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Biomedical subjects

C Ferrari

Publications and source records attributed to C Ferrari.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Microsurgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome].

The paper examines a microsurgical technique of neurolysis and epineurotomy in the treatment of the carpal tunnel syndrome. The cases reported comprise an homogeneous group of 61 "idiopathic" syndromes (slight chronic tenovaginitis of the flexors) at the irritative or sensitive stage. A complete recovery was obtained in 70% of cases and patient assessment was good is 90% of cases. From the authors' point of view, the most interesting findings was the complete absence of problems relating to the palm of the hand following renewed activity.

Adult

[Halo-vest in the treatment of fractures of the upper cervical spine. Fractures of the epistropheus].

The authors examine the use of a halo-vest brace in the treatment of fractures of the upper cervical spine. This brace forms a valid alternative to the classic plaster cast in that it is easily positioned, well tolerated by the patient and has a high restrictive capacity for the centre of the fracture. In the cases treated by the authors no complications were reported during treatment, and consolidation time was shortened by 30 days in relation to traditional plaster cast treatment.

Axis, Cervical Vertebra

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy using argon bistoury].

A total of 92 patients were submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the period Autumn 1990-Spring 1991. The dissection of the gallbladder from the hepatic bed was performed in 40 patients using the Argon beam coagulator, in 25 using the monopolar electrocoagulator and in 27 using the Holmio laser beam. In average, with the Argon beam coagulator time procedure was respectively 2.7 and 5.4 minutes shorter than monopolar electrocoagulator and Holmio laser. Only one complication (pneumomediastinum) was correlated with the use of the Argon beam coagulator.

Adult

[Ultrasound-color Doppler in the study of sexual impotence].

Male impotence is a relatively frequency disease. To define the correct aetiology of this disorder is important to plan a right diagnosis to difference organic, psychological and psycho-organic causes. From June 90 to June 91 fifty-four patients with male impotence of different degree were observed and went through diagnostic investigations. The patients were classified in four groups (A, B, C, D) as clinical results of the pharmacological test (intracavernous injection of PGE1 alpha 15 micrograms). A and B groups showed normal and nearly normal hemogenic finding. C group showed either low arterial flow increase after FIC or venous leakage. D group showed very low haemodynamic increase. The analysis of Eco-doppler studies was performed 5'-10'-20' after intracavernous injection of PGE1 alpha obtaining three haemodynamic markers: the systolic top flow (Vs) the diastolic ending flow (Vd) resistance flow index. The Authors discuss the results obtained considering the Eco-color-doppler the most important stage in the haemodynamic evaluation of sexual impotence.

Adolescent

HLA class I-restricted human cytotoxic T cells recognize endogenously synthesized hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid antigen.

Knowledge of the immune effector mechanisms responsible for clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected cells has been severely limited by the absence of reproducible systems to selectively expand and to characterize HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the peripheral blood of patients with viral hepatitis. By using a strategy involving sequential stimulation with HBV nucleocapsid synthetic peptides followed by autologous, or HLA class I-matched, HBV nucleocapsid transfectants, we now report the existence of CTLs able to lyse target cells that express endogenously synthesized HBV nucleocapsid antigen in the peripheral blood of patients with acute viral hepatitis B. The CTL response is HLA-A2 restricted, mediated by CD8-positive T cells, and specific for a single epitope, located between amino acid residues 11 and 27 of HBV core protein; these residues are shared with the secretable precore-derived hepatitis B e antigen. Equivalent lysis of target cells that express each of these proteins suggests that their intracellular trafficking pathways may intersect. The current report provides definitive evidence that HLA class I-restricted, CD8-positive CTLs that recognize endogenously synthesized HBV nucleocapsid antigen are induced during acute HBV infection in humans and establishes a strategy that should permit a detailed analysis of the role played by HBV-specific CTLs in the immunopathogenesis of viral hepatitis.

B-Lymphocytes

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognize an HLA-A2-restricted epitope within the hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid antigen.

The absence of readily manipulable experimental systems to study the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens has thus far precluded a definitive demonstration of the role played by this response in the pathogenesis of liver cell injury and viral clearance during HBV infection. To circumvent the problem that HBV infection of human cells in vitro for production of stimulator/target systems for CTL analysis is not feasible, a panel of 22 overlapping synthetic peptides covering the entire amino acid sequence of the HBV core (HBcAg) and e (HBeAg) antigens were used to induce and to analyze the HBV nucleocapsid-specific CTL response in nine patients with acute hepatitis B, six patients with chronic active hepatitis B, and eight normal controls. By using this approach, we have identified an HLA-A2-restricted CTL epitope, located within the NH2-terminal region of the HBV core molecule, which is shared with the e antigen and is readily recognized by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with self-limited acute hepatitis B but less efficiently in chronic HBV infection. Our study provides the first direct evidence of HLA class I-restricted T cell cytotoxicity against HBV in humans. Furthermore, the different response in HBV-infected subjects who successfully clear the virus (acute patients) in comparison with patients who do not succeed (chronic patients) suggests a pathogenetic role for this CTL activity in the clearance of HBV infection.

Alanine Transaminase

Insulin and glucagon levels in fulminant hepatic failure in man.

The behavior of insulin and glucagon and related metabolic substrates was assayed in plasma of patients with fulminant hepatic failure. All 12 subjects were provided the same nutritional support. High levels of insulin and glucagon were present at all times and no difference was observed between surviving patients (four) and those who died (8). Elevated values for branched-chain and aromatic amino acids as well as alanine were present. Statistically significant lower levels of aromatic amino acids and consequently a greater branched chain-aromatic amino acid ratio was found in surviving vs nonsurviving patients. A significantly greater level of alpha-fetoprotein was found in patients who survived as compared to those who died.

Adult

Effects of plant ribosome-inactivating proteins on ribosomes from Musca domestica.

1. Ribosomes from M. domestica larvae were isolated and their susceptibility to the action of several ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) from plants was tested. 2. Ribosome-inactivating proteins inhibited, to different extents, phenylalanine polymerization by ribosomes. 3. Analysis of RNA from RIP-treated ribosomes showed the appearance of an aniline-cleavable rRNA fragment resulting from the N-glycosidase activity of the RIPs. 4. The release of adenine from saporin 6-treated M. domestica ribosomes was demonstrated by h.p.l.c. analysis.

Adenine

Adhesion molecules on the plasma membrane of epidermal cells. III. Keratinocytes and Langerhans cells constitutively express the lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3.

It is now becoming clear that a collection of adhesion molecules is required on the surface of epidermal cells (EC) to establish the cell interactions that are necessary for skin immunologic reactions. In previous studies, we showed that human resting Langerhans cells (LC) express at least two members of the "integrins" family of adhesive molecules, as well as the intercellular adhesion molecule-1, which is a member of the immunoglobulin-related superfamily of molecules. This latter family includes another adhesive moiety, namely, the lymphocyte function-associated antigen-3 (LFA-3), which is the ligand for the T-lymphocyte-associated CD2 molecule, and has a broad tissue and organ distribution. In the present investigation the colloidal gold-immunoelectronmicroscopy immunostaining system and a quantitative analysis of the labeling provided decisive evidence for the weak but clear LFA-3 expression on virtually all keratinocytes (KC) and LC freshly isolated from normal human skin. Such constitutive expression of LFA-3 molecule on EC may be relevant for a number of functional interactions between LFA-3-positive EC and CD2-positive T lymphocytes within the cutaneous environment.

Antigens, Surface

Immunoelectron microscopic characterization of a subpopulation of freshly isolated epidermal Langerhans cells that reacts with anti-CD23 monoclonal antibody.

Large subsets of leucocytes were recently shown to express the low affinity receptor for the Fc portion of IgE. Because Langerhans cells (LC) are epidermal leucocytes, we investigated whether LC of normal human subjects might express this receptor. Whereas conventional immunofluorescence on epidermal sheets gave negative results, highly sensitive immunoelectron microscopy revealed that a subset (about one-third) of freshly isolated LC express the CD23 molecule.

Adult

Pyridostigmine enhances even if it does not normalize the growth hormone responses to growth hormone-releasing hormone in patients with Cushing's disease.

Subjects with Cushing's disease have diminished growth hormone (GH) response to growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). The aim of our study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of this diminished GH response in these patients using pyridostigmine (PD), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, which is reported to increase GH secretion by reducing somatostatin tone. Eight subjects with untreated Cushing's disease (caused by a pituitary adenoma) and 6 control subjects received GHRH 100 micrograms in 1 ml of saline, as intravenous bolus injection 60 min after (1) placebo (2 tablets, p.o.) or (2) PD (120 mg, p.o.). After GHRH plus placebo, the GH peak (mean +/- SEM) was significantly lower in subjects with Cushing's disease (2.4 +/- 0.5 micrograms/l) compared to control subjects (25.1 +/- 1.8 micrograms/l, p less than 0.05). After GHRH plus PD, the GH peak was significantly enhanced both in subjects with Cushing's disease (7.1 +/- 2.3 micrograms/l, p less than 0.05) and in control subjects (42.3 +/- 4.3 micrograms/l, p less than 0.05). In patients with Cushing's disease, the GH response to GHRH plus PD was lower with respect to the GH response to GHRH alone in normal subjects. We conclude that hypercortisolism may cause a decrease in central cholinergic tone which is in turn hypothesized to be responsible of an enhanced somatostatin release from the hypothalamus. However, other metabolic or central nervous system alterations may act synergistically with hypercortisolism in causing GH inhibition in patients with Cushing's disease.

Adenoma

The immunogold-silver staining procedure in the study of freshly suspended Langerhans cells at the transmission electron microscopic level.

The potential of an immunogold-silver staining for the study of human suspended Langerhans cells at the transmission electron microscopic level was evaluated. Cells were labeled, by using a preembedding technique, with 5-nm colloidal gold particles followed by silver enhancement. The use of small colloidal gold particles permits a detection of small quantities of antigen; the metallic silver deposition around gold granules gives rise to a large electron-dense marker which can be easily detected even at low magnification. Ultrastructural details were well preserved, and the background was not significant. The major advantage of the present immunogold-silver staining is that it enables to detect labeled cells easily, even when limited amounts of antigenic moieties are present on a low percentage of cells. Therefore, a rapid and simultaneous evaluation of both immunophenotype and ultrastructural details of investigated cells is allowed.

Antigens, CD

Identification of immunodominant T cell epitopes of the hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid antigen.

Several lines of experimental evidence suggest that inclusion of core sequences in the hepatitis B vaccine may represent a feasible strategy to increase the efficacy of the vaccination. In order to identify immunodominant core epitopes, peripheral blood T cells purified from 23 patients with acute hepatitis B and different HLA haplotypes were tested with a panel of 18 short synthetic peptides (15 to 20 amino acids [AA]) covering the entire core region. All patients except one showed a strong T cell proliferative response to a single immunodominant 20 amino acid sequence located within the aminoterminal half of the core molecule. Two additional important sequences were also identified at the aminoterminal end and within the carboxyterminal half of the core molecule. These sequences were able to induce significant levels of T cell proliferation in 69 and 73% of the patients studied, respectively. T cell response to these epitopes was HLA class II restricted. The observations that (a) polyclonal T cell lines produced by PBMC stimulation with native HBcAg were specifically reactive with the relevant peptides and that (b) polyclonal T cell lines produced with synthetic peptides could be restimulated with native HBcAg, provide evidence that AA sequences contained within the synthetic peptides represent real products of the intracellular processing of the native core molecule. In conclusion, the identification of immunodominant T cell epitopes within the core molecule provides the molecular basis for the design of alternative and hopefully more immunogenic vaccines.

Amino Acid Sequence

C-cell hyperplasia accompanying thyroid diseases other than medullary carcinoma: an immunocytochemical study by means of antibodies to calcitonin and somatostatin.

Eighteen normal thyroid glands and unaffected thyroid tissue adjacent to 37 follicular cell-derived benign and malignant tumors and to ten thyroid metastases were studied immunocytochemically with calcitonin (CT) and prosomatostatin/somatostatin (SMS) antibodies. CT- and SMS-immunoreactive cells were found in 100% of cases, though with ample variations in number. Most but not all SMS-immunoreactive cells also contained CT. Diffuse and/or nodular C-cell hyperplasia was seen in 30% of pathological thyroid glands; in concomitance with follicular adenomas, the mean C-cell number more than doubled that found in normal glands. Furthermore the proportion of SMS-immunoreactive C-cells increased from about 1% of CT-immunoreactive cells in normal adult thyroid glands to 2.5% in follicular adenomas, 3% in follicular carcinomas, 4.6% in papillary carcinomas, and 5.7% in metastases. The findings suggest that C-cell hyperplasia may be causally related to pathologic disorders affecting follicular cells. Furthermore, the demonstration that the intrathyroidal SMS cell mass is readily affected by alterations of the follicular structure of the gland suggests a possible regulatory role of SMS in the thyroidal microenvironment.

Adenocarcinoma

Immunohistological characterization of lymph nodes in two cases of adult onset Still's disease.

Although lymphadenopathy occurs in 60% of patients with adult Still's disease, its histopathological pattern has only recently been described. We report on the immunohistological study of a lymph node biopsy and the clinical course of 2 patients with adult Still's disease. The lymph node histology was characterized by a diffuse paracortical expansion with a high content of immunoblasts and plump endothelium venules. Immunohistochemistry using the alkaline phosphatase, antialkaline phosphatase technique showed the mixed B and T cell nature both of proliferating cells and immunoblasts. When antiheavy and light chain reagents were applied, the B cell component became polytypic. Our report stresses the relevance of immunohistological investigation in the diagnostic approach to Still's disease in which histological findings, if taken alone, might be misleading.

Adolescent

[Traumatic injuries++ of the external genitalia: a case of avulsion of the penile skin].

The Authors report their recent experience about a penis trauma with a subtotal organ skinning. After the literature analysis, the AA. explain the case, with a particular attention to the surgical repairing technique. The surgical outcomes are discussed and it is re-marked the necessity of a precise diagnostic approach and follow up, also to prevent possible unerectional chains.

Dermatologic Surgical Procedures