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Biomedical subjects

A Lembo

Publications and source records attributed to A Lembo.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Sperm antibodies and infertility in patients with testicular cancer.

The level of antisperm antibodies using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the serum of 48 patients with testicular cancer before and after therapy is reviewed. This is not a linear study of each patient, but some conclusions can be drawn: In a high percentage of testicular cancer patients serum antisperm antibodies can be detected: 73.3 per cent before orchiectomy and 43.7 per cent overall. The percentage of patients with antibodies decreases with adequate therapy. In patients with advanced disease there is a higher percentage of positivity (50%) for serum antisperm antibodies than in patients with low-stage disease (30%). The higher percentage of antibodies-positive patients among those with infertility patterns could be an important argument that supports the hypothesis that autoimmune pathology can play a role in oligo/azoospermia in testicular cancer patients.

Adolescent↗

Nonrefluxing colon conduits with a modified ureterocolonic anastomosis.

Urinary diversion by means of a colon conduit is particularly advantageous. In comparison with the ileal conduit an antireflux ureterocolonic anastomosis can be created, thus preventing renal damage in patients with a long life expectancy. Herein the authors present the results of 5 years experience with colon conduits and Pagano's ureterocolonic anastomosis.

Adolescent↗

Water-path echotomography in differential diagnosis of scrotal masses.

Experience with Octoson water-path echotomography in examining 21 testicular masses is reported. Sonographic results were confirmed by surgical and pathologic findings in all cases. We believe this procedure to be of value in differential diagnosis of intrascrotal swellings.

Adolescent↗

Pathogenesis of persistent infertility in men after varicocelectomy.

With a view to investigating the cause of persistent infertility, the authors studied a group of 27 patients who had, previously, undergone surgical ligation of the spermatic vein for varicocele and infertility. Of these subjects, who failed to father after surgery, 12 presented persisting varicocele at the clinical examination. In 6 cases, the seminal fluid was positive for U. Urealyticum. One patient had orchiepididymitis; in one spermioagglutinating antibodies were found, in one the female partner was found to be infertile. Even preoperatively, three subjects had pathologically high gonadotropin levels, an important sign of testicular parenchyma alteration. In three subjects only there were no pathological findings to explain persistent infertility.

Adult↗

[Scrotum transillumination: method and results (author's transl)].

The results obtained from a continuous series of 48 patients have been critically appraised. The report of the diaphanoscopy appeared pathognomonic only in the event of hyper-diaphanous cystic formation and of varicocele. In all other types of pathology the report was aspecific, requiring a knowledge of the clinical picture for its interpretation, and sometimes absent (neoplasia in the initial phase). For these reasons the diaphanoscopy of the scrotum may be considered as part of a clinical examination and not as a complete (self sufficient) experimental examination.

Cysts↗

Ureteric substitution with a tapered ileal loop. An experimental study.

The authors present their experience in replacement of the ureter by a tapered ileal loop over a 24-month period, in a group of 10 dogs. With regard to the morphological and functional behaviour of the neo-ureter, the results on the whole were considered satisfactory. However, some problems such as pyelonephritis, associated with obstruction due to mucosal hyperexcretion, remain unsolved at the present time.

Animals↗

Postural epigastric pain: a unique symptom of primary cytomegalovirus gastritis?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) gastritis has been reported in transplant patients. Symptoms are considered nonspecific, and gastroscopy with biopsy is usually performed to establish the diagnosis. Three patients are described here 1 to 3 months after solid organ transplantation, with primary CMV gastritis, confirmed by gastroscopy, histopathologic examination and cultures. The clinical presentation in all three cases was sharp epigastric pain that decreased in a supine position, increased while sitting and further increased when standing or walking. The epigastric pain completely resolved after treatment with ganciclovir. To the best of our knowledge, such postural epigastric pain has not been described as a specific symptom in any other clinical entity and may be a unique sign of primary CMV gastritis.

Adolescent↗

Decreased myelotoxicity of gemcitabine and cisplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with cisplatin infusion on day 15.

In a multicenter phase II Italian trial that used a 28-day dosing schedule of gemcitabine on days 1, 8, and 15 and cisplatin on day 2, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia were the main dose-limiting toxicities observed. The aim of the present study was to determine whether using 15-day cisplatin in lieu of the standard 2-day schedule in combination with weekly gemcitabine would decrease expected myelotoxicities, particularly thrombocytopenia. Fifty-one patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a median age of 62 years (range 31-76) and baseline Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status scores of 0-1, were enrolled. Twenty-four patients had stage IIIA-B disease and 27 had stage IV. Patients received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, 15, and cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) on day-15, every 28 days for a total of 151 cycles. All patients were evaluable for toxicity. Grades 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia was observed in 16% of patients, grades 3 and 4 neutropenia in 35% of patients, and grade 3 anemia in 4% of patients (no grade 4 anemia). Nonhematologic toxicity was mild. Two patients had grade 3 vomiting, and another had grade 4 hepatic toxicity only after gemcitabine administration. The dose intensity of gemcitabine and cisplatin was well maintained. Of the 45 patients evaluable for response, there were 22 (49%) partial responders, 7 (15.5%) minimal responders, 9 (20%) with stable disease, and 7 (15.5%) progressions. Compared with the schedule used in a multicenter phase II Italian trial (day 2 cisplatin), day-15 cisplatin decreases incidences of thrombocytopenia (16 vs. 52%) and anemia (4 vs. 25%); the occurrence of neutropenia is similar (35 vs. 36%). Response rates are also similar (49 vs. 54%).

Adult↗

Immunological and clinical study of patients after spermatic cord torsion.

We studied 25 patients with spermatic cord torsion occurring after puberty. The elapsed time between the onset of symptoms and observation varied from 6 months to 7 years. We evaluated the semen of these patients and found that the number of spermatozoa was lower in patients with an atrophic testis (13 patients) than in those with a normal testis or, in those with torsion treated by orchidectomy. Moreover, the number of spermatozoa was lower in patients who had torsion for more than 2 years before being checked (12 patients) than in patients who had a more recent torsion (13 patients). Agglutinating antibodies were present in 20% of the patients but, they are not correlated fertility or sterility. Immunofluorescent antibodies also were not correlated with the changes found by semen analysis. They are not present in patients with a normal testis at the time of observation. On the other hand, immobilizing antibodies were significantly correlated with sterility and, particularly with changes of motility. These data suggest that sterility after spermatic cord torsion is correlated with an autoimmune mechanism. It may occur particularly in those patients with atrophic testes and has a slow onset taking more than 2 years to evolve completely.

Adolescent↗