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Biomedical subjects

M Santucci

Publications and source records attributed to M Santucci.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

An ultrastructural study of a sclerosing epithelial hamartoma.

The histological and ultrastructural features of a sclerosing epithelial hamartoma are described. By electron microscopy, epithelial cords formed by basal-like cells and epithelial cysts with a pattern of keratinization similar to that of normal epidermis or of follicular infundibula were seen. By conventional light microscopy, continuities were found between the epithelial cords and the overlying epidermis. The stroma was found to be fibrous and contained some fibroblasts or possibly myofibroblasts with bundles of microfilaments. The data are interpreted with respect to the origin of the neoplasm, its line of differentiation, and its sclerosing behavior.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1985

Cell surface marker studies in a patient with cutaneous multilobated T-cell lymphoma.

The phenotypic profile of atypical cells from a patient with cutaneous multilobated T-cell lymphoma was investigated using a multiparameter approach including evaluation of membrane markers, cytochemistry, and functional activity. Retroviral sequence restriction analysis was also used to investigate the presence of human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I) in atypical cells infiltrating the skin and in otherwise normal peripheral blood lymphocytes. The atypical cells appeared to belong to the T-lineage demonstrating OKT11 positivity, E-rosette formation, tartrate-sensitive acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase activity, and consistent negativity for cytoplasmic and/or surface monoclonal immunoglobulins. However, they failed to stain for other T-lymphocyte-associated antigens, such as those defined by OKT3, OKT4, OKT6, OKT8, OKT9, OKT10, Leu-2a and Leu-3a monoclonal antibodies, and did not express a definite alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase pattern. Additional studies including phagocytosis tests and a series of monoclonal antibodies against phagocytic and natural killer cell associated antigens were all negative. No HTLV-I related sequences were found in either the cells infiltrating the skin or in circulating lymphocytes. To our knowledge, in previously reported cases of cutaneous multilobated cell lymphoma a clear T-lymphocyte phenotypic profile was demonstrated. Our present data indicate that this is not always necessarily the case. The peculiar phenotype we found might represent a transitional state between different T-cell subsets or an as yet unrecognized phenotype of a neoplastic T-lymphocyte which lacks a normal counterpart.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

A case control study of lung cancer in Florence, Italy. I. Occupational risk factors.

A case control study of lung cancer in Florence, Italy was performed to investigate occupational risk factors for both men and women. The case series (n = 376) comprised all incident, histologically confirmed cases of primary lung cancer occurring in a three year period. Controls (n = 892) were patients in the same hospital of similar age, sex, date of admission, and smoking status with discharge diagnoses other than lung cancer or suicide. A detailed occupational history was collected from each subject directly. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios for specific occupations compared to all others. Among men, the lung cancer risk for bricklayers using firebrick and other refractory materials was elevated (adjusted odds ratio 6.5, 95% limits 2.1 and 20.9). Female hat makers, probably exposed to arsenic while making felt hats, had an elevated risk of lung cancer (6 cases versus 0 controls, p = 0.01). Risks in other occupations are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A case control study of lung cancer in Florence, Italy. II. Effect of migration from the south.

Risk of lung cancer related to region of birth in Italy was investigated among migrants to Florence, in a case control study of all histologically confirmed incident cases of primary lung cancer in a three year period in that city (n = 376). Controls (n = 892) were patients in the same hospital of similar age, sex, date of admission, and smoking status with discharge diagnoses other than lung cancer or suicide. Information on place of birth and year of migration to Florence was collected directly from each subject, along with a detailed occupational history. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds ratio for birth in the south of Italy relative to birth elsewhere. Male migrants from the south have an odds ratio of lung cancer of 0.5 (95% limits 0.3 to 0.7) relative to those born elsewhere. This "protective effect" is not explained by smoking or by any known occupational risk. The risk is lowest among those born on the island of Sicily (odds ratio 0.2 compared to those born in the centre-north).

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Hormonal and metabolic changes induced by flunarizine therapy: preliminary results.

The effect of 30-days of flunarizine (5 mg/day) therapy on pituitary, B-pancreatic, gonadic and adrenal function was studied in five adolescents with common migraine. Baseline concentration of growth hormone was significantly reduced after flunarizine therapy. The response of prolactin to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone was significantly increased after flunarizine therapy. The percentages of HbA1 and HbA1c were significantly higher after flunarizine therapy. The drug had no apparent effect on gonadic and adrenal function. Further studies are needed to confirm the effect of flunarizine on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis and glucose tolerance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Time-dependent interaction between phenytoin and valproic acid.

The diurnal variation in total and free plasma phenytoin (PHT) concentration at steady state was examined in eight epileptic patients receiving combination therapy with tid valproic acid (VPA) as sodium salt. Eight patients treated with PHT, but not with VPA, were studied for comparison purposes. In the absence of VPA coadministration, total and free PHT concentrations did not change significantly during the day and showed only minor intrapatient fluctuations (14 and 13%, respectively). In patients receiving VPA, the mean total PHT did not change significantly, whereas the free PHT increased during the day (p less than 0.05). The fluctuations in total and free PHT in these patients were 16 and 17% on average. In the presence of VPA, the free PHT fraction was higher than in controls (13.9 +/- 2.3% versus 8.3 +/- 1.9%; p less than 0.01) and fluctuated to a greater extent (29 versus 14% in controls; p less than 0.01), mainly as a result of combined opposite swings in both total and free concentration. The diurnal changes in free PHT concentration and fraction correlated positively with the changes in plasma VPA. An inverse relationship between total PHT concentration and plasma VPA was found in some patients. These data demonstrate that the displacement interaction between PHT and VPA is subject to diurnal variation, probably as a result of the fluctuation in plasma VPA. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Lateral gaze nystagmus in carbamazepine-treated epileptic patients: correlation with total and free plasma concentrations of parent drug and its 10,11-epoxide metabolite.

The incidence of lateral gaze nystagmus and its correlation with free and total plasma concentrations of carbamazepine (CBZ) and carbamazepine-10, 11-epoxide (CBZ-E) were examined in 97 epileptic patients receiving chronic treatment with CBZ alone (n = 54) or in combination with phenobarbital (PB) (n = 43). All patients had plasma CBZ concentrations within the clinically optimal range (less than 50 mumol/L). Nystagmus was seen in 26% of patients receiving monotherapy and in 33% receiving combination therapy. Within each group, however, nystagmus was much more frequent among patients with higher CBZ concentrations. For patients receiving PB in combination the CBZ levels above which nystagmus was particularly frequent appeared to be lower than in the monotherapy patients--a finding that could not be attributed to differences in plasma PB concentrations. The correlation of CBZ-E levels (or the sum of CBZ + CBZ-E) with the occurrence of nystagmus was no better than that observed with CBZ levels alone. Free drug levels did not appear to be superior to total levels in discriminating between patients with or without nystagmus. These results indicate that the occurrence of nystagmus is concentration-dependent within the therapeutic plasma CBZ concentration range and suggest that the threshold at which this neurological sign appears is reduced in the presence of PB, possibly as a result of a pharmacodynamic interaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Cell type distribution in histologic specimens of primary lung cancer.

A total of 1986 cases of primary lung cancer, observed in the Pathology Department of the University of Florence during 1971-1981, were analysed by age, sex, year of diagnosis, source of specimen, and cell type. Adenocarcinomas occurred more frequently in females and at younger ages and were diagnosed mainly from surgically obtained specimens. In contrast, squamous cell carcinomas developed more often in males and at older ages, and were chiefly diagnosed by bronchial biopsy. Over the 11-year period of study, a significant increase in the percentage of squamous cell carcinomas and a consequent decrease in the percentage of adenocarcinomas occurred both in females and in males, independent of changes in the specimen sources.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1984

Infantile behavioural regression and respiratory impairment.

Three girls showed psychomotor regression arising between the 1st and 2nd year of life, after an initially normal development. Language, gait, chewing and swallowing were especially affected, whereas elementary sensory and motor functions were relatively spared. All displayed a particular disorder of breathing, which was irregular and inadequate during wakefulness, returning to normal during sleep. There are similarities between these patients and the syndrome of cerebral atrophy with hyperammonaemia, even though brain CT and biochemical studies, including ammonaemia, were all normal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Valproic acid free fraction in epileptic children under chronic monotherapy.

The total and free (nonprotein-bound) concentration of valproic acid (VPA) was determined in plasma samples collected at two different times of the day (before the morning dose and 3 h later) in 62 epileptic children receiving maintenance single-drug therapy with sodium valproate. Both the total and the free concentrations were lower in the early than in the late morning samples (total VPA: 394.4 +/- 150.0 vs. 556.9 +/- 175.2 mumol/L; free VPA: 20.1 +/- 11.1 vs. 31.3 +/- 17.4 mumol/L). The average free fraction of the drug was also lower in the early morning (4.8 +/- 1.3 vs. 5.4 +/- 1.6%, p less than 0.001). At both sampling times, the free fraction was positively correlated (p less than 0.01) with the total concentration. Evidence is presented that, at equal total plasma VPA concentration, the free fraction of the drug is significantly (p = 0.01) higher in the early than in the late morning samples. The rise in plasma free fatty acids (acting as displacing agents) after the overnight fast is probably responsible for this difference in free fraction. The implications of these findings with respect to the monitoring of free plasma VPA levels are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Bilateral cancer of the breast.

The authors reviewed a series of 2311 primary breast cancers followed-up from 1 to 11 years after radical mastectomy. Twenty-eight simultaneous and 40 metachronous controlateral breast cancers were observed in the study period with an average annual incidence rate of 4.5%. Younger age and histologic evidence of lobular carcinoma at first cancer diagnosis was significantly associated with contralateral cancer, whereas first cancer stage did not seem to be a risk factor. Contralateral metachronous cancer significantly worsened the expected prognosis, which was not true for simultaneous bilateral cancers. The possible reasons for this negative prognostic influence of a second breast cancer and the role of preventive measures such as contralateral mastectomy are discussed. At the present time, an accurate annual clinico-mammographic follow-up seems to be a most advisable course of action.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1980

Adenocarcinoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses in shoemakers and woodworkers in the province of Florence, Italy (1963-77).

Adenocarcinoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses has been associated with occupational exposure to wood and leather dust. Strong evidence has been found for such an association in Florence, Italy, from 1963 to 1977. Sixty-nine cases of primary cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses were identified from hospital records. There were 13 cases of adenocarcinoma, 11 of which were successfully traced and interviewed (patient or relative). Of the 11 cases, three were woodworkers with substantial exposure to wood dust (17 years' average employment) and seven were shoemakers, mostly trimmers. When matched to either of two separate sets of controls (non-cancer hospital patients, and non-adenocarcinoma nose or paranasal sinus cancer patients), the association with occupation was statistically significant. Smoking was ruled out as a source of bias.

Adenocarcinoma↗