PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Sabadini

Publications and source records attributed to L Sabadini.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Autonomic nervous system and smooth muscle cell involvement in systemic sclerosis: ultrastructural study of 3 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate morphological abnormalities in nerve and smooth muscle structures of the anorectal wall underlying gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: We performed deep rectal biopsy in 3 patients with limited scleroderma of relatively recent onset and intestinal symptoms. RESULTS: We found ultrastructural signs of axonal degeneration and cytoskeletal abnormalities in the bundles of unmyelinated fibers. There was also focal degeneration of smooth muscle cells, often in association with the presence of partially degranulated mast cells. Many mast cells were also observed in close relation to nerve fibers and vessels. The enteric vessels often showed basal lamina reduplication and hypertrophied endothelial cells with obliterated lumen. No significant fibrosis was found. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate early involvement of the autonomic nervous system and to a lesser extent of smooth muscle cells. We confirmed the presence of early vascular lesions and involvement of mast cells in the pathological process.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. A case report].

We describe a patient with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) who saw a Rheumatologist because of joint and muscle pain in the lower limbs. Clinical examination did not reveal any classic joint disease; however, tendon lesions and clumsy gait were noted. The patient presented with a swollen Achilles tendon bilaterally and a parapareto-spastic gait; Babinski sign was positive on the right side, and hyperreflexia of both lower limbs could be demonstrated. As bilateral cataracts were present, we have interpreted the aforementioned signs as CTX with spinal involvement; mean plasma cholesterol was increased, thus confirming the diagnosis. The primary biochemical abnormality of this disease is a defect in the synthesis of bile acids; therefore, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) has been tried, and beneficial effects following CDCA treatment, especially in the early stages of CTX, have been reported in the literature. We report this case because of the severity and the rarity of this disease, and also because of its hereditary transmission. Our aim is to underline the need of a precocious diagnosis, in order to prevent a further progression of the disease; this therapeutic goal can now be achieved, thanks to the therapeutic regimens recently developed.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1995

[Laboratory and instrumental clinical study of 150 patients with psoriatic arthritis].

The study included a 5-year-follow-up. We noticed that our data did not agree with the data in literature as regards the distribution percentage of the various articular subsets. It was pointed out that the distribution percentage of some particular clinical subsets of the disease (for example the symmetrical polyarticular subset and the spondylitic and/or sacro-iliac subset) were linked to sex. The study of the bio-humoral parameters showed that the most significant data was the particular clinical and radiological severity of PA in the patients with high IgA levels. Radiological findings showed the involvement of the sterno-clavicular and manubriosternal joints by osteoproduction and/or erosive manifestations, which was associated with a particular clinical severity of the disease. Eventually, our study revealed a significant relationship between psycho-physical stress and articular and/or cutaneous manifestations of the disease. This data seems to confirm the recent neuro-immunological studies hypothesizing a likely role of stress and subsequent depression in the ethiopathogenesis of rheumatic diseases caused by an immune imbalance.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[A syndrome caused by separating rags in textile industry: a new clinical entity?].

A group of 104 workers were examined. They were employed in selecting rags and separating the lining from wollen fabrics to be used again as thread waste in the textile industry. The aim of the study was to point out tendon and joint related disorders of the upper limb due to repetitive and forced movements. Twenty-eight (26.9%) workers complained of hand and wrist echography and thermography. In 19 patients (67.8%) clinical carpal tunnel syndrome was diagnosed. Eight workers (28.5%) had Dupuytren's contracture. Swelling of the fingers was found in 23 (82.1%). 14.2% and 28.5% of the workers showed respectively acro-osteolysis and acrosclerosis. The textile industry of Prato shows peculiar characters: the workers employed in selecting rags out a manual job which causes soft tissues and skeletal disorders in a great number of them. The acro-osteolytic and acrosclerotic changes of the fingers seem alike the bone disorders of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases as seronegative spondyloarthritis.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical report of a case of CREST syndrome].

A case of CREST syndrome presenting with marked diffuse calcinosis and prevailing joint involvement is presented by the authors. Diffractometry revealed the presence of calcified hydroxy-apatite crystals within subcutaneous nodules. Scleroderma-like microcirculatory changes with blood flow alterations typical of Raynaud's syndrome were present on capillaroscopy. The authors feel the case to be of interest not only in view of the rare occurrence of the condition but also of the particular extent and severity of the signs and symptoms presented by this patient.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Temperature influence on stimulated PMN respiratory burst.

Body temperature can modulate the pathogenesis of infectious, metabolic and autoimmune diseases. This effect has been attributed to several hypothesized mechanisms. Body temperature could play an important role in influencing some cellular functions of human white blood cells. In this work we examined the temperature effect on the respiratory burst in human neutrophils. Human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) were obtained from heparinized venous blood by dextran sedimentation and erythrocyte lysis with NH4Cl (0.87%). Granulocytes were stimulated with opsonized zymosan (OZ), formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and monosodium urate (MSU) crystals at different temperatures (26, 37, 39, 40, 42 degrees C). The technique of luminol dependent chemiluminescence (CL) was used as indicator of oxygen free radicals (OFR) release by stimulated cells. OFR production from PMN stimulated with OZ, PMA, FMLP was higher at 37 degrees C than at 26, 39, 40, 42 degrees C (p < 0.001 OZ stimulated PMN at 40-42 degrees C; p < 0.05 PMA stimulated PMN at 42 degrees C. Significantly different from 37 degrees C value). OFR release from PMN stimulated with MSU crystals was significantly increased at 39 degrees C compared to 37 degrees C value (p < 0.001). This effect could not only be attributed to temperature influence on neutrophil activity. The specific polymorphonuclear leukocyte response to the microcrystals and the temperature influence on chemical and physical characteristics of the crystals may play an important role. We are now studying the temperature effect on activity of PMN exposed to others crystals.

Cells, Cultured↗