Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Pennelli

Publications and source records attributed to N Pennelli.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis made by ultrastructural examination of endomyocardial biopsy. A case report.

A case of cardiac amyloidosis is described in which clinical and scintigraphic findings were those of ischemic heart disease. Electrocardiogram disclosed low voltages in the peripheral leads and a pattern of anterior pseudo-myocardial infarction. 2D-echocardiography showed thickened cardiac walls and a "granular sparkling" appearance of the septum. The curve of the left ventricular diastolic pressure suggested impaired ventricular relaxation without a true dip-plateau morphology. Stains for amyloid of rectal biopsy specimens were negative. Histological study of left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy indicated the presence of basophilic material among the myocytes; at ultrastructural examination this infiltrating substance resulted to be amyloid. This case stresses the effectiveness of ultrastructural investigation of left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy in the diagnosis of infiltrative and/or metabolic cardiac disorders.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1983

Cardiac conduction system abnormalities as a possible cause of sudden death in young athletes.

Histologic examination of serial sections of the conduction system of the hearts of three young persons who died suddenly while engaged in active sports was performed. In no case were electrocardiogram tracings available. One patient, an 11-year-old girl, had micro-Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve associated with a septoseptal Kent fascicle through a wide gap of the central fibrous annulus and upper Mahaim fibers. Another patient, a 24-year-old football player, had a focal, 75 per cent obstructing atherosclerotic plaque in the proximal descending coronary artery, with scattered band necrosis and patchy myocardial fibrosis; upper and lower Mahaim fibers joined the atrioventricular node and the left bundle branch with the crest of the interventricular septum. The third patient, a 26-year-old cycling champion, had a conspicuous atrial fascicle of ordinary and transitional myocardium bypassing the atrioventricular node to anastomose with the His bundle (James accessory atrioventricular pathway). These findings indicate that atrioventricular conduction system abnormalities may play a fatal arrhythmogenic role in sudden death and raise questions regarding the prevention of electrical instability in young people engaged in active sports.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Cardiac ultrastructure in primary restrictive cardiomyopathy.

A five-year clinical follow-up and the results of myocardial biopsies are described in a patient with primary restrictive cardiomyopathy. Histologic examination of a right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy taken early in the course of the illness was not contributory. Histologic examination of a left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy five years later showed hypertrophy and disarray of myocytes, thickening of the endocardium, and interstitial fibrosis. Connective tissue was compact and regularly oriented in the endocardium, but tangled and irregularly oriented in the interstitium. It is concluded that the irregular network of collagen fibrils and elastic fibers limits diastolic relaxation and prevents ventricular dilatation; that the coexisting hypertrophy results from an attempt to maintain normal pump function; and that the myocyte disarray is a consequence of abnormal mechanical forces generated under conditions of severe fibrosis.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1982

Right ventricular myxoma: review of the literature and report of two patients.

The cases of 2 patients with right ventricular myxoma are reported, together with a review of the literature. In both patients the ultimate diagnosis was reached by means of angiocardiography, which revealed large filling defects in the right ventricle. In 1 patient, cardiac catheterization failed to record a transpulmonary gradient. Echocardiography, performed after hemodynamic investigation in both patients, revealed the usual pattern of abnormal echoes moving from the right ventricular cavity to the right outflow tract during the cardiac cycle. In both patients the tumor was successfully excised through a right atrial approach. This approach was preferred to the right ventriculotomy because it provides adequate surgical exposure, avoids undue trauma to the ventricular myocardium, and offers an easy way for inspection of the left heart.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Cusp disruption by massive lipid infiltration. A rare cause of porcine valve dysfunction.

A 68-year-old man underwent reoperation because of severe incompetence of a mitral valve xenograft, 96 months following implantation. Gross examination of the device showed yellow spots on the cusps, suggesting lipid infiltration, and a torn commissure. Plasmatic cholesterol and lipiprotein levels were normal. X-ray examination of the explants showed no calcific deposits. Histologic and electron microscopic studies disclosed massive accumulation of lipid clefts and droplets, predominantly at the level of the tear; focal loss and detachment of the endothelial lining and scanty porcine fibroblasts and collagen bundles with preserved periodicity were also noted. Primary disruption of porcine valvular bioprostheses without significant calcifications or collagen breakdown is uncommon. In the present case, lipid accumulation was the main determinant of tissue failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Descriptive epidemiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the province of Padova, 1970-1974.

The age-standardized incidence rates of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the province of Padova during the period 1970-1974 were 3.19/10(5)/year for males and 1.60/10(5)/year for females. These rates are similar to those found in other industrialized countries and slightly higher than in the province of Torino. An increasing trend with age is described, beginning in the age group 35-44, while low rates were found in younger ages in both sexes. No relevant pattern was shown in the geographical distribution of cases, and no observed/expected ratio was significant in any of the administrative districts considered. The influence of environmental factors and the limitations due to uncertain diagnostic criteria and the small size of the population considered are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[The acromegalic heart disease (author's transl)].

The clinical and pathological findings of 3 patients with acromegalic heart disease are reported. In 2 of them no other causes of the cardiopathy could be recognized but a primitive involvement of the myocardium. The GH is responsible of cardiac hypertrophy without overload, which would shift towards progressive congestive heart failure. A possible depletion of intramyocardial cathecolamines is postulated in acromegalic heart disease as much as in cardiomegalies with pressure or volume overload.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1978

Androgen producing adrenocortical carcinoma.

Two cases of androgen secreting adrenocortical carcinoma have been described by light and electron microscopy. The histological and ultrastructural features of the tumour cells were similar to those of compact cells of zona reticularis and to those described in virilizing adenomas. They possess numerous mitochondria with lamellar and tubular cristae, abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, lipofuscin bodies and scanty lipid. Irregularly shaped, crenated mitochondria, with outpouchings of the outer limiting membrane have also been observed. The clusters of neoplastic cells were surrounded by basement membrane which demonstrated a focal discontinuity, probably reflecting malignancy of the tumours. Hyperplasia of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and the presence of outpouchings of the mitochondrial outer limiting membrane might be the morphological manifestation of endocrine activity of the tumours.

17-Ketosteroids↗
PubMed1978

[Sudden death].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Sudanophilic leucodystrophy: report of a case with tigroid demyelination of the centrum ovale.

A 17-year-old girl with negative familial and personal history developed a progressive neurologic disorder characterized by cortical amaurosis, metal deterioration and spastic tetraparesis. Death occurred one year after the onset of symptoms. Histopathologic examination of the C.N.S. showed the presence of extensive, discontinuous demyelination of the white matter of the centrum ovale, with preservation of perivascular myelin islets, associated with massive fat degradation, loss of axons and severe astroglial proliferation. This case belongs to the group of sudanophilic leucodystrophies, being an atypical case, a transition between pure sudanophilic leucodystrophy and the group of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher's disease.

Adolescent↗