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Biomedical subjects

F Paraf

Publications and source records attributed to F Paraf.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Deposition and remodelling of elastic fibres in chronic hepatitis.

A longitudinal study of elastic fibres was conducted in liver biopsies from 21 patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Biopsies were taken at the start of treatment with alpha-interferon, and after 6 months or 1 year of treatment. No elastic fibres could be detected in portal tracts or fibrous septa when inflammation and necrosis were present, whatever the duration of the disease. Once the liver lesions had healed, elastic fibres were synthesized. Fibres were of two types and patterns: at first, they were thin, long and parallel to each other. Later, they were thicker, shorter and tortuous and were closely wrapped around thick bundles of collagen fibres. These findings suggest that the deposition of elastic fibres acts as a marker of healing in chronic active hepatitis and that their remodelling occurs concomitantly with the deposit of large bundles of collagen fibres.

Biopsy

[Demonstration of muscular activity in the human aorta. Effects of trinitrin].

The human thoracic aorta is usually considered to be a purely elastic vessel. Transoesophageal echo-cardiography (TEE) provides a new approach to study the mechanical properties of the descending aorta. The aim of the study was to evaluate the reproducibility and accuracy of M mode recordings of the human descending thoracic aorta and to appreciate the changes produced by an infusion of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). The reproducibility of M mode recordings was studied in vitro on plexiglass tubes of different calibre, and also in vivo, the inter and intra-observer error was estimated to 0.6% in vitro and 1% in vivo. The accuracy of the method was evaluated in vitro by comparing the measured values (MV) with the actual diameters of the plexiglass tubes (T): MV = 1.012T + 0.9; r = 0.99; SE = 0.8 mm. The systolic and diastolic diameters of the descending thoracic aorta were measured in 8 healthy volunteers by TEE, before and during continuous intravenous infusion of GTN at a rate of 0.9 mg/hr and then 1.35 mg/hr after a 10 minutes interval. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were recorded automatically every minute. The results showed a very significant increase in the systolic (from 20.3 +/- 0.7 to 20.9 +/- 1.3 and 22.1 +/- 2.2 mm) and diastolic diameters of the aorta (from 18.3 +/- 0.7 to 19.1 +/- 1.4 and 20.1 +/- 2.4 mm) despite a fall in systolic blood pressure (from 121.3 +/- 7.7 to 114.5 +/- 6.6 and 108.4 +/- 5.4 mmHg). This study shows that TEE is a reliable and reproducible method of measuring the diameter of the human descending thoracic aorta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

[Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus].

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas are frequent in the bronchial tree, but are very are in the gastrointestinal tract. A 51-year-old woman underwent total esophagectomy for an ulcerated tumor of the lower third of esophagus. Pathologic examination showed an infiltrating small cell carcinoma, and immunohistochemical analysis proved it to be neuroendocrine. The patient died 2 months later from respiratory failure related to pleuritic metastases. Review of the 162 previously published cases showed a mean survival of 6.2 months, and rapid dissemination of metastatic disease, as in our case. As for small cell bronchial carcinoma, systemic chemotherapy should be considered for neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus.

Carcinoma, Small Cell

[A rare tumor of the mediastinum: benign hemangioma].

Mediastinal hemangiomas are rare tumours occurring more often in children and young adults. A new case is reported in a 21 years old male who had an anterior mediastinal mass detected on a routine chest roentgenogram. Pre-operative investigations including CT, venous digital angiography, MRI did not aid in the right diagnosis. The mass was totally removed surgically although involving extensively adjacent structures. Histologic examination of the tumour showed it to be a benign venous hemangioma. Clinical, radiological, pathologic features of mediastinal hemangiomas are reviewed and discussed.

Adult

[Cardiac pathology in human immunodeficiency virus infection].

Clinical cardiac manifestations are rare in the course of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), but cardiac lesions can be found at autopsy in 60% of cases. Myocardium and pericardium are the most frequently involved. Cardiac involvement in opportunistic infections, Kaposi's sarcoma, and non Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas usually reflects systemic dissemination of the disease. Idiopathic myocarditis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may also occur and may be related to human immunodeficiency virus. Dysautonomia and drug-induced cardiac lesions have also been reported. Cardiac involvement of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in children is characterized by possible lesions of conduction tissue.

Adult

Primary liposarcoma of the heart.

We report the eleventh illustrated case of primary liposarcoma of the heart in a 28-year-old man. The tumor arose from the mitral valve and the left ventricle and was revealed by a solitary brain metastasis 1 year before. The primary tumor and the metastasis were surgically removed. The cardiac and brain neoplasms were myxoid liposarcoma, as confirmed by histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural studies. Although review of the literature points out the poor survival of patients with malignant liposarcoma of the heart, no recurrence or metastasis was observed after a 6-month follow-up.

Adult

[Are industrial toxic substances a risk factor in gallbladder cancer?].

Increased prevalence of gallbladder cancer has been related to specific occupations and suggests a possible professional exposure to carcinogens. The authors report the case of a 64-year-old woman who had a squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder with hepatic metastases, and professional exposure to trichloroethylene in a degreasing metal laboratory. Although trichlorothylene could not be assumed to be a true carcinogen for gallbladder cancer, this case underscores that epidemiologic studies taking into account professional exposure, in addition to the usual risk factors of gallbladder cancer, are requested, in order to detect a new patient group at risk for gallbladder cancer.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

Endoscopic laser therapy for duodenal villous adenoma.

A 72-year-old woman had a 20-mm supraampullary villoglandular adenoma with a focal carcinoma in situ. The neurological status of the patient did not allow any major surgical procedure. Therefore laser therapy was performed using the Nd:YAG laser. Six laser sessions were necessary to destroy the whole adenoma. After 30 months of follow-up, there was neither endoscopic nor histologic recurrence. The laser therapy should be therefore considered in treating large sessile duodenal villous adenoma occurring in inoperable patients. However, a repeated endoscopic surveillance must be performed.

Adenoma

[Clear cell carcinoma of the thyroid; diagnostic difficulties].

Thyroid carcinomas with clear cell change are rare neoplasms, and always bring up the possibility of a metastasis from another primary clear cell carcinoma. We report the case of a 33-year-old woman operated on for a solitary cold thyroid nodule. Histologic and ultrastructural studies showed a clear cell carcinoma with a trabecular and follicular pattern. Neoplastic cells included lipid droplets, glycogen granules and intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, and were stained with one of the two antithyroglobulin polyclonal antibodies used. Radiologic investigations then showed a tumor mass of the right kidney. Surgical management proved it to be a benign cyst, and assessed the absence of kidney neoplasm. Thus, this case exemplifies the pitfalls in the diagnosis of clear cell thyroid neoplasms, and points out the fact that immunohistochemical staining for thyroglobulin should be systematically performed.

Adenocarcinoma

Localization of apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II in human atherosclerotic arteries.

Apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II, the two major protein components of the high-density lipoproteins, were visualized in human arteries using an immunofluorescence technique. Apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II were codeposited into the intima and upper media of normal arteries of atherosclerotic patients. The amount of deposits increased in fatty streaks. In atherosclerotic plaques, apolipoproteins accumulated around the necrotic material. These two apoproteins were present in the extracellular matrix as well as in the foam cells surrounding the atherosclerotic lesions. The concomitant intracellular localization of apolipoprotein A-I and of apolipoprotein A-II in the cytoplasm of foam cells supports the hypothesis that extracellular high-density lipoprotein particles are internalized in the macrophages during the atheromatous process.

Aged

Light chain deposition disease with liver dysfunction.

Light and transmission electron microscopic study as well as immunohistochemical investigation were performed on three cases of light chain deposition disease (LCDD) with severe liver dysfunction. In two cases, the amount of light chain deposits in the liver was moderate and did not correlate with the severity of clinical and biological symptoms. Ultrastructural study demonstrated a collagenization of the Disse's space, with basement membrane-like material in association with light chain deposits. Immunohistochemical investigation showed a marked increase of collagen types I, III, and IV, as well as fibronectin and laminin in perisinusoidal space. This study suggests that collagenization of the Disse's space has a minor role in liver dysfunction. The analogy between kidney and liver lesions in diabetes and in LCDD is stressed, but the mechanism of this abnormal accumulation of matrix proteins remains unknown.

Aged