Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Bianchi

Publications and source records attributed to S Bianchi.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Interobserver reproducibility in diagnosis of breast lesions. A panel in Puglia (Italy). GSBioCaM.

BACKGROUND: Given the incidence of breast cancer, histologic agreement is necessary to select the proper treatment. METHODS & STUDY DESIGN: Twelve pathologists working in Puglia (Italy) independently evaluated a set of 88 slides of breast lesions. The set included 31 cases which presented difficulties at the moment of first diagnosis (problem cases) and 57 cases without problems (routine cases). Each pathologist was requested to classify lesions according to four categories: A, benign; B, atypical proliferation; C, in situ carcinoma; D, invasive carcinoma. For each case, the definite diagnosis was considered that provided by most of the pathologists (prevalent diagnosis). For the evaluation of degree of agreement, kappa statistics were utilized. RESULTS: Among routine cases, agreement was observed in 68.4% of cases (38/57) and in 29% of problem cases (9/31). The pair-wise comparison between all participating pathologists showed a good overall agreement, (kappa mean, 0.66; range, 0.57-0.76). The agreement of each pathologist with the prevalent diagnosis was high for invasive (mean kappa, 0.88) and benign lesions (mean kappa, 0.83) followed by in situ carcinoma (mean kappa, 0.64). The lowest value observed was for atypical lesions (mean kappa, 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed a good overall degree of diagnostic concordance among participating pathologists, all working in the Italian region of Puglia. The findings emerging from the study are comparable to those of other studies performed with selected pathologists specifically specialized in breast pathology. Moreover, the study confirmed the diagnostic difficulties for borderline lesions and the necessity of further investigation for sclerosing lesions with discordant diagnoses.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Wegener's granulomatosis: an analysis of 50 patients].

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the rate of different organs involvement in 50 patients with Wegener's Granulomatosis (GW), and to describe their clinical manifestations and their response to treatment. METHODS: We evaluated 50 consecutive patients with GW, come to our attention from January 1987 to May 2003. 43 patients met the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for classification of GW; 7 patients the 1993 ELK criteria. RESULTS: 82% of patients presented Ear/Nose/Throat (ENT) involvement, which is the most common site of inflammation. 22% of our patients had ENT-restricted disease; in 78% of cases disease extended to other organs. Lungs were involved in 72% of cases; kidney in 36%; eye in 24%; nervous system (NS) in 14% (central NS in 10% and peripheral NS in 4%); skin in 10%; heart in 8%; testis in 4%. Arthritis was present in 10% of patients. We discuss treatment of all patients and response to therapy of those 28 whose follow-up is available. CONCLUSIONS: Involvement of airways and kidney is by far the most common in GW, though potentially any other organ or system may be affected. The total rate of other organs involvement is 70%.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dietary salt intake, blood pressure and the kidney in hypertensive patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

The mechanisms responsible for hypertension in NIDDM patients are only partially understood. Increased sensitivity to dietary salt intake and to vasoconstrictor hormones are among the mechanisms proposed. We have studied 19 hypertensive NIDDM patients 7 salt-sensitive and 12 salt-resistant while they were ingesting a diet with 20 mEq/day of Na+ for 9 days and while they were ingesting a diet containing 250 mEq/day of Na+ for 14 days. During the last 4 days of each dietary regimen, they received 60 mg/day of slow-release nifedipine. Blood pressure response to increasing doses of norepinephrine and angiotensin II was studied at the end of each of the four phases of the study. High salt intake increased blood pressure and decreased heart rate in these patients. High salt intake also increased the vascular response to norepinephrine but not to angiotensin II in NIDDM hypertensive subjects. Glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow were not different during the low and high salt diets. There were no differences in the blood pressure response to norepinephrine or angiotensin II, nor in renal hemodynamic changes among salt-sensitive and salt-resistant NIDDM patients. Nifedipine decreased blood pressure equally in salt-sensitive and salt-resistant hypertensive patients and during the high and the low salt intake. Nifedipine increased renal blood flow, both in salt-sensitive and in salt-resistant individuals, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. Nifedipine decreased the blood pressure response to both norepinephrine and angiotensin II. The studies indicate that an increased reactivity to the pressor action of norepinephrine may contribute to the maintenance of hypertension in NIDDM hypertensive subjects and high salt intake may aggravate the pressor responsiveness to norepinephrine in these patients. Nifedipine is an effective antihypertensive drug in NIDDM patients and its action may be in part related to a decrease in pressor response to norepinephrine and angiotensin II.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[An apocrine hidrocystoma of the scrotum. A case report].

A benign neoplastic lesion of the skin originating from cystic proliferation of apocrine secretory glands is defined as an apocrine hidrocystoma or cystadenoma. The tumor usually occurs in adults as a solitary cystic lesion; it is commonly found on the periorbital region, neck, upper torso and limbs. The case presented is unusual because of the age of the patient--cystadenoma is very rare in childhood--and the localization of the lesion. From a literature review and to the best of our knowledge, a scrotal cyst has never been previously described. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice since the lesion does not tend to recur.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Histologic microbiopsy with 14 G needle in the diagnosis of breast lesions. Experience with 1000 cases].

PURPOSE: We report our experience with large core biopsy (LCB: 14-Gauge needles) of questionable or suspicious breast lesions detected at mammography and/or US. All biopsies were performed under instrumental guidance. We also report on technique, costs, time, advantages and disadvantages of the method and, finally, give precise indications on when and why large core biopsy is needed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From january 1996 to may 2000 we performed 1000 microhistologic biopsies on breast lesions at the Unità Integrata di Senologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, Florence; 650 (65%) were non palpable lesions. Large core needles were used (14-Gauge caliber). In the majority of cases (70%) we used US guidance, in the others a stereotactic guidance was employed. RESULTS: Microhistologic biopsy allowed accurate characterization in most cases. Inadequate samples were obtained in 15 cases. The false negative rate was 6%. Surgery was needed to characterize the lesion unquestionably in 13 cases only. CONCLUSION: In agreement with literature reports, our results confirm large core biopsy as an adequate alternative to surgical biopsy and, to some extent, to FNAC, thanks to its moderate invasiveness, low costs, short execution time, little patient discomfort and high sensitivity (93.98%) and specificity (99.7%).

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Congenital true pancreatic cyst in pediatric age: case report.

Congenital pancreatic cysts are rare lesions in pediatric age. We present a case of congenital true pancreatic cyst in otherwise asymptomatic boy aged 4 years. Clinical history, laboratory, imaging, immunohistological findings and surgical treatment are also described.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Composite materials in pedodontics].

A brief account is given of the features of 1st and 2nd generation compounds and their clinical applications. Reference is made to many years of personal experience in an assessment of their long-term results.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Leclercq test in diagnosis of tear in the rotator cuff.

The authors report their experience in using the Leclercq test to diagnose tear in the rotator cuff of the shoulder. When positive, this test consists in a radiographic demonstration of reduction in the subacromial space in opposing abduction of the shoulder. Twenty-five patients affected with chronic painful shoulder and suspected lesion of the rotator cuff were submitted to the Leclercq test and subsequently to arthrography in order to evaluate the conditions of the cuff. In all of the cases where the cuff was whole, and arthrography normal, the Leclercq test was negative. When lesion of the cuff was revealed by arthrography, the test was positive in 75% of the cases considered globally, and in 92% of the cases with complete tear in the rotator cuff.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of primary transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate].

Transitional cell carcinoma is a rare neoplasm with an reported incidence of 2%. It is biologically different from adenocarcinoma in that it is not hormonally responsive and it is not associated with an elevated serum acid phosphatase. It is marked by local invasiveness and distant metastases. Transitional cell carcinoma has its origin at the level of the periurethral ducts in the area of the junction of the cylindrical and transitional epithelium. Transitional cell carcinoma can be distinguished from adenocarcinoma and carcinoma endometriode exclusively for its histological aspect. Various therapies have been used to treat transitional cell carcinoma but with poor results. Surgical treatment is still today the most efficient with a surviving average of 2 years. The Authors report 3 new cases, discussing diagnostic, clinical and therapeutical aspects of this rare neoplasm.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Simultaneous intra- and extrauterine pregnancy after multiple ovulation induction.

Superovulation was induced by combined treatment with a GnRH analog, hMG and hCG in a 31 years old nulligravida with a diagnosis of unexplained infertility. She developed a mild hyperstimulation syndrome for which she received conservative treatment in hospital, and she was discharged only after we demonstrated a gestation sac in utero with evident fetal heart beat and beta hCG assays were positive. One week later the patient was readmitted urgently with acute abdominal pain. Laparoscopy revealed a left tubal pregnancy with corpus luteum on the right ovary and free blood in the pouch of Douglas. Salpingotomy was therefore performed with dilatation and curettage of the uterine cavity. Histological examination confirmed the presence of contemporary intra- and extrauterine pregnancy. Based on this first communication, a high index of clinical suspicion for an extrauterine pregnancy is warranted in all patients undergoing superovulation even after a pregnancy in utero has been demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum Ca-125 concentrations in endometriosis.

Serum Ca-125 levels were measured in 154 patients undergoing laparoscopy or laparotomy for infertility and/or pelvic pain. Pelvic endometriosis at various stages was observed in 102 of the patients, and 52 had a visually normal pelvis and served as a control group. We found a significantly higher mean serum Ca-125 concentration in the patients with stages III and IV endometriosis compared with the controls (P less than 0.001) whereas in the patients with stages I and II disease the mean antigen level was comparable to that of the control group. Considering its low sensitivity (14.7%) the usefulness of serum Ca-125 measurements as an initial diagnostic test for endometriosis is scanty. On the contrary, because of its elevated specificity (100%), this test may be useful in indicating early surgical exploration of the pelvis in cases of infertility and/or dysmenorrhea which are associated with high values of Ca-125.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The GnRH agonists in the treatment of uterine leiomyomas.

The observation that fibroids regress after the menopause has led many authors to use GnRH agonists to obtain a reversible state of hypoestrogenism in patients with this tumor. In all the studies performed GnRH agonists have been found effective in inducing a marked regression of fibroids and resolution of the related symptoms. The only serious side effect reported has been a decrease of bone mineral density, which necessarily limits the duration of treatment. Fibroids have been observed to grow back in almost all patients a few months after suspension of treatment, and this limits the indications for the use of GnRH agonist in the treatment of this condition. GnRH agonists are the treatment of choice, however, in inoperable patients and in those with severe anemia, whereas further studies are needed to better define their use in preoperative treatment and in women in perimenopausal age.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Frequency of malocclusion in 800 school children in the province of Pavia].

After a brief review of the literature on the subject, the results of a study of the frequency of malocclusions in 800 primary school children are reported. A very high percentage (80.3%) was observed, with a prevalence of males(83%) over females (77%). The relationships between malocclusions and age and between malocclusions an; caries are also examined.

Age Factors↗