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Biomedical subjects

L Brambilla

Publications and source records attributed to L Brambilla.

71 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Multiple sebaceous tumors and carcinomas of the colon. Torre syndrome.

The association of multiple tumors of the sebaceous glands with primary visceral carcinomas was described for the first time by Torre in 1967. Another 26 cases with similar features have been subsequently reported in the literature. In 12 of these patients isolated or multiple keratoacanthomas and in 8 intestinal polyps were also found. The authors add the report of a personal case. The patient is a 54-year-old man who, during a period of 8 years, has shown multiple sebaceous tumors, 1 keratoacanthoma, and 3 primary adenocarcinomas of the colon. The outline and nosologic position of this pathologic conditions are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Immunologic and immunogenetic features of primary Kaposi's sarcoma.

In order to establish if immunologic alterations seen in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated Kaposi's sarcoma are also present in the primary form of this malignancy, peripheral blood T-lymphocyte characterization and HLA A, B, C, and DR phenotyping have been carried out in 18 patients with the primary form of the disease. HLA antigen distribution was not significantly different from that of the normal population and, in particular, DR5 was only marginally increased. The T4/T8 ratio was significantly higher in the patients than in the control group, and this was due to a marked decrease in suppressor cells. The possible pathogenetic relevance of these findings is discussed.

Aged↗

Circadian rhythm of the in vivo migration of neutrophils in psoriatic patients.

Neutrophil chemotaxis in ten subjects with psoriasis was evaluated in vivo by the quantitative skin-window technique using autologous serum and in vitro using a modified Boyden technique. The in vitro chemotaxis values of the psoriatics were significantly lower (P less than 0.01) than those of healthy controls. When measured in vivo, however, we found that, after 9, 12, and 24 h, the values of the migrating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) of psoriasis patients were only slightly and non-significantly lower than normal values. Analysing the in vivo chemotaxis data by a chronobiological method, we demonstrated statistically significant circadian rhythms in nine of the ten psoriasis patients. In seven of the patients, we found that the population had a significant rhythm, with the acrophase at -328 degrees. Our in vitro and in vivo values are in agreement with previously published values. However, there was a definite circadian rhythm of migration that we could not demonstrate in normal controls. We consider that our data reveal a significant and important difference between neutrophil chemotaxis in vivo in normal subjects and that in patients with psoriasis.

Adult↗

Role of the polymorphonuclear neutrophils in the phototoxic reaction in porphyria cutanea tarda.

We have compared the superoxide production of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNLs) from healthy donors, when incubated with either control or porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) sera at 4, 24 and 48 hours after exposure in vivo to UVA light. Serum from UVA-irradiated (1-5 J/cm2) PCT patients generated significantly greater amounts of superoxides from PMNLs than serum from UVA-irradiated (8-12 J/cm2) normal controls. This indicates that serum factors activated by porphyrin plus UVA stimulate neutrophilic granulocytes to liberate superoxides, triggering a series of events that cause tissue damage. The vascular lesions in patients with PCT could be, at least in part, due to this cytotoxic effect.

Adult↗

Intralesional chemotherapy for Kaposi's sarcoma.

Over a period of 36 months we treated 12 patients with skin localizations of Kaposi's sarcoma with intralesional chemotherapy. Local administration of vincristine (usual dose 0.1 mg per site) or bleomycin appeared to be very effective: in 93 injected nodules we obtained 74 complete and 19 partial regressions. No significant local or systemic toxicity has so far been observed.

Aged↗

Unusual cases of Meleda keratoderma treated with aromatic retinoid etretinate.

We studied a brother and sister of South Italian origin with palmoplantar keratoderma which, because of the clinical aspects (transgrediens et progrediens), mode of inheritance (autosomal recessive) and evolution, we diagnosed as Meleda keratoderma with particular clinical features (presence of ainhum-like narrowings and concomitant lesions at other sites). Appropriate classical histologic and familial investigations, as well as HLA typing were done, and retinol-binding protein values were determined. The patients were treated with the aromatic retinoid etretinate, and the clinical and histological results after 9 months' treatment are reported.

Adult↗

Development of metabolically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells for the production of lactic acid.

Interesting challenges from metabolically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells arise from the opportunity to obtain yeast strains useful for the production of chemical(s). In this paper, we describe the accumulation of lactic acid in the culture medium of growing, engineered yeast cells expressing a mammalian lactate dehydrogenase gene (LDH-A). High and reproducible productions (20 g/L) and productivities (up to 11 g/L/h) of lactic acid have been obtained by modulating the physiological growth conditions. Since yeast cells are acid tolerant and survive at very low pH values, the production of lactate can be avoided. In perspective, the approaches described could be useful for the production of lactic acid, outflanking the problems related to the synthesis from bacteria cells. In fact, during industrial productions, there is an inhibitory effect on the metabolic activities of the growing bacteria (i.e., Lactobacillus spp.) caused by the acid produced and by the low pH value. Thus, strategies to prevent the lowering of pH are conventional operations. These processes allow the production of lactate(s) and require the purification of the acid from its salt. The biotechnological implications of this study are also discussed.

Animals↗

Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient with focal glomerulosclerosis.

We report the clinical features and outcome af a patient who presented Kaposi's sarcoma following immunosuppressive therapy for FGS; Cyclophosphamide and steroids were administered; the patient recovered after three months treatment with i.v. vinblastine.

Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental↗

Diagnostic accuracy of 16-row multislice CT angiography in the evaluation of coronary segments.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 16-row multislice spiral computed tomography coronary angiography (16-MSCT-CA) for the non-invasive assessment of significant coronary artery stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 40 patients (36 male, aged 59+/-11 yrs) with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease and a heart rate <65 bpm during the scan. The 16-MSCT-CA (Sensation 16, Siemens, Forchheim, Germany) was performed with electrocardiographically-gated technique after the intravenous administration of 100 ml of iodinated contrast material followed by a saline bolus chaser. The scan parameters were: collimation 16 x 0.75 mm, rotation time 0.42 s, feed/rot. 3 mm (pitch 0.25), 120 kVp, 500 mAs. All coronary segments = or >2 mm in diameter were evaluated by two independent observers for the presence of significant coronary artery stenosis (= or >50%). Consensus reading was compared to quantitative coronary angiography. RESULTS: The average heart rate was 55+/-6 bpm. Of the 428 segments of = or >2.0 mm diameter 92 were significantly diseased. Without exclusion of any branches (428), the sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values to identify = or >50% obstructed segments were 95.7% (88/92), 95.8% (322/336), 86.3% (88/102), and 98.8% (322/326), respectively. No occluded left main, left anterior descending, circumflex or right coronary artery segments remained undetected. CONCLUSIONS: 16-MSCT-CA in a selected low-heart-rate patient population provides high diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of significant coronary artery stenosis.

Contrast Media↗

Non-invasive assessment of coronary artery stent patency with multislice CT: preliminary experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA) in the detection of in-stent restenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients (33 male, 9 female, mean age 58+/-8 years) previously subjected to percutaneous implantation of coronary stent with suspected in-stent restenosis, underwent a 16-row MSCT (Sensation 16, Siemens) examination. The average time between stent implantation and MSCT-CA was 7.4+/-5.3 months. The following scan parameters were used: collimation 16x0.75 mm, rotation time 0.42 s, feed 3.0 mm/rot., kV 120, mAs 500. After administration of iodinated contrast material (Iomeprol 400 mgI/ml, 100 ml at 4 ml/s) and bolus chaser (40 ml of saline at 4 ml/s) the scan was completed in <20 s. All segments with a stent were assessed by two observers in consensus and were graded according to the following scheme: patent stent, in-stent intimal hyperplasia (IIH) (lumen reduction <50%), in-stent restenosis (ISR) (=/>50%), in-stent occlusion (ISO) (100%). Consensus reading was compared with coronary angiography. RESULTS: Forty-seven stents were assessed (16 in the right coronary artery; 4 in the left main; 22 in the left anterior descending; 5 in the circumflex). In 7 (17%) stents there was ISR (3) or ISO (4), and in 4 (10%) stents there was IIH. The sensitivity and negative predictive values for the detection of ISO were 80% and 98%, respectively, while for the detection of ISR+ISO they were 50% and 89%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results are encouraging, the follow-up of stent patency with MSCT-CA does not show a diagnostic accuracy suitable for clinical implementation.

Journal Article↗