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A Grassi

Publications and source records attributed to A Grassi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

All-inside repair is an effective treatment for medial meniscus posterior root tears: a systematic review and meta-analysis of biomechanical and clinical evidence.

BACKGROUND: Medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) reproduce the biomechanics of subtotal meniscectomy. Repair is favored, but the role of all-inside repair (AR) remains unclear relative to transtibial pull-out (TP). This study aimed to review the biomechanical and clinical evidence on AR for MMPRTs. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched. Outcomes included patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and biomechanical performance. When available, random-effects meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included. AR restored contact mechanics and showed load to failure comparable to TP, with lower stiffness. Meta-analysis showed lower conversion to total knee arthroplasty with AR versus non-repair (RR 0.18, 95% CI 0.05-0.58), and no significant PROM differences between AR and TP. CONCLUSIONS: AR showed favorable biomechanical properties and improved outcomes versus non-repair. Compared with TP, no significant clinical differences were observed. AR may represent a reasonable option in selected scenarios.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Latex/allergy.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Bile duct cell apoptosis is a rare event in primary biliary cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of apoptosis in bile duct cells of primary biliary cirrhosis is still unclear spanning from rare to 50% in the various reports. AIM: To study bile duct cell apoptosis in stage I primary biliary cirrhosis lesions. PATIENTS: Nine stage I-II biopsies with a total number of 26 bile ducts of different sizes, selected from a larger series on the basis of the expression on serial frozen sections of HLA-DR and Fas antigens. METHODS: Apoptosis was evaluated by a DNA fragmentation assay on frozen sections, according to the manufacturer's protocol and by expression of apoptosis related cytokeratin neoepitopes. Bile duct cell proliferation was assessed by MIB1 (Ki-67) expression. RESULTS: Apoptosis was frequently found in inflammatory cells of portal tracts and sinusoids. Apoptosis of hepatocytes was also systematically observed. Only 4 positive bile duct cells were found in 3 bile ducts from 3 biopsies. Quantitative evaluation was not attempted. Cholangiocyte proliferation was observed in the same ducts and occasionally in other biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that cholangiocyte death by apoptosis at the level of typical primary biliary cirrhosis lesions is a rare event, at least in early stages of the disease. The observed rate of proliferation was consistent with the rate of apoptosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Liver inflammatory cells, apoptosis, regeneration and stellate cell activation in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis remains unclear from several points of view. Minimal diagnostic criteria are still not defined. AIM: To gather information useful for diagnosis and to improve the understanding of pathogenic mechanisms. PATIENTS: A series of 14 patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, identified among liver outpatients, were paired for age, sex and alanine amino transferase values with 14 patients with hepatitis C virus infection without steatosis. METHODS: Clinical, biochemical and immunohistological examination, including characterisation of inflammatory cell population, evaluation of type III collagen and tenascin deposition, activation of stellate cells, hepatocellular apoptosis and proliferation. RESULTS: Patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis were more frequently obese, had higher triglyceride concentrations and lower gamma-globulins. T lymphocytes outnumbered polymorphonuclear cells, both in hepatitis C and in steatohepatitis, with a larger number of CD8 lymphocytes in patients with viral hepatitis but a comparable number of granulocytes. This resulted in a higher granulocytes to T cells ratio in steatohepatitis, possibly making these cells more easily detectable in spite of similar absolute numbers. Portal fibrosis and piecemeal necrosis were prevalent in hepatitis C virus infection, pericentral fibrosis was similar Hepatocellular apoptosis and proliferation as well as stellate cell activation were less relevant in steatohepatitis than in hepatitis C virus infection in spite of similar alanine amino transferase levels. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide a possible explanation for the relatively low tendency to progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in most patients despite increased alanine amino transferase and suggest that non-death-related release of alanine amino transferase might occur in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. This makes liver biopsy an essential part of the clinical setting supporting diagnosis, evaluation of severity and possibly definition of the evolutionary trend.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Antilactoferrin antibodies in autoimmune liver disease.

Antilactoferrin antibodies have been reported in patients with several autoimmune disorders, including primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune cholangitis. We investigated the prevalence and the clinical significance of such autoreactivity in patients with autoimmune and viral chronic liver disease. Sera from 39 patients with autoimmune hepatitis, 51 with primary biliary cirrhosis, 17 with autoimmune cholangitis, 24 with primary sclerosing cholangitis and 28 with HCV-related chronic hepatitis were studied. Positivity for antilactoferrin antibodies was evaluated by Western immunoblotting with purified human lactoferrin. Antilactoferrin antibodies were detected more often in autoimmune liver disorders (25% autoimmune hepatitis, 25% primary biliary cirrhosis, 35% autoimmune cholangitis, 29% primary sclerosing cholangitis) than in HCV-related chronic hepatitis (3.5%, P < 0.02 versus all). Positivity for antilactoferrin antibodies was not associated with a particular clinical or biochemical profile of the underlying liver disease. No correlation was observed between antilactoferrin reactivity and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. Antilactoferrin antibodies are present significantly more often in autoimmune than in viral liver disorders, but they cannot be considered the serological marker of a specific autoimmune liver disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

To what extent can cyclometalation promote associative or dissociative ligand substitution at platinum(II) complexes? A combined kinetic and theoretical approach.

The ligand exchange rate constants for the reactions [Pt(bph)(SR2)2] + 2*SR2 --> [Pt(bph)(*SR2)2] + 2SR2 (bph = 2,2'-biphenyl dianion; R = Me and Et) and cis-[PtPh2(SMe2)2] + 2*SMe2 --> cis-[PtPh2(*SMe2)2] + 2SMe2 have been determined in CDCl3 as a function of ligand concentration and temperature, by 1H NMR isotopic labeling and magnetization transfer experiments. The rates of exchange show no dependence on ligand concentration and the kinetics are characterized by largely positive entropies of activation. The kinetics of displacement of the thioethers from [Pt(bph)(SR2)2] with the dinitrogen ligands 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline (N-N) to yield [Pt(bph)(N-N)], carried out in the presence of sufficient excess of thioether and N-N to ensure pseudo-first-order conditions, follow a nonlinear rate law k(obsd) = a[N-N]/(b[SR2] + [N-N]). The general pattern of behavior indicates that the rate-determining step for substitution is the dissociation of a thioether ligand and the formation of a three-coordinated [Pt(bph)(SR2)] intermediate. The value of the parameter a, which measures the rate of ligand dissociation, is constant and independent of the nature of N-N, and it is in reasonable agreement with the value of the rate of ligand exchange at the same temperature. Theoretical ab initio calculations were performed for both [Pt(bph)(SMe2)2] and cis-[PtPh2(SMe2)2], and for their three-coordinated derivatives upon the loss of one SMe2 ligand. The latter optimize in a T-shaped structure. Calculations were performed in the HF approximation (LANL2DZ basis set) and refined by introducing the correlation terms (Becke3LYP model). The activation enthalpies from the optimized vacuum-phase geometries are 52.3 and 72.2 kJ moll compared to the experimental values in CDCl3 solution, 80 +/- 1 and 93 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1) for [Pt(bph)(SMe2)2] and cis-[PtPh2(SMe2)2], respectively. The electrostatic potential maps of both parent compounds show a remarkable concentration of negative charge over the platinum atom which exerts a repulsion force on an axially incoming nucleophile. On the other hand, the strength of the organic carbanions trans to the leaving group and the stabilization of the T-shaped intermediate in the singlet ground state may also rationalize the preference for the dissociative mechanism. All of the kinetic and theoretical data support the latter hypothesis and indicate, in particular, that dissociation from the complex containing the planar 2,2'-biphenyl dianion is easier than from its analogue with single aryl ligands. Electron back-donation from filled d orbitals of the metal to empty pi* of the in-plane cyclometalated rings is weak or absent and is not operative in promoting an associative mode of activation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of silent coeliac disease in atopics.

BACKGROUND: Coeliac disease sometimes runs a subclinical/silent course and is often associated with immunologic and non-immunologic diseases. Although atopy is described as one of the most frequently associated conditions, the prevalence of coeliac disease in atopics has not yet been established. AIM: To evaluate the frequency of coeliac disease in an Italian series of atopics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sera from 401 consecutive atopics with no clinical evidence of malabsorption were tested for IgA antiendomysial antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence on human umbilical cord and IgA anti tissue transglutaminase by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Results. Four patients (1%) were found to be positive for both autoantibodies. Intestinal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of active coeliac disease. One of the 4 coeliacs was also affected by Down's syndrome, autoimmune thyroiditis and coeliac hepatitis. In another case, a previously unknown severe iron deficiency was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows, for the first time, that the prevalence of coeliac disease in atopics is 1%, which is significantly higher than that in the general Italian population. Therefore, atopy should be considered a condition at risk and atopic patients routinely screened by means of specific autoantibody testing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Defibrotide for the treatment of hepatic veno-occlusive disease: results of the European compassionate-use study.

Severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a recognized complication of autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) that is often fatal. Defibrotide (DF) is a polydeoxyribonucleotide that has been found to have anti-thrombotic, anti-ischaemic and thrombolytic properties without causing significant anticoagulation. Preliminary studies have demonstrated activity for DF in the treatment of VOD, with minimal associated toxicity. In the present study, 40 patients who fulfilled established criteria for VOD were treated with DF on compassionate grounds in 19 European centres; 28 patients met risk criteria predicting progression of VOD and fatality or had evidence of multiorgan failure (MOF), and were defined as 'poor-risk'. DF was commenced intravenously at a median of 14 d (range, -2 d to 53 d) post SCT at doses ranging from 10 to 40 mg/kg. The median duration of therapy was 18 d (range, 2--71 d). Twenty-two patients showed a complete response (CR) (bilirubin < 34.2 micromol/l and resolution of signs/symptoms of VOD and end-organ dysfunction) [CR = 55%, confidence interval (CI) 40--70%] and 17 patients (43%) are alive beyond d +100. Ten poor-risk patients showed a complete response (CR = 36%, CI 21--51%). These results demonstrate that DF is an active treatment for VOD following SCT and a randomized trial is now underway in order to further evaluate its role.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Endoscopic follow-up in resected colorectal cancer patients.

Patients resected for colorectal cancer are at risk for anastomotic recurrence, for adenomatous polyps and for metachronous cancer. The present retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of neoplasms of the colon, both metachronous or recurrent, in 322 patients. They were observed and resected for colorectal cancer between 1970 and 1988, with complete staging, and all agreed to be included in a follow-up program (median followup: 105 months). All the patients were submitted to colonoscopy once yearly for the first 5 years and then every 2 years. Anastomotic recurrence was observed in 22 of the 253 patients who underwent resection for rectal or sigmoid adenocarcinoma (8.7%). Sixteen of these patients were submitted to a second curative resection with a median survival of 35 months; the median survival was 6 months in the 6 patients who could not undergo this operation (p=0.0018). Metachronous adenomas of the residual colon were found in 24 patients and metachronous cancers in 5 at Stage A, according to Dukes' classification. In conclusion, a regular colonoscopic surveillance in patients resected for colorectal cancer is justified for early detection and potential resection of anastomotic recurrences, new primary cancer and adenomatous polyps. In patients resected for rectal or sigmoid carcinoma, a sigmoidoscopy should be performed every 6 months for the first 2 years for the early detection of anastomotic recurrences. In all cases, a colonoscopy should be performed every 5 years after surgery to detect metachronous lesions. Before surgery, a "clean colon" should always be established to detect possible synchronous lesions.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Endoscopic follow-up in oncological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: the experience of the Regina Elena Cancer Institute.

In oncology, follow-up refers to the medical procedures aimed to control, over time, both patients at risk of developing cancer, or those already submitted to surgical treatments for neoplastic lesions. The usefulness of an endoscopic follow-up in oncological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is still being debated and, in some cases, a variety of different protocols are often employed for the same disease. At Regina Elena Cancer Institute, after a critical review of our data and literature, we established and followed guidelines of endoscopic follow-up for patients both at risk and submitted to curative surgery for cancer.

Barrett Esophagus↗
PubMed1998

Chronotropic, inotropic and lusitropic effects of capsaicin on isolated rat atria.

This work includes results on chronotropic, inotropic and lusitropic changes induced by capsaicin on isolated rat atria. As regards spontaneous frequency, it was stimulated from 10(-9) M up to 7 x 10(-7) M of capsaicin. A simultaneous depression in developed force (F) showed a significant correlation with this positive chronotropic effect up to 7 x 10(-8) M of capsaicin, which is the result of the negative staircase phenomenon in the rat heart. The correlation was lost at 2 and 7 x 10(-7) M of capsaicin since in spite of the sustained increase in atrial rate the decrease in F was reversed and then depressed again at 2 and 7 x 10(-6) M of capsaicin without changes in frequency. A concentration of capsaicin that overcome the negative staircase phenomenon, 5 x 10(-7) M, was tested as unique dose resulting in stimulation of the chronotropic, inotropic and lusitropic states of the atria. Percentual differences with respect to control values were maximal after 1-3 minutes for frequency (10 +/- 3%), F (29 +/- 4%), maximal velocity of force development (+F = 50 +/- 12%) (in all cases +F and -F bold indicates +F and -F, respectively), and maximal velocity of relaxation (-F = 64 +/- 13%); a positive lusitropic effect was significant after 8-10 minutes (+F/-F = 17 +/- 7%). Capsaicin did not affect the rat atria in the presence of 10(-6) M of ruthenium red, a blocker of capsaicin activation of sensory nerves, indicating that the stimulatory effects were entirely mediated by the release of neurotransmitters and that this concentration of capsaicin was not deleterous "per se". Capsaicin elicited similar inotropic responses in electrically driven isolated atria (+F = 41 +/- 9%) but the positive lusitropic effect was lost suggesting that capsaicin-induced increases in -F are limited at a frequency higher than the spontaneous frequency (11 +/- 6 vs. 32 +/- 4%, respectively). 10(-6) M of CGRP8-37, an antagonist of CGRP1 receptors, suppress the stimulatory effects of capsaicin on atrial contraction. In summary, atrial rate as compared to atrial contraction is more sensitive to the neurotransmitter released by capsaicin, which results in mechanical effects expressing the negative staircase phenomenon in the rat at low concentrations of capsaicin. The positive chronotropic, inotropic and lusitropic responses elicited by capsaicin are mediated by the release of neurotransmitters from sensory fibbers and no deletereous effects of capsaicin "per se" became evident when the release of neuropeptides was prevented. Atrial contraction was depressed at higher capsaicin concentrations than the one showing stimulatory effects. Stimulation of atrial contractility is mediated by activation of CGRP receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Increased J774 macrophage cytotoxicity of late postprandial triglyceride-rich lipoproteins from normolipidemic young men expressing an apolipoprotein epsilon 4 allele.

It has been demonstrated that normolipidemic young men with apolipoprotein E4/3 phenotype have a prolonged postprandial clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins following a high-fat diet. In the present study, we isolated fasting and postprandial (3 and 8 h) lipoprotein fraction from normolipidemic young men with E3/3 and E4/3 phenotypes and examined the in vitro cytotoxicity of these lipoproteins towards J774 macrophages. 8 h E4/3 very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were significantly more cytotoxic than either 8 h E3/3 VLDL or fasting and 3 h E4/3 VLDL (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released: 161 +/- 21, 107 +/- 9, 88 +/- 16 and 101 +/- 12 I.U./l, respectively). Fasting E4/3 intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) were also significantly more cytotoxic than either fasting E3/3 IDL or 3 h and 8 h E4/3 IDL (LDH released: 105 +/- 23, 60 +/- 9, 37 +/- 5 and 53 +/- 16 I.U./l, respectively), whereas either fasting or postprandial low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) samples did not show any difference in cytotoxicity between the two groups studied. 8 h E4/3 VLDL samples incubated with J774 macrophages had a lower esterified cholesterol (40 +/- 3 versus 52 +/- 3 micrograms), and higher triglyceride (783 +/- 133 versus 418 +/- 64 micrograms) and free fatty acid (FFA) (2.0 +/- 0.4 versus 0.9 +/- 0.1 microgram) content than fasting E4/3 VLDL. The increased macrophage cytotoxicity of late postprandial triglyceride-rich lipoproteins seems to be related to the FFA content of E4/3 VLDL.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in type 1 and 2 autoimmune hepatitis.

Perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) have been recently defined as the most sensitive autoantibody of type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH-1). Their prevalence in type 2 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH-2) has not yet been evaluated. The aim of the present study was to verify the association of pANCA with AIH-1 in an Italian series and to investigate the prevalence of the antibodies in AIH-2 and in proper control groups represented by cases of chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) with similar autoimmune features. pANCA were found in 30 of 46 (65%) AIH-1 and in 4 of 30 (13%) ANA/smooth muscle antibody (SMA) positive CH-C (P = .0000006). Nineteen AIH-2, 29 liver kidney microsomal antibody type 1/liver cytosol antibody type 1 (LKM1/LC1) positive CH-C cases and 50 healthy controls were all negative. In AIH-1, pANCA were significantly (P = .009) more frequent in males (8 of 9, 89%) than in females (22 of 37, 59%). All pANCA positive sera showed SMA of the antiactin type. The present data confirm that pANCA, although less prevalent in our series than in other reports, do associate with AIH-1 also in the Mediterranean area and show that it can identify a small subgroup (13%) of ANA/SMA positive chronic hepatitis C, in which autoimmune reactions might play a more relevant role than viral infection. They also show the antibodies are absent in AIH-2. In conclusion, pANCA appear to be mutually exclusive of LKM1 positivity, either hepatitis C virus-related or not, thus representing a further valuable tool to differentiate the two types of autoimmune hepatitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Thyroid cancer histotype changes as observed in a major general hospital in a 21-year period.

The existing registries of thyroid carcinoma are seldom comparable as far as epidemiological data, diagnostic criteria and histopatological description are concerned. Epidemiological studies report a progressive increase in the incidence of thyroid carcinoma in the last twenty years and in both sexes this increase of incidence has been referred to papillary histotype. Data collected from surgical series show a rate of thyroid carcinomas from 7 to 20% of total thyroid surgeries. The present study was designed in order to obtain a retrospective review of the distribution of thyroid carcinoma's different histotypes in the last 21 years in a major General Hospital. Detailed analysis of patients with histologically confirmed thyroid carcinoma admitted between 1974 and 1994 to the Surgery Department of Mauriziano Hospital of Torino, Italy showed an overall 11.8% prevalence of thyroid cancer out of the total thyroid surgeries. The rate of papillary carcinoma was the highest (54.3%) followed by follicular carcinoma (27.6%), anaplastic carcinoma (11.1%), medullary carcinoma (4.6%) and others (2.4%). The papillary-to-follicular ratio varied from 0.60 in 1974-76 to 6.88 in 1992-94. Female to male ratio of all thyroid carcinoma histotypes was 2.0 or more; papillary and follicular histotypes had the highest ratio. The variations of the histotype rate observed may be consequence of the silent increase of daily iodine intake throughout the subsequent years, while improved diagnostic tools available and increased experience of the medical staff have probably increased the number on thyroid ablations performed. Our data confirm the changing epidemiology of thyroid carcinoma, reported by international literature.

Adolescent↗