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Biomedical subjects

L Salvi

Publications and source records attributed to L Salvi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Immunohistologic analysis of ineffective CD40-CD40 ligand interaction in lymphoid tissues from patients with X-linked immunodeficiency with hyper-IgM. Abortive germinal center cell reaction and severe depletion of follicular dendritic cells.

The CD40 ligand (CD40L) is an activation-induced surface membrane protein expressed by CD4+ T helper cells in lymphoid follicles, and is involved in the contact-dependent signaling-mediated activation, proliferation, and differentiation of CD40+ B cells. Using immunohistochemistry, the present study analyzes the cell microenvironment of lymphoid tissues in two cases of X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome, a congenital immunodeficiency caused by mutations of the CD40L gene, and which represents a unique model to dissect the functional and morphologic consequences of disrupted CD40/CD40L interactions. Prominent primary B follicles are identified in the lymph nodes and in the extranodal lymphoid tissues from both cases, but tiny collections of Bcl-2-, MIB1/Ki67+ centroblasts are also found in one case. Despite the CD40L defect, intrafollicular CD4+CD57+ T helper cells, identified by anti-parvalbumin mAb, are normally present. However, a severe depletion of follicular dendritic cells, recognized by Abs against NGFR, CD21 and CD23, and lack of expression of the Ag recognized by KiM4p on these cells, are noticed. Finally, no major alterations of the architecture and cellular composition of the paracortical T cell area are found. A large number of plasma cells exclusively expressing IgM were detected in the colon lamina propria in one of the patients, who also had extremely elevated IgM serum levels. Taken together, these data support the idea that ineffective CD40/CD40L interactions determine both abortive germinal center cell reaction as well as severe depletion and phenotypical abnormalities of follicular dendritic cells, thus impairing the functional development of B follicles. Recurrent or persisting antigenic stimulation in mucosal tissues is likely to play a major role in determining and maintaining elevated IgM serum levels.

Adult

One month follow-up of haemostatic variables in patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery. Effect of aprotinin.

It is already known that activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic system occurs in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We have thus studied twenty patients (10 treated with aprotinin during CPB and 10 untreated) both during the intraoperative period and during thirty days follow up. In untreated patients D-dimer levels increased 4-fold during CPB and the levels were above baseline for the whole follow up (p < 0.0001). D-dimer levels were reduced in aprotinin treated patients in comparison to untreated patients (p = 0.0172); levels then gradually increased to the values of the untreated patients over the following 24 h later and remained higher during the thirty day follow up. The behavior of haemostatic variables in the 24 h after CPB did not vary between untreated and aprotinin treated patients. In particular, five minutes after protamine sulphate administration, levels of F1 + 2 and TAT rose significantly (p = 0.0054, p = 0.0022 respectively), whereas fibrinogen significantly decreased (p < 0.0001) and PAI-1 antigen levels were reduced. Two days after CPB the concentrations of F1 + 2 and TAT lowered, whereas fibrinogen and PAI-1 antigen levels increased. On the 5th, 8th and 30th days after CPB, F1 + 2 and TAT levels remained higher than those reported at baseline in both groups of patients, whereas fibrinogen levels increased over basal levels in aprotinin treated patients only. Thus, in addition to the activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic system occurring during the intraoperative period, in patients undergoing CPB, there are alterations of haemostatic variables up to thirty days from surgery.

Aged

Postoperative atelectasis reexpansion by selective insufflation through a balloon-tipped catheter.

Although treatment of refractory atelectasis has been improved by pulmonary insufflation through FOB with balloon cuff, low pulmonary compliance and high critical opening pressure of alveoli in the atelectatic areas require a more selective approach to prevent pressure dispersion to highly compliant zones. To achieve the highest insufflation selectivity and reduce patient discomfort, we have devised a small caliber balloon-tipped catheter to easily reach even the minor branches of the bronchial tree. This result was obtained by utilizing the performed curve of the catheter distal end after withdrawing the internal stylet. The catheter was introduced through the nostrils (16 patients) or through an endotracheal tube (two patients) and advanced under fluoroscopic guidance. Reexpansion of atelectatic areas was accomplished by repeated air injections through a 60-ml syringe. No complications were observed. Complete disappearance of x-ray film evidence of atelectasis was obtained in 15 patients and partial reexpansion in 3 patients.

Air

Isolated ultrafiltration in cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Twenty patients (ten with mitral and/or aortic valve disease and ten with ischemic heart disease, all in the New York Heart Association class IV, aged between 18 and 74 yr, with cardiogenic pulmonary edema unresponsive to drug treatment) were treated with polysulphone membrane ultrafiltration (UF) in a veno-venous circuit. All patients had dyspnea, pulmonary rales, hypoxemia, tachycardia, hypotension, overhydration, radiologic evidence of engorged pulmonary vasculature, and Kerley-B lines. Systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures, cardiac output (by thermodilution), and intrapulmonary shunt fraction (Qsp/Qt) were determined and chest x-ray was obtained at the beginning and the end of UF. Average duration of the treatment was 150 +/- 28 min; UF volume averaged 3000 +/- 170 ml. UF reduced the Qsp/Qt by 58% from control condition, and did not significantly affect hemodynamic variables. Chest x-rays documented clearing of alveolar edema and venous congestion. These changes were associated with unequivocal clinical improvement and no mechanical ventilation was necessary to improve gas exchange. Short-term fluid subtraction did not result in undesired circulatory alternations. Because the ultrafiltrate composition is similar to plasmatic fluid, no modification in the plasma osmolarity was detected. In conclusion, UF may be considered an effective tool for the treatment of acute pulmonary edema refractory to drug therapy, as an alternative to mechanical ventilation, and as a remedy for excessive extravascular lung water.

Adult

[Trans-sphenoidal spread of rhinopharyngeal neoplasms. Correlations between computerized tomography and magnetic resonance].

In 1957 Teoh observed, in an autopsic series of 31 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 3 cases of neoplastic spread through the marrow spaces of the base of the skull, without macroscopic bone alterations. In order to demonstrate in vivo this kind of neoplastic spread, CT and MR examinations of 35 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were reviewed. In 3/26 cases the invasion of the marrow spaces of the clivus was demonstrated. In these cases CT showed only minimal alterations in spongiosa and cortices of the clivus, associated with intracranial soft-tissue tumoral components. MR imaging demonstrated, with great accuracy, the replacement of bone marrow in the clivus by neoplastic tissue of intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images. Tumor tissue was characterized by high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. The authors stress the greater utility of MR imaging in evaluating the permeative involvement of the base of the skull.

Adult

[Positive alveolar pressure reduces bronchial systemic-to-pulmonary blood flow in man].

We studied in humans during total cardio-pulmonary by-pass the effects of positive alveolar pressure on systemic to pulmonary bronchial blood flow. Systemic to pulmonary bronchial blood flow is the entire bronchial blood flow to the lung and was measured as the volume of blood which accumulates in the left heart when there is no pulmonary flow. Systemic to pulmonary bronchial blood flow was vented by gravity via a cannula (18 French) introduced in the upper superior pulmonary vein and advanced into the lower most portion of the left heart. In Group A (10 patients) systemic to pulmonary bronchial blood flow was measured with alveolar pressure constant at 4.0 +/- 0.4 cm H2O for 53.5 +/- 6.2 min (range 25 to 95 min), and ranged between 0.32 and 2.76% of cardiac output (pump flow) remaining constant with time. In Group B (10 patients) systemic to pulmonary bronchial blood flow was measured for 2 periods of 20 min each with alveolar pressure equal 4.1 +/- 0.2 and 14.1 +/- 0.4 cm H2O respectively. The increase of alveolar pressure reduced systemic to pulmonary bronchial blood flow by almost 40%. The reduction of systemic to pulmonary bronchial blood flow we observed may be deleterious for the survival of the lung parenchyma particularly in some circumstances. This is the case of pulmonary embolism, when bronchial blood flow is the major source of blood to the lung parenchyma and serves to prevent pulmonary infarction, or the case of acute respiratory distress syndrome, when pulmonary flow is compromised and systemic to pulmonary bronchial blood flow increases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged

[Craniolacunia].

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Humans