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Biomedical subjects

F Rivasi

Publications and source records attributed to F Rivasi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Pregnancy luteoma with granulosa cell proliferation: an unusual hyperplastic lesion arising in pregnancy and mimicking an ovarian neoplasia.

A pregnancy luteoma (PL) was incidentally found at a term cesarean section in a 27-year-old black woman without any endocrine abnormality. The lesion involved only the left ovary; it had a nodular and focal pseudoalveolar growth pattern and was associated with areas of tubular sertoliform component, consistent with granulosa cell proliferation. Immunohistochemistry revealed a diffuse positivity to Inhibin A, CD99, cytokeratin and vimentin. The ultrastructure was typical of steroid-producing cells. PL is a tumor-like lesion arising in pregnant women and often misdiagnosed as a neoplastic lesion; awareness of this rare entity and its differential diagnoses may avoid unnecessary surgery in young patients.

12E7 Antigen↗

Pitfalls and difficulties in histological diagnosis of human dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens.

The authors have conducted a histologic study of over 90 cases of Dirofilaria infection in man due to Dirofilaria repens, the most extensive study of its kind in the world. On the basis of their findings, they illustrate the diagnostic difficulties that may arise when regressive phenomena render the parasite's morphologic characteristics largely or completely unrecognizable. These phenomena are due to the death of the filaria inside the inflammatory nodule weeks or months prior to surgical removal, and to the consequent invasion of inflammatory cells. They start at the nematode's natural orifices (mouth, vulva, anus, cloaca) and gradually spread throughout its body. In cases of difficult diagnosis, therefore, it is recommended that the nodule be sectioned at different points comprising caudal, cephalic and middle body aspects, so as to reveal the few morphologic features that are still recognizable and which may afford a correct diagnosis. The authors present examples of histologic sections in color plates in which the nematode was in an excellent state of preservation and others illustrating the full range of regressive phenomena, from slight to total disintegration of the bodily structure.

Animals↗

Gastric cryptosporidiosis: correlation between intensity of infection and histological alterations.

AIMS: A retrospective study was carried out to determine the histopathological alterations of the gastric mucosa associated with the presence of Cryptosporidium parasites in the stomach. METHODS AND RESULTS: Gastric biopsies from eight patients with AIDS and cryptosporidiosis were reviewed. Most individuals were males (7/8, mean age 34.7 years) intravenous drug users (6/8), with very low peripheral blood CD4 lymphocyte counts (< 150/mm3; mean 56/mm3). Endoscopic examination showed no significant mucosal abnormalities in half of the individuals; inflammation was observed in the other four individuals and was associated with erosions in two cases. The lesions observed (reactive changes, oedema, erosions, etc.) are not pathognomonic, since they are seen in most common acute and chronic gastrititis of various aetiologies (toxic, infectious, mechanical). The histological examination showed Cryptosporidium parasites in the antrum-pylorus of all examined persons, whereas only two of them had parasites in the corpus. Modifications of histological features consisted mostly of hyperplastic reactive changes of the gland epithelial and inflammation in the connective tissue of the lamina propria. No clear correlation was found between endoscopy and histological findings, whereas a close correlation between intensity of the infection and degree of histological alterations was observed. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that, in individuals with AIDS, cryptosporidiosis and severe immunodepression, upper endoscopy with random gastric biopsies should be performed, even in the absence of endoscopically appreciable lesions. The diagnosis of gastric cryptosporidiosis has to rely on histological findings, and pathologists must be aware of the fact that Cryptosporidium parasites are mainly found in areas showing reactive hyperplasia.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Carcinoid tumors of the lung. An analysis of 65 operated cases.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse two groups of patients operated for bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms (bronchial carcinoid and well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma) and to investigate their clinico-pathological data and long-term survival. METHODS: From January 1978 to June 1996, 65 patients with bronchial carcinoids underwent operation at our Institution. There were 33 males and 32 females, whose mean age was 49.8 years. Forty-four neoplasms (67.7%) were considered to be central. Histology revealed 54 typical bronchial carcinoids (83%) and 11 well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (17%). Surgical resection of tumor and complete lymph node dissection was performed in all cases. RESULTS: All patients entered follow-up: 5-year survival was 91% for patients with bronchial carcinoid and 49% for those with well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (p<0.05). Univariate analysis found that there was a significant decrease in survival also for peripheral location of the tumor, advanced pathologic stage and histologically positive lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: These results point out that carcinoid tumors are malignant neoplasms, so they require a complete and radical surgical resection. Most tumors are only locally invasive and show a low aggressive behaviour; therefore, when possible, it is recommended to attempt a limited resection. Frozen sections of bronchial margins and complete lymphadenectomy should be routinely performed. The same criteria should apply to well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas, though their behaviour is more aggressive.

Adolescent↗

Placental candidiasis: report of four cases, one with villitis.

Four cases of placental candidiasis, an uncommon complication of rupture of the membranes, are presented. In addition to chorioamnionitis, in one of these cases villitis was also observed. Villitis is a rare occurrence in Candida infection and this represents only the second case in the literature. The involvement of villi may be suggestive of blood-borne infection. However, since neither the mother nor the foetus presented any signs of systemic dissemination, the authors suggest a hypothesis of contamination of the villi from foci of chorioamnionitis.

Adult↗

Gastric involvement in AIDS associated cryptosporidiosis.

BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidiosis has been shown to be a common cause of diarrhoea in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals. There are very few data on the distribution of Cryptosporidium parvum along the gastrointestinal tract. AIMS: To evaluate the location of Cryptosporidium parasites in the digestive tract of patients with AIDS. METHODS: Gastrointestinal localisation of C parvum was studied in 71 patients with AIDS who underwent upper and/or lower endoscopy with biopsy for chronic diarrhoeal illness and/or other gastrointestinal disorders of unexplained origin. RESULTS: Twenty four individuals (33.8%) were positive for C parvum, of which 16 (88.9%) had parasites in the gastric epithelium. Most patients with gastric localisation of C parvum did not show specific symptoms indicating the presence of this parasite in the stomach. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric involvement in AIDS related cryptosporidiosis is more frequent than expected, but no clear correlation between gastric location and related clinical and pathological features was observed.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Aedes albopictus (Diptera:Culicidae) is incompetent as a vector of hepatitis C virus.

In laboratory experiments, Aedes albopictus females were fed hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected human blood with a unit-feeding apparatus. Pools of engorged females were tested at various time intervals after their blood meal for the presence of HCV RNA using two methods in parallel: reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR with the Amplicor HCV system. Comparable results were obtained with both methods. Mosquitoes were found to be positive only immediately and 24 h after feeding. Moreover, female progeny produced negative results. Our results indicate that the Ae.albopictus strain used is incompetent as a vector of HCV.

Aedes↗

[Non-invasive lesions of the cervical glands. Apropos of a study of 431 conization specimens].

431 cone biopsy specimens referred for CIN2 and CIN3 between 1984 and 1993 were reviewed with a peculiar attention paid to the possible associated endocervical glandular changes. The following features could be demonstrated: microglandular hyperplasia (17 cases), tubal metaplasia (15 cases), mesonephric hyperplasia (10 cases), in situ adenocarcinoma (7 cases), tunnel clusters (5 cases), and ectopic endometrium (4 cases). Cervical glandular atypia could not be found. A classification of the glandular lesions in uterine cervix has been proposed for an accurate diagnostic approach of lesions who could simulate carcinomatous changes.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Cryptic infection by whipworm mimicking a sessile polyp of the colon.

A case of trichocephaliasis in a 70-year-old male is described. The original diagnosis, based on radiological and endoscopic findings, was of a sessile polyp of the colon. Only when a fragment of the supposed polyp was removed at biopsy and examined histologically was it revealed as a single male specimen of whipworm.

Aged↗

The species of the genus Dirofilaria, Railliet & Henry, 1911.

Some authors divide the genus Dirofilaria into two subgenera. The subgenus Dirofilaria consists of 5 apparently valid species (D. ailure, D. freitasi, D. immitis, D. lutrae, D. spectans) and 7 species of questionable validity (D. fausti, D. indica, D. louisianensis, D. magalhaesi, D. nasuae, D. pongoi, D. spirocauda). The subgenus Nochtiella consists of 22 apparently valid species (D. acutiuscula, D. bonnei, D. cancrivori, D. corynodes, D. genettae, D. granulosa, D. incrassata, D. linstowi, D. macacae, D. macrodemos, D. magnilarvatum, D. minor, D. pagumae, D. panamensis, D. repens, D. sachsi, D. striata, D. subdermata, D. sudanensis, D. tawila, D. tenuis, D. ursi) and 8 species of questionable validity (D. aethiops, D. andersoni, D. conjunctivae, D. desportesi, D. hystrix, D. schoutedeni, D. spinosa, D. subcutanea). Actually, 10 species of the genus Dirofilaria (D. asymmetrica, D. digitala, D. kuelzii, D. ochmanni, D. pauliani, D. roemeri, D. scapiceps, D. timidi, D. uniformis, D. websteri) are attributed to other genus.

Animals↗

Human pulmonary dirofilariasis.

Two new cases of human pulmonary dirofilariasis, in a 66-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man, respectively, both living in the Po valley, are described. They represent the 7th and 8th cases reported in Italy and seem to be ascribable to Dirofilaria repens, even though the poor state of preservation of the parasites did not allow the morphology of the species involved to be clearly defined. In both cases, the false clinical diagnosis of lung cancer was based on the accidental radiological discovery of a coin lesion, the nematodes being located in a pulmonary artery producing a small, roundish infarct.

Aged↗

Human dirofilariasis in Greece: a review of reported cases and a description of a new, subcutaneous case.

A superficial analysis of Greek reports of human cases of dirofilariasis indicated that this zoonosis is rare in Greece. However, a more detailed review of the international literature revealed several more cases, diagnosed and recorded in other countries following infection during holidays in Greece. Overall, at least 20 individuals are now known to have been infected in Greece, in all regions of the country. A new, subcutaneous case of dirofilariasis is described; the infection occurred in a 45-year-old male living in Piraeus (Athens), and was localized in the abdominal wall. Histology revealed a female Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens in the reactive nodule.

Age Distribution↗

[Histiocytic endometritis. Report of two cases].

Two cases of histiocytic endometritis are reported in two 68 and 82 year-old women. One of the cases was associated with extensive endometrioid adenocarcinoma and areas of intra-myometrial histiocytic infiltration.

Aged↗

[Human subcutaneous dirofilariasis: 8 more cases in Italy].

Eight new cases of Human Subcutaneous Dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria repens in subjects aged 14 to 83 years, 5 men and 3 women, are recorded. The patients were living in Piedmont (5 cases), Tuscany (1), Friuli-Venetia Julia (1) and Apulia (1). The nematodes were immature in 6 cases (2 males and 4 females) and adults in 2 (both females). Microfilariae in the uterus of one of them were detected.

Adolescent↗

[Ovarian angioma. Report of 3 asymptomatic cases].

In 3 female patients, aged 46, 50 and 74 years respectively, ovarian angiomas measuring 3, 5 and 30 mm in diameter were discovered. All the angiomas were asymptomatic. They were either associated with endometrioid carcinoma or uterine leiomyomas, or detected casually by ultrasound scan in a patient with ascites, intrahepatic nodule and increased serologic CA 125. The immunohistochemical studies failed to reveal any affinity between the vascular endothelium of our ovarian angiomas and oestrogen and progesterone receptors.

Aged↗

[Human dirofilariasis in southern Italy. III. The Molise region].

A case of subcutaneous human dirofilariasis associated with Dirofilaria repens in the arm of a 9-year-old child resident in Campobasso is described. It is the first report of the nematode in the Molise region. Blood samples taken from dogs in the same region, confirmed the presence of D. repens microfilariae in the natural reservoir, few km from the clinical case.

Animals↗