Publications (375)
ARTICLE
Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Andrea Angius, Jacques Simpore, Ivana Persico, Alessandro Sassu, Dionigio Antonio Prodi, Salvatore Musumeci
In Burkina Faso the levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) are lower and the methionine loading tests suggest a more effective Hcy metabolism. The polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) showed a relevant difference in the allele frequencies of T MTHFR-677 in young and in old subjects, while the allele frequency of C MTHFR-12(...)
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, gene polymorphisms, homocysteine, methionine loading test, Burkina Faso
ARTICLE
Haemoglobin C and S in natural selection against Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a plethora or a single shared adaptive mechanism?
F. Verra, G. Bancone, P. Avellino, I. Blot, J. Simporé, D. Modiano
Conclusive evidence exists on the protective role against clinical Plasmodium falciparum malaria of Haemoglobin S (beta 6Glu-->Val) and HbC (HbC; beta 6Glu-->Lys), both occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the mechanism/s of the protection exerted remain/s debated for both haemoglobin variants, HbC and HbS. Recently, an abnormal display o(...)
Haemoglobin S, Haemoglobin C, Plasmodium falciparum, Malaria, Natural selection, PfEMP1, Cytoadherence, Immunity, Variant surface antigens, Burkina Faso
ARTICLE
Prevalence of rotavirus, adenovirus and enteric parasites among pediatric patients attending Saint Camille Medical Centre in Ouagadougou
Ouermi Djeneba, Karou Damintoti, Ilboudo Denise, Nadembega W. Marie Christelle, Pietra Virgilio, Belem Adrien, Simpore Jacques, Kabre Gustave, Pignatelli Salvatore, Sawadogo Laya
The present study carried out in the Saint Camille Medical Centre of Ouagadougou and related to the prevalence of Rotaviruses, Adenoviruses and enteric parasites infections among HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative children allowed to include 66 children aged from 2 to 60 months presenting acute diarrhea. The results revealed that 10.60% wer(...)
Rotavirus, Adenovirus, Enteric parasites, Pediatric diarrhea, HIV, Burkina Faso
ARTICLE
beta-Endorphin concentration in colostrums of Burkinabe and Sicilian women
Maria Neve Ombra, Maria Musumeci, Jacques Simporé, Grazia Maria Palano, Salvatore Musumeci
Objective: Endorphins (EPs) present in human colostrum may be relevant for immediate postnatal fetal adaptation because this compound is involved in stress response and adaptation mechanisms. Endorphin levels in human colostrum are two-fold greater than corresponding maternal plasma levels; however, the high endorphin levels in human milk decr(...)
Beta-endorphin, Colostrum, Burkinabe women, Sicilian women, Lactation, Newborn adaptation, Stress response, Labor stage II, Immunoreactive material
ARTICLE
The effects of spiruline on the immune functions of HIV-infected undernourished children
Jacques Simporé, Salvatore Pignatelli, Salvatore Musumeci
Background: Malnutrition is a public health problem in the entire world, particularly in the developing countries. The effect of Spiruline supplement in the weight recovery of HIV-negative and HIV-infected undernourished children has been largely demonstrated. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of Spiruline on the immune status o(...)
Spiruline, CD4 lymphocytes, undernourished children, HIV
ARTICLE
Prevalence of human herpes virus-8 and hepatitis B virus among HIV seropositive pregnant women enrolled in the Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Prevention Program at Saint Camille Medical Centre in Burkina Faso
Denise Ilboudo, Damintoti Karou, Wendyame M. C. Nadembega, Aly Savadogo, Ouermi Djeneba, Salvatore Pignatelli, Virginio Pietra, Augustin Bere, Jacques Simporé, Alfred S. Traoré
The aims of this research are: i) to evaluate the prevalence of HHV-8, HBV and HIV among pregnant women, ii) to determine the percentage of these co-infections and iii) to estimate the frequency of the mother-to-child transmission of HIV among HBV and HHV-8 positive mothers. Thus, 379 pregnant women attending ante-natal consultation in Saint C(...)
HIV, HHV-8, Hepatitis B Virus, Co-infection, Mother-to-child transmission, Pregnant women, Burkina Faso
ARTICLE
Effective program against mother-to-child transmission of HIV at Saint Camille Medical Centre in Burkina Faso
J. Simporé, V. Pietra, S. Pignatelli, D. Karou, W. M. C. Nadembega, D. Ilboudo, F. Ceccherini-Silberstein, W. N. Ghilat-Avoid-Belem, M. C. Bellocchi, N. Saleri, M. J. Sanou, C. M. Ouedraogo, J. B. Nikiema, V. Colizzi, C. P. Perno, F. Castelli, S. Musumeci
The present research was aimed to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV; to use RT-PCR in order to detect, 6 months after birth, infected children; and to test the antiretroviral resistance of both children and mothers in order to offer them a suitable therapy. At the Saint Camille Medical Centre, 3,127 pregnant women (aged 15-44 years)(...)
Mother-to-child transmission, HIV, Antiretroviral therapy, Nevirapine, Resistance mutations, Burkina Faso, RT-PCR
ARTICLE
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and sickle cell disease in Burkina Faso
Jacques Simporé, Denise Ilboudo, Karou Damintoti, Luc Sawadogo, Maria Esposito, Scott Binet, Henri Nitiema, Paul Ouedraogo, Salvatore Pignatelli, Jean-Baptiste Nikiema
Where malaria is endemic, there is an unexpected association between haemoglobinopathies and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency. Their coexistence in a patient with sickle cell disease (SCD) can lead to hemolytic anemia, hemoglobinuria, sepsis, renal failure and vaso-occlusive attacks (VOA). The aim of this research was to d(...)
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, Sickle cell disease, Burkina Faso, Hemolytic anemia, Genetic traits, Vaso-occlusive attacks
ARTICLE
Factors predicting uptake of voluntary counselling and testing in a real-life setting in a mother-and-child center in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Salvatore Pignatelli, Jacques Simpore, Virginio Pietra, Laurent Ouedraogo, Ghislaine Conombo, Nuccia Saleri, Cecilia Pizzocolo, Giuseppina De Iaco, Francois Tall, Adama Ouiminga, Giampiero Carosi, Francesco Castelli
Objective: To identify factors predicting uptake of voluntary HIV counselling and testing in pregnant women.
Methods: All pregnant women receiving ante-natal group health education at St Camille Medical Center, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 1 May 2002 to 30 April 2004 were offered voluntary HIV counselling and testing. If they consented, t(...)
Voluntary counselling and testing, HIV, Burkina Faso, prevention, uptake, maternal health
ARTICLE
Immunoglobulin enhancer HS1,2 polymorphism: a new powerful anthropogenetic marker
V Giambra 1, C Martínez-Labarga, M Giufré, D Modiano, J Simporé, B K Gisladottir, R Francavilla, G Zhelezova, S S Kilic, M Crawford, G Biondi, O Rickards, D Frezza
The human HS1,2 enhancer of the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain 3' enhancer complex plays a central role in the regulation of Ig maturation and production. Four common alleles HS1,2-A*1, *2, *3, *4 are directly implicated with the transcription level and at least one of them, HS1, 2-A*2, seems to be related to immune disorders, such as coeliac(...)
polymorphism ,immunoglobulin ,anthropogenetic
ARTICLE
Characterization of drug-resistance mutations in HIV-1 isolates from non-HAART and HAART treated patients in Burkina Faso
W. M. Nadembega, S. Giannella, J. Simporé, F. Ceccherini-Silberstein, V. Pietra, A. Bertoli, S. Pignatelli, M. C. Bellocchi, J. B. Nikiema, G. Cappelli, A. Bere, V. Colizzi, C. P. Perno, S. Musumeci
Non-B HIV subtypes have been estimated to account for 88% of HIV infections in the world. These subtypes are particularly relevant in view of the availability of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, since subtype-specific mutations are associated with drug-resistance in developing countries. Therefore, the pol gene sequences in HIV-1 isolates were exam(...)
HIV-1, drug resistance, antiretroviral therapy, HAART, non-B subtypes, Burkina Faso, pol gene mutations, protease mutations, reverse transcriptase mutations
ARTICLE
Oligosaccharides in colostrum of Italian and Burkinabe women
Maria Musumeci, Jacques Simpore, Alfonsina D'Agata, Stefano Sotgiu, Salvatore Musumeci
Human milk contains a large number of compounds to provide nutrition and defense for the newborn. Among these, oligosaccharides are present in concentrations up to 12 g/L, and their composition varies during lactation. Colostrum from 53 Burkinabe women were collected at the maternity department of St Camille Medical Centre in Ouagadougou (Burk(...)
Colostrum, Oligosaccharides, Burkinabe women, Italian women, Lactation, Human milk composition, 2-fucosyllactose
ARTICLE
Synchronic macrophage response and Plasmodium falciparum malaria
Maria Musumecia , Jacques Simporeb , Rita Baronec , Andrea Angiusd & Salvatore Musumeci
aDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Catania; bCentre Medical Saint Camille, Ouagadougou and UFR/SVT
Université de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; c
Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers – National Research Council
(CNR) – Catania, dInstitute of Population Genetics, CNR, Alghero, eDepartment of Pharmacology, Gynecology/O(...)
Macrophage – Plasmodium falciparum – severe malaria – uncomplicated malaria
ARTICLE
Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) from Mediterranean to Sub-Saharan Areas
Rosa Chillemi, Andrea Angius, Ivana Persico, Alessandro Sassu, Dionigio A. Prodi, Salvatore Musumeci
There are differences in the allele frequency of MTHFR polymorphism between Western and African population. The aim of this study is to determinate the prevalence of MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in young and old people living in different areas from Mediterranean to sub-Saharan areas. The observed vs expected genotype frequencies of 67(...)
MTHFR, Sardinia, Sicily, Burkina Faso, young people, old people, nutrition, folic acid, malaria
ARTICLE
Network of sexual contacts and sexually transmitted HIV infection in Burkina Faso
Vito Latora, André Nyamba, Jacques Simpore, Bahiré Sylvette, Sandwidi Diane, Bukiki Sylvére, Salvatore Musumeci
Two thirds of the people who have been infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the world live in Sub-Saharan African countries. The results of a study measuring the degree distribution of the network of sexual contacts in Burkina Faso are described. Such a network is responsible for the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and in(...)
HIV, sexual contacts network, sexually transmitted infections, Burkina Faso, scale-free networks, epidemiology