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Biomedical subjects

G Di Giorgio

Publications and source records attributed to G Di Giorgio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Inflammatory infiltrate of the edges of a torn rotator cuff.

There is still considerable controversy as to whether or not the inflamed margins of a cuff tear should be excised during surgical suture. We have tried to discover whether anti-inflammatory drugs used before surgical treatment could resolve this issue. Thirty-eight patients were randomly either treated with an anti-inflammatory drug for 2 weeks or not. During the subsequent arthroscopic repair, a few fragments of supraspinatus edge were excised and examined microscopically. No significant differences emerged among samples belonging to the two groups. In all cases, we observed inflammatory infiltrate-lined tear edges. Fibrocytes and newly formed vessels were detected near the margin. Dystrophic calcifications were observed in both groups. Away from the edge, the tendon appeared hypocellular; containing areas with myxoid or fatty degeneration. Our study demonstrates that an anti-inflammatory drug is unable to resolve the inflammatory infiltrate. This failure is probably related to the poor blood supply to the cuff, which, in cases of rupture, is deprived of vessels coming from the humeral periosteum. Further studies are needed to understand how to eliminate the inflammatory process and clarify whether it might inhibit cuff healing and give rise to re-tearing of the sutured cuff.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Use of foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis in children.

The aim of this study was to compare two methods of measuring body composition in children aged 6-10 years: with a traditional bioelectrical impedance analyser and a foot-to-foot impedance device. In 117 subjects (55 girls, 62 boys), bioelectrical impedance was measured using a Xitron 4000 device and a foot-to-foot impedance instrument (Rowenta); body fat mass and fat-free mass were then calculated and comparisons between means were performed using appropriate statistical tests.

Body Composition↗
PubMed2003

[Successful outcome of pregnancy and vaginal delivery in a heart transplant recipient].

The case is reported of a patient subjected 4 years before conception to a heart transplant for biventricular hypertrophic myocardiopathy. The woman undertook and successfully concluded a pregnancy without complication and at the 37th week delivered spontaneously and vaginally. Four years after the birth both the woman and the newborn had suffered no after-effects. The choice and possibility for a transplant patient to face up to pregnancy and childbirth depend essentially, from a medical point of view, on her general state of health and on the presence or otherwise of other associated pathologies, in addition to the will of the patient to tackle the risks attached to her transplanted condition. It is therefore fundamental, in all cases, for such patients to undergo clear and detailed preconceptional counseling.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen in chronic carriers of hepatitis delta antibodies.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluated the rate of seroclearance of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and its clinical significance in patients with chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV). METHODS: Antibody to HDV was tested in HBsAg-positive subjects admitted to our Hospital from 1991 to 1995. In 1997, a biochemical and virologic study was performed in the surviving anti-HD-positive patients who had not undergone transplantation. As a control, a cohort of 106 HBsAg-positive, anti-HD-negative patients was studied. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-one subjects were originally positive for anti-HD. After 4 years of follow-up, six of the 60 patients who underwent re-evaluation (10%) had cleared the HBsAg: three of the six patients had minimal changes at the initial liver histology and normal ALT, whereas in the remaining three patients with chronic active hepatitis ALT normalized during the observation. Anti-HD persisted in five of the six patients. Only one patient had raised anti-HBs. In contrast, three of 106 HBsAg carriers without HDV infection (2.8%) cleared the HBsAg within the same time and seroconverted to anti-HBs (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: HBsAg clearance is increased over the years in HDV patients compared to ordinary HBsAg carriers, and is often associated with improvement of HDV disease without seroconversion to anti-HBs.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1999

Inability of activated cord blood T lymphocytes to perform Th1-like and Th2-like responses: implications for transplantation.

Cytokines secreted by alloreactive donor T cells play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic GvHD, a complication of allogeneic hematopoietic transplants that occurs at a lower incidence and severity when human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) is used. Our five-dimensional flow cytometric study performed on 20 HUCB and 20 peripheral blood (PB) samples from healthy adults was focused on the Th1/Th2 cytokine profile of activated HUCB T cells. Lymphocytes of all samples were stimulated by specific mitogens, and cytokine secretion was blocked at the cytoplasmic level. CD4+ and CD8+ cells were then analyzed for surface expression of the very early human activation antigen CD69 and for IFN-gamma and IL-4 intracellular production as expression of Th1-like and Th2-like T cell cytokine response, respectively. HUCB T lymphocytes were shown to be unable to perform both a Th1-like and Th2-like response, as compared with normal PB T cells. However, all lymphocytes from both sources were normally activated, as indicated by regular expression of the CD69 molecule. These data suggest that the low response of HUCB T lymphocytes to mitogens may be responsible for the decreased incidence of acute and chronic GvHD and provide possible explanations for the clinical results in HUCB transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Flow cytometric characterization of human umbilical cord blood lymphocytes: immunophenotypic features.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: One of the most important potential advantages in the use of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) for hematopoietic reconstitution after myeloablative therapy seems to be the lower occurrence of acute graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) in recipients after allogeneic transplantation. Since mature T cells play an important role in GvHD pathogenesis, we tried to verify whether a different immunophenotypic pattern exists between HUCB and peripheral blood (PB) T cells. DESIGN AND METHODS: An immunophenotypic study on 40 HUCB and 40 PB samples from healthy adult volunteers was performed, by means of flow cytometry using a large panel of monoclonal antibodies in double labeling. RESULTS: The absolute lymphocyte count was greater in HUCB (5233 +/- 1808 microL) than in adult PB (1941 +/- 378 microL). Significant differences in percentage were found between cord and adult T-cells, respectively (CD3+: 59.9 +/- 12 vs 74.9 +/- 4.6%), CD3- CD16+ and/or CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells (23.8 +/- 10.1 vs 10.8 +/- 5.3%) and CD3+CD16+ and/or CD56+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte subset (0.3 +/- 0.3 vs 10.7 +/- 4.1%). There was no difference in CD4/CD8 ratio (1.7 +/- 0.5 vs 1.6 +/- 0.2%) between the two groups. In absolute terms, HUCB contained an higher number of all lymphocyte subsets, with the exception of CD3+CD16+ and/or CD56+ T lymphocyte subpopulation, CD3+CD25+ and CD3+HLADR+ activated T-cells. CD38, a marker of activation and immaturity, was present on virtually all cord T cells and on approximately half of the adult T cells. The large majority of HUCB T cells co-expressed CD45RA naive antigen (CD4+CD45RA+: 87.6 +/- 5.2%, CD8+ CD45RA+: 93.5 +/- 7.8%; CD4+CD45RO+: 12.3 +/- 5.2%; CD8+CD45RO+: 6.4 +/- 7.8%) whereas in adult PB T cells an higher number of CD45RO+ memory cells was detected (CD4+CD45RA+: 44.8 +/- 9.6%; CD8+CD45RA: 71.5% +/- 8.1%; CD4+CD45RO+: 55.2 +/- 9.6%; CD8+ CD45RO+: 28.5 +/- 8.1%). Finally, less than 14% of lymphocytes were shown to belong to B lineage in both sources, while, in absolute terms, they were more represented in HUCB with respect to adult PB. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: In the present study we found significant difference between HUCB and adult PB lymphocytes in their immunophenotypic profile. In particular HUCB showed T lymphocytes that appeared to be phenotypically immature. Indeed, as a likely consequence of poor antigenic experience during pregnancy, the majority of HUCB cells were naive, expressing the RA isoform of the CD45 molecule. These findings could justify the previously reported reduced cord blood lymphocyte alloreactivity when allogeneic transplantation is performed and require further functional studies in order to confirm the impairment of HUCB immune system response to alloantigens.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

HLA antigens and pANCA define ulcerative colitis as a genetically heterogeneous disorder.

BACKGROUND: Several genetic and subclinical markers have been associated with ulcerative colitis. AIM: To determine whether a significant association with HLA class I and II antigens was present in Italian ulcerative colitis patients considered as a whole population or stratified according to their anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies. METHODS: HLA class I and II antigens were studied by serological typing techniques and related to the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies detected by means of indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Patients with ulcerative colitis (n = 45) had a significantly increased frequency of DQ6 (p = 0.04) and DQ7 (p = 0.003) and a decreased frequency of DQ5 (p = 0.03) and DQ8 (p = 0.02) when compared with ethnically matched healthy controls (n = 252 for HLA class I and 173 for HLA class II). No significant difference in HLA I- and DR-antigens was observed. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies were found in 27/45 (60%) ulcerative colitis patients and in 0/252 controls (p < 0.001). After stratifying ulcerative colitis patients according to their anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies status, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies +ve patients had an increased frequency of A19 (p = 0.007), DR2 (p = 0.03), and DR15 (p = 0.006), and a decreased frequency of A1 (p = 0.004) compared with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies -ve ones. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that specific HLA-class II loci play an important role in the susceptibility to ulcerative colitis in Italy. A subset of ulcerative colitis patients is characterised by the presence of a specific subclinical marker (anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies) which seems to be genetically determined as shown by the increased frequencies of HLA-A19 and DR2 observed in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies +ve ulcerative colitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis. A study of the Gargano area].

In order to evaluate epidemiological features of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with chronic renal failure, we enrolled 80 haemodialyzed subjects in four centers of Gargano area (Southern Italy). In a 28 months follow-up we checked antiHCV antibodies by EIA II and viraemia by polymerase chain reaction. Seroprevalence of HCV infection was 35%, while incidence was 2.4%/year; viraemia was detected in 62.5% of antiHCV+ and in only one of antiHCV-. In our opinion there is a definitive need of special precautions (or isolation of antiHCV+) in haemodialysis units to avoid community-acquired HCV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Genetic susceptibility to fixed drug eruption: evidence for a link with HLA-B22.

BACKGROUND: Our observation of familial cases of fixed drug eruption (FDE) prompted us to consider a genetic predisposition to this disease. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether there is any association between FDE and any of the major histocompatibility complex class I or II alleles. METHODS: HLA class I and II typing was performed by lymphocytotoxicity assay in 36 unrelated patients with FDE. RESULTS: Significantly higher (p < 0.0001) frequencies of the B22 and Cw1 antigens were found in the 36 patients with FDE. CONCLUSION: Our data are the first to suggest a genetic predisposition to FDE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Occurrence of a Ki-1-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma in a patient with Ph' positive chronic myelogenous leukemia successfully treated by alpha-interferon.

We describe a patient with Philadelphia-chromosome-positive (Ph' +) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), who developed an anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) with T-phenotype, after 43 months successful treatment with alpha-interferon (IFN). Characterization studies of lymphoma cells showed positivity for Ki-1 monoclonal antibody, T-cell surface markers, T-cell receptor beta chain rearrangement, and germline configuration of the BCR gene. At the time of lymphoma diagnosis, the patient had achieved complete hematologic remission from CML with partial karyotypic conversion (50% Ph' + cells). After twelve weekly courses of polychemotherapy, he obtained complete remission from lymphoma. At present, five years from CML diagnosis, the patient has a remarkably stable disease, being in remission from lymphoma and in well controlled CML chronic phase. Our case thus represents the first well documented description of a T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developed during the course of CML.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Posterior capsule opacification and Nd:YAG capsulotomy rates after implantation of silicone, hydrogel and soft acrylic intraocular lenses: a two-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: To compare the posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy rates associated with three different posterior chamber foldable intraocular lenses (IOL). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the rates of PCO and Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy in 1150 eyes two years after standard phacoemulsification with a no-stitch 3.5mm clear corneal incision (CCI) and in-the-bag implantation of one of three types of IOL: 190 eyes received a one-piece round-edged hydrogel IOL (Hydroview H60M, Bausch & Lomb); 475 eyes a three-piece round-edged silicone IOL (AMO PhacoFlex SI-40NB, Allergan); 485 eyes a three-piece square-edged soft acrylic lens (AcrySof MA60MA, Alcon). RESULTS: The PCO and Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy rates were respectively 43.15% and 20.5% in the Hydroview H60M group, 27.57% and 9.68% in the AMO PhacoFlex SI-40NB group, 10.5% and 2.47% in the AcrySof MA60MA group. CONCLUSIONS: PCO and Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy rates were significantly higher in the Hydroview H60M group and significantly lower with the AcrySof MA60MA lenses, which combine a bioactive constitutive material with the square-edged optic design.

Acrylates↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Implantation of a black diaphragm intraocular lens in ten cases of post-traumatic aniridia.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively review the safety and efficacy of black-diaphragm intraocular lenses (IOL) implanted for the treatment of post-traumatic aniridia. METHODS: Ten patients (mean age 48 years, range 21-75) were implanted with a black-diaphragm posterior chamber IOL (Morcher GmbH, model 67F) for correction of post-traumatic aniridia associated with cataract or aphakia. This IOL, in poly(methylmethacrylate), consists of an opaque diaphragm surrounding the transparent optic, and was inserted through a 10-mm scleral tunnel (seven eyes) or through the corneal trephination in cases of simultaneous penetrating keratoplasty (three eyes), and in-the-sulcus implanted, trans-sclerally sutured (six eyes) or on capsular support (four eyes). Mean follow-up was 33.4 months (range 12-52). RESULTS: Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved in eight eyes and remained unchanged in two. Glare and photophobia decreased in all patients. Intraoperatively, ciliary sulcus bleeding occurred in two cases and haptic rupture during lens insertion in one. Postoperatively, persistent intraocular inflammation was seen in four eyes, secondary glaucoma in four eyes, transient hyphema and/or hemovitreous in four, IOL decentration in two, and post-traumatic haptic detachment in one eye. CONCLUSIONS: Although in our experience the haptics still seem weak and the diaphragm diameter too large, implantation of the black-diaphragm IOL type 67F appeared sufficiently safe and provided satisfactory functional results for correction of post-traumatic aniridia combined with cataract or aphakia, improving BCVA and reducing glare and photophobia in most patients, though clearly more cases and longer follow-up are needed to assess its clinical performance properly.

Adult↗