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Biomedical subjects

M Raffaelli

Publications and source records attributed to M Raffaelli.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Ecology of depression in late childhood and early adolescence: a profile of daily states and activities.

This study investigated daily states and time use patterns associated with depression. Four hundred eighty-three 5th to 9th graders reported on their experience when signalled by pagers at random times. Depressed youth reported more negative affect and social emotions, lower psychological investment, lower energy, and greater variability in affect. These differences were weaker for 5th and 6th graders, suggesting that self-reported feeling states are a poor indicator of depression prior to adolescence. No differences were found in the daily activities of depressed youths nor in the amount of time spent alone, but depressed youths experienced other people as less friendly and more often reported wanting to be alone, especially when with their families. They also spent less time in public places and more time in their bedrooms. Finally, depressed boys, but not girls, spent much less time with friends, particularly of the same sex, suggesting that social isolation is more strongly associated with depression for boys.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Solitary cutaneous reticulum cell tumor. Enzyme-immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic analogies with IDRC sarcoma.

We herein report a case of solitary cutaneous reticulum cell tumor not associated with any other organ involvement. The enzyme-immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic features of the cellular infiltrate are the same as those of interdigitating reticulum cells (IDRC), which can give rise to neoplasms in lymphoid organs; they are also similar to those of Langerhans cells and "indeterminate" cells, which are usually thought to give rise only to systemic disorders. The authors support the hypothesis that such neoplasms may represent the cutaneous counterpart of IDRC neoplasms of lymphoid organs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Mycosis fungoides. Detection of OKT6+ cells by cytofluorographic analysis in one case.

An 86-year-old woman had a subjective history of pruritus and intermittent fever. The clinical diagnosis of mycosis fungoides was confirmed by cutaneous and lymph node biopsies. Immunohistochemical, cytofluorographic, and ultrastructural analysis was performed. According to immunohistochemical findings the lymphoid cells infiltrating the skin and lymph nodes were phenotypically T-helper cells. Cytofluorographic and ultrastructural analysis of the peripheral blood detected a small number of cerebriform lymphoid cells. By immunohistochemistry, these cells showed the same phenotype that was found in the skin and lymph nodes. OKT6+ cells, which are not usually present, were also found in the peripheral blood. These findings may suggest a functional relationship between the skin and the lymphoid system.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

[Cosmetic acne and a test of comedogenicity].

A comedogenic test was carried out on the internal ear canal of four adult, masculine, albino rabbits, using butter of cacao and linseed oil, both known to be present in various cosmetic products. Histologic observation after 14 days showed follicular hyperkeratosis conferming the validity of this test.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1984

[Differences in the culture of pigment cells from various sources].

In order to look for a new culture system suitable for investigating on melanocyte biology, in-vitro experiments have been carried out on pigmented basal cell carcinoma, pigmented seborrhoeic keratosis and melanocytic nevus. Melanocytes cultured from pigmented basal cell carcinoma and pigmented seborrheic keratosis are dendritic and DOPA positive. These cells can be considered similar to those of normal skin. Pigmented cells cultured from nevi are quite different. They are spindle-shaped and only to a little extent are DOPA positive. These findings suggest that nevus cells could be non mature melanocytes stopped at an intermediate stage of differentiation.

Basal Cell Carcinoma↗
PubMed1984

[Use of monoclonal antibody 225.28S in the study of nevus cells in culture].

The aim of this work is to identify and purify cultured nevus cells. We used for our study monoclonal antibody 225.28S. This antibody reacts with a surface antigen which is expressed by nevus cells and melanoma cells, but it does not react with normal melanocytes. We studied 10 dermic nevi and we observed that antigenic determinant survives in cultured nevus cells. These results allowed us to employ the method of panning for purify cultured nevus cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1984

[Endothelial cell culture as a model for the study of wound healing].

Endothelial cells culture can be considered a reliable method for investigating about granulation tissue production in wound healing and for evaluating the pharmacological action of some chemicals on granulation tissue development. Endothelial cells have been obtained from human umbilical cords after trypsin treatment and their endothelial origin has been demonstrated by light microscopy, by immunofluorescence against factor VIII associated protein and by the platelet adhesion assay. The influence of fibronectin as substratum and of hyaluronic acid as soluble factor on adhesion and growth of endothelial cells has been investigated. Both these substances, but especially hyaluronate, determine a better attachment and an increase in the growth rate when compared with control cultures plated on plastic substratum and without hyaluronic acid in the culture medium.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in the treatment of malignant adrenal lesions].

The role of laparoscopic approach for the treatment of malignant adrenal diseases is still controversial. The aim of this study was to verify the results of laparoscopic adrenalectomy in the management of adrenal malignancies. The medical records of all the patients who underwent laparoscopic procedures for adrenal diseases and in whom malignancy was demonstrated at final histology were reviewed. Nine patients were included (3 malignant pheochromocytomas, 4 adrenocortical carcinomas and 2 adrenal metastases). At a mean follow-up of 17.0 +/- 12.8 months (range, 2-36), all but two patients were alive and disease free. One patient died for unrelated causes. No patient developed local or port site recurrence. The results of this study demonstrate that laparoscopic adrenalectomy can be safe and effective also in case of adrenal malignancies. Conversion to open surgery in mandatory in case of local invasion and when the dissection cannot be as accurate as in conventional operations. A preliminary laparoscopic exploration can be planned in case of suspected malignant lesions to confirm the diagnosis and to evaluate their operability.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Differentiated tumor of the thyroid in children and adolescents].

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is rare in young patients and represents 0,5 to 3,0% of childhood carcinomas. The incidence increases with age: a peak incidence is observed between 15 and 19 years of age. DTC in children is frequently associated with greater risk of cervical lymph node involvement (60-80% of cases) and lung metastases at diagnosis in 20% of patients. However the prognosis for these patients is better when compared with that of adults, despite a high incidence of relapse, leading to reoperation. Young age (<16 years), lymph node involvement or distant metastases at diagnosis and some histopathologic characteristics have been suggested as predictive factors of recurrences. The records of 33 patients with DTC in a 14-year period (1990-2004) were reviewed. There were 31 females and 2 males who ranged from 11 to 21 years. At the diagnosis 15 patients had disease confined to the thyroid, 18 had additional lymph node metastases in the neck; one of them had also lung metastases. Total thyroidectomy (TT) was the elective approach in all patients (4 cases videoassisted). TT was associated to functional neck dissection in 21 cases. 131I was administrated to 28 patients (3,7 GBq as ablative dose): 11 of this received further radioiodine treatments (mean 7,4 GBq) because of elevated serum thyroglobulin levels and presence of loco-regional or lung metastasis at diagnostic total body scan after 131I treatment. The overall survival rate was 100% at a follow up of 4 months to 14 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pheochromocytoma: role of preoperative diagnosis in the assessment of malignancy risk and in the choice of surgical approach].

Pheochromocytomas are malignant in 5-26% of the cases. Differential diagnosis with benign lesions can be difficult even on a pathological basis. Local invasion and distant metastasis are the only well established indicators of malignancy. It has been reported that the risk of malignancy increases with the lesion size. Despite safe laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) has been reported for lesions up to 10 cm, it is considered hazardous for pheochromocytoma larger than 6 cm, because of the risk of malignancy and iatrogenic pheochromocytomatosis. We evaluated the possibility to pre-operatively recognize pheochromocytomas at risk of being malignant that should not be selected for LA. The medical records of all the patients who underwent adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma were reviewed. All the preoperatively available data (demographic, clinical, biochemical and radiological) were recorded as well as final pathological diagnosis. Comparative analysis of patients with benign and malignant pheochromocytomas was performed. Sixty-three adrenalectomies for pheochromocytoma were performed in 60 patients. Fifty-seven benign and 6 malignant pheochromocytomas were identified. No significant difference was found between patients with malignant and benign lesions concerning age, gender, family history, symptoms, laboratory and radiological findings. In particular, no significant difference was found for lesion size between the benign (63.3 +/- 30.6 mm, range, 20-150) and the malignant group (48.6 +/- 16.5 mm; range, 30-70). The largest diameter recorded for a malignant lesion was 70 mm. No preoperatively available data can reliably differentiate between benign and malignant pheochromocytomas. All malignant lesions in this series were smaller than 7 cm. Thus, pheochromocytoma size does not seem a reliable predictor of malignancy. In absence of the evidence of gross local invasion or metastatic disease, LA can be safely proposed also for large lesions. Conversion is mandatory in presence of local invasion or difficult dissection that could involve inadequate resection.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Incidental discovery of adrenal neoplasms: our experience].

Incidental radiologic diagnosis of clinically silent adrenal masses is reported with increasing rates. Between 1981 and 1994 we observed 30 patients with "incidentaloma": for each of them a careful hormonal and instrumental evaluation was obtained. 24 patients were surgically treated. No significant biochemical alterations were observed; ETG, TC and RMN had a sensitivity of 86%, 93% and 83%, respectively. At seleno-cholesterol scintigraphy 5 incidentalomas (all adenomas) had a concordant pattern and 5 (none of these adenoma) had a discordant pattern. MIBG scintigraphy showed an uptaking ganglioneuroma. The observed histotypes were: 10 adenomas, 3 cysts, 1 hematoma, 1 myelolipoma, 1 angiomyolipoma, 1 ganglioneuroma, 1 ganglioneurofibroma, 1 paraganglioma, 1 aspecific granulomatous necrosis, 4 cortical carcinoma and 3 metastatic lesions. We did not observe any postoperative acute adrenal failure. The main problem raised by incidentalomas is to define their nature; hence the need of a careful hormonometabolic, morpho-functional and instrumental evaluation. The available diagnostic procedures, even when combined, cannot always define if an incidentaloma is a benign or a malignant lesion: in the current clinical practice, the size of the mass is still the most important criterion to define a therapeutic approach. Surgical excision is mandatory in presence of an hormonal production, even subclinic, and/or a large size of the mass (over 5 cm). If the tumor size is less than 5 cm, an aggressive strategy may be chosen in selected low-risk patients, because of the low morbidity of adrenalectomy. In our experience, the transperitoneal subcostal approach has been adopted routinely with good results.

Adenoma↗