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Biomedical subjects

A Capelli

Publications and source records attributed to A Capelli.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

[AIDS and the central nervous system: correlations between clinical, radiological and anatomo-pathological aspects. A critical review of 40 personal cases].

The authors review the cases of 40 patients with AIDS who died in 1989, in order to establish the relationships between clinical picture, neuroradiological features and neuropathological findings. Neurological involvement was present in over 75% of the patients, with HIV-related encephalopathy and toxoplasmosis as the most frequent diseases (52.5% and 20.0%). With regard to the cases of AIDS dementia complex (ADC) the authors observed a good correlation between the severity of the clinical manifestations, central nervous system atrophy as observed on computed tomography scan and pathological findings. The survival of AIDS patients with ADC was higher when compared to patients without ADC, suggesting the time-relationship of ADC. AS in the case of toxoplasma encephalitis, a strong relationship between radiological and pathological findings was observed. The presence of toxoplasma encephalitis in patients with radiologic features of healed lesions confirms the need for life-long prophylaxis.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

[Determination of HIV-RNA using in situ hybridization on myocardial tissue. Role of HIV in cardiomyopathy in AIDS].

Aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of HIV-1 and CMV genomic sequences in myocardial tissue from autopsy of AIDS patients by in situ hybridization technique and to make a correlation with clinical and/or pathological signs of myocarditis. Seven patients out of 12 (58.3%) were positive for HIV-1 (6/7 patients with pathological signs of myocarditis and 1/5 without pathological abnormalities; p = 0.029). In situ hybridization for CMV was positive in 5/12 patients (41.7%) (3 with myocarditis and 2 without myocarditis); three clinically symptomatic cases were contemporary positive for HIV-1 and CMV. Our results seem to confirm emerging data about the presence of HIV-1 in myocardial tissue and about the possible role of HIV-1 in determining cardiac pathologies. Furthermore we suggest the hypothesis of an interaction of HIV-1 and CMV in latest of HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Type II estrogen binding sites (EBS) in intracranial tumors.

Four meningiomas and six neuroepithelial tumors were assayed for the presence of estrogen receptors (ER), type II estrogen binding sites (EBS) and progesterone receptors (PgR). ER were detected in 7 out of 10 cases with levels ranging between 2.5 and 20.7 fmoles/mg of cytosolic protein. On the contrary, PgR were found in all samples (10 cases) and their levels ranged between 8.8 and 130.6 fmoles/mg of cytosolic protein. All tumor samples expressed appreciable amounts of type II EBS ranging between 452 and 2320 fmoles/mg of protein. Although the precise functional role of type II EBS is still unknown, their presence may reflect an hormonal sensitivity of these tumors.

Brain Neoplasms↗

[Immunohistochemistry in cytologic diagnosis using fine needle aspiration].

The role of immunocytochemistry in fine-needle aspiration cytology. The Authors review the literature about fine-needle aspiration biopsy cytology in different organs and show the feasibility of the application to cytological specimen of immunocytochemical methods. Thus, they analyze 15 cases of tumors of various localization diagnosed by F.N.A.C. where immunocytochemistry succeeded in their correct typization. They also show the encouraging results of the immunocytochemical search of specific hormones in pituitary adenomas. Therefore the Authors emphasize the great usefulness of immunocytochemical techniques for the improvement of the diagnostic possibilities in the fine-needle aspiration cytology.

Adolescent↗

[Preoperative cytologic diagnosis of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid].

The Authors emphasize the importance of preoperative aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of 5 medullary types out of 58 thyroid carcinomas observed in the Institute of Pathology of the Università Cattolica del S. Cuore of Rome in the period 1983-88. All the cases were diagnosed preoperatively by mean of a fine-needle aspiration cytological specimen; the case where morphological diagnosis was doubtful were studied with immunohistochemical techniques for calcitonin and CEA. Out of all cases, they report one case of multiple endocrine adenomatosis type II with medullary thyroid carcinoma and pheochromocytoma and another one with cervical node metastases without a clinically detectable thyroid swelling. Therefore, the authors propose the fine-needle aspiration cytology as a simple and important mean in the preoperative diagnostic procedure in case of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

[Visceral leishmaniasis in patients with AIDS. Description of 2 cases].

Cell-mediated immunity plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and in the recovery mechanisms of visceral leishmaniasis (V.L.). This disease, observed in two patients with AIDS, has peculiar anatomical and clinical characteristics and it is usually characterized by a severe clinical course. In addition, V.L. has been proposed to be included among the relevant infections for the case definition of AIDS. We describe two cases of V.L. occurred in association with AIDS. The most relevant characteristics of our cases are the followings: Diagnosis has been achieved by the identification of Leishmania donovani in the macrophages of the bone marrow in both the patients, and of the lymph node in one patient. The detection of anti-Leishmania antibodies was positive in one patients only. A significant defect of CD4+ cells was documented in both the patients. V.L. was associated in one patient with esophageal candidiasis, disseminated tuberculosis, P. carinii pneumonia; and in the other one with cerebral toxoplasmosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, esophageal candidiasis, Kaposi's sarcoma, CMV hepatitis. Specific chemotherapy has been partially or totally ineffective in both the patients. In fact, chemotherapy led to an apparent transient recovery in one patient, followed by a symptom-free period of more than one year. We think that V.L. has been the first infection occurred in this patients, beside of HIV infection. At the time of the first observation, the clinical conditions of this patient were satisfactory and there was only a slight alteration in cellular immunity. The detection of leishmania in bone marrow was coincident with the onset of fever, the development of a wasting syndrome and a dramatic decrease in cell-mediated immunity. A second cycle of specific treatment has been ineffective and the patient died. On the contrary, the second patient did not respond to the specific treatment and died. Two important anatomo-pathological characteristics were present in our cases: a) the presence of the parasite in several organs, namely bone marrow, spleen, liver. b) the absence of granulomatous lesions which indirectly indicates the defect in cell mediated immunity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Recent advances concerning etiopathogenesis of nasal polyposis].

The way nasal polyps arise and why they tend to recur is still unknown. Quite frequently they are found in association with asthma, rhinitis and ASA-intolerance, thus suggesting a multifactorial etiopathogenesis. The incidence of atopy in patients affected with nasal polyposis is quite low (16.8%). Recent studies stress the involvement of mast cell mediators due to various degranulating stimuli other than those mediated by IgE. The finding of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL2-R) on murine mast cells and on human peripheral blood basophils, together with the possibility of inducing basophil degranulation through IL2 stimulation, have led the authors to seek IL2R on human nasal polyp mast cells and to study subpopulations of nasal polyp lymphoid infiltrates. Nasal polyps obtained from 4 patients, admitted to the E.N.T. Department of the Catholic University of Rome in 1988, were snap frozen soon after their surgical removal through transmaxillary ethmoidectomy. In this study the following monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) were used: Leu-2a (CD8), Leu-3a/3b (CD4), Leu-4 (CD3), anti-HLA-DR and anti-IL2-R (CD25), OKM1 (CD11), OKB2 (CD24) and 1HT4-4H3 (CD 25). In no patient was there evidence of atopy, asthma or ASA-intolerance. Several mast cells (MC) were observed, chiefly in the connective axis and perivascular areas. These cells were characterized by a large number of cytoplasmatic monomorphic granules. The MC displayed the IL2-R and they were very often close to T-lymphocytes. T-cell subpopulations were predominantly composed of CD4-positive cells (about 75% of all lymphocytes) often associated in clusters and located both in the submucosa and in the connective axis. CD8-positive cells (10-15% of the lymphoid cells) were located most often just under the epithelium. They were hardly ever scattered within the CD4-positive cell clusters. Almost all T cells were activated, above all those surrounding the MC. These results would appear to suggest the presence of a cell-mediated immune response in nasal polyp pathogenesis where MC degranulation, determined by activated T-cell cytokines, plays an important role.

Adult↗