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Biomedical subjects

G Martinelli

Publications and source records attributed to G Martinelli.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Brenner tumor of the ovary: a correlative histologic, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural investigation.

The histologic, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features of Brenner tumor (BT) were studied. BT was compared with transitional bladder cells, and close similarities between the two tissues were identified. Abundant glycogen in all cellular layers, an alcianophilic/sialomucinic surface mucous coat, and argyrophilic cells characterized both BT and bladder epithelium. Immunohistochemically, chromogranin and neuron-specific enolase reactivity was observed in all cases examined. An additional relevant finding was the presence of serotonin-storing cells in both BT and urothelium. Moreover, carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen, and keratin reaction were found in BT and urothelium, indicating an additional antigenic similarity. Additionally, malignant Brenner tumor was ultrastructurally found to share many common features with the bladder tissue. The distinct histochemical, ultrastructural, and antigenic pattern of BT, primarily of the transitional type, is emphasized.

Brenner Tumor↗
PubMed1989

Transfusion history, T cell subsets and natural killer cytotoxicity in patients with colorectal cancer.

Blood transfusions are associated with clinical phenomena which are attributable to immune suppression. Since suppression of immune function is associated with a high risk of spontaneous malignancies, we studied T cell subsets and natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer patients and correlated the results with patients' transfusion histories. Twelve percent (14) of the 115 patients had been transfused an average of 19 years previously. Recipients of blood transfusions had low levels of peripheral lymphocytes (p = 0.191), T cells (p = 0.015), helper cells (p = 0.016) and suppressor cells (p = 0.2651) compared to previously untransfused patients. NK cytotoxicity was also significantly reduced in transfusion recipients although NK cell numbers were comparable in both groups. These results support previous studies indicating that blood transfusions cause lifelong immune modulation in the recipient. Since blood transfusions have numerous beneficial effects and immune modulation is often beneficial, longitudinal studies are necessary to define the lifetime risks and benefits.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Prognostic significance of DNA content abnormalities in young patients with colorectal cancer.

Several studies have shown that the presence of DNA ploidy abnormalities, measured by flow cytometry, may correlate with a poor prognosis in a variety of cancers. The predictive value of these DNA abnormalities in young patients with colorectal cancer has not been well studied. Fifty patients aged 40 years and younger with colorectal adenocarcinoma were studied to determine the correlation of tumor DNA abnormalities with survival. DNA content was determined by flow cytometric analysis and each tumor was categorized as diploid or nondiploid. Of the parameters studied, Dukes' classification and tumor DNA ploidy were found to be significant prognostic indicators. Determination of DNA content seems to provide additional useful prognostic information in young patients with colorectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Bone marrow transplantation monitoring by DNA analysis.

Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR) DNA polymorphisms analysis was used in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) follow up. Three Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) transplants were investigated with YNH 24/MspI and with EFD 64.2/Rsa or HinfI highly polymorphic VNTRs. Absence of mosaicism and complete engraftment of donor cells was observed in two cases, while mixed hematopoietic chimerism was present in a case in which T cell depleted marrow was transplanted. VNTR systems represent accurate and sensitive individual specific markers for monitoring the clinical course of patients undergoing BMT, and for detecting the biological origin of relapses.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMed1989

Adrenal hemangiomas: two case reports with a review of the literature.

Hemangiomas, although frequently found elsewhere, are rarely encountered in the adrenal gland. Only 17 surgical cases of adrenal hemangiomas have been reported, with an additional case not surgically treated. The pertinent literature has been reviewed. Two additional cases, one identified preoperatively and both removed surgically, are presented herein. Ultrasonograms and computed tomographs showed large, necrotic masses without calcifications. Preoperative angiograms taken for case 1 demonstrated pooling of contrast media within this mass, strongly suggesting a diagnosis of hemangioma; case 2 lacked similar angiographic findings. The radiologic finding of calcifications, when present, along with the characteristic angiographic appearance of a hemangioma, allows the radiologist to correctly diagnose this benign tumor preoperatively. Although rare, these tumors should be part of the differential diagnosis of adrenal neoplasms.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1989

[Optimization of the technic in the study of the upper abdomen using magnetic resonance. I. Artifact reduction].

Complete motion artifact suppression is possible in abdominal MR imaging with the simple optimization of sequence parameters, with no need for special softwares. The authors have studied the influence of sequence parameters modification on the signal/noise relation and on the presence of motion artifacts. The tested parameters included Repetition Time (TR), 150 to 2000 ms, Echo Time (TE), 20 to 120 ms, and the number of acquisitions, 2 to 16. In T1-weighted sequences, the major advantages were offered by the short TR and short TE association, with many acquisitions. Optimal signal/noise relation and complete motion artifact suppression were thus obtained. In T2-weighted sequences, TE values had to be changed according to the desired contrast enhancement, and the number of acquisitions could not be increased to more than 2 in order to keep the acquisition time short.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1988

Basement membrane components in normal hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium.

The major basement membrane (BM) components, laminin and type IV collagen, were studied by immunochemistry in normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic endometrium. By immunoperoxidase technique, proliferative and secretive endometrium showed capillary and epithelial cell basement membranes with linear staining with antibodies to both laminin and type IV collagen. Immunostaining of laminin and type IV collagen showed that capillaries were surrounded by a continuous perivascular sheath of these matrices in specimens of adenomatous hyperplasia and in nearly all specimens of endometrial adenocarcinoma. Laminin and type IV collagen were found to accumulate around glandular epithelial cells of adenomatous hyperplastic endometrium, but in several specimens these linear surrounding formations were defective and discontinuous. In several areas of well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas BM-like structures were found around glandular epithelial cells as shadows without staining for laminin and type IV collagen. These basement membrane components accumulate around stromal cells to encircle each cell with a gradual, progressive, and cyclic process depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. Laminin and type IV collagen were clearly detected around stromal cells at days 20 to 22 of the menstrual cycle and more thickly at days 26 to 28. The accumulation of these matrices around stromal cells is a progesterone/progestin-related process. In the well-differentiated adenocarcinoma a mid-term treatment with progestin (Danatrol Maggioni-Winthrop, SPA, Milan, Italy) was found to be effective on laminin and type IV collagen accumulation around stromal cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Correlation of presence of granulomas with clinical and immunologic variables in Crohn's disease.

Approximately 50% of patients with Crohn's disease have epithelioid granulomas present in the diseased intestine. Some studies have associated the presence of granulomas with a good prognosis. In this prospective study, 44 patients with Crohn's disease requiring surgery were followed up for five years. Twenty-two patients (50%) had granulomas. Patients with granulomas were younger and had a shorter duration of disease. They also had more extensive disease and a greater degree of peripheral lymphopenia. Follow-up showed a trend toward greater recurrence rate in the patients with granulomas. It seems that patients with aggressive and extensive Crohn's disease are not protected from the development of symptomatic early recurrence by the presence of epithelioid granulomas.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Villin, intestinal brush border hydrolases and keratin polypeptides in intestinal metaplasia and gastric cancer; an immunohistologic study emphasizing the different degrees of intestinal and gastric differentiation in signet ring cell carcinomas.

Gastric carcinomas have been assayed for the presence of villin and for the small intestinal hydrolases aminopeptidase N and sucrase isomaltase. These proteins seem not to be present in normal stomach epithelium. However intestinal metaplasia in stomach, and tumour cells in the glandular patterns of gastric carcinoma were positive for all three markers, showing characteristic apical positivity. In contrast, in diffuse gastric carcinomas the percentage of signet ring cells positive for these markers varied from 10-100% with each marker showing a similar percentage of positive cells. Testing of gastric carcinomas with antibodies specific for different keratin polypeptides showed that while all 7 tumours were positive for keratins 8 and 18.2 were also positive for keratin 7. In the keratin 7 positive tumours all tumour cells were keratin 7 positive. The keratin 8 antibody also reacted on routinely fixed specimens. Thus gastric carcinomas reveal different degrees of gastric and intestinal differentiation.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed1987

The prognostic significance of natural killer cytotoxicity in patients with colorectal cancer.

We evaluate the prognostic significance of preoperative natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity for K562 cells and its relationship to other prognostic factors in 102 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent curative resections between February 1984 and February 1985. The 18 patients who had recurrences within two years of surgery had significantly higher numbers of preoperative peripheral blood suppressor/cytotoxic and NK cells and significantly lower preoperative NK cytotoxicity than disease-free patients. Low preoperative NK cytotoxicity was predictive of recurrence independent of age, sex, hematocrit, procedure, blood loss, duration of surgery, Dukes' stage, specimen length, tumor size, tumor differentiation, and post-operative therapy. Low levels of in vitro NK-cell cytotoxicity may identify a subgroup of patients at high risk for recurrence.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

A 48-hour preservation of an isolated human uterus: endometrial responses to sex steroids.

Human uteri were perfused with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate-glucose buffer with and without estrogens and progesterone for a period of up to 48 hours to preserve a viable organ, which was responsive to hormones. Flow rates of 12 to 35 ml/minute per artery were fully distributed into the organ, with pressure values ranging from 80 to 120 mm Hg. Arteriovenous gradients of oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions as well as the levels of lactate, lactic dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase released in the perfusate, indicators of tissue ischemia or cell necrosis, showed a good preservation of the organ for up to 48 hours. The light- and electron-microscopic examinations of endometrial and myometrial tissues taken before and during perfusion confirmed this result. The extracorporeal perfusion of uteri with buffer containing estrogens plus progesterone exhibited secretive modifications of the proliferative endometrium, thus suggesting the viability of the organ and its responsiveness to sex steroids.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Signet-ring cells in advanced gastric cancer. A clinical, pathological and histochemical study.

A pathological and histochemical study on the presence of signet-ring cells (SRC) in 108 advanced gastric cancer (AGC) has been evaluated. According to Laurén's classification, 59 were of intestinal (I) and 49 of diffuse (D) type. The amount of SRC seems to be a prognostic parameter in D-carcinoma: the 5-year survival rate was 49% and 22% in cases with 1-24% and 75-100% SRC, respectively. Histochemically, in our series of SRC D-carcinoma the quality of mucin secretion of SRC closely resembled the goblet cells of intestinal metaplasia. The histogenetic origin of D-gastric carcinoma was discussed.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed1987

Lymphocyte subsets, natural killer cytotoxicity, and perioperative blood transfusion for elective colorectal cancer surgery.

Blood transfusions are associated with phenomena attributable to immune suppression. Since perioperative blood transfusion is associated with early cancer recurrence in patients with malignancies, we prospectively studied T-cell subsets and natural killer cytotoxicity in patients undergoing potentially curative surgery for colorectal cancer. Preoperative total peripheral lymphocyte number was significantly (P = 0.0191) depressed in patients who were subsequently transfused, but returned to normal by follow-up 1 to 3 months after surgery. Natural killer cytotoxicity declined significantly (P less than 0.05) at follow-up in patients who were not transfused. These results do not explain the association of blood transfusion with cancer recurrence observed in colorectal cancer patients. Blood transfusion in this study was followed by increased numbers of peripheral lymphocytes and higher natural killer cytotoxicity.

Blood Transfusion↗
PubMed1987

Foot blood flow measurements improve venous plethysmographic studies.

The time for foot volume restoration after exercise is widely used as a measure of venous regurgitation. Since this is also a function of arterial inflow rate, we have tested the hypothesis that uncorrected for arterial inflow, these tests may be misleading. Change in venous foot volume after elevation and on exercise was measured in 44 subjects. Arterial inflow was also determined. In a few patients arterial flow was varied by cooling or by exercise. The times of half-volume restoration were measured. Calculated were: the rate of total blood flow into the foot; the rate of venous regurgitation; and "venous sufficiency indices" for elevation and for exercise with and without correction for arterial inflow rate. These indices combine volume and time data in a single numeric value. Volume change on elevation was uninfluenced by the rate of arterial inflow. Volume change on exercise and the halftime of volume restoration varied significantly with the rate of arterial inflow as did the "venous sufficiency indices." These variances were significantly reduced by correcting for arterial inflow rate. We conclude that for foot volume studies to measure regurgitation and for data obtained at different times to be comparable, corrections must be made for the rate of arterial inflow to the foot.

Blood Volume↗
PubMed1986

Production and use of an inhibitory monoclonal antibody to human lipoprotein lipase.

Studies were performed to produce a monoclonal antibody to human lipoprotein lipase, verify the specificity of the antibody for lipoprotein lipase, and use this antibody for detection of lipoprotein lipase protein in human post-heparin plasma. Partially purified lipoprotein lipase from human milk was used as an antigen for the production of anti-lipoprotein lipase antibodies in mice. The spleen was removed from the animal having the highest titer of inhibitory antibodies to lipoprotein lipase and the cells were fused mouse myeloma cells. Culture media from the resulting hybridomas were screened for their ability to inhibit lipoprotein lipase catalytic activity. This screening procedure thus identified only those hybridomas which produced antibodies directed against lipoprotein lipase. One monoclonal antibody, from one clone, was selected for detailed study. The specificity of this antibody for lipoprotein lipase protein was established by three methods. First, post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase activity and immunoreactivity detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) co-eluted during heparin-agarose and phenyl-Sepharose chromatography. Second, the antibody detected a protein which was released into the circulation after intravenous injection of heparin into humans. Third, both immunoreactive lipoprotein lipase protein and lipoprotein lipase enzymatic activity were lost by heat-inactivation of lipoprotein lipase. The use of active enzyme as an antigen and the procedure used to screen the monoclonal antibody-producing hybridomas allowed the production of an inhibitory anti-human lipoprotein lipase monoclonal antibody. This antibody is useful for detection of lipoprotein lipase protein in plasma and should allow for immunohistochemical staining of active lipoprotein lipase enzyme in tissues. Moreover, the methods described for screening hybridomas may be modified and used to produce specific antibodies against other partially purified enzymes.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Tissue antigen distribution in hepatocellular carcinoma.

An immunohistochemical study on 63 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) was performed for the demonstration of alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens. AAT and AFP were also investigated in 54 cases of cirrhosis not associated with HCC. AAT was frequently expressed both in HCC (82.5%) and in cirrhosis (53.7%), whereas AFP was present in 41.2% of HCC and never detected in cirrhosis used as controls. These findings suggest that AFP is the more specific antigen for use as a marker of malignant cellular transformation. The HBsAg-positivity in 31.7% of HCC supports the hypothesis of a close link between virus B infection and the tumor.

Antigens↗
PubMed1986

Juvenile papillomatosis (epitheliosis) of the breast. A clinical and pathologic study of 13 cases.

The clinical and pathologic findings of 13 patients with juvenile papillomatosis (JP) (epitheliosis) of the breast are analyzed. The average age was 25 years, with a range from 15 to 42. Family history of breast carcinoma was observed in 33%. Carcinoma did not develop in any patient after the diagnosis of JP. A co-existing carcinoma was present in 15% of the patients. This study confirms that JP may be related to family history of breast carcinoma and that the patients themselves may be at increased risk for the development of cancer. A long-term follow-up for these patients and relatives is needed so that additional information and better knowledge of this entity can be obtained.

Adolescent↗