Monica Giraldo

Tubular segment-specific biomarkers of nephrotoxicity in the rat.

Segment-specific localization of p-aminohippuric acid accumulation and glutamine synthetase activity along the proximal tubule was investigated in kidneys of rats treated with segment-specific nephrotoxicants such as potassium dichromate (pars convoluta) and hexachloro-1:3-butadiene (pars recta). Potassium dichromate and the highest dose (200 mg/kg b.w.) of hexachloro-1:3-butadiene caused a significant, dose-dependent decrease of p-aminohippuric acid uptake in the renal cortical slices 24 and 48 h after the treatment. In contrast, hexachloro-1:3-butadiene and only the highest dose (40 mg/kg b.w.) of potassium dichromate, caused a significant dose-dependent decrease of glutamine synthetase activity in the kidney beginning 24 h after treatment. Finally, potassium dichromate and the highest dose (200 mg/kg b.w.) of hexachloro-1:3-butadiene (48 h after the treatment) caused a significant dose-dependent loss of kidney protein content. The results suggest that p-aminohippuric acid accumulation is localized in the pars convoluta and confirm that glutamine synthetase is in the pars recta of the rat proximal tubule. p-Aminohippuric acid uptake impairment and glutamine synthetase activity loss caused by the highest doses of hexachloro-1:3-butadiene and potassium dichromate, respectively, suggests that high doses of segment-specific chemicals may involve other portions of the proximal tubule; in addition, the decrease of glutamine synthetase activity caused by potassium dichromate may be related to the protein content loss.

Prevalence of Markers for Hepatitis B Virus and Vaccination Compliance Among Medical School Students in Italy

The prevalence of markers for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the rate of compliance with HBV vaccination laws were investigated in a study at Padua University Medical School (Italy). Of 2,361 students, 385 (16.3%) tested negative for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. When vaccination was actively offered to these students, there was a low rate of compliance (47.0% [181 students]) but a good rate of seroconversion (93.1% [95 of 102 students]). Screening for HBV markers appears to be crucial to efforts to increase rates of vaccination coverage.

Tetanus vaccination, antibody persistence and decennial booster: a serosurvey of university students and at-risk workers

The aim of the present research is to verify the immune status against tetanus in students and workers exposed to risk and to ascertain whether a decennial booster is necessary. Antibodies against tetanus were measured in 1433 workers and students of Padua University (Italy). The enrolment criterion was the ability to provide a booklet of vaccinations released by a public health office. The influence of age, gender, the number of vaccine doses, and the interval since the last dose was determined. Ten years after the last dose, the majority of subjects (95·0%) displayed an antibody titre above the protective level (⩾0·10 IU/ml), and half of these (49·1%) had a long-term protective level (⩾1·0 IU/ml). According to our data, titre depends on both the number of vaccine doses and the interval since the last dose (P < 0·0001). Five vaccine doses and an interval of at least 10 years since the last dose are predictive of a long-term protective titre in absence of a booster (1·97 IU/ml). These data suggest that when primary series are completed, a decennial booster is unnecessary for up to 20 years. Furthermore, we recommend measuring the antibody level before a new booster is given to prevent problems related to over-immunisation.