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P Piana

Publications and source records attributed to P Piana.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Immunohistochemical detection of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the normal urinary bladder and in pseudomembranous trigonitis.

According to recent studies showing the presence of estrogens receptors (ERs) in the human female lower urinary tract, we performed ER and progesterone receptor (PR) assays in fresh frozen and paraffin embedded biopsies taken from the urinary bladder. Fourteen females undergoing endoscopy during staging for gynecological cancer (endometrium, cervix, ovary) and 15 women complaining of recurrent abacterial cystitis (pseudomembranous trigonitis) were enrolled in the study as Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. After informed consent, they were submitted to cystoscopy, during which two biopsies were taken: one on the trigonum and the other on the bladder lateral wall. ERs were identified in both groups only in the trigonum (7/14 patients in Group 1 and 8/15 in Group 2), whereas the bladder lateral wall always stained negative. PRs were found at both sites in both groups (11/14 cases on the trigonum and 7/14 on the bladder lateral wall in Group 1; 11/15 and 2/15 respectively in Group 2). Morphological localization of PRs showed intense omogeneous staining in the nuclei of the stromal fibroblasts too. A clear correspondence between the presence of steroid receptors at the squamous metaplasia of the trigonum was observed. These data are discussed speculating about a possible endocrine pathogenesis of pseudomembranous trigonitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Detection of estrogen receptors in the trigonum and urinary bladder with an immunohistochemical technique.

In order to detect estrogen receptors (ER) in the female bladder, 5 premenopausal and 10 postmenopausal women affected by gynecological diseases were submitted to cystoscopy, during which both the trigonum and the bladder lateral wall were biopsied. A new, simple, cost-effective immunohistochemical technique was employed to stain the estrogen specific binding sites. ER were found in the trigonum of 3 premenopausal and 4 postmenopausal subjects, while the bladder lateral wall was always ER-negative. A comparison with previously used ER detection methods and a discussion of further hypothetical applications of the immunohistochemical technique in the study of the lower female urogenital tract are reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Wheat bran in the selective therapy of absorptive hypercalciuria: a study performed on 18 lithiasic patients.

The binding properties of raw vegetable fiber towards bivalent cations suggested the prescription of brain as a dietary supplement to limit intestinal calcium absorption in hypercalciuric patients. A group of 18 patients with a specific diagnosis of absorptive hypercalciuria received a dietary supplement of 14 gm. wheat bran at the 2 principal meals for 90 days. A complete assessment of mineral metabolism was performed after 45 and 90 days. Mean basal calciuria was 357 mg. per 24 hours and a significant decrease was noted after 45 days (245 mg. per 24 hours) and 90 days (240 mg. per 24 hours), with a p value of less than 0.01. Urinary oxalate did not vary significantly (0.34 to 0.38 to 0.31 mMol. per 24 hours) and neither did phosphate levels (1,020 to 900 to 893 mg. per 24 hours). A slight and pathologically insignificant decrease was noted in serum iron and urinary magnesium; this fact could be considered a side effect owing to the nonselective binding properties of fiber. Therefore, the positive results achieved confirm the effective action of wheat bran in the treatment of correctly diagnosed absorptive hypercalciuria.

Absorption↗
PubMed1989

CA-50 as tumour marker in transitional bladder carcinoma.

Monoclonal antibody CA-50 is a useful tumour marker in gastrointestinal carcinoma. We report an assessment of its value in bladder cancer patients. We found raised levels in 2 of 2 patients with infiltrating carcinoma and in 8 of 35 with superficial carcinoma. The recurrence rate was higher in patients with raised levels, since 6 of 8 with elevated levels and 15 of 27 with normal values had a recurrence within 6 months. T1 and T3 carcinoma had a mean CA-50 level higher than normal. G3 tumours had a mean level slightly above normal. A statistically significant difference emerged when comparing Ta with T1 + T3 carcinomas. A longer study, with serial determinations, could assess the role of CA-50 as a prognostic indicator in bladder cancer.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗
PubMed1989

Low dosage treatment with propiono-hydroxamic acid in paraplegic patients.

Severe urinary tract infections due to urease-producing bacteria are frequently associated with neurourologic pathologies and complicated by infected nephrolithiasis. Hydroxamic acids, acting as urease inhibitors, can effectively reduce lithiasic risk, normalizing the urinary environment, as well as enhancing the action of antibiotic treatments. A low dosage propiono-hydroxamic acid (PHA) treatment, 60 mg twice a day for 7 days and then 60 mg/day, was used in 15 patients affected with neurourologic pathologies for 3 months. Nine patients were stone-free and 6 stone-bearers. Urinary pH and ammonium decreased in both groups. Halving the PHA dose did not cause any variation in urinary pH or ammonium trends. In the stone-bearing group an increase in these parameters was correlated with urinary infection recurrences. Complete sterilization was achieved in 11 of 14 patients who completed the trial. In the stone-free group no patient had an infectious recurrence after the first month. Two patients in the stone-bearing group had repeated recurrences. One patient dropped out after 45 days due to a decrease in platelets. The efficacy of such low dose treatment makes even long-term or repeated therapies possible, as is often needed by neurourologic patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tumor markers (CEA, TPA and CA 19-9) in urine of bladder cancer patients.

This study was carried out to evaluate the usefulness of determining urinary levels of carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA), tissue-polypeptide antigen (TPA), and gastro-intestinal cancer antigen (Ca19-9) in addition to the usual diagnostic procedures for bladder cancer. Sixty-seven patients with transitional bladder cancer, 40 healthy controls and 20 patients with inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract were considered. All urine samples were obtained from patients with intact renal function and no urinary tract infection. TPA and Ca19-9 urinary levels in patients with G3 bladder tumors were significantly higher than in those with lower graded neoplasms. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of a positive (PV+) or negative (PV-) test and the diagnostic accuracy were also evaluated. Ca19-9 was the best urinary marker for bladder cancer (sensitivity 71.6%, specificity 91.6%, PV+ 90.5%, PV- 74.3%, diagnostic accuracy 81%).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum prostate-specific antigen determination in prostatic carcinoma.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a tissue-specific glycoprotein identified by Wang in 1979. It is synthesized in the prostate independently of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). A total of 199 subjects were divided into four groups: controls aged less than 50 years, controls aged more than 50 years, patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and patients with prostatic carcinoma. PSA cut-off value was set at 10 ng/ml (mean for the BPH group plus 2 SD). With this cut-off value PSA could not be used as an early predictor of prostatic carcinoma. The association of PSA and PAP in prostatic cancer increases the number of patients with positive biological markers.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A case of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma].

The Authors present a case of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma, diagnosed because of the early symptomatic hydronephrosis due to the compression of the tumour on the lumbar ureter. Some general clinical aspects of retroperitoneal sarcomas are discussed too. In the case presented adjuvant therapy was not advised, because of the small volume of the tumour and the possibility of its complete excision.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Immunohistochemical determination of antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) in transitional carcinoma of the bladder].

Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) histological expression in transitional cell bladder carcinoma (TCBC) was studied by means of immunohistochemistry and its findings compared with those of Tissue Polypeptidic Antigen (TPA) and Carcino Embryonic Antigen (CEA). Twenty-one TCBC of various grade and stage were analyzed by using Avidin-Biotin complex method for CA 19-9 and TPA Peroxidase-Antiperoxidase method for CEA. Grade 3 and pT1, pT2/pT3 carcinomas showed a constant staining for CA 19-9 antigen, grade 2 showed a 50% positive immunoreaction while all grade 1 cases were negative. TPA showed an inverse correlation with well differentiated carcinomas which were better and more extensively stained than anaplastic ones. CEA expression was not correlated either with grade or stage. CA 19-9 could be considered as a dedifferentiation marker in TCBC.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The Sarig test. A simple method to evaluate the inhibitory effect on urinary crystallization of calcium oxalate].

In this study, the Authors evaluate a simple test proposed by Sarig for the discrimination of kidney stone-formers, based on the overall urine inhibitory effect. A solution of the tested urine is added with sodium-oxalate and the kinetics of calcium-oxalate precipitation is indirectly followed with ionometric selective measurement of the progressive reduction of free calcium ions. A Discriminating Index may be therefore calculated; higher values are obtained in lithiasic patients in comparison with normal controls.

Calcium Oxalate↗