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Biomedical subjects

M De Vincentiis

Publications and source records attributed to M De Vincentiis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Dysphagia in multiple sclerosis - prevalence and prognostic factors.

The aim of the study was to analyse swallowing function and to identify reliable prognostic factors associated with dysphagia in a consecutive series of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Swallowing examination was performed by means of indirect and direct methods (fiberendoscopic evaluation) in 143 consecutive patients with primary and secondary progressive MS. Dysphagia was found in 49 patients (34.3%). A close relationship with dysphagia was found in the patients with severe brainstem impairment (OR=3.24; 95% CI 1.44-7.31) as compared to the patients without. There was also a significant correlation with pronounced severity of illness (OR=2.99; CI 1.36-6.59). Compensatory strategies were sufficient to resolve the dysphagia in 46 cases (93.8%). The potential risk of aspiration and malnutrition and the high efficacy of swallowing rehabilitation suggests that all MS patients should have a careful evaluation of deglutition functionality, especially those with brainstem impairment and a high grade of disability level.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

alpha5 integrin distribution and TGFbeta1 gene expression in supraglottic carcinoma: their role in neoplastic local invasion and metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck carcinomas are characterized by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) producing cytokines. Adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix proteins (ECMPs), and cytokines regulate cell-cell and cell-ECMPs interactions. We investigated the distribution of these proteins to contribute to better understanding of their role in local tumor invasion and metastasis. METHODS: Distribution of integrins, laminin, type IV collagen, tenascin, and fibronectin was immunohistochemically evaluated in 13 supraglottis carcinomas. Cytokines gene expression was assessed by reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Neoplastic cells were alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1, alpha4beta1, alpha5beta1 and alpha6beta1 positive. Normal and metaplastic epithelium was alpha5beta1 negative; the stroma of primary and metastatic tumors was tenascin and fibronectin positive. TGFbeta1 and IFNgamma gene expression was observed in the majority of tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Because TGFbeta1 is known to down-modulate immune processes and to increase alpha2beta1, alpha5beta1, and tenascin distribution, we propose that their expression in neoplastic cells of supraglottis carcinoma might represent an immune-related process able to help tumor growth and progression.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2000

Interleukin-12-related cytokine gene expression in carcinomas of the breast, lung, and larynx: a study at tissue level.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) consist of T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) cells producing interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin4 (IL-4), respectively. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) induces Th1 and Th2 differentiation. Therefore, IL-12, IFN-gamma, and IL-4 gene expression were evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in carcinomas of the breast (n = 10), lung (n = 17), and larynx (n = 13) to investigate whether TIL activation is IL-12-related. IL-12 and IFN-gamma were codistributed in breast carcinomas, and IL-4 was demonstrated in three instances. IL-12 and IFN-gamma were detected in 15 and 13 lung carcinomas, respectively, and were codistributed in 11 cases; IL-4 was observed in 9 cases and was codistributed with IL-12 and IFN-gamma in 7 instances. IL-12 and IFN-gamma expression was observed in five and nine larynx carcinomas, respectively, and were codistributed in four cases; IL-4 was detected in five instances. These data indicate that breast, lung, and larynx carcinomas are characterized by different patterns of IL-12, IFN-gamma, and IL4 gene expression and suggest that Th1 activation may be induced, at least in part, by the neoplastic microenvironment.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Vanadium inhibition of serine and cysteine proteases.

A study was made on the effect of vanadium, in both the tetravalent state in vanadyl sulphate and in the pentavalent state in sodium meta-vanadate, and ortho-vanadate, on the proteolysis of azocasein by two serine proteases, trypsin and subtilisin and two cysteine proteases bromelain and papain. Also the proteolysis of bovine azoalbumin by serine proteases was considered. An inhibitory effect was present in all cases, except meta-vanadate with subtilisin. The oxidation level of vanadium by itself did not determine the inhibition kinetics, which also depended on the type and composition of the vanadium containing molecule and on the enzyme assayed. The pattern of inhibition was similar for proteases belonging to the same class. The highest inhibition was obtained with meta-vanadate on papain and with vanadyl sulphate on bromelain.

Albumins↗
PubMed1997

[Preoperative embolization in the treatment protocol for rhinopharyngeal angiofibroma: comparison of the effectiveness of various materials].

The authors examine the effectiveness of preoperative embolization in the treatment of rhinopharyngeal angiofibroma. In addition, they evaluate the effect various embolizing substances have in the aim of establishing what is the ideal time interval between embolization and surgery. Thirteen patients with rhinopharyngeal angiofibroma (3 were recurrences) were submitted to preoperative embolization. Of these, 4 were treated with a reabsorbable microparticulate substance (Gelfoam) while the remaining 8 were treated with non reabsorbable microparticulate substances (Ivalon, ITC contour, Terbal). The time interval between embolization and surgery ranged from a minimum of 1 day with a maximum of 4 days. The authors conclude that embolization markedly reduces blood loss during surgery, so much so that the available blood supply was not required. As regards the various embolizing substances and the time lapse between embolization and surgery, the authors feel that when using reabsorbable materials the interval should not exceed 48 hours so that the supply artery can quickly be recanalized. On the other hand, for the materials which are not reabsorbed, the time interval can exceed 48 hours but must be less than 4 days because collateral circulation can arise.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The lymphoepithelial organization of the tonsil: an immunohistochemical study in chronic recurrent tonsillitis.

Interactions between leukocytes and crypt epithelium were extensively investigated in 12 cases of chronic recurrent tonsillitis, using immunohistochemistry and cytofluorimetric analysis of cell suspensions. Intraepithelial leukocytes are a mixed cell population composed of 50 per cent CD20-positive B lymphocytes, 40 per cent T lymphocytes with a 2.7 CD4/CD8 ratio, and 10 per cent CD68-positive macrophages. About 4 per cent of intraepithelial leukocytes are proliferating cells, as indicated by Ki-67 staining. Leukocyte infiltration is associated with expression on epithelial cells of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Crypt epithelium is supported by a basement membrane showing frequent interruptions and connected with the reticular stroma of the lymphoid tissue, which was stained for fibronectin, tenascin, collagen, and laminin. Extracellular matrix (ECM) distribution was correlated with integrin expression on B and T lymphocytes. It was found that the ECM was arranged differently in the follicles and in the extrafollicular area and that B and T lymphocytes exhibited different patterns of integrin expression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Comments on organization and activity of ENT day hospital department: three years of experience].

The authors deal with organizational and technical aspects concerning otorhinolaryngological day hospital's management. They explain purposes and reasons leading to the establishment of this sort of service; they analyse related problems and the adopted methodologies for simplifying admission procedures. They report a statistical survey regarding the period from May 1991 to May 1994, concerning surgical and medical operations, and instrumental diagnostic researches performed at the IV ENT Department of "La Sapienza" University of Rome. The statistical analysis concerning the 1526 patients sent to this department, shows the downright prevalence of surgical operations performed in operating room (52%). Ambulatory operations and instrumental diagnostic researches account respectively for 39.6% and for 29.3% of all hospitalizations. Among all surgery operations performed in operating room stand out the notice incidence of therapeutical and diagnostic microlaryngoscopies. The most frequent ambulatory operations were the removal of tracheal cannula (21%), while TC was the most frequent of all instrumental diagnostic researches. A careful selection of patients, on the basis of their general condiction, account for the low incidence of subjects not discharged within 24 hours. After having analyzed the survey's data, the authors underline advantages and finalities of day hospital: a shorter hospital stay, reduction of hospitalization's costs, and a larger related number of patients to be contented. Finally they hope that this sort of service will spread more.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1994

Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (lymphoepithelioma) and in malignant epithelial tumors.

Immunoreactivity for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and for vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), two adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily, was tested and measured on tissue sections from 16 undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinomas (U-NPC), 12 keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck region, and 54 malignant epithelial tumors of various origin. Neoplastic cells of all cases of U-NPC were diffusely and intensely stained for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Moreover, ICAM-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and VCAM-1 mRNA were detected by Northern blot analysis of RNA extracts from two tumors. In the other epithelial tumors focal or diffuse staining for ICAM-1 was observed in 40 cases (66%), whereas reactivity for VCAM-1 was detected in a single case of metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma of unknown origin. The biopsy specimens of U-NPC showed variable infiltration by leukocytes, which were positive for the integrins lymphocyte function antigen-1 (LFA-1) and alpha-4/beta-1, the corresponding ligands for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. The possibility that ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on neoplastic cells may favor the intratumoral recruitment of leukocytes in a way similar to that occurring in crypt epithelium of the palatine tonsil is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Role of computed tomography in the follow-up of patients treated with radical surgery and reconstruction with myocutaneous flap for head and neck tumors in advanced stage].

January 1988 to April 1992, 26 patients with advanced head and neck carcinoma underwent head and neck reconstructive surgery with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PM-MCF). Over the same period, all cases were submitted to CT to assess the value of this technique in the follow-up. Fourteen patients relapsed (54%). Of them, 5 (36%) were positive on both clinical examination and CT; 8 cases (57%) exhibited evidence of disease on CT only and in 1 patient (7%) CT was negative and the recurrence appeared as a fistula on follow-up exams. CT was of great value in the management of the patients with advanced head and neck carcinoma treated with reconstructive surgery with PM-MCF. However, CT findings must be carefully interpreted because postoperative and postirradiation complications or anatomic alterations may mimic tumor recurrences.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Neoplastic infiltration of laryngeal cartilages: histocytochemical study.

The relationship between cartilage and invading neoplastic cells was studied in 32 cases of laryngeal cancer by histological and cytochemical methods. Cartilage invasion was present in 12 cases, 10 of which were in proximity or in contact with areas of calcification and ossification. It was significantly correlated only to tobacco consumption (P less than .05) and, in regard to glottic tumors, to tumor diameter greater than 3 cm (P less than .01). Histologically, neoplastic invasion in cartilage was massive in 2 cases, occurred in areas of ossification in 4, between cartilage and bone in 4, and in epiglottic cartilage in 2. In 3 of the cases with bone invasion, there was also new bone formation. Hyaline cartilage and bone resorption was due to tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive giant cells; in epiglottic cartilage only mononuclear cells were present, some of which were TRAP-positive. These results show that neoplastic cells can promote not only resorption and formation of bone, but also resorption of cartilage, which is considered resistant to neoplastic invasion. The different types of resorbing cells in contact with hyaline cartilage and bone in laryngeal cancer, and elastic cartilage in epiglottic cancer, suggest that the structure of the tissue being resorbed can influence the type of resorbing cells.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1991

Comparative efficacy of cefotetan and clindamycin plus amikacin as antimicrobial prophylaxis for major head and neck surgery.

A total of 41 patients were randomly allocated to receive either cefotetan (total dose, 20 g) or clindamycin (total dose, 12 g) plus amikacin (total dose, 5 g) as perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis for major head and neck surgery. The two groups were similar in age, male to female ratio, stage of cancer, and the various types of surgery. No patient received radiotherapy or chemotherapy before surgery. The wound infection rate was 4% in the group of patients receiving cefotetan and 0% in the group receiving clindamycin plus amikacin. No major side effects were observed in either group. On the basis of this study a five-day perioperative course with cefotetan may be considered effective antimicrobial prophylaxis in patients undergoing major head and neck oncologic surgery.

Amikacin↗