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Biomedical subjects

A Comelli

Publications and source records attributed to A Comelli.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Epithelioid granulomata in a nonossifying fibroma. The possible drug-induced mechanism.

A 13-year-old boy affected by bursitis of the R knee and nonossifying fibroma of the distal metaphysis of the R femur, was treated in the weeks prior to surgical intervention with water-soluble aspirin tablets to relieve local pain. Unexpected epithelioid cell granulomata were observed inside the neoplastic fibrous stroma of the nonossifying fibroma. The coincidental appearance of a slight blood eosinophilia (7%) and perioral fixed drug eruption are clues that suggest that the histological bone findings may represent an expression of the hypersensitivity response elicited by aspirin. It cannot be ruled out that this unusual finding may be related to documented previous trauma, resulting in interstitial hemorrhages and subsequent reactive resorptive processes.

Adolescent↗

Ectomesenchymoma. Report of two cases.

Two cases of ectomesenchymoma are reported. This tumor type is defined as a form including ectodermal components represented by neuroblasts or ganglion cells and differentiated mesenchymal structures of various types. Some authors classify this tumor with the peripheral nerve neoplasms but we consider it to be a distinct neoplasm. Clinically and pathologically the tumors have no features of peripheral nerve tumors and may occur with nerves or away from them.

Child, Preschool↗

Malignant mesenchymoma of the liver in children: a clinicopathologic and ultrastructural study.

A primary malignant mesenchymoma of the liver in a nine year old boy is reported with the results of ultrastructural investigation. In accordance with previous observations, our study indicates that this type of tumor is remarkable because of its bulky size and possible rapidly fatal outcome. Although the term malignant mesenchymoma can be applied, the tumor is primarily fibrosarcomatous and liposarcomatous. It could be postulated that this tumor and the more frequent benign mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver are two histogenetically related lesions that preferentially affect the liver in children.

Child↗

Immunological evaluation of 22 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia off-therapy. A longitudinal follow-up.

In 22 patients with ALL in first complete remission, who discontinued therapy after 3 years, longitudinal follow-up of immunological reconstitution was investigated by assessing serum immunoglobulin levels, number and mitogen responsiveness of B and T lymphocytes. Major modifications have been demonstrated for T cells both in terms of number and functionality, while B cells and serum immunoglobulins did not change significantly. Examining the behaviour of the patients one by one, it has been observed that recovery is often characterized by a remarkable rebound occurring from the 15th to the 18th month. Immunosuppression induced by antileukemic treatment appeared to be a transitory phenomenon, mainly limited to the first three months. Reconstitution was achieved, in almost all cases, within one year after treatment was stopped.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Primary cutaneous lymphoma with a nodular pattern in infancy.

We present the first reported case of primary lymphoma with a nodular pattern in infancy, accompanied by a detailed histopathological study. The diagnosis is based upon unquestionable histopathological data. Remarkable are the macroscopic findings of the lesion, the very young age of the patient, and the Burkitt's lymphoma-like appearance of the lesion in addition to the nodular pattern. Another case of cutaneous nodular lymphoma in an infant was previously reported by Traggis et al. but without a detailed histopathological description. These two cases, in consideration of the rarity of nodular lymphoma in children, promote speculative considerations, especially in regard to etiology and therapy.

Cheek↗

Bone marrow biopsy in children: a study of 111 patients.

Closed trephine needle biopsy of the bone marrow has become an established procedure in the evaluation of many malignant and benign diseases in adults; however, its role in pediatric pathology has not yet been defined. In the period from February 1974 to April 1978 we have performed 164 such biopsies in 111 children under 15 years of age. A representative specimen has been obtained in over 80% of cases. This series included, in order of frequency, non-Hodgkin lymphomas, Hodgkin lymphomas, aplastic anemias, rhabdomyosarcomas, neuroblastomas, miscellaneous solid tumors, and single cases of histiocytosis X, malignant histiocytosis, sarcoidosis, malignant histiocytoma, and Castleman lymphoma of the hyaline-vascular type. Histology has been found superior to cytology in the detection of neuroblastoma invasion; the evaluation of the true cellularity in aplastic anemia, and the detection of granulomatous tissue in the only case of sarcoidosis. In other diseases histology and cytology gave similar information, except for the few cases of acute leukemia in partial relapse, which has been better defined in the aspirate smears than in the core specimen. Further evaluation of this technique in other patient series appears advisable.

Adolescent↗

Retroperitoneal fibrohistiocytic tumors in children: report of five cases.

Five rare retroperitoneal fibrohistiocytic tumors of children are described mainly in reference to the pathological aspects. A more detailed description is given of a retroperitoneal xanthogranuloma, including an ultrastructural study. This case is particularly interesting for its rapid transformation into a fibroxanthosarcoma. The other cases include two fibroxanthosarcomas, a storiform fibrous xanthoma, and a malignant histiocytoma. The most difficult points in the recognition and in the differential diagnosis of these tumors are discussed, and emphasis is placed on some interesting pathological features. Prognosis of such tumors appears difficult to assess from our series since two patients died in the immediate postoperative period, one died one and a half years after the discovery of the tumor, and two are alive and well, but with a short follow-up.

Child↗

Lymphoid cell surface markers in acute lymphocytic leukaemia.

Peripheral blood lymphoid cells of 29 patients with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) at onset were studied for characterization of B and T membrane markers and phytohaemagglutinin responsiveness. 24 cases (83%) were classified as "null" cell ALL and 5 (17%) as T-cell ALL. No relationship could be found between cytological presentation and immunological classification. Moreover, no correlation has been demonstrated between clinical-immunological parameters and prognosis, indicating that in our series of patients, assessment of cell size and surface markers were not a reliable predictor of prognosis.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Peptichemio in advanced neuroblastoma.

Peptichemio (PTC) is a mixture of six synthetic peptides of m-L-phenylalanine mustard. It acts with both alkylating and antimetabolic effects, interfering with the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. PTC was administered iv to 18 previously untreated children with advanced neuroblastoma at a dose of 1-1.5 mg/kg/day for one to three cycles of 5-6 consecutive days each. Eleven of 12 patients (92%) experienced both objective and subjective improvement; complete remission was achieved in two of them. In spite of the high remission rate, the median duration of remission has been short (4 months) and the overall survival (median, 6 months) did not seem to be influenced by the use of PTC. The primary toxic effects were, in order of importance, bone marrow depression, phlebosclerosis, nausea and vomiting, and alopecia. Chronic use of PTC seems limited by two major factors: profound long-lasting thrombocytopenia and severe phlebosclerosis.

Child↗

Immunological evaluation of 15 children with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

In the present study, 15 children with non-Hodgkin lymphoma have been immunologically evaluated by the following parameters on peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes: phytohemagglutinin responsiveness (PHA-r); non-immune rosette formation with sheep red blood cells (RF-L) as T-cell marker; presence of surface immunoglobulins (sIg-L) as B-cell marker; serum immunoglobulins levels (IgA, IgM, IgG). Our patients (pts) have been divided in two groups: the first one includes 10 children without PB involvement; the second one includes 5 pts with bone-marrow and PB invasion. From our data it appears that: 1) the majority of pts of the first group presented normal values of membrane markers; PHA-r was impaired in 4/8 pts; 2) in pts with PB invasion absolute number of B and "null" cells was always abnormal and PHA-r altered; 3) in the second group of pts, a "null" cell origin can be suggested by the high percentage and absolute number of cells without surface markers. In our opinion, the high incidence of "null" cells represents the most relevant question: whether they are cells deprived of specific markers, or endowed with markers not identifiable by our current techniques, remains to be established.

Adolescent↗

Aspecific transfer factor in children with Hodgkin's disease.

Six children suffering from Hodgkin's disease (HD), in different stages and free from chemo- and radiotherapy from at least four weeks, were treated with transfer factor (TF). PPD skin test, PHA-responsiveness, E-rosettes, B-lymphocytes were checked before TF therapy, after 6 and 9 TF doses and compared to the data at the onset of the disease. Two children with HD who did not receive TF, were examined as controls. PPD skin tests, PHA-responsiveness, E-rosettes did not ameliorate following TF treatment, while it has been noticed an increase in B-lymphocytes, both in percentage and absolute number. The Authors conclude that TF might have induced a slight B lymphoproliferation.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Peptichemio in children with neoplastic disease.

32 children with different types of tumors have bben treated with peptichemio. The efficacy was excellent in rhabdomyosarcoma and embrional sarcoma; encouraging in neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor and histiocytosis X. Side and toxic effects were minimal. In conclusion we can say that peptichemio is effective in oncologic diseases, but a larger number of patients is required in order to have a better knowledge about the antitumor activity of this drug.

Child↗