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Biomedical subjects

F Orlandi

Publications and source records attributed to F Orlandi.

169 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

[Evaluation of some blood clotting parameters in relation to the administration of estroprogestins].

A number of blood clotting parameters have been determined in the plasma of 25 women who had not previously taken steroid contraceptives. After the administration of an oestroprogestinic association (ethynyloestradiol 0.05 mg + norgestrol 0.25 mg) for five cycles, the same subjects were controlled again for the determination of the same haematochemical parameters. The changes observed highlighted a marked increase in fibrinogenaemia and fibrinolysis, a slight rise in associated clotting factors II-VII-X, no change in the activity of antithrombin III and platelet aggregation.

Adolescent↗

Bone marrow transplantation in Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II): two-year follow-up of the first Italian patient and review of the literature.

A patient with Hunter syndrome, or mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS-osis II), was subjected to bone marrow transplantation (BMT), at the age of 2 9/12 years. A two-year follow-up ensued to the purpose of comparing clinical, biochemical, neuropsychologic status pre- and post-BMT. From the clinical standpoint, a complete normalization of hepatosplenomegaly was observed. In addition the skin decreased in thickness and joint mobility improved. The echocardiography showed normalization of left ventricle size. With the exception of verbal capabilities, there was no further deterioration of the neuropsychologic profile. The ultrastructural examination of the liver showed an almost total disappearance of storage material. Normal iduronate sulfatase levels in leukocytes and lymphoblasts were constantly found after BMT. A qualitative and quantitative improvement in urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG) excretion was also found. The effectiveness of the BMT in our patient is also assessed in the context of the few cases of MPS-osis II that have been reported to date. A final evaluation of the efficacy of BMT in MPS-osis II will be possible only when a higher number of patients, diagnosed as early as possible and transplanted within the first months of life, can be followed-up for more extended periods of time.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Biochemical picture of bone metabolism in breast cancer patients with bone metastases.

A panel of bone turn-over markers was assessed in 75 normocalcemic patients bearing bone metastases from breast cancer (BC), and in 25 advanced/metastatic BC patients without clinical appearance of bone involvement. 115 healthy women, stratified in three subgroups according to age served as controls. Bone formation was investigated by measuring serum carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP), Bone Gla Protein (BGP, osteocalcin), bone isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (BALP); bone resorption by measuring serum carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), fasting urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine (OHPro/Cr) and calcium/creatinine (Ca/Cr). In patients with bone metastases the percent of supranormal values (higher than mean plus 2 SD of the age-matched controls) ranged between 25% and 40% for indices of bone formation, about 73% for both ICTP and OHPro/Cr and about 30% for Ca/Cr. The median levels of all bone turn-over markers were higher in bone metastatic patients than in those without apparent skeletal involvement, but significance was attained only for OHPro/Cr, Ca/Cr and BALP. Supranormal levels of ICTP and OHPro/Cr were also found in about 65-70% of patients without apparent skeletal involvement. ICTP and Ca/Cr significantly correlated with bone pain score, BALP, ICTP, Ca/Cr significantly correlated with the number of tumour appearances in bone. In conclusion, the bone resorption indices, ICTP and OHPro/Cr, are much more frequently elevated than bone formation indices in BC patients with or without skeletal involvement. Their potential use in the early detection of bone metastases is hampered by the insufficient knowledge on specificity. Among the biochemical markers evaluated, Ca/Cr, ICTP and BALP, due to correlation with clinical aspects, appear the most interesting for follow-up studies.

Adult↗

Differential integrin expression in thyroid and laryngeal carcinomas.

Several laryngeal and thyroid carcinomas were studied immunohistochemically to evaluate whether the expression and distribution of integrins and basal lamina components can represent reproducible markers for correct early diagnosis and prognosis. In laryngeal cancers, the depolarization and pericellular redistribution of alpha 3 beta 1 and alpha 6 beta 4, and focal or massive fragmentation of the basal lamina, according to tumor prognosis, occurred. In thyroid carcinomas, loss of polar topography of alpha 3 beta 1 and neo-expression of alpha 6 beta 4 in histopathologically or clinically aggressive cancers were observed. Therefore, the addition of a panel of adhesion molecules to the toolbox of surgical pathologists may improve diagnostic and prognostic procedures.

Adult↗