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Biomedical subjects

S Bianchi

Publications and source records attributed to S Bianchi.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Laparoscopy in the diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain in adolescent women.

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in adolescent women is a frequent complaint. We assessed the value of laparoscopy in the differential diagnosis of CPP in 47 adolescents 11-19 years old after six months or more of cyclic or acyclic pelvic pain. No pelvic abnormalities were detected in 19 patients (40.4%), endometriosis was detected in 18 (38.3%) (frequently with nonpigmented or "nonclassic" lesions), partially obstructive genital tract malformations were found in 4 (8.4%), and other types of pathology were discovered in 6 (12.8%). Nearly 60% of the patients had a treatable pelvic disease. Laparoscopy is an invaluable tool in the diagnosis of CPP in adolescents and should be performed before starting a psychiatric evaluation or prescribing long-term medical treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Synthesis and biological activity of a cyclic hexapeptide related to peptide T.

The cyclo [Thr-Thr-Thr-Tyr-Asn-Thr] hexapeptide related to peptide T, H-Ala-Ser-Thr-Thr-Thr-Asn-Tyr-Thr-OH, competitor of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the binding to human T cells, was synthesized and tested for its ability to stimulate monocyte migration (chemotaxis). The new cyclic derivative showed negligible biological activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

[Leydig cell tumor of the testis. Therapeutic and anatomopathologic clinical study of 2 new cases].

Tumors of the testis comprise 1% of male neoplasms. Interstitial cell tumors that originate in Leydig's cells account for 1 to 3% of these testicular tumors. A prognosis is difficult to make since these rare neoplasms manifest clinically in variable forms and it is extremely difficult to distinguish the benign from the malignant. Two new cases of this rare tumor type seen at the Department of Urology of the University Hospital of Florence are reported. The literature is reviewed, highlighting the clinical aspects, particularly the symptomatic, histopathologic, and the differential diagnostic features of the less and highly malignant forms. Furthermore, a protocol for selecting the therapeutic modality for this rare neoplasm is described.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Gastric cancer in a high-risk area in Italy. Histopathologic patterns according to Lauren's classification.

Two thousand five hundred forty cases (1628 males and 912 females) of primary gastric cancer (GC) histologically diagnosed in gastroscopic biopsy or resected specimens, occurring from 1973 to 1982 in a high risk area in Italy (Florence), were reviewed. According to Lauren's criteria, 1587 (62.5%) were classified as intestinal type, 624 (24.6%) as diffuse type and 329 (12.9%) as mixed unclassified. The intestinal type is more frequent in males and increases in both sexes with advancing age; conversely for the diffuse type. In the two 5-year periods (1973-1977 and 1978-1982) the intestinal type shows a reduction over time more evident in females than in males, in contrast to the increasing trend for the diffuse type. In males, the distribution of Lauren's histologic types is stable over time for resected specimens, whereas there is a significant reduction of intestinal type for biopsy specimens. In females, both for resected and biopsy specimens there is a reduction of the intestinal type and an increase of the diffuse type from the first to the second period. For a subgroup of 297 subjects two different specimens were available (gastroscopic biopsy and surgical); sensitivity and positive predictive value, for biopsy specimen as compared with the resected one, in the diagnosis for Lauren's histologic types were calculated. An excess of diagnoses in the mixed/unclassified category for biopsy material was evident (positive predictive value = 44.3%). However, for the two main histologic types, the biopsy appears a quite reliable indicator of the final diagnosis on surgical material (intestinal: ppv = 88.6%; Diffuse: ppv = 87.0%). The study supports the hypothesis that the reduction in GC mortality in the Province of Florence in recent years may be associated with a moderate reduction in the frequency of the intestinal type.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The role of galactography in the detection of breast cancer.

The authors report on a series of 529 consecutive patients examined on physical examination, mammography, nipple discharge cytology and galactography. The criterion for galactography was essentially bloody nipple discharge (73% of cases). Serous nipple discharge was not considered worthy of routine galactography since it is associated with an extremely low incidence of breast cancer. Surgical excision and histologic examination of the discharging duct was performed in 200 cases. Eighteen cases of breast cancer were detected (10 infiltrating, 8 intraductal) of which 9, 6, 7 or 7 were suspected on physical examination, mammography, cytology or galactography, respectively. All combined tests suspected 13 of 18 breast cancers; 3 intraductal breast cancers were biopsied because of evidence of multiple papillomas on galactography, and 2 infiltrating breast cancers were operated because of persistent bloody nipple discharge in the absence of any other sign. No breast cancer was suspected on galactography alone. Galactography is indicated in the presence of bloody nipple discharge, and a biopsy should be performed when breast cancer or multiple papillomas are suspected. The diagnosis and excision of a single papilloma (breast cancer was never misdiagnosed as a single papilloma on galactography) is not worthwhile since a single papilloma is a benign lesion, and the benefit of its excision is still unclear.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Histamine release in acute coronary occlusion-reperfusion in isolated guinea-pig heart.

It has been shown that plasma histamine significantly increases during myocardial infarction in the dog. Histamine is also released when the isolated guinea-pig heart is reperfused after 30 minutes of low flow perfusion. The release of histamine and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) after left anterior descending coronary artery ligation and release were investigated in the present study and related to the changes in electrocardiographic parameters and to a computer-aided analysis of left ventricular mast cell metachromasia. Spontaneous release of histamine was unchanged during ischemia and increased after the release of the ligature, while we observed a steady increase of LDH overflow. In parallel, a significant diminution of mast cell granule metachromasia was observed in left ventricular samples. The perfusion of the heart with FeCl3/ADP (10 microM/100 microM), a free radical-generating system, significantly enhanced both the basal and ischemic-reperfusion release of histamine, while perfusion with N-t-butyl-phenyl-nitrone (BPN/100 microM) a "spin-trapper" molecule, significantly decreased histamine and LDH release and the loss in metachromasia of left ventricular mast cells induced by reperfusion. Inhibitors of xanthine oxidase (allopurinol, 10 microM) and of calcium-activated proteases (leupeptin, 10 microM) modified the kinetics of histamine and LDH release.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Fluorescence-histochemical and ultrastructural research on the monoaminergic neurosecretory cells of the earthworm Octolasium complanatum (Annelida: Oligochaeta).

A study of the yellow fluorescent neurons (M-NSC) of the subesophageal ganglion of the earthworm Octolasium complanatum has been made by using alternate semithin and thin sections in a correlate fluorescence and electron microscopy technique and it results that elementary neurosecretory granules are present where the yellow fluorescent substance is. These granules are similar in size and morphology to the granules of monoamine type. The intimate contact of the capillaries with the granular cytoplasmic area of the M-NSC provides evidence of a probable release of the secretion from the cell body. These results support the hypothesis of the endocrine role of the M-NSC.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Pancreatic late recurrence of bilateral renal cell carcinoma after conservative surgery.

The appearance of solitary late metastases of renal cell carcinoma has seldom been documented. A female patient, who 13 years previously underwent left radical nephrectomy and right lower polar resection for bilateral simultaneous renal cell carcinoma, presented with a solitary pancreatic metastasis which was successfully treated with pancreaticoduodenectomy. The major points of interest of this report are the occurrence of a primary bilateral tumor, the initial treatment with conservative surgery and the site of late recurrence. The diagnostic and prognostic implications of late metastases of renal tumors are discussed.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1988

Relaxin: a mammotropic hormone promoting growth and differentiation of the pigeon crop sac mucosa.

The pigeon crop sac is responsive to local administration of mammotropic hormones independently of systemic hormonal influences. We showed previously in mice that relaxin promotes growth of the mammary gland only after pre-treatment with estrogen. In this study we investigated whether relaxin, locally administered, has a stimulatory effect without estrogen pre-treatment. The results of this study show that relaxin stimulates the crop sac mucosa causing changes in its gross appearance and histological modifications indicating enhanced growth and differentiation of the mucosal epithelium. The effects of relaxin are dose-related, as demonstrated by the increases of the wet and dry weights, the [3H]thymidine and [3H]uridine uptakes of the mucosa, and the histochemically detectable DNA content of the mucosal epithelium. These results strengthen the idea that relaxin should be included in the list of mammotropic hormones.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Serum CA 125 measurements in the diagnosis of endometriosis recurrence.

Seventy-one women underwent follow-up laparoscopy for persistent infertility six to 24 months after conservative treatment of endometriosis. The disease was staged according to the revised American Fertility Society classification of 1985. The serum CA 125 concentration was also measured in each patient to evaluate its efficacy in the diagnosis of endometriosis recurrence. The patients with stages I and II endometriosis had serum CA 125 levels not significantly higher than in the patients with negative findings, whereas those with stages III and IV endometriosis presented significantly higher levels (P less than .005 and P less than .001, respectively) than the disease-free women. The sensitivity of serum CA 125 measurements in the diagnosis of endometriosis recurrence was 14.8%, the specificity was 100%, and the predictive values of normal (less than 35 U/mL) and elevated levels were 27 and 100%, respectively. In some cases, serum CA 125 measurements may be used instead of follow-up laparoscopy, or to indicate when laparoscopy should be performed or postponed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Effects of relaxin on the microvasculature of mouse mammary gland.

The effects of RLX on the microvasculature of the mouse mammary gland are reported. RLX (pure porcine standard NIH-RXN-P1) at a dose of 3 GPU was administered subcutaneously to virgin adult mice ovariectomized 12 days before. The mammary glands were removed 18-20 h after RLX injection and their examination by light microscopy did not reveal any substantial growth-response to the hormone. Histology and morphometry indicated striking dilation of microvessels, especially capillaries, and electron microscopy revealed an increase in the micropinocytotic vesicles, thus suggesting enhanced transendothelial transport of substances. Such phenomena, which were independent of a release of granules by mast cells, may represent an important component of the mammotrophic action of RLX.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Histamine and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in ischemic myocardium of the guinea-pig.

Histamine has been proved to be released during myocardial infarction and ischemic arrhythmias in dogs. The aim of the present experiments was to evaluate if ischemia and reperfusion modify histamine and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in isolated guinea-pig heart. The results obtained show a steady increase of LDH release both in the ischemic and reperfusion phases. The release of histamine was reduced during the ischemic phase and increased significantly during reperfusion. A significant diminution of mast cell granule metachromasia was observed in the right auricles at the end of the reperfusion period. D-mannitol and reduced glutathione (GSH) modified the kinetics of histamine and LDH release. Cimetidine was able to decrease significantly the release of histamine during the ischemic and reperfusion phases and also reduced the release of LDH; triprolidine was completely ineffective. The results suggest that oxygen-derived free radicals may be involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial dysfunction after ischemia and reperfusion.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Ultrastructural studies on white adipocyte differentiation in the mouse mammary gland following estrogen and relaxin.

White adipocyte differentiation was studied ultrastructurally in the mouse mammary gland following stimulation with 17beta-estradiol and relaxin. These hormones have been previously demonstrated by us to induce hyperplasia and hypertrophy in the adipose cells of the mouse mammary gland. Following hormone treatment new fat cells are formed around the growing ducts. In these sites there is a close relationship between blood vessel growth and adipocyte development, and stromal areas featuring embryonic fat organs can frequently be found. In the sites of adipocyte differentiation the most numerous cell types are undifferentiated mesenchymal cells and preadipocytes, while fibroblasts and macrophages are much less common. No endothelial cells or pericytes were found detaching from the blood capillary walls. There were no fibroblasts or macrophages containing intracellular lipid deposits. Actively degranulating mast cells were frequent. The above findings strongly suggest the direct origin of adipocytes from perivascular mesenchymal cells, without the intermediate stages of well-differentiated fibroblasts, macrophages, endothelial cells or pericytes. The earliest morphologically recognizable stage in adipocyte differentiation is a 'pale preadipocyte', characterized by its irregular shape due to cytoplasmic processes, clear cytoplasmic matrix, well-developed organelles (especially ribosomes and Golgi apparatus), few and small lipid droplets, numerous pinocytotic vesicles and a very thin basal lamina. The next stage in adipocyte differentiation is a 'dark preadipocyte' showing a denser cytoplasmic matrix, reduced organelles and more abundant lipid accumulations. The pinocytotic vesicles are very numerous and the enveloping basal lamina is still thin. The subsequent maturation stages are the well-known globular multivacuolated adipocyte and finally the mature univacuolated, signet-ring, white adipocyte.

Adipose Tissue↗