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Biomedical subjects

F Rivasi

Publications and source records attributed to F Rivasi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Human dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens: a review of world literature.

For some Dirofilaria spp. of zoonotic importance, such as D.immitis, D.tenuis, D.ursi, reviews of human cases were often published. For D. repens there is no published information giving a picture of the importance of the problem and of the geographical distribution of the parasite in the world. From a study of the international literature and from direct experience (our workgroup observed 75 cases in Italy) we have ascertained that the condition associated with D. repens is the most frequent and the most widely distributed in the world, of the dirofilariases of medical relevance: comprehensively 397 cases were recorded in 30 countries, exclusively in the Old World, with endemic foci in Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, Central Asia and Sri Lanka. Apparently, the most affected country is Italy with a total of 168 cases. The most common localisations are the subcutaneous (normally nodular) and the submucosal (nodular or not). The most affected areas are the head, the thoracic wall and the upper limbs. However, 15 cases with internal localisations are recorded (9 of them being pulmonary) which were always diagnosed erroneously as malignant neoplasiae. Clinical diagnosis for the other localisations was also generally wrong with the exception of the subconjunctival cases, where because of the transparency of the bulbar conjunctiva, it is possible to see the parasite directly. The correct diagnosis is usually histological, based on the identification of the nematode using the morphological characters of the species to differentiate it from the other dirofilariae or other erratic nematodes. It is possible that the zoonosis in man is more frequent than shown by the literature: many cases are not diagnosed, viz. not published, others recover spontaneously without medical intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Pulmonary dirofilariasis in man: a new Italian case. Review of the European literature.

In June 1991 a 62-year-old retired man, from Udine (northern Italy), was suddenly affected by dyspnoea. X-ray and CT control detected a coin lesion in the lung, in May 1992 this lesion was removed surgically. Histological examination revealed the presence of a nematode inside an arteriole which had provoked a small infarct in the pulmonary tissue. The parasite presented marked regressive phenomena that made an accurate morphological analysis impossible. However, in the light of certain details of the cuticle, and by analogy with four similar cases occurring in northern Italy, as well as 10 others (nine subcutaneous and one submucosa) reported in man from the same region (Venetia) over the last 15 years, the aetiologic agent was thought to be Dirofilaria (N.) repens. Over all 10 cases of human pulmonary dirofilariasis were reported in Europe: five in Italy, probably by D (N.) repens, two in Germany, in patients coming from Corsica and two in Spain (only by serology), attributed to D. immitis. In addition one case was reported in U.S.A. in a man who previously visited Italy.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Human subcutaneous dirofilariasis: 8 new cases in northern Italy].

Eight new cases of Human Dirofilariasis in people living in Northern Italy were recorded: 3 from the province of Asti and 2 from Alessandria (Piedmont), 1 from Corsico (Miland, Lombardy) and 2 from Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna). All the patients were adults, 42 to 66 years old, 4 men and 4 women. The localization of the nematode in all the cases was subcutaneous. Signs and symptoms were always mild and consisted in the growth of a 1 to 2 cm large nodule associated with occasional localized itching and oedema, sometimes with reddening. In one case, the sting of a non-specified winged insect was recorded in the anamnesis, in the same spot where the nodule developed. In another case, the nematode came out spontaneously from the lesion. The aetiological agent was always identified as Dirofilaria repens. These 8 new cases confirm the comparatively frequent presence of Human Dirofilariasis in regions of Northern Italy, namely in the Po Valley.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A new portable aspirator for culicidae and other winged insects.

A new type of portable aspirator is described. The aspirator uses as a suction device a fan that normally cools computers, in conjunction with other structural elements especially designed to cope with the greater suction power available. The device proved to be efficient, strong, light, easy to use, and silent.

Insect Control↗
PubMed1992

Acanthamoeba meningoencephalitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Several cases of Acanthamoeba encephalitis (ie, granulomatous amebic encephalitis) have been reported in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome from the United States. To our knowledge, none so far has been reported from Europe, and this is the first case of amebic meningoencephalitis due to Acanthamoeba in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome from Italy. The patient was a 24-year-old, human immunodeficiency virus-positive heterosexual man with a 6-year history of intravenous drug use. He was admitted to the hospital because of severe headache, confusion, nuchal rigidity, jaundice, and ascites. He died 5 days later. At autopsy, the brain showed extensive hemorrhagic necrosis with numerous trophic and cyst forms of Acanthamoeba. The amebas were identified as Acanthamoeba divionensis by the indirect immunofluorescence test.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1991

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in Papanicolaou-stained cervical smears: control study by in situ hybridization.

Ninety-one Papanicolaou-stained vaginopancervical smears were destained and subjected to in situ hybridization with Chlamydia trachomatis DNA probe. At cytologic examination (Pap test), 71 smears showed changes suggestive of chlamydial infection, while remaining 20 were negative. At the control by in situ hybridization, the results of Pap test were confirmed in 85 out of 91 cases, two false-positive and four false-negative cases being detected. The sensitivity and specificity of Pap test, compared with in situ hybridization, were 95% and 89%, respectively. Like some recent reports, the present study confirms the reliability of Pap test in the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and its possible relevant role in reducing the diffusion of the infection, when properly applied to mass-screening program.

Cervix Uteri↗
PubMed1991

[Human dirofilariasis in Italy].

Since 1971, at the Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bologna, 30 cases of human dirofilariasis were observed out of the 101 cases reported in Italy. The causative agent was identified in nearly all the cases as Dirofilaria repens (Nematoda, Filarioidea) a parasite relatively common in the dog in Italy. 23 cases were localized in the subcutaneous tissue, 4 in the submucosa and 3 in the lungs. In the majority of the cases the diagnosis had been misinterpreted, the lesions being first seen as malignant or benign tumours or foreign-body granuloma. The parasite was histologically recognized. In 3 cases the parasite could be extracted intact from the nodule. The authors believe that human dirofilariasis is more frequent than reported by the relevant scientific literature in that many cases are likely to recover spontaneously while others would remain undetected.

Dirofilariasis↗
PubMed1991

[Human subcutaneous dirofilariasis: 2 new cases in northern Italy].

Two new cases of human subcutaneous dirofilariasis in Northern Italy are described. The first one occurred in a 56 year-old man living in Venezia Lido and was localised in the frontal region; the second one in a 52 year-old woman living in Modena and was localised in the sacrococcygeal region. Both lesions were associated with Dirofilaria repens. In the same geographical areas other cases of this zoonosis had occurred in the past.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Large intramural cyst of the uterus. Report of a case.

A case of a rare lesion, i.e., congenital intramural cyst of the uterus, is reported. The diagnosis of paramesonephric cyst was suggested on the basis of histopathologic, histochemical and immunohistochemical findings. The literature is reviewed and the differential diagnosis of this lesion is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Granulomatous hepatitis in a patient receiving methimazole.

A very rare case of granulomatous hepatitis in a 56-year old woman with hyperthyroidism, under long-term treatment with methimazole, is reported. Liver biopsy showed multiple non caseous granulomas in the portal triads, consisted of epithelioid and multinucleated cells, lymphocytes and isolated eosinophils. The presence of eosinophils in granulomas, could indicate an iatrogenic aethiology.

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury↗
PubMed1989

Application of the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC-peroxidase) technique to the identification of human papillomavirus antigens on semithin sections by electron microscopy.

A post-embedding immunohistochemical method using avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC-peroxidase) is described for localizing specific antigens for papillomavirus on semithin sections of human warts fixed and embedded in epoxy resins for conventional electron microscopy. The use of very specific and sensitive antibodies and the etching procedure with a saturated solution of sodium ethoxide appears to give good results. Results indicate that this method applied routinely on semithin sections, before the ultrastructural examination, may be suitable as a screening method for positive cells, which will be further examined by electron microscopy.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1988

Nasal cytology in allergic processes and other syndromes caused by hyperreactivity.

The spontaneous nasal secretions from about 128 patients with the symptomatic triad of rhinorrhea, sneezing, and nasal obstruction were studied. The cytological examination consisted of a morphological evaluation and a semiquantitative evaluation. Noncellular and nonliving presences in the smears have been considered, including mucus, Charcot-Layden crystals, and pollen grains, as well as fungi and bacilli. We found a net increase in eosinophils, goblet cells, and cellular debris in secretions of atopic patients. Pollen grains and vegetative fragments were present in the nasal smears of pollinosis. The presence of fungi was observed in five cases of allergic rhinopathy. The exfoliative cytology represents a valuable means for the differential diagnosis of rhinitis. In particular, the presence of noncellular elements has value regarding rhinocytology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[A case of Hodgkin's disease complicated by Strongyloides stercoralis infestation].

A case of Hodgkin's disease complicated by severe Strongyloides stercoralis infection is reported. Strongyloides is an opportunistic parasite that can produce particularly dangerous clinical pictures by autoinfestation in patients with impaired immunity. The appearance of aspecific gastrointestinal symptoms in such patients should trigger careful examination to discover the presence of parasites as well as the more common pathogenic bacteria. reduced among the elderly.

Aged↗