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Biomedical subjects

I Bearzi

Publications and source records attributed to I Bearzi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Clonal analysis by chromosome 11 microsatellite-PCR of microdissected parathyroid tumors from MEN 1 patients.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome 11q13 loci has been described in the majority of larger parathyroid tumors from patients affected by Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) syndrome. Since classical histology of the whole parathyroid gland does not permit a clear morpho-genetic correlation, the clonal composition of abnormal parathyroid tissue was analyzed in DNA obtained from single nodules and non-nodular areas within MEN 1 parathyroid lesions. Microdissected sections were analyzed by chromosome 11q13 microsatellite-PCR for LOH and by patterns of X-inactivation. We detected LOH for chromosome 11q13 loci in at least one microdissected area for each familial MEN 1 patient, but not in the single sporadic case. X-inactivation pattern of two "clonal" tumors exhibited a polyclonal cell composition of these microdissected samples, indicating the existence of a genetic heterogeneity in MEN 1 parathyroid microareas exhibiting a "clonal" pattern for allelic losses.

Adolescent↗

A flow cytometric study of early gastric cancer. The detection of high proliferative activity adds important information to the prognosis.

The prognostic value of DNA ploidy and proliferative activity has been rarely investigated in early gastric carcinoma (EGC). In the present study the ploidy pattern and cell cycle related parameters were evaluated in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of 71 followed-up EGCs and compared with that of 20 advanced gastric carcinomas (AGC) using flow cytometry. The results showed that ploidy pattern did not affect patient outcome. On the contrary, EGC with a high S-phase had a worse prognosis. No significant differences in proliferative activity were detected between EGC and AGC. Fatal EGC had an S-phase higher than AGC. In conclusion, proliferative activity seems to affect the prognosis of EGC independent of the stage and could contribute to the identification of aggressive types of EGC.

Adult↗

Long-term follow-up in early gastric cancer: evaluation of prognostic factors.

Four hundred and fourteen cases of early gastric cancer (EGC), diagnosed between 1977 and 1993, were studied. The percentage of EGC increased from 1977 to 1984, but thereafter remained more or less stable, despite a continuous increase in the number of endoscopic examinations. Three hundred and ninety-six patients were followed up. Twenty-nine patients died from the tumour, giving a 5-year survival rate of 82.8 per cent. The 'large' size type of EGC, the presence of submucosal penetration, and lymph-node metastasis showed a highly significant association with a lower survival rate. A small number of patients died despite the presence of 'favourable' prognostic factors. Other still unknown factors may therefore be important in determining the aggressive behaviour of certain EGCs.

Adult↗

Adenoma-carcinoma sequence of colorectum. Prevalence of K-ras gene mutation in adenomas with increasing degree of dysplasia and aneuploidy.

One hundred and fifty colorectal adenomas were investigated in order to detect the presence of K-ras gene mutation. The adenomas were classified according to the severity of the histological lesion (mild, moderate, or severe dysplasia and carcinomatous transformation) and to the degree of aneuploidy. K-ras mutation was found in 30.8% of cases, mostly consisting of a point mutation of codon 12. K-ras mutation was more frequently found in adenomas > 1 cm and in the villous type. No correlation was otherwise demonstrable with the ploidy pattern of the lesion.

Adenoma↗

Centrocytic-like lymphoma associated with localized amyloidosis of the large intestine.

A case of low-grade centrocytic-like (CCL) B-cell lymphoma involving the large intestine, the regional lymph nodes and the spleen is reported. In the large intestine the lymphomatous infiltrate was restricted to sites of intense antigenic stimulation (diverticula, appendix, ileo-caecal valve) and was associated with marked plasma cell differentiation and massive amyloid deposits. The immunophenotype was CD20, CD21, CD45RA/MB1/MT2, CD68, CD45 related/Ki-B3 and HLA-DR positive, and MB2, DBA.44 reactive regarding the CCL cell lymphoma subpopulation; and IgG-lambda positive regarding its plasma cell fraction.

Aged↗

Gastric dysplasia: a ten-year follow-up study.

The results of a ten-year follow-up study on gastric dysplasia (GD) are reported. A total of 260 cases were diagnosed, 125 of which had an adequate follow-up, 81 Low Grade Dysplasia (LGD) and 44 High Grade Dysplasia (HGD). Patients with LGD were younger than patients with HGD, while no significant difference in the mean age was found between HGD and carcinoma. LGD regressed in 49.4% of cases, persisted in 18.5% and progressed in 32.1%. HGD regressed in 4.6%, persisted in 13.6% and progressed in 81.8%. In some cases dysplasia reappeared after a long-time interval of apparent regression. In 58 cases progression to cancer was observed: in 35 cases dysplasia was associated with carcinoma (8 LGD and 27 HGD), while in 23 cases dysplasia evolved into carcinoma (14 LGD and 9 HGD). There was a good correlation between the accuracy in following up the patients and the chance of diagnosing the carcinoma at an early stage. The importance of gastric dysplasia as a marker for carcinoma, its precancerous nature and the treatment of the patients are discussed.

Aged↗

MR imaging of ulcerative colitis.

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to study 16 resected rectosigmoid specimens of patients treated with total colectomy for severe ulcerative colitis (UC). Six normal colon specimens were also studied as a control group. Moreover, a parallel study of the pelvis of 24 patients with a proven diagnosis of UC was performed with the same MR system. Both in vitro and in vivo MRI findings [thickening and signal intensity (SI)] of the mural layers were qualitatively evaluated by two radiologists and compared with gross and microscopic aspects. In vitro results showed that MRI was able to identify all layers of the colonic wall. In particular in UC specimens, MRI identified thickening and the peculiar abnormal hyperintensity of the mucosal and submucosal layers on spin-echo (SE) T1-weighted images. In vivo results confirmed the high-signal intensity of the mucosal and submucosal layers. These findings were not observed in the control group in which the superficial layers appeared low in intensity on SE T1 images. Our preliminary experience suggests that MRI should be considered a new imaging modality for detecting UC colonic wall changes.

Adult↗

Lipid-rich adenoma of the thyroid.

A case of clear cell adenoma of the thyroid associated with an anaplastic spindle cell carcinoma is reported. Histochemical and ultrastructural examination showed abundant cytoplasmic lipid inclusions and frequent cytoplasmic vesicles, which both may have contributed to the clear cell change. The follicular cell origin was demonstrated by thyroglobulin positivity using immunohistochemistry. We believe that this adenomatous lesion shows close similarities with the lipid-rich cell adenoma first described by Schröder et al. in 1984.

Adenoma↗

Dose dependent effects of protracted ingestion of small amounts of gliadin in coeliac disease children: a clinical and jejunal morphometric study.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic ingestion of small amounts of gliadin on children with coeliac disease. A four week challenge was performed on 20 children who had been on a gluten free diet for mean (SD) 14 (3) months. They were given a daily dose of either 100 mg (group A, n = 10, mean age 4 (2) years) or 500 mg of gliadin (group B, mean age 5 (3) years). The effects of the gliadin were monitored by morphometric study of the jejunal mucosa, intestinal permeability test with cellobiose/mannitol, and serum antigliadin antibody test. After the challenge, group A patients showed a significant increase in the mean intraepithelial lymphocyte count (before challenge 11 (3), afterwards 19 (6)) and a decrease in the villous height/crypt depth ratio (beforehand 1.5 (0.1), afterwards 1.3 (0.2)), while the intestinal permeability test remained normal and the IgA-antigliadin antibody increased in four of 10 children. After the challenge group B showed more pronounced histological changes, an increase in the mean urinary cellobiose/mannitol % (beforehand 0.028 (0.020), afterwards 0.058 (0.028)), and IgA-antigliadin antibody positivity in six of eight subjects. The discriminant analysis function showed that the pretreatment group, group A after challenge, and group B after challenge were correctly classified in 90% of cases by functions based on the individual intraepithelial lymphocyte count and the villous height/crypt depth ratio. This study shows that chronic ingestion of small amounts of gluten causes dose-dependent damage to the small intestinal mucosa in children with coeliac disease. The predictive value of laboratory tests, such as the antigliadin antibody test and the intestinal permeability test seems to be lower in treated patients than in those with active coeliac disease.

Celiac Disease↗

Sequence analysis of the hepatitis B virus pre-C region in hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] and nontumoral liver tissues from HCC patients.

We investigated whether replication-competent pre-C/C defective mutants of hepatitis B virus (HBV) are detectable in primary human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues from patients of a geographic area endemic for such mutants. DNAs extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded HCC samples were checked for the presence of specific HBV DNA sequences using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplified pre-C regions from nine HCC samples were directly sequenced as were samples of nontumoral liver tissues from five of these patients. The data show that hypervariable distal pre-C sequences were present in all nine HCC samples; this high variability was dependent on point mutations, which led to amino acid substitutions in nearly all cases. Interestingly, seven of the nine HBV DNA-positive samples from HCC tissues (but not samples from peritumoral liver tissue) showed mutations leading to amino acid substitution at the level of a distal cysteine residue. No mutation generating a translationally defective pre-C/C region was detectable in the tumor samples. Otherwise, in four of the six nontumoral liver tissues available from the same patients, a pre-C sequence with an in-frame TAG stop codon was detectable, although in three cases as a component of mixed population.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Epithelial dysplasia of the gastric mucosa. A morphometric and ploidy pattern study.

60 cases of gastric dysplasia (20 mild, 20 moderate and 20 severe) were quantitatively studied and compared with cases of hyperplastic polyp (No 10), intestinal metaplasia (No 20), peptic ulcer (No 10) and invasive adenocarcinoma (No 20). In each case the area, the perimeter and the integrated optical density of 100 nuclei were measured in Feulgen stained tissue sections by means of a Leitz TAS. The stepwise discriminant analysis demonstrates that severe dysplasia and adenocarcinoma can be well distinguished from mild and moderate dysplasia. The ploidy pattern study demonstrates that the presence of severe dysplastic changes corresponds to a sharp increase in the degree of aneuploidy. In peptic ulcer, intermediate values between "benign" and "malignant" lesions were found.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Quantitative study of the precancerous and malignant lesions in colorectal adenomas.

150 endoscopically removed colorectal adenomas are quantitatively studied. In 90 cases dysplastic glands constituted the entire lesion (30 mild, 30 moderate, 30 severe); in 60 cases foci of adenocarcinoma were present (30 intramucosal, 30 submucosal). In each case the area, the perimeter and the integrated optical density of 100 nuclei were measured from Feulgen-stained paraffin sections. The results show a continuous neoplastic progression in the trends of the morphometric parameters as well as in the ploidy pattern. The stepwise discriminant analysis defined the morphometric features of the atypical nuclei, which were present in small numbers also in mild dysplasia; they progressively increased in number, reaching the maximum in submucosal carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Growth-factor independence of a new differentiated hepatitis B virus DNA-negative human hepatoma cell line.

The establishment of a new, differentiated, hepatitis B virus DNA-negative, human hepatoma cell line (named PLC/AN/2) is described. Neoplastic liver tissue was obtained during hepatectomy in an HBsAg-negative man. The established cell line is negative for alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen; it has retained in vitro some of the differentiated functions of normal hepatocytes. Additionally, it presents a distinctive rearrangement (translocation) at the long arm of chromosome 4. The high degree of independence from serum growth factor requirements appears to be a major in vitro characteristic of PLC/AN/2 cells, making them a suitable model system for the more precise definition of the human hepatocellular carcinoma phenotype, including mechanisms of growth control.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Gastric duplication communicating with a pancreatic duct. Report of a case.

A case of gastric duplication communicating with the pancreatic duct system is reported. The clinical presentation consisted of abdominal pain with recurrent acute pancreatitis. The histopathological examination showed that the duplication was lined with normal pyloric mucosa. In the tubular structure, connecting the duplication to the pancreatic ducts, an increase in the number of serotonin-positive cells was found. The pancreas showed dilatation of the duct system and chronic pancreatitis.

Female↗

Intravascular bronchioloalveolar tumour.

A case of intravascular bronchioloalveolar tumour (IVBAT) presenting in a 49 yr old asymptomatic man is reported. IVBAT was diagnosed by open lung biopsy. The disease had a presumable duration of ten years and showed a low tendency to progress. The endothelial origin of the tumour was immunohistochemically proven.

Biopsy↗

Ampullary somatostatinoma. An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

Two new cases of ampullary somatostatinoma are reported. In one case the tumor is associated with an increase in somatostatin-positive cells in the adjacent duodenal mucosa. Both tumors show a predominant glandular pattern with many psammomatous calcified bodies. Such bodies seem to arise by calcium phosphate encrustation of intraluminal cellular debris. The neoplastic cells contain two distinct types of intermediate filaments: the first is located along the plasma membrane and reacts to keratin antiserum; the other, appearing as paranuclear aggregates, reacts to neurofilament antiserum. The neoplastic cells show signs of intestinal differentiation (microvilli, glycocalyceal bodies, filamentous core rootlets) as well as of neuroendocrine differentiation (secretory granules, whorls of neurofilaments).

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

[Campylobacter pyloridis and gastritis: endoscopic, histological and microbiological correlations].

Biopsy specimens from antral mucosa in 65 consecutive patients presenting for gastroscopy were assessed histologically and microbiologically for the presence of C. pyloridis. Spiral bacteria were found in 63% of cases by Warthin-Starry silver stain and in 72% by culture on blood agar plates with Skirrow's antibiotic supplement. A significant association between the occurrence of C. pyloridis and chronic gastritis was noted; the association is not influenced by the type of gastritis, superficial or atrophic, or the degree of activity of gastritis.

Adolescent↗