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M Carbone

Publications and source records attributed to M Carbone.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Benign papillary mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis.

We report a case of benign mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis in a 69-year-old man who presented with a 4-month history of scrotal swelling. A polypoid pedunculated nodule, 1.5 cm in diameter, was found near the head of the right epididymis. Histologically, the tumor exhibited features characteristic of a well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma. The mesothelial origin of this tumor was further supported by immunohistochemical analysis. The tumor cells exhibited nuclear p53 protein accumulation, despite the benign histologic findings and a 3-year uneventful follow-up after resection. A polymerase chain reaction analysis for simian virus 40 DNA was negative. The papillary configuration seen in this tumor is uncommon for this site, inasmuch as benign mesotheliomas of the tunica vaginalis testis usually exhibit an adenomatous pattern. One should be aware of this pattern, and benignity should be mentioned in the pathologic report to prevent overtreatment. In addition, positive p53 immunohistochemical staining should not be taken automatically as evidence for malignancy in this type of lesion.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Isolation of Arcobacter spp. from a brackish environment.

Arcobacter spp. were isolated from water and mussels of two brackish lakes near Messina (Italy). The isolates were phenotypically characterized on the basis of a large battery of cultural and biochemical tests. By comparison with the reference strains Arcobacter butzleri ATCC 49616 and A. cryaerophilus ATCC 43157 they may be considered Arcobacter butzleri-like bacteria. The current isolation suggests that the brackish environment may play an important role in the survival and transmission of Arcobacter spp. also by seafood cultured in the examined waters.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Suburban amebiasis: the diagnostic aspects via computed tomography and echography and the percutaneous treatment of amebic liver abscesses].

INTRODUCTION: Liver is the most common site of extraintestinal amebiasis and hepatic abscesses are the most frequent symptom, occurring in 3-9% of patients with amebic infection. Several studies have shown that drug treatment is more efficacious when combined with percutaneous drainage of the abscess, yielding quicker recovery and a positive body response. We report our US and CT findings in 16 patients with amebic abscesses, 12 of whom lived in a temperate peripheral area north-east of Naples. All patients had a clinical-diagnostic condition that we called "suburban amebiasis". Finally we report our personal experience with the US-guided therapeutic drainage of amebic abscesses with repeated cavity washings, which is important for positive parasitology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the findings of 16 patients (11 men and 5 women; age range 36-78 years; mean 52) with amebic abscesses of liver examined with US and CT. US with a 3.5 MHz transducer was the technique of choice in all patients. 94% of liver abscesses and some extraintestinal complications were easily shown with this technique. CT angiography was then performed to detail and clarify US findings. Abscesses over 4 cm in diameter were submitted to US-guided percutaneous treatment which permitted abscess drainage, the collection of material for parasitology and repeated cavity washings. RESULTS: US showed multiple liver abscesses in 12 patients, which were multiseptate and formed by multiple hypo-/hyperechoic microabscesses in 4 of them. Four non-European patients had a single abscess, which is typical of tropical endemic forms. CT showed the amebic abscesses as hypodense roundish masses with clear-cut outline most often localized in the right lobe in the 12 multiple cases. After percutaneous drainage 13/16 patients (81%) reported less pain in the right hypochondrium and had a lower temperature; their hospitalization was also shorter. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Combined US and CT assessment facilitated the diagnosis of amebiasis and its differentiation from pyogenic abscess and hepatoma. The combination of US-guided drainage and drug treatment provides better results than either treatment alone and quicker improvement of patient conditions, with fewer extraintestinal complications. Percutaneous drainage should be used in abscesses bigger than 4-5 cm, those with questionable clinical-laboratory findings and finally those failing to respond to drug treatment alone. Positive parasitology of abscess content is related to repeated cavity washings after percutaneous drainage, likely because peripheral layers are much richer in amebae.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Echographic evaluation of the thymus gland in childhood].

INTRODUCTION: The thymus is a linphoepithelial organ located mostly in the anterior mediastinum and, for a smaller part, in the neck. The gland is particularly developed in the fetus and in children, while it shrinks in young adults following an involution process. We investigated the US appearance of the thymus in normal pediatric subjects to gather information for use in pediatric patients with suspected thymus conditions, using a safe, irradiation-free, technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a US examination of the anterior mediastinum and the neck in 30 children (14 males and 16 females) ranging in age 6 months to 11 years. We used a Sonora LOGIC 700 MD General Electrics unit with 7.5-13 MHz linear probes and acquired transverse and longitudinal scans on the chest wall and the neck, integrated with intercostal scans. RESULTS: The thymus had the same echogenicity as the liver parenchyma in 22 children (73.3%), lower echogenicity in 2 (6.6%, age range 6-12 months) and higher echogenicity with heterogeneous structure in 6 children (20%, age range 8-11 years). The gland was in central and symmetric localization in 20 children (66.6%) while it exhibited a slight deviation leftwards in 7 (23.3%) and rightwards in 3 children (10%). We considered as normal the following values: in the right lobe, 1.4 cm for the AP diameter and 2.5 cm for the longitudinal one; in the left lobe, 1.4 cm for the AP diameter and 2.9 cm for the longitudinal one. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Radiological studies of the thymus are really difficult to perform because the gland is extremely variable in size, extension and shape. The thymus has the same echogenicity as the liver parenchyma and lower echogenicity than the thyroid parenchyma. We believe that US is an effective technique for studying the thymus in all its involution stages and that provides similar information to CT and MRI. Also, US does not use radiations and needs no sedation, which improves safety for young patients.

Child↗
PubMed2000

Synergic activities of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A and lipoteichoic acid in cytokine induction.

The present study was carried out to gain insight into the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and other acute invasive diseases caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS). Specifically, since both whole bacteria and their soluble products are often present in the blood in these conditions, we sought to detect possible synergic activities of somatic and extracellular products in inducing mediators release. For this purpose, whole blood cultures from healthy donors were incubated with different concentrations of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SpeA), which is considered a major molecular effector of TSS, heat-killed GAS and cell-wall components such as lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and soluble peptidoglican (sPGN). Significant levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha and IFN-gamma were found in supernatants from cultures incubated with each of the four inducers alone. Whole GAS and both cell-wall components were more effective (p < 0.05) than SpeA in inducing cytokine release. Whole GAS, at weight basis, was a more potent inducer than LTA and sPGN and LTA, at weight basis, was a more potent inducer than sPGN. In order to verify possible additive or synergic effects of exotoxic and parietal compounds in inducing cytokine release, whole blood cells were incubated with mixtures of SpeA and LTA at different molecular ratio. TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha and IFN-gamma levels in supernatants were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in supernatants of cultures stimulated simultaneously with the two components than those of cultures stimulated with a single agent. Moreover, these levels were significantly higher than the sum of cytokine levels induced by single components. This study shows that parietal compounds can act in synergy with exotoxins in inducing the release of cytokines, which appear to be the major mediators of TSS.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2000

[Liver trauma due to penetrating lesions: miscellanea, personal case series, clinical and CT findings].

PURPOSE: Penetrating liver wounds are related to many causes and rank second after blunt abdominal and liver trauma. We will report the clinical and radiological findings of our personal series of patients with penetrating trauma, especially by firearms and stab and cut wounds. We will also try to define the diagnostic workup of these traumas, which is especially based on CT signs of liver damage and associated changes and which is of basic importance for following treatment, both surgical or conservative. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the last seven years we retrospectively reviewed 31 cases of penetrating liver trauma. The patients were 19 men and 12 women, ranging in age 18 to 73 (mean 42), with penetrating liver injuries from firearms (16 patients) and stab (9 cases) wounds; 6 patients had injuries from different causes. Abdominal CT was carried out in emergency with the CT Angiography (CTA) technique in all patients. In the patients with suspected chest and abdomen involvement CT was performed from the mid-chest for accurate assessment of diaphragm and lung bases and to exclude associated pleuropulmonary damage. RESULTS: Penetrating liver wounds were caused by firearms in 70% of cases, by stabbing in 12% and, in the extant 18%, by other causes such as home accidents, road and work traumas, and liver biopsy. In our series, the liver was most frequently involved, especially by firearms wounds; in our 16 cases the most frequent injuries were hemorrhagic tears. We found bullets in the liver in 6 cases. In one case of home accident the patient wounded himself while slicing bread with a long knife, which cut into the anterior abdominal wall and tore the anterior liver capsule, as seen at CTA. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Penetrating wounds to liver and abdomen are less frequent than those to the chest. In the past decade the use of CT has changed the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to such injuries completely, decreasing the resort to explorative laparotomy and hepatorrhaphy. Indeed, CT provides a clear picture of the extent and severity of damage, which permits to choose a conservative treatment in case of intraparenchymal hematomas and lacerocontusive foci without hemoperitoneum, which can be followed-up with physical and CT examinations. Moreover, Helical CT could provide the early diagnosis of active bleeding in the peritoneum and of focal bleeding in the liver, thus permitting prompt hepatorrhaphy or targeted hepatectomy. A diaphragm injury suspected at CT should always prompt the surgeon to intervention, especially when hemothorax, lung base pneumothorax, large liver hematoma or tear of the liver dome are associated. Finally, subdiaphragmatic free gas indicates gut perforation associated with liver damage, in which case surgery is necessary too.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1999

Unique strains of SV40 in commercial poliovaccines from 1955 not readily identifiable with current testing for SV40 infection.

SV40 was first identified as a contaminant of poliovaccines used from 1955 until 1963. Recently, SV40 has been detected in several human tumors. The virus detected in human tumors often contained only one 72-bp enhancer in the regulatory region, in contrast to the SV40 originally isolated from poliovaccines, which contained two 72-bp enhancers. The origin of viruses with one 72-bp enhancer in humans was unknown, because it was thought that these viruses were not present in poliovaccines. It was also thought that all poliovaccine vials produced from 1955 until 1963 had been discarded, thus the possibility that one 72-bp virions contaminated those vials could not be tested. We unexpectedly obtained what appear to be the last available vials of poliovaccine produced in 1955. In these vials, we detected and sequenced SV40 containing only one 72-bp enhancer in the regulatory region. The tissue culture cytopathic test currently used in the United States to screen oral poliovaccines was designed to detect rapidly proliferating SV40 virions containing two 72-bp enhancers. We found that this test is not sensitive enough to detect low amounts of the slow-replicating SV40 virions containing one 72-bp enhancer. This virus was easily detected in the same cells by immunostaining and PCR. Twelve current vials of poliovaccines tested uniformly negative for SV40, suggesting that the precaution of preparing poliovaccines from kidneys obtained from monkeys bred in isolated colonies prevented SV40 contamination. Our data demonstrate that humans were exposed to SV40 viruses with both one 72-bp enhancer and two 72-bp enhancers SV40 through contaminated vaccines. Our data also suggest that instead of cytopathic tests, immunohistochemical and/or molecular studies should be used to screen poliovaccines for SV40 to completely eliminate the risk of occasional contamination.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Detection of human neurotropic JC virus DNA sequence and expression of the viral oncogenic protein in pediatric medulloblastomas.

Medulloblastoma represents greater than 25% of childhood intracranial neoplasms and is considered a highly malignant tumor. This tumor, which arises predominantly in the cerebellar vermis, preferentially affects children between the ages of 5 and 15. Although the etiology of medulloblastomas in humans remains unknown, results from several experiments have indicated that the human neurotropic JC virus (JCV) is able to induce cerebellar neoplasms in rodents that exhibit a phenotype similar to that of human medulloblastomas. JCV is a polyomavirus that is widespread in the human population, with infection occurring most frequently in early childhood. In this study, we have examined the possible association of JCV with human medulloblastomas. By using PCR techniques we demonstrate that 11 of 23 samples of tumor tissue contain DNA sequences corresponding to three different regions of the JCV genome. More importantly, we demonstrate the presence of DNA sequences encoding the N- and C-terminal regions of the JCV oncogenic protein, T antigen, in 11 of 23 samples and the production of T antigen in the nuclei of 4 samples of tumor tissue. These observations provide evidence for a possible association of JCV with human medulloblastomas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Simian virus 40 and human tumors: It is time to study mechanisms.

Several studies found simian virus 40 (SV40) in 47% to 83% of human mesotheliomas. Mesotheliomas are malignant tumors of the pleura and peritoneum, firmly associated with asbestos exposure. In this issue, Gazdar and colleagues ¿Shivapurkar et al., 1999 found that SV40 is present only in the malignant cells and not in the surrounding stromal cells. Using the microdissection technique, they found SV40 in 54% of 93 mesotheliomas of the epithelial type. The surrounding reactive stromal cells, (20 lung cancers and 14 mesotheliomas of the sarcomatoid/fibrous type) did not contain SV40, confirming the specificity of their positive findings. Furthermore, SV40 was found in 14% of 14 non-malignant reactive mesothelial cell proliferations. In 12 cases of mesothelioma a noninvasive (or in situ) component was also identified. In all four cases in which SV40 sequences were present in the invasive component, sequences were also present in the accompanying noninvasive component. These data suggest that the virus resides in the mesothelial cells prior to tumor development. The data address the remaining concerns raised at an International Meeting organized by the NIH, FDA, and CDC in 1997 to definitively associate SV40 with human mesothelioma. It is time now to investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of this association, and if SV40-infected mesothelial cells are more susceptible to other carcinogens, such as asbestos. Furthermore, we must investigate the interaction between the host immune system and SV40-infected mesothelial cells, and study if the immunosuppressive activity of asbestos interferes with tumor rejection. These studies should lead to a better understanding of mesothelioma pathogenesis, and possibly to new therapeutic approaches aimed at interfering with the expression of the SV40 genome and/or at eliciting a strong immune response against SV40 infected mesothelial cells.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1999

New molecular and epidemiological issues in mesothelioma: role of SV40.

Mesotheliomas are malignant tumors usually associated with occupational asbestos exposure. Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a DNA tumor virus that preferentially causes mesotheliomas when injected intracardially and/or intrapleurally into hamsters. SV40 also transforms human cells in tissue culture, and these cells contain extensive DNA damage. In the United States, at least 60% of human mesotheliomas contain and express SV40. In these tumor cells, the SV40 tumor antigen binds and inhibits the cellular tumor suppressors p53 and Rb. These findings suggest that SV40 may contribute to the development of those human mesotheliomas that occur in people not exposed to asbestos. SV40 may also facilitate asbestos-mediated carcinogenicity. The epidemiological data available are insufficient to address the role that SV40 may have played in contributing to the increased incidence of mesothelioma in the second half of this century.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Activity of nine fluoroquinolones against strains of Bordetella bronchiseptica.

Thirty-two strains of Bordetella bronchiseptica were tested for their antimicrobial susceptibilities to nine fluoroquinolones. The most active agents were fleroxacin, temafloxacin, ciprofloxacin (MIC90 1 microg/ml), ofloxacin, lomefloxacin and enoxacin (MIC90 2 microg/ml). Pefloxacin and norfloxacin were active only against 59.3 and 83.1%, respectively, of the strains tested, whereas rufloxacin lacked activity against all the strains of B. bronchiseptica tested.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

VEGF and VEGF type C play an important role in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in human malignant mesothelioma tumours.

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family is a novel regulator of endothelial cell proliferation. We assessed the mRNA expression of VEGF, VEGF type C (VEGF-C) and their receptors together with the microvessel density (VD) and microlymphatic vessel density (LVD) in pursuit of their connection and prognostic value in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). We used four human MPM cell lines, 54 MPM tumours and five normal pleural tissues. Expression levels for receptors and ligands were assessed by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. Microvessels were highlighted by immunohistochemical staining for factor VIII. The discrimination of lymphatics was performed by enzyme-histochemistry for 5'-nucleotidase after adequate inhibition of non-specific activity. The expression levels of VEGF, VEGF-C and VEGFRs were high in all MPM cell lines. The percentages of tumours with higher expression compared to the mean values of normal pleural tissues were 31.5% (17/54) for VEGF, 66.7% (36/54) for VEGF-C, 20.4% (11/54) for fms-like tyrosine kinase (flt)-1, 42.6% (23/54) for kinase insert domain-containing recepter (KDR) and 59.3% (32/54) for flt-4. Significant positive correlations were found between VEGF-C and flt-4, VEGF and KDR, VEGF and flt-1 in tumour tissues. The association between LVD and VEGF-C expression level was especially strong (P< 0.0001, r= 0.63). There were also significant correlations between LVD and flt-4, and VD and VEGF. No correlation, however, was found between LVD and nodal metastasis. VD was a negative prognostic indicator in this study. The associations between VEGFNEGF-C and vessel density suggest that these factors play an important role in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in this tumour, and assessment of vascularity may be a useful prognostic indicator for MPM patients.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMed1999

Oral lichen planus in patients infected or noninfected with hepatitis C virus: the role of autoimmunity.

Serum proteins, serum immunoglobulins, anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA), anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA), anti-liver-kidney antibodies (LKM), anti-parietal-cell gastric antibodies (APCA), anti-epithelial antibodies and concomitant autoimmune disease were studied in 27 OLP-HCV+ve subjects and in a comparable group of 23 who were OLP-HCV-ve. In addition, all the patients with chronic liver disease who were sero-positive for ANA, AMA or LKM were scored using the new aggregate scoring system to detect those with the accepted criteria for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Hypergammaglobulinemia was more frequent in OLP-HCV+ve than in OLP-HCV-ve (P = 0.008) subjects. Serum IgG and IgM levels were higher in HCV+ve than in HCV-ve (respectively, P = 0.017 and P = 0.018) individuals. However, there was no difference in the frequency of any autoantibody between OLP-HCV+ve and OLP-HCV-ve patients. Overall, immunologically-related abnormalities were found in 17(63%) OLP-HCV+ve and 11(48%) OLP-HCV-ve (P = 0.43) patients. Three OLP-HCV-ve and no OLP-HCV+ve patients had score criteria of probable AIH. The present and our previous data suggest that OLP patients with HCV infection neither had evidence of autoimmune liver damage nor had abnormal humoral immune-responses, with the exception of higher than control levels of serum immunoglobulins. Cryoglobulins may be responsible.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Topical corticosteroids in association with miconazole and chlorhexidine in the long-term management of atrophic-erosive oral lichen planus: a placebo-controlled and comparative study between clobetasol and fluocinonide.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a combination of topical corticosteroids with topical antimycotic drugs in the therapy of atrophic-erosive forms of oral lichen planus (OLP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 60 patients with OLP subdivided into three groups matched for sex and age. The first group (25 patients) and the second group (24 patients) received respectively 0.05% clobetasol propionate ointment or 0.05% fluocinonide ointment in an adhesive medium (4% hydroxyethyl cellulose gel) plus in each case antimycotic treatment consisting of miconazole gel and 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwashes. The third group (11 patients), placebo group, received only hydroxyethyl cellulose gel and antimycotic treatment as above. All the treatment regimens were carried out for 6 months. Each patient was examined every 2 months during the 6-month period of active treatment and for a further 6 months of follow-up. Objective and subjective clinical progress was scored and compared between the three groups. Plasma cortisol levels were monitored in half the patients using the topical corticosteroids. RESULTS: All patients treated with clobetasol and 90% of the patients treated with fluocinonide witnessed some improvement, whereas in the placebo group only 20% of patients improved (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.00029, respectively. However, when considering complete responses, only clobetasol gave significantly better results than placebo. Clobetasol resolved 75% of the lesions whereas fluocinonide was effective in 25% of cases and placebo in none. Clobetasol achieved better results statistically than did fluocinonide (P = 0.00442) and placebo (P = 0.00049) whereas there was no statistical difference among fluocinonide and placebo (P = 0.140). Similar results were obtained for symptoms. Both drugs were shown to be effective in the treatment of erosive lesions, but clobetasol was considerably more efficacious than fluocinonide in the atrophic areas (75% vs 25% of total response, respectively) (P = 0.00442). None of the treated patients contracted oropharyngeal candidiasis. After 6 months of follow-up, 65% of the clobetasol-treated group and 55% of the fluocinonide group were stable. Estimation of plasma cortisol levels showed no significant systemic adverse effects of clobetasol or fluocinonide. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that a very potent topical corticosteroid such as clobetasol may control OLP in most cases, with no significant adrenal suppression or adverse effects. Moreover, a concomitant antimycotic treatment with miconazole gel and chlorhexidine mouthwashes is a useful and safe prophylaxis against oropharyngeal candidiasis.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1999

Emerging translational therapies for mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma remains a therapeutic and diagnostic problem. Translational mechanisms for treatment of the disease are emerging from newly learned characteristics of the tumor on a molecular, cellular, and extracellular basis. Although slow to reach the clinical arena, these potential strategies do show proof of principle in the in vitro and in vivo settings, and some, including adenoviral molecular chemotherapy, have completed phase I testing. This review describes the rationale and status of these newer treatment ideas.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1999

Simian virus 40 is present in most United States human mesotheliomas, but it is rarely present in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Simian virus 40 (SV40) causes mesotheliomas, osteosarcomas, ependymomas, choroid plexus tumors, and lymphomas in hamsters. In humans, SV40 has been detected in tumors of the first four types. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we tested 29 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (intermediate and high-grade), 25 posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders, and 5 AIDS lymphomas for SV40 DNA. PCR analysis revealed that 3 of 29 lymphomas, 6 of 25 posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders, and 2 of 5 AIDS lymphomas contained SV40 sequences corresponding to the retinoblastoma (RB)-pocket binding domain of SV40 tumor antigen (Tag). However, among positive samples, only one posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder and one AIDS lymphoma contained the SV40 regulatory region, which suggest a higher viral load in these patients. In parallel experiments, 8 of 12 mesotheliomas tested positive for SV40 for both the RB-pocket binding domain of Tag and the SV40 regulatory region. These data confirm the presence of SV40 in most United States mesotheliomas and indicate that in human non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, the prevalence of SV40 is low.

Animals↗