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Biomedical subjects

G Altavilla

Publications and source records attributed to G Altavilla.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Oncogenity of BK virus for immunosuppressed hamsters.

Tumors were induced by BK virus (BKV) inoculated intravenously in 3-week-old Syrian golden hamsters immunosuppressed with anti-lymphocyte serum or methylprednisolone acetate alone or in association with gamma-radiation (60Co). The induced neoplasms were ependymoma, carcinoma of pancreatic islets, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, undifferentiated sarcoma, kidney and renal pelvis carcinoma, pheochromocytoma and hemangiosarcoma. High levels of insulin and glucagon and altered concentrations of glucose were detected in blood of animals with tumors of pancreatic islets. No antibodies to BKV tumor antigen (TAg) and low levels of hemagglutination-inhibition antibodies to BKV viral coat protein Ag were detected in hamster sera. BKV TAg was found in tumors by complement fixation. Blot hybridization analysis of tumor DNA showed the presence of both free and integrated BKV genomes in tumor cells. BKV DNA inoculated intravenously and subcutaneously in immunosuppressed or immunocompetent hamsters was not oncogenic, whereas it was weakly oncogenic when inoculated intracerebrally.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Lack of association between BK virus and ependymomas, malignant tumors of pancreatic islets, osteosarcomas and other human tumors.

BK virus (BKV) DNA sequences were not detected in 142 human tumors analyzed by DNA-DNA reassociation kinetics and blot hybridization. The investigation was focused mainly on those rare types of human tumors (ependymomas, choroid plexus papillomas, tumors of pancreatic islets and osteosarcomas) that are induced with highest frequency by BKV in experimental animals. In addition, other tumors of the urinary apparatus and of the central nervous system were analyzed. BKV tumor (T) antigen was not detected in neoplastic tissues, and BKV T antibodies were not found in sera and cerebrospinal fluids from patients with neoplasms. Sequences homologous to BKV DNA were found in normal tissue from a kidney carrying a carcinoma. The neoplastic tissue from the same organ, however, had no sequences homologous to BKV DNA. Such DNA does not belong to BKV but probably to another papovavirus related to BKV.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1980

BK papovavirus immune complexes in glomerulonephritis.

Kidney biopsies from 98 patients were studied for BK virus (BKV) antigens by indirect immunofluorescence. Intense fluorescent staining was observed in 11/12 cases of lupus nephritis, 11/12 cases of membranous nephropathy, 21/23 cases of IgA mesangial glomerulonephritis, 3/4 cases of membrano-proliferative Glomerulonephritis and 5/12 cases of exudative glomerulonephritis. Antisera of different viruses did not react with any kidney sample. Deposition of BKV was strictly related to the presence of immunoglobulins in renal glomeruli. The specificity of reaction for antigens related to BKV was demonstrated by absorption of sera with different substances and BKV. Absorption of rabbit anti-BKV serum with human immunoglobulins completely abolished glomerular fluorescence. We conclude that the fluorescence obtained in kidney biopsies by staining with anti-BKV serum was a false positive reaction dependent on common antigenic determinants present in BKV capsid proteins and human immunoglobulins.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1978

Ependymomas, malignant tumors of pancreatic islets, and osteosarcomas induced in hamsters by BK virus, a human papovavirus.

BK virus (BKV), a human papovavirus, was inoculated iv into 3-week-old Syrian golden hamsters. Between 2 1/2 and 9 months after inoculation, 82% of the animals developed tumors. The induced neoplasms were ependymoma, carcinoma of the pancreatic islets, osteosarcoma, adenocarcinoma, angiosarcoma, angioma, lymphoma, and seminoma. Hypersecretion of insulin, glucagon, C-peptide, and calcitonin was detected in tumors of pancreatic islets. BKV etiology of tumors was supported by the following evidence: 1) No tumors with BKV-specific markers appeared in animals given injections of buffer, animals inoculated with BKV neutralized by anti-BKV-specific serum, or uninoculated controls; 2) BKV tumor (T) antigen was detected by immunofluorescence and complement fixation tests in tumors of animals inoculated with infectious BKV and in transplanted tumors; 3) antibodies to BKV T-antigen were detected in sera of animals bearing primary or transplanted tumors; 4) BKV could be activated by Sendai virus-mediated fusion of neoplastic cells with susceptible Vero cells; and 5) no endogenous hamster oncornaviruses were found in tumors.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Duodenal periampullary gangliocytic paraganglioma: report of two cases with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

We report two cases of Gangliocytic Paraganglioma (GP) of the ampulla of Vater occurring in a 63-year-old and a 34-year-old individual. The patients were both admitted for a long history of intermittent gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal discomfort, with no other symptoms. At endoscopy, the GP appeared as a polypoid, ulcerated mass in the ampullar region, measuring 2.5x1.8 and 2 cm, respectively. Microscopically, the tumors showed similar features and were composed of epithelial cells (more than 50%), spindle cells, and ganglion-like cells. The epithelial cells showed clear cytoplasm and formed nests (zellballen or paraganglioma-like groups), and less frequently, cords (carcinoid-like), extending to mucosa and submucosa. Ganglion cells were sparse, constantly associated with the spindle cells. Both epithelial and ganglion cells were synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and anti-neurofilament immunoreactive. The spindle cells were all S-100 positive. Ultrastructural studies revealed dark and light cells, rare elongated cellular processes, secretory granules, and fine fibrils resembling neurofilaments. The histogenesis of GP is still a matter of debate, however its neoplastic nature is supported by the occasionally reported malignant evolution.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Paclitaxel is an effective antiproliferative agent on the human NCI-H295 adrenocortical carcinoma cell line.

In view of a potential clinical use, we assessed the antiproliferative effect of paclitaxel on the human steroid-secreting NCI-H295 adrenocarcinoma cell line. By MTT, paclitaxel induced a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation, with IC50 lower than blood levels of the drug achieved in patients treated for other malignancies. Cell exposure to paclitaxel for 24 h at the different IC50S produced a dose-responsive increase in DNA fragmentation, morphologically confirmed by electron microscopy. A time-dependent decrease in aldosterone, cortisol and testosterone was observed. Paclitaxel is an effective antiproliferative agent in this human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line. Apoptosis induced by the drug in involved in neoplastic cell death. A potential role of the drug in the treatment of patients with adrenocortical cancer could be considered.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity and oropharynx.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma with distinctive histological and immunohistochemical characteristics and aggressive behaviour involving predominantly the upper aerodigestive tract. We describe the clinicopathological findings, along with immunohistochemical investigations, in 5 new cases with carcinoma localized in oral cavity and oropharynx.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fine needle aspiration biopsy of salivary gland lesions. A reappraisal of pitfalls and problems.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration biopsy in individual lesions of the salivary glands. STUDY DESIGN: During a 16-year period (1979-1995), 841 salivary gland lesions were investigated by fine needle aspiration with cytologic examination. The lesions affected the parotid gland area in all cases except 85 and 19, respectively, in which the submandibular gland and oral cavity (more often the palate) were involved. RESULTS: Approximately 3% (25/841) of the aspirates were inadequate, and in 97% of cases they represented the result of samplings performed outside our institution. The 816 diagnostic aspirates comprised 245 cases negative for tumor cells (benign cysts, inflammatory, malformed, degenerative lesions), 571 positive for tumor cells (benign; malignant; not otherwise specified [NOS]); metastatic to the salivary gland tissue; or to the intraparotid or periparotid lymph nodes). Among the 245 cases negative for tumor cells, 36 underwent surgery, and the absence of a neoplasm was histologically confirmed in all cases but one (a low grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma, underdiagnosed as a retention cyst). Among the 571 patients having a cytologic diagnosis positive for tumor cells, in 518 the lesion was removed and the tumor nature confirmed. The cytologic diagnosis of a neoplastic lesion demonstrated a good correlation with histology except in an oncocytic adenoma diagnosed as a Warthin's tumor, in a basal cell adenoma diagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma, in a low grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the palate diagnosed as a polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma and in a vegetative intravascular hemangioendothelioma diagnosed as a possible malignant tumor, NOS. CONCLUSION: The accuracy was 97%, the sensitivity to the presence of a tumor 98% and the specificity for absence of a neoplasm 98%. Despite the relative rarity of salivary gland tumors, if established diagnostic criteria are present and strictly observed, the great majority of the common variants of the nonneoplastic and both benign and malignant salivary gland tumors can be diagnosed with a high level of accuracy. There remains a proportion of "problem cases" due to the rarity of the lesions, and in these circumstances the uncertainty must be conveyed to the surgeon openly, leaving the diagnosis open, with a few suggested differential diagnoses.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Porocarcinoma detected by fine needle aspiration biopsy of a node metastasis. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Porocarcinomas were first reported by Pinkus and Meherengan in 1963 as uncommon malignant adnexal tumors of the skin characterized by epidermotropism with pagetoid diffusion within the epidermis. CASE: The cytologic findings of an eccrine porocarcinoma lymph node metastasis in a 65-year-old female and histologic features of the skin recurrence are reported. Metastasis was firstly identified by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) performed on one inguinal lymph node. Cytologically the tumor was characterized by atypical malignant cells showing clear granular or keratinized cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei, with prominent nucleoli, which were irregularly dispersed or forming nests or cords, sometimes harboring central necrosis. The skin metastasis, detected after the cytologic FNAB diagnosis, showed superficial dissemination within the epidermis and dermal invasion. CONCLUSION: Cytologic diagnosis of porocarcinoma metastases by FNAB is important for adequate treatment, but adherence to strict diagnostic criteria is necessary. The tumor cells could be histogenetically related to the intraepidermal duct cells of the eccrine sweat glands, and pagetoid diffusion is considered a sort of homing phenomenon.

Acrospiroma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Meningeal melanocytoma: a rare lesion of the central nervous system.

Two cases of meningeal melanocytoma, both localized in the cerebellopontine angle, were studied. The patients underwent surgical excision, and in one case there was a recurrence. All the pathologic criteria of melanocytoma were fulfilled by the 2 reported cases. Immunohistochemical stainings were very important ancillary tools in the differential diagnosis with other pigmented meningeal tumors.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Primary central nervous system lymphomas: clinico-pathologic and immunohistochemical analysis of 30 cases.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Primary Central Nervous System lymphomas are attracting mounting interest because of their increasing incidence in an immunocompetent population and as sporadic tumors. A new lymphoma classification has been proposed, based on new morphologic entities and on advanced immunologic and molecular techniques. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study concerns the clinical and pathologic characterization of 30 cases of primary central nervous system non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in non-HIV patients using a wide monoclonal antibodies panel. Comparative evaluation of effectiveness and reliability between surgery and stereotactic biopsies was made according to Kiel and Real lymphoma classifications. There were 24 high-grade and only 3 low-grade lymphomas. Three stereotactic biopsies were not diagnostic. CONCLUSIONS: Stereotactic procedures were confirmed as the most immediate and least aggressive approach to CNS tumors, but inadequate sampling caused a deadlock to a full lymphoma diagnosis, which requires immunohistochemical and sometimes also molecular studies. However, it should be stressed that morphologic criteria (tumor cell cytology and neoplastic cuffing of the vascular walls) maintain their diagnostic effectiveness.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of vindesine and lonidamine in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a phase III randomized FONICAP trial. Italian Lung Cancer Task Force.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and treatment compliance in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of two chemotherapeutic agents with mild toxicity, 153 previously untreated patients aged over 70 years were randomized to receive lonidamine (450 mg daily p.o. until progression), vindesine (3 mg/m2/daily i.v. weekly for 4 weeks and then every 2 weeks until progression), the combination of the two drugs at the same dose and schedule, or supportive therapy only in a four-arm factorial randomized trial. METHODS: 126 patients were included in the final analysis. Their median age was 75 years. Forty percent had stage IV disease and 60% stage III. Most patients were males (85%) and the majority had squamous histology (68%). RESULTS: Among 104 patients evaluable for response there were only 3 PRs (1/30 in the lonidamine arm and 2/33 in the lonidamine + vindesine arm). Overall, 8.7% and 9.5% of the patients, respectively, progressed or died early, before response evaluation; another 9.4% refused treatment continuation because of poor compliance with the study protocol. Eighty-five patients were fully evaluable for toxicity, which was generally mild. Leukopenia grade 1-3 was found in less than 30% of patients treated with vindesine or vindesine + lonidamine. The most common complaints associated with lonidamine treatment were myalgia (70% of patients), fatigue (55% and 83% of patients treated with lonidamine or lonidamine + vindesine, respectively) and testicular pain in nearly 40% of cases. The overall median survival was 170 days, with no significant impact on survival of either lonidamine or vindesine. CONCLUSIONS: The low response rate and survival together with the poor treatment compliance, even in the presence of mild toxicity, do not support the usefulness of these "gentle" chemotherapies in elderly NSCLC patients. The standard management of advanced NSCLC in elderly patients remains to be defined. Specifically designed studies to address this issue are warranted.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CD44v10: an antimetastatic membrane glycoprotein for pancreatic cancer.

AIMS: The aims of this study were 1) to investigate the mRNA pattern of CD44 variants in three primary (MIA PaCa 2, PANC-1, PSN-1) and two metastatic (CAPAN-1, SUIT-2) pancreatic cancer (PC) cell lines; 2) to ascertain whether the genetic transfer of CD44s and CD44v10 modifies the adhesion of PC cells to the extracellular matrix (ECM) in vitro and their metastatic behavior in vivo. METHODS: CD44 mRNA analysis was done by means of RT-PCR. Adhesion to ECM the was assessed using coated microtiter plates. For the study of CD44v10 insertion in the CAPAN-1 line, liposome-mediated DNA transfer was used. SCID mice were employed for in vivo experiments. RESULTS: CD44v10 mRNA was not expressed by the CAPAN-1 nor by four of the six SUIT-2-derived clones. The stable expression of CD44v10 by modified CAPAN-1 significantly enhanced fibronectin adhesion. Mice without either liver or pancreatic metastases were more frequently found among the animals injected with modified (CD44v10 expressing) than with non-modified CAPAN-1. CONCLUSIONS: 1) It is possible to differentiate between metastatic and non-metastatic PC cells on the basis of CD44v10 expression; 2) CD44v10 seems to be involved in mediating fibronectin adhesion in vitro and in counteracting metastases in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrastructural analysis of the liver with portal vein agenesis: a case report.

Congenital absence of portal vein (CAPV) is a rare vascular malformation: all 16 cases up to now reported are associated with other congenital anomalies and with benign or malignant hepatic neoplasms. Our report concerns a girl with a complex malformative syndrome consisting of CAPV, nodular tumor-like hyperplasia of the liver, and multicystic kidney dysplasia. CAPV was diagnosed by angiography, showing the splenic vein and superior mesenteric vein joined to form a "common trunk" directly entering the inferior vena cava above the liver. The liver maintained the normal lobular architecture, but immunohistochemical and ultrastructural observations revealed abnormalities of the hepatocyte membranes and diffuse capillarization of the sinusoids. In this paper, we present the relationship between the tissue modification and the lobular microcirculation changes due to CAPV, with exclusive perfusion of arterial blood flow.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gemcitabine as single agent in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: In phase II trials gemicitabine proved to be an active agent in NSCLC, producing a clinical benefit, often higher than response rate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed the impact of gemcitabine treatment on response rate and quality of life in 21 untreated elderly patients (aged > 70 years) with NSCLC. Gemcitabine (1250 mg/sm) was administered days 1-8 every 21 days. Response and toxicity were analyzed according to WHO criteria. The assessment of quality of life was performed by analysing a disease symptom related questionnaire completed by the patient. RESULTS: All the patients were evaluable: we found 7 PR (33%), 5 SD (24%) and 9 PD; the median duration of response was 24 weeks; the median overall survival 32 weeks; WHO grade 2 leukopenia (in 4 patients) and thrombocytopenia (grade 3 in 1 patient and grade 2 in two patients) were the main toxic effects. A clinical benefit was demonstrated in all 12 patients with PR or SD and in 3 patients with PD. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that gemcitabine is a well tolerated and active therapeutic approach in elderly non small cell lung cancer patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Chondrosarcoma of the hyoid bone. Follow-up and cytological study of a case].

The follow-up study of one chondrosarcoma of the hyoid bone is reported; the tumor was a well differentiated grade II chondrosarcoma that relapsed after 10 months and metastasized after 6 years. Fine needle aspiration cytologic method was utilized for the diagnosis of the lung metastases. Cytologic criteria in the differential diagnosis of the chondrosarcoma are discussed. Follow-up of the extra-skeleton chondrosarcoma has to be continued for a long time independently from the grade of differentiation.

Adult↗