S. Sereno

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Papers by S. Sereno

Non organo-specific autoantibodies in hepatitis C virus infection: a protective phenomenon?

Contrast-enhanced color Doppler liver sonography in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic HCV infection

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: detection of hepatocellular carcinoma by means of contrast-enhanced color Doppler liver sonography

The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2000

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: detection of hepatocellular carcinoma by means of contrast-e... more

Incidenza DI Infezioni Urinarie Nei Reparti Pediatrici Dell’Ospedale S.GIOVANNI-ADDOLORATA DI Roma

Microbiologia Medica, 2004

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Doppler sonography measurement of portal blood flow velocity after glucagon injection in patients with chronic HCV infection

Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology, 2001

Doppler sonography measurement of portal flow velocity (PFV) after glucagon injection was perform... more Doppler sonography measurement of portal flow velocity (PFV) after glucagon injection was performed in 45 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 = no or mild liver fibrosis; group 2 = moderate to severe liver fibrosis, and group 3 = liver cirrhosis. All patients were examined using a Doppler ultrasound (US) multipurpose equipment and a convex 3.5-MHz probe, 10 min before (baseline), as well as 5 and 10 min after, IV administration of 1 mg of glucagon chloride. No significant differences were found in mean baseline PFV among group 1 (19.4 +/- 2.4 cm/s), group 2 (20.1 +/- 3.6 cm/s) and group 3 (17.5 +/- 3.7 cm/s). Five minutes after glucagon injection, all three groups showed significantly increased values of mean PFV (25.6 +/- 4.8, 23.7 +/- 4.0 and 19.5 +/- 5.0 cm/s, respectively; p &amp;amp;lt; 0.05 vs. baseline). The mean increase of PFV above baseline was significantly higher in group 1 (7.9 +/- 3.7 cm/s) than in group 2 (4.5 +/- 3.9 cm/s) (p &amp;amp;lt; 0.05) or in group 3 (2.7 +/- 2.3 cm/s) (p &amp;amp;lt; 0.05). A significant inverse correlation was found between individual values of fibrosis score and of individual increase of PFV. In patients with chronic HCV infection, Doppler sonography measurement of PFV after glucagon injection could be useful in assessing the severity of liver histological damage.

Characteristics of HCV positive subjects referring to hospitals in Italy: a multicentre prevalence study on 6 999 cases

Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 2006

In 2001, 6 999 anti-HCV positive subjects referred to 79 Italian hospital in a 6 months enrolment... more In 2001, 6 999 anti-HCV positive subjects referred to 79 Italian hospital in a 6 months enrolment period were evaluated. Of them, 5 632 (80.5%) tested anti-HCV positive alone, 1 163 (16.6%) reported also an excessive alcohol intake, and 204 (2.9%) were also HBsAg positive. Normal biochemistry was observed in 7.8% of cases, chronic hepatitis in 67.9% of cases, liver cirrhosis in 18.9% of cases, and hepatocellular carcinoma in 3.6% cases. HCV positive subjects with excessive alcohol intake were statistically significantly younger, of male sex, and having more severe liver disease than those without excessive alcohol intake. Adjusting for the confounding effect of age and sex by multiple logistic regression analysis, HCV positive chronic hepatitis cases drinking more than four alcoholic drinks daily were 2.2-fold (CI 95% ¼ 1.3-4.0) more likely to progress to liver cirrhosis than teetotallers. These findings indicate that nearly a quarter of HCV positive subjects referred to hospitals in Italy have a severe liver disease causing a remarkable impact on the national health system. Excessive alcohol intake in HCV chronic hepatitis cases increases the risk of progression to liver cirrhosis.

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HCV infection is a risk factor for gallstone disease in liver cirrhosis: an Italian epidemiological survey

Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 2007

We assessed the prevalence of gallbladder disease (i.e. gallstones plus cholecystectomy) among pa... more We assessed the prevalence of gallbladder disease (i.e. gallstones plus cholecystectomy) among patients with liver disease and its association with the severity and aetiology of hepatic injury. Subjects, referred to 79 Italian hospitals, were enrolled in a 6-month period. The independent effect of the severity and aetiology of liver disease on gallstone disease prevalence was assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Overall, 4867 subjects tested antihepatitis C virus (HCV) positive alone, 839 were hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) alone, and 652 had an excessive alcohol intake. The prevalence of gallstone disease was 23.3% in anti-HCV-positive patients, 12.4% in HBsAg positive and 24.2% in subjects reporting excessive alcohol intake, respectively. Gallstone disease prevalence increased by age in each aetiological category. The proportion of patients with gallstone disease who had a cholecystectomy was the highest in HCV+ subjects. After adjusting for the confounding effect of age and body mass index, compared with patients with less severe liver disease, subjects with HCVrelated cirrhosis, but not those with alcohol-related cirrhosis, were more likely to have gallstone disease. Subjects with HCV-related cirrhosis (OR 2.13, 95% CI: 1.38-3.26) were more likely to have gallstone disease when compared with those with HBV-related cirrhosis. HCV infection is a risk factor for gallstone disease. In Italy, the high prevalence of HCV infection among cirrhotic patients has important implications, as cholecystectomy in these subjects is associated with high risk of morbidity and mortality.

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The importance of HCV on the burden of chronic liver disease in Italy: A multicenter prevalence study of 9,997 cases

Journal of Medical Virology, 2005

Knowledge of the current epidemiology of chronic liver disease in Italy is mostly obsolete and fr... more Knowledge of the current epidemiology of chronic liver disease in Italy is mostly obsolete and fragmentary for the lack of up-to-date consistent data. In 2001, a 6-month prevalence study was undertaken in 79 hospitals to assess the characteristics of chronic liver disease in Italy. Both prevalent and incident cases were enrolled. A total of 9,997 patients were recruited, of whom 939 (9.4%) had normal liver biochemistry, 6,210 (62.1%) had chronic hepatitis, 1,940 (19.4%) had liver cirrhosis, and 341 (3.4%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In 567 patients (5.7%) the diagnosis was not established. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was found in 69.9% of the patients and was the only etiological factor in 56.3% of all the patients. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was present in the serum of 13.4% of the cases (in 10% it was the only etiological factor). A history of alcohol abuse was found in 23% of the cases (9.4% without viral infection). The prevalence of HCV-related cases was significantly lower in incident than in prevalent cases (44.9% vs. 59.9%, P &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;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.0001), while the proportion of patients with alcohol abuse was much higher in incident than in prevalent cases (18.1% vs. 6.6%, P &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;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.0001). These findings indicate that nearly one quarter of patients with chronic liver diseases in Italy have a severe disease such as liver cirrhosis and HCC represents a not negligible burden for the national health system. Hepatitis B fell in importance as an etiological factor. Hepatitis C is the important pathogenic factor for chronic liver disease in Italy. However, a comparison between the prevalent and incident cases suggests that in future HCV infection will also play a progressively decreasing role, in part as a consequence of treatment.

Changes in the prevalence of hepatitis C virus genotype among Italian injection drug users—Relation to period of injection started

Journal of Clinical Virology, 2009

Background: Chronic hepatitis C is a worldwide health problem. Intravenous drug users are the mai... more Background: Chronic hepatitis C is a worldwide health problem. Intravenous drug users are the main risk group. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of HCV genotypes in Italian injecting drug users and the distribution of genotypes in relation to the period when the infection was acquired. Study design: Two hundred sera from patients with chronic hepatitis C and a history of intravenous drug use were assayed for HCV-RNA and genotyped by a commercial line probe assay. Results: Genotypes 1 (45.5%) and 3 (35%) were the most common genotypes, followed by genotypes 4 (15%) and 2 (3%). One genotype 5 (0.5%) was found. Two mixed infections (1%) were detected. Subtype could be determined in 160 cases (80%): subtype 3a was the most prevalent (41.3%), followed by subtypes 1a (23.1%) and 1b (20.6%). A significant change in the distribution of prevalent genotypes occurred since 1965 (p = 0.020). Genotype 3 infections declined from 48/116 (41.4%) in 1965-1985 to 22/84 (26.2%) in 1986-2006. The prevalence of genotype 4 was significantly higher in patients infected after 1985 compared to patients infected before this year (11/116 [9.5%] vs. 19/84 [22.6%], respectively; p = 0.018). Conclusions: Since 1965 the common HCV genotype 3 has become less common in Italy. Genotype 4, an imported genotype, has become more common.

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The aetiology of chronic hepatitis in Italy: results from a multicentre national study

Digestive and Liver Disease, 2004

No recent national-level data on the aetiology of chronic hepatitis are available in Italy. To ev... more No recent national-level data on the aetiology of chronic hepatitis are available in Italy. To evaluate the current aetiology of chronic hepatitis in Italy. A total of 6210 chronic hepatitis patients (both prevalence and incident cases) consecutively admitted to 79 hospitals located throughout Italy were enrolled over a 6-month period in 2001. The hospitals were randomly selected through systematic cluster sampling. The main agent associated with chronic hepatitis was hepatitis C virus, which was found in 76.5% of the patients (in 62.6% it was the only aetiologic factor). Hepatitis B surface antigen was present in the serum of 12.2% of the cases (in 9.2% it was the only aetiologic factor). Hepatitis B e antigen and hepatitis Delta were detected in 16.6% and 7.0%, respectively, of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients. A history of alcohol abuse was found in 19.2% of the cases (5.5% without viral infection). Autoimmune hepatitis and inborn metabolic disorders were extremely rare. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus-related cases was significantly lower in incident cases, compared to prevalent cases (55.1% versus 65.0%; p &lt; 0.01). The mean alanine aminotransferase level was significantly higher in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients, compared to hepatitis B surface antigen-negative patients. The histology was less severe in non-viral-related cases. Hepatitis C virus is the most important pathogenic factor for chronic hepatitis in Italy; however, the comparison between prevalent and incident cases suggests that this infection will play a less important role in the future. A comparison with previous reports shows that both hepatitis B virus-related and hepatitis Delta virus-related cases are decreasing.

Chronic Hepatitis B in Italy: New Features of an Old Disease--Approaching the Universal Prevalence of Hepatitis B e Antigen--Negative Cases and the Eradication of Hepatitis D Infection

Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2008

We evaluated 1336 hepatitis B surface antigen-positive subjects consecutively observed in 79 Ital... more We evaluated 1336 hepatitis B surface antigen-positive subjects consecutively observed in 79 Italian hospitals over a 6month period. The proportion of hepatitis B e antigen-negative cases was 86.4%, that of patients coinfected with hepatitis D virus was 9.7%, and the rate of patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus was 16.8%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age 149 years, alcohol abuse, and antihepatitis D virus and anti-hepatitis C virus positivity were independent predictors of progression to liver cirrhosis.

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Il test al glucagone nello studio eco-Doppler del flusso portale nell'infezione cronica da HCV

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[Glucagon test for Doppler sonography measurement of portal flow in chronic HCV infections]

Le infezioni in medicina : rivista periodica di eziologia, epidemiologia, diagnostica, clinica e terapia delle patologie infettive, 1998

Purpose - To evaluate whether Doppler sonography measurement of portal flow velocity (PFV) after ... more Purpose - To evaluate whether Doppler sonography measurement of portal flow velocity (PFV) after glucagon injection can be useful in assessing the severity of liver damage in chronic HCV infection. Methods - Forty-five patients (32 males and 13 females; mean age 54.1 14.8 years) with biochemical (raised serum ALT levels), virological (positive serum HCV RNA test) and histological (liver biopsy) evidence of chronic HCV infection were included in the study. According to hepatitis staging (degree of liver fibrosis), as assessed by Knodell histological activity index, patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (n.=17), with no or mild fibrosis (fibrosis score: 0-1); group 2 (n.=11), with severe fibrosis (score: 3); and group 3 (n.=17), with liver cirrhosis (score: 4). For sonographic measurements of PFV, a Doppler ultrasound multi-purpose equipment and a convex 3.5 MHz probe were used. All patients were examined after an 8-hour fast, in supine position, 10 min before (baseline), a...

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Measuring word recognition in reading: eye movements and event-related potentials

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 2003

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Long-term liver histology improvement in patients with chronic hepatitis C and sustained response to interferon

Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 2003

A retrospective multicentre survey was conducted to evaluate, in patients with chronic hepatitis ... more A retrospective multicentre survey was conducted to evaluate, in patients with chronic hepatitis C, the long-term liver histological changes induced by interferon (IFN). A total of 112 patients (mean age 46.4 years) were studied. All patients had received a 6-12-month IFN-a course (6-18 MU/week) and had successively undergone clinical, biochemical and virological follow-up for at least 36 months (range: 36-76). In each patient, two liver biopsies had been performed: 1-6 months before treatment and, 12-76 months after its completion. In 87 patients with biochemical and virological sustained response persisting for 12 months after therapy, post-treatment liver necroinflammation and fibrosis mean(±SD) scores (Knodell index) were significantly lower than pretreatment scores (2.9 ± 2.2 vs 6.8 ± 2.9 and 0.8 ± 1.0 vs 1.2 ± 1.1, respectively; P < 0.01). In 25 patients who relapsed within 1 year, necroinflammation and fibrosis post-treatment mean scores were similar to pretreatment scores (7.4 ± 3.2 vs 6.9 ± 3.1 and 1.8 ± 1.3 vs 1.6 ± 1.2, respectively; P > 0.05). On an individual basis, necroinflammation decreased in 87% of sustained responders but only in 36% of relapsers (P < 0.001), whereas fibrosis decreased in 44% of sustained responders but only in 14% of relapsers (P < 0.001). In sustained responders with biopsies performed 12-23 months (n ¼ 34), 24-35 months (n ¼ 26) or more than 36 months (n ¼ 27) after treatment, a progressive decrease of mean necroinflammatory score was observed ()2.6 ± 2.1,)4.1 ± 3.4 and)5.2 ± 3.7 points, respectively; P < 0.01). A similar pattern was observed in fibrosis score ()0.3 ± 0.6,)0.3 ± 0.7 and)0.7 ± 0.9 points, respectively; P < 0.05). Hence, among chronic hepatitis C patients treated with IFN, those with a 12-month sustained response, unlike those who relapse, have a long-term progressive reduction and, in some cases, a complete regression of liver histological damage.

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The importance of HCV on the burden of chronic liver disease in Italy: A multicenter prevalence study of 9,997 cases

by Luigina Ferrigno, Boccia Sergio, and S. Sereno

Journal of Medical Virology, 2005

Knowledge of the current epidemiology of chronic liver disease in Italy is mostly obsolete and fr... more Knowledge of the current epidemiology of chronic liver disease in Italy is mostly obsolete and fragmentary for the lack of up-to-date consistent data. In 2001, a 6-month prevalence study was undertaken in 79 hospitals to assess the characteristics of chronic liver disease in Italy. Both prevalent and incident cases were enrolled. A total of 9,997 patients were recruited, of whom 939 (9.4%) had normal liver biochemistry, 6,210 (62.1%) had chronic hepatitis, 1,940 (19.4%) had liver cirrhosis, and 341 (3.4%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In 567 patients (5.7%) the diagnosis was not established. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was found in 69.9% of the patients and was the only etiological factor in 56.3% of all the patients. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was present in the serum of 13.4% of the cases (in 10% it was the only etiological factor). A history of alcohol abuse was found in 23% of the cases (9.4% without viral infection). The prevalence of HCV-related cases was significantly lower in incident than in prevalent cases (44.9% vs. 59.9%, P &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;lt; 0.0001), while the proportion of patients with alcohol abuse was much higher in incident than in prevalent cases (18.1% vs. 6.6%, P &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;lt; 0.0001). These findings indicate that nearly one quarter of patients with chronic liver diseases in Italy have a severe disease such as liver cirrhosis and HCC represents a not negligible burden for the national health system. Hepatitis B fell in importance as an etiological factor. Hepatitis C is the important pathogenic factor for chronic liver disease in Italy. However, a comparison between the prevalent and incident cases suggests that in future HCV infection will also play a progressively decreasing role, in part as a consequence of treatment.

Non organo-specific autoantibodies in hepatitis C virus infection: a protective phenomenon?

Contrast-enhanced color Doppler liver sonography in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic HCV infection

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: detection of hepatocellular carcinoma by means of contrast-enhanced color Doppler liver sonography

The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2000

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: detection of hepatocellular carcinoma by means of contrast-e... more

Incidenza DI Infezioni Urinarie Nei Reparti Pediatrici Dell’Ospedale S.GIOVANNI-ADDOLORATA DI Roma

Microbiologia Medica, 2004

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Doppler sonography measurement of portal blood flow velocity after glucagon injection in patients with chronic HCV infection

Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology, 2001

Characteristics of HCV positive subjects referring to hospitals in Italy: a multicentre prevalence study on 6 999 cases

Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 2006

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HCV infection is a risk factor for gallstone disease in liver cirrhosis: an Italian epidemiological survey

Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 2007

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The importance of HCV on the burden of chronic liver disease in Italy: A multicenter prevalence study of 9,997 cases

Journal of Medical Virology, 2005

Changes in the prevalence of hepatitis C virus genotype among Italian injection drug users—Relation to period of injection started

Journal of Clinical Virology, 2009

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The aetiology of chronic hepatitis in Italy: results from a multicentre national study

Digestive and Liver Disease, 2004

Chronic Hepatitis B in Italy: New Features of an Old Disease--Approaching the Universal Prevalence of Hepatitis B e Antigen--Negative Cases and the Eradication of Hepatitis D Infection

Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2008

Download

Il test al glucagone nello studio eco-Doppler del flusso portale nell'infezione cronica da HCV

Download

[Glucagon test for Doppler sonography measurement of portal flow in chronic HCV infections]

Le infezioni in medicina : rivista periodica di eziologia, epidemiologia, diagnostica, clinica e terapia delle patologie infettive, 1998

Download

Measuring word recognition in reading: eye movements and event-related potentials

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 2003

Download

Long-term liver histology improvement in patients with chronic hepatitis C and sustained response to interferon

Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 2003

Download

The importance of HCV on the burden of chronic liver disease in Italy: A multicenter prevalence study of 9,997 cases

by Luigina Ferrigno, Boccia Sergio, and S. Sereno

Journal of Medical Virology, 2005

Knowledge of the current epidemiology of chronic liver disease in Italy is mostly obsolete and fr... more Knowledge of the current epidemiology of chronic liver disease in Italy is mostly obsolete and fragmentary for the lack of up-to-date consistent data. In 2001, a 6-month prevalence study was undertaken in 79 hospitals to assess the characteristics of chronic liver disease in Italy. Both prevalent and incident cases were enrolled. A total of 9,997 patients were recruited, of whom 939 (9.4%) had normal liver biochemistry, 6,210 (62.1%) had chronic hepatitis, 1,940 (19.4%) had liver cirrhosis, and 341 (3.4%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In 567 patients (5.7%) the diagnosis was not established. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was found in 69.9% of the patients and was the only etiological factor in 56.3% of all the patients. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was present in the serum of 13.4% of the cases (in 10% it was the only etiological factor). A history of alcohol abuse was found in 23% of the cases (9.4% without viral infection). The prevalence of HCV-related cases was significantly lower in incident than in prevalent cases (44.9% vs. 59.9%, P &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;lt; 0.0001), while the proportion of patients with alcohol abuse was much higher in incident than in prevalent cases (18.1% vs. 6.6%, P &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;lt; 0.0001). These findings indicate that nearly one quarter of patients with chronic liver diseases in Italy have a severe disease such as liver cirrhosis and HCC represents a not negligible burden for the national health system. Hepatitis B fell in importance as an etiological factor. Hepatitis C is the important pathogenic factor for chronic liver disease in Italy. However, a comparison between the prevalent and incident cases suggests that in future HCV infection will also play a progressively decreasing role, in part as a consequence of treatment.

S. Sereno

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