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Biomedical subjects

M Canepa

Publications and source records attributed to M Canepa.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

In situ lung perfusion with cisplatin. An experimental study.

BACKGROUND: This research work was planned to evaluate the soundness of in situ lung perfusion as a regional administration modality of chemotherapeutic agents. METHODS: Sixteen pigs were randomly divided into four groups and received cisplatin (2.5 mg/kg) through the pulmonary artery using one of the following techniques: stop-flow (Group 1); stop-flow/out-flow occlusion (Group 2); lung perfusion (Group 3); or lung perfusion with 5 mg/kg of infused drug (Group 4). Serial blood (carotid, pulmonary artery and vein) and tissue samples (lung and mediastinal node), were taken before, at completion of, and 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes after cisplatin infusion for blood gas and platinum content measurement. Blood circulation was restored to the treated organ (for 60 minutes). The animals were killed, and specimens from lung, thyroid, esophagus, heart, liver, spleen, adrenal glands, kidney, bone marrow, stomach, ileum, colon, psoas muscle, and skin were obtained. Platinum concentrations in plasma, plasma ultrafiltrate (free platinum) urine, and tissues were determined by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy. Lung damage was evaluated by light and electron microscopic examination. RESULTS: Greater systemic plasma, lower pulmonary plasma, and tissue platinum levels were detected when cisplatin was given using the stop-flow technique with respect to the other administration modalities. No significant difference in regional and systemic platinum exposure was found between Groups 2 and 3. However, lung perfusion resulted in higher mediastinal node and lower bone marrow platinum values. Morphologic alterations and impairment of gas exchanges in the treated lung were not dependent on the applied infusion technique. CONCLUSION: This study provides the pharmacokinetic rationale for the application of lung perfusion to patients with pulmonary metastases.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Counting the nucleolar organizer region-associated proteins is a prognostic clue of malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: The nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) are chromosomal loops of DNA to which acidic proteins are associated that are seen by silver staining as black dots within the nucleoli (hereafter, these silver-staining NORs will be referred to as AgNORs). As their size and number reflect cell and nuclear activity, their counting in paraffin sections is regarded as a useful tool for diagnosing and prognosing malignant tumors. We counted AgNORs in 98 patients with stage I melanoma, followed up to an average of 73 months, to verify whether the number of AgNORs is of prognostic value. RESULTS: The number of AgNORs averaged 2.792 +/- 0.901 in the 64 patients without metastases and 4.889 +/- 1.403 in the 34 with metastases. In patients with counts higher than 3.62, there was an 82% probability of metastases developing. CONCLUSION: The technique is fast, simple, and reproducible with easily available reagents and standard light microscopy. In our population, AgNOR counts constituted a more accurate prognostic indicator than Clark's level and Breslow's thickness. Confirmation in a new population is needed.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1990

Arthrogryposis, cholestatic pigmentary liver disease and renal dysfunction: report of a second family.

We report on a boy, born to consanguineous parents, who had arthrogryposis, cholestatic liver disease, and renal dysfunction. The child died at age 2 months, and autopsy showed pigmentary storage disease in liver cells, nephrocalcinosis, and rarefaction of motor neuron cells in the anterior horns of spinal cord. This association, reported in 1979 by Nezelof et al., is a distinctive syndrome. The possibility of an autosomal recessive or an X-linked inheritance is discussed.

Arthrogryposis↗
PubMed1990

[Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques in the study of 75 patients with HPV-induced lesions of the genitalia].

Seventy-five patients with anogenital warts were biopsied in the Center for Sexually Transmitted Disease of Galliera Hospital (Genoa). Bioptic specimens were processed for histologic examination, immunohistochemistry using polyclonal antibodies against HPV capsid common antigens and in situ hybridization using HPV 6/11, 16/18, 31/35/51 DNA probes. The aim of the study was to detect patients positive for HPV 16/18, 31/35/51 DNA probes. These HPV types have a higher oncogenic potential and patients with lesions harbouring them are considered to be at risk for progression to malignancy. These patients should be followed up carefully and periodically for early detection of new lesions and neoplastic transformation.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1990

Identification of pancreatic glucagon cells in the cartilaginous fish Scyliorhinus canicula by ultrastructural immunocytochemistry.

The ultrastructural localization of glucagon in the presence of Scyliorhinus canicula was investigated. We used a post-embedding immunoelectron microscopy method on pancreatic samples fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmicated before embedding. Contrasting with uranyl acetate and lead citrate was also performed after immunolabelling, but best results were obtained with uranyl acetate only. Glucagon-like immunoreactivity was located in round granules (300-600 nm) surrounded by a limiting membrane. The matrix varied in electron density and exhibited a dense core surrounded by a less dense mantle. The granules were seen in two different cell types, which differed in the electron density of their cytoplasm. Glucagon-immunoreactive cells were the largest pancreatic cells types and were often localized near somatostatin-containing cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Bacterial peritonitis and beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) production by peritoneal macrophages (PM0) in CAPD patients.

To evaluate the role of bacterial peritonitis in peritoneal macrophage (PMO) Beta-2 Microglobulin (B2M) production and its relationship with PMO Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) release we analyzed in 20 CAPD patients (10 with peritonitis): 1. in vivo plasma and peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 levels; 2. in vitro B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 release by PMO. Values were compared with those seen in the plasma or with peripheral blood monocytes of 30 hemodialysis (HD) patients (10 treated with Cuprophan-CU-, 10 with Polyacrylonitrile - PAN, and 10 with Cellulose Acetate - CA). Results showed that in CAPD patients with bacterial peritonitis B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 concentrations in the PDE were significantly higher than those seen in CAPD patients without peritonitis or in the plasma of HD patients treated with PAN or CA, but were similar to those seen in HD patients treated with CU. At the same time, in vitro, PMO from CAPD patients with bacterial peritonitis produced more B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 than did PMO from CAPD patients without peritonitis or peripheral blood monocytes from HD patients treated with PAN or CA. We conclude that in CAPD patients bacterial peritonitis is able to induce PMO B2M production, probably via a cytokine-mediated process, which may be analogous to what occurs with peripheral blood monocytes of HD patients treated with CU.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Different expression of HLA class I antigens in liver of children with chronic hepatitis B, evaluated by immunohistochemical method.

Studies on the quantitative expression of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MCH) in hepatocytes chronically infected by Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) report that an increased expression of these antigens could be related to a good immunological response. In the present work we analyze the expression of the MCH antigens in cryostatic sections of liver biopsies taken from subjects (19 children) with various forms of HBsAg positive chronic hepatitis. A high expression of HLA class I antigens and a high degree of hepatocyte necrosis was evident in Chronic Active Hepatitis (CAH) and Chronic Lobular Hepatitis (CLH). On the contrary, subjects with histological diagnosis of Chronic Persistent Hepatitis (CPH) showed a low expression of such antigens. There was however, the difference that in subjects with high hepatic cytolysis and high expression of HLA class I antigens, serum HBV-DNA was clearly present in almost all the cases with CAH, but not detectable in all cases with CLH. The expression of HLA class II antigens and of Beta2 microglobulin was the same in all 19 cases. All cases with HBV-DNA positivity with high class I antigen expression had active hepatitis which seems to suggest that all attempts at viral clearance on the part of the immune system have been in vain. We hope our paper will be an additional parameter for evaluating the course of hepatitis during Interferon treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Hepatic or splenic targeting of carrier erythrocytes: a murine model.

Carrier mouse erythrocytes, i.e., red cells, subjected to a dialysis technique involving transient hypotonic hemolysis and isotonic resealing were treated in vitro in three different ways: (a) energy depletion by exposure for 90 min at 42 degrees C; (b) desialylation by incubation with neuroaminidase; and (c) oxidative stress by incubation with H2O2 and NaN3. Procedure (c) afforded maximal damage, as shown by analysis of biochemical properties of the treated erythrocytes. Reinfusion in mice of the variously manipulated erythrocytes following their 51Cr labeling showed extensive fragilization as indicated by rapid clearance of radioactivity from the circulation. Moreover, both the energy-depleted and the neuraminidase-treated erythrocytes showed a preferential liver uptake, reaching 50 and 75%, respectively, within 2 h. On the other hand, exposure of erythrocytes to the oxidant stress triggered a largely splenic removal, accounting for almost 40% of the reinjected cells within 4 h. Transmission electron microscopy of liver from mice receiving energy-depleted erythrocytes demonstrated remarkable erythrocyte congestion within the sinusoids, followed by hyperactivity of Kupffer cells and by subsequent thickening of the perisinusoidal Disse space. Concomitantly, levels of serum transaminase activities were moderately increased. Each of the three procedures of manipulation of carrier erythrocytes may prove applicable under conditions where selective targeting of erythrocyte-encapsulated chemicals and drugs to either the liver or the spleen has to be achieved.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Chronic gastritis and alcohol.

In order to analyse the relationship between the incidence of chronic gastritis and chronic alcohol consumption, the histological pattern of fundic and antral mucosa was studied in 30 asymptomatic non-alcoholic volunteers, 20 heavy drinkers without liver cirrhosis, 39 alcoholics with liver cirrhosis, and 14 non-alcoholic subjects with liver cirrhosis. The data demonstrate an increased incidence of preatrophic gastritis in the fundic as well as in the antral mucosa in abstemious patients with liver cirrhosis, while no significant differences were found between the other three groups. However, the incidence of chronic gastritis, did not show significant differences between the four different groups if subjects of the same age are compared. In conclusion, alcohol does not play an important role in the development of chronic gastritis, particularly in gastritis with major mucosal damage.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[Findings on the pathology of mesotheliomas and their morphological diagnosis].

The data arising out of an extensive series of necropsies and operations on cases of mesothelioma observed between 1960 and 1974 in Genoa, a town where the incidence of this type of cancer is high, are reported. Macro- and microscopic and traditional histochemical diagnostic criteria are discussed and judgest to be largely insecure for a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In doubtful cases only the use of the electronic microscope is considered valid for diagnostic purposes. Particular attention is paid to the finding of endocytoplasmatic microfilaments of actomyosin type in mesotheliomatous cells and of microvill on free surfaces and at cell interfaces. For comparative purposes, ultrastructural findings in tumours which often involve pleural metastasis and are able to simulate a mesothelioma, are reported.

Adenocarcinoma↗