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Biomedical subjects

L Matturri

Publications and source records attributed to L Matturri.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Flow cytometric analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage and venous blood lymphocyte phenotype for the diagnosis of acute graft rejection in lung transplant patients. The Lung Transplant Group, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate modifications of phenotype in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and venous blood lymphocytes as markers of acute organ rejection in lung transplant patients. STUDY DESIGN: Five consecutive patients receiving successful single lung transplants between March 1991 and April 1992 were followed for two years; serial bronchoscopies with BAL and transbronchial biopsies (TBBs) were performed. BAL and venous blood lymphocyte cytofluorimetry was performed at every procedure, and an index, (blood T4/T8)/(BAL T4/T8), was computed. RESULTS: The index was always > or = 3 in the two patients who did not have graft rejection and always < 3 in the two patients who had repeated episodes of acute rejection (even when no rejection was apparent). The index was frequently < 3 when cytomegalovirus infection was diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: Since BAL is far less invasive and carries lower risks than TBB, the index might be considered, if our results are confirmed, for screening patients at high risk of acute rejection. TBB could be used as a confirmatory tool for patients who have an index < 3.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Anatomo-clinical and epidemiologic study of Chagas disease].

Chagas' disease is a chronic form caused by a parasite, the Trypanosoma Cruzi, endemic of Latin America. The Trypanosoma Cruzi is transmitted by hematophageous bugs, particularly in dilapidated rural areas. Three phases of the disease can be distinguished: 1) acute phase, with high tissue and blood parasitic involvement; 2) undetermined phase, in which the diagnosis requires sophisticated clinical investigations; 3) chronic phase (10-30 years following the infection), characterized particularly by cardiac disease manifestations. The present 120 patients were subdivided into four groups: 1) 43 asymptomatic serum-positive subjects; 2) 25 serum-positive patients with electrocardiographic abnormalities; 3) 14 serum-positive patients with cardiomegaly; 4) 38 with classic chagasic cardiopathy. Comparative studies among these four groups were carried out employing Holter monitoring (24h), ergometric and phonomechanographic tests, M-mode and bidimensional echography and radionuclide ventriculography. A significant difference between the first 3 groups and, respectively, the fourth group (p < 0.001) was found. Deadly-risk (p < 0.001) manifestation were pointed out, such as a third tone, right bundle branch block with left anterior hemiblock and left ventricle's dilation. Autoptic controls were performed and in 4 patients the myocardial biopsy showed C3 and IgG deposition in capillaries and myocardial fibers, at electron microscopic examination, some thickening of capillary and myocytic basal membrane, interstitial collagen proliferation, besides non-specific myocellular abnormalities were detected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Kinetic study of release of silicon compounds from polysiloxane tissue expanders.

The release behavior of typical commercial tissue expanders has been examined by carrying out two kinds of experiments: 1) Determination of chemical nature and its modification after in vivo use by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. This study has been paralleled by scanning electron microscopy with associated energy dispersive X-ray analysis of surface, as well as by silicon compounds analysis of tissues around implants. 2) Kinetic examination of silicon compounds released by the biomaterial in physiologic solution at 36 +/- 0.3 degrees C. Results of these investigations have shown independently that the starting material was not a filler-free, pure polymer, but a composite, reinforced elastomer, with the reinforcing agent most seemingly represented by silicon dioxide. Release of latter, with a relatively fast kinetics, is compatible with data of the simulating laboratory runs in the physiologic solution. All these facts seem to rule out any hypothesis of a prevailing siloxane oligomer migration. The correlation of kinetic and physicochemical tests with the in vivo behavior is discussed.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1995

Sudden cardiac death in the indeterminate phase of Chagas' disease associated with acute infarction of the right carotid body.

We recently came across a case of a patient in the indeterminate phase of Chagas' disease who died suddenly with cardiac arrhythmia associated with acute infarction of the right carotid body due to occlusive thrombosis in the glomic artery. Although the available data in this case do not offer definite evidence to support a cause-and-effect relationship between carotid body infarction and patient's sudden cardiac arrest, it is very likely that the acute infarction of the carotid body could be the distinct morphological counterpart of the functional disturbance. The infarction would affect the vagal-sympathetic interactions augmenting sympathetic action.

Carotid Body↗
PubMed1995

Glomerular morphometry of twenty-three biopsied patients with IgA nephropathy.

The aim of the present study was the process of an easy method for quantitative evaluation of the alterations of the mesangial matrix, cellularity and urinary space in IgA glomerulonephritis (IgA-GN) by the image analysis technique. A Vidas (Kontron-Zeiss) image analyzer was employed for the morphometric study of renal biopsies from 23 patients with IgA-GN. The following parameters were assessed: mesangial matrix index, expressed as the ratio between mesangial area and total glomerular area x 100; mesangial cellularity index, considered as the ratio between the total number of nuclei contained in the glomerulus and the overall glomerular area in mm2 x 10(4); urinary space/glomerular area ratio. The morphometric results compared to the respective values observed in normal glomeruli indicate an increase in the overall area of glomeruli with IgA-GN and, conversely, a decrease in the total area occupied by the urinary space (p = 0.0001). It can therefore be concluded that the morphometric determination of the morphologic abnormalities occurring in the renal glomerulus with IgA-GN is an extremely useful method to describe the characteristics of this pathologic condition with a rapid and less laborious approach.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Morphometric and densitometric approach in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

The aim of this study was to apply an easy method for the quantitative evaluation of changes in myocardial fibrocell size (area, diameter, circular shape factor, nuclear area, DNA content), and in the fibrous-interstitial area in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by mean of a computerized image analysis. A Vidas image analyser was employed for the morphometric study. The following parameters were assessed: area, maximum and minimum diameters, circular shape factor of myocytes; percentage of fibrosis; DNA content (integrated optical density) nuclear area of myocytes. The morphometric results in HCM compared to the ones in normal hearts, indicate an increase in the myocyte area and the transverse diameters, especially in the septum and left ventricle, altogether illustrating the hypertrophic condition of the myocytes, and increased fibrotic area was found in the left ventricular wall and septum (22.6 +/- 2.1% and 15.9 +/- 2.9% respectively). Densitometric analysis showed a significant increase in all test samples then compared with controls. The increase in the two nuclear parameters (area and DNA) also suggests hyperplasia. It is concluded that the morphometric determination of the morphologic abnormalities occurring in HCM by a rapid and less laborious approach, is an extremely useful method to describe the characteristics of this pathologic condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Recurrent chromosome alterations in non-small cell lung cancer.

Cytogenetic analysis of 28 cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was carried out in an attempt to determine karyotype changes involved in the early state of disease. Our findings indicate that, even though karyotypes are very complex, recurrent cytogenetic changes can be identified. The most common structural rearrangements were deletions of chromosomes 3, 17 and 9. The most frequent numerical alterations were gain of chromosomes 7 and 20 and loss of chromosomes 1 and Y. In particular, the high frequency of deletions suggests a critical role of suppressor oncogenes in these chromosome regions in tumor development.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Autopsy findings in three patients with von Willebrand disease type IIB and type III: presence of atherosclerotic lesions without occlusive arterial thrombi.

It has been reported that pigs with severe von Willebrand disease (vWd) are protected from spontaneous and diet-induced atherosclerosis, but there are very few studies in human patients. Autopsies were carried out on three patients with vWd (one case with the type IIB variant and two cases with type III, a variant similar to that protecting pigs from atherosclerosis), aged 73, 44 and 52 years at the time of death. Hemorrhagic diathesis was an important cause of death for these patients. Atherosclerosis lesions were found in all patients, though of different extent and localization: severe lesions in all vascular areas in the patient with type IIB, few and slighter in all areas in the two patients with type III, except that in one of them there were moderately severe lesions in the coronary arteries. There was no clinical or pathologic evidence of thrombosis in the coronary arteries or other arteries. These data indicate that severe vWd did not protect completely against the development of atherosclerosis, although it is possible that intensive lifelong treatment with plasma concentrates had a modifying influence in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[SIDS in the Milan area: epidemiologic study of 38 cases].

An epidemiological analysis of 38 cases of SIDS was carried out in the Pathology Institute of the University of Milan. Those cases were collected from Milan district in four years, from 1987 to 1991. In 1991 the incidence of cot death in the same district was 0.55 per 1000 live births. This study has led to the following conclusions. Most of SIDS victims were males, mostly aged between 40 and 90 days; the totality (except one case that happened during maternal feeding) of the cases occurred during night sleep; a greater prevalence during winter months was found. We didn't find any correlation between type of feeding and cot death. The weight at birth was mostly satisfactory; often the infants showed mild infections of the upper airways during the days immediately before death. It is possible to hypothesize a correlation between cigarette smoking and between drug abuse (during pregnancy) and cot death. We didn't recognize a significant association between sleeping position of infants and their death nor between type of cushion and cot death. For each case a complete autopsy was carried out. We extended histological findings to cardiac conduction system, to brain-stem (central) and to ganglion structures (peripheric), sites of cardio-respiratory control. In 65.7% of cases we found cardiac conduction system alterations; in 10.5% of cases we observed brain-stem anomalies, sometime these alterations were associated. In one case we noticed an hypertrophy of aorto-pulmonary paraganglia structures.

Brain Stem↗
PubMed1993

[Sudden infant death syndrome. A case with accessory atrio-ventricular pathways and fetal ring tissue remnants].

A 55 day-old male infant dying suddenly is diagnosed as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Important modifications of the cardiac conduction system were found; such as: splitting-His bundle dispersion, accessory atrioventricular pathways of Mahaim type, and remnants of fetal "ring tissue" anastomosing with ordinary myocardium. These changes can be considered as arrhythmogenic in nature.

Heart Conduction System↗