Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Innocenti.
Cutaneous epidermoid cysts are very common lesions, but neoplastic transformation of their epithelium is extremely rare. We describe a patient with basal cell carcinoma arising in the wall of an epidermoid cyst present on the back for 20 years. We emphasize the advisability of a close histologic examination of all cutaneous cysts that are seemingly benign in order to avoid incorrect diagnosis.
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BACKGROUND: Soft tissue cover in the lower limb is difficult due to limited tissue mobility. OBJECTIVE: To present the V-Y fasciocutaneous island advancement flap as an alternative for reconstructing postsurgical defects of the leg. METHODS: Eleven patients with defects on the leg following tumor excision were reconstructed using the V-Y fasciocutaneous island advancement flap. RESULTS: There were no major complications, except for one partial distal flap necrosis in a patient who was a smoker. CONCLUSION: The V-Y fasciocutaneous island advancement flap is a viable alternative for reconstructing surgical defects of the leg.
RT-PCR was performed on peach (Prunus persica [L.] Batsch) RNA to isolate cDNAs corresponding to transcripts which are differentially expressed in leaves borne on basal and apical shoots. A gene was identified which was more highly expressed in the leaves of basal shoots, and codes for the cytoplasmic protein S28 present in the small ribosomal subunit. The 5' leader regions of RPS28 mRNAs were found to harbour 8-11 pyrimidine tracts, which suggested similarities to regulatory stretches that control the translation of mRNAs for ribosomal proteins in animals. The peach S28 is encoded by two intron-containing genes, which are both transcribed in mitotically active tissues such as developing leaves and roots. In situ hybridisation to shoot vegetative apices and the measurement of nucleus/nucleolus ratios indicated that RPS28 expression was confined to areas undergoing active cell division. The mature RPS28 mRNA was detected as a single species in actively dividing tissues such as apical tips, developing leaves, vegetative buds, stamens, developing fruits and roots. In contrast, accumulation of a precursor RNA, in the presence of the mature product, was found in fully expanded leaves and subtending stems, while only the precursor species was detected in several late-stage tissues. This phenomenon suggested that expression of the mature RNA is controlled at the level of splicing and turnover of the precursor RNA. This is similar to the mode of regulation of ribosomal protein genes in animals.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of the specific inhalation challenge test (SIC) in 160 subjects with suspected baker's asthma and to assess its relation to total flour dust levels and to personal characteristics such as specific skin sensitisation, non-specific bronchial hyper-responsiveness (NSBH) and atopy. METHODS: We investigated the outcome of SIC tests performed with wheat flour in six Italian laboratories. For each subject, data was available regarding skin sensitisation to wheat flour, NSBH, atopy, forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1) monitoring and airborne flour dust in the challenge chamber measured by the gravimetric method (total dust in mg/m(3)). RESULTS: The SIC test was positive for early asthma in 42 subjects (26%) and for late/dual asthma in 18 (11%). Positive outcome to SIC was significantly associated with NBSH (odds ratio, OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 1. 6-7.7) and skin sensitisation to wheat flour (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.3-7. 0). Exposure level to wheat flour was less than or equal to 10 mg/m(3 )in 12% of individuals, ranged between 11 and 30 mg/m(3) in 43% and exceeded 30 mg/m(3) in 45%. The outcome of SIC was always negative among workers not skin sensitised to wheat flour and without NSBH and atopy. An increasing prevalence of positive SIC was observed among workers with one or more of the above-mentioned personal characteristics whose challenge exposure was greater than 10 mg/m(3) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Procedures currently adopted for wheat flour dust exposure during SIC need to be better standardised in order to avoid excessive airborne dust exposure. Over-exposure seems to be of no use for the diagnosis and risks making the asthmatic reaction worse, particularly in patients who are both sensitised to wheat allergens and have NSBH and/or atopy.
We report the results of 24,475 blood lead determinations (PbB) performed by the Occupational Toxicology Laboratory of Florence between 1976 and 1995. Biological monitoring was carried out in 383 factories localized in the districts of Florence, Prato, Pistoia, Lucca and Pisa. The most represented production fields were colouring ceramic factories, artistic ceramics, transfer-pictures for ceramics, glass factories, typographies, glass decoration factories, chemical factories. In twenty years, the median values of PbB decreased from 48 to 17 micrograms/100 ml in males and from 40 to 8 micrograms/100 ml in females. The 95 degrees centile ranged from 84 to 46 micrograms/100 ml for males and from 63 to 42 micrograms/100 ml for females. In the 1988-95 period, we observed an increase of both the 95 degrees centile and the maximal values because of the inclusion of data from workers employed in factories where the "decorazione a scavo" technique, which is characterized by elevated environmental lead concentrations, was used. In the period 1991-93, the ranges of PbB observed in glass decoration factories were 13-160 micrograms/100 ml for males and 4-80 micrograms/100 ml for females, respectively.
Pinealectomized lizards (Podarcis sicula) whose locomotor rhythms were recorded in constant temperature (29 degrees C) and darkness were subdivided into 2 groups of hosts: Each belonging to the 1st group (experimentals) received from a donor a pineal gland, and each belonging to the 2nd one (controls) received a piece of cerebellum. Pineal transplantation induced drastic changes in the free-running period (tau) of locomotor rhythms, which were significantly greater than the tau changes induced by cerebellum transplantation. Either application or removal of melatonin implants left the locomotor rhythms of the controls completely undisturbed, showing that in absence of melatonin rhythms (pinealectomy alone abolishes blood-borne melatonin rhythms) melatonin implants are ineffective. Melatonin rhythms, however, had to be present in the experimentals, because the circadian system reacts to melatonin implants by changing tau (as if melatonin rhythms had been suppressed) and to removal of the implants by again changing tau (as if melatonin rhythms had been restored).
To establish whether the effects of pinealectomy on circadian locomotor rhythmicity vary with season, we examined, in constant temperature and darkness, the locomotor behaviour of ruin lizards Podarcis sicula collected and subjected to pinealectomy at different times of the year. Changes in the freerunning period in response to pinealectomy were found to be significantly greater in summer than in winter, spring and autumn. Circadian activity time changed significantly in response to pinealectomy only in spring and summer. Furthermore, while pinealectomy was effective in altering the locomotor rhythms of all individual lizards tested in summer, the same surgery was found to leave locomotor rhythmicity of many lizards tested in autumn and winter completely undisturbed. These results demonstrate for the first time in a non-mammalian vertebrate that the pineal gland is centrally involved in determining circadian organization in some seasons and is only marginally involved in others.
A group of 104 workers were examined. They were employed in selecting rags and separating the lining from wollen fabrics to be used again as thread waste in the textile industry. The aim of the study was to point out tendon and joint related disorders of the upper limb due to repetitive and forced movements. Twenty-eight (26.9%) workers complained of hand and wrist echography and thermography. In 19 patients (67.8%) clinical carpal tunnel syndrome was diagnosed. Eight workers (28.5%) had Dupuytren's contracture. Swelling of the fingers was found in 23 (82.1%). 14.2% and 28.5% of the workers showed respectively acro-osteolysis and acrosclerosis. The textile industry of Prato shows peculiar characters: the workers employed in selecting rags out a manual job which causes soft tissues and skeletal disorders in a great number of them. The acro-osteolytic and acrosclerotic changes of the fingers seem alike the bone disorders of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases as seronegative spondyloarthritis.
The present study describes the medical history of two cases of pulmonary fibrosis in hard metal grinders. The poor chance of foreseeing the prognosis of this disease is particularly underlined. The two workers examined have been studied for about 6 years since the diagnosis. The disease was more severe in the subject who worked a shorter time and who left work because of the disease. In the other subject, who had worked longer and never left the job, the disease was less severe and has never deteriorated with time. Therefore, removing the affected subject from work is of major importance in preventing the progression of the disease, but this is in part connected to individual susceptibility, and the cessation of work and corticosteroid therapy are not always able to provide a cure.
Electrolytic lesions to 85-95% of both optic nerves at the level of the optic chiasm (OC-X) induce a significant shortening of the free-running period (tau) of locomotor rhythms in Podarcis sicula held in constant temperature (29 degrees C) and constant darkness. Together with previous data in P. sicula, showing that retinalectomy (RET-X) in constant darkness also mostly induces a shortening of tau, the present results demonstrate that the retinae play a central role in the control of behavioural circadian rhythmicity independently of light perception. The fact that OC-X and RET-X affect locomotor rhythms in the same way (mostly by shortening tau), strongly supports the contention that the influence of the retinae on the circadian system is neurally mediated.
The existence of a circadian rhythm of behavioral temperature selection has been demonstrated in lizards (Podarcis sicula) held on a thermal gradient in constant darkness. This rhythm becomes temporarily abolished during 1 week following parietalectomy and 2-3 weeks following pinealectomy. Parietalectomy does not affect the locomotor rhythm, while pinealectomy invariably lengthens the freerunning period of this rhythm. These results support the contention of separate control systems for the temperature selection rhythm and the locomotor rhythm. As neither rhythm is definitively abolished by parietalectomy and pinealectomy, other pacemaking components exist elsewhere in the circadian system of Podarcis sicula which can control both rhythms.
A study was performed on twenty-five workers exposed to polyurethane varnishes exclusively catalysed with TDI, who developed asthma to this substance. The aim of the study was to establish, using bronchial provocation tests, whether a cross-response to MDI exists. The results were positive but no definitive evidence has been reached because there was cross-response in only 48% of cases. It is interesting, however, that cross-responders did not predominate among the subjects with a late reaction to TDI (P = 0.0038), whereas cross-responders were in the majority among the subjects with a dual reaction to TDI (P = 0.0334). It is possible that the pattern of the asthmatic reaction to BPT with TDI influences the cross-reaction to other isocyanates.
One hundred and fourteen subjects with asthma induced by toluene diisocyanate were identified and the pattern of their bronchial responses to challenge with toluene diisocyanate was studied. An occupational type specific bronchial provocation test with toluene diisocyanate (10-25 parts per thousand million for 10-15 minutes) elicited an immediate response in 24, a late response in 50, and a dual response in 40 patients. Subjects with a dual response showed at diagnosis a longer duration of symptoms and a greater prevalence of airway obstruction; in these subjects FEV1 (percentage of predicted value) was lower than in subjects with immediate or late reactions to toluene diisocyanate. The percentage of current smokers and ex-smokers was significantly lower in subjects with a late response (26%) than in subjects with immediate or dual responses (56% and 57% respectively). In 27 of the 114 subjects a non-specific challenge test with methacholine was performed and subjects with dual responses showed greater non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness than the other groups. These results suggest that a dual response to specific challenge in bronchial asthma related to toluene diisocyanate may be associated with more severe disease than other types of response, as assessed by duration of symptoms, baseline airway obstruction, and non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The high prevalence of non-smokers and low prevalence of smokers in the group with a late response to specific challenge is so far unexplained.
Two ELISA methods for total IgE determination are examined comparatively to the PRIST method. The microELISA methods showed a high sensibility comparable to that of the PRIST in the range of normal values.
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A study was carried out on the mortality of 3741 individuals who worked in a factory making railway rolling stock, in which crocidolite was used to insulate the coaches in the 60's and 70's. Employees who had worked in the factory between 1960 and 1995 were included in the study, with the main aim of investigating cancer mortality in these subjects. 9 cases of mesothelioma were known in this factory before starting the study. The follow-up was performed from 1960 to 1996. The SMR's for lung cancer and mesothelioma in 2737 blue-collar workers were 1.23 (CI 95% = 1.00-1.50) and 6.50 (CI 95% = 2.96-12.38) respectively, based on national rates. The excesses were mainly found among subjects who had worked before 1970 with duration of employment exceeding 20 years.
The question of appropriate exposure standards for wood dust is addressed by reference to the major health effects, especially sino-nasal cancer, that have been investigated. A review of several key papers on wood dust exposure permits some associations to be made between exposure data and effects, particularly impaired/suppressed nasal mucociliary clearance, according to which it may be suggested, based on available evidence, that a standard of 1.5-2 mg/m3 of total suspended wood dust could reasonably protect against the observed effects. Moreover, data from the literature show that reducing personal wood dust exposures to below 2 mg/m3 is accomplished relatively easily, whereas reducing exposures to below 1 mg/m3 is considerably more difficult and expensive. The exposure level of 1.5-2 mg/m3 is suggested for all wood dusts; it does not seem reasonable at the present time to distinguish between hardwood and softwood because many of the important mortality studies report results based on patients with mixed exposures. The threshold exposure value of 5 mg/m3 for hardwood proposed from 1/1/2003 by Law 66/2000 is deemed to be too high as a health-based occupational exposure limit.