PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Marzo

Publications and source records attributed to C Marzo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Prevalence of phenotypic activated protein C resistance (APCR) in venous thromboembolic patients.

Until the discovery of activated protein C resistance (APCR), less than 10% of patients with venous thromboembolism (VT) showed defects in proteins involved in the inhibition of coagulation. APCR is caused by a single point mutation in the factor V gene, and it is accepted that APCR is associated with an increased risk for VT. In this work, we studied the prevalence of APCR in venous thromboembolic patients and found it to be 10.5% compared with 4.5% in controls (p = 0.105).

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Correlation between functional and radiographic data, and broncho-alveolar cytology in patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease].

BACKGROUND: "Interstitial Lung Disease" is a term that includes a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by variable degrees of parenchymal inflammation (alveolitis) and fibrosis. Alveolitis represents one of the most important aspects of ILD and its characterization by broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) can give explanations of the different clinical features, in association with the evaluation of physiological changes and High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT). The aim of this study was to establish a correlation between variations in broncho-alveolar cells and anatomical-functional alterations in patients affected by ILD before and after corticoid therapy. METHODS: Thirty-one patients (14 males 17 females) were introduced in the study and were evaluated for clinical signs, functional parameters, HRCT and cyto-immunological aspects of BAL fluid. All data were acquired at the admission in the study, after 60 and 180 days. Patients had received prednisone 1 mg/kg/die for 60 days and, then, 0.25 mg/kg/die for 120 days. RESULTS: In lymphocyte alveolitis, a clinical-radiological improvement was frequently observed after therapy while in those with neutrophilic and eosinophilic components, no improvement was detected. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, BAL represents a useful tool in qualifying ILD which can be easily monitored by clinical, functional and radiological data. Therefore, a new method for the diagnosis and monitoring of ILD is suggested. This method has the marked advantage to reach a reliable diagnosis even in a high percentage of patients who refuse or can not undergo the biopsy assay.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Value of the determination of TNF-alpha in the plasma of patients with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

The present report describes the value of the plasma determination of TNF-alpha, at diagnosis, in 43 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), related to their clinical presentation and the new International Prognosis Index (IPI). We also compare the levels of TNF-alpha with those of LDH, beta-2-microglobulin (beta-2-m), and ferritin. At diagnosis, the mean values of the quotients between the marker values and the maximum value of normal (ratio:r-) are placed 7 times higher than normal for r-TNF-alpha, whereas those of r-beta-2-m and r-LDH are 2,4 and 1,4 times more respectively. We found a relationship between the value of r-TNF-alpha and the ECOG, Ann Arbor stage, the number of affected extranodal sites, and between the values of r-beta-2-m with r-LDH. The best correlation was obtained between the values of r-TNF-alpha and r-beta-2-m and IPI, however r-TNF-alpha best stratify the four risk groups in this prognosis index.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Immunohistochemical localization of filaggrin in benign, premalignant and malignant cervical tissue.

Epithelial distribution of filaggrin, a histidine-rich protein related to squamous terminal differentiation, was investigated in 87 cervical biopsies using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique with a monoclonal anti-human filaggrin antibody (AKH1). Normal squamous cervical epithelium exhibited a positive homogeneous immunoperoxidase stain in the upper parabasal, intermediate and superficial cell layers. Similar findings were obtained in cervical condylomas, although full-thickness staining was observed in 35.7% of the cases (P < 0.001). Filaggrin expression in CIN was inversely related to the severity of the lesion (P < 0.001). An irregular staining pattern was present in most high-grade CIN. Filaggrin expression was closely connected to the degree of tumour differentiation (P < 0.05) in squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix. Abnormal filaggrin stainings identified a premalignant/malignant cervical squamous lesion with a positive predictive value of 92.3%. Non-squamous epithelia showed lack of filaggrin expression. Filaggrin may therefore be considered a marker of squamous differentiation in both the normal and pathological human uterine cervix.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Protective effects of nedocromil sodium on cellular and biohumoral components present in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid and in peripheral blood in atopic asthmatics.

Nedocromil sodium, a disodium salt of a pyroquinolinedicarboxylic acid, raises the bronchial hyperresponsiveness threshold, because it inhibits the mediators released by the various cells, and reduces the involvement and activation of inflammatory cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the state of activation of the immunocompetent cells and the main chemical mediators present in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from 10 atopic asthmatic patients, before and after treatment with nedocromil sodium. The following examinations were performed before treatment and after 120 days of therapy with nedocromil sodium at 16 mg/day (two 2-mg puffs x 4): the level of chemical mediators and the state of activation of immunocompetent cells in BAL fluid; immunological analytes in activation of immunocompetent cells in BAL fluid; immunological analytes in peripheral blood; aspecific bronchial challenge test with ultrasonicated bidistilled H2O fog to evaluate variations in the hyperreactivity threshold; questionnaire to determine any adverse effects of treatment (cough, breathlessness, sleep disorders). Our findings demonstrate that nedocromil sodium prevents the release of chemotactic and inflammatory mediators by the effector cells and thus stabilizes microvascular permeability and epithelial damage, so raising the threshold of response to bronchoconstriction stimuli. Lastly, nedocromil sodium is associated with a better preventive therapeutic efficacy and good tolerance and can therefore be suggested as a valid drug to be used in the long-term treatment of bronchial asthma.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1990

Distribution of involucrin in normal and pathological human uterine cervix.

A study was undertaken to determine the potential value of involucrin immunostaining, a protein synthesized by mature squamous epithelial cells, in distinguishing benign from neoplastic lesions in cervical pathology. A total of 146 cervical biopsies were analyzed using an indirect immunoperoxidase method and polyclonal antibody. A suprabasal homogeneous cytoplasmic staining pattern was consistently observed in normal squamous cervical epithelium. In contrast, 43.7% of cervical condylomas showed involucrin at all levels of the epithelium including the basal layer. Variable patterns were seen in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), with 46% of full-thickness stainings, although no significant difference was obtained among the different grades of CIN lesions. Distribution of involucrin was correlated (P less than 0.05) with the degree of tumor differentiation in squamous cell carcinomas, being absent in 71.4% of poorly differentiated carcinomas and focally present in 75% of well-differentiated carcinoma. Lesions of endocervical origin, either benign or malignant, were entirely negative for involucrin. It is concluded that involucrin seems unable to establish a reliable differential diagnosis between benign and neoplastic conditions in cervical pathology, and should therefore be considered only a specific marker of squamous differentiation in both normal and pathological human uterine cervix.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Expression of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and an estrogen receptor-associated protein in the human cervix during the menstrual cycle and menopause.

Estrogen receptors (ERs), progesterone receptors (PRs), and P29, an ER-associated protein, were studied immunohistochemically in human cervix with use of specific monoclonal antibodies. In ectocervical epithelium, homogeneous staining was found for P29 throughout the menstrual cycle and after menopause. Weak or moderate staining was found for ER in the basal and, occasionally, the parabasal layers of ectocervix during the proliferative phase. In contrast, staining decreased in secretory phase and postmenopausal epithelia. Staining was negative for PR in all the exocervical epithelia. Heterogeneous staining, more pronounced for P29, was found for the three antigens of the study in endocervical epithelium. Staining did not change with the hormonal status of patients, except for ER, where staining decreased during the secretory phase. Stromal cells were negative or weakly positive, whereas muscular fibers were positive. This study suggests that the capacity of response of the steroid apparatus of cervical cells to fluctuations of circulating estrogens and progestins is limited compared with some of the cell functions, such as mucus secretion, or with other target tissues, such as endometrium. Additionally, the differences found in the pattern of expression of the three antigens studied suggest that the steroid-dependent growth and differentiation in ectocervix is regulated differently to endocervix.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Multiple carcinomas: considerations on several cases with synchronous/metachronous involvement of the respiratory tract].

The authors report their observations on 7 cases of multiple malignant tumors during the period 1988/1992 (frequency of 0.03 x 100). They report that primary malignant tumors involved the laryinx and the wang, and both the lungs in a synchronous or metacronous way. They suggest that pathogenesis of multiple malignant tumors may be very similar to that of multiple endocrinous neoplasms.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Correlations between the prick test and aspecific bronchial reactivity in atopic patients].

Aspecific bronchial provocation test with Methacholine plays an outstanding role in the diagnostic routine of asthmatic disease, in order to accomplish a correct interpretation of the relation between A.B.I. and bronchial asthma. All researches give a special prominence to the bronchial reactivity distribution among the population, and point out that the distribution curve of response to aspecific challenge shows itself as an unimodal curve, since there is no clinic group (neither that one including subjects defined asthmatic from a clinic or anamnestic point of view) which clearly separates from the rest. A further important consideration indicates that a positive response to the test is not specific of bronchial asthmatic subjects, but it can also occur in patients affected with other pathologies such as chronic bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, and so on. Our study aimed, therefore, to evaluate the correlations occurring between skin sensitivity and aspecific bronchial reactivity in 5 groups of atopic patients (affected with: (1) asthma; (2) asthma + rhinitis; (3) asthma + rhinitis + conjunctivitis; (4) rhinitis + conjunctivitis; (5) rhinitis). In doing such correlations we also considered some other factors like sex, smoking habit, town or country provenance. Sensitiveness, specificity, and predicting value of Prick-test in comparison with Methacholine test have been analysed as well. The results so obtained show that no correlation occurs between Prick-test and Aspecific Bronchial Test in the groups of tested subjects. Test sensitiveness increases in the groups of patients affected with associated pathologies, and depends on factors like sex, smoking habit, town or country provenance.

Asthma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Interposition of the first jejunal loop for reconstruction after total gastrectomy.

A new technique of reconstruction after total gastrectomy by interposing the first jejunal loop between the esophagus and the duodenum, is described. Vascular and neural integrity of the interposed intestinal segment is "guaranteed", resulting in acceptable muscular activity on intestinal contents and partial digestive function, with limited post-operative complications. The interposed jejunal loop assumes reservoir function and permits almost normal eating habits. Application of this technique to 18 patients undergoing total gastrectomy has resulted in a more than satisfactory post-operative functional and nutritional status over a one to 14 year follow-up period.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical use of recombinant IFN alfa-2b in the treatment of primary cancer of the lung (preliminary results)].

In the period between January 1986 and December 1989 we have studied 60 patients with primitive lung cancer, subdivided in 3 groups according to the therapy: 20 were treated with surgery therapy, 20 with radiotherapy, 20 with chemotherapy. We have been studying a second group since September 1989; this is composed, until now, by 30 patients, subdivided in three groups as above. To each group we added alfa-2b recombinant Interferon at the dose of 3,000,000 i.m. three times a week for three months. We repeated the same therapy after three months. We have demonstrated that the combination alfa-2b recombinant interferon and the surgery therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with primitive lung cancer, can improve the quality of life but it doesn't prolong the duration of life.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Carcinoid of the ileum. Presentation of 5 cases].

Ileal carcinoid is an infrequent pathology that may present clinically in a highly varied way. It may be completely asymptomatic and present acutely with occlusion or haemorrhage, or it may present with an unmistakable symptomatology of carcinoid syndrome. Clinical aspects are discussed together with possibilities of treating the primary lesions and metastases. Five cases observed in the past 7 years are reported.

Adult↗