PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Mazzoni

Publications and source records attributed to A Mazzoni.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Hepatitis C virus infection in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is both a hepatotropic and a lymphotropic virus, has been proposed as a possible causative agent of mixed cryoglobulinaemia. This 'benign' lymphoproliferative disorder can switch over to a malignant B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Therefore HCV infection has been investigated in a series of 50 unselected Italian patients with B-cell NHL. Antibodies against HCV were found in 30% of NHL and HCV viraemia in 32% of cases. HCV-related markers were detected in 34% (17/50) of our NHL patients; this prevalence is particularly significant when compared with HCV seropositivity in Hodgkin's lymphoma (3%) and healthy controls (1.3%).

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Histoplasmin sensitivity among a student population in Crema, Po Valley, Italy.

Histoplasmin skin tests were conducted on a student population in Crema, Po Valley, Italy. In this geographical area two autochtonal cases of disseminated histoplasmosis occurred in HIV-negative men. In the last year we tested 776 senior high school students, mean age 18 years, 335 males and 441 females. Histopalsmin skin sensitivity was 1.23%, with a mean area of induration of 5.78 mm. All subjects but one had never been abroad. This preliminary survey confirms the possibility of autochtonal histoplasmal infection in the Po Valley, Italy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Hepatitis C virus-related autoimmunity in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequently found in autoimmune hepatitis and mixed cryoglobulinaemia. In these conditions HCV could be responsible for immuno-mediated organ alterations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of immunological alterations in PCT patients, in which HCV infection has been frequently found. Twenty-three PCT patients were evaluated for clinical and serological alterations, including: chronic hepatitis, other systemic symptoms, serum cryoglobulins and rheumatoid factor (RF), haemolytic complement, serum immunoglobulins, anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-smooth muscle (ASMA), anti-liver-kidney-microsomal (anti-LKM1), anti-soluble-liver-antigen (SLA), anti-mitochondrial (AMA), anti-GOR antibodies, anti-HCV and HCV RNA. Abnormal serum ALT were present in the majority of cases (20/23, 87%), while liver biopsy revealed a chronic persistent hepatitis or chronic active hepatitis in 15/20 (75%) PCT patients. In a high percentage of subjects (91%) the presence of anti-HCV was detected by ELISA and RIBA II (Chiron, Emeryville CA, USA). In 17/22 (77%) cases the ongoing HCV replication in the serum was demonstrated by the detection of HCV genomes (polymerase chain reaction). The prevalence of both anti-HCV and HCV RNA in PCT was significantly higher if compared to 22 systemic immunological diseases (P < 0.001) and 47 healthy subjects (P < 0.001). A possible HCV-induced autoimmunity in PCT was suggested by the presence of the following immunological parameter alterations: anti-GOR in 13/23 (57%), ANA in 4/23 (17%), ASMA in 18/23 (78%), anti-LKM1 in 1/23 (4%), RF in 23/23 (100%), mixed cryoglobulins in 4/23 (17%), complement consumption in 10/23 (43%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Interferon alfa-2b in mixed cryoglobulinaemia: a controlled crossover trial.

To confirm the positive results of a preliminary trial, 26 patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia were enrolled in a controlled, randomised, crossover trial with interferon alfa-2b. A significant improvement was seen in the purpura score and alanine aminotransferase activities during six months' treatment, and was associated with a significant decrease in cryocrit and a returning to normal of the lymphocyte CD4/CD8 ratio (in eight of nine patients). No significant variations were seen during the six month period without interferon. Only six patients withdrew from treatment, three because of side effects and three because of poor compliance.

Cryoglobulinemia↗
PubMed1993

Reversal of "atypical"-multidrug resistance by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor in the human ovarian cancer cell line A2780-DX3.

A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line and its multidrug resistant counterpart A2780-DX3 were utilized for this in vitro study. A2780-DX3 is resistant in various degrees to several topoisomerase II inhibitors but sensitive to vinca alkaloids. Simultaneous treatment of the A2780-DX3 line with 1000 U/mL rHuTNF largely reverses resistance to most topoisomerase II inhibitors. By itself, 1000 U/mL rHuTNF is not toxic to the resistant line. Uptake and retention of [3H]-Mitoxantrone are not modified by rHuTNF, whereas rHuTNF is very active in potentiating the effects of Mitoxantrone. After treatment with topoisomerase II inhibitors, Doxorubicin, Mitoxantrone, or VP16, rHuTNF restores DNA-SSB and DNA-protein cross-links in the resistant line to the level of the wild type. The cleavage activity of topoisomerase II in the resistant line is about 40% of the level present in the parental line. Five minutes after the addition of 1000 U/mL of rHuTNF, the cleavage activity in the resistant line is about 85% of the level present in the parental line. The catalytic activity of topoisomerase II is only 15% lower in the resistant line, but it is increased by about 50% 5 min after the addition of rHuTNF to the resistant line. These effects are transient and cannot be observed after 30 min. These transient direct effects of rHuTNF on topoisomerase II could be associated with its ability to restore sensitivity to inhibitors of topoisomerase II in the A2780-DX3 line.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1993

Cytoplasmic membrane cholesterol and doxorubicin cytotoxicity in drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant human ovarian cancer cells.

The possible involvement of cholesterol (CHOL) in the cellular transformations leading to the acquisition of the multidrug-resistance (MDR) phenotype has been evaluated in human ovarian cancer cells. To this end, the A2780 cell line and the 52-fold doxorubicin (DX)-resistant counterpart A2780-DX3 were analyzed under two different growth conditions: standard culture medium (FCS medium), or medium deprived of CHOL (LPDS medium). The following variables were investigated: free and esterified cytoplasmic membrane CHOL, cell growth, DX uptake and cytotoxicity, and low-density lipoprotein uptake and degradation (as indirect variables of CHOL homeostasis). The impact of the calcium antagonist verapamil (VER) on these variables was assessed. The results obtained indicate that under standard growth conditions, A2780 and A2780-DX3 cells are different not only with respect to DX uptake and sensitivity, but also with respect to membrane CHOL content and the ratio of free-to-esterified CHOL. The deprivation of lipoproteins in the culture medium, apart from slowing cell growth, induced a decrease in the cytoplasmic membrane CHOL content (mainly of the esterified form) that was particularly evident in A2780 sensitive cells. In LPDS medium, a reduced DX uptake occurred in both cell lines, but to a greater extent in A2780 cells, in which DX cytotoxicity decreased to values comparable to that of A2780-DX3 resistant cells. Restoration of DX sensitivity was achieved with the addition of 10 microM VER.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cell Division↗
PubMed1993

Relationship between Candida albicans and denture stomatitis: a clinical and microbiological study.

A study was done on 52 upper denture wearers, randomly selected among the residents of two nursing-homes. The results show that the prevalence of Candida albicans in the denture is significantly higher than that in the mucosa. It was also possible to establish a significant relationship between the clinical patterns and the microbiological findings. A healthy mucosa does not present C. albicans, whereas a diffuse denture stomatitis more often presents the yeast both in the mucosa and in the denture. Finally, diffuse erythema is correlated to continuous denture-wearing, while there is not significant correlation between healthy mucosa and type I denture stomatitis and denture-wearing habits.

Candidiasis, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of anti-hepatitis C virus detection with ELISA assay and RIBA 4 in dialysis patients: our experience.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been demonstrated to be the main cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis and the emergent infectious illness in dialysis units. At present, the anti-HCV 100 ELISA and an immunoblot assay in which 2 new antigens are included, are available. We have tested 110 patients on chronic dialysis with anti-C100 ELISA. Twenty-seven of them were anti-HCV positive. We tested the 27 anti-HCV-positive and 7 anti-HCV-negative patients with the RIBA 4 assay. The results were similar with both test.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1992

Retrospective study on the prevalence of B and non-A, non-B hepatitis in a dialysis unit: 17-year follow-up.

To evaluate the prevalence of HBV, non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) and HCV, their evolution and the route of transmission, we performed a retrospective study (17 years) on 65 hemodialyzed patients (mean dialytical age 5 years, range 1-16) who developed acute viral hepatitis. Twenty-six percent of them were affected by HBV; 5 of them (29%) became chronic. Fourty-eight of 65 patients were affected by NANBH; in 1990, 42 of them were tested for antibody to HCV with the C-100 Elisa assay: 27 patients (64%) were positive. Seven of 27 patients demonstrated normal values of ALT. The evaluation of intrafamiliar transmission of HBV showed 8 sexual partners infected. In the family, no one was anti-HCV positive. In agreement with the current literature, we have observed: (1) a decrement in HBV infection; (2) that HCV is the major cause of NANBH; its rate of chronicity is over 50%; (3) that the prevalent mode of HCV transmission is the parenteral route while the sexual route seems to be negligible.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute obstructive renal insufficiency: a cautionary note].

Ultrasonography (US) has recently been considered in nephrology as the imaging method of choice in the differential diagnosis of acute renal failure (ARF). A dilated renal collecting system is the hallmark of obstructive nephropathy (ON). We report 4 cases of ARF due to ON in which US detected no dilatation of collecting system. Similar data were obtained by computer tomography (TC). The normal size and structure of the kidneys and the clinical suspicion prompted us to perform retrograde pyelography which revealed ON. Ureteral catheterization determined a marked improvement of renal function in all the patients (pts). 2 pts were one kidney, 3 pts had renal stones, in 2 pts dehydration and sepsis were present. We conclude that ON has not ever been excluded on the criterion of absence of dilated urinary tract from US and TC.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

[Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin. 2 clinical cases].

Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin is a tumor generally found in elderly people. This neoplasm involves primarily the dermis; it is locally aggressive often metastatizing to the lymph nodes and, sometimes, diffusely in the body. It must be considered in the diagnostic approach of the cutaneous neoplastic nodules. The clinical, histologic and ultrastructural features of two cases are presented and compared with previously reported examples.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

In vitro reversal of doxorubicin resistance by the tiapamil analog RO 11-2933 in human ovarian cancer cells.

The ability of RO 11-2933 to restore cellular sensitivity to doxorubicin (DX) was investigated in cultured human cancer cells with two different levels of treatment-induced resistance to DX. In the poorly resistant subline A2780-DX1, a short-term (2 h) exposure to 1 microM RO 11-2933 (IC10) completely restored DX sensitivity, whereas in the more resistant subline A2780-DX3 only partial reversal of drug resistance could be achieved by this schedule of treatment. In these cells, a long term (72 h) exposure to 1 microM RO 11-2933 (IC15) or a higher dose (6 microM) given for 2 h was required to reverse DX resistance completely. Investigation of the effects of RO 11-2933 on DX cellular accumulation and retention indicated that RO 11-2933 was able to enhance DX accumulation and reduce DX efflux within resistant cells to levels comparable to those found in sensitive cells.

Doxorubicin↗
PubMed1990

Reversal of doxorubicin and cisplatin resistance in vivo in murine leukemias by the calcium antagonist RO 11-2933.

The ability of RO 11-2933 to modulate in vivo Doxorubicin and Cisplatin antitumor activity has been evaluated in sensitive and resistant P388 and L1210 murine leukemias. A reversal of both Doxorubicin or Cisplatin resistance has been observed when P388/Dx or L1210/CP tumor bearing mice received multiple treatments of the antitumor agent plus 30 mg/Kg of RO 11-2933. No modification of Doxorubicin or Cisplatin effect has been observed in sensitive tumors. The results obtained indicate that RO 11-2933 might represent a promising agent for the reversal of multidrug resistance.

Animals↗