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Biomedical subjects

A Pinto

Publications and source records attributed to A Pinto.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Three quantitative studies of gender and identity in psychotherapy consultations.

This paper details the application of three distinctive approaches to the analysis of line-by-line scores for themes of gender and identity in recorded psychotherapy consultations conducted by three male analysts with a female patient. The first method involved commonly used statistical comparisons of the frequency with which gender subthemes and allusions to identity appeared in each consultation session. The results of this study indicate three significantly different patterns of gender material in the communications from the patient with each of the analysts who interviewed her--and from each analyst and patient/analyst system as well. Therapist dominance in this area appeared to be quite strong. The second study involved measures of overall informational complexity for various aspects of the gender/identity sequence of communications. Here too, individual differences emerged. They not only add to the evidence for therapist dominance in these protocols, but also provide indications that sessions differ in respect to the extent to which the information they contain is ordered and repetitive or redundant, as compared to disordered, complex, and varied. The third study availed itself of stochastic methods in which the Box-Jenkins models were used to define mathematically and post hoc, the deeper structure of aspects of the vicissitudes of gender/identity expressions in the course of these consultations. The main finding was that change in speaker role in respect to these themes accelerated in response to random interventional shocks to the system that occurred at the time of measurement and inversely with shocks to the system sustained the previous second. This look into the deeper structure of these sequences revealed considerable sensitivity to recent shocks to the patient/therapist system, much underlying instability, and strong tendencies toward establishing stability or equilibrium when the system destabilized. Of note is the finding that all three consultations, by and large, followed the same configuration--itself a rarely seen model. The implications and promise of these methods are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Effects of therapy with bis-hemisuccinate of ursodeoxycholic acid bisodium salt in patients with chronic hepatitis].

It has recently been shown that ursodeoxycholic acid administration improves liver function tests in patients with chronic liver diseases. Aim of the present study was to evaluate an ursodeoxycholic acid derivative (bis-hemisuccinate bisodic salt Ursodamor, Farmaceutici Damor, Napoli) in patients with chronic hepatitis. Forty patients (15 M, 25 F) with biopsy proven chronic liver disease participated to the study. Patients were randomly allocated to two treatment groups. Twenty patients (4 PBC, 11 CAH/CPH, 5 cirrhosis) received the ursodeoxycholic acid derivate at the dose of 600 mg/day, while 20 patients (1 PBC, 11 CAH/CPH, 8 cirrhosis) received a placebo. For both groups the treatment period was six months. ALT serum levels were significantly reduced in the treated group (from 84 +/- 14 to 62 +/- 14 p less than 0.0005) while no significant change was observed in the placebo group. In the treated group but not in the placebo group alkaline phosphatases and gamma-GT were also significantly reduced (from 268 +/- 56 to 160 +/- 23 p less than 0.0005 and from 79 +/- 21 to 45 +/- 10 p less than 0.0005). In conclusion, our results suggest that the administration of the ursodeoxycholic acid derivate, bis-hemisuccinate, bisodic salt, improves liver function tests in patients with chronic liver hepatitis. Similarly to ursodeoxycholic acid this new derivate probably interferes with bile acid pool composition by replacing the more detergent and probably more toxic endogenous bile acid.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1992

Giant cell fibroblastoma in childhood immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

Two cases of giant cell fibroblastoma in children are presented. Histologic features included a dense fibrous tissue stroma with multinucleated giant cells lining sinusoid-like spaces. Immunohistochemical stains and electron microscopy provide evidence of a fibroblastic origin of the tumor cells. Ultrastructure of the multinucleated cells revealed segmentation of the nuclei with multiple centrioles, suggesting that an abnormality in the division of the tumor cells may be the mechanism for the formation of the giant cells.

Breast Neoplasms, Male↗
PubMed1992

Fatal neonatal pneumonia caused by adenovirus type 35. Report of one case and review of the literature.

A 3680-g term male neonate developed bilateral bronchopneumonia at 9 days of age. The labor, delivery, and immediate postnatal period had been unremarkable. Despite standard antibiotic therapy, the patient progressed to respiratory failure and died 4 days later. Adenovirus particles were found in oropharyngeal secretions 1 day prior to death. Autopsy revealed an extensive necrotizing bronchiolitis and alveolitis with frequent "smudge cells." Adenovirus was identified by culture, electron microscopy, and in situ DNA hybridization. The adenovirus was serotyped as type 35, which, to our knowledge, has not been previously described in neonatal adenovirus pneumonia.

Adenovirus Infections, Human↗
PubMed1991

Expression of myelomonocytic antigens is associated with unfavourable clinicoprognostic factors in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

The cross-lineage expression of five myelomonocytic antigens (CD11b, CD11c, CD13, CD14, and CD15) was analysed in neoplastic lymphocytes from 100 consecutive B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) patients. CD14 antigen was detected on lymphocytes from more than 50% of patients whilst smaller percentages of samples were positive for CD11b (21%), CD11c (26%), CD13 (22%), and CD15 (7%). The presence of the CD13 antigen on neoplastic lymphocytes showed a statistically significant association with the two most important unfavourable clinicoprognostic factors in B-CLL: advanced clinical stage (CD13, P less than 0.01 by the Rai staging system; P less than 0.05 by the Binet staging system) and the diffuse pattern of bone marrow infiltration (CD13, P less than 0.001). A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the increased risk for CD13-positive patients (13.7-fold higher than CD13-negative cases; P = 0.001) of presenting a diffuse pattern of bone marrow infiltration is independent of all other prognostic factors analysed including sex, age, lymphocyte counts, and clinical stage. A statistically significant association of CD11c (P = 0.002) and CD11b (P = 0.032) expression with the pattern of bone marrow infiltration was also found. Our results indicate for the first time a statistically significant association of CD13, CD11c, and CD11b antigens with unfavourable prognostic factors in B-CLL. They suggest that the cross-lineage expression of myeloid-associated surface peptidase (CD13-aminopeptidase N) and/or cell adhesion molecules (CD11c-LeuCAMc, CD11b-LeuCAMb) may influence the biological and clinical behaviour of chronic lymphoproliferative disorders of B cells.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Endothelial-derived relaxing factor released by endothelial cells of human umbilical vessels and its impairment in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

The principal objective of this study was to determine and compare the capability of human umbilical vessels of normal and pregnancy-induced hypertensive parturients to produce and to release the endothelial-derived relaxing factor. A bolus of bradykinin injected in the perfusion system of human umbilical vessels induces a release of a relaxant factor, detectable by bioassay, that is pharmacologically similar to the endothelial-derived relaxing factor. Human umbilical cords were collected from normal and pregnancy-induced hypertensive parturients. In the latter group the release of endothelial-derived relaxing factor is extremely reduced. In fact, in umbilical vessels collected from normal parturients, bradykinin at a dose of 20 pmol produces a release of endothelial-derived relaxing factor equivalent to a relaxation induced by 59.9 +/- 11.0 and 30.8 +/- 11.4 pmol of glyceryl trinitrate for the artery and vein, respectively. The same dose of bradykinin in umbilical vessels, collected from pregnancy-induced hypertensive parturients, produces a release equivalent to 6.6 +/- 2.2 and 5.7 +/- 3.5 pmol of glyceryl trinitrate equivalent for the artery and vein, respectively. Neither an increasing bolus of exogenous bradykinin or an infusion of superoxide dismutase or L-arginine was able to restore the production of endothelial-derived relaxing factor to normal levels. Our results indicate a probable alteration of endothelial cell numbers or an alteration of the enzymatic pathway, probably due to cytotoxic endogenous factors produced in pregnancy.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Differential expression of CD54/intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in myeloid leukemias and in lymphoproliferative disorders.

Indirect immunofluorescence staining with monoclonal antibody (MoAb) CL203.4 of malignant cells from 269 patients with hematologic malignancies showed a heterogeneous expression of CD54/intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). This marker was expressed by malignant cells of 57 out of 118 patients with myeloid malignancies and 69 out of 135 with B-lymphoid malignancies. On the other hand, CD54 was not detected on malignant cells of 16 patients with T-lymphoid malignancies. In myeloid malignancies, CD54 is preferentially expressed by "stem cell-derived" malignancies, being detectable on blast cells from almost all patients affected by chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast phase or myelodysplastic syndromes and by only 34% of patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The expression of CD54 did not correlate with any specific myeloid FAB subtype, although three cases of highly undifferentiated AML (FAB MO) displayed maximal levels of the antigen. The expression of CD54 in AML was significantly associated with that of CD34 and HLA-DR antigens. In B-lymphoid malignancies, CD54 expression appears to correlate with the differentiation stage of malignant cells, since B-origin acute lymphoblastic leukemias and conventional B-chronic lymphocytic leukemias (B-CLL; ie, "dim SIg" CLL) expressed lower levels of CD54 than more mature lymphoproliferative disorders ("bright SIg" CLL, prolymphocytic leukemias, and lymphoplasmacytic tumors). "High-grade" B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (B-NHL) express in general a higher level of CD54 than "low-grade" ones. This finding in conjunction with the expression of CD54 in all 17 patients with "bright SIg" CLL investigated (characterized by marked organomegaly and poor prognosis) suggest that the differential expression of CD54 in lymphoproliferative disorders may also relate to their degree of malignancy.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1990

Report of an unusual small lymphocytic B-cell lymphoma selectively involving the B-zone of lymph node.

Selective involvement of the B-cell compartment of lymph node by B-cell malignant lymphomas is an occasional finding related to early phases of lymph node infiltration. The authors have observed a unique case of diffuse small lymphocytic lymphoma that consisted of immunohistologically and genotypically proven B-clonal population exhibiting a repetitive pattern of infiltration in three lymph node samples obtained from the patient during a 9-year period. This pattern consisted of a selective and complete replacement of the B-areas with disappearance of follicles and widening of the medullary cords, an expanded T-zone showing features consistent with dermatopathic lymphadenitis and well-preserved sinuses. Clinically, multiple involved sites at presentation (lymph nodes, spleen, skin, bone marrow, and peripheral blood) and during the 9-year follow-up (testis) were detected, and the disease was associated with a relative indolent course like other low-grade lymphomas. The phenotypic profile of lymphoma cells studied by immunoperoxidase method, and by single-labeling and double-labeling flow cytometric analyses (SIg+, K+, LN2+, MB1+, MB2+, HLA-DR+, CD 9+, CD19+, CD 20+, CD 21+, CD 22+, CD 24+, Leu 8+, CD 5-, CD 10-, CD 11b-, CD 11c-, CD 25-, CD 38-, PCA-1-, FMC-7-, CD 23-) was consistent with a B-cell proliferation at an intermediate stage of differentiation but distinct from other well-defined B-cell neoplasms. Whether such unique B-zone pattern was due to an intrinsic property of this lymphoma or it is to be related to the coexisting reactive T-zone expansion remains controversial.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

Levamisole inhibits in vivo rat platelet aggregation by a release of prostacyclin-like factor.

1. The anti-thrombotic effect of levamisole (LMS) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) were examined in vitro and in vivo models. 2. LMS inhibits rat platelet aggregation induced by either adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) or collagen (CLG) in vitro and in vivo. 3. LMS is more active in vivo than in vitro while acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is more active in vitro than in vivo. It seems that in vivo LMS does not act by blocking thromboxane A2 formation only, but via participation of an endogenous factor. 4. The release of LMS-induced anti-thrombotic factor is inhibited by ASA pretreatment, indicating to be a cyclooxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid. 5. The LMS-induced anti-thrombotic factor has a t1/2 of 3.6 +/- 0.8 min that is similar to the t1/2 of synthetic prostacyclin (PGI2) tested in our system (3.9 +/- 0.5 min; P = NS). 6. The release of PGI2-like substance from vascular tissue is LMS dose-dependent.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1990

Acridine orange--RNA histofluorescence of sarcomas and small round cell tumors of childhood.

Forty-nine pediatric malignant neoplasms were stained with acridine orange (AO) fluorochrome to qualitatively evaluate cytoplasmic RNA content. The application of AO as a supplementary stain in surgical pathologic diagnosis is based on the premise that specific neoplastic cell types characteristically and consistently contain few or many cytoplasmic ribosomes. Primitive tumors such as Ewing's sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors showed negative or low-intensity AO-RNA cytoplasmic staining. Differentiated sarcomas such as rhabdomyosarcomas and lymphomas exhibited moderate to strong AO-RNA cytoplasmic fluorescence. Acridine orange--RNA staining provides an easy, convenient, and inexpensive adjunct in the histopathologic differential diagnosis of sarcomas. It is particularly useful for distinguishing Ewing's sarcomas from other small round cell sarcomas of childhood.

Acridine Orange↗
PubMed1990

Double-blind controlled study of the efficacy and pharmacological properties of heparan sulfate in patients with occlusive arterial disease of the lower limbs.

The effect of a 60 day administration of 200 mg heparan sulfate (Hemovasal 100 b.i.d.) or 100 mg mesoglycan (50 mg b.i.d.) was assessed under double blind design in forty patients (thirty-six males and four females) with peripheral occlusive arterial disease with respect to pain-free walking distance and various haemorheological and haemostasiological variables, platelet aggregation and blood chemistry. The pain-free walking distance significantly improved with heparan sulfate (up 67% from baseline 200.0 +/- 22.5 m and up 34%, with mesoglycan from baseline 207.7 +/- 23.4 m). Heparan sulfate significantly stimulated fibrinolysis and reduced platelet aggregability: these findings suggest an action of heparan sulfate on the endothelial cells, thus reducing their thrombogenicity. The results of the study thus confirm the activity of heparan sulfate in peripheral vascular disease, correcting the conditions which constitute the basis of increased thrombotic risk.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Follicular lymphomas in pediatric patients.

The clinicopathologic features of twenty cases of follicular lymphoma (FL) in pediatric patients are described. Fifteen boys and five girls were 2 to 20 yr (mean 10 yr) of age at diagnosis. In ten cases (50%) the lymphoma was localized in lymph nodes and in ten cases (50%) in extranodal sites. Fifteen patients had stage I, two stage II and three stage III disease at the time of presentation. The faucial tonsils were the primary site in seven cases, other head and neck sites in five, inguinal lymph nodes in four and possibly another, and the abdomen in two. Six cases (30%) were classified as follicular small cleaved cell type (FSCC), five (25%) as follicular mixed small cleaved and large cell (FMC), and nine (45%) as follicular large cell (FLC). The architectural pattern was purely follicular (F) in five cases (20%), predominantly follicular (F greater than D) in six (30%), follicular and diffuse (F = D) in six (30%) and predominantly diffuse (F less than D) in three (15%). In one case a progression from F greater than D LC to F less than D LC was documented. All patients attained complete remission (CR). One died of acute lymphoblastic leukemia 7 yr after the original diagnosis of FSCC non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), but the others are all alive and free of disease with a follow-up ranging from 6 mo to 16 yr (median 4 yr). In three patients therapy was initially deferred with no known adverse influence on outcome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗