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Biomedical subjects

R Ricci

Publications and source records attributed to R Ricci.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Expression of acidic glycosphingolipids and arylsulphatase A activity in human pathological endometrium.

Endometrium biopsic samples from women with cystic hyperplasia or adenocarcinoma were analysed by biochemical procedures to verify fluctuations in the acidic glycosphingolipid (sulphatide) concentration and arylsulphatase A (ASA) activity. Comparing the values of the considered parameters with those obtained in normal subjects, it was observed that ASA activity significantly increased in both pathologies; in contrast, sulphatide concentration underwent a non-significant decrease in hyperplasia and a statistically significant increase in neoplasia. The thin-layer chromatography (TLC) images revealed not only quantitative, but also qualitative differences in the lipid fractions. In fact, compared with controls, the sulphatides showed one more marked fraction in the neoplastic endometrium, and two fractions with different Rf values in the hyperplastic one. Moreover, two new unknown fractions also appeared in some subjects with cystic hyperplasia. The findings suggest the lipid metabolism undergoes considerable changes under the pathological conditions examined. The fluctuations observed, in particular, in the sulphatide concentration are believed to be related to changes in the biosynthetic and catabolic activities of the key enzymes directly involved in their metabolism, i.e. arylsulphatase A and sulphotransferase, which are regulated by sex hormones.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Optic nerve granuloma as first sign of systemic sarcoidosis.

We report a rare casse of optic nerve involvement as the first sign of systemic sarcoidosis. A 43-year-old white woman presented with visual loss in her right eye, and the clinical appearance of optic nerve head swelling. Visual acuity was reduced to 20/200, and the only clinical signs were the presence of an enlarged optic nerve head, with engorged retinal veins and flame-shaped haemorrhages. Computed tomography scans showed an enlarged orbital portion of the right optic nerve, which was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. With a diagnosis of optic nerve tumour (possibly glioma) a surgical resection of the tumour was performed. Histopathology showed multiple nodular granulomas with epithelioid cells, consisted with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. This was confirmed by systemic involvement of the parotids and liver. We review the literature and consider all possible involvement of the optic nerve in sarcoidosis. The rarity of systemic sarcoidosis with a first manifestation as papilloedema is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Detection of growth hormone-producing cells in human thymus by immunohistochemistry and non-radioactive in situ hybridization.

It is well recognized that growth hormone (GH) may act as a growth and differentiation factor for the thymus gland. Recently, it has been reported that Pit-1/GHF-1 transcription factor, which controls the expression of both GH and prolactin, is expressed in stromal (not lymphoid) cells of human thymus. Here, we demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization the presence of distinct GH-producing epithelial cell subsets in human thymus. The cells positive for GH mRNA and GH-immunoreactive substance are both located in the same thymus compartments, i.e., along the thymus capsule, in the subcapsular cortex, and within the septa. Local concentration of GH higher than systemic ones, in combination with other factors, may be important in regulating the thymic microenvironment necessary for T-lymphocyte differentiation.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1994

Echographic diagnosis of pretibial myxedema in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.

In the present study we have evaluated the use of pretibial ultrasound for the diagnosis of pretibial myxedema (PTM). We studied 76 patients, 58 with Graves' disease, 13 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and five with idiopathic hypothyroidism. Thirty-two normal subjects were also studied as controls. Sixty-four patients had associated ophthalmopathy. The ultrasound scanner was equipped with 10- and 13-MHz probes. Punch biopsies were carried out in 11 patients and tissue sections examined on a light microscope. On clinical examination 21 patients (28%) had suspected PTM. By ultrasound, we measured the thickness of dermis and subcutaneous tissue (D1) and that including only deeper dermis (D2) in normal subjects to define the echographic parameters of normal pretibial skin. We then found increased skin thickness in 25 patients (33%), with mean D1 and D2 values significantly higher than those measured in controls (p < 0.00001). The echographic study was positive in 20 patients with ophthalmopathy (31%). Ultrasound showed increased skin thickness in 16 of 21 patients (76%) with clinically suspected PTM. Histopathological findings confirmed the presence of PTM in all the patients who underwent pretibial skin biopsy. We believe that the measurement of pretibial skin thickness by ultrasound may be useful for revealing the presence of PTM.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Mild sialoadenitis: a common finding in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease of presumed viral origin; sialoadenitis has been reported to occur in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. METHODS: Lip biopsy specimens were graded in 32 consecutive patients with either HCV-related chronic liver disease or SS. RESULTS: Seventeen of 22 HCV-positive patients had sialoadenitis, although generally mild (15 of 17, grades I-II). Severe inflammation (grades III-IV) was observed in 8 of 10 patients with SS (chi-square = 12.6; P < 0.0005). Moreover, HCV-positive patients with sialoadenitis differed from patients with SS in female sex prevalence (6 of 17 versus 10 of 10; chi-square = 10.9; P = 0.0001) and presence of serum antinuclear autoantibodies (0 of 17 versus 9 of 10; chi-square = 23.0; P < 0.0001). Five of 13 HCV-positive patients and 7 of 8 patients with SS were HLA-DR3-positive (chi-square = 4.9; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sialoadenitis of HCV-related liver disease is common but differs from SS with regard to predisposing genetic factors, expression of autoimmune markers, and histopathologic severity.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Small-cell carcinoma of the bladder: description of a case and review of the literature].

Small-cell carcinoma (also known as oat-cell carcinoma) is a rare tumor that previously concerns the lung; small-cell carcinoma of the bladder is extremely rare (0.5% of all bladder malignancies). The Authors report here the case of a 78th years old man. Fourteen months before our observation he was submitted to a partial cystectomy for a small-cell carcinoma of the bladder cupola. There was no evidence of extra-vesical location at that moment and the patient was not submitted to any adjuvant therapy. At the moment of our observation the disease was very advanced and the patient died in a few time. The Authors discuss about the therapy of bladder small-cell carcinoma in the few cases described by the literature and about the survival of those patients. A radical surgical treatment in association with an adjuvant chemo- or radiotherapy appears as a better way to treat these patients. On account of this case the Authors agree with this choice and conclude that only a combined treatment can allow a better survival.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Early echocardiographic identification of viable myocardium after acute myocardial infarct using inotropic agents: comparison of dobutamine and enoximone].

BACKGROUND: The reversibility of regional dysfunction early after acute myocardial infarction may be obtained with inotropic adrenergic stimulation, in particular during low dose dobutamine infusion, suggesting the presence of viable myocardium. The aim of this study was to determine whether viable myocardium can be identified by two-dimensional echocardiography after an i.v. bolus of enoximone-positive inotropic non-adrenergic drug, phosphodiesterase III inhibitor as well as during dobutamine infusion, in patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Twelve male patients, aged 57 +/- 10 years and treated with rtPA (100 mg i.v. in 180 minutes) within the first 6 hours of a first anterior myocardial infarction were studied. All patients underwent a dobutamine infusion (5 and 10 mcg/kg/min, 5 minutes per dose) 4 +/- 1 days after entrance, followed by an enoximone bolus (1 mg/kg over 5 minutes) 1 hour later. Echocardiography was performed before dobutamine and enoximone, during dobutamine, 10 minutes after enoximone and at 6 +/- 2 months follow-up. A Wall Motion Score Index (WMSI) was calculated as recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography. All patients underwent coronarography on days 9-11 post-infarction. RESULTS: Improvement in regional function of basally asynergic segments occurred in 8 patients during dobutamine infusion, as well as after enoximone i.v. bolus, and in 1 patient only during dobutamine infusion. Both dobutamine and enoximone tests were found to be negative in the other 3 patients. A decrease of WMSI was observed with both dobutamine and enoximone tests (from 1.84 +/- 0.32 to 1.73 +/- 0.31; p = .002 with dobutamine; from 1.84 +/- 0.32 to 1.70 +/- 0.27; p = .0132 with enoximone) with concordant wall motion changes between two tests in 73/84 (87%; K = 0.61) basally asynergic segments. There were no complications occurred during the study. Of 8 patients with positive response for viable myocardium to both tests, 6 had a patent and 2 an occluded infarct-related artery. However, in the latter a collateral circulation toward necrotic area was present. At follow-up improvement in regional function of basally asynergic segments, with a decrease of WMSI (from 1.74 +/- 0.23 to 1.59 +/- 0.24; p < .05), was observed in 4 of 8 patients with viable myocardium detected by either dobutamine or enoximone. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Viable asynergic myocardium may be identified early after acute myocardial infarction by enoximone bolus, as carefully and safely as by dobutamine infusion; 2) transient recovery of post-ischemic myocardial dysfunction may be obtained independently of beta-receptor stimulation.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis. Description of surgical technique with results in 85 patients.

Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis is a technique designed for patients with severe corneal opacification who would be at high risk of graft rejection should donor tissue transplantation be performed. Because of the isolation of the prosthetic implant from the tissues that the technique provides, the authors are of the opinion that it is the only viable option in such patients. The visual outcome and complications of the procedure in a series of 85 cases are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Costello syndrome: further clinical delineation, natural history, genetic definition, and nosology.

In 1977 Costello described two unrelated children with poor postnatal growth, mental retardation, curly hair, coarse face of similar appearance, and nasal papillomata, suggesting the existence of a previously undescribed syndrome of uncertain familial nature [Costello, Aust Paediatr J 13: 114-118, 1977]. The existence of this syndrome as a separate entity was substantiated several years later by two additional reports by Der Kaloustian et al. [Am J Med Genet 43:678-685, 1991] and Martin and Jones [Am J Med Genet 41:346-349, 1991]. More recently Borochowitz et al. [Am J Med Genet 43:678-685, 1992] described a new "multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation syndrome with facio-cutaneous-skeletal involvement." Whether this condition should be considered separately from the Costello syndrome is currently a matter of debate. We present three cases, two of whom are sibs, who support the identity of the two syndromes. Our aim is to better redefine the diagnostic criteria, describe the natural history, and confirm the genetic cause of the Costello syndrome, whose pattern of inheritance is most likely autosomal recessive.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1993

Defibrotide versus heparin in the prevention of coronary reocclusion after thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction.

A multicenter controlled study versus heparin was conducted to explore the activity of defibrotide, a polydesoxyribonucleotide drug, in preventing reocclusion after urokinase thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The study involved 137 consecutive patients with AMI and a time from the onset of symptoms < or = 6 hours, treated with urokinase (1,000,000 U intravenous bolus followed by 1,000,000 U slow-drip infusion over 12 hours). Immediately after thrombolysis, patients were allocated to treatment with defibrotide (group D: day 0, 3.6 g by intravenous infusion in 12 hours; days +1 to +6, 800 mg tid intravenously; days +7 to +10/+12, 400 mg tid intramuscularly), or heparin (group H: day 0, 1000 IU/hour infused over 12 hours; days +1 to +10/+12, 5000 IU tid subcutaneously). Coronary angiography was done, whenever possible, at +10/+12 days. The following parameters were assessed: (a) noninvasive estimate of myocardial reperfusion, through the analysis of CPK time-activity curves; (b) incidence of infarct-related artery (IRA) patency (TIMI scores 2-3) at coronary angiography. A total of 125 patients had a complete enzymatic curve (63 in group D and 62 in group H) and 106 had coronary angiography as well. IRA patency (the main end point) was observed in 63% of group D versus 43% of group H patients (p = 0.07). No statistically significant differences were found in the proportion of patients with indirect signs of early reperfusion (63% in group D versus 52% in group H patients).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effects of genetic hypertension and nutritional anaemia on ventricular remodelling and myocardial damage in rats.

OBJECTIVE: In order to determine whether alterations in cardiac function and structure occur early in life in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and whether the addition of a volume load would affect myocardial growth and haemodynamic performance, SHR were exposed to an iron and copper deficient diet for 12 weeks (SHR-A) and compared with untreated SHR and Wistar Kyoto controls (WKY). RESULTS: Systolic arterial blood pressure increased in SHR, whereas nutritional anaemia prevented the rise of blood pressure in SHR-A. The diet employed provoked a severe hypochromic microcytic anaemia with a marked reduction in blood viscosity and increased volume load on the heart in SHR-A. Genetically determined hypertension alone induced a 16% increase in left ventricular weight and an increase in left ventricular peak systolic pressure (LVPSP) and +dP/dt. The superimposition of anaemia resulted in a 43% expansion in left ventricular weight with a decrease in LVPSP and +dP/dt, and an increase in left ventricular end diastolic pressure. Wall thickening and a preservation of chamber volume occurred in SHR, while SHR-A had a degree of ventricular dilatation which exceeded the extent of wall thickening. However, genetic hypertension was accompanied by myocardial tissue injury which was fully prevented by the addition of nutritional anaemia. Moreover, the capillary volume was decreased in SHR and increased in SHR-A. CONCLUSIONS: Genetically determined hypertension in combination with anaemia results in eccentric ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction in spite of an increase in capillary luminal volume and limited structural damage.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMed1993

Dipyridamole echocardiography evaluation of acute inferior myocardial infarction with concomitant anterior ST segment depression.

The significance of anterior ST segment depression in inferior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to relate precordial ST segment depression to the topography of residual myocardial ischaemia, with myocardial mapping of the asynergic area and coronary anatomy. Twenty-five patients with first inferior AMI (15 patients with anterior ST segment depression: group A and 10 patients without anterior ST segment shift: group B), all underwent: (1) electrocardiographic evaluation on admission to the Coronary Care Unit and at 24 h intervals thereafter; (2) 2D-echocardiographic study within 3 h of CCU admission; (3) dipyridamole echocardiographic test (DET) (doses of dipyridamole up to 0.84 mg.kg-1 i.v. over 10 min) 4 days after AMI; (4) coronary arteriography within 14 days from AMI. To assess regional left ventricular wall motion, a 16 segment model was used and a wall motion score index (WMSI) was derived. The results of DET were correlated to the anatomy of the infarct-related vessel. Compared to group B, group A patients showed a significantly greater maximal ST segment elevation in inferior limb leads (lead III: 3.9 +/- 1.9 mm vs 2.2 +/- 1.1 mm, P < 0.05; aVF: 3.5 +/- 1.3 mm vs 1.7 +/- 0.8 mm, P < 0.001). Group A patients showed greater WMSI (1.35 +/- 0.22 vs 1.17 +/- 0.12, P < 0.05), with more frequent postero-lateral wall involvement (72% vs 20%, P < 0.05). No patient of either group showed asynergy of the anterior, anterolateral or anteroseptal segments. No differences in the distribution of coronary artery disease were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Spirapril prevents left ventricular hypertrophy, decreases myocardial damage and promotes angiogenesis in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To test whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition may prevent myocardial damage and may affect coronary microvasculature in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), young 5-week-old SHR were treated for 3 months with spirapril and changes in blood pressure (BP) were monitored. Untreated SHR were used as controls. The rats were killed; left ventricular (LV) shape, weight, and wall thickness were examined and the ventricular myocardium was analyzed morphometrically to determine the effect of the drug on the relative amount, number per unit area of myocardium, and average dimension of foci of myocardial scarring. Moreover, volume fraction, surface, numerical density, and diffusion distance for oxygen of the coronary capillaries were analyzed. BP remained 20-30% lower in treated SHR with respect to controls, and LV weight and thickness decreased 20 and 21%, respectively. The number and dimension of the foci of fibrosis were reduced, resulting in an overall 68% decrement in the amount of myocardial damage. Finally, a 28% increment in numerical density of capillary profiles associated with a 13% reduction in their cross-sectional area decreased the diffusion distance for oxygen from the capillary wall to the myocytes by 14% in treated SHR. Spirapril decreases BP and LV weight and thickness in the SHR model of hypertension and substantially improves coronary capillary microvasculature, decreasing hypertensive myocardial damage. These results may be attributed to inhibition of the systemic effects of angiotensin II (AII) as well as to a local protective action of the drug against possible intramyocardial AII production.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1993

Effect of steroid eluting versus conventional electrodes on propafenone induced rise in chronic ventricular pacing threshold.

The aim of this study was to evaluate chronic ventricular pacing threshold increase after oral propafenone therapy. Eighty-three patients affected by advanced atrioventricular block and sick sinus syndrome were studied at least 3 months after pacemaker implantation, before and after oral propafenone therapy (450-900 mg/day based on body weight). The patients were subdivided into three groups according to the type of unipolar electrode that was implanted: group I (41 patients) Medtronic CapSure 4003, group II (30 patients) Medtronic Target Tip 4011, and group III (12 patients) Osypka Vy screw-in lead. In all cases a Medtronic unipolar pacemaker was implanted: 30 Minix, 23 Activitrax, 14 Elite, 12 Legend, and 4 Pasys. Propafenone blood level was measured in 75 patients 3-5 hours after propafenone administration. The pacing autothreshold was measured at 0.8 V, 1.6 V, and 2.5 V by reducing pulse width. At the three different outputs before and after propafenone, threshold increments were significantly lower in group I in comparison with group II and group III (propafenone ranging from < 0.001 to < 0.05). No significant difference was found in pacing impedance or in propafenone plasma concentration in the three groups. Strength-duration curves were drawn for each group at baseline and after propafenone administration. Before propafenone, in group I, the knee was markedly shifted to the left and downward as compared to the classic curve, so that the steep part was predominant; in group II and group III this shift was progressively less evident.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Real time ultrasonography of the gastric antrum.

This study aimed to evaluate whether serial ultrasound measurements of antral volumes are reproducible and, if so, whether they are representative of the entire gastric contents and reliably measure gastric emptying. The antral volume was measured in man after oral and intragastric administration of known amounts of 5% glucose solutions, and on two separate occasions in the same subjects, after the ingestion of a standardised solid-liquid meal (1050 kcal). Antral volume measurements were performed in both supine and upright positions; inter- and intraobserver measurement errors were also assessed. After ingestion or intragastric administration of equal amounts of liquid, antral volumes determined by ultrasound showed a wide intersubject variability. In each individual subject, however, a linear trend was found between the antral volume and amount of ingested or administered liquid. Intrasubject variability of antral volume measurements was at its minimum in fasting conditions and 300 minutes after ingestion of the solid-liquid meal. Intra- and interobserver variations and whether the patient was erect or supine did not affect measurements of antral volumes. These results support the use of real time ultrasound in determining the gastric emptying time. Results at fasting and 300 minutes after a solid-liquid meal are stable end points of measurement.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[The prognostic value of the ejection fraction at rest and under stress assessed by nuclear angiography in myocardial infarct patients].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the utility of ejection fraction at rest (rEF) and its change during stress (delta EF) as a predictor of cardiac events during the follow-up of patients (pts) with myocardial infarction. METHODS: 74 pts (44 treated with thrombolytic therapy (TR), and 30 not (noTR)), were studied with 99mTcPYP angiography within 2 +/- 1 months, after AMI. By 20 +/- 10 months, 41 pts had no events (Group A) while 33 pts experienced cardiac events (3 deaths, 16 angina, 12 CABG, and 2 PTCA). RESULTS: rEF was similar in both Groups A and B (A 47 +/- 8 vs B 45 +/- 10 p. ns), 44 +/- 15 vs B-noTR 46 +/- 12 p. ns). delta EF was different between Groups A and B. Group A showed a positive delta EF (3.2 +/- 6), and this result was more evident in thrombolyzed AMI (A-TR 4.4 +/- 4.5 vs A-noTR 1.16 +/- 3.9 p. < 0.01). Group B showed a negative delta EF (-4.4 +/- 5.3), and this result was more evident in non thrombolyzed AMI (B-TR -2 +/- 6.4 vs B-noTR -5.8 +/- 8 p. < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in EF during exercise radionuclide angiography is useful in identifying pts with high risk of cardiac events after AMI. Thrombolytic therapy improves stress EF in both Groups A and B.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Growth-inhibitory effect of quercetin and presence of type-II estrogen-binding sites in human colon-cancer cell lines and primary colorectal tumors.

We studied the effect of quercetin (Q) on the proliferation of HT-29, WiDr, COLO 201, and LS-174T human colon cancer cell lines. Q, between 10 nM and 10 microM, exerted a dose-dependent, reversible inhibition of cell proliferation. Cell-cycle analysis revealed that the growth-inhibitory effect of Q was due to a blocking action in the G0/G1 phase. Using a whole-cell assay with 17 beta-[3H]-estradiol as tracer, we demonstrated that all these cell lines contain type-II estrogen-binding sites (type-II EBS). By using Q and other chemically related flavonols (3,7-4'-trimethoxyquercetin, 3,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyquercetin, kaempferol, morin, and rutin), we observed that the affinities of these compounds for type-II EBS are correlated with their growth-inhibitory potential. Furthermore, the Q sensitivity of the colon cancer cell lines was correlated with the number of type-II EBS/cell. Then Q could regulate colon cancer cell growth through a binding interaction with type-II EBS. This mechanism could also be active in vivo as we have observed that cytosolic type-II EBS are present in primary colorectal cancers and that Q is effective in inhibiting the in vitro bromodeoxyuridine incorporated by neoplastic cells in these cancers.

Adenocarcinoma↗