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L Piccinini

Publications and source records attributed to L Piccinini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Expression of class II molecules on intestinal epithelial cells in humans. Differences between normal and inflammatory bowel disease.

Expression of class II antigens on human intestinal epithelial cells was assessed using a sensitive avidinbiotin-peroxidase technique. HLA-DR was present predominantly in the normal small bowel with diminished but evident expression in the colon. HLA-DP staining was less prominent, and HLA-DQ was absent. In inflammatory bowel disease the expression of both HLA-DR and HLA-DP was increased, but that for HLA-DQ remained absent, suggesting an inherent defect in the ability of intestinal epithelial cells to express HLA-DQ. In related experiments, an interferon gamma-treated malignant epithelial cell line T84 also failed to stain for HLA-DQ and HLA-DP despite the presence of HLA-DR. Isolated RNAs for all three subclasses of HLA-D were detectable by slot-blot analysis, suggesting that the lack of HLA-DQ expression relates to posttranscriptional defects in intestinal epithelium. These and other differences with conventional class II antigen-positive accessory cells (macrophages/B cells) may help to explain the unique properties of intestinal epithelial cells as antigen-presenting cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

[A case of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the adrenal gland].

The paper reports a case of non-Hodgkin's primary lymphoma of the adrenal gland which is justified by the rarity of this pathology as can be seen from the literature. Following adrenalectomy and subsequent polychemotherapy, a complete remission of the disease was obtained. The Authors report that, in the absence of particular symptoms, diagnosis is generally based on X-ray examinations performed to clarify the causes of aspecific symptoms such as, for example, fever and asthenia. Lastly, it is underlined that the disease may be diagnosed during surgery when CT reveals the presence of an adrenal mass with a diameter of more than 3 centimetres.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

Prevention of cisplatin-induced vomiting in patients with cancer. A pilot study with a multiagent protocol.

Forty patients receiving a total of 102 courses of cisplatin (CDDP)-based treatment were observed in the present study. The patients received an antiemetic prophylaxis with metoclopramide (6 mg/kg), dexamethasone (12 mg/m2), lorazepam (2.5 mg), promethazine (50 mg), and diazepam (10 mg). Complete protection from acute vomiting was obtained in 77.5% of patients during the first course, and partial protection (1 to 3 episodes of vomiting) was observed in 10.1% additional cases. Complete protection was achieved in 84.6% of males vs 57.1% of females. Patients at their first course of chemotherapy had 80% complete protection compared to 66.7% in those who received prior chemotherapy. No differences in the response rate between patients treated with high versus patients receiving low doses of CDDP were noted. The same pattern of response was observed in subsequent courses of therapy. Side effects were minimal (mild sedation in almost all the cases and hiccups in a few cases). No major extrapyramidal reaction was observed. The regimen used in the study showed good efficacy in preventing acute CDDP-induced nausea and vomiting. Moreover, the very low incidence of major side effects makes this protocol safe and recommendable in patients undergoing CDDP chemotherapy.

Cisplatin↗
PubMed1989

Bone marrow infiltration in hairy cell leukemia after interferon therapy detected by magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect bone marrow infiltration by neoplastic cells in many hematological malignancies. We studied 10 patients affected by hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and treated with interferon (IFN) with both MRI and bone marrow biopsy. T1-weighted MR scans of femurs and pelvis proved to be effective to score hairy cell infiltration, while less information was obtained from the study of the lumbar vertebral column. A good correlation (less than 10% difference) was noted between biopsy and MRI in over 90% of cases. MR scans showed, in general, a higher grade of infiltration. MR scan, however, can be useful for monitoring the course of HCL and the response to the treatment. Moreover, MRI evaluating a large amount of tissue, can detect a nodular type of infiltration which can be missed in biopsy specimens.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1986

Platelet alpha-granule release in chronic myeloproliferative disorders with thrombocytosis.

Platelet alpha-granule release in 22 patients affected by chronic myeloproliferative disorders with thrombocytosis and seven subjects with thrombocytosis secondary to splenectomy were studied. We found elevated beta-thromboglobulin (BTG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) plasma levels in all patients. Intraplatelet content of BTG and PF4 was decreased in patients with idiopathic thrombocythaemia (IT) and idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF). The BTG and PF4 results were also expressed as the ratio plasma BTG and PF4: whole blood platelet count. In patients with IT, BTG: whole blood platelet count ratio was low, conversely, the same ratio was high in patients with IMF. In conclusion, our results suggest the presence of an abnormal, BTG-deficient clone in IT and a peripheral platelet activation in IMF.

Beta-Globulins↗
PubMed1986

Tegafur chemotherapy for the treatment of gut and liver cancer.

Thirteen patients with cancer of the gut, six with hepatocellular carcinoma and three with cancer of the bile duct have been treated with tegafur. All the patients were in an advanced stage of the disease with metastases to lymph-nodes or elsewhere. Each patient was given tegafur (oral daily dose of 600-1200 mg for 15-30 days with a dose-free interval of 25 days). Tegafur with other antiblastic drugs (such as cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, vincristine, doxorubicin, mitomycin) was given to ten patients. The results observed after the first treatment were as follows: partial remission in 14 patients (64%), no change in 4 (18%) and progression of the disease in 4 (18%). Only 10 patients among the 22 who were first treated, underwent one to three subsequent cycles of therapy obtaining with resultant partial remission in four cases, no change in two and progression of the disease in four patients. Side-effects (nausea and vomiting) during the treatment were recorded only in 14% of the patients. No significant impairment of blood functional tests has been documented. A comparison of the results obtained with tegafur and intravenous 5-fluorouracil has been made: the therapeutic effects of these two drugs are similar, but side-effects seem to be less during tegafur treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Platelet alpha granule release in diabetes mellitus.

We studied beta-thromboglobulin (BTG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) plasma levels in 90 diabetic subjects; we found high plasma values of these proteins only in patients with complications. To provide further indications regarding the role of platelet activation in the pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathy, we also tested mobilizable platelet content of BTG and PF4; we found these similar to those of normal subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Hematologic changes in renal neoplasms].

The main haematological parameters, particularly haemoglobin concentration and the numbers of leukocytes and platelets, were studied in 146 kidney tumour patients. Only 119 of the subjects studied later underwent nephrectomy. In 66 patients the tumours were limited to within the renal capsule (group I) while in 39 other subjects the tumours had gone beyond this limit and had invaded the perirenal tissue (group II). 27 patients had metastasis in one or more sites (group III). In the remaining 14 subjects (group IV) without proven metastasis, the surgical staging was not available since because of cachexia they were not undergone nephrectomy. More frequent signs were: anaemia (Hb less than 12 g/dl), mainly normochromic, found in a high percentage of cases (41% in group I, 59% in group II, 74% in group III, 79% in group IV); leukocytosis (G.B. greater than 8000/mm3: 38% in group I, 51% in group II, 37% in group III, 50% in group IV). Mild thrombocytosis (P = 350-500 X 10(3)/mm3) was found with notable frequency mainly in groups II and III (20% and 18% respectively). On the other hand leukopenia (G.B. less than 3500 per mm3) and thrombocytopenia (P less than 140 X 10(3) per mm3) were rather rare. The results of our study are also discussed in relation to the main findings in the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Hematological complications of viral hepatitis. Case-list contribution].

The incidence of haematological abnormalities has been evaluated in 1170 patients affected by acute viral hepatitis. Of these patients, 665 were HBsAg+, 427 HBsAg-, 31 with IgM anti-HAV, 26 non A and non B hepatitis. 21 patients were not classified due to lack of data relating to markers for HAV or HBV. Anemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and pancytopenia were found with some frequency at the haemochromocytometric examination. It is emphasized that these haematological abnormalities are often of minor relevance whereas the rarer and more serious complications such as persistent bone marrow hypoplasia or pure aplastic anemia can present difficult clinical problems regarding prognosis and therapy: in 4 cases of bone marrow hypoplasia a recovery was obtained in 1 case only, whereas the remaining cases had a fatal outcome after a period varying from 20 days to 15 months from the appearance of pancytopenia. We suggest the advisability of a closer study of the haematological and immunological aspects in patients with viral hepatitis in order to discover those elements which are useful towards a better understanding of the etiopathogenesis of the haematological abnormalities studied above. Such a detailed study would also enable further improvement in existing therapeutic measures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Specific protein production during melanogenesis in B16/C3 melanoma cells.

The mouse melanoma cell line B16/C3 offers an excellent in vitro model for studying melanocyte differentiation. Melanogenesis can be induced by serum, a hormone-supplemented serum-free medium, melanocyte stimulating hormone, and dibutyryl cAMP. The tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate, 5-bromodeoxyuridine, and acidic pH inhibit this process. Using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we have identified four cellular proteins whose production is modulated during melanogenesis, a process which includes concomitant increases in levels of tyrosinase, the rate limiting enzyme for melanin biosynthesis, melanization, and ultimately, cell death. The production of these proteins are coordinately expressed or inhibited in response to the diverse inducers and inhibitors of melanogenesis. We conclude from these studies that these specific proteins are intimately involved in the differentiation of B16/C3 melanoma cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Control of melanin synthesis and secretion by B16/C3 melanoma cells.

In culture, B16/C3 murine melanoma cells grown in the presence of serum undergo melanogenesis at a specific time after plating. At this time, melanin is synthesized intracellularly and then secreted into the extracellular culture fluid. We have found that melanin secretion is dependent on the presence of serum in the growth medium. When confluent cultures are deprived of serum, that is, refed with serum-free medium, cells remain viable but do not undergo melanogenesis. Addition of serum-free medium supplemented with either melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) or dibutyryl cAMP induced melanogenesis in these cells but did not result in melanin secretion. Furthermore, when B16/C3 cells are grown in serum-free, hormone-supplemented medium, they also undergo melanogenesis but fail to release melanin. The addition of serum, however, to B16/C3 cells induced to undergo melanogenesis with MSH, dibutyryl cAMP, or hormone-supplemented medium promotes melanin secretion. Fractionation studies hence revealed that serum contains specific factors capable of inducing melanin secretion. These results demonstrate that factors that regulate melanin synthesis are distinct from those that induce cells to release melanin into their extracellular environment. Furthermore, the ability to induce melanogenesis with single factors will permit us to study the precise sequence of events leading to differentiation in B16/C3 cells under chemically defined conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

[Determination of IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies with the immunoenzymatic (IE) method].

The immunoenzymatic method for the research of specific IgM antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii is compared to the traditional methods of dosage: absorption of the IgG on staphylococcus and depolymerization of the IgM with 2-mercaptoethanol. The sensitivity and specificity of this method have been analyzed on a sample of 193 serums in order to consider the probabilities of false positive and negative reactions. The simplicity of method and the possibility of expressing values as reciprocal of the maximum dilution make this an elected method for the research of specific IgM. The reduced quantity of serum necessary in carrying out the test represents such a prerogative as to make this method particularly fit for researches on new-born babies.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1982

R factors in group D streptococci: classification by compatibility.

Antibiotic transferable resistance determined by R-factors is largely distributed among the enterococci. Over a two year period, 106 strains of D streptococci have been tested. Transferable resistance has been detected in 45 strain (57.7% of the resistant strains). The compatibility group of 24 plasmids has been determined: 12 belong to the group I; 4 belong to the group II; only one to the group III; one belongs to compatibility group IV; k R-factors have attributed to a new group V and the other two are not classifiable in any of the described groups.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1980

[Association of primary malignant neoplasms in the same patient].

The Authors have examined the problem concerning the presence of "Double malignancies" in the same patient, on the basis of a review of the literature and of an investigation of their own case material (nine patients: six with double solid tumours and three with a solid tumour and an associated haematologic neoplasia). The Authors discuss the time sequence of the two neoplastic processes and the immunological pattern (T and B lymphocytes) of all cases.

Adenocarcinoma↗