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Biomedical subjects

A Giannopoulos

Publications and source records attributed to A Giannopoulos.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Pit viper bites: rational management in locales in which copperheads and cottonmouths predominate.

The management of pitviper bites remains controversial. In order to better assess the efficacy of different treatment modalities, charts of 107 patients hospitalized for pitviper bites at University of North Carolina Hospitals between 1952 and 1992 were retrospectively reviewed. The series included 68 copperhead bites (64%), 8 cottonmouth bites (7%), 3 rattlesnake bites (3%), and 28 bites (26%) in which the snake could not be identified. First aid measures taken prior to hospitalization included cryotherapy (21%), incision and suction (22%), tight or loose tourniquets (32%), and moist heat (2%). After hospitalization, 29 patients (27%) underwent wound excision and 4 patients (4%) required fasciotomy. Antivenin was administered to 34 patients (32%) and 9 patients (26%) developed serum sickness. No patients died as a result of a bite injury and 84 patients (79%) recovered uneventfully. Complications of the injuries included coagulopathies (4%), infections (13%), tissue loss (12%), and permanent physical deformities (8%). No first aid measure significantly affected the outcome, although there was a trend toward increased complication rates in bites with moderate (grade II) or greater envenomation if cryotherapy or tourniquets were utilized. Wound excision after hospitalization was associated with a decreased complication rate in these significantly envenomated bites. Antivenin utilization did not improve outcome and there was a significantly higher incidence of tissue loss associated with its use. Therefore, no first aid measures are recommended for pitviper bites due to copperheads and cottonmouths except immobilization and elevation. Excision is efficacious for patients seen within 1 to 2 hours of bite injury. The risk of complications and questionable efficacy of antivenin outweigh any potential benefit for these patients. Data from the current series were insufficient to make definitive recommendations regarding rattlesnake bites.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of overexpression of p53 tumor suppressor protein in superficial and invasive transitional cell bladder cancer: comparison with DNA ploidy.

OBJECTIVES: p53 tumor suppressor gene is considered to play a significant role in carcinogenesis. Mutations in the p53 are the most frequent genetic abnormalities encountered in human malignancies. Our aim was to investigate the expression of p53 oncoprotein in superficial and invasive transitional cell bladder cancer (TCC) as well as its correlation with established prognostic factors, such as histologic grade, tumor stage, DNA content, and survival. METHODS: Forty-five patients with superficial TCC (Ta-T1) and 42 with invasive TCC (T2-T4) were included in our study. Material from transurethral biopsy was examined using an immunohistochemical method and the monoclonal antibody Pab 1801. RESULTS: p53 tumor suppressor protein was overexpressed in 48.3% of TCC cases and more frequently in invasive than superficial TCCs (P = 0.03) and undetectable in the tumor adjacent to normal tissue. p53 positivity was related to the degree of differentiation and with the stage of the disease of invasive TCCs (P = 0.03 and P = 0.004, respectively), whereas no statistical significance was documented for superficial TCCs. Moreover, p53 overexpression demonstrated a statistical significance with DNA ploidy in superficial Ta-T1 tumors (P = 0.04) and was suggestive in invasive T2-T4 tumors (P = 0.08). There was no correlation of recurrence related to p53-positive superficial tumors (P = 0.29). Patients with p53-positive invasive TCCs showed statistically significant worse survival (P = 0.007), but in multivariate analysis, p53 positivity is not independently related to poor overall survival (P = 0.30). When we combined ploidy and p53 status, we realized that the subset of patients with aneuploidy and p53 positivity had the worst prognosis (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest the involvement of p53 protein as a late event in bladder carcinogenesis. p53 does not seem to be a prognostic marker for recurrences of superficial tumors and is not independently related to survival. The aneuploidy of tumors correlates with the p53 positivity in bladder cancer. The combined expression of aneuploidy and p53 positivity in invasive tumors has strong association with the survival of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Angiomyolipoma of the left ureterovesical junction associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis.

To our knowledge we report the first case of retroperitoneal angiomyolipoma located at the left ureterovesical junction associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis. Radiologically, the mass had the characteristics of a cystic soft tissue tumor. Final diagnosis was determined by histopathological examination, which revealed the specific characteristics of angiomyolipoma. The tumor is theorized to be a result of developmental malformation of fetal mesenchymal elements along the ureteral bud during fetal development since it was associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Nucleolar organizer regions in prostatic adenocarcinomas. Comparison with flow cytometric analysis, tumor grade, stage and serum prostate-specific antigen levels.

Twenty-eight cases of prostatic adenocarcinomas have been selected and the mean argyrophil nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) count for each case was evaluated. Nine of these tumors were of high, 13 of median and 6 of low differentiation. It was found that as the tumors became less differentiated, the AgNOR count increased (p less than 0.001). Stage of the disease, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value, and DNA ploidy of all these cases have been examined as well but no statistically significant correlation among these three parameters and the AgNOR count was found.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Development and validation of a new assay for O6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase based on the use of an oligonucleotide substrate, and its application to the measurement of DNA repair activity in extracts of biopsy samples of human urinary bladder mucosa.

A simplified and highly sensitive assay for the determination of O6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase has been developed and validated by the analysis of extracts of human urinary bladder mucosa. The new assay involves the use of a synthetic dodecanucleotide containing a single O6-methylguanine residue as substrate for the enzyme. This substrate is 5'-end-labelled with [35S]PO3 and separation of repaired and unrepaired oligonucleotide is achived by immuno-precipitation with polyclonal antibodies specific for O6-methyldeoxyguanosine. Kinetic analysis of the repair of the oligonucleotide by extracts of Escherichia coli and rat liver showed that the reaction is first-order in substrate and enzyme and gave the molecular rate constants 7.5 x 10(6) mol-1 1-1 sec-1 and 8.0 x 10(6) mol-1 1-1 sec-1, respectively. The rate constants for the repair of the corresponding O6-ethylguanine-containing oligonucleotide were 3.0 x 10(5) mol-1 l-1 sec-1 and 3.6 x 10(6) mol-1 l-1 sec-1, respectively. Analysis of extracts of 48 samples of normal or neoplastic human urinary bladder mucosa obtained by transurethral biopsy or at surgery, by the new method or by a method involving use of [3H]-methylated DNA as substrate and HPLC, indicated excellent agreement between the two methods. The mean AGT content of normal urinary bladder mucosa obtained from individuals without diagnosed bladder cancer was 0.181 +/- 0.081 (mean +/- SD) fmol/microgram protein, that of neoplastic samples 0.323 +/- 0.177 fmol/microgram protein and that of normal tissue obtained from patients with bladder cancer 0.183 +/- 0.068 fmol/microgram protein. The new method is convenient, rapid and extremely sensitive (it can readily measure femtomole quantities of enzyme) and should prove useful for studies of the biochemical epidemiology of DNA repair.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[Association of a rare form of testicular ectopia, a persistent Müllerian duct syndrome and a supernumerary ectopic epididymis].

We report the first case of persistence of the Müllerian duct associated with transverse testicular ectopia and a supernumerary ectopic epididymis in the same hemiscrotum. The patient is a thirty-year-old man with azoospermia. Uterine and Fallopian tube structures were clearly recognizable within the Müllerian remnants. The ectopic supernumerary epididymis was detected at the lower pole of one of the two testicles and had to be removed surgically.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Changes in tissue enzymes during "in situ" renal ischemia with or without protection of the kidneys].

Three methods of preservation of the in situ temporarily ischaemic kidney were compared in dogs. The study was carried out in 24 dogs, divided in 4 groups. Each group included 4 dogs in which the ischaemic time was 60 minutes, and 3 dogs in which the ischaemic time was 90 minutes. The experimental animals of the first group served as controls (warm ischaemia); in the second group renal hypothermia was accomplished by an arterial infusion of Collins' solution at 4 degrees C; in the third group preservation of the kidney was attempted only by an arterial infusion of inosine (90-120 mg/kg); finally in the fourth group, the infusion of Collins' solution was combined with infusion of inosine (800-1 000 mg/l Collins' solution). The assessment of the damage of the ischaemic kidney was made by histo-enzymological analysis of renal tissue specimens received from each animal just before initiation of the ischaemia and on the 21st post-operative days. The enzymes examined in this analysis were: Alkaline Phosphatase, ATP-ase, Glutamate Dehydrogenase, Glucose-6-phosphatase, Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase and gamma-GT. These studies have shown that the ischaemic kidney is best preserved by the arterial infusion of Collins' solution with simultaneous infusion of inosine.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1981

Sclerosing cholangitis of the bifurcation of the common hepatic duct.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis localized in a segment of the extrahepatic biliary tree is extremely rare. This article describes the case of a 23-year old male who had obstructive jaundice and was found to have primary sclerosing cholangitis of the bifurcation of the common hepatic duct. The lesion was successfully resected.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Unilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis.

A case of unilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis is presented in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. The diagnosis was established from the presence of gas in the renal parenchyma, the pelvicalyceal system and the ureter. The patient was treated with a prolonged course of antibiotics and the function of the left kidney returned to normal.

Adult↗