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Biomedical subjects

E Bianchini

Publications and source records attributed to E Bianchini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Desmoid tumour involving the abdominal rectus muscle: report of a case.

The desmoid tumour (DT) is a quite rare soft tissues neoplasm that lacks metastatic potential. Though it is characterized by a local infiltrating growth that involves frequent relapses after surgical excision. The presented case report refers to a young female in her childbearing age, who underwent the radical excision of a large DT infiltrating the left rectus muscle of the abdomen. The only radical treatment of this tumour is still the surgical resection carried out far from the tumour borders into the healthy tissues. Nevertheless, when these tumours arise in the abdominal wall, their resection causes wide muscle-fascial defects involving the whole thickness wall and determining serious reconstructive problems. These problems are connected to the use of wide prosthesis that are exposed both to the possible development of visceral adhesions and to the abdominal wall rigidity due to the inclusion in the fibrosis of high quantities of totally non-absorbable material. These remarks induced to employ a new composite prosthesis presenting the double advantage of having a non-adherent visceral surface and part of its network made of absorbable material. Its application in filling the wide abdominal muscle-fascial gap gave very satisfying mechanical and esthetical results.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Spinal cord and vertebral stroke: a paediatric case.

Spinal cord ischaemia is a rare entity and very few cases of simultaneous spinal cord and vertebral body infarction have been reported: all of them in adult age. We observed a 15-year-old girl with abrupt onset of myelopathy and pain at the vertebral column studied by means of serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and in whom bone infarction was a confirmatory sign of the vascular origin of the spinal lesion. This is to the best of our knowledge the first paediatric case described in the literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Aggressive fibromatosis (desmoid tumor) of the radial nerve: favorable resolution. Case report.

Aggressive fibromatosis (desmoid tumor) of a peripheral nerve is a rarity. Isolated cases have been reported in which the tumor originated from neighboring structures and only secondarily invaded the nerves. The case described in this report is unusual because the tumor selectively invaded the patient's nerve fascicles, requiring removal and graft repair. The procedure was followed by an excellent clinical recovery and no recurrence as of the 6-year follow-up review.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Lipid composition of wild ecuadorian Theobroma subincanum Mart. seeds and comparison with two varieties of Theobroma cacao L.

The present work analyzes the lipid fraction from seeds of wild Ecuadorian Theobroma subincanum and selected commercial varieties of Theobroma cacao from Mexico (var. Criollo) and Ecuador (var. Arriba). The lipid fraction was obtained from the seeds through supercritical fluid extraction and analysis performed by preparatory thin-layer chromatography followed by gas chromatography. The results revealed that in T. subincanum the triglycerides contain fatty acids with longer chains. The melting point and peroxide and saponifiable numbers were determined for each Theobroma sample. The results lead to the conclusion that T. subincanum would produce a poorer quality butter than T. cacao. Nevertheless, the results do point toward a significant commercial use of T. subincanum for low-profile products.

Cacao↗
PubMed1999

beta-amyloid activates the O-2 forming NADPH oxidase in microglia, monocytes, and neutrophils. A possible inflammatory mechanism of neuronal damage in Alzheimer's disease.

The deposition of beta-amyloid in the brain is the key pathogenetic event in Alzheimer's disease. Among the various mechanisms proposed to explain the neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid deposits, a new one, recently identified in our and other laboratories, suggests that beta-amyloid is indirectly neurotoxic by activating microglia to produce toxic inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, nitric oxide, and oxygen free radicals. Three findings presented here support this mechanism, showing that beta-amyloid peptides (25-35), (1-39), and (1-42) activated the classical NADPH oxidase in rat primary culture of microglial cells and human phagocytes: 1) The exposure of the cells to beta-amyloid peptides stimulates the production of reactive oxygen intermediates; 2) the stimulation is associated with the assembly of the cytosolic components of NADPH oxidase on the plasma membrane, the process that corresponds to the activation of the enzyme; 3) neutrophils and monocytes of chronic granulomatous disease patients do not respond to beta-amyloid peptides with the stimulation of reactive oxygen intermediate production. Data are also presented that the activation of NADPH oxidase requires that beta-amyloid peptides be in fibrillary state, is inhibited by inhibitors of tyrosine kinases or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and is potentiated by interferon-gamma or tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗
PubMed1999

Diagnostic yield of the comprehensive assessment of developmental delay/mental retardation in an institute of child neuropsychiatry.

The Consensus Conference of the American College of Medical Genetics has established guidelines regarding the evaluation of patients with mental retardation (MR) [Curry et al., Am. J. Med. Genet. 72:468-477, 1997]. They emphasized the high diagnostic utility of cytogenetic studies and of neuroimaging in certain clinical settings. However, data on the diagnostic yield of these studies in well-characterized populations of individuals with MR are scant. Majnemer and Shevell [J. Pediatr. 127:193-199, 1995] attained a diagnostic yield of 63%. However, this study included only 60 patients and the classification included pathogenetic and causal groups. The Stella Maris Institute has evaluated systematically patients with developmental delay (DD)/MR and performed various laboratory studies and neuroimaging in almost all patients. We report a retrospective analysis of the diagnostic yield of 120 consecutive patients observed at our Institute during the first 6 months of 1996. There were 77 males and 43 females; 47 were mildly delayed (IQ 70-50), 31 were moderately delayed (IQ 50-35), and 42 were severely delayed (IQ 35-20). Diagnostic studies (history, physical examination, standard cytogenetics, fragile X testing, molecular studies, electroencephalography, electromyography, nerve conduction studies, neuroimaging, and metabolic screening tests) yielded a causal diagnosis in 50 (41.6%) and a pathogenetic diagnosis in 47 (39.2%) of the 120 patients. Causal categories included chromosomal abnormalities (14), Fra(X) syndromes (4), known MCA/MR syndromes (19), fetal environmental syndromes (1), neurometabolic (3) disorders, neurocutaneous (3) disorders, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (3), other encephalopathies (1), and congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome (2). Pathogenetic categories included idiopathic MCA/MR syndromes (35), epileptic syndromes (10), and isolated lissencephaly sequence (2). Diagnostic yield did not differ across categories and degree of DD. Our results, while confirming the diagnostic utility of cytogenetic/molecular genetic, and neuroimaging studies, suggest the usefulness of accurate electroencephalogram recordings, and stress the importance of a thorough physical examination. Referral to a university child neurology and psychiatry service, where a comprehensive assessment with a selected battery of investigations is possible, yields etiologic findings in a high percentage of DD/MR patients, with important implications for management, prognosis and recurrence risk estimate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Lithostathine messenger RNA expression in different types of chronic pancreatitis.

Lithostathine may play a physiological role in preventing the precipitation of excess calcium in the pancreatic juice. The hypothesis has been advanced that in chronic calcifying pancreatitis the abnormal biosynthesis of lithostathine might be the original defect to which genetic proneness to the disease may be ascribed. The aim of the present work was to study lithostathine messenger RNA expression in the pancreas of patients with different types of pancreatitis. Lithostathine and chymotrypsinogen mRNA were determined in surgical specimens obtained from the pancreases of the following subjects: (a) 13 patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (84.6% calcified); (b) 4 patients with chronic hereditary pancreatitis (all calcified); (c) 6 patients with chronic obstructive pancreatitis (4 calcified); and (d) 27 subjects suffering from pancreatic cancer. Significantly lower concentrations of both mRNAs were found in the pancreases of chronic pancreatitis patients than in non-cancerous tissue from pancreatic cancer subjects. However, about 70% of the pancreatic cancer subjects showed lithostathine and chymotrypsinogen mRNA levels comparable to those of chronic pancreatitis patients. These results indicate that the decrease in the level of mRNA is not specific to lithostathine and it is unrelated to the presence of pancreatic stones.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Synergistic induction of nitric oxide by beta-amyloid and cytokines in astrocytes.

The deposition of beta-amyloid peptides in the brain in form of senile plaque is the key event responsible for Alzheimer pathology. Among various mechanisms that have been proposed to explain the neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid deposits, a new one, recently identified in our laboratory, suggests that beta-amyloid peptides may be indirectly toxic for neurons by activating microglial cells to produce NO (2). We have investigated if astrocytes, nerve cells that play an important role in many brain diseases, also might be involved in a similar mechanism of neuronal damage. The results have demonstrated that (1) beta-amyloid peptide (25-35), in the presence of IFN gamma or TNF alpha, induces the production of NO in the astrocyte cell line C6, while neither cytokine was effective per se; (2) NO generation is also synergically induced by beta-amyloid peptide (25-35) in the presence of IL-1 beta, the latter being a cytokine able to activate astrocytes per se; (3) the effect of beta-amyloid peptide (25-35) is due to the induction of the expression of the gene of inducible NO-synthase. These findings suggest that astrocytes, activated by deposited beta-amyloid peptides and cytokines, may play a role in neuronal damage via the indirect NO mechanism.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1996

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), nuclear factor interleukin-6 (NFIL-6 or C/EBP beta) and nuclear factor interleukin-6 beta (NFIL6-beta or C/EBP delta) are not sufficient to activate the endogenous interleukin-6 gene in the human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7. Comparative analysis with MDA-MB-231 cells, an interleukin-6-expressing human breast carcinoma cell line.

A comparative study of the molecular mechanism of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene induction on two breast-carcinoma-derived cell lines has been performed. MDA-MB-231 cells produce constitutive detectable levels of both secreted IL-6 and mRNA which, as expected, are dramatically enhanced following induction by either IL-1 beta or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The levels of both secreted IL-6 and IL-6 mRNA are significantly higher in response to IL-1 beta in spite of the fact that stimulation by TNF-alpha alone enhances the half life of IL-6 mRNA. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide is also a fairly strong inducer of IL-6 in these cells. In contrast, MCF-7 cells fail to produce detectable IL-6 protein or mRNA, even after stimulation with proper inducers. Analysis of transcription factors NF-kappa B, NFIL6 and NFIL6 beta, which have been described to be sufficient to activate the IL-6 gene in other cell systems, shows a similar pattern of expression in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, transfection of a recombinant plasmid carrying the IL-6 promoter linked to a luciferase reporter gene shows that both cell lines are able to drive IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha activation of this construction in a very similar manner. Finally, when MCF-7 cells were treated with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha in the presence of cycloheximide, transcription of IL-6 mRNA from the endogenous IL-6 gene was observed. These data suggest that a mechanism of IL-6 gene repression is active in MCF-7 cells.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung: a case report.

A well circumscribed nodular mass discovered on routine chest ray examination, was excised from the left lung interlobar fissure of a 67 years old woman. Histologically the lesion corresponded to a typical "so called sclerosing hemangioma" according to Liebow and Hubbell's originally description. Because of the uncertain histogenesis we utilized histochemistry and immunohistochemistry to support the hypothesis of an epithelial origin.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Undifferentiated small-cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: report of two cases with a primary urinary cytodiagnosis.

Two undifferentiated small-cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder are reported. The patients, 68- and 55-yr-old men, respectively, presented with painless hematuria. In the first case, numerous small, lymphocyte-like cells with coarse chromatin, sometimes with small nucleoli, and high nuclear/cytoplasmatic ratios were found in cytologic urine specimens. A cytodiagnosis of undifferentiated small-cell cancer was made. In the second case, urine samples showed rare aggregates of small, undifferentiated cells in association with malignant urothelial cells. The cytodiagnosis of mixed tumor composed of undifferentiated small cell and transitional carcinoma was confirmed by histologic examination. The presence of focal reactivity with anti-chromogranin antibody and neurosecretory granules via electron microscopy supports a neuroendocrine differentiation for the small neoplastic cells. The patients died 13 and 8 mo after diagnosis, respectively.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Magnetic resonance imaging of cerebral fat embolism: a case report.

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality following multiple fractures. Neurological involvement (cerebral fat embolism) has been reported frequently. A case of cerebral fat embolism is reported. While CT scan revealed no abnormalities, MRI, performed in this patient 8 days after trauma, showed relative low-intensity areas on T1-weighted images and high intensity areas on T2-weighted images involving cerebral white matter, corpus callosum and basal ganglia. MRI follow-up (1 and 3 months post-trauma) showed nearly complete resolution of the abnormal signal. MRI seems to be a useful diagnostic tool for detecting and quantifying lesions in fat embolism syndrome.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1995

Spontaneous involution of optic pathway lesions in neurofibromatosis type 1: serial contrast MR evaluation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate with contrast MR the evolution in size, signal, and contrast enhancement of optic pathway lesions in four patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. METHODS: The four reported patients are children with ages ranging from 21 months to 13 years affected by neurofibromatosis type 1 and optic pathway lesions. No treatment of the optic pathway lesions was carried out in these patients. They have been followed by serial contrast MR. RESULTS: In all patients a change in size, signal, and enhancement of optic pathways lesions was noted with time, and in the last follow-up study a marked reduction in size and enhancement of optic pathway lesions was observed in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Modification and regression of optic pathway lesions with spontaneous disappearance of the enhancement is demonstrated. This finding could have a crucial influence on the therapeutic approach of the optic pathway lesions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Clear cell carcinoma simulating the "endometrioid-like variant" of yolk sac tumor.

The authors report a case of clear cell carcinoma of the ovary simulating the "endometrioid-like variant" of YST only recently described by Clement. The tumor was characterized histologically by a villoglandular component intermingled with an endometrioid like glandular pattern, nuclear pleomorphism with abnormal mitotic figures, eosinophilic hyaline PAS-D resistant bodies and diffuse, typical sopranuclear and subnuclear vacuolization according to Clement's description. Clinical features as the old age of the patient and laboratory investigations, suggested the possibility of a surface epithelial origin of the neoplasia, that was substantiated by subsequent additional sections and by immunohistochemical staining for AFP, AAT and CEA.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗
PubMed1995

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma presenting as a parotid tumor: a case report.

Renal cell carcinoma rarely metastasize to the parotid gland; only 16 cases have been reported in the literature. We describe a 68-year-old man presenting with a 1-year history of a painless swelling on the right parotid gland. A partial parotidectomy was performed. The histological examination revealed a clear cell neoplasm, and the tumour cells were periodic acid-Schiff positive and diastase labile. The differential diagnosis involved the primary clear cell tumors of the parotid gland and metastasis of malignant extrasalivary neoplasms. Histochemical end immunohistochemical studies for vimentin, keratins and CEA are consistent with a metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗