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D Buffa

Publications and source records attributed to D Buffa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Evoked potential study and radiological findings in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We performed clinical, radiological (MRI) and neurophysiological (NCV, SEPs, and BAEPs) investigations in 36 unselected patients affected by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Fifteen patients (42%) presented clear neurological events and were considered as definite neuropsychiatric lupus (NPLE); 21 (58%) presented minor subjective complaints or no neurological problems referable to SLE and were considered as no-NPLE. Twenty-three patients (64%) showed neurophysiological abnormalities: 21 (58%) presented central abnormal neurophysiological measurements (including SEP and BAEP values), while 17 (47%) has slowed peripheral nerve conduction. Twenty-six out of 36 patients executed brain MRI examination. High intensity spots (HIS) in deep or subcortical white matter were the most common abnormalities and were present in 19 of the 26 patients (73%). We found that the incidence of neurophysiological and radiological abnormalities did not significantly differ in neurologically symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Central nervous system impairment evidenced by abnormal N13-20 interpeak intervals (p = 0.05) and HIS (p = 0.01) findings was significantly associated with the presence of cutaneous vasculitis; while peripheral nerve involvement was significantly more frequent in patients with renal failure (p = 0.006).

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Blue nevus of the uterine cervix.

A case of blue naevus of the endocervix is reported with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings. The dendritic melanin-containing cells are analogous to the blue naevi cells of the skin. Electron microscopy showed melanosomes in dendritic cells but no cells with melanin-producing Schwann cells features were observed. Histogenetic hypotheses are discussed.

Biomarkers↗

[AIDS pathology: various critical considerations (especially regarding the brain, the heart, the lungs, the hypophysis and the adrenal glands].

Our studies on pathology of AIDS point to four major conclusions. 1) The brain is often directly affected by the HIV infection (with the characteristics of subacute microglial encephalitis with pathognomonic multinucleated giant cells) and then by opportunistic infections such as Cytomegalovirus, Herpes-virus, Papova-virus JC (with progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus; opportunistic neoplasms (i.e. B cell lymphoma mostly pluricentric) could also developed. 2) The heart is frequently involved as well; perivascular sclerosis and myocytolysis are the hallmarks of a peculiar cardiomyopathy. 3) In the lung viral, bacterial, fungal an protozoan severe infections are frequently present: common are those caused by Cytomegalovirus and Pneumocystis carinii. Frequently thin fibrotic interalveolar septa are observed (with consequent alteration of hematosis). 4) Adrenal (most frequently) and pituitary may display necrotic-hemorragic areas (in adrenals chiefly due to Cytomegalovirus). These may be extensive enough to explain the occurrence of clinical syndromes of endocrine insufficiency.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Anatomo-pathologic findings in 25 autopsy cases of AIDS].

Pathologic findings in 25 autopsies of AIDS. The common and severe changes of the central nervous system, lungs, adrenals, heart, kidneys and gonads are reviewed in a series of autopsies of AIDS. In the brain, HIV infection induces directly inflammatory infiltrates including the typical multinucleated giant cells described by Sharer. In addition, primary lymphomas are seen as well as reactive and inflammatory lesions that are caused by opportunistic infections, such as those of poliomavirus, Cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii. In the lung, interstitial inflammation prevails, which may be related to direct HIV infection and include rare multinucleated giant cells like the ones described by Sharer. Opportunistic infections are often associated, and are commonly sustained by Cytomegalovirus and Pneumocystis carinii. A peculiar findings is the evolution from septal inflammation to fine fibrosis and hyaline degeneration, either focal or diffuse. We believe that the severe respiratory insufficiency that is commonly seen in the advanced stages of AIDS could be related to the interstitial damage. In the adrenal gland, the most common change is Cytomegalovirus infection affecting both the cortex and the medulla, and inducing massive necrosis in the cortex with little or no reaction. Again, adrenal involvement should be related to adrenal functional insufficiency, which may be over-looked clinically because of the preponderant lesions of other sites. In the heart, myocarditis is often discrete, and may be complicated by perivascular fibrosis and rare foci of myocytolysis; in some cases primary lymphomas may also develop. In the kidney, several histological lesions are found, including glomerular damage with segmental necrosis, cortical areas of hyporeactive necrosis, and mild interstitial inflammation. In the gonads, the changes are partly induced by drug abuse, and consist of atrophy with secondary hypoplasia of the germ cells and interstitial fibrosis. In conclusion, the most important abnormalities consist of opportunistic infections, hyporeactive necrosis, fibrotic evolution of the inflammatory infiltrates and neoplasias (Kaposi's sarcoma and lymphomas). In this work, the changes of the lymphoid organs are only mentioned, for they have been widely reviewed elsewhere.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[The senile heart].

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Aging↗