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Biomedical subjects

L Artese

Publications and source records attributed to L Artese.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in sinus augmentation using Bio-Oss.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in sinus augmentation with Bio-Oss. METHODS: Twenty patients participated in this study. The sinuses were filled with 100% Bio-Oss. Implants were inserted after 3 months in group A, and 6 months in group B. A trephine was used to harvest bone cores. As control, the pre-existing subantral bone was used. RESULTS: The mean MVD in control bone was 23.6 +/- 1.8. In the sites augmented with Bio-Oss, at 3 months, the MVD was 23.3 +/- 2.1, while in the sites retrieved at 6 months the MVD was 29.5 +/- 2.4. The difference in MVD between the control bone and group A was not statistically significant. The difference between the control bone and group B was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The statistical analysis showed that the difference in MVD between group A and group B was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bio-Oss seemed to induce an increase in MVD that reached a higher value after 6 months. The percentage of vessels positive to VEGF was higher in group A than in group B. Our data also showed a higher percentage of vessel and stromal cells positive to VEGF and higher MVD values in areas where there was newly formed bone compared with areas where maturation processes were occuring, and this fact could point to a close spatial relationship between angiogenesis and osteogenesis.

Adult↗

Transmission of Helicobacter pyori in an animal model.

An experimental murine model was studied to evaluate the orogastrointestinal colonization of Helicobacter pylori and the animal-to-animal transmission. Balb/C mice were infected with H. pylori and housed with uninoculated mice in cages with and without a grate on the floor. Mice were killed after 7, 14, 30, and 45 days, and samples from the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, and rectum were analyzed for H. pylori by PCR and immunohistochemistry and for histological changes. Bacterial colonization was assessed also by culture from stomach samples. H. pylori was cultured by stomach samples of infected mice at 7, 14, and 30 days. Using PCR and immunohistochemistry, H. pylori was detected in inoculated and uninoculated mice in all areas examined, with an high percentage of positive samples in the esophagus and stomach. Moreover transmission was detected, without differences, regardless of whether mice were housed with or without a grate on the floor, supporting an orooral animal transmission.

Animals↗

Expression of hMSH2 and hMLH1 proteins of the human DNA mismatch repair system in ameloblastoma.

The human DNA mismatch repair (hMMR) system plays an important role in reducing mutation and maintaining genomic stability. The MMR system in human cells is composed of at least six genes (hMSH2, hMLH1, hMSH3, hPMS1, hPMS2 and GTBP/hMSH6). In particular, hMSH2 and hMLH1 are expressed in human cells that are undergoing rapid renewal; their reduced expression has been reported in several tumors. We examined the protein expression pattern of hMSH2 and hMLH1 by immunohistochemistry in 25 ameloblastomas. All ameloblastomas expressed hMSH2 and hMLH1 proteins in the outer layer of epithelial cells. The localization of the staining was exclusively nuclear. These data suggest that the development and progression of these tumors do not depend on a defect in the hMMR system.

Ameloblastoma↗

Beneficial effects of Batimastat (BB-94), a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, in rat experimental colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) represent a group of enzymes that regulate cell-matrix composition playing a major role in the inflammatory response. In the present study we evaluated the ability of the MMP inhibitor Batimastat (BB-94) to modify the course of experimental colitis induced in the rat by trinitrobenzensulfonic acid (TNB). METHODS: Colitis was induced in 40 rats by intracolonic administration of TNB. Animals were divided into four groups of ten rats each: group 1 received only intracolonic TNB, group 2 received TNB+5 mg/kg intraperitoneal BB-94, group 3 TNB+10 mg/kg BB-94 and group 4 TNB+20 mg/kg BB-94. The MMP inhibitor was administered 30 min before induction of colitis and twice daily until death. Ten rats receiving only intracolonic 0.9% saline served as controls. Animals were killed after seven days; segments of colon were removed and used for histological score of inflammation and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. RESULTS: Rats receiving only intracolonic 0.9% saline showed no evidence of colitis. The inflammation score was 0.9, MPO activity 0.235 U/mg. Group 1 (TNB-treated rats) exhibited a high inflammation score (12.4) and MPO activity (0.715 U/mg). Conversely, BB-94-treated rats showed, compared to the TNB group, a significantly lower inflammation score and MPO activity in a dose-dependent fashion. Group 2: inflammatory score 10.1, MPO activity 0.474 (p < 0.05 vs. TNB); group 3: inflammatory score 8.3, MPO activity 0.287 (p < 0.01 vs. TNB); group 4: inflammatory score 5.0, MPO activity 0.256 (p < 0.01 vs. TNB). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with BB-94 has dose-dependent beneficial effects on the inflammatory alterations in rat experimental colitis. Thus, the inhibition of MMPs may represent a novel therapeutic approach for treatment of intestinal inflammation.

Animals↗

Tissue response to an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene external valve support device: a histologic study in dogs.

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) external valve support devices (EVS) have been used successfully in patients to restore valve function in leg veins with incompetent valves when incompetence is due to dilatation of the vein walls or elongation of the valve leaflet edges. To assess tissue response to these devices, the authors implanted 12 of them in dogs, wrapping the devices around veins in the head and neck. The dogs recovered from the implantation procedure uneventfully, and the veins remained patent on color flow Doppler scanning. Gross and histologic evaluations of vein segments and attached EVS devices after sacrifice of the dogs 30 days postoperatively showed that the ePTFE devices did not affect vein patency or the cellular composition or architecture of vein walls. There were no adverse tissue reactions to the EVS and no thrombus formation in the veins to which the EVS had been applied. Tissue attachment to the EVS was apparent in all specimens. These histologic results support clinical experiences indicating that the ePTFE EVS device is safe to use in external valvuloplasty for the treatment of venous incompetence.

Animals↗

[Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate: description of a case].

INTRODUCTION: We report an occasional biopsy of primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate with review of the literature and discussion about all criteria used to classify this clinical-pathological entity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histochemical (Alcian Blue and P.A.S.) and immunohistochemical (P.A.P. and P.S.A.) stainings were performed.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

Shock waves in vascular diseases: an in-vitro study.

UNLABELLED: Three human aortic specimens were used for this in-vitro study on the effects of shock waves on the arterial wall. Specimen one was from a normal (for age) healthy aorta. The full abdominal length was used (including mesenteric and renal arteries and the aortoiliac bifurcation), divided into six pieces (3 cm). The pieces were placed and fixed into degassed water. Shock waves (SW) were focused onto the aortic wall by means of a B-mode ultrasound imager. An SW generator (Minilith SL1, Storz Medical AG, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland) was used for setting of energy flux density between 0.03 and 0.5 mJ/mm2. The six aortic pieces (excluding piece 1, placed in water and left untreated as control) were treated with SW at increasing energy levels. A second aortic specimen of a man with arteriosclerotic plaques was also used and the experiment repeated at energy levels 1, 5, and 8. Another specimen of normal thoracic aorta was exposed at energy levels 1 and 8 only. Energy levels delivered onto the aortic walls were selected from theoretically destructive levels to minimal levels known not to alter vascular tissues. High-resolution ultrasounds of the aortic segments were performed with a 10 MHz high-resolution, broad-band (ATL 3000, USA) probe in water before and after SW application to detect structural changes in the wall after SW. Histology was performed with a standard hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS: The aortic pieces did not show macroscopic damages at visual examination, and at the ultrasound examination no visible changes were observed even at higher levels of SW energy. Also no effects were seen by histology. In conclusion, no damaging effects were observed, visually, by ultrasound, or by histology. At these energy levels SW appear to be safe and do not produce any damage to the aortic wall. Therefore, SW could be considered a safe, nondamaging procedure for potential treatment (ie, thrombolysis) in which vessel walls could be involved. Theoretically it is possible that functional changes could be observed in vivo including cell permeability modifications and other alterations (including changes in the potential of the cells in SW fields to modify themselves and to divide). At the energy levels described in this study SW could, theoretically be, safely used for vascular applications (ie, treating venous and arterial thrombi or in arterial plaques modification) without altering major, structural, arterial wall characteristics. Lesions or alterations that have a different density from the normal wall (thrombi or plaques) could be differently sensitive to the same dosage of SW. These differences in acoustic impedance characteristics could be used for potential treatments with SW without damaging the arterial wall.

Aorta↗

Human herpesvirus 8 variants in sarcoid tissues.

BACKGROUND: The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown, although mycobacteria have been implicated. We examined sarcoid tissues for human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in addition to mycobacterial genomic sequences. METHODS: Biopsy samples from 17 patients with sarcoidosis were studied (eight transbronchial, 27 lymph node, two skin, and two oral mucosa). We used tissues (n = 137) from 96 patients without sarcoidosis as negative controls. A nested PCR was applied to amplify a segment of open reading frame (ORF) 26 of the HHV-8 genome, and a heminested PCR was to amplify a segment of ORF 25 of HHV-8 and of the 16 S rRNA gene of mycobacteria. Differences in base sequences of the amplified fragments were resolved with single-strand conformation polymorphism and dideoxy sequencing. FINDINGS: HHV-8 ORF 26 DNA was detected in significantly higher proportions of sarcoid than of non-sarcoid tissue samples from lung (8/8 vs 0/54; p < 0.0001), lymph nodes (26/27 vs 6/29; p < 0.0001), skin (2/2 vs 0/17; p = 0.006), and oral tissues (2/2 vs 1/13; p = 0.029). 31 (82%) of the 38 ORF 26 DNA-positive sarcoid specimens were also positive for ORF 25 DNA. For mycobacteria-like 16 S rRNA DNA, the proportion positive was significantly higher in sarcoid than non-sarcoid tissues for lymph node samples (11/27 vs 2/29; p = 0.003) but not for other tissues (lung 3/8 vs 22/54; skin 2/2 vs 15/17; and oral tissues 1/2 vs 0/13). Overall, the prevalence of HHV-8 ORF 26 sequences was higher in sarcoid tissues than in non-sarcoid tissues (p < 0.0001). When patients whose tissues were included in a masked phase of the study were treated as units of analysis, eight of eight sarcoidosis patients were positive for HHV-8 ORF 26 DNA, compared with three of 56 control patients (p < 0.0001); for mycobacteria-like sequences, three of eight sarcoidosis patients were positive, compared with four of 56 controls (p = 0.0464). The HHV-8 ORF 26 sequences, ten of which were unique, could be segregated into four groups according to peptide motifs. In seven of nine patients from whom biopsy samples were taken from various sites, different sequences were recovered. The mycobacterial sequences amplified from sarcoid tissues were also varied, but none was homologous to those of known species. INTERPRETATION: Variant HHV-8 DNA sequences are found in a wide range of sarcoid but not non-sarcoid tissues. Mycobacteria-like 16 S rRNA sequences are more frequently present in sarcoid lymph nodes and not in other tissue types, but do not indicate infection by a particular mycobacterial species.

Adult↗

Presence of human herpesvirus 8 variants in the oral tissues of human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons.

A 210-bp DNA segment specific to the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) genome was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction from 10 of 14 archived oral biopsy samples of HIV-positive patients in London who had no evidence of oral Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Various oral sites were represented. Oral tissues from 20 general dental patients not known to be HIV-infected were negative. When DNA sequences of these products were compared with sequences derived from 5 oral KS tissues of AIDS patients in London and 10 skin biopsies of Italian patients with Mediterranean KS (total number of positive tissues = 25), 11 were found to be unique. DNA and predicted peptide motifs of these sequences were also different from those in 28 of 36 HHV-8-positive lesions previously reported from American and African patients. HHV-8 is tropic for the oral mucosa of HIV-infected persons, and HHV-8 variants, though diverse, may be geographically restricted.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Antibodies to epithelial components in oral lichen planus (OLP) associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common chronic inflammatory disorder sometimes associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. An increased prevalence of autoimmune markers has been reported in patients with HCV infection. The aim of the present study was to determine, by conventional indirect immunofluorescence, the nature and frequency of circulating antibodies to epithelial antigens in the sera of HCV-positive patients who also have OLP. The study comprised four groups: 14 patients with OLP and HCV infection. 14 HCV-seronegative patients with OLP, 21 HCV-seropositive patients without OLP and 18 healthy controls. We found a significant association between the concomitance of OLP and HCV infection and the presence of such antibodies. It is concluded that some patients with HCV-associated OLP may have circulating antibodies to epithelial antigens, although their precise aetiological role in the development of this disease in HCV infection remains unknown.

Antiviral Agents↗

Detection of human herpesvirus-8 DNA in oral ulcer tissues of HIV-infected individuals.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of detection of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) in HIV-related oral ulcers. DESIGN: Analysis of archived biopsy material. METHODS: Nested polymerase chain reaction of DNA extracts. RESULTS: HHV-8 DNA was detected in six of 10 oral ulcers of HIV-positive patients without oral Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesions and five of 11 oral KS lesions. The positive non-KS samples were derived from various oral sites. CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-positive people, HHV-8 can infect oral tissues that are not affected by KS.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Circadian pattern of post-surgical fatal pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: The circadian distribution of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism in general surgical patients is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred consecutive cases of pulmonary embolism, with reliable clinical notes and data, were studied (67 men and 33 women; mean age 71 years). Only post-surgical cases were considered in this analysis. Patients had undergone elective (78%) or emergency abdominal surgery (22%). Correct prophylaxis (according to the Windsor Consensus Statement) had been used in 12%. Cases were grouped according to the time of onset of signs and symptoms related to pulmonary embolism at one hour intervals. RESULTS: The maximum incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism was between 7.00 a. m. and 1.00 p. m. with the highest peaks at 9.00 and 11.00 a. m. 9% of deaths) (P < 0.02). When results from this study were compared to a previous study no significant difference was observed between the distribution profile of cases from general medical wards and surgical wards. CONCLUSION: It appears that in surgical patients there is a circadian pattern in pulmonary embolism as already documented in medical patients.

Aged↗

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the tongue: a case report.

Oral manifestations are present in about 3-5% of cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and oral lesions are only rarely the initial manifestations of NHL. A case is presented of an 80-year-old patient with a NHL of the tongue, without visceral or lymph node involvement. The diagnosis of NHL can be made only by biopsy. The prognosis of NHL seems to be related to the tumour stage, tumour aggressiveness and response to treatment: the oral lesions appear to respond quite well to irradiation.

Aged↗