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G De Dominicis

Publications and source records attributed to G De Dominicis.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

[Splenic hamartoma].

The Authors present a case of Splenic Hamartoma. This is a rare unique complex vascular lesion of the spleen. This is also a recently reinterpreted lesion with some persistent confusion regarding its definition, histogenesis and classification. The patient is a young woman who following a check up with a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate underwent abdominal sonography demonstrating an incidental slightly hypoechoic nodular splenic lesion. The pathologic study of the splenectomy specimen showed a large (10 cm) sharply demarcated mass. Histologically the lesion presented a remarkably angiomatoid lobular-nodular configuration with abundant fibrosclerotic stroma with areas of calcification. The immunohistochemical study revealed within the angiomatoid tissue different types of blood vessels: a) capillaries CD31+, CD34+, CD8-; b) structures consistent with splenic venous sinuses CD31+, CD34+/- , CD8-/+; c) small veins CD31+, CD34+, CD8-. The Authors judge this complex picture as indicative of a Splenic Hamartoma with a peculiar lobular-nodular pattern that seems to coincide with the recently described SANT: Sclerosing Angiomatoid Nodular Transformation of the spleen. In this report the Authors discuss the pathology of the lesion and the problems concerning its vasular profile. It is also emphasized the Hamartoma's great variety of morphologic patterns derived from the preponderant growth of one or another of several histologic components. This is the cause of the presence in literature of some different pathologic entities which today are fairly recognized as part of a large pathologic spectrum of the same lesion. The Authors discuss the differential diagnosis of Splenic Hamartoma with other lesions as haemangiomas and inflammatory pseudotumor.

Actins↗

Bronchoconstrictor effect of thrombin and thrombin receptor activating peptide in guinea-pigs in vivo.

1. Several thrombin cellular effects are dependent upon stimulation of proteinase activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) localized over the cellular surface. Following activation by thrombin, a new N-terminus peptide is unmasked on PAR-1 receptor, which functions as a tethered ligand for the receptor itself. Synthetic peptides called thrombin receptor activating peptides (TRAPs), corresponding to the N-terminus residue unmasked, reproduce several thrombin cellular effects, but are devoid of catalytic activity. We have evaluated the bronchial response to intravenous administration of human alpha-thrombin or a thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP-9) in anaesthetized, artificially ventilated guinea-pigs. 2. Intravenous injection of thrombin (100 microkg(-1)) caused bronchoconstriction that was recapitulated by injection of TRAP-9 (1 mg kg(-1)). Animal pretreatment with the thrombin inhibitor Hirulog (10 mg kg(-1) i.v.) prevented thrombin-induced bronchoconstriction, but did not affect bronchoconstriction induced by TRAP-9. Both agents did not induce bronchoconstriction when injected intravenously to rats. 3. The bronchoconstrictor effect of thrombin and TRAP-9 was subjected to tolerance; however, in animals desensitized to thrombin effect, TRAP-9 was still capable of inducing bronchoconstriction, but not vice versa. 4. Depleting animals of circulating platelets prevented bronchoconstriction induced by both thrombin and TRAP-9. 5. Bronchoconstriction was paralleled by a biphasic change in arterial blood pressure, characterized by a hypotensive phase followed by a hypertensive phase. Thrombin-induced hypotension was not subject to tolerance and was inhibited by Hirulog; conversely, hypertension was subject to tolerance and was not inhibited by Hirulog. Hypotension and hypertension induced by TRAP-9 were neither subject to tolerance nor inhibited by Hirulog. 6. Our results indicate that thrombin causes bronchoconstriction in guinea-pigs through a mechanism that requires proteolytic activation of its receptor and the exposure of the tethered ligand peptide. Platelet activation might be triggered by the thrombin effect.

Animals↗

Intracystic papillary carcinoma of the male breast. A case report (histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study).

We report a case of intracystic papillary carcinoma of the male breast in a 70-year-old male Caucasian. Grossly, the tumor was a cystic lesion measuring 6 cm in diameter. It contained hemorrhagic fluid and a mural nodule with filiform projections. PAS stain with and without digestion revealed small clumps of diastase-resistant material in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells. Grimelius stain was positive. Immunoperoxidase stains were negative for neuron-specific enolase, S100 protein, cromogranin and synaptophysin and were positive for carcinoembryonic antigen and epithelial membrane antigen. On ultrastructural examination the neoplastic cells showed membrane-bound, dense-core secretory granules. We believe that this neoplasm, despite negative neuroendocrine markers, is a variant of mammary adenocarcinoma with endocrine differentiation, partly because of the positive Grimelius stain and partly because of the presence of electron-dense granules, which according to some authors represent lactational differentiation.

Aged↗

Induction of sperm abnormalities in mice by ifosfamide and trofosfamide.

The antitumor drugs ifosfamide (IF) and trofosfamide (TF) were evaluated for their capability to induce sperm abnormalities in (C3H X C57BL/6)F1 mice. A statistically significant increase in teratospermia was observed at the 35th day after 5 daily consecutive intraperitoneal injections of the drugs at doses of 25, 50, 100 mg/kg b.w. of TF and 100 mg/kg b.w. of IF. Thus, IF and TF are able to interfere with the differentiation process of spermatogenic cells.

Animals↗

[Teratogenic and goitrogenic activity of propineb and propylenethiourea in the rat].

The teratogenic and goitrogenic effects of Propineb, dithiocarbamate pesticide and Propylenthiourea (PLTU), its metabolite and degradation product have been studied. The aim of this study was to show the possible correlation between the two activities. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with Propineb and PLTU starting from 6th to 16th day of pregnancy. The functional state of maternal and foetal thyroid, the toxicity of products versus dams and embryotoxic and teratogenic effects were examined. The observed goitrogenic effect may be compared to that reported in the previous studies of the authors, if considering time of sacrifice. In fact, the lesion quickly rises and as rapidly regresses when treatment is stopped. The foetal thyroid has not been affected by the product administered to the dams. PLTU showed a clear teratogenic activity at doses that did not show any maternal toxicity (45 and 90 mg/k).

Animals↗

Evaluation of use patterns of psychotropic drugs in an Italian geriatric hospital.

This study is a survey of psychotropic drug use patterns among 934 elderly patients admitted to the Padua Geriatric Hospital. 34% of the patients took psychotropic drugs during their stay in hospital. The drugs most commonly used are anxiolytics and hypnotics of the benzodiazepine class. Women subjects living alone, and to a lesser extent those suffering from particular disorders, as of the central nervous system and the musculoskeletal apparatus, seem to be at higher risk in the use of psychotropic drugs. Moreover, the results show that psychotropic drugs are prescribed during the stay in hospital and even on discharge to a high percentage of subjects who did not use such drugs before admission to the hospital.

Aged↗

Peripheral relaxant activity of apomorphine and of a D1 selective receptor agonist on human corpus cavernosum strips.

Apomorphine is used in the erectile dysfunction therapy and its action has been ascribed to the stimulation of central dopamine receptor. At the present stage, very little is known about the peripheral action of apomorphine on human corpus cavernosum (HCC). We have investigated the peripheral action of apomorphine and the role of dopamine receptors in HCC. We here demonstrate that both D1 and D2 receptors were expressed in the HCC, D1 receptors were two-fold more abundant than D2 and that both receptors were mainly localized on the smooth muscle cell component. Apomorphine in vitro exerted an anti-alpha1 adrenergic activity in human cavernosal strips since it prevented contraction induced by phenylephrine (PE), but not by U46619 or endothelin. Apomorphine elicited endothelium-independent and concentration-dependent relaxation of the strips contracted by PE, U46619 or endothelin. The EC50 values (microM) for apomorphine, in the presence and absence of endothelium, were 51.0+/-16 and 16.0+/-14, 120+/-19 and 150+/-18, 59.0+/-15 and 140+/-50 on PE-, U46619- or endothelin-induced contraction, respectively. Selective dopamine receptor agonist A-68930 (D1-like), but not quinpirole (D2-like), caused concentration-dependent relaxation of the cavernosal strips, which was partially prevented by endothelium removal or by treatment with an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase. In conclusion, we show that (1) apomorphine has a peripheral relaxant direct effect as well as an antiadrenergic activity, (2) HCC possesses more D1-like (D1 and D5) than D2-like (D2, D3 and D4) receptors, (3) both D1- and D2-like receptors are mainly localized on smooth muscle cells and (4) the relaxant activity is most probably mediated by D1-like receptor partially through NO release from endothelium.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗

[Localized primary cutaneous nodular amyloidosis].

A case of cutaneous nodular amyloidosis in a 60-year-old man is described with reference to histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features. Clinically, the patient presented two brownish nodules on his face. Histologically, a massive dermal collection of eosinophilic, homogeneous material showing positivity for Congo red stain was revealed. Immunoreactivity for both Ig-light chains was detected in dermal plasma cells as well as in amyloid material. Ultramicroscopically, the typical fibrillary pattern of amyloid was found. Clinical and instrumental examinations failed to demonstrate amyloid depositions elsewhere in the body.

Amyloid↗