False positive MIBG scan due to accessory spleen.
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3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
Biomedical subjects
A Rizzo
Publications and source records attributed to A Rizzo.
Trichothecenes, ochratoxin A and zearalenone contamination and fusarium infection in Finnish cereal samples in 1998.
The occurrences and concentrations of trichothecenes, ochratoxin A and zearalenone in Finnish cereal samples are presented in this study. Furthermore, injections by moulds, especially Fusarium contamination of grains in the same samples, are reported. In total 68 cereal samples, including 43 rye, 4 wheat, 15 barley and 6 oats samples, were collected after a cool and very rainy growing season in 1998. A gas chromatograph combined with a mass spectrometric detector was used for determination of seven different trichothecenes. A high performance liquid chromatograph with a fluorescence detector was used for ochratoxin A and zearalenone determination. For the identification of moulds, the grain samples were incubated and the moulds were isolated and identified by microscopy. The analytical methods were validated for mycotoxin analysis and they were found to be adequately reliable and sensitive. Heavy rainfalls in the summer and autumn of 1998 caused abundant Fusarium mould infection in Finnish cereals, particularly in rye. Fusarium avenaceum was the most common Fusarium species found in cereals. However, the mycotoxin concentrations were very low and only deoxynivalenol, nivalenol and HT-2 toxin were detected. Deoxynivalenol was detected in 54 samples in the concentration range 5-111 microg/kg. Nivalenol and HT-2 toxin were detected in three and two samples, respectively, in the concentration range 10-20 microg/kg.
Chromatography, Gas↗
Nosocomial infections in pediatric cardiac surgery, Italy.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of nosocomial infection (NI) in pediatric patients who received cardiothoracic surgery and to identify possible associated risk factors. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: The cardiac surgery and cardiac intensive care units at the Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy. PATIENTS: All patients who underwent surgery from July 20, 1998, to July 19, 1999, were enrolled, except patients with operative catheterization only. METHODS: Clinical data were collected daily from July 20, 1998, to July 19, 1999. NIs were diagnosed according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. RESULTS: 104 patients were included in the present study, 80 (76.9%) of whom underwent extracorporeal circulation. The NI ratio was 48.1% (50/104); the percentage of patients with NI was 30.8% (32/104): 23.1% developed one infection, 7.7% two or more. The rate of NI was 2.17 per 100 days of hospitalization (50/2,304). The most common pathogen was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Important risk factors were length of preoperative admission >5 days, total length of admission >10 days, open chest during postoperative phase, and cyanotic heart disease. There was a significant association between sepsis and central venous catheterization for 3 days or more. Rate of sepsis was 19 per 1,000 catheter days (16/852). CONCLUSION: NIs represent a frequent complication for children who undergo heart surgery. Based on our data, we suggest decreasing the preoperative stay as much as possible. The higher NI incidence in patients with an open chest postoperatively suggests that an alternative antibiotic strategy should be considered for these patients.
Adolescent↗
p63, a p53 homologue, is a selective nuclear marker of myoepithelial cells of the human breast.
Myoepithelial cells (MCs) constitute the basal cell layer of normal mammary epithelia, and their identification is of particular diagnostic value because they are retained in most benign lesions while being lost in malignancy. Several MC immunocytochemical markers are currently available for diagnostic purposes, with special reference to smooth muscle-related antigens. p63 is a member of the p53 gene family, and its germline mutations are associated with severe mammary developmental defects in both rodents and humans. Different p63 isoforms have been identified, some of which (DeltaNp63) are preferentially expressed in the epithelial basal cells of different organs and have been considered as possible markers of stem cells/reserve cells. We investigated immunohistochemically 384 samples of normal and diseased human breast, including 300 invasive carcinomas, using four antibodies recognizing all p63 isoforms, or the DeltaNp63 isoforms. Twenty cytologic specimens were also investigated. Furthermore, snap-frozen tissue samples from three fibroadenomas and 10 invasive ductal carcinomas with their paired non-neoplastic tissues and three corresponding lymph node metastases were evaluated for the expression of p63 mRNA by RT-PCR. In normal breast tissue p63 immunoreactivity was confined to the nuclei of MCs. In all benign lesions p63-immunoreactive cells formed a continuous basal rim along the epithelial structures. Stromal cells, and in particular myofibroblasts, were consistently unreactive. Adenomyoepitheliomas showed nuclear staining in most neoplastic cells. A peripheral rim of p63-immunoreactive cells was retained surrounding lobular and ductal carcinoma in situ, although it was discontinuous as opposed to the normal structures. Invasive breast carcinomas were consistently devoid of nuclear p63 staining, with the exception of the two adenoid-cystic carcinomas, of the two ductal carcinomas with squamous metaplasia, and of 11 (4.6%) ductal carcinomas not otherwise specified, showing p63 immunoreactivity in a minor fraction (5-15%) of the neoplastic cells. In comparison with other MC markers, p63 was the most specific, being restricted exclusively to MCs, whereas antibodies to smooth muscle actin and, to a lesser extent, calponin also decorated stromal myofibroblasts. In the cytologic preparations p63 immunoreactivity was a consistent feature of "naked nuclei" and of a subset of cells surrounding benign epithelial clusters. RT-PCR experiments with primers specific for different p63 isoforms documented that normal tissues and fibroadenomas preferentially expressed the DeltaNp63 isoforms. Our study demonstrates that in normal and pathologic breast tissues MCs consistently express the DeltaNp63 isoforms. We suggest p63 as a reliable, highly specific, and sensitive MC marker in both histologic and cytologic preparations. Furthermore, because p63 immunoreactivity in adult epithelia is normally restricted to progenitor cells, it can be speculated that it might be a clue for the identification of the still elusive breast progenitor cells.
Biomarkers, Tumor↗
Prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in severe refractory ulcerative and Crohn's colitis.
OBJECTIVES: Cytomegalovirus infection has been reported as a cause of refractory inflammatory bowel disease, but no data are available on its prevalence in severe colitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and outcome of cytomegalovirus infection in a consecutive series of patients with severe steroid refractory colitis admitted to our department from 1997 to 1999. METHODS: Among 62 patients with severe colitis, 55 with ulcerative colitis and seven with Crohn's disease, 19 (30%) were resistant to intravenous steroids and bowel rest. In all of them, rectal biopsies were examined for cytomegalovirus (the flexible proctoscopy being performed without air insufflation and limited to the first 10 cm). Buffy coat preparation on leukocytes was also performed to detect systemic infection. If cytomegalovirus was not detected, cyclosporine was started. RESULTS: In seven (five with ulcerative colitis and two with Crohn's disease) out of 19 (36%) patients with refractory disease, cytomegalovirus was diagnosed in the rectal specimens as well as by buffy coat preparation. Five patients went into remission after antiviral treatment (three with ganciclovir and two with foscarnet). One patient did not respond and was operated on. In one patient, cytomegalovirus was found in the surgical specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Cytomegalovirus infection is a frequent cause of severe refractory colitis. Rectal biopsy should always be performed in severe steroid-resistant colitis.
Adult↗
Neuroprotective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract in brain ischemia are mediated by inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis.
We studied the effects of pre-treatment (15 days) with oral administration of Ginkgo biloba extract (Ph-Gb 37.5-150 mg/kg) on brain malonildialdehyde (MDA), brain edema, brain nitrite and nitrate and delayed neuronal death following transient cerebral ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil. Survival was not modified, however, pre-treatment with Ginkgo biloba significantly and in a dose-dependent way reduced post-ischemic brain MDA levels and post-ischemic brain edema. Delayed neuronal death in the CA1 of the hippocampus was attenuated by the highest dose of the extract. Increase of nitrite and nitrate was observed after cerebral ischemia in the hippocampus and it was dose-dependently reduced in animals pretreated with Ph-Gb, thus suggesting that neuroprotective effects of Ginkgo biloba may be due to an inhibitory action on nitric oxide formation.
Administration, Oral↗
Liver enzyme activities of rats exposed to ochratoxin A and T-2 toxin with antioxidants.
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Administration, Oral↗
Features and outcome of neuroblastoma detected before birth.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The growing use of routine ultrasonography during pregnancy is leading to an increasing number of prenatally diagnosed neuroblastomas. Optimal strategy has not yet been defined for these patients, because knowledge on this particular neuroblastoma (NB) population is still limited. However, definite guidelines are needed to avoid inadequate treatment. The authors analyzed the cases of antenatally detected NB (ADNB) reported in the Italian Neuroblastoma Registry during the past 6 years to elucidate the features of this subset of NB. METHODS: The Italian Neuroblastoma Registry was reviewed for the period January 1993 to December 1998 to collect clinical, radiographic, surgical, and histopathological data on ADNB cases. NB stage was evaluated according to INSS criteria. All patients had undergone imaging (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) of the primary tumor and bone marrow biopsy before surgical resection. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were identified. Primary tumour site was adrenal glands in 16 cases and retroperitoneal ganglia in 1. Stage distribution was stage I, 13 cases; stage II-A, 1 case; stage II-B, 1 case; stage IV-S, 2 cases. All cases underwent primary tumour resection. Mean age at surgery was 4 weeks. Resection of primary tumor was radical in 16 cases, partial in 1. All tumors were characterised by favourable histology according to Shimada classification. N-myc gene amplification was studied in 14 patients. N-myc amplification was detected only in a newborn with stage II-A NB, who died of massive bleeding 2 days after tumor resection. DNA index and 1p deletion were studied in 11 and 8 patients, respectively. Both diploidy and deletion of 1p were observed in a newborn who subsequently died of disease progression despite surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Fourteen of 17 patients currently are alive and free of disease, and one with IV-S NB and short follow-up is alive with disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our data give evidence that in most cases infants with ADNB represent a subset of patients with excellent outcome. Aggressive treatment may not always be necessary. Infants with ADNB with unfavorable features should undergo early surgical excision, whereas patients with favourable features could be observed awaiting spontaneous regression of the mass, reserving delayed surgery for tumors that increase in size or do not regress.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
Dacron carotid patch infection: a report of eight cases.
From 1995 through 1998, we encountered eight patients with infected Dacron patches after previous carotid endarterectomy. Two of the original operations had been done elsewhere, but the six patients who were collected from our own series represented 0.5% of the 1258 carotid endarterectomies we performed and 1.8% of the 340 synthetic carotid patches we applied without any comparable infections among another 918 patients who received either vein patch angioplasty (n = 843) or primary arteriotomy closure (n = 74) during the same 4-year study period. With a single exception ("no growth"), bacterial cultures that were obtained at the time of the eight reoperations revealed Staphylococcus (n = 4) or Streptococcus (n = 3) species. All of the infected Dacron patches were removed and were replaced with saphenous vein patches (n = 5) or interposition grafts (n = 3), after which appropriate oral (n = 2) or intravenous (n = 6) antibiotics were administered for 2 to 6 weeks. No postoperative deaths occurred, but there were 2 temporary cranial nerve injuries, 1 myocardial infarction, and 1 stroke that was related to preoperative angiography. A recurrent carotid infection has not developed in any of the eight patients during a mean follow-up interval of 16 months (range, 3-36 months).
Aged↗
Inhibition of neutral endopeptidase potentiates the effects of atrial natriuretic peptide on acute cyclosporin-induced nephrotoxicity.
BACKGROUND: The use of cyclosporin A (CyA) is limited by its significant nephrotoxicity. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has been shown to ameliorate the reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) induced by CyA, but its effect is transient. One explanation may be the rapid breakdown of this hormone by neutral endopeptidase (NEP) which is highly active in the kidney. In the present study, we examined the effect of the NEP inhibitor thiorphan on the acute fall in GFR induced by CyA. METHODS: After a first set of experiments to investigate the renal hemodynamic effects of CyA (20 mg.kg(-1), i.v. bolus), we studied four additional conditions where acute CyA treatment was followed by the administration of: (2) ANP alone (10 microg.kg(-1) i.v. as bolus and a maintenance infusion of 1 microg. kg(-1).min(-1)); (3) thiorphan alone (5 mg.kg(-1) i.v. as bolus and a maintenance infusion of 0.5 mg.kg(-1). min(-1)); (4) ANP plus thiorphan (as in 2 and 3), and (5) an infusion of 0.9% saline, increased from 1.2 to 3 ml.h(-1). The GFR was measured as the clearance of (3)H-methoxyinulin (ml.min(-1).100 g(-1) body weight). RESULTS: The data show: (1) the GFR fell from 1.06 +/- 0.15 to 0.59 +/- 0.09 ml.min(-1).100 g(-1) (p < 0.01) 60 min after CyA and remained depressed for at least 2 h; (2) ANP caused a marked initial rise in GFR from 0.49 +/- 0.07 to 1.23 +/- 0.18 ml.min(-1).100 g(-1) (p < 0.005 vs. CyA) which declined rapidly to the value seen after CyA injection alone, despite continuing ANP infusion; (3) thiorphan caused a modest, but significant increase in GFR within 15 min from 0.48 +/- 0.04 to 0.69 +/- 0.10 ml.min(-1).100 g(-1) (p < 0.05 vs. CyA) which was sustained during infusion and for at least 30 min after stopping infusion; (4) ANP plus thiorphan produced a marked increase in GFR from 0.58 +/- 0.09 to 1.39 +/- 0.44 ml.min(-1).100 g(-1) (p < 0.05 vs. CyA) which then decreased, but remained above the post-CyA injection value, until infusion of both drugs ended; (5) more than doubling the saline infusion rate per se had no significant effect on the GFR response to CyA. The blood pressure decreased significantly during ANP infusion, but more so when combined with thiorphan. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the inhibition of NEP by thiorphan is able to ameliorate partially the reduction in GFR induced by CyA and to enhance, and prolong, the vasodilator and diuretic effects of ANP.
Acute Disease↗
Evaluation of the antibacterial and hemolytic activities of Latvian herbal preparation.
Three extracts originating from a combination of various Latvian plant species were tested for their antibacterial activities by evaluating growth delays using a fully automated microturbidimetric method. Ten different human and bovine strains of the genera Staphylococcus and Micrococcus were used as test microorganisms. The inhibitory effect in vitro was defined as the difference between the growth rate without herbs and the growth rate in the presence of an extract. Among the tested strains, Staphylococcus aureus was found sensitive to all 3 extracts. However, extract I was the most effective in slowing the growth of all strains tested. Using appropriate tester strains it should be possible to set up a broad-range microtubidimetry assay for individual herb screening in vitro. The hemolytic effects of the individual extracts on human erythrocytes were also studied at different concentrations. Two of the herbal extracts had minimal lytic effects on eurocaryotic cells. An additional hemolysis test was conducted in the presence of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) as a free radical scavenger: CoQ10 had no effect on the hemolytic reaction.
Animals↗
[Intractable diarrhea and neuroblastoma: report of a clinical case].
One of the typical presentations of neuroblastoma is intractable diarrhea or wdha (watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, achloridria). The case admitted to our Pediatric Surgery Department presented watery diarrhea due to VIP hyperincretion caused by a stage 1 neuroblastoma, whose ablation allowed a complete resolution of the clinical conditions. This case report can be useful in the discussion of the differential diagnosis of the most common clinical pictures.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
Fumonisin B1-induced DNA damage in rat liver and spleen: effects of pretreatment with coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, alpha-tocopherol and selenium.
Active oxygen radical species are reported to cause organ damage. This study was designed to determine whether oxidative stress contributed to the initiation or progression of hepatic and splenic cell DNA damage induced by fumonisin B1 (FB1) in rats. Another aim was to investigate the protective effects of the antioxidants coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), L-carnitine, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and selenium against DNA damage in the liver and spleen of rats treated with FB1. Fasted rats were injected intravenously with a single dose of fumonisin B1 at 1.55 mg kg-1 body wt. into the tail vein. Treatment with FB1 led to splenic and hepatic DNA fragmentation in 85% of the test animals. DNA fragmentation was investigated as a critical event in toxic cell death by testing total Ca2+ in liver. FB1 administration caused total Ca2+ in liver to increase within 4 h (204% of control). Measurement of liver enzyme activities showed an increase in aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT). FB1 also markedly decreased splenic and hepatic glutathione (GSH) levels. Pretreatment with CoQ10 (30 mg CoQ10 kg-1 diet) together with L-carnitine (2.8 mg carnitine kg-1 diet), alpha-tocopherol (30 IU vitamin E kg-1 diet) and selenium (1 mg selenium as sodium selenite kg-1 diet), decreased DNA damage and the activities of Ca2+, ASAT and ALAT in the liver. On the other hand, the level of GSH was slightly increased. The CoQ10 alone did not significantly protect against toxic cell death and glutathione depletion caused by FB1. Oxidative damage caused by FB1 may be one of the underlining mechanisms of FB1-induced cell injury and DNA damage.
Animals↗
Rapid two-stage repair of S,L,L, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary atresia, Ebstein anomaly of the tricuspid valve, and stenotic pulmonary arteries.
The repair of a corrected transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary atresia is presented. An Ebstein anomaly of the tricuspid valve, dextrocardia, and severe distortion of the pulmonary arteries complicated the surgical procedure, which was performed in two stages. Reconstruction of the pulmonary arteries and a bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis were performed first; Rastelli and hemi-Mustard procedures completed the correction. The rationale and the possible indications of this "one and a half ventricle" repair are discussed.
Child↗
Mortality and causes of death in celiac disease in a Mediterranean area.
No data on mortality in celiac disease are currently available in southern Europe. Our aim was to evaluate mortality and the cause of death in adult celiac disease in a Mediterranean area. In all, 228 adults with celiac disease were histologically diagnosed in our department from 1980 to 1997. Full information on their state of health was obtained in 216 of 228 patients. A tabulation of patient-years at risk was constructed in terms of age at diagnosis and the interval from diagnosis. Standardized mortality ratio was calculated by dividing the number of observed deaths by the number of expected deaths. Twelve deaths were observed, whereas 3.12 deaths were expected (SMR = 3.8; 95% CI 2-7). The increased mortality was mainly observed within four years from diagnosis (8 observed; 1.4 expected) (SMR = 5.8; 95% CI 2.5-11.5). Twelve tumors were observed (six lymphomas). In conclusion, mortality from adult celiac disease in our geographical area is increased compared with the general population, and this increased risk seems due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Adult↗
Gastric and gingival localization of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. An immunohistochemical, virological and clinical case report.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) are characterized by their mucosal and glandular tissue localization. The case described here falls into the European-American classification of a low-grade B-cell lymphoma of the MALT type, with a gingival lesion 2 years after a gastric lesion. The pathogenetic mechanisms of NHL in oral MALT and the diagnosis and treatment are discussed.
DNA, Viral↗
Effects of tamoxifen, melatonin, coenzyme Q10, and L-carnitine supplementation on bacterial growth in the presence of mycotoxins.
The involvement of toxic oxygen intermediates in the bacteriostatic effects of mycotoxins (T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, aflatoxin B1, and fumonisin B1) was investigated by producing bacterial growth curves using turbidimetry assays in the presence and absence of oxygen radical-scavenging substances. The strains used in this study included Escherichia coli (FT 101), Streptococcus agalactiae (FT 311, FT 313, FT 315), Staphylococcus aureus (FT 192), Yersinia enterocolitica (FT 430), Salmonella infantis (FT 431), Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (FT 432), Lactobacillus plantarum (FT234) and Lactobacillus casei (FT 232). Tamoxifen, melatonin, l-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 were used as radical scavengers against oxygen toxicity to the strains studied. Tamoxifen was the most effective in inhibiting bacterial growth when used at a high concentration, whereas melatonin and l-carnitine were less effective. A combination of l-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 provided better protection against oxygen toxicity caused by the mycotoxins growth than they did individually. It was concluded that oxygen radicals are involved in the killing of bacteria and that there is endogenous formation of toxic oxygen products by mycotoxins. The objective of this study was to determine whether the antioxidants were able to counteract the toxic effects of the mycotoxins. The data obtained indicate that bacterial growth can be inhibited especially by T-2 toxin, aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A and that this effect can be partially counteracted by antioxidants such as coenzyme Q10 plus l-carnitine.
Aflatoxin B1↗
Ultrasonography versus computed tomography in evaluation of the femoral trochlear groove morphology: a pilot study on healthy, young volunteers.
The aim of the study was to verify the efficacy of ultrasonography (US) in evaluating the morphology of normal trochlea, especially the sulcus angle and the trochlear depth, in comparison with computed tomography (CT) (gold standard). The knees of 11 asymptomatic volunteers were subjected to US and CT evaluation of the same section planes and the results were compared. For statistical evaluation Spearman's correlation coefficient analysis was used. A statistically significant correlation was found between the two diagnostic procedures (sulcus angle: r = 0.820; trochlear depth: r = 0.802; Spearman's correlation coefficient) and the intra-observer variability for the US measurements (sulcus angle: r = 0.966; trochlear depth: r = 0.914; Spearman's correlation coefficient). The mean value of sulcus angle and trochlear depth was 132 degrees and 5.6 mm, respectively, similar to those reported in the literature. We conclude that evaluation by US of both sulcus angle and trochlear depth is as reproducible and sensitive as that performed with CT.
Adolescent↗