Domenico Ronga - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Domenico Ronga

Research paper thumbnail of The rising health and economic burden of chronic hepatitis C

Journal of Hepatology, 2004

oral glucose tolerance testing and quantitative insulin sensitivity check indices were performed ... more oral glucose tolerance testing and quantitative insulin sensitivity check indices were performed on rats fed with the methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet. They report glucose intolerance in the MCD fed cohort compared to the control diet fed cohort in these preliminary data .

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Different Population Groups in Southern Italy

Infection, 2005

Background: A cross-sectional investigation was carried out between 2000 and 2002 to assess the p... more Background: A cross-sectional investigation was carried out between 2000 and 2002 to assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) in Naples, southern Italy. Patients and Methods: Five groups of individuals were investigated, two at low risk and three at high risk for HCV infection. Blood sample sera were collected among 5,391 individuals (4,059 men and 1,332 women): 1,972 general practitioner (GP) patients and 781 employees of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of Naples (low-risk groups); 524 male prisoners, 1,436 intravenous drug users (IDUs) and 678 hemodialysis patients (high-risk groups). Results: Overall HCV seropositivity rates ranged from 6.4% among employees of the NCI to 37.4% among male prisoners. HCV infection tended to generally increase with age, but in IDUs and in male prisoners the upward trend leveled off at 50 years of age. As compared to GP patients, IDUs (both sexes) and male prisoners had a nearly 6-fold increased risk of HCV infection, while HCV was nearly 3-fold more common among hemodialysis patients. Employees of NCI were at reduced risk of HCV infection, particularly women (odds ratio = 0.3). Conclusion: The study findings confirmed the high risk for HCV infection in IDUs and identified other population groups in southern Italy that should be offered HCV screening and counselling given the servere implications of HCV infection on health.

Research paper thumbnail of HCV and tumors correlated with immune system: a case-control study in an area of hyperendemicity

Leukemia Research, 2001

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a RNA virus that cannot be integrated with the host genome; it can, ho... more Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a RNA virus that cannot be integrated with the host genome; it can, however, exert its oncogenetic potential indirectly by contributing to the modulator effects of the host immune system, probably through a capacity to elude the immune system. We have carried out a case controlled study on tumors correlated with the immune system (multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin disease) and HCV, in a high prevalence area. The relationship between each cancer and HCV infection was assessed by means of odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Risks were greater for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (OR= 3.7, 95%CI, 1.9-7.4, P = 0.0001) and multiple myeloma (OR = 4.5, 95%CI, 1.9-10.7, P=0.0004). Our study is particularly important for public health, since it shows that during the coming years in the South of Italy, because of the high prevalence of HCV, there are good reasons to expect not only an increase of liver cancer, but also an increased incidence of great number of tumors correlated with the immune system.

Research paper thumbnail of HCV and cancer: a case-control study in a high-endemic area

Liver International, 2001

Background/Aims: HCV is a RNA virus that cannot be inte-Vincenzo Mettivier 6 , M. Tamburini 1 gra... more Background/Aims: HCV is a RNA virus that cannot be inte-Vincenzo Mettivier 6 , M. Tamburini 1 grated with the host genome; it can, however, exert its oncogenic potenand Oreste Cuomo 5 tial indirectly by contributing to the modulatory effects of the host immune system, probably through a capacity to elude the immune system.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Different Population Groups in Southern Italy

Infection, 2005

A cross-sectional investigation was carried out between 2000 and 2002 to assess the prevalence of... more A cross-sectional investigation was carried out between 2000 and 2002 to assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) in Naples, southern Italy. Patients and Methods: Five groups of individuals were investigated, two at low risk and three at high risk for HCV infection. Blood sample sera were collected among 5,391 individuals (4,059 men and 1,332 women): 1,972 general practitioner (GP) patients and 781 employees of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of Naples (low-risk groups); 524 male prisoners, 1,436 intravenous drug users (IDUs) and 678 hemodialysis patients (high-risk groups). Results: Overall HCV seropositivity rates ranged from 6.4% among employees of the NCI to 37.4% among male prisoners. HCV infection tended to generally increase with age, but in IDUs and in male prisoners the upward trend leveled off at 50 years of age. As compared to GP patients, IDUs (both sexes) and male prisoners had a nearly 6-fold increased risk of HCV infection, while HCV was nearly 3-fold more common among hemodialysis patients. Employees of NCI were at reduced risk of HCV infection, particularly women (odds ratio = 0.3).

Research paper thumbnail of An assessment of hepatitis C virus infection among health-care workers of the National Cancer Institute of Naples, Southern Italy

European Journal of Public Health, 2005

Background: As many people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are asymptomatic, HCV i... more Background: As many people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are asymptomatic, HCV infection could spread easily among the health-care workers of the National Cancer Institute of Naples (especially before the identification of HCV and in the absence of good, effective preventative measures, e.g. sterile syringe use, gloves, protective glasses). Methods: In order to determine whether there is a transmission risk for HCV infection from patient to health-care worker, we carried out a cross-sectional study of a cohort of National Cancer Institute health-care workers in Naples, Southern Italy. Results: The x 2 -test was not significant; we did not find any significant risk for HCV in the 'other untrained staff' group [odds ratio (OR) 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4-10.9] or in the health-care workers group (OR 1.6; 95% CI 0.4-7.0). In the health-care worker subgroups, doctors were the reference category because of the low prevalence of HCV in this subgroup (3.3%). A non-significant association was found in the professional nurses group (OR 2.7; 95% CI 0.8-8.8), as well as in the categories of technicians and biologists. Conclusions: No excessive risk was found among the health-care workers as a whole or among the different categories of personnel, confirming that health-care employees have benefited sufficiently from preventative measures.

Research paper thumbnail of Is hepatitis C virus infection associated with thyroid cancer? A case-control study

International Journal of Cancer, 2000

Some have reported an increased risk of auto-immune thyroid disease in hepatitis C virus (HCV) an... more Some have reported an increased risk of auto-immune thyroid disease in hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HBV and in interferon therapy . A new link between HCV and thyroid cancer has been reported .

Research paper thumbnail of The rising health and economic burden of chronic hepatitis C

Journal of Hepatology, 2004

oral glucose tolerance testing and quantitative insulin sensitivity check indices were performed ... more oral glucose tolerance testing and quantitative insulin sensitivity check indices were performed on rats fed with the methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet. They report glucose intolerance in the MCD fed cohort compared to the control diet fed cohort in these preliminary data .

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Different Population Groups in Southern Italy

Infection, 2005

Background: A cross-sectional investigation was carried out between 2000 and 2002 to assess the p... more Background: A cross-sectional investigation was carried out between 2000 and 2002 to assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) in Naples, southern Italy. Patients and Methods: Five groups of individuals were investigated, two at low risk and three at high risk for HCV infection. Blood sample sera were collected among 5,391 individuals (4,059 men and 1,332 women): 1,972 general practitioner (GP) patients and 781 employees of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of Naples (low-risk groups); 524 male prisoners, 1,436 intravenous drug users (IDUs) and 678 hemodialysis patients (high-risk groups). Results: Overall HCV seropositivity rates ranged from 6.4% among employees of the NCI to 37.4% among male prisoners. HCV infection tended to generally increase with age, but in IDUs and in male prisoners the upward trend leveled off at 50 years of age. As compared to GP patients, IDUs (both sexes) and male prisoners had a nearly 6-fold increased risk of HCV infection, while HCV was nearly 3-fold more common among hemodialysis patients. Employees of NCI were at reduced risk of HCV infection, particularly women (odds ratio = 0.3). Conclusion: The study findings confirmed the high risk for HCV infection in IDUs and identified other population groups in southern Italy that should be offered HCV screening and counselling given the servere implications of HCV infection on health.

Research paper thumbnail of HCV and tumors correlated with immune system: a case-control study in an area of hyperendemicity

Leukemia Research, 2001

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a RNA virus that cannot be integrated with the host genome; it can, ho... more Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a RNA virus that cannot be integrated with the host genome; it can, however, exert its oncogenetic potential indirectly by contributing to the modulator effects of the host immune system, probably through a capacity to elude the immune system. We have carried out a case controlled study on tumors correlated with the immune system (multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin disease) and HCV, in a high prevalence area. The relationship between each cancer and HCV infection was assessed by means of odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Risks were greater for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (OR= 3.7, 95%CI, 1.9-7.4, P = 0.0001) and multiple myeloma (OR = 4.5, 95%CI, 1.9-10.7, P=0.0004). Our study is particularly important for public health, since it shows that during the coming years in the South of Italy, because of the high prevalence of HCV, there are good reasons to expect not only an increase of liver cancer, but also an increased incidence of great number of tumors correlated with the immune system.

Research paper thumbnail of HCV and cancer: a case-control study in a high-endemic area

Liver International, 2001

Background/Aims: HCV is a RNA virus that cannot be inte-Vincenzo Mettivier 6 , M. Tamburini 1 gra... more Background/Aims: HCV is a RNA virus that cannot be inte-Vincenzo Mettivier 6 , M. Tamburini 1 grated with the host genome; it can, however, exert its oncogenic potenand Oreste Cuomo 5 tial indirectly by contributing to the modulatory effects of the host immune system, probably through a capacity to elude the immune system.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Different Population Groups in Southern Italy

Infection, 2005

A cross-sectional investigation was carried out between 2000 and 2002 to assess the prevalence of... more A cross-sectional investigation was carried out between 2000 and 2002 to assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) in Naples, southern Italy. Patients and Methods: Five groups of individuals were investigated, two at low risk and three at high risk for HCV infection. Blood sample sera were collected among 5,391 individuals (4,059 men and 1,332 women): 1,972 general practitioner (GP) patients and 781 employees of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of Naples (low-risk groups); 524 male prisoners, 1,436 intravenous drug users (IDUs) and 678 hemodialysis patients (high-risk groups). Results: Overall HCV seropositivity rates ranged from 6.4% among employees of the NCI to 37.4% among male prisoners. HCV infection tended to generally increase with age, but in IDUs and in male prisoners the upward trend leveled off at 50 years of age. As compared to GP patients, IDUs (both sexes) and male prisoners had a nearly 6-fold increased risk of HCV infection, while HCV was nearly 3-fold more common among hemodialysis patients. Employees of NCI were at reduced risk of HCV infection, particularly women (odds ratio = 0.3).

Research paper thumbnail of An assessment of hepatitis C virus infection among health-care workers of the National Cancer Institute of Naples, Southern Italy

European Journal of Public Health, 2005

Background: As many people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are asymptomatic, HCV i... more Background: As many people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are asymptomatic, HCV infection could spread easily among the health-care workers of the National Cancer Institute of Naples (especially before the identification of HCV and in the absence of good, effective preventative measures, e.g. sterile syringe use, gloves, protective glasses). Methods: In order to determine whether there is a transmission risk for HCV infection from patient to health-care worker, we carried out a cross-sectional study of a cohort of National Cancer Institute health-care workers in Naples, Southern Italy. Results: The x 2 -test was not significant; we did not find any significant risk for HCV in the 'other untrained staff' group [odds ratio (OR) 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4-10.9] or in the health-care workers group (OR 1.6; 95% CI 0.4-7.0). In the health-care worker subgroups, doctors were the reference category because of the low prevalence of HCV in this subgroup (3.3%). A non-significant association was found in the professional nurses group (OR 2.7; 95% CI 0.8-8.8), as well as in the categories of technicians and biologists. Conclusions: No excessive risk was found among the health-care workers as a whole or among the different categories of personnel, confirming that health-care employees have benefited sufficiently from preventative measures.

Research paper thumbnail of Is hepatitis C virus infection associated with thyroid cancer? A case-control study

International Journal of Cancer, 2000

Some have reported an increased risk of auto-immune thyroid disease in hepatitis C virus (HCV) an... more Some have reported an increased risk of auto-immune thyroid disease in hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HBV and in interferon therapy . A new link between HCV and thyroid cancer has been reported .