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Biomedical subjects

A M Lavezzi

Publications and source records attributed to A M Lavezzi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Densitometry of Pautrier's microabscess cells in cutaneous T cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Epidermotropic lymphoid T cell infiltrates are part of a continuous spectrum of lesions ranging from "benign" parapsoriasis to frank cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL, mycosis fungoides). Either the clinical or histologic differentiation between these entities prove often difficult and the prognosis may be difficult to assess. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 15 patients, men aged 50 to 81 years, mean +/- SD 68 +/- 12 years, with patch-plague CTCL. Sections from punch biopsies from active lesions were stained with Feulgen reagent, coupled with a "twin" adjacent hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained section and analyzed with a VIDAS Zeiss-Kontron Image Analyzer. At least 50 dermal infiltrating cells and 50 epidermotropic Pautrierian cells per specimen were counted and the biopsies were repeated periodically. RESULTS: Nine patients with aneuploid Pautrierian cell DNA patterns dis well after conventional phototherapy (dermal cell ploidy was irrelevant), whereas six patients with euploid Pautrierian cell DNA patterns had to be treated aggressively (IFN + retinoids, COP). Clinical and histopathologic aspects of the first group were comparable to those of the second group. CONCLUSIONS: The classical cytophotometric aphorism seems to be reversed in this sample: "The more abnormal the ploidy of epidermotropic Pautrierian cells, the better the prognosis." Euploid epidermotropic cell prove more efficient in invading the skin and other areas and this efficiency may be reflected in more aggressive trends in the evolution of the lymphoma. Thus, DSM analysis of epidermotropic cells could prove very useful as an inexpensive tool for routine CTCL grading.

Abscess↗
PubMed1995

Morphometric and densitometric approach in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

The aim of this study was to apply an easy method for the quantitative evaluation of changes in myocardial fibrocell size (area, diameter, circular shape factor, nuclear area, DNA content), and in the fibrous-interstitial area in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by mean of a computerized image analysis. A Vidas image analyser was employed for the morphometric study. The following parameters were assessed: area, maximum and minimum diameters, circular shape factor of myocytes; percentage of fibrosis; DNA content (integrated optical density) nuclear area of myocytes. The morphometric results in HCM compared to the ones in normal hearts, indicate an increase in the myocyte area and the transverse diameters, especially in the septum and left ventricle, altogether illustrating the hypertrophic condition of the myocytes, and increased fibrotic area was found in the left ventricular wall and septum (22.6 +/- 2.1% and 15.9 +/- 2.9% respectively). Densitometric analysis showed a significant increase in all test samples then compared with controls. The increase in the two nuclear parameters (area and DNA) also suggests hyperplasia. It is concluded that the morphometric determination of the morphologic abnormalities occurring in HCM by a rapid and less laborious approach, is an extremely useful method to describe the characteristics of this pathologic condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Recurrent chromosome alterations in non-small cell lung cancer.

Cytogenetic analysis of 28 cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was carried out in an attempt to determine karyotype changes involved in the early state of disease. Our findings indicate that, even though karyotypes are very complex, recurrent cytogenetic changes can be identified. The most common structural rearrangements were deletions of chromosomes 3, 17 and 9. The most frequent numerical alterations were gain of chromosomes 7 and 20 and loss of chromosomes 1 and Y. In particular, the high frequency of deletions suggests a critical role of suppressor oncogenes in these chromosome regions in tumor development.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Long-term histopathologic evaluation of human expanded skin.

Forty-two patients operated on by skin expansion have been contacted after a mean time of 25 months from the last surgery. Two biopsies have been taken from the expanded area of each patient. In 12 patients it has been possible to obtain a similar sampling from the opposite, nonexpanded area of the body. The samples underwent optic microscopy and cell kinetic and DNA content investigations. The epidermal structure of the followed-up skin, compared with the skin of the opposite side of the body, looks normal. The mitotic activity of the epidermal cells has returned to the values of preexpanded skin. The dermis shows a low degree of elastosis and zonal fragmentation of elastic fibers. The hypodermis, where the expander capsule was removed during the last surgery, does not show an accentuated fibrosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Prognostic implications of the proliferation index (H3-TdR-labeling index) and ploidy in neuroectodermal tumors (astrocytomas and glioblastomas)].

Kinetic cellular methods were used in 53 cases of various sizes of astrocytomas and glioblastomas to obtain reliable prognostic information. Kinetic analysis revealed a wide variation of proliferative activity, with a gradual increase of the mean value from the most differentiated astrocytomas to glioblastomas. DNA content was significantly correlated with the degree of histological differentiation. Chromosomic patterns, which were detected in a few cases, were generally aspecific. The sole recurrent alteration in the karyotype was a small metacentric marker. The comparison of results obtained with the follow-up of patients showed that the labeling index offers a more accurate estimate of the proliferative potential of individual tumours, and thus of the probability of survival, than histological diagnosis and the evaluation of other biological parameters such as ploidy and karyotype.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Recurrent chromosome alterations in transitional cell bladder carcinomas.

A karyotype study was performed in 42 cases of transitional cell bladder carcinoma. The results, confirmed by DNA content evaluation, showed a prevalence of near-diploid modes not related to the histologic grade of differentiation. Nonrandom alterations were represented by monosomy of chromosome 13 and 22, trisomy of chromosome 7 and deletion of chromosomes 6 and 11. These anomalies allow the identification of different sub-groups of tumors, each with its own biological characteristics of aggressiveness. Prognosis was particularly poor in cases with monosomy of chromosomes 13 and 22 but more favourable in poorly differentiated carcinomas with trisomy of chromosome 7.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical significance of nuclear DNA content in human gastric tumors. A static cytometry study in 87 cases].

In recent years the abnormal DNA content of cancer cells and the ploidy model have played an important role in biological and medical research aimed at achieving a more accurate diagnostic and prognostic assessment. Static cytometry was studied in histological sections using an image analyser which enabled the DNA content of cancer cells coloured using Feulgen's method, the elective method for nucleic acids, to be evaluated. A high percentage of aneuploidy in human gastric tumours was found to be correlated with a low degree of histological differentiation (G3), with tumoral invasion of the lowest tissue strata and neighbouring lymph nodes, and with a negative prognosis. The practical clinical application of DNA evaluation therefore allows cases which evolve more rapidly since they possess a greater tumoral aggressiveness to be identified (aneuploid tumours).

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Densitometric evaluation of DNA content in colorectal cancer.

The aim of the present study was to provide information on the DNA content in colorectal tumours using densitometric techniques on histological samples and correlating the findings with age, sex, histological grade, stage, presence or absence of lymph-node metastasis and survival time. The distribution of DNA values was significantly related with the histological grade. Dukes' stage and infiltration of the peritumoral lymph-nodes. The distribution of DNA values was not significantly correlated with age and sex. From the data obtained in this study it can be concluded that evaluation of DNA content in colorectal adenocarcinoma can be used as a prognostic test that is complementary to histological investigation. The ploidy can provide information for classifying the degree of malignancy and can also be used to determine which tumours are biologically most aggressive.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Cell kinetics and DNA content (ploidy) of human skin under expansion.

One question which still remains unanswered concerning expansion of human skin is whether expansion simply stretches the skin or whether it induces a real neo-production of epithelium. To evaluate the proliferative activity of the human skin before and after expansion, we performed an autoradiographic study and a densitometric analysis on sections of skin biopsy from 11 patients. The results of the cellular kinetic study showed that expansion induces an increase in the epidermal proliferative activity. On the contrary, the densitometric analysis did not show a parallel increase of the proliferating cells after expansion. This discrepancy is discussed in terms of the modified morphology of the tissue. The proliferative activity of skin in the back region increases more than in that of the neck. Preliminary results have shown that the proliferative activity increases with time of expansion in days. The presence of a low percentage of cells with altered DNA content indicates, at least over the short term, the absence of dysplastic processes in expanded skins.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Cytogenetic analysis in 28 radically operated non-small-cell lung cancer: preliminary considerations.

Twenty-eight radically operated non-small-cell lung cancer patients were analyzed with regard to chromosomal assessment and DNA content: in 13 cases, different quantitative/qualitative chromosome alterations were found. In particular, in 12 cases marker chromosomes and cytogenetic abnormalities in euploid cells were demonstrated. The prognostic value of these findings will be aim of further studies.

Aneuploidy↗
PubMed1989

[Clinical significance of cell kinetics in lung cancer].

A series of 24 lung cancer cases was studied: 12 epidermoid carcinomas, 9 adenocarcinomas, 2 giant-cell carcinomas and 1 carcinoid. The patients were staged on the basis of the TNM classification system as 9 stage I, 5 stage II, 9 stage III and 1 stage IV. Using fresh tumour cell samples 2 cell cultures were prepared for each patient: one to identify the percentage of S phase cells (Labelling Index) using the tritiated thymidine method and one for cytogenetic analysis. A gentic map was obtained in 6 cases and revealed no specific numerical or structural alterations. The Labelling Index (L.I.) was calculated for all patients and compared with all TNM parameters. This revealed a certain connection between L.I. and parameters T, SN and G but no link with parameters.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Densitometric evaluation of DNA contents in expanded human skin.

We studied 18 patients who underwent skin expansion. In 3 patients the prostheses had been inserted in anatomical areas previously expanded: in 3 other patients scarring tissue had been involved in the expansion. The DNA content of sections of epidermis, before and after the implantation of expanders, were analysed using an image analyzer (IBAS 2000). The preliminary data demonstrate that, at the end of the expansion, epidermis enters a phase of quiescency and is not affected by dysplastic processes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

A multifactorial study (cell kinetics, cytogenetics, DNA content) of lung tumours: basic information for prognostic evaluation.

Different prognostic parameters (labeling index, chromosomal pattern, DNA content) were studied in 32 cases of lung tumour. A great variability was observed in the proliferative activity and karyotype, and there was a lack of correlation between these parameters and the histologic type. It was possible to demonstrate that a diploid DNA content does not necessarily correspond to a normal karyotype. A more precise evaluation of the prognostic significance of data obtained will be possible in correlation with an extensive follow-up of the patients studied.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Chromosomal and cell kinetic pattern in human transitional cell bladder carcinoma.

Cell kinetics in transitional cancer of the bladder was studied in 35 patients by using the in vitro 3H-thymidine labeling index. The proliferative activity was remarkably lower than that observed for other human histotypes. Analysis of the relation between cell kinetics and histologic grading showed a value for grade III tumors two-fold that of grade I and grade II tumors. Cytogenetic analysis was possible in 15 cases, and different chromosome numbers from 40 to 120 and the presence of various structural aberrations were observed. When cytogenetic features were analyzed in relation to cell kinetics, higher proliferative activities were always associated with a loss of chromosome 13 and, except for one case, with a loss of chromosome 22.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell↗
PubMed1986

Kinetic pattern of human urinary transitional cell carcinoma.

The potential proliferative activity, expressed as labelling index, has been studied in 24 cases of bladder transitional cell carcinomas. The data showed a wide range of values, varying between 0.4 and 36%. The average proliferative activity was 3.2%. An analysis of the connection between the labelling index and the histological grading has also brought out the existence of a gradient of proliferative activity; average values of 1.6-2.53% and 3.49%, respectively, were found for grades I-II and grade III.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Functional and multimarker analysis of T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

The morphology, immunophenotype, cytoenzymatic and functional activities of T lymphocytes from 4 patients with chronic lymphoproliferative disease of T-cell origin were studied. Clonal proliferation was demonstrated by distinctive chromosomal abnormalities involving chromosomes 2 and 14. Patients 1 and 2 were classifiable as OKT4+ T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (T-CLL) and patient 3 as OKT4+/OKT8+ T-CLL, with helper function in vitro only in patient 1. Patient 4 has low-grade lymphocytosis with benign clinical course, with cells showing morphology of large granular lymphocytes (LGL), and immunophenotype HNK-1+, ER+, Fc gamma receptor+, OKT3+, OKT11+ and OKT8+, as well as natural killer activity, radiosensitive suppressor activity on Ig secretion and responsiveness to PHA; this case was interpreted as LGL leukaemia. This study indicates that a large proportion of cases of true T-CLL may belong to the OKT4 subset, and that extensive investigations should be made of the lymphocytic OKT8+/T gamma forms to characterize them precisely.

Aged↗