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Biomedical subjects

G Pepe

Publications and source records attributed to G Pepe.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

The detection of internal mammary lymph nodal chain metastases in breast cancer using radiolabelled colloids.

The authors report their studies of 39 lymphoscintigraphies performed on patients with breast cancer. They point out that interpretation of scintigraphic imaging must take into account the morphologic variations of the lymph nodes of the internal mammary chains (i.e. single central chain, single central lymph node) and the morphological difference in the symmetry of lymph nodes considered non-pathologic to avoid false positives. The authors retain that lack of visualization of a chain, conspicuous increase in size of a lymph node, asymmetry of pathologic development, or reduced uptake by one or more lymph nodes of the internal mammary chains must be interpreted as a sign of metastatic spread. The authors recommend lymphoscintigraphy as an effective technique in the screening of breast cancer patients for staging, follow-up, restaging, and planning of radiotherapy.

Breast Neoplasms↗

New trends in cesarean section.

The Authors studied the frequency of Cesarean section in relation to deliveries in the last trimester of pregnancy, the frequency of repetitive Cesarean section, age and parity of the patients, indication for cesarean section, week of delivery, and perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality at the First Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy, from 1972 to 1974 and from 1983 to 1985. The frequency of Cesarean section has increased from 12.07% (735 cases out 6,086 deliveries) to 16.89% (837 cases out of 4,955 deliveries). There was a decrease in frequency of repetitive Cesarean section from 30.47% (224 cases) to 27.95% (234 cases) and in perinatal mortality rate from 4.35% (32 cases out of 735) to 3.19% (27 cases out of 845 newborn). There were no cases of maternal death, while the most common cause of maternal morbidity was uterine atonia. From 1972 to 1974 mechanical causes were the most frequent indication for Cesarean section (28.16% -207 cases), while from 1983 to 1985 previous hysterotomy (32.73% -274 cases) was the main indications for Cesarean section.

Adult↗

Parity and sexual behavior in pregnancy.

Correlation between parity and sexual behavior during pregnancy was studied in 106 pluriparous and 69 primiparous patients. Sexual desire, frequency of coitus, frequency of orgasm, which partner initiated sexual activity, and level of sexual satisfaction were analyzed in the year before pregnancy and during pregnancy. Sexual desire, frequency of coitus, and sexual satisfaction were qualitatively equal in both groups. The frequency of coitus in particular decreased progressively in the three trimesters of pregnancy and more evidently in the pluriparous. The partner who initiated sexual activity most frequently was the male in the pluriparous group.

Adolescent↗

Fecal peritonitis in pregnancy.

The Authors report a case of fecal peritonitis caused by perforating appendicitis in a patient in the 16th week of pregnancy. Appendectomy was performed and the patient successfully delivered a normal sibling weighing 2850 grams in the 37th week.

Adult↗

Structural conservation and variation in the D-loop-containing region of vertebrate mitochondrial DNA.

The nucleotide sequences of the D-loop-containing regions of three rat mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs), two from the species Rattus norvegicus and one from R. rattus, were determined. Comparisons made among these sequences and with the mouse sequence showed that, on the basis of both base composition and frequency of nucleotide alterations, three domains could be defined within the D-loop-containing region: a central conserved segment, poor in L-strand adenine, flanked by two divergent, adenine-rich regions. Deletions and insertions were found to occur at an unexpectedly high frequency in these sequences and the conserved sequence block called CSB-1 was found not to be intact in the R. rattus sequence. Although in comparisons of more distantly related mtDNAs the D-loop region is the most divergent on the molecule, it does not diverge more than typical protein genes between R. norvegicus and R. rattus, and its central conserved domain appears to be one of the molecule's most conserved regions. The most variable domain borders the tRNAPhe gene and contains the L and H-strand promoters and the 5' terminus for H-strand DNA synthesis. Within this region we have found sequences in all the mtDNAs we have examined, including those of human, two artiodactyls and Xenopus, that are capable of folding into cloverleaf structures. In the other divergent domain of the same mtDNAs, we find sequences capable of assuming similar secondary structural configurations at or near the sites for the termination of D-loop DNA synthesis. The evolutionary preservation of the potential to form such structures despite the high primary-structural divergence of the regions they occur in, suggests the structures are of principal importance for some processes occurring in the D-loop-containing region.

Animals↗

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV: cosegregation of the phenotype to a COL3A1 allele of type III procollagen.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) type IV is a rare and catastrophic genetic disorder of the connective tissue. Individuals from two families with this disorder were studied for a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) associated with the COL3A1 gene. Our results suggested cosegregation of the EDS type IV phenotype with a COL3A1 RFLP allele. Biochemical studies in cultured skin fibroblasts indicated the presence of different mutations affecting the stability and secretion of the pro alpha 1(III) chains of type III procollagen in the two families, thus suggesting that EDS type IV is biochemically heterogeneous. Our data demonstrated the feasibility of molecular diagnosis in this condition using COL3A1 gene related RFLPs.

Alleles↗

Paraovarian tumors.

Between 1965 and 1985 59 paraovarian cystic tumors, were treated at the First Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catania University, Catania (Italy). In 45.76% of cases (27 cases) the cyst was localized on the right and in 40.67% (24 cases) on the left parametrium, bilaterally in 6.77% (4 cases) and multiple on the same side in 6.77% (4 cases). In 91.52% (54 cases) the patients were in fertile age and 8.48% (5 cases) were in menopause. The dimensions of the cysts varied between 2 and 20 cms, with higher incidence between 6 and 10 cms (49.16%). In 1.69% there was benign neoplastic degeneration (1 case of cystadenoma). In 6.77% (4 cases) there were no symptoms, while pelvic pain and menstrual disorders occurred in 57.62% (34 cases) and 35.59% (21 cases) of cases respectively. In 5.08% (3 cases) there was torsion of the cyst. Enucleation of the cyst was performed in 44.06% (26 cases), and in the other cases therapy was adopted according to the patient's age, parity, associated gynecological pathology and neoplastic degeneration.

Adolescent↗

Dermoid cysts of the ovary.

From 1965 to 1984, 105 cases of ovarian dermoid cysts have been diagnosed and treated at the First Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catania University, Catania, Italy. The patients were aged between 9 and 70 years, with a higher frequency of dermoid cysts between 26 and 30 years (21.91%, 23 cases). In 0.95% (1 case) the patient was premenarchal, 84.76% (89 cases) in fertile age, and in 14.29 (15 cases) in menopause. 35.22% (37 cases) were nulliparous with an average of 31 years, and 64.76% (68 cases) pluriparous with an average age of 38.9 years. In 4.76% (5 cases) the patients had already been treated for dermoid cysts. The asymptomatic form occurred in 13.33% (14 cases), while in 9.52% (10 cases) of cases there was torsion of the cyst. In 89.53% (95 cases) the cyst was monolateral, double in the same ovary in 0.95% (1 cases), and bilateral in 9.52% (10 cases). Epithelial cancerous degeneration occurred in 1.95% of cases (2 cases). In 11.43% (12 cases) enucleation of the cyst was performed while in the other cases therapy was chosen in relation to age, parity, and associated gynecological pathology of the patients. The Authors compare their data with that in literature.

Adolescent↗

Pure dysgerminoma of the ovary.

Five cases of dysgerminoma are reported. All patients underwent unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for FIGO Stage 1 dysgerminoma; five-year follow-up showed no recurrence of illness. A review of current work-up for staging, prognosis, and controversial therapeutic modalities for FIGO Stage 1 is presented.

Adolescent↗