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Biomedical subjects

M Zocchi

Publications and source records attributed to M Zocchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Demonstration of multiple HPV types in laryngeal premalignant lesions using polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry.

Recent evidence has shown that human papillomavirus (HPV) is involved in both the development of carcinoma and in premalignant mucosal lesions of the oral cavity. This study examined the relationship of HPV infection to some pathological features in precancerous lesions of the larynx, not examined extensively so far. Fifty formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections containing human laryngeal precancerous lesions were screened for the presence of HPV infection by polymerase chain reaction, and for capsid protein expression by immunohistochemistry with polyclonal antibody directed against the L1 protein. The presence of HPV DNA was detected in 28 of 50 specimens (56%), including 9/12 cases with mild dysplasia (75%), 3/6 cases with moderate dysplasia (50%), and 7/11 cases with severe dysplasia (64%). Multiple HPV infections, containing two or three types, were detected in 17 of the 28 HPV-positive lesions (60%). Of 21 cases with keratosis and no dysplasia, 11 were positive for HPV DNA (52%) and 4 showed L1 staining (36%). By contrast, L1 positivity was revealed only in two lesions with moderate dysplasia, confirming that fully productive HPV infection is strictly dependent on epithelial differentiation and surface keratinization. The probability that HPV is a cofactor in the malignant progression of these lesions is suggested by the fact that 3/4 patients who developed cancer within 50 months were positive for HPV DNA.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

PCR detection of JC virus DNA in the brain tissue of a 9-year-old child with pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma.

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is a rare cerebral tumor of young adults with a slow growth and a good prognosis. Due to its peculiar histopathological findings, the tumor resemble to the lytic phase of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a JC Virus (JCV) induced disease. For these reasons, the presence of JCV genoma and viral particles were searched for by means of nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) and electron microscopy (EM) in a 9-year-old child with PXA. Although EM did not reveal any viral particles, nPCR did reveal genomic sequences of the LT, R, and VP1 regions of JCV. Sequence analysis showed that the R region was mutated with respect to the archetypal form thus yielding the Mad 4 variant of JCV previously reported as being oncogenic in animals. We suggest that JCV may have played a role in the development of this tumor.

Astrocytoma↗
PubMed1995

[Myoepithelial-epithelial carcinoma of the parotid: cyto-histological description of a case].

We report a case of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland arised in a 72 years-old woman, in which the diagnosis was suspected on fine-needle aspiration and confirmed on surgical specimen. Immunohistochemical evidence for the dual differentiation (glandular and myoepithelial) of the tumour was obtained both on surgical specimen and cytological inclusion. Morphological features and proliferating index (MIB1) analysis suggest that this case is an intermediate grade malignant neoplasm. Main differential diagnosis of the epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma with predominantly clear cell tumours of the salivary glands were discussed.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗
PubMed1994

Characterization of EN4 monoclonal antibody: a reagent with CD31 specificity.

EN4 MoAb was originally described as a MoAb that reacts specifically with human endothelial cells, and the reagent was not assigned to any of the presently known CD. Here, we provide evidence indicating that EN4 reacts with the CD31 antigen. Thus, EN4 stains strongly murine fibroblasts transfected with the human CD31 gene. Furthermore, SDS-PAGE analysis of immunoprecipitates of cell lysates from surface-iodinated Jurkart T cells demonstrated that EN4 and reference CD31 MoAb recognized the same antigen, of 130 kD mol. wt. Finally, both EN4 and CD31 gave the same pattern of reactivity when tested on tonsillar or peripheral blood lymphoid cells by FACS analysis or by immunohistochemistry on sections of a variety of human tissues. EN4, however, proved consistently more efficient than the reference anti-CD31 MoAb as judged by both the intensity of fluorescence or of tissue staining. This property has thus allowed a better characterization of the tissue and cellular distribution of CD31.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

Ultrasonic liposculpturing.

The author describes a revolutionary body contouring technique based on the surgical use of ultrasonic energy. It allows the selective destruction of only excess adipose tissue. The technique is based on three fundamental steps: (1) preparation of the areas to be treated with a large infiltration of a special solution, (2) treatment of the areas with ultrasonic energy through special titanium probes, (3) manual remodeling of the treated areas to eliminate the fluid from the bursted adipocytes (fatty acids). The advantages of this new technique are selective destruction of just the undesired tissues, elimination of the fluid from the adipose tissues, and the possibility of a real "lifting" of the skin of the treated areas, and a reduction of physical strain on the surgeon. The author has already treated more than 280 patients with excellent results and without contraindications or undesired side effects. The fundamental steps of ultrasonic liposculpturing, including a description of the physical principles on which the technique is based, are presented.

Female↗
PubMed1989

[Metadoxine in alcohol-related pathology].

Metadoxine is an active drug for treatment of acute and chronic alcohol intoxication, affecting both liver and brain function. The authors reviewed the international pharmacological and clinical literature on the drug which shows the potential usefulness of metadoxine in the treatment of alcohol-induced diseases. The case report concerns the results in 20 chronic alcoholics, admitted to the hospital for acute alcohol intake treated with metadoxine (one 500 mg tablet twice daily). Biohumoral hepatopathy parameters and clinical parameters of neuropsychic behaviour were examined simultaneously. Compared with a control group of patients undergoing traditional therapy (sedative and multi-vitamin drugs), metadoxine showed a significant improvement of the values of gamma-GT, GPT, blood ammonia, blood alcohol and of neuropsychic and behavioural parameters such as agitation, tremor, asterixis, sopor and depression. No side-effects or unfavourable reactions occurred during metadoxine treatment, which confirms the safety of this molecule.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Importance of echography in the study of urinary tract infections in childhood].

One hundred and twenty-one children with a clinical diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) were examined with sonography (US), ivp and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG). In 84 patients neither US nor radiographic findings were found of pathological significance; in 16 out of 37 patients with pathological findings both US and ivp were negative, whereas VCUG was decisive for a correct diagnosis. VCUG demonstrated vesicoureteric reflux in 10 patients, posterior urethral valves in 1 patient, and small diverticula of the urinary bladder in 5 patients. In 17 of the remaining 21 cases, there was agreement between US and urographic findings, whereas in 4 cases US provided us with false positives, with images of apparent renal scarring. The mistake was caused by an incorrect US detection of unilateral duplication of the collecting systems. The authors conclude by stressing the importance of ivp in the evaluation of urinary tract infections in children, even in case of negative VCUG and US results, and suggest comparing US measurements of renal length to the distance between three contiguous lumbar vertebrae in order to obtain measurements comparable to body growth.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

[H2 antagonists and the heart].

The large scale use of drugs that block tissue histamine receptors (H1 and H2) creates the problem of possible side effects due to the inhibition of the physiological role of histamine on certain systems and/or the direct action of histamine receptor blockers. In the case of H2 antagonists the effects on the heart so far reported are few but are considered important since they suggest the presence of physiological mechanisms that are as yet imperfectly understood. The literature on the cardiac effects of cimetidine and ranitidine is reviewed and the extent of the effect of the two drugs is outlined on the basis of an analysis of cases presented, experimental protocols and the various hypotheses put forward. Apart from the speculative interest of the study, a possible predisposition to the cardiac effects of cimetidine and ranitidine is identified in patients with major basal pathologies or in critical conditions. On the basis of the large numbers treated worldwide and the sporadic reports of cardiac effects it is concluded that the drugs are very easily handled even from the viewpoint of cardiac effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Neutrophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (NCF-A) release in aspirin-induced asthma.

Neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) following oral challenge with aspirin (ASA) was determined in ASA-intolerant asthmatic subjects, and in ASA-tolerant asthmatic and normal subjects. There was a statistically significant fall in FEV1 and a rise in NCA (P less than 0.01) following challenge in the ASA-sensitive subjects compared with that of the ASA-tolerant subjects and normal controls. No significant difference was observed between the latter two groups. The chemotactic factor identified in this study had a molecular weight greater than 150 000 which is consistent with NCF-A (neutrophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis). The ASA-induced fall in FEV1 and rise in NCA was further studied in three of the ASA-intolerant asthmatic subjects, with and without pretreatment with inhaled sodium cromoglycate. In these subjects, the drug inhibited both the oral ASA-induced bronchoconstriction and the increase in neutrophil chemotactic activity. These results suggest that ASA-induced asthma involves mediator release from mast cells, as shown by the increase in NCA following ASA challenge and the protective effect of sodium cromoglycate which is considered to inhibit mast-cell degranulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Functional and morphological study of the resensitization of transplanted skin flaps].

A study was conducted to assess sensory function in skin grafts, its effectiveness being an essential condition for ensuring coverage of loss of substance and total functional recovery of the transplanted skin. Morphological and structural criteria to identify cutaneous sensory receptors were established, and data related to their functional activity obtained following an exhaustive literature review. Clinical studies from 1960, employing conventional tests of responses to stimuli, have demonstrated that sensory recovery in transplanted flaps is strictly proportional to that which existed previously. More recent studies have involved equipment to apply stimuli and record responses providing objective assessment of tactile, pain, and thermal sensitivities. Histologic examinations were also performed to try to obtain morphological confirmation o results from the exposed clinical methods. Analysis of a selection of clinical cases studied has demonstrated that more marked recovery of sensory function in transplanted flaps is related to histological evidence of a greater density of regenerated nerve endings.

Humans↗
PubMed1983

[Radiologic anatomy of the bony lacrimal canal. Axial projections].

Radiologic exploration of the bony lacrimal duct is principally indicated in lacrimal disorders secondary to facial injuries. The use of an axial projection enables analysis of possible displacements or obliterations. Its associations with lacrimography is often indispensable.

Facial Injuries↗