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Biomedical subjects

A Marabini

Publications and source records attributed to A Marabini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Smooth muscle differentiation in normal human ovaries, ovarian stromal hyperplasia and ovarian granulosa-stromal cells tumors.

An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigation on the presence of "smooth muscle differentiation" in stromal ovarian tissue was carried out in 10 adult granulosa cell tumors, six juvenile granulosa cell tumors, six thecoma/fibrothecomas, six cases of stromal hyperplasia, and in 10 normal ovaries. For immunohistochemistry, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were processed using anti-alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha-SM actin) and anti-desmin as primary monoclonal antibodies. All adult granulosa cell tumors and juvenile granulosa cell tumors showed an intense alpha-SM actin immunoreaction, but weaker for desmin. Immunostain was diffuse in six out of 10 and five out of six adult granulosa cell tumors and juvenile granulosa cell tumors, respectively. Ultrastructurally, intermediate filaments focally converging into well developed desmosomes as well as peripheral bundles of myofilaments were documented both in adult granulosa cell tumors and juvenile granulosa cell tumors. In thecoma/fibrothecomas and stromal hyperplasia, alpha-SM actin and desmin expression was minimal or absent; on electron microscopy some "myoid" features and myofibroblasts were also seen. In normal ovaries, alpha-SM actin was found intensely expressed in the theca externa, focally identified in cortex-medulla, and unstained in the theca interna layer. Immunoreaction increased during folliculogenesis, going from a thin positive alpha-SM actin layer around secondary follicles to a strong diffuse stain in mature follicles. Our immunohistochemical and ultrastructural results indicate that a "smooth muscle differentiation" is a typical component of the specialized gonadal stromal tissue. A diffuse and focally alpha-SM actin is constantly present in granulosa cell tumors and thecoma/fibrothecomas, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actins↗
PubMed1995

Work-related late asthmatic response induced by latex allergy.

BACKGROUND: The occupational uses of latex gloves may be associated with asthma. Hypersensitivity to latex has been shown to be IgE-mediated. The asthmatic reaction to latex is usually early; however, the natural history of latex asthma is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to investigate asthmatic responses induced by natural rubber latex and to assess the long-term respiratory consequences of latex-induced asthma after removal from exposure. METHODS: This report describes the clinical and immunologic study of six nurses with work-related respiratory and skin disorders induced by the use of latex gloves. To determine whether the symptoms induced by latex gloves were IgE-mediated, we assessed latex IgE antibody levels by skin prick tests (SPTs) and RASTs with latex extracts. To confirm work-related latex reactions, we assessed respiratory symptoms, skin reactions, and FEV1 after a glove exposure test and an inhalation provocation test with latex gloves. All subjects were followed up for 7 months to 7 years after the first observation. RESULTS: All subjects had positive SPT and RAST responses to latex extracts, positive double prick test responses to latex gloves, and negative SPT responses to cornstarch and common allergens. Ten atopic and 10 nonatopic control subjects had negative SPT responses to latex and cornstarch extracts and negative double prick test responses to latex gloves. In three subjects latex allergy was associated with allergy to fruit (banana and chestnut). After the glove exposure test, four of six subjects had contact urticaria, all had rhinoconjunctivitis, and two had a late asthmatic response. The inhalation provocation test was performed on four subjects: all had rhinoconjunctivitis, two had urticaria and late asthmatic response, and one had laryngeal edema. A late asthmatic response was recorded in four subjects. Three subjects continued to have chronic asthma, and four subjects had increased nonspecific bronchial responsiveness 7 months to 7 years after being assigned to duties not involving latex gloves. CONCLUSIONS: This study of six nurses shows that latex is a potential cause of occupational asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and urticaria-angioedema. Latex seems to include antigens that elicit IgE-mediated hypersensitivity and may cause a late asthmatic reaction. Occupational asthma caused by latex may lead to permanent respiratory disability, even after removal from exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Hysteroscopic metroplasty.

Between February 1990 and June 1993 40 patients underwent hysteroscopic metroplasty for septate uterus. Twenty-six patients had previous miscarriages (65%) and fourteen were infertile (35%). Hysteroscopic section of uterine septa was performed by means of Hamou resectoscope with sorbitol-mannitol solution as distending medium. Surgical outcome was excellent without intraoperative and postoperative morbidity. After 40-60 days the uterine cavity was completely epithelialized without intrauterine adhesions in all the cases. One patient had incomplete septum section that required a second procedure. Postoperative reproductive outcome was evaluated in 26 patients: the cumulative pregnancy and birth rate was 73% and 86%, respectively. Five patients delivered by cesarean section (39%). In the infertile group the pregnancy and birth rate was much lower (44% and 75%, respectively) than in previous miscarriage group (88% and 91%, respectively). Infertile patients do not seem to be cured by hysteroscopic metroplasty; however, in these cases the endoscopic operation should be performed, because it may prevent subsequent miscarriage. Hysteroscopic metroplasty by means of Hamou resectoscope is a very successful, quick, simple and safe procedure that may replace abdominal metroplasty.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1994

Interphase AgNOR quantity and DNA content in endometrial adenocarcinoma.

The relationship between the amount of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) and the DNA content of interphase neoplastic cells in 63 cases of human endometrial adenocarcinoma was studied. Interphase AgNOR content was determined as the mean AgNOR area per nucleus by image cytometry in silver-stained samples from paraffin-embedded sections. DNA content was evaluated by cytofluorometry on single cells from the same specimen and expressed in c units as DNA ploidy. The mean AgNOR area ranged from 1.26 to 4.48 microns2 and the modal DNA ploidy from 1.90 to 4.00c. No significant associations were found between mean AgNOR area and modal DNA ploidy when analyzed either by linear regression (beta = 0.18; P = 0.15) or as dichotomized variables by chi 2 analysis (chi 2 = 0.82; P = 0.37). On a homogeneous subset of 45 cases of stage I adenocarcinomas we also evaluated the prognostic relevance of AgNOR content and DNA ploidy. In monovariate analysis both parameters were significantly related to patient survival. When the mean AgNOR area and the modal DNA ploidy were entered into regression analysis together with the depth of myometrial invasion and histological grading, they showed an independent, high prognostic value.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Immunocytochemical study of epidermal growth factor receptor, transforming growth factor alpha, and "squamous differentiation" in human endometrial carcinoma.

The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) was compared with the presence of "squamous differentiation" (SD) visualized in various histotypes of endometrial carcinoma by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. The results of the current study demonstrate that EGFr and TGF-alpha are present in routinely processed endometrial carcinoma. The highest positive EGFr and TGF-alpha expression was seen in the group of adenocarcinomas with SD. The more intense EGFr and TGF-alpha immunoreactivity was observed in "squamous" foci both in adenoacanthomas (AA) and in adenosquamous carcinomas (AS). These EGFr- and TGF-alpha-positive squamous areas prevalently displayed a "stratification-related" cytokeratin (CK) immunoprofile characterized by the expression of CKs 1, 4, 5, 10, 13, 14, and 16. No correlation was found between EGFr- and TGF-alpha-positive status and depth of myometrial invasion or surgical stage. These results clearly demonstrate that EGFr and TGF-alpha expression is related remarkably to endometrial carcinoma with "squamous" areas both morphologically and immunophenotypically. This specific association leads us to suggest that EGFr and TGF-alpha expression in endometrial carcinoma may be prevalently involved in the equilibrium of cell differentiation of the "squamous" foci commonly observed in this group of neoplasias.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Fibrin sealant in laparoscopic adhesion prevention in the rabbit uterine horn model.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of fibrin sealant on adhesions after laparoscopic surgery. DESIGN: Standardized surgical trauma was induced in 60 female rabbits. The animals were randomized in three groups for different adhesion prevention treatment. SETTING: University research laboratory. INTERVENTIONS: After standardized trauma was induced, group 1 (n = 20) received no treatment, group 2 animals (n = 20) were injected in the abdominal cavity with 60 mL of Ringer's lactate, and human fibrin sealant was applied on the surgical lesions under laparoscopic vision in group 3 (n = 20). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Five weeks after laparoscopy, a laparotomy was performed, and the adhesions were scored. RESULTS: Fourteen of 20 rabbits in the control group (70%) presented postoperative adhesions, 11 of 20 (55%) in the Ringer's group, and 5 of 20 (25%) in the fibrin sealant group. High-score adhesions were seen in 15% of cases in control and Ringer's group and in 5% of cases in the fibrin sealant group. CONCLUSIONS: When used during laparoscopic surgery, fibrin sealant has a preventive effect on de novo postsurgical adhesions. To assess the efficacy in reproductive surgery, a trial on recurrent postsurgical adhesions is required.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The coronary subclavian steal syndrome: an uncommon sequel to internal mammary-coronary artery bypass surgery.

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome is a possible sequel in patients who have undergone myocardial revascularization with an internal mammary artery. We report a case of this syndrome in a 67-years-old man. In 1990 he underwent a quadruple bypass: aorta-obtuse margin, aorta-right coronary (two sequential), internal artery mammary-descending coronary artery. Three months later he started to have angina pectoris. In April 1992 an aortic arch angiography and a coronary angiography were performed. The examination showed an occlusion of the left subclavian artery at its origin. The artery was opacified countercurrently by the left vertebral artery but the left mammary artery was not opacified. Left coronary angiography showed a very severe disease of left anterior descending coronary artery and retrograde flow through the anastomosis in the left mammary artery. The patient underwent a left common carotid-subclavian artery bypass operation using a 6 mm vascutex graft. Eighteen months later the patient is doing well without angina pectoris and with very little alteration of the perfusion in the left frontal lobe observed by SPECT neuroimaging with a lipophilic tracer (99mTc-HMPAO). We think that the coronary-subclavian steal syndrome can be treated successfully with low risk by means of common carotid-subclavian artery bypass.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Ploidy disturbances as an early indicator of intrinsic malignancy in endometrial carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The need for a postoperative treatment of patients with highly aggressive endometrial cancer necessitates more specific and accurate prognostic indicators. METHODS: In a prospective study, 88 samples from 72 endometrial tumors were subjected to microfluorometric single-cell DNA analysis to assess the DNA content of the main stemline and the ploidy distribution histogram. The histologic grade of differentiation, architecture, and mitotic index (MI) also were evaluated as biologic characteristics of neoplastic cells. RESULTS: The main stemline was peridiploid in 44 of 72 cases, peritetraploid in 4 of 72, and aneuploid in 24 of 72. High ploidy levels (> 3 c) were associated strictly with papillary and solid architecture, high MI, and undifferentiated grade. Multiple analyses of different sites showed stable ploidy values in 11 of 13 cases; 2 solid tumors changed from showing peridiploidy to peritetraploidy in one of the three sites examined. The number of S-phase and greater than G2 cells (heteroploid index) was compared with MI and showed six tumors with histogram irregularities probably resulting from intratumor genetic instability. Survival information was available for 65 patients with a mean observation period of 50 months. A single parameter, high ploidy level (> 3 c), was the most important determinant of survival at all stages; its prognostic value was fundamental in patients with Stage I disease, in whom DNA content showed higher independent significance (P < 0.001) than the other histologic and clinical factors considered. CONCLUSIONS: These studies suggest that DNA content is a biologic characteristic firmly associated with tumor aggressiveness; DNA analysis could offer early and objective evidence of an intrinsic highly malignant phenotype.

DNA, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1993

Troleandomycin in the treatment of difficult asthma.

BACKGROUND: For difficult asthma, treatment is aimed at improving airway obstruction and minimizing adverse effects of systemic corticosteroids. The combination of troleandomycin (TAO) with methylprednisolone (MP) reportedly has a beneficial steroid-sparing effect on difficult asthma. METHODS: To test the steroid-sparing effect of TAO, 14 subjects with severe corticosteroid-dependent asthma were studied before and during treatment with MP and TAO. RESULTS: Treatment with MP and TAO resulted in a clear reduction in respiratory symptoms, asthmatic attacks, corticosteroid and hospitalization requirements, improvement in pulmonary function tests, and a remarkable decrease in peak expiratory flow rate circadian variability when compared with the period before TAO treatment (with corticosteroids). Treatment with MP and TAO was fairly well tolerated. Only a reduction (-5.2%, p < 0.01) in bone mineral content and an increase in plasma glucose levels (from 81.7 to 94.3 mg/dl, p < 0.05) were found, in comparison with pre-TAO values. One subject discontinued MP-TAO treatment because of a mild but persistent increase in serum alanine aminotransferase. In an evaluation of the clinical and pulmonary function test results, eight of the 14 subjects were responders and six were nonresponders. During follow-up three subjects discontinued TAO and consequently had an asthmatic attack after 4, 7, or 15 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that treatment with MP and TAO has a beneficial effect in a subgroup of severely steroid-dependent asthma patients.

Asthma↗
PubMed1993

Clinical and socioeconomic features of subjects with red cedar asthma. A follow-up study.

A follow-up study of 128 subjects with red cedar asthma was conducted to evaluate the clinical and socioeconomic impact of the disease in determining the working status of the subjects after the diagnosis was made. The results suggest that the severity of asthma is not the main determinant of working status. Comparing the data at diagnosis and at follow-up examination, we found that the persistence of exposure resulted in a deterioration in the asthma despite the use of more medications. Subjects who were working were younger and had a larger number of dependents than the subjects who were not working at the time of the follow-up examination. We conclude that the socioeconomic factors are important in determining the working status of subjects with red cedar asthma. To prevent severe impairment and disability, there should be more economic incentives for these subjects to choose other jobs.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Changes in interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor production by peripheral blood monocytes after specific bronchoprovocation test in occupational asthma.

The pathogenetic mechanisms of occupational asthma (OA) due to low-molecular-weight compounds have been poorly defined, and further studies are required to clarify the role of immunologic mechanisms in OA. Until now cellular mechanisms have been less investigated than humoral ones. We have evaluated interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production by peripheral blood monocytes (PBM), and peripheral T-cell subpopulations in 22 subjects with possible OA before and after specific bronchoprovocation test (SBPT). After SBPT, three subjects had an immediate reaction, seven a late reaction, and two a dual reaction. Ten subjects had no asthmatic reaction to SBPT. Spontaneous release of IL-1 from PBM did not change significantly after SBPT. TNF activity was increased 48 h after SBPT in immediate reactions and 72 h after SBPT in late-dual reactions. These results suggest that exposure to occupational agents may induce activation of PBM with increased spontaneous release of cytokines, such as TNF.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A multifaced DNA ploidy analysis to determine ovarian carcinoma aggressiveness.

A microfluorometric DNA study was conducted on isolated cells from 64 fragments of ovarian epithelial tumors. Data analysis considered the DNA content of the main stemline and the prevalence of cells in the different compartments of the DNA ploidy histogram in relation to the mitotic activity index and the histologic architecture. Main stemlines were found remarkably stable in different parts of the same tumor. Peridiploid (1.8c to 2.2c) stemlines were found both in well-differentiated and in poorly differentiated tumors. However, low aneuploid (2.2c to 3.0c) stemlines were mostly found in nonsolid tumors and high ploidy (3.2 to 5.04 c) stemlines were prevalent in solid tumors. A comparative analysis between DNA ploidy parameters and mitotic activity was useful to evaluate the expanding modalities of neoplastic cell populations. This analysis revealed that several tumors accumulate an excessive amount of heteroploid cells and others an excessive amount of G2 cells. Yet, most neoplastic cell populations vary from slow to rapidly growing patterns without relevant abnormalities in their ploidy graphic profiles. No relationship was found between stemline ploidy and histologic architecture compared with expanding modalities. These findings indicate that multifaced criteria combining features such as main ploidy, graphic profile, mitotic rate, and histologic architecture measured on one or more microsamples of the same tumor may help to objectively estimate the aggressiveness reached by the neoplastic cells at the time of clinical presentation.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Twenty-four-hour beta-endorphin secretory pattern in the elderly.

A chronobiological study was carried out in seven elderly male subjects (78-84 years) to evaluate the 24-h beta-endorphin secretory pattern. Seven young adult males (28-37 years) made up the control group. Blood samples were drawn every four hours from 08.00 to 20.00 h and every two hours from 24.00 to 06.00 h. ACTH and cortisol levels were also determined in the same plasma samples. Mean 24-h beta-endorphin values in the elderly (32.6 +/- 1.1 ng/l) and in the young adult male subjects (29.5 +/- 1.4 ng/l) did not differ statistically, but the circadian rhythm was absent in the elderly subjects. In the elderly, plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations showed a circadian rhythm similar to that observed in the adult subjects. However, in the elderly patients, in contrast to that in the adult subjects, the multilinear regression analysis did not show any statistically significant correlation between the beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol 24-h plasma concentrations.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1986

Treatment of endometrial hyperplasia with cyproterone acetate histological and hormonal aspects.

A regime of cyproterone acetate (CPA) (300 mg/day by the oral route for 30 days) has been used in 10 post-menopausal women with endometrial hyperplasia (8 atypical and 2 adenomatous). Androstenedione (A), estrone (E1), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) plasma levels were determined before and at the end of treatment. The regression of endometrial hyperplasia was ascertained histologically in all patients after 30 days of therapy. All steroids showed a significant decrease (p less than 0.05) as compared with their corresponding basal values. Moreover, the E1/A ratio was significantly lowered (p less than 0.01) following CPA administration (5.9 + 2.9% to 2.5 + 0.6%). From these data it is evident that CPA can not only act as a progestin, but may also reduce the endogenous estrogen production, lowering either the adrenal production of A (the most important estrogen precursor in the post-menopause) or the A to E1 peripheral conversion.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed1986

[Evaluation of materials and technics in vascular surgery using 111-Indium].

The thrombogenicity of the graft materials is a significant factor incriminated in early failures. Some improvements have been achieved by modification of physical characteristics of the material as porosity, compliance, durability in order to improve patency rates. Platelets are major determinants of thrombus formation and may still be thrombogenic by activation of the coagulation enzymes. The purpose of this work is to study the platelets deposition on different material grafts, utilizing autologous platelets labelled with 111-Indium. The radioactivity pulses was recorder before and 4 days after surgery in aortoiliac and femoropopliteal districts. The graft material used in aortoiliac occlusions was: velour, double velour PTFE; in femoropopliteal: Double velour, PTFE, saphenous vein, umbilical vein, bovine carotid. In some patients the operation was TEA with patch in PTFE. The authors show the results of this study in 92 patients in relation of the material graft an location.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis↗