Biomedical subjects

Emanuela Varaldo

Publications and source records attributed to Emanuela Varaldo.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

DNA fragmentation and DNA repair synthesis induced in rat and human thyroid cells by chemicals carcinogenic to the rat thyroid.

Five chemicals that are known to induce in rats thyroid follicular-cell adenomas and carcinomas were assayed for their ability to induce DNA damage and DNA repair synthesis in primary cultures of human thyroid cells. Significant dose-dependent increases in the frequency of DNA single-strand breaks and alkali-labile sites, as measured by the same Comet assay, were obtained after a 20-h exposure to the following subtoxic concentrations of the five test compounds: methimazole from 2.5 to 10mM; nitrobenzene, potassium bromate, N,N'-diethylthiourea and ethylenethiourea from 1.25 to 5mM. Under the same experimental conditions, DNA repair synthesis, as evaluated by quantitative autoradiography, was present in potassium bromate-exposed thyroid cells from all the three donors and in those from two of three donors with either nitrobenzene or ethylenethiourea, but did not match the criteria for a positive response in thyroid cells from any of the donors with methimazole and N,N'-diethylthiourea. Consistently with their ability to induce thyroid tumors, all the five test compounds, administered p.o. in rats in a single dose corresponding to 1/2 LD50, induced a statistically significant degree of DNA fragmentation in the thyroid. These findings suggest that the five test compounds might be carcinogenic to thyroid in humans.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Anatomical thyroid abnormalities. Quadrilobate thyroid gland: a case report and review of the literature].

Abnormalities of the thyroid gland and of some adjacent structures arouse interest because of their surgical implications. One need only think of a non-recurrent laryngeal nerve, of thyroid hemiagenesis or of a quadrilobate thyroid gland, as in the case described here. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no similar reports of such a case are present in the medical literature. The patient was a 37-year-old woman suffering from Graves' disease. The abnormality was detected only during surgical examination and consisted in two lobes divided by a cleft on each side and joined by an isthmus. After a number of considerations regarding the anatomical details of this case and a review of the literature, the authors attempt to give an embryological interpretation and formulate the hypothesis that the second lateral lobe could be a development of the widely studied and controversial embryological anlage, the so-called "lateral thyroid".

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Inguinal hernia recurrence. Report of our personal experience].

In our previous studies, we reasserted the concept regarding the fundamental role of the transversalis fascia in securing and maintaining restraint on the abdominal wall in correspondence with the "inguinal fissure", which is considered a hiatus and a weak point. The role played by the transversalis fascia was first proposed by Edoardo Bassini and later reaffirmed by other authors, surgeons and anatomists. This concept led to the belief that the procedures deemed effective in treating inguinal hernia were those capable of strengthening or substituting the transversalis fascia. In a recent study we compared the immediate and long-term results of three techniques: Bassini, Lichtenstein and preperitoneal prosthesis by inguinal way. A lower number of recurrences was noted in the latter as compared to the others. Based on the aforementioned points, the same verification was carried out regarding recurrent inguinal hernia. The results concerning the incidence of relapse were similar, proving once again the effectiveness of the preperitoneal prosthesis (2.5% vs 6.6% for Lichtenstein). We have also attempted to identify the factors which were considered possible causes of recurrence in the previous cases we examined, allowing us to reach useful conclusions in the prevention of hernia recurrence.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: clinical pathological review of a personal series.

The Authors report their experience on the management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). In addition to recent cases immediately diagnosed as GISTs, a pathological review of stored material from non-epithelial tumors of the gastrointestinal tract operated on over the past 20 years was performed. Twenty-three out of a total of 31 cases were shown to be positive for the immunophenotypic characteristics (CD117/CD34) of GISTs. Most cases (approximately 60%) were symptomatic, with hemorrhage being the most common presenting sign, followed by occlusion, pain and perforation. Asymptomatic cases were detected incidentally during procedures for other conditions. Diagnostic techniques (ultrasound, endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, X-ray, CT, MRI) allowed only the detection of wall (extraluminal) involvement. Apart from differentiating between benign and malignant, preoperative biopsy was seldom valuable. All cases were treated surgically, with intervention tailored to location and anatomical/surgical and anatomical/pathological features. Long-term follow-up was conducted in all patients and for most is still ongoing: five patients died from recurrent disease at varying intervals after surgery (from 17 to 102 months). Relationships between observed aggressiveness and risk were studied. Parameters that may prove useful for the early detection and appropriate management of these lesions are discussed.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The bowel cleansing for colonoscopy. A randomized trial comparing three methods.

INTRODUCTION: Colonoscopy is the procedure of choice for the detection and ablation of small lesions o the colonic mucosa. A proper bowel cleansing is mandatory. So far several regimens have been proposed but rather none has shown a clear-cut advantage over the others. Aim of this study was to compare cleansing ability and patients' compliance of three oral regimens. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two-hundred and seventy-three patients were block randomised into three groups. Group A (92 patients) received tablets containing senna 12 mg and Magnesium Sulphate 15 mg the day before colonoscopy. Group B (98 patients) received a Polyethylene Glycol-based solution of two litres plus 4 tablets of Bisacodyl the day before the exam. Group C (83 patients) received Sodium Phosphate 40 milliliters the day before and the day of colonoscopy. Results of 265 patients were available for the analysis. Eight patients were excluded because inability to follow prescription. The lower incidence of constipation in group C was not significant. The other parameters were homogeneously distributed in the three groups. RESULTS: The 79 patients of the group C achieved a better bowel cleansing as compared with the 90 of group A (p = 0.0003) and the 96 of group B (p = 0.034). Constipated patients had a significantly better cleansing with Sodium Phosphate preparation compared with senna plus Magnesium Sulphate (p = 0.017), but not significantly better compared with Golytely solution. Compliance and rate of total colonoscopy performed were not statistically different in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Sodium Phosphate solution gave better bowel preparation, with the same compliance, than either senna or Polyethylene solution. In constipated patients Sodium Phosphate showed good efficacy resulting in good cleansing rates similar to that of non-constipated patients. The poor results obtained by Polyethylene were related to the little amount of solution taken even if associated to Bisacodyl.

Aged↗