eisai Pharmaceutical Co., Tokyo, Japan, 300 mg/day; 100 mg is equivalent to 100 IU) was given for 1 year. In consequence, the plasma TGF-␤1 level in patients with NASH (37 Ϯ 5 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in patients with fatty liver (10 Ϯ 4 ng/ml) and healthy subjects (9 Ϯ 5 ng/ml). Moreover, this elevated plasma TGF-␤1 level decreased after a 1-year vitamin E treatment, together with the improvement of biochemical markers and hepatic pathological findings ). In 5 out of 9 NSAH patients in whom liver biopsy was performed after vitamin E treatment, inflammation and fibrosis were improved. On the other hand, diet therapy improved biochemical data only in patients with fatty liver, but not in those with NASH. We conducted our previous study to assess the efficacy of a long-term vitamin E treatment (a 1-year vitamin E administration after a 6-month diet). However, in the studies performed by Kugelmas et al., 1 vitamin E was given for only 12 weeks and the patients were given diet therapy at the same time. In fact, Kugelmas et al. 1 mentioned that longer study duration might have shown the efficacy of vitamin E on NASH. However, we had already reported the efficacy of a 12-month treatment of vitamin E on NASH. Moreover, long-term treatment with vitamin E for patients with NASH was tried for obese children and Japanese adults, and the beneficial effect of this vitamin has already been confirmed. 3,4 In addition, the NIH plans to conduct randomized controlled trials of insulin-sensitizing agents and vitamin E therapy for NASH. 5 Although the role of tumor necrosis factor is currently debated in the literature, 6,7 elevated blood level of TGF-␤ has recently been ascertained. 8 The role of TGF-␤1 in hepatic inflammation and fibrosis has been well documented in both animal and clinical studies. 9,10 Therefore, for better understanding of the cytokine network in NASH, we believe that the investigation of plasma TGF-␤1 is essential, as well as long-term observation of vitamin E treatment.