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Biomedical subjects

G Serio

Publications and source records attributed to G Serio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effects of olanzapine on aggressiveness in heroin dependent patients.

This study compared the anti-aggressiveness effects of the atypical anti-psychotic olanzapine with that of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and benzodiazepines (BZD) among patients with heroin dependence submitted to opioid-agonists substitution treatment. Sixty-seven (67) patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for heroin dependence and showed aggressive personality traits, not affected by comorbid schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, accepted to participate in a 12-week prospective, observational trial. Patients were included into two subgroups in relationship with treatment, for the evaluation of the endpoints at week 12: group 1: substitution treatment in combination with OLA (32 patients); group 2: substitution treatment in combination with fluoxetine/paroxetine and clonazepam (35 patients). Efficacy measures were Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), Symptoms Check List-90 (SCL 90) anger--hostility scores, incidence rates of aggressive incidents and attacks. The rates of patients who remained in treatment at week 12 in group 1, treated with OLA, and group 2, treated with SSRI and BDZ, were not significantly different (17 = 53.1% vs 16 = 45.7%). BDHI total, direct aggressiveness, verbal aggressiveness scores, SCL 90 aggressiveness scores and aggressive incidents rates showed a significantly more consistent decrease from baseline in group 1 than in group 2 subjects, in the patients who completed the treatment (p < 0.001; p < 0.01; p < 0.05; p < 0.01; p < 0.001). Among the completers, 69.3% achieved early full substance abuse remission, while 30.7% achieved partial substance abuse remission, with no significant difference between 1 and 2 treatment subgroups. Although obtained by an observational--open clinical study, with multiple limitations, our findings suggest that OLA may be useful as an adjunctive agent in reducing aggressive/hostile behaviour in heroin addicted individuals during maintenance substitution treatment. Otherwise, atypical anti-psychotic OLA seems to be unable to improve the outcome in terms of addictive behavior and relapse risk in the addicted patients not affected by overt psychotic disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Comparative genomic hybridisation in malignant deciduoid mesothelioma.

BACKGROUND: Malignant deciduoid mesothelioma is a rare variant of epithelioid mesothelioma. This tumour generally has poor prognosis, and can be asbestos related. AIM: To identify peculiar genetic changes responsible for critical phases in pathogenesis of malignant deciduoid mesothelioma and their prognostic relevance. METHODS: Comparative genomic hybridisation was carried out in six cases of malignant pleural deciduoid mesothelioma, four sporadic and two familial. All cases were found to be asbestos related. Four patients died during follow-up and the mean survival was 29.5 (SD 14.2, range 12-43) months. RESULTS: Genetic abnormalities were found in all the tumour tissues, the most frequent being chromosomal gains at 1p, 12q, 17, 8q, 19 and 20 and losses at 13q, 6q and 9p. Survival was found to be longer in those patients who presented a smaller number of losses (< or =2) in the tumorous chromosomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although numerous genetic changes are presented by deciduoid mesotheliomas, certain chromosomal regions are preferentially affected. The clinical outcome for this mesothelioma subtype is predicted by the number of losses.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Intestinal parasites in healthy subjects in Albania.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in 277 healthy subjects in the city of Mamuras (Albania, South Eastern Europe) and the correlation between parasitic infections and possible risk factors. Faecal samples collected with sodium-acetate-formalin fixative were concentrated by formalin ethylacetate sedimentation and examined as wet mounts, permanent stains and by anti-Giardia/Cryptosporidium fluorescent antibodies. Data concerning age, sex, level of education, availability of piped water, number of people living in the same house, and residence in rural or urban area were collected for each subject. Statistical analysis was performed by chi-square test and regression logistic analysis. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 183/277 (66.06%). In particular, pathogenic protozoa or helminths were found in 67 subjects (24.18%), including Trichuris trichiura in 34 (12.27%), Giardia duodenalis in 31 (11.19%), Hymenolepis nana in 5 (1.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides in 3 (1.08%). A significant correlation was observed only between parasite colonization and older age and between Trichuris trichiura infection and residence in rural areas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid: a comparison of 5469 cytological and final histological diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the efficacy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the thyroid in a series of 5469 lesions with histological control and studied the causes of, and the possibility of reducing the limitations of the method. METHODS: FNAC was always performed by a pathologist under the guidance of a clinician, using a 22-gauge needle. Generally two aspirations were carried out, and usually four slides were obtained for each nodule; they were then stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa and with Papanicolaou. The cytological diagnoses were classified in four groups: inadequate, benign, suspicious and malignant. RESULTS: We obtained a complete sensitivity of 93.4%, a positive predictive value of malignancy of 98.6%, and a specificity of 74.9%. At histological control, the cytological diagnosis of Hurthle cell neoplasm corresponded to a significantly higher incidence of malignant neoplasms than the diagnosis of non-Hurthle cell follicular neoplasm (32.1% versus 15.5%). There were 66 false-negative findings, the main cause of diagnostic error (24 cases) being failure to recognize the follicular variant of papillary carcinoma. The number of inadequate FNACs was low (4.2%). CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed the great efficacy of thyroid FNAC. A cytological diagnosis of Hurthle cell neoplasm should be considered an indicator of high risk. Awareness that failure to recognize the follicular variant of papillary carcinoma was the main problem in the interpretation of thyroid FNAC should lead to a decrease of false-negative diagnoses. The inadequate rate was very low, as it was the pathologist personally who performed the needle aspiration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Increased CD34+ cell peripheral traffic appears to be an unique feature of the allergic inflammation.

Evidence has been cumulated during the last years concerning the immaturity of the cells involved in the local and systemic aspects of allergic inflammation. Hematopoietic precursors (HPC) are mobilized from the bone matrix as multipotent cells or, more often, as progenitors that, after the initial white-lineage commitment reach through the peripheral blood (PB) their final destinations constituted by the target organs of allergy. Although several studies have investigated the CD34+ cells traffic and location at the level of the inflamed peripheral mucosae in allergic populations, limited information is available on their behaviour on the time-course of infectious diseases. The current study thus was designed to asses the peripheral traffic of CD34+ HPC during the infectious inflammation. To this end CD34+ HPCs have been enumerated, by flow-cytometric techniques, in PB of 24 adult healthy beings (Group A), 24 adult subjects with symptomatic extrinsic allergy (Group B) and in PB of 24 adult patients hospitalised for febrile infectious pathology (Group C). CD34+ cell values ranged 0.01-0.08% with a median of 0.03 in Group A. In Group B values ranged 0.17-0.75% with a median of 0.28 and in Group C values ranged 0.00-0.12% with a median of 0.07. Variance analysis test among the three groups was statistically significant (p<0.001) supporting the conclusion that CD34+ HPC mobilizing and increased peripheral traffic is an unique feature of the allergic inflammation.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Primary intimal sarcoma of the thoracic aorta.

Primary aortic tumors are well known for both their rarity and variability in clinical presentation and usually are diagnosized post-operatively or by post-mortem examination. Intimal sarcoma is a recurrent histological variant and the involvement of the thoracic aorta is an unusual presentation. Angiography and computed tomography are accurate methods to evaluate aortic tumors though transesophageal echocardiography is actually used for the differential diagnosis. Here, we describe an unusual intimal sarcoma of the thoracic aorta whose clinical feature strongly mimicked a diffuse thrombotic disease.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed2005

Airways humidification during mechanical ventilation. Effects on tracheobronchial ciliated cells morphology.

AIM: Airways humidification during mechanical ventilation (MV) can be performed by means of heat and moisture exchangers (HME). Good performance of selected hygroscopic HME was shown in terms of tracheal temperature and humidity control and low tube obstruction rates. However, few data are available on their effects on tracheobronchial ciliated cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2 different HME on ciliated cell during MV. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients undergoing elective surgery lasting <4 h were randomly assigned to be treated with Rusch (Group 1) or Mediflux (Group 2) hygroscopic HME. The morphology of tracheobronchial ciliated cells was evaluated from cytologic smears of endotracheal aspirate. Smears were prepared by using the thin-prep processor, stained using the Papanicolau method and examined in triplicate: recognizable respiratory cells were graded on a six-point scale, according to the normal appearance of cilia, cytoplasm and nucleus. RESULTS: In Group 1, 178.3+37 cells were retrieved from aspirates and , 155.6+58 in Group 2 (NS). The score was 739+241 in Group 1 and 617+329 in Group 2 (NS). Cilia and end plate were undamaged in 80+17% and 81+20% cells respectively in Group 1 and in 56+23% and 62+22% cells respectively in Group 2 (P<0.01 and <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: During MV epithelial tracheobronchial cells can be affected by the humidification device used. Our findings suggest that the 2 HME tested in the present study have a different impact on ciliated cells structure.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Probiotics reduce the CD34+ hemopoietic precursor cell increased traffic in allergic subjects.

An increased traffic of circulating CD34+ Hemopoietic Precursors Cells (HPC) is an important feature of systemic allergic inflammation. Bacteria and bacterial products are capable of stimulating the transcription of the maturational cytokines IL12 and IFNs through the activation of Toll-Like-Receptor and the subsequent nuclear translocation of the NF-kappaB factor. In this study the probiotics differentiation/maturational effect potential on CD34+ HPC has been investigated. Fourteen consecutive subjects, 9M and 5F, aged 6-48, with clinical symptoms of asthma and /or conjunctivitis, rhinitis, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, food allergy and irritable bowel syndrome were enrolled. Allergen-specific serum IgE were found in twelve patients. Flow-cytometric measurement of peripheral blood CD34dim/bright HPC values were assessed before and after 30 days of therapy, consisting in the oral administration of one sachet a day of ENDOLAC (UCB Pharma, Turin, Italy). Each sachet contained a mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. delbrueckii and Streptococcus thermophilus for a total of 1 x 10(9) live bacteria. Circulating CD34+ cell values significantly (p < 0.001) reduced after the treatment. ENDOLAC, thus, may improve the efficacy of the standard treatments of allergic diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Quantitative expression of the major homing integrins alphaL and alpha4 on human cord blood hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells.

An increased traffic of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) between bone marrow and peripheral organs is a peculiar feature of the allergic inflammation. It has been recently reported that the sublingual form of specific immunotherapy (SLIT) is capable of reducing such an increased HPC traffic. The House Dust Mite major antigen Der p1 has been proved to up-regulate the expression of the ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 endothelial addressins, supporting the view of an inflammatory cell recruiting at the site of allergen extract administration. In the present work we have investigated, by flow-cytometric techniques, the expression of the two major integrins CD11a (LFA-1) and CD49d (VLA-4) that are the homing receptor cognate for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on human cord blood CD34 hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells. Even if both the investigated molecules resulted detectable on CD34+ HPC surfaces, being the system redundant, the density of the cellular expression was significantly higher for CD49d (median value: 158) than CD11a (median value: 20.5), suggesting a preferential usage of the homing axis VLA-4/VCAM-1. Results consistency with outcomes of clinical trials that relate SLIT efficacy to allergen dosage is discussed.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMed2003

Pure ductal carcinoma in situ and in situ component of ductal invasive carcinoma of the breast. A preliminary morphometric study.

Nuclear pleomorphism is a fundamental feature in evaluating the aggressiveness of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast. In this study, pure DCIS and the in situ component (IS-comp) of invasive duct carcinoma (IDC) are compared in order to verify if these are two different entities or the same process observed at different times during its evolution. Five cases of pure DCIS and nine of IDC with extensive in situ component were selected. They were moderately and poorly differentiated. 30 nuclei for each DCIS, and 30 nuclei for both the in situ and invasive component of each IDC were studied; thus, a total of 720 nuclei were submitted to the SAM (Shape Analytical Morphometry) analysis, which enables a numerical expression not only of dimensions (area, perimeter, diameter) but also of nuclear contour irregularities and nuclear shape distortions. Univariate statistical comparisons were carried out between the nuclei of: (1) DCIS and in situ component of invasive duct carcinoma, (2) DCIS and the invasive component of infiltrating carcinoma and (3) between the in situ and invasive component of infiltrating carcinoma. Multivariate analysis was utilized to compare nuclei of DCIS with the in situ component of IDC. The in situ features of each tumor were also evaluated with the mitotic index (MI). Nuclei of pure DCIS resulted significantly larger (p < 0.001) and with a more regular shape (p < 0.001) than those of the in situ component of IDC. No differences were observed between the nuclei of the in situ and the invasive component of infiltrating carcinomas. Multivariate statistical analysis discriminated 77% of nuclei of in situ proliferation when both G2 and G3 tumors were considered, and 80% when only G3 tumors were considered. In conclusions morphological differences exist between pure DCIS and the in situ component of IDC, which may be an expression of their biological behavior; moreover, these morphological differences seem to have a better discriminating power within the same histological grade.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[The stereotaxic core breast biopsy using the Mammotome: an alternative to intraoperative examination].

The aim of this work was to evaluate the accuracy of vacuum-assisted biopsy by comparing it with frozen biopsy. 141 stereotaxic biopsies were performed by Mammotome (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Hamburg) from January 2000 to March 2001. Biopsies were performed for microcalcifications (n = 105, 74.5%), irregular opacities (n = 20, 14.2%), regular opacities (n = 6, 4.2%), stellate lesions (n = 10, 7.1%). Histological analysis showed 85 (60.3%) benign lesions, 46 (32.6%) malignant lesions including (21 cases of carcinoma in situ and 25 invasive carcinomas) and 10 (7.1%) atypical lesions. All malignant lesions were subjected to surgery. In three cases (1 in situ and 2 invasive), core biopsy was excisional and no residual lesion was observed. Two of the carcinomas in situ revealed invasive features on the surgical biopsy. One of the atypical lesions was underestimated and the final diagnosis was "well differentiated carcinoma in situ." Only three of benign lesions underwent surgery after Mammotome biopsy. Among the 55 frozen-section biopsies of mammographically detected breast lesions performed in the same period, were one false-positive and 3 false-negative cases, while in 4 cases the diagnosis was deferred after paraffin embedding. Our results confirmed Mammotome biopsy as an effective alternative and a more reliable method than frozen-section examination.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed2002

[The Ljubljana classification of epithelial hyperplastic laryngeal lesions: a morphometric evaluation of nuclear pleomorphism].

Epithelial hyperplastic laryngeal lesions (EHLL) are associated, with a varying degree of "epithelial risk"- to develop invasive carcinoma. Several classifications have been proposed but none has received a total agreement. The 1999 Ljubljana classification distinguished four grades: simple, abnormal and atypical hyperplasia and in situ carcinoma (ISC). The first two grades are considered benign lesions; the ISC is the malignant lesion, while the atypical hyperplasia is considered a "risky lesion". This is characterized by alterations of epithelial cells towards malignancy, but not to the extent to be found in carcinoma cells. Such characteristics refer to cytomorphological (e.g., nuclear hyperchromatism, nucleoli, increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio) and architectural (e.g. stratification, orientation, maturation) features. In the Ljubljana scheme, nuclear pleomorphism is one of the most important features. We wanted to improve the importance of nuclear pleomorphism in the basal cells layer in different classes of EHLL using morphometrical analysis. We studied 8 cases of simple hyperplasia, 10 of abnormal hyperplasia, 10 of atypical hyperplasia and 8 of ISC using the software SAM (Shape Analytical Morphometry). The results were submitted to univariate statistical analysis. Nuclear dimensions (maximum diameter, perimeter and area) showed a progressive increase from simple to atypical hyperplasias to ISC, while abnormal hyperplasia showed the lowest values. On the contrary, analytical parameters related to nuclear contour irregularities and asymmetries showed their highest values in abnormal hyperplasia nuclei. There were no significant differences between atypical hyperplasia and ISC, while it was possible to differentiate abnormal hyperplasia from the others. In conclusion basal nuclei of atypical hyperplasia and ISC are similar so that other cytological and morphological architectural parameters are necessary to distinguish the two lesions. Abnormal hyperplasia seems to be the biological category of 'proliferative " benign laryngeal epithelium; simple hyperplasia refers to "stable" - irritative epithelium.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2002

Malignant deciduoid mesothelioma of the pleura: report of two cases with long survival.

AIMS: To present two rare cases of malignant mesotheliomas with deciduoid features arising in the pleura, both with long survival. METHODS AND RESULTS: These two cases of deciduoid mesotheliomas were observed in adult patients (one 73-year-old male and one 23-year-old female). Only the male had a history of occupational asbestos exposure, whereas the woman had a history of familial mesothelioma. A deciduoid morphology was predominant and focal areas with tubular-papillary features were noted. The tumour cells were positive for cytokeratins, HMBE-1, calretinin, EMA and mitochondrion antibodies. The follow-up data did not suggest a particularly poor prognosis; the mean survival observed was 23 months (17 and 39 months, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This deciduoid mesothelioma histological subtype does not appear to represent an unfavourable prognostic category.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Quantitative morphometrical investigation of basal cell layer in laryngeal premalignant lesions.

Histological diagnosis of laryngeal dysplasia is quite subjective. Since morphometry is highly reproducible, this method was applied to compare shape and size variations of the basal nuclei of the laryngeal epithelium in normal, laryngeal intraepithelium neoplasia (LIN) and invasive carcinoma to assess the reliability of light microscopic criteria used in grading dysplasia according to Friedman classification. Morphometrical analysis was carried out by Shape Analytical Morphometry (S.A.M) system. The logical architecture assumes that each irregular shape contains elements of two distinct logical domains: gross distortions that interest the contour and its local perturbations. These features were investigated separately by analytical procedures to acquire independent parameters both on the logical level and the numerical one. The nuclear area significantly increased from normal to carcinoma (p<.001). The increasing of the nuclear area was evident also in LIN I. Nuclear distortions were present in LIN II and LIN III. The highest nuclear contour irregularities were found in LIN III. Multivariate analysis showed a difficulty in discriminating various grades of dysplasia, especially between LIN I and LIN II (31% of error). In conclusion, our results indicate that nuclear pleomorphism of the basal cells layer, using a unique evaluator, is an unsatisfying criterion to distinguish moderate dysplasia.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Sex chromosome loss, micronuclei, sister chromatid exchange and aging: a study including 16 centenarians.

In the present study we analysed the possible effect of age, sex and smoking on the mean values of micronucleus (MN) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies on peripheral blood obtained from 38 subjects ranging in age from 16 to 63 years and 16 centenarians. The mean number of binucleated cells with micronuclei varied in function of age and sex (as demonstrated by the analysis of covariance (F=13.13; P<0.001), particularly evident was the increment observed in women with increasing age (interaction age/sex: F=5.53; P<0.05). Smoking habits had no effects on MN frequency (F=0.36; P>0.05). Sex (F=4.18; P<0.05) and smoking habits (F=14.64; P<0.001) influenced significantly SCE per cell frequencies, but age had no effects on them (F=2.45; P>0.05). The age-associated increase of sex chromosome loss was studied using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) on interphase nuclei. The loss of Y signals was observed in approximately 10% of interphase cells from the centenarians males, that is six times more often than in the younger control men (approximately 1.6%). The frequency of X signal loss (approximately 1.7%) in young women was similar to that observed in male controls of the same age but the incidence of the X chromosome aneuploidy in centenarian females was appreciably higher (approximately 22%) than that found for the Y chromosome in males. These results were correlated with the data on MN formation and a positive correlation between the percentage of aneuploid cells (FISH) and MN values was observed (r=0.50; P<0.05).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Germline mutation in the juxtamembrane domain of the kit gene in a family with gastrointestinal stromal tumors and urticaria pigmentosa.

BACKGROUND: Gain-of-function mutations of the c-kit protooncogene, mainly clustered in the juxtamembrane domain, have been reported in a significant fraction of gastrointestinal (GI) stromal tumors (GISTs) that represent the most common mesenchymal tumor of the GI tract. Two families also have been described with a GIST predisposition syndrome with a germline c-kit mutation affecting either the juxtamembrane domain or the tyrosine kinase domain. Here, the authors report on a family in which the dominantly inherited trait of hyperpigmented spots was inherited from an individual who developed multiple GISTs with diffuse hyperplasia of the myenteric plexus by his son, who was affected with urticaria pigmentosa. METHODS: Screening for the c-kit mutation was performed by means of polymerase chain reaction-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis/constant denaturing gel electrophoresis followed by direct sequencing of abnormal conformers. Expression of KIT and CD34 was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In peripheral blood DNA samples, both affected family members showed a previously undescribed c-kit mutation in the juxtamembrane domain, resulting in the substitution of alanine for valine(559). Mutation and polymorphic marker analyses on DNA samples from three GISTs and two skin biopsy specimens evidenced the same mutation in the heterozygous condition. Immunohistochemical examination showed coexpression of CD117 (c-kit) and CD34 in all independent GISTs and CD117 positivity in mast cells from the skin lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Comparative analysis of clinical presentation and mutation mapping in the families described to date point to the peculiar association of mast cells, melanocytic dysfunction, and GIST predisposition in carriers of c-kit mutations within the juxtamembrane domain.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗
PubMed2001

Predictability of monthly and yearly rhythms of breast cancer features.

In order to evaluate if breast cancer biological characteristics undergo significant menstrual and seasonal variations, we analysed in a consecutive series of 905 breast cancer patients, steroid receptor level (ER and PgR by DCC assay), proliferative activity (3H-Thymidine Labeling Index, 3H-TLI) and size of primary tumour in relation to calendar date and day of menstrual cycle at the time of the surgical procedure. For data analysis, the method of time series construction and classical spectral analyses with Bartlett Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for white noise (BKS test) was utilised. For what concerns menstrual variations, 3H-TLI showed a significant periodicity (t = 0.3146, p < 0.01 by BKS test) with peaks at day 12nd and day 18th; ER showed a significant periodicity (t = 0.3605, p < 0.01 by BKS test) with more evident peak at day 27th; PgR, a significant periodicity (t = 0.160, p = 0.05 by BKS test) with peaks at day 15th and day 24th, similar to that observed for tumour size (t = 0.19, p < 0.05 by BKS test). With respect to yearly fluctuations, 3H-TLI showed only a trend for a significant rhythm (t = 0.16, p = 0.06 by BKS test) with peaks in May and November; ER a significant periodicity (t = 0.2099, p < 0.05 by BKS test) with two evident peaks in January and April; also for PgR a significant periodicity (t = 0.3161, p < 0.05 by BKS test) was demonstrated with a peak in July; finally, tumour size showed a significant rhythm (t = 0.335, p < 0.01) paralleling 3H-TLI behaviour. Finally, the analysis of variance with interaction of menstrual and seasonal timings showed that only the seasonal timing was able to independently influence the 3H-TLI variations (3H-TLI higher in spring). We confirmed that breast biology has significant menstrual and seasonal variations and that the seasonality is probably the timing factor more relevant in periodicity determination.

Breast Neoplasms↗