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Biomedical subjects

G Martignoni

Publications and source records attributed to G Martignoni.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Diagnostic and therapeutic problems in multicentric renal angiomyolipoma.

Multicentric renal angiomyolipoma is a rare form of benign tumor. However, its effective incidence as evaluated in autopsy studies may be as high as 8%. There are 2 main types of renal angiomyolipoma, that is isolated forms and those associated with other diseases, such as phakomatosis, polycystic kidneys and fibromuscular dysplasia. The tumor may also display malignant behavior with local invasiveness and regional lymph node involvement. However, the clinical course is benign and multicentricity is important for prognosis. Histopathological diagnosis often is difficult. Immunohistochemical analysis of surgical specimens using a panel of monoclonal antibodies, including HMB-45 and actin, enabled us to make a definitive diagnosis in 3 cases of multicentric renal angiomyolipoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

PEC and sugar.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Hemangioma↗
PubMed1992

Neoplastic epithelial cells in a subset of human thymomas express the B cell-associated CD20 antigen.

A series of 36 human thymomas have been immunohistochemically analyzed using a panel of antibodies recognizing B-cell markers including CD20. Most thymomas exhibiting the cortical pattern, according to the criteria of Marino and Muller-Hermelink, were characterized by areas of medullary differentiation containing variable numbers of CD20+ B lymphocytes, thus mimicking the medulla of normal thymus. On the other hand, B cells were absent or rare in thymomas recognized as mixed using the same morphological criteria. Surprisingly, we observed in most mixed thymomas variable numbers of CD20+ spindle cells, characterized by long slender processes. Using double-marker analysis we could demonstrate the epithelial nature of these cells (expression of keratin and lack of lymphoid and B-cell-related markers). The immunoreactivity of thymoma epithelial cells with L26, an antibody widely used in the characterization of B-cell lymphomas, can represent a drawback of practical relevance in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumors.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

Development of innumerable neuroendocrine tumorlets in pulmonary lobe scarred by intralobar sequestration. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of an unusual case.

We describe the microscopic, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features of hundreds of neuroendocrine tumorlets occurring within a pulmonary lobe severely scarred by intralobar sequestration in a nonsmoking 49-year-old white man. To our knowledge, there have thus far been no descriptions or detailed analyses of neuroendocrine tumorlets arising within a pulmonary sequestration. The neuroendocrine tumorlets appeared in the form of minute aggregates--mostly microscopic, up to a maximum of 0.3 cm in greatest diameter--of small round and short spindle-shaped cells. They were organized in compact nests of fascicles and were supplied with round or elongated euchromatic nuclei and scant weakly eosinophilic cytoplasm. The neuroendocrine tumorlets were clustered around diseased bronchioles or embedded in a fibrotic pulmonary parenchyma with a distinctive infiltrative appearance. Sometimes they lay near an artery channel without an identifiable bronchiole or herniated into distal airways. Most of the neuroendocrine tumorlets were strongly argyrophilic on Grimelius staining. Immunohistochemically, there was reactivity for markers of epithelial and neuroendocrine differentiation together with evidence of orthotopic production of calcitonin, serotonin, and gastrin-releasing peptide and ectopic production of vasoactive intestinal peptide. Ultrastructurally, most of the neuroendocrine cells showed 100- to 120-nm dense-core membrane-bound secretory granules; mucus secretory cells were also present. We prefer the term neuroendocrine tumorlets over the generally used term carcinoid tumorlets, because the nature of these lesions is undefined and the relationship with neuroendocrine pulmonary neoplasms is not yet established.

Calcitonin↗
PubMed1991

False-positive immunostaining of normal epithelia and carcinomas with ascites fluid preparations of antimelanoma monoclonal antibody HMB45.

HMB45 is a melanoma-specific monoclonal antibody that has found widespread use in diagnostic pathology. Recent reports, however, have suggested that this antibody may cross-react with a small number of carcinomas and other epithelial cells. The authors tested the hypothesis that these latter reports represent examples of false-positive immunostaining by comparing the immunostaining on breast, salivary gland, and lung tumors with the following: (1) a commercial ascites preparation of this monoclonal antibody; (2) a protein A-purified antibody preparation derived from ascites fluid; and (3) supernatant fluid obtained from the hybridoma cell line. The authors found that all examples of nonmelanoma immunostaining in the carcinomas tested were eliminated with the nonascites fluid preparations, whereas strong immunostaining of melanomas was retained. The authors conclude that contaminated commercial ascites fluid preparations of HMB45 may account for most, if not all, of the reports of nonmelanoma immunostaining with HMB45.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1991

Melanocyte-marker-HMB-45 is regularly expressed in angiomyolipoma of the kidney.

HMB-45 (melanocytic cell-specific monoclonal antibody) immunoreactivity was investigated in 10 cases of angiomyolipoma (AML) (1 with massive regional lymph node involvement) of the kidney and detected in all of them. No HMB-45 immunoreactivity was found in other tumors of the region which can occasionally be confused with AML, such as renal cell carcinoma, Wilms' tumor, and retroperitoneal sarcoma (leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma). These findings indicate that HMB-45 is not a melanocyte-restricted marker and suggest that its expression might be useful in distinguishing AML from other tumors of the kidney and retroperitoneum.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1991

Intraductal carcinoma of mammary-type apocrine epithelium arising within a papillary hydradenoma of the vulva. Report of a case and review of the literature.

We report and immunohistochemically document the first (to the best of our knowledge) case of malignancy in which an intraductal carcinoma resembling apocrine breast cancer arose within a papillary hidradenoma of the vulva. Papillary hidradenoma is generally thought to originate from apocrine sweat glands, but a derivation from milk line remnants of the vulva should also be considered. Immunoreactivities for low- and high-molecular-weight cytokeratins, alpha-smooth-muscle-specific actin, carcinoembryonic antigen, S100 protein, and gross cytic disease fluid protein 15, an antigen of apocrine differentiation, show features that resemble those of an intraductal apocrine breast cancer. Positivity for gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 as well as the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors suggest that tumor cells are controlled by ovarian steroid hormones. To our knowledge, no cases of malignancy arising from a papillary hidradenoma have been proved to date. Therefore, we also discuss previously reported cases of putative cancers that have developed in papillary hidradenomas. In the case presented herein, a local excision with a narrow rim of surrounding tissue was performed, and the patient was alive and well, without signs of recurrence, after 2 years of follow-up.

Adenoma, Sweat Gland↗
PubMed1990

Quality of care of colorectal cancer patients in general hospitals: diffusion and impact of management guidelines.

Over the last ten years the Italian National Research Council (C.N.R.) has launched an educational program aimed at favoring the delivery of the most up to date care for cancer patients in community hospitals. Among various tumors for which this effort was undertaken, management guidelines for colorectal cancer were developed in 1978 by a multidisciplinary team of national experts and reported in booklets distributed nationwide under the aegis of the Colorectal Cancer Task Force. In 1988, the C.N.R. funded an evaluation to learn whether: a) the guidelines were widely diffused in the target physician populations; b) their content was accepted by those who received them and, c) practice patterns were consistent with the recommendations in the guidelines. Overall results indicate only a limited effect. Despite clear evidence of a positive self-selection in the physicians' survey, guidelines were familiar to only 47% of responders. Although acceptance of at least some specific recommendations was good among doctors aware of the guidelines (greater than or equal to 60% responders), this finding loses relevance since a not negligible proportion of those not aware of them had the same convictions. Finally, analysis of practice patterns showed serious deficiencies (mostly in terms of thoroughness of operative staging) even in centers where more widespread knowledge of the guidelines should have led to better quality of care. The paper also discusses the comparability of our findings to results of a similar evaluation carried out in the U.S.A. Our results underscore the importance of analyzing the process of diffusion in any assessment of interventions based on knowledge dissemination.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Peripheral giant cell granuloma: evidence for osteoclastic differentiation.

Nine cases of peripheral giant cell granuloma of the oral cavity have been immunohistochemically analyzed to assess the nature of the giant cells. Giant cells were unreactive when tested with antibodies recognizing myelomonocytic and macrophage markers (lysozyme, MAC 387, HAM 56) but showed strong immunoreactivity with MB1, an antibody reactive with osteoclasts. It is concluded that giant cells characterizing giant cell granuloma exhibit a phenotype distinct from other giant cells found in sites of chronic inflammation and may be true osteoclasts.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1978

Hepatic function and fibrinolysis in patients with hereditary angioedema undergoing long-term treatment with tranexamic acid.

Prophylactic treatment with antifibrinolytic agents, epsilon-aminocaproic and tranexamic acid, reduces the incidence and severity of attacks in patients with hereditary angioedema. Long-term effectiveness or risk of antifibrinolytic agents has not been established. Sixteen patients needing continuous prophylaxis because of frequency and severity of attacks were treated with tranexamic acid. In four patients this treatment was ineffective and the drug was withdrawn after 2 months. A remission or reduction in the frequency or severity of attacks was observed in 12 patients treated for a period ranging from 8 to 34 months. Hepatic tests and blood fibrinolytic activity were not influenced by long-term oral treatment with tranexamic acid.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

[Study by means of enzymatic and immunochemical determination of Cl esterase inhibitor in 59 patients with hereditary angioneurotic edema].

Serum C1 esterase inhibitor was determined in 138 members of 18 italian families with hereditary angioedema by immunochemical and enzymatic assays. On the basis of quantitative and functional findings, the type A of hereditary angioedema was diagnosed in 44 subjects, and the type B in 15. Some technical devices concerning serum sample handling were identified. The influence of heparin, EDTA, and citrate on C1 esterase inhibitor activity of normal plasma was also investigated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

["Soft" parameters and invisible resuscitation].

Caring for a patient implies performing technical interventions and caring for the whole person, recognising his/her personal life, habits, family, wills. The working experience of an intensive care unit of Bellinzona is described: the theoretical framework that led the health team to start this new approach to intensive care patients and its translation in everyday practice. Verbal and non verbal communication skills (with the patient and the team) are pivotal in this approach; relatives are considered partners in the care of the patient and an essential element of the caring environment. Nurses identified meaningful data (soft data) related to living experience of the patient, to the interaction with the healing environment, his/her patterns of communication, and their use in the intensive care unit is described.

Communication↗