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Dive into the research topics where Antonio Menditto is active.

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Featured researches published by Antonio Menditto.


American Journal of Public Health | 2001

Heart Rate as a Predictor of Mortality: The MATISS Project

Fulvia Seccareccia; Fabio Pannozzo; Francesco Dima; Anna Minoprio; Antonio Menditto; Cinzia Lo Noce

OBJECTIVES This study sought to verify the independent role of heart rate in the prediction of all-cause, cardiovascular, and noncardiovascular mortality in a low-risk male population. METHODS In an Italian population-based observational study, heart rate was measured in 2533 men, aged 40 to 69 years, between 1984 and 1993. Data on cardiovascular risk factors were collected according to standardized procedures. Vital status was updated to December 1997. RESULTS Of 2533 men followed up (representing 24,457 person-years), 393 men died. Age-adjusted death rates for 5 heart rate levels showed increasing trends. The adjusted hazard rate ratios for each heart rate increment were 1.52 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.29, 1.78) for all-cause mortality, 1.63 (95% CI = 1.26, 2.10) for cardiovascular mortality, and 1.47 (95% CI = 1.19, 1.80) for noncardiovascular mortality. Relative risks between extreme levels were more than 2-fold for all endpoints considered. CONCLUSIONS Heart rate is an independent predictor of cardiovascular, noncardiovascular, and total mortality in this Italian middle-aged male population.


Microchemical Journal | 2000

Environmental exposure to metals of newborns, infants and young children

Marina Patriarca; Antonio Menditto; Barbara Rossi; T.D.B. Lyon; Gordon S. Fell

Anthropogenic emissions, such as those from combustion of fossil fuel, waste incineration and industrial use, contribute to higher levels of metal pollutants, including Cd, Pb and Sb, in the urban environment. These widespread and persistent environmental pollutants have the potential for developmental and reproductive toxicity. Health risks are particularly associated with exposure in utero and the early years of life, since the developing organism is at greater risk from permanent damage, and both absorption and retention can be considerably greater in infants than adults. In order to assess risk to humans, the information on environmental levels of pollutants (environmental monitoring) should be integrated with information on biomarkers of exposure, effect or susceptibility in biological fluids or tissues (biological monitoring). The analysis of tissue from the target organ obtained at autopsy provides a direct record of the accumulation of toxins and allows temporal and geographical trends to be studied. Few literature reports on tissue content of potentially toxic elements include data on newborns and young children since collections of autopsy samples in this age range are rare. Existing data are sometime questionable, because of inadequate sensitivity of the analytical techniques, insufficient control of contamination and lack of validation. Our recent work aimed to establish reliable reference values for the content of Cd, Pb and Sb in the liver of pediatric subjects.


Journal of Chromatography B | 2009

Evaluation of uncertainty of measurement from method validation data: An application to the simultaneous determination of retinol and α-tocopherol in human serum by HPLC

Antonella Semeraro; Ilaria Altieri; Marina Patriarca; Antonio Menditto

An isocratic RP-HPLC method for the determination of retinol and alpha-tocopherol in serum, with fluorescence and UV/VIS detection, respectively, was developed and validated according to international guidelines. Detection (retinol 0.015 mg/L, alpha-tocopherol 0.29 mg/L) and quantification (retinol 0.05 mg/L, alpha-tocopherol 0.95 mg/L) limits were determined. Repeatability was <3.3% and <2.9% and intermediate precision was <4.6% and <3.2%, for retinol and alpha-tocopherol, respectively. Certified reference materials were utilised to assess bias and guarantee traceability to SI units. Expanded uncertainties (retinol 8.9%; alpha-tocopherol 7.9%), estimated according to the EURACHEM/CITAC guide from method validation data, satisfied fit-for-purpose requirements based on biological variability.


Clinical Chemistry | 2008

Quality Specifications for the Determination of Copper, Zinc, and Selenium in Human Serum or Plasma: Evaluation of an Approach Based on Biological and Analytical Variation

Josiane Arnaud; Jean-Philippe Weber; Cas Weykamp; Patrick J. Parsons; Jürgen Angerer; Eric Mairiaux; Olav Mazarrasa; Sinikka Valkonen; Antonio Menditto; Marina Patriarca; Andrew M. Taylor

BACKGROUND Trace element external quality assessment schemes monitor laboratory performance and provide a stimulus for improvement in accuracy. However, monitoring of participant performance varies according to the scheme and can lead to conflicting conclusions. METHODS Quality specifications based on biological intra- and interindividual variability were calculated and compared to those currently used by various trace element external quality assessment schemes for plasma or serum copper, zinc, and selenium concentrations. For this purpose, we evaluated results reported by participating laboratories in different schemes, at key concentrations, using z scores. RESULTS Minimal quality specifications developed from the biological intra- and interindividual variability were, for Cu, +/-0.84 micromol/L or 12% of the assigned target concentration, whichever is greater; for Zn, +/-1.20 micromol/L or 15% of the assigned target concentration, whichever is greater; and for Se, +/-0.072 micromol/L or 12% of the assigned target concentration, whichever is greater. Reported performance of the participating laboratories depended on analyte, concentration, and the selected quality specification. In addition, the most commonly used methods for the determination of Cu, Zn, and Se may give different results. CONCLUSIONS The proposed minimal quality specifications based on biological variation are generally slightly less stringent than those currently in use, although they do not drastically change the performance evaluation in the different schemes. These specifications are a first step in the harmonization of practices among the schemes and remain to be evaluated.


Journal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies | 1991

Determination of ascorbic acid in blood plasma or serum and in seminal plasma using a simplified sample preparation and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV detection

Marina Patriarca; Antonio Menditto; Gino Morisi

Abstract A simplified method of sample preparation and high-performance liquid chromatography procedure using UV detection is described for the determination of ascorbic acid (AA) in blood plasma or serum and seminal plasma. Within two hours from collection samples are treated with dithioerythritol (DTE) and then stored under Argon at -80°C. Prior to analysis, protein precipitation is initiated with the addition of cold methanol. AA elution is carried out on a C18 reverse phase column using dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide as an ion-pairing agent. the detection is accomplished by measuring ultraviolet absorption at 265 nm. the analysis time for sample is 10.5 min, the retention time of AA being 9.7 min. Within- and between-day coefficients of variation are 2.9% and 4.9% for blood serum, 1.0 % and 2.3 % for seminal plasma. Mean analytical recovery of 102.5 ± 3.7% was found analyzing a serum pool after addition of a standard amount of AA. AA levels are stable for at least 43 days under the described storage...


Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry | 1992

Role of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry in the assessment of reference values for trace elements in biological matrices

Sergio Caroli; Alessandro Alimonti; P. Delle Femmine; Francesco Petrucci; Oreste Senofonte; N. Violante; Antonio Menditto; G. Morisi; A. Menotti; P. Falconieri

Obtaining accurate data on baseline concentrations of minor and trace elements in human organs and fluids relies basically on the development of rigorous and highly-harmonized protocols and on the availability of suitable and dependable analytical techniques. Regarding this second aspect, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry displays definite advantages, especially in terms of versatility, wide dynamic range and relative freedom from matrix effects. This analytical potential has been exploited to establish reference values and reference intervals for a number of elements in various human tissues and fluids, namely: Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn in liver and kidneys; Al, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, Sr, V and Zn in lungs; Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn in milk; Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Se, Ti, V and Zn in hair; and Ca, Cu, Mg and Zn in serum.


Science of The Total Environment | 1992

Association of selected social, environmental and constitutional factors to blood lead levels in men aged 55–75 years

Gino Morisi; Antonio Menditto; Amedeo Spagnolo; Marina Patriarca; Alessandro Menotti

Blood lead (B-Pb) levels were determined in 1802 out of 1856 non-occupationally exposed men aged 55-75 years living in the Rome area who participated, between 1989 and 1990, in an epidemiological survey for coronary heart disease (New Risk Factors Project). The median B-Pb level was 113 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 74-180 micrograms/l) and only 0.7 per cent (n = 14) of the subjects had B-Pb values higher than 300 micrograms/l. B-Pb levels were significantly and positively associated to alcohol consumption. Moderate and heavy drinkers had median B-Pb level of 143 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 92-233) and 165 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 102-285) respectively, whereas non-drinkers had a median B-Pb level of 96 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 66-143). The influence of smoking habits was less relevant. Subjects who never smoked and subjects smoking more than 20 cigarettes daily had median B-Pb levels of 103 and 133 micrograms/l, respectively. Individuals classified as habitual car-drivers had slightly higher Pb levels than non-drivers. Subjects classified as manual workers had higher B-Pb levels in comparison with non-manual workers and retired subjects. B-Pb levels were directly related to HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C, r = 0.2252) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT, r = 0.2207) serum levels. The alleged alcohol consumption was more related to B-Pb level (r = 0.3848) than to serum level of HDL-C (r = 0.2474) or gamma-GT (r = 0.2469). A significant correlation (r = 0.2409) also existed between B-Pb and blood cadmium levels (B-Cd). Subjects with a low Gaensler ratio, an index of respiratory function, had higher B-Pb levels. In multiple regression analyses alcohol intake was the most important predictor of B-Pb level, explaining more (14.27%) of the total variance than did B-Cd (4.98%), HDL-C (1.89%), driving habits (1.46%), gamma-GT (1.09%), skinfold thickness (0.96%), and Gaensler index (0.38%). The risk ratio of having B-Pb level higher than 180 micrograms/l (90th centile of B-Pb distribution in our subjects) was 5.3 (95% CI: 2.7-10.4) for drinkers versus non-drinkers and 1.9 (95% CI: 1.2-3.1) for current smokers versus subjects who had never smoked. B-Pb was, at least in our subjects, a more specific and sensitive objective index of alcohol consumption than gamma-GT and HDL-C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Microchemical Journal | 1992

The performance of Italian laboratories in the determination of trace elements in blood

Marina Patriarca; Antonio Menditto; Gino Morisi

Abstract The analytical performance of a group of Italian laboratories with regard to the determination of blood lead (BPb), blood cadmium (BCd), serum aluminum (SAl), serum copper (SCu), and serum zinc (SZn) was estimated from the results of quality assurance programs carried out in Italy between 1983 and 1990. Mean imprecision, mean inaccuracy, and percentage of acceptable results provided, according to preset limits, were adopted as indexes of performance. Positive trends were observed, over the course of the years, toward smaller bias and lower percentage of laboratories with poor performance. At present, taking into account results from all participants, mean absolute inaccuracy can be evaluated as 40 μg/liter (mean concentration: 440 μg/liter) for BPb, 0.55 μg/liter (mean concentration: 3.6 μg/liter) for BCd, and 13.4 μg/liter (mean concentration: 77 μg/liter) for SAl. At mean concentrations of 0.94 mg/liter of SCu and 1.08 mg/liter of SZn, mean absolute inaccuracies were 0.130 mg/liter and 0.162 mg/liter, respectively. The percentage of laboratories providing results within established limits for at least 80% of the examined samples is rather high for BCd (61.9%), SCu (43.8%), and BPb (41.2%). On the contrary, only 15.7% of laboratories achieved good performance in SZn analysis and none in SAl determination.


Microchemical Journal | 1992

Organization of interlaboratory quality assurance programs for the analysis of trace elements in blood: Evaluation of procedures and analysis of data☆

Antonio Menditto; Marina Patriarca; Gino Morisi

Abstract Some of the problems arising from the organization of quality assurance programs for the analysis of trace elements in blood are discussed. These include the preparation of suitable control materials by the organizing center and the elaboration of valuable strategies of sample distribution, treatment of data, and evaluation of results, which can be applied even to a small number of participants. The procedures used in the Italian quality assurance scheme for trace elements in blood are reported. Their reliability was partly confirmed by the results of some experiments carried out within the framework of the program. They dealt with the commutability of control and fresh samples in blood lead analysis, the analytical behavior of liquid compared to that of lyophilized control materials for serum aluminum determination, and the evaluation of laboratory performance in the analysis of “open” or “blind” duplicates.


Microchemical Journal | 2000

Quality assurance in biological monitoring of environmental exposure to pollutants: from reference materials to external quality assessment schemes

Antonio Menditto; S. Palleschi; Anna Minoprio; Barbara Rossi; A. Calibotti; Ferdinando Chiodo; Marina Patriarca

Abstract The presence of chemicals in the environment is a matter of concern in that it poses potential health risks. At present, exposure to toxic chemicals and their biological and biochemical effects can be better estimated by biological monitoring, through the systematic collection of specimens from potentially exposed humans. Biological monitoring of human exposure to environmental pollutants is hampered by the difficulty to assess data reliability. As a consequence, the validity of biological monitoring should depend on the strict implementation of a quality assurance (QA) program, which includes a series of procedures aiming to ensure that laboratory results meet defined standards of quality and are reliable. For the validation and monitoring of methods’ performance, to ensure the trueness of measurements and to warrant the traceability to international standards, reference materials (RMs) and certified reference materials should be used. Internal quality control and external quality assessment (EQA) are part of overall QA and are carried out to verify that analytical errors are compatible with the specific requirements or needs of the user. In particular EQA schemes (EQAS) allow to test independently the analytical performance of participating laboratories. In the last decades, increasing concern has been raised by urban air pollution; lead and benzene, two gasoline components released by motor vehicle exhausts, are known to be toxic to humans. For biological monitoring of lead exposure of the general population, screening campaigns, utilizing lead in blood as a biomarker, have been carried out since the 1970s. Strict strategies were adopted to ensure data comparability, including the preparation of RMs, the organization of EQAS and the cross-exchange and analysis of blood samples between laboratories. Biological monitoring of benzene exposure could be carried out by means of various biomarkers such as benzene in blood and benzene, trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) and S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) in urine. At present, few RMs and EQAS are available for these biomarkers. A pilot EQAS for t,t-MA in urine, adopted to assess the reliability of data regarding benzene exposure, has been organized and carried out between 1996 and 1997 in Italy. From the accrued experience, it clearly emerges the importance of strategies designed to guarantee the quality of biological monitoring data. The use of RMs and the participation in EQAS are highly recommended in order to improve the global performance of methods and laboratories involved in biological monitoring.

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Dive into the Antonio Menditto's collaboration.

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Marina Patriarca

Istituto Superiore di Sanità

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Ferdinando Chiodo

Istituto Superiore di Sanità

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Gino Morisi

Istituto Superiore di Sanità

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Sergio Caroli

Istituto Superiore di Sanità

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Andrew M. Taylor

Great Ormond Street Hospital

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Anna Minoprio

Istituto Superiore di Sanità

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Marco Castelli

Istituto Superiore di Sanità

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Jürgen Angerer

University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

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Amedeo Spagnolo

Istituto Superiore di Sanità

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Barbara Rossi

Istituto Superiore di Sanità

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