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Biomedical subjects

C E Urbani

Publications and source records attributed to C E Urbani.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Aberrant mammary tissue and nephrourinary malignancy.

Polythelia (supernumerary nipple) provides a clue to congenital and hereditary malformations of the kidney and the urinary collecting system. It is also regarded as a cutaneous paraneoplastic marker because of the significant association with urogenital malignancies. A 38-year-old man with sporadic left supernumerary nipple without evidence of ear, facies, or gonadal defects or lateral displacement of the nipples was routinely examined for the presence of renal anomalies. Investigation revealed left polycystic kidney disease with adenocarcinoma in the upper pole. The nephrocutaneous defects and renal malignancy showed a peculiar ipsilaterality. The overlap between polythelia, polycystic kidney disease with adenocarcinoma in the upper pole. The nephrocutaneous defects and renal malignancy showed a peculiar ipsilaterality. The overlap between polythelia, polycystic kidney, and renal adenocarcinoma may provide a further clue to the embryonal origin of this cancer.

Adenocarcinoma

Accessory mammary tissue associated with congenital and hereditary nephrourinary malformations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The association between polythelia (supernumerary nipple) and kidney and urinary tract malformations (KUTM) is controversial. Some authors reported this association in newborns and infants. Case-control studies dealing with adult subjects are not found in the literature. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of the association between accessory mammary tissue (AMT) and congenital and hereditary nephrourinary defects in an adult population compared to a control group. METHODS: The study was performed in 146 white patients (123 men, 23 women) with AMT out of 2645 subjects consecutively referred to us for physical examination. The following investigations were undertaken: ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen and the kidneys, ECG, echocardiogram, roentgenogram of the vertebral column, urinalysis, and other laboratory tests. A sex- and age-matched control group without any evidence of AMT or lateral displacement of the nipples underwent the same examinations. RESULTS: Kidney and urinary tract malformations were detected in 11 patients with AMT (nine men, two women) and in one control. These data indicate a significantly higher frequency of KUTM in the AMT-affected patients compared to controls (7.53% vs. 0.68%, P < 0.001). A broad spectrum of KUTM was discovered in association with AMT: adult dominant polycystic kidney disease, unilateral renal agenesis, cystic renal dysplasia, familial renal cysts, and congenital stenosis of the pyeloureteral joint. CONCLUSION: Accessory mammary tissue offers an important clue for congenital and hereditary anomalies of the kidneys and urinary collecting systems. Patients with AMT should, therefore, be extensively examined for the presence of occult nephrouropathies.

Adolescent

Familial aberrant mammary tissue: a clinicoepidemiological survey of 18 cases.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant mammary tissue (AMT) is a common minor cutaneous anomaly located along the embryonic mammary line. It may be sporadic, familial or associated with nephrourinary malformations. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of family history of AMT and its possible inheritance. METHODS: We investigated a population of 156 adult Caucasian subjects affected with AMT. The familial background was evaluated primarily by using a questionnaire and by direct study of family members when available. Renal ultrasound examination was also performed to disclose the presence of kidney and urinary tract malformations. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (11.5%), 12 males and 6 females, had one relative with AMT (parents: 8, sons: 5, brothers/sisters: 3, other: 2). A male-to-male transmission was found in 9 cases (75%), female-to-female and female-to-male ones in 2 cases and a male-to-female one in 1 case. No patient had nephrourinary defects. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of familial AMT in our study is very high and reflects both racial factors and the large number of the subjects surveyed. There is no distinctive clinical pattern for familial AMT, although pseudomamma (13 cases, 72%) and the left-sided location of the defect (66%) may suggest a 'hereditary predisposition'. Inheritance is consistent with an autosomal dominant transmission, although an X-linked dominant transmission is also possible. Finally familial AMT does not seem to be related to a higher association with nephrourinary malformations.

Adult

Epidemiological, clinical and allergological observations on pompholyx.

We have studied a group of 104 patients with pompholyx, to investigate the relationship between allergological factors and its etiopathogenesis. The following examinations were performed: blood sampling (routine tests and IgE levels), allergological tests (patch, prick, intradermal, and oral provovation tests with nickel sulphate), skin biopsy to exclude pemphigus vulgaris or bullous pemphigoid. An accurate history of familial and personal allergic diathesis was enquired for and various possible aggravating factors (season, microclimate, perspiration and emotional stress) were considered. The results were age and sex-matched with a healthy control group (208 subjects). We found familial and personal atopic diathesis in 50% of patients versus 11.5% of controls (p less than 0.001); 39 patients (37.49%) also had high levels of IgE. Nickel sulphate was the allergen with the highest positivity on patch testing: 20.19% versus 6.25% of the control group (p less than 0.001). The % of patients allergic to nickel reached 26%, including those (6 patients) reacting to the oral provocation test. Season (43 patients) and hyperhidrosis (38) were the aggravating factors most commonly claimed. We detected no correlation between age, sex, grading of pompholyx and the allergological parameters investigated. Though several different allergological findings have previously been reported in dyshidrosis, their role in its pathogenesis has not yet been fully explained. We think that different haptens or antigens can produce the same clinical and histological picture of pompholyx in predisposed subjects.

Adolescent

Incidence of polycystic ovaries in patients with late-onset or persistent acne: hormonal reports.

Forty-six women affected by late-onset or persistent acne were studied in order to investigate the frequency of hormonal abnormalities and polycystic ovaries. Hirsutism, perioral distribution of acne lesions and irregular menses were recorded. Hormonal measurements and ovarian echographies were performed. Twenty-four patients were affected with polycystic ovaries, detected by ultrasound scanning. Among the acne patients, the women with ovarian abnormalities had higher values of androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and luteinizing hormone (LH), and a higher LHT/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio than those with acne and without ovarian abnormalities. This study indicates the prevalence of polycystic ovaries in women with late-onset or persistent acne. Moreover, hormonal abnormalities indicate a subgroup of acne patients defined by the presence of ovarian disorders.

Acne Vulgaris

[Oxatomide in the treatment of pruriginous skin diseases of various nature].

A study in two parts was carried out with the aim of developing a formulation of oxatomide for topical dermatological use. During the first part of the study the safety of 4 formulations (cream and gel at 2.5% and 5%) was evaluated by means of the patch-test, while in the second a clinical trial was carried out in order to assess the anti-itching efficacy of the formulation chosen on the basis of the results of the first part (gel 5%). During the double blind study of safety, only one patient out of 33 studied showed a reaction, and with all formulations. In the second part of the study 30 patients (16 F, 14 M) were admitted, aged between 13 and 77 years (mean age 48.2) and suffering from cutaneous diseases with itching. The study was open and each subject applied oxatomide gel at 5% twice a day for 14 days. There was a subsequent follow-up without therapy of 14 days. During the study a significant (p less than 0.01 between times) improvement in lesions was observed, with an average reduction of 61% for itching, 54% for erythema, 60% for excoriations and 59% for lichenification. Acceptability and safety were good. Only one subject suspended treatment due to the onset of burning on the site of application. In the follow-up period the therapeutic results achieved were generally maintained.

Adolescent

[Skin diseases and primarily dermatologic cutaneous manifestations of venous disorders. Clinical elements and differential diagnosis].

The paper describes the most common dermatoses having a venous pathogenesis, with particular reference, because of their incidence, to the cutaneous manifestations of varicose syndrome. The pathophysiological basis, clinical picture and diagnostic investigations of dermatoses in venous diseases are discussed and compared with other cutaneous manifestations of non-venous diseases with which they are easily confused. The great importance of a specialised multidisciplinary approach for the correct management of a patient with these dermatological problems is emphasised.

Diagnosis, Differential