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Biomedical subjects

P Pacini

Publications and source records attributed to P Pacini.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of a new monoclonal antibody assay in the detection of recurrent breast cancer.

The immunoradiometric assay "CA 15-3", recently developed to measure a breast tumor-associated antigen, gave a mean serum value of 13.8 U/ml (S.D. 6.2) for this antigen in 156 non-cancer controls (36 biopsies for a benign breast lesion and 120 healthy controls). Setting a cut-off value of 30 U/ml (specificity 99.3%), only 3 out of 58 primary breast cancer cases were positive. In metastatic breast cancer, 11 out of 33 cases with limited recurrence (33.3%) and 36 out of 56 cases with extensive recurrence (64.3%) gave abnormal values in this assay, above the cut-off point, with an overall sensitivity of 52.8%; the difference between the sensitivity values in the two groups of recurrent cases was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). According to the findings of the present study, CA 15-3 has no role in the detection of primary breast cancer, but its usefulness in disease monitoring can be hypothesized, as circulating levels of the antigen seem to be dependent on the tumor mass.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cell kinetics and biochemical parameters in breast cancer.

The study analyzes biochemical and cell kinetic parameters to characterize solid tumor growth in humans. The concentrations of polyamines, CEA, the thymidine labeling index (T.L.I.) and the mitotic index (M.I.) were determined on fragments of neoplastic tissue from 18 patients with breast carcinoma. Urinary polyamines were evaluated in the same patients. Two groups of patients were distinguished according to the median value of the with high T.L.I., M.I. and tissue polyamines were significantly higher than in the group with low T.L.I., whereas tissue CEA was lower, though in a not statistically significant way. Urinary polyamines showed no variations between groups. These preliminary results showed that T.L.I. levels were higher in patients who relapsed during a 4-year follow-up than in patients achieving complete remission and remaining disease free. Results concerning polyamine concentration showed that the tissue polyamine level in breast carcinoma indicated proliferative activity, but this does not seem to be valuable for current prognostic purposes.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Distribution and characteristics of synoviocytes in the rabbit knee joint: a scanning/transmission electron microscopic study.

The distribution and the characteristics of A and B synoviocytes were investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy in the study of the three types of synovial membranes (fibrous, areolar, adipose) of the rabbit knee joint. The scanning electron microscope showed that the B-synoviocytes had dendritic processes and were separated by wide spaces in the fibrous synovium. The areolar synovium was covered by numerous B-synoviocytes of fibroblastoid-shape. The B-synoviocytes of the adipose synovium were characterized by short cytoplasmic processes. The transmission electron microscope revealed that the B-cells showed signs of intense synthetic activity such as the presence of an evident rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus and many peripheric vesicles. Our study also revealed that cells with morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of macrophages, the so-called A-synoviocytes, were present in the areolar membrane. We concluded that B-synoviocytes can show variable shape under normal conditions: in particular, dendritic morphology seems to be a normal characteristic of the synoviocytes of the fibrous membrane. Moreover, our results demonstrate that A and B synoviocytes are ultrastructurally and morphologically distinct cells and that each type has different functions.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Scanning electron microscopy study of the meniscus of the knee in patients with anterior cruciate ligament lesions].

In the aim of bringing a contribution to role of the knee menisci and the functional connection between meniscal lesions and knee joint instability, four patients have been studied, who underwent arthroscopy for sub-acute tear of anterior cruciate ligament without clinical or morphological evidence of meniscal pathology. In these patients biopsies have been taken from one of the menisci and processed for the examination by the SEM. As control, meniscal fragments from two healthy knees have been studied from patients who underwent amputation at thigh for accidental trauma with irreparable lesion of femoral artery. In patients affected by ligamentous tear, on the meniscal surface a lot of deposited material appears, as well as many microlesions as clefts or cracking and distortion of superficial collagenous fibers. All described alteration are more evident in the central portion of menisci than in the anterior or posterior horns. The above mentioned patterns suggest a strong correlation of the knee instability due to ligamentous lesions and meniscal degenerative process which would onset before its clinical or macroscopical evidence.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Treatment of breast carcinoma in Italy].

Treatment of breast cancer has been submitted to a deep revision in the last years. Conservative surgery plus radiotherapy is increasingly adopted as the standard method of treatment for small tumors of the breast. Nevertheless the diffusion of this therapy is slackened by the lack of Oncologic Centers, mainly Radiotherapy Departments, in Italy. A survey of breast cancer treatment in Italy was done and the Author concludes that only a larger diffusion of Oncologic Institutions, mainly in southern Italy, can offer breast cancer patients the possibility to be cured according to modern and reliable treatment protocols.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of CA 15-3 and MCA monoclonal antibody assays in the detection of primary and recurrent breast cancer.

CA 15-3 and MCA assays were tested in 103 operable patients (preoperative determination) and 100 patients with advanced breast cancer. Normal CA 15-3 and MCA values were determined in a series of 68 healthy women. The negative/positive cut-off was set at 28.8 U/ml and 15.5 U/ml respectively for CA 15-3 and MCA (mean value + 2SD). Results were analyzed in the two groups and with respect to T and N pathological categories in the preoperative series. In pT1 (59 pts), pT2 (30 pts), pT3 + pT4 (14 pts), pNO (58 pts), pN1 (45 pts) and overall preoperative series CA 15-3 and MCA sensitivities were respectively 25%, 40%, 57%, 22%, 42%, 30% and 27%, 30%, 35%, 21%, 33%, 26%. In the patients affected by widespread disease, sensitivity was 92% and 80% for CA 15-3 and MCA. Results were significantly different among normal, preoperative and advanced patients (P less than 0.05). Our results suggest that CA 15-3 and MCA levels are correlated with the tumor mass. Nevertheless, the low sensitivity in pT1 and pNO cases indicates that these two assays have no role in the diagnosis of early breast cancer. In the advanced patients, too, the results can be questioned: in the present study, in fact, recurrent cases were characterized by gross disease with multiple site involvement and cannot be considered as an example of early diagnosis of breast cancer recurrence.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The significance of mammographic calcifications in early breast cancer detection.

3,126 medical reports on women sent to mammary biopsy following breast examination at the Florence Center for the Study and Prevention of Cancer in November 1978-July 1982 were reviewed in order to assess the diagnostic significance of mammographic microcalcifications. All mammographies were examined in order to assess the presence and morphological aspects of the microcalcifications on the bioptic site. Microcalcifications were classified on the basis of the following morphological criteria: spatial disposition (isolated, clustered, diffuse); total number; number per cm; morphological aspect (dot-like, stick-like or ramified); shape (regular or irregular); radiological density; association with mammographic opacity; maximum and average diameter. Microcalcifications were encountered in 19.7% of 157 breast cancer diagnosed in a mammographic screening programme conducted on the asymptomatic population in 19.5% of 953 breast cancers diagnosed in self-referring women (most with symptoms). Among cases where subsequent histological examination revealed a benign pathology, microcalcifications were more frequent in the cases deriving from the screening programme (14.5% of 198 cases) than among self-referred cases (4.5% of 1818 cases). The presence of microcalcifications is in itself a predictive sign of the presence of a carcinoma (positive predictive value = 66.2%) but this radiological sign is only present in 20% of breast cancers. Among the various parameters considered in assessing the diagnostic significance of microcalcifications, irregular shape was the most indicative of carcinoma with a predictive value of 80% and presence in 88% of carcinoma with microcalcifications. Other microcalcification parameters with a particular predictive significance are diffuse spatial disposition, total number (over 10) and number per cm (over 50), site contiguous with a mammographic opacity and a mean diameter of 0.6-0.9 mm. Unfortunately these latter parameters are only 24% of tumour cases with microcalcifications. The incidence of microcalcifications in cancer does not vary according to age, but is strongly correlated with the tumour stage. In particular microcalcifications are found in about 1/3 of in situ carcinomas. In invasive cancers, the presence of microcalcifications tends to increase with the diameter of the lesion. No correlation was found in breast cancers between the presence of microcalcifications, lymph node condition and histological type.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenofibroma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The original calibre of the lower limbs arteries as a possible risk factor for complications of atherosclerosis: a statistical investigation in 90 subjects by echocolor-doppler.

Ninety subjects with emodynamically significant atherosclerotic disease of the lower limbs were examined. They had no history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Each subject underwent a color Doppler ultrasonographic study of the common iliac, superficial femoral, and popliteal arteries. In each arterial segment, diameter and blood flow velocity were measured. In evaluating the hemodynamic significance of the stenoses, we used the Windsor method. In a comparison of the calibers of the arteries significant relationship emerged in each given subject in two sexes. Males: a statistically significant difference was found only in the iliac artery, in which the calibre and Windsor indices were greater in the right as compared to the left; right: 1) There was a statistically significant relationship between mean caliber and Windsor indices, (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and age (p < 0.05); Left: 1) There was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices calculated at the levels of both the posterior tibialis (p < 0.05) and dorsalis pedis arteries (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and age (p < 0.05). Females: Student's t test for paired samples of the three arteries did not reveal a statistically significant predominance of one side over the other. With respect to the coefficients of correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices, the results were as follows. Right: 1) There was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices calculated at the levels of both the posterior tibialis and dorsalis pedis arteries (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between age and mean calibre (p < 0.05); Left: 1) There was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and Windsor indices calculated at the levels of both the posterior tibialis (p < 0.05) and dorsalis pedis arteries (p < 0.01); 2) there was a statistically significant correlation between mean calibre and age (p < 0.05).

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The human nasal mucous membrane during chronic inflammation, before and after muco-active therapy: a study using scanning electron microscopy.

Chronic inflammation seems to induce alterations in nasal mucosa morphology. The type and extent of these alterations seem to be directly correlated with the duration of the inflammation. This study was carried out to ascertain whether the administration of muco-active drugs could modify these alterations by inducing their total or partial regression. Ten healthy control subjects, and thirty patients affected with chronic rhinopharyngitis, at various levels of severity, were studied. All the forty subjects underwent biopsy of the posterior region of the medium turbinate. The bioptic samples were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Patients with phlogosis underwent treatment which consisted of a single day administration of carbocysteine-sobrerol (1125 mg carbocysteine and 180 mg sobrerol day 20 days). This group underwent biopsy again and the fragments obtained were studied using the same method. Chronic inflammation, in the nasal epithelium, causes progressive degenerative phenomena, which are related to the duration and to the severity of the pathology. The response of the nasal mucosa principally results in damage to the muco- ciliary unit, loss of cilia and consistent modifications in the mucous secretion. In cases of persistent inflammation, the nasal epithelium becomes squamous. The therapy employed was able to alter the morphological signs of degeneration in the less severe cases, and to improve the overall pattern of the most severe and irreversible pathologies.

Adult↗