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Biomedical subjects

B Bianchi

Publications and source records attributed to B Bianchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Respiratory symptoms and bronchial responsiveness among cleaning and disinfecting workers in the food industry.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the levels of exposure to nitrogen trichloride (NCl3) and aldehydes among cleaning and disinfecting workers in the atmosphere of food industry plants during cleaning and disinfecting operations, and to examine how they relate to irritant and chronic respiratory symptoms-which are indices of pulmonary function-and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine. METHODS: 175 exposed workers (M = 149; F = 26) recruited from 17 enterprises of the food industry (8 cattle, pig, and ovine slaughterhouses, 8 fowl slaughterhouses, and 1 catering firm) and 70 non-exposed workers (M = 52; F = 18) were examined. Concentration levels of NCl3 and aldhehydes were measured by personal sampling. Symptoms were assessed by means of a questionnaire and the methacholine bronchial challenge (MBC) test using an abbreviated method. Subjects were labelled MBC+ if forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) fell by 20% or more. The linear dose-response slope (DRS) was calculated as the percentage fall in FEV1 at last dose divided by the total dose administered. RESULTS: 277 air samples were taken in the 17 food industry plants. For a given plant and in a given workshop, the actual concentrations of chloramines, aldehydes, and quaternary ammonium compounds were measured with personal samplers during the different steps of the procedures. For each cleaner, a total exposure index Sigma was calculated. A statistically significant concentration-response relationship was found between eye, nasal, and throat symptoms of irritation--but not chronic respiratory symptoms--and exposure levels or exposure duration. No relation was found between BHR and exposure. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that cleaning and disinfecting workers in the food industry are at risk of developing eye, nasal, and throat irritation symptoms. Although NCl3 exposure does not seem to carry a risk of developing permanent BHR, the possibility of transient BHR cannot be ruled out entirely.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

TRPV1 receptors in the CNS play a key role in broad-spectrum analgesia of TRPV1 antagonists.

Vanilloid receptor type 1 (TRPV1) is a ligand-gated nonselective cation channel that is considered to be an important integrator of various pain stimuli such as endogenous lipids, capsaicin, heat, and low pH. In addition to expression in primary afferents, TRPV1 is also expressed in the CNS. To test the hypothesis that the CNS plays a differential role in the effect of TRPV1 antagonists in various types of pain, the analgesic effects of two TRPV1 antagonists with similar in vitro potency but different CNS penetration were compared in vivo. Oral administration of either A-784168 (1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-[4-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)phenyl]-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-carboxamide) (good CNS penetration) or A-795614 (N-1H-indazol-4-yl-N'-[(1R)-5-piperidin-1-yl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl]urea) (poor CNS penetration) blocked capsaicin-induced acute pain with the same potency. In complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced chronic inflammatory pain, oral administration of either compound blocked thermal hyperalgesia with similar potency. Furthermore, intraplantar or intrathecal administration of A-784168 blocked CFA-induced thermal hyperalgesia, suggesting that both peripheral and CNS TRPV1 receptors may play a role in inflammatory thermal hyperalgesia. The effects of the two TRPV1 antagonists were further assessed in models presumably mediated by central sensitization, including CFA- and capsaicin-induced mechanical allodynia and osteoarthritic pain. In these models, the potency of the two compounds was similar after intrathecal administration. However, when administered orally, A-784168, with good CNS penetration, was much more potent than A-795614. Together, these results demonstrate that TRPV1 receptors in the CNS play an important role in pain mediated by central sensitization. In addition, these results demonstrate that significant CNS penetration is necessary for a TRPV1 antagonist to produce broad-spectrum analgesia.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2006

The localization of facial motor impairment in sporadic Möbius syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the neurophysiologic aspects of facial motor control in patients with sporadic Möbius syndrome defined as nonprogressive congenital facial and abducens palsy. METHODS: The authors assessed 24 patients with sporadic Möbius syndrome by performing a complete clinical examination and neurophysiologic tests including facial nerve conduction studies, needle electromyography examination of facial muscles, and recording of the blink reflex and of the trigeminofacial inhibitory reflex. RESULTS: Two distinct groups of patients were identified according to neurophysiologic testing. The first group was characterized by increased facial distal motor latencies (DMLs) and poor recruitment of small and polyphasic motor unit action potentials (MUAPs). The second group was characterized by normal facial DMLs and neuropathic MUAPs. It is hypothesized that in the first group, the disorder is due to a rhombencephalic maldevelopment with selective sparing of small-size MUs, and in the second group, the disorder is related to an acquired nervous injury during intrauterine life, with subsequent neurogenic remodeling of MUs. The trigeminofacial reflexes showed that in most subjects of both groups, the functional impairment of facial movements was caused by a nuclear or peripheral site of lesion, with little evidence of brainstem interneuronal involvement. CONCLUSION: Two different neurophysiologically defined phenotypes can be distinguished in sporadic Möbius syndrome, with different pathogenetic implications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Evaluation of inflammatory infiltrate and fibrogenic cytokines in pseudopelade of Brocq suggests the involvement of T-helper 2 and 3 cytokines.

BACKGROUND: Pseudopelade of Brocq (PB) is an acquired progressive cicatricial alopecia which is characterized by some distinctive clinical features. It may represent either a distinct entity, i.e. an idiopathic primary scarring alopecia, or the end stage of various forms of scarring alopecia such as discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) or lichen planopilaris (LPP). OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate a set of patients with a clinically defined PB, to ascertain whether their PB was idiopathic or secondary, and then to study the phenotype of the inflammatory infiltrate and the presence of any fibrogenic and antifibrogenic cytokines to identify idiopathic or secondary forms in more detail. METHODS: Twelve female patients with PB were studied by means of histology, direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and immunohistochemistry, by using monoclonal antibodies to cell markers (lymphocyte subtypes, Langerhans cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, mastocytes and activation markers) and fibrogenic and antifibrogenic cytokines. RESULTS: Using histology and DIF, we diagnosed two cases as DLE and three cases as LPP. Seven cases had nonspecific histology or DIF appearances and were classified as noncharacterized pseudopelade (NCPB). Two major phenotypic patterns of dermal infiltrate were identified by immunohistochemistry. These were: (i) a conspicuous infiltrate of CD3+ cells with a high CD4+/CD8+ ratio, variable numbers of macrophages, mast cells and fibroblasts always fewer than lymphocytes; (ii) an infiltrate of CD3+ cells with variable CD4+/CD8+ ratio and conspicuous amounts of macrophages, mast cells and fibroblasts, more numerous than infiltrating lymphocytes. The first pattern was typical of DLE and LPP, the second one was typical of NCPB. Fibrogenic cytokines were observed in all cases, but basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta were more strongly expressed in NCPB. Interferon (IFN)-gamma was found in LPP. CONCLUSIONS: In our PB patients we identified five of 12 secondary PB and seven of 12 idiopathic PB by means of histology and DIF. The phenotypic pattern of infiltration allowed us to further differentiate secondary (richer in lymphocytes) from idiopathic PB (richer in resident cells). The pattern of cytokine expression showed the presence of fibrogenic molecules (interleukins 4 and 6, bFGF and TGF-beta) in all cases, suggesting the involvement of mechanisms mediated by T-helper 2 and 3 cytokines in PB.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

BCA-1, A B-cell chemoattractant signal, is constantly expressed in cutaneous lymphoproliferative B-cell disorders.

We analysed the immunophenotypic and molecular expression of BCA-1 (B-cell-specific chemokine) and CXCR5 (BCA-1 receptor) in normal skin and different cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL); cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (CBCL); cutaneous B-cell pseudolymphoma (PCBCL)), with the aim of investigating their possible involvement in the pathogenesis of cutaneous B-cell disorders. BCA-1 and CXCR5 were constantly expressed in CBCL and PCBCL, but not in normal skin and CTCL. BCA-1 and CXCR5 were constantly coexpressed by CD22+ B-cells, while CD35+ follicular dendritic cells coexpressed BCA-1 in PCBCL cells only. In low grade CBCL, as compared with high grade CBCL, the intensity of CXCR5 expression on neoplastic CD22+ cells was lower than that of BCA-1. The image analysis of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) products showed a significant quantitative difference between PCBCL/low grade CBCL and high grade CBCL. The above findings, although only observed in a small series of patients, are in keeping with findings in MALT gastric and gastric MALT lymphomas, adding further evidence of the close similarities between CBCL and MALT lymphomas.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2003

The role of T lymphocytes and cytokines in the pathogenesis of pemphigoid gestationis.

BACKGROUND: Pemphigoid gestationis (PG), also known as herpes gestationis, is a rare autoantibody-mediated bullous disease, usually associated with pregnancy and the postpartum period. However, infiltrating cells have recently been suggested to also contribute to the pathogenesis of cutaneous lesions. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the immunophenotype of T cells infiltrating the PG lesional skin and their prevalent cutaneous cytokine expression, as well as the presence and distribution of mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils. Methods We performed an immunohistochemical study with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, HLA-DR, CD25, myeloperoxidase, tryptase, eosinophil cationic protein EG2, human interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -5, -8, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor using the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase procedure on lesional skin of seven patients with PG. Skin from four subjects with pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy and three additional healthy donors were used as controls. RESULTS: The findings indicate that there is a T-cell population with a prevalent T-helper (Th) 2 phenotype in the lesional skin of PG subjects. We also found a number of eosinophils and neutrophils with clear signs of activation. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that an inflammatory infiltrate is involved in the production of PG bullous lesions. In particular, we assume that the Th2 cells might be implicated in the very early stages of autoimmune response and may exercise a broad influence in blister formation in this disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Monochromatic excimer light (308 nm): an immunohistochemical study of cutaneous T cells and apoptosis-related molecules in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Various types of UVB radiation source (290-320 nm) are used in treating psoriasis and their therapeutic mechanism has been attributed to immunosuppressive properties. Recently, a new UVB source generated by a 308-nm excimer laser has been introduced for the treatment of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: In this study we investigated the immunohistochemical evaluation of T cells and the expression of various apoptosis-related molecules in the psoriatic hyperproliferative skin before and after treatment with 308-nm monochromatic excimer light (MEL). METHODS: Ten patients (three women and seven men), ranging in age from 29 to 79 years, affected by plaque-type psoriasis vulgaris, were treated with MEL. Biopsies from psoriatic lesions of MEL-treated sites were taken before, 24 h and/or 48 h after the first irradiation and analysed by the immunophosphatase alkaline technique (APAAP). RESULTS: MEL treatment was found to cause a significant decrease in the rate of proliferation of keratinocytes and a relevant depletion of T cells in all psoriatic lesions, 48 h after the first irradiation: 308 nm light eliminated T cells from the psoriatic epidermis and also from the dermis, highlighting the ability of this UVB source to penetrate the skin compared with normal UVB and establish direct cytotoxic action on T cells infiltrating skin lesions. Rapid clearing of psoriatic lesions involves potential molecular targets of UVB in T cells including p53, which is upregulated after direct irradiation with 308-nm UVB. Moreover, Bcl-2 expression in healing psoriasis epidermis after MEL treatment is significantly decreased compared with untreated skin and the TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling) technique revealed the presence of relevant apoptotic keratinocytes in the irradiated epidermis. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that psoriatic skin after monochromatic excimer light therapy is associated with significant T-cell depletion and alterations of apoptosis-related molecules accompanied by a decreased proliferation index and clinical remission.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Iliac crest free flap in oromandibular reconstruction. 13 cases study.

Oromandibular reconstruction following oncological resection is particularly challenging. In this past decade, great improvements have been made, in functional and aesthetic terms, following the introduction of composite free flaps. By means of this reconstructive technique, it is, in fact, possible to restore mandibular continuity, and, consequently, the morphology of the lower third of the face; rehabilitate mastication through osteointegrated implants, and optimise the reconstruction of soft tissue, employing the fascio-cutaneous or muscular portion of these flaps. Between January 1995 and January 2001, 70 oromandibular reconstructions employing osseous free flaps were performed in the Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery of the Ospedale Maggiore in Parma, and in 13 of these the iliac crest free flap was used. Personal experience is described regarding the indications and use of this flap.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Oromandibular reconstruction with simultaneous free flaps: experience on 10 cases.

Composite defects resulting from surgery for advanced oral cancer represent a difficult reconstructive problem and, in some cases, tissutal defects are extensive requiring multiple free flaps. Personal experience is reported with double free-flap technique in the reconstruction of large complex defects in 10 patients treated for T4 oral squamous-cell carcinoma. Fibula osteo-cutaneous free flap was used in association with forearm free flap in 5 cases, fibula osseous-forearm in 3 cases, fibula osseous-rectus abdominis in 1 case, iliac crest-forearm in 1 case. Forearm free flap was used for intra-oral reconstruction in all cases. Total flap survival is 100% and all patients regained adequate oral diet. At the time of evaluation (February 2001), 40% of patients are alive and mean survival rate is 36 months. In conclusion, simultaneous free flap reconstruction, in massive oro-mandibular defects, represents in some selected patients, a good choice to achieve satisfactory aesthetic and functional results.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Role of intra-operative sentinel lymph node biopsy in oral cavity and oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma: preliminary data.

In patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx, the presence of latero-cervical lymph node metastases was found to be the most important of the better known prognostic factors. Still, today, the most reliable technique by which to detect the presence of lymph node metastases is surgery aimed at the dissection of the latero-cervical space; albeit, this surgical procedure has been shown to be an over-treatment in a large percentage of patients presenting squamous cell carcinoma, clinically, radiologically and histologically negative, at neck level. The technique of intra-operative biopsy of sentinel lymph node, routinely used in the staging and treatment of tumours with elective lymphatic involvement such as carcinoma of the breast and malignant cutaneous melanoma, has progressively caught the attention of head and neck surgeons in the most important referral centres in the world, and, indeed, its role has been hypothesised in the treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx with clinically N0 neck. Preliminary results are reported, concerning the use of this intraoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy technique with double tracer in patients presenting squamous cell carcinoma originating in the mucosa of the upper air-digestive tract, clinically and radiologically free from disease at latero-cervical level.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Synovial cell sarcoma of the neck. Case report and review of the literature.

Synovial sarcoma is an uncommon neoplasm accounting between 8 and 10% of all soft tissue malignancies. Involvement of the head and neck region is rare. So far, fewer than 100 cases have been reported in the literature and only a few originated in the soft palate, tongue, larynx, hypopharynx, and cervical oesophagus. We report the case of a synovial sarcoma of the parapharyngeal space in a 72-year-old female, and experience in the behaviour and surgical treatment of this neoplasm is described. The patient has remained disease free for 28 months, with regular follow-up. Based upon this case and the others reported in the literature, synovial sarcoma does not have a good overall prognosis, and on account of its rarity and unpredictable biologic behaviour, surgical excision, and regular clinical and radiographic follow-up for at least 3 years are strongly recommended.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Further support for a role for Th2-like cytokines in blister formation of pemphigus.

Pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus are commonly known as antibody-mediated bullous diseases. However, recently a role for infiltrating cells as contributors to the pathogenesis of these diseases has been suggested. The aims of our study were to characterize the immunophenotype of the cellular infiltrate of pemphigus lesional skin and to study the cytokines secreted. We have therefore performed an immunohistochemical study with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies (to CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, CD30, myeloperoxidase, eosinophil cationic protein EG2, tryptase, human interleukin (IL)-2, human IL-4, human IL-5, human IL-6, human IL-8, and interferon (IFN)-gamma using the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase procedure on lesional and uninvolved skin of six patients with clinical, histological, and immunofluorescent proven pemphigus. We also performed RT-PCR in order to demonstrate mRNA expression of the cytokines of interest. Our results suggest the presence of a T cell population with a prevalent Th2-like cytokine pattern in lesional skin. In addition, we demonstrate a consistent number of granulocytes and mast cells that show clear signs of activation. These data suggest the involvement of an inflammatory infiltrate in the production of pemphigus lesions. In particular, we assume that Th2 cells may be implicated in the very early stages of autoimmune response, concluding that they exert broad activity in blister formation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Ceftibuten stability to active-site serine and metallo-beta-lactamases.

Ceftibuten is an oral third-generation cephalosporin active against a wide range of bacteria and shows an improved stability to hydrolysis by several beta-lactamases because of the carboxyethilidine moiety at position 7 of the ss-acyl side chain. The kinetic interactions between ceftibuten and active-site serine and metallo-ss-lactamases were investigated. The activity of several TEM-derived extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESbetaLs) against ceftibuten, cefotaxime and ceftazidime was compared using K(m), K(cat) and K(cat)/K(m). Ceftibuten behaved as a poor substrate for class A and B beta-lactamases compared with cefotaxime. The chromosomal class C beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae 908R gave a high K(cat) value (21 s(-1)), whereas there was poor activity with enzymes from Acinetobacter baumannii and Morganella morganii and ceftibuten. Ceftibuten resists hydrolysis in the presence of typical respiratory or urogenital-tract pathogens producing beta-lactamases.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2001

[Lymphatic metastases in the parotid region from malignant skin neoplasm of the head: considerations for surgical treatment based on personal clinical experience].

The present paper considers some of the problems linked to the surgical treatment of parotid metastases. The authors base these considerations on their limited personal cases and on the most accredited literature. In the presence of cutaneous malignancies of the upper portion of the face, accurate clinical-radiological evaluation must be made of the parotid and neck region. Elective parotidectomy is performed when the cutaneous carcinoma is quite extensive or located in proximity of the gland or when the case involves a melanoma. Depending on the oncological margins, a sub-total parotidectomy may be enough; however, the facial nerve must be sacrificed if there is a clinical deficit or if it is directly affected by the tumor. As the dimensions of the neoplasm increase, the feasibility of saving the nerve decreases. Prophylactic treatment of the neck is advisable in parotid metastases from cutaneous malignancies, particularly melanoma. Nevertheless, it is possible to perform a selective dissection, avoiding the V level of the neck as the incidence of its involvement is quite low. Prognosis for these tumors is extremely poor. Of the eleven patients surgically treated, only 4 (36%) survived: 2 passed away from other causes not involved in the base pathology; 2 for distant metastases but with no signs of local recurrence and 1 other for recurrence of the primary pathology in the maxillary sinus mucosa. There is no difference in the survival of the two main histological groups: 2 out of 3 of the patients with melanoma (67%) died as did 3 out of 5 (60%) of those with epidermal carcinoma. This does not, obviously, include the two patients who died from other causes.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[Primary reconstruction of lateral oro-mandibular defects using titanium plates (Thorp) and revascularized non-osseous flaps: a personal experience].

Reconstruction of a particular defect is an highly complex problem, that is reflected in the number and variety of techniques proposed. This is particularly true for reconstruction of mandibular segment defects usually together with the need to repair oro-pharnygeal soft tissues defects of various size. The high rate of successes that can be obtained today using microvascular reconstruction techniques explains the reason why bone free flaps have progressively become the "gold standard" used as benchmark for all other forms of primary mandibular reconstruction. However, for selected patients (elderly patients or individuals in poor general health; the presence of lateral oro-mandibular defects or soft tissue defects significantly exceeding the bone defect) the association of non-osseous microvascular free flaps (such as forearm skin flaps or miocutaneous free flaps of the abdominal rectus muscle) with a titanium mandibular reconstruction plate (THORP) can prove a valid alternative. Indeed, in these cases reconstruction of choice would be the association of two free flaps, one osseous and the other non osseous. The use of THORP-type mandibular reconstruction plates in repairing lateral defects increases the overall risk of complications related to the reconstruction technique which is already hindered by the risks associated with the use of microvascular free flaps. The present work starts with a retrospective evaluation of 5 years series of primary mandibular reconstruction for lateral oro-mandibular defects following oncological surgery. The role of THORP-type titanium mandibular plates, used in combination with non-osseous free flaps in the treatment of selected patients, is then described and discussed.

Aged↗