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Biomedical subjects

A Tursi

Publications and source records attributed to A Tursi.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
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Immune response in patients with oral lichen planus and HCV infection.

In recent years an association between oral lichen planus (OLP) and HCV infection has been reported, but the frequency of this association seems to differ in the various geographic areas. It is clear, instead, that some abnormalities occur in the immune-regulation mechanisms of patients with OLP and it is thought to be due to the chronic antigenic stimulus of HCV that causes functional disorders of the immune system in infected patients. Possible immunologic difference between 17 patients with OLP and HCV+ and 17 patients with OLP and HCV- were investigated using standard immunofluorescence and flow cytometry techniques. The distribution of T and B cells was normal in all patients examined, while NK CD56+ cells were increased, above all in HCV- patients. About 65% of T CD4+ lymphocytes coexpressed the CD45RO isoform (p=0.002), while approximately 32% expressed CD45RA, without significant differences in comparison to HCV+ subjects (p>0.05). Moreover, almost all the CD4+CD45RO+ subpopulation coexpressed CD29 in all patients examined. No significant differences between the two groups of patients were detected as to the increase of cytotoxic T CD8+CD57+ lymphocytes. The B cells CD19+CD5+ responsible for the production of "natural" antibodies were detectable in both the examined groups, even if not in all HCV+ subjects (30% +/- 10.1 in HCV- and 27% +/- 19.4 in HCV+ patients; p=0.47). These findings suggest the existence of differences in lymphocyte subpopulations between OLP-HCV+ subjects and OLP-HCV- patients.

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Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Cyclooxygenase (COX), the key enzyme in prostaglandin cascade, is expressed in two isoforms: the constitutive COX-1 and the inducible COX-2. Hyper-expression of COX-2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of colon-rectal cancer in humans but it appears to play a significant role as a tumour progression factor also in other forms of human cancer, including oral cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of COX-2, at the protein level, in 45 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Standard immunohistochemical streptavidin-biotin peroxidase analysis was carried out with highly specific antibody against human COX-2 and cell specific markers, in 45 oral squamous cell carcinomas. Our study revealed a moderate to high COX-2 expression in 35 out of the 45 oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens (77.8%). COX-2 expression appeared particularly abundant in the superficial ulcerated layers of relatively well differentiated carcinomas. However, we were unable to assess any statistically significant association between COX-2 hyper-expression and tumor site, tumor grading, tumor size, presence of lymph node metastases, tumor stage and age at onset, respectively. Interestingly, COX-2 expression was detected not only in areas of epithelial dysplasia adjacent to the primary layers (86% of the cases) but also in normal-appearing epithelium at the boundaries of squamous cell carcinoma (77%), indicating a possible involvement in tumour progression by the apparently normal tissue surrounding the lesion. Moreover, intense COX-2 staining was observed in endothelial cells of intra-tumour vessels and extra-tumour vessels adjacent to the tumour nests, in a high proportion of cases (82%). COX-2 positivity was associated with CD34 and VEGF positivity, indicating that these vessels were probably neo-formed ones. From this study as well as from other works, it appears that indeed COX-2 is over-expressed in this important human malignancy. However, further studies are necessary to understand the exact magnitude of this over-expression and, mostly, the possible role of COX-2 in the pathogenesis and progression of oral cancer.

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Prevalence and clinical presentation of subclinical/silent celiac disease in adults: an analysis on a 12-year observation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In recent years, an increased incidence of subclinical/silent celiac disease has been reported. Thus, we herein describe the prevalence and the clinical presentation of subclinical/silent celiac disease in 252 consecutive diagnosed celiac patients. METHODOLOGY: From 1988 to 1999 we diagnosed 252 celiac patients (74M and 178F, mean age: 27.9 yrs; range: 15-65 yrs, F/M ratio: 2.4). 144 patients were referred to us due to gastrointestinal symptoms, while 108 were referred to us from other specialists due to unexplained or unresponsive disease. All patients underwent both total immunoglobulin A and antigliadin antibodies antiendomysium antibody and evaluation, followed by gastrointestinal endoscopy with duodenal histological examination. RESULTS: 144 (57.14%) and 108 (42.86%) patients showed classical and subclinical/silent celiac disease, respectively. The most frequent extraintestinal marker of subclinical celiac disease were iron-deficiency anemia (27.77%), alopecia and dermatitis herpetiformis (11.36%), osteoporosis (6.81%) and recurrent aphtous stomatitis (5.68%), while first-degree relatives (30%), Basedow's disease (25%) and insulin-dependent diabetes (20%) were the most frequent in silent celiac disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the extremely polymorphic nature of this condition that can affect several organs and apparatus without gastrointestinal symptoms. However, a more precise description of subclinical/silent celiac disease can only emerge from screening studies on general populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multicenter double-blind comparative study of terfenadine and cetirizine in hay fever.

The efficacy and safety of terfenadine in the management of hay fever were compared with those of cetirizine in a multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group study, carried out during the 1990 spring pollen season. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups of treatment, 70 patients being given terfenadine 120 mg, and 72 patients cetirizine 10 mg, once daily for 7 days. The severity of the main symptoms was evaluated at baseline and after treatment by a 4-point rating scale. In addition, the overall symptom severity was recorded daily by the patient on a diary card. Both terfenadine and cetirizine produced significant relief of symptoms by the end of treatment, with a decrease in symptom severity ranging from 46 to 69% for terfenadine and from 40 to 55% for cetirizine. Adverse effects experienced by terfenadine- and cetirizine-treated patients were mainly drowsiness, with minor differences between the two groups. The results of this study confirmed previous experiences, showing that both terfenadine and cetirizine once daily should be regarded as effective drugs for the management of hay fever.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Symptomatic gastric leiomyoma mimicking giant gastric polyp: endoscopic diagnosis and removal.

Gastric leiomyoma is an uncommonly found benign submucosal neoplasm which may cause hemorrhage in rare cases. A 67-years-old patient was admitted to our attention due to two episodes of hematemesis and melena occurred in the previous two days. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a giant semi-pedunculated gastric polyp (diameter of 4 centimeters) located at the distal body. A large ulcer with a clot was seen on the polyp. We treated endoscopically the giant polyp using the new two-steps-technique recently described by us for the treatment of the large pedunculated gastric and colorectal polyps, and the polypectomy was successfully performed without immediate or delayed complications. Histological evaluation of the transected polyp revealed morphology according to a gastric submucosal leiomyoma. Endoscopic control, performed one and four weeks and 12 months later, showed complete reepithelization of the gastric mucosa, without any sign of endoscopic, endosonographic and histological recurrence of the disease. This case report shows that our endoscopic approach may be successfully used also for giant semi-pedunculated gastric polyps.

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[Pseudo-allergic reactions].

The pathogenetic, clinical and epidemiological aspects of Pseudo-Allergic Reactions (PAR) are reported, as well as the diagnostic approach. PAR represent an emerging syndrome with increasing frequency, correlated to the increasing diffusion of drugs, foods and food-additives, which should draw the care and research of Allergologists.

Drug Hypersensitivity↗