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Biomedical subjects

C Parravicini

Publications and source records attributed to C Parravicini.

72 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Recurrences of isolated leukemic hypopyon in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The authors report follow-up observations for a case of isolated leukemic uveopathy that was first diagnosed in an 11-year-old girl shortly after cessation of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Prior therapy for the complication included systemic antiblastic chemotherapy and low doses of radiation (3.9 Gy) to the affected eye. In July 1979, 2 months after chemotherapy was stopped for the second time, she presented with recurrent leukemic hypopyon in the left eye and was treated again with antiblastic chemotherapy followed in 1 year by high-dose (20 Gy) local irradiation. After a third recurrence, which was diagnosed as pre-B/B-cell ALL with a variable position of maturation arrest, enucleation was performed. The patient remains in complete remission for 26+ months after an additional course of systemic chemotherapy. This case illustrates the difficulty of eradicating leukemic cells from the eye with conventional treatment but suggests that a relapse in this site is not necessarily an ominous prognostic sign.

Adult↗

Increase of OKT4+ cells during treatment with thymostimulin in parenteral drug addicts with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.

Thymostimulin (TP-1), a parenterally administered calf thymus extract, has induced a significant increase of OKT4+ peripheral cells in 9 drug addicts with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy; OKT4+ lymphocytes decreased gradually after withdrawal of treatment. In a control group, a spontaneous decrease occurred in the same period of observation. A more prolonged treatment should be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the drug on the evolution of the disease.

Adult↗

Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy in drug addicts: immunological studies.

The persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) in drug addicts displays the same immunological abnormalities previously found in homosexual and haemophiliac men with PGL: impaired in vivo and in vitro T cell functions, inverted T4/T8 ratio in blood and B cell abnormalities. The peripheral blood B-lymphocytes, in fact, show a reduced in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis after pokeweed mitogen and Staphylococcus aureus activation, with an increased spontaneous IgG secretion. In the lymph node biopsies, the immuno-histological studies reveal an infiltration of OKT8 positive cells in the germinal centers, a depletion of OKT4 positive lymphocytes slighter than in the blood and an explosive follicular hyperplasia with a striking destruction of the dendritic reticulum cell framework. This latter finding, together with the high levels of serum IgG and the presence of preactivated B cells in the blood, seems to be consistent with the presence of an in vivo polyclonal B cell activation. A high incidence of anti-HTLV III antibodies was also found in the PGL drug addicts. The significance of these findings is discussed in this report.

Adult↗

Giant coeloadenoma of the kidney.

A case of giant adenoma of the kidney is described with special regard to the histological and ultrastructural features of the neoplastic cells. The tumoral proliferation consisted mainly of clear and dark epithelial cells among which cells of a third type are occasionally interspersed. A possible origin of this last population from the coelomatic lining is suggested and the hypothesis of a dysontogenetic nature of the neoplasia is purposed.

Adenoma↗

[Generalized and persistent lymphadenopathy in drug addicts: clinical and epidemiological aspects].

Persistent unexplained lymphadenopathy with intermittent fever, weight loss, night sweats and malaise was observed in the period from March 1983 to April 1984 in 66 intravenous drug addicts living in Milan. A high percent of these subjects showed cellular immunity alterations, with significant decrease of total lymphocyte count (p less than 0.001) and of OKT4+ cells (percent and absolute number) (p less than 0.001) OKT8+ cells were augmented in percent, but not in absolute count. OKT4/OKT8 cell ratio were inverted, with significant reduction versus the healthy controls (p less than 0.001). IgG mean concentrations were significantly higher than the normal (p less than 0.001). Anergy or hypoergy to recall skin testing were evidenced in 58/66 patients. Cases of persistent unexplained lymphadenopathy associated with abnormalities of cellular immunity are considered as a possible prodrom of AIDS and were frequently observed in high risk populations. The occurrence of this clinical syndrome in a urban area may be premonitory of further progression to the epidemic. It will be necessary to assess whether this clinical and immunological picture will result in some of these patients in full blown acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Neuroimmunology in multiple sclerosis.

A review of latest immunological interpretations regarding the pathogenesis of Multiple the Sclerosis. Data on a new immunoenzymatic method for the identification of blood lymphocyte populations are presented together with preliminary results relating to an immunogenetic correlation between primary affective disorders and Multiple Sclerosis.

Antibody Formation↗

Human malignant diffuse mesothelioma: submicroscopic study on the epithelial component.

A submicroscopic analysis of eight cases of malignant diffuse mesothelioma was performed. Unlike normal and hyperplastic mesothelium, well differentiated neoplastic cells were found to have a prominent RER and a conspicuous Golgi system. By using a postfixation in osmium ferrocyanide, an amorphous substance was observed in the extracellular space. These features may be related to the ability of malignant diffuse mesothelioma to produce large amounts of hyaluronic acid. The significance of groups of membrane bound dense bodies found in seven of eight cases examined is also discussed.

Cell Membrane↗

Outbreak of persistent, unexplained, generalized lymphadenopathy with immunological abnormalities in drug addicts in Milan.

Persistent unexplained lymphadenopathy (LAS) with intermittent fever, weight loss, night sweats and malaise was observed from March to October 1983 in 16 of 133 intravenous drug addicts who had been followed for at least two years in a Center for Drug Addicts Assistance in Milan, Italy. All the subjects lived in a restricted suburban area and indulged in frequent toxicomanic practices and mutual sexual intercourse. The subjects showed immunological alterations such as lymphopenia (50%), decreased T helper/T suppressor ratio (93%), both these abnormalities (43%), decreased T helper cells (75%), increased T suppressor cytotoxic cells (81%), decreased natural killer (NK) activity (77%), anergy (50%) or hypoergy (43%) to recall skin testing and elevated levels of IgG (87%). Anti-HTLV III antibodies were found in 14 of 16 (87%) patients with LAS and in 3 of 11 (27%) symptom-free drug addicts belonging to the same group. It will be important to assess in the future whether this clinical and immunological picture results in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in an area so far untouched by this disease.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Monocyte/macrophage giant cell disease in SIV-infected cynomolgus monkeys.

A non-opportunistic, generalized giant cell disease (GCD) was found in 12 out of 25 (48%) cynomologus monkeys infected with SIVsm. Most organs were affected notably the lymph nodes (LN), spleen, gut, liver, lungs and CNS. The multinucleated GC varied considerably in cell size and in the number and cytoplasmic distribution of the nuclei. Immunohistochemically most GC expressed SIV antigens and markers of mononuclear phagocytes (CD68), CD4 and also occasionally the T-cell markers CD45RO, CD43 and CD2. Monkeys with GCD had more pronounced immunosuppression with lower CD4-cell counts, more often demonstrable SIV antigen in the blood and LN and had been infected for a longer time period, as compared to monkeys without GCD. These findings show that SIV infection in cynomolgus monkeys is frequently associated with extensive formation of multinucleated GC of macrophage origin, which appears to be related to the pathogenesis of the infection and the degree of immunosuppression.

Animals↗

Establishment and characterization of two new Kaposi's sarcoma cell cultures from an AIDS and a non-AIDS patient.

We have established and characterized two new Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) cell lines derived from skin biopsies: AIDS-KSISTIV (from an AIDS-associated KS) and KSISTVIII (from a sporadic KS). AIDS-KSISTIV and KSISTVIII are composed mostly of spindle-shaped cells. They show similar patterns of immunohistochemical staining and are positive for smooth muscle (smooth muscle alpha-actin) and fibroblastoid (TE7) markers. Neither of these lines express the endothelial marker von Willebrand factor VIII. These immunohistochemical patterns are similar to numerous other KS lines that we and others have established. When seeded on a reconstituted basement membrane ("Matrigel"), AIDS-KSISTIV and KSISTVIII cells form branching colonies and invade into the Matrigel, as do other KS cultures that we have previously examined. This behaviour on Matrigel is similar to that of malignant sarcoma cells of different origin. The expression of vimentin and the morphology of the invasive colonies on Matrigel suggest that KS-derived cells are poorly differentiated mesenchymal cells. KS lesions are characterized by a conspicuous neovascularization, which appears to be derived from host cell recruitment. We tested the capability of the KS-cell supernatants to induce an angiogenic response in vitro. The new lines are able to stimulate human endothelial cell chemotaxis and invasion through Matrigel-coated filters. No differences in angiogenic potential in vitro were observed between the AIDS and the non-AIDS case, as we previously noted for other established cultures. Our new lines have the properties of true KS cells and confirm that KS spindle cells from HIV-positive or -negative patients have identical phenotypic and behavioural characteristics in vitro.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

RER-associated structure in parathyroid glands removed because of tertiary hyperparathyroidism.

We have performed a submicroscopic analysis of the parathyroid glands removed from 2 patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism. In both cases an RER-associated structure was found, which has never been described in normal or pathologic conditions in protein-secreting cells. This finding was present in only one of the glands of each patient. Their morphologic features are described. The significance of this structure is also discussed.

Adult↗

[Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis: report of a case with a favorable response to cyclophophamide therapy].

A 13-years old boy who presented a severe degree of iron-deficiency anemia and diffuse parenchimal infiltrates on the chest roentgenogram is reported. The clinical picture and the presence of hemosiderin laden macrophages in bronchial washing suggest Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis (I.P.H.): open lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Immunofluorescence studies showed no deposition of IgG, IgA, IgM and B1C in the lung. The most striking abnormality observed at electron microscopy was hemosiderin deposition in the alveolar-capillary basement membrane. One year after cyclophosphamide therapy was both in complete hematologic and pulmonary remission.

Adolescent↗