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Biomedical subjects

R Cecchi

Publications and source records attributed to R Cecchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Demonstration of Ollulanus tricuspis in the stomach of domestic cats by biopsy.

Ollulanus tricuspis is a small nematode of the family Ollulanidae, found in the stomach of domestic cats and other felids. Of 131 gastric biopsy samples collected at endoscopic examination, four were shown to contain the parasite. Vomiting was the main presenting sign in three cats and weight loss in the fourth. The stomachs were grossly normal on endoscopic examination. Chronic gastritis was observed histologically in two cases, while the remaining cases were microscopically normal. The significance of the parasite remained undetermined. To our knowledge, this is the first report of O. tricuspis infection in domestic cats in which the diagnosis was made by examining routine endoscopic biopsy samples.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Postanaesthetic tracheal strictures in three rabbits.

Within an 11-day period, three rabbits were anaesthetized for neutering. All were endotracheally intubated with 12 cm long, 2.5 mm (inner diameter [ID]) polyvinylchloride (PVC) tubes. All rabbits developed clinical signs of dyspnoea and upper respiratory tract obstruction, 17-21 days later. One rabbit was found dead; the other two were treated, but one was euthanized and one died. At necropsy examination, focal chronic inflammation and significant localized narrowing of the tracheal lumen was found in all cases. The affected sites corresponded to the position of the bevel of the endotracheal tube (ETT) during anaesthesia. Histopathology could not differentiate between a traumatic or chemical cause for the narrowing. Possible causes include trauma by the bevel of the ETT when turning the rabbit or preparing the surgical site or a chemical burn from incorrect disinfection or inadequate rinsing of the tubes. Iatrogenic tracheitis should be considered as a cause of dyspnoea, when clinical signs arise 2-3 weeks after anaesthesia.

Anesthesia, Endotracheal↗
PubMed2001

Immunohistochemical quantification of pulmonary mast-cells and post-mortem blood dosages of tryptase and eosinophil cationic protein in 48 heroin-related deaths.

Recent studies suggest that many fatal heroin overdoses are caused by anaphylactoid reaction. In the present study we measured tryptase and eosinophil cationic protein in post-mortem blood of 48 deaths after heroin injection. We also investigated the presence and pulmonary distribution of mast-cells using specific immunohistochemical antibody for tryptase and morphometric evaluation in those cases of heroin-related deaths. The data were compared with 44 subjects who died following head trauma and to 32 cases of fatal anaphylactic shock. In the heroin-related death cases, the measurements of serum tryptase levels and eosinophil cationic protein dosages resulted in particularly elevated concentrations compared with the trauma cases. Nevertheless, the data that our study supplies by immunohistochemical techniques indicate that when mast-cells count in the lung was determined, no definite pattern was obtained between fatal heroin overdose cases and the control groups. Furthermore, the wide range of morphine concentrations found in post-mortem blood samples suggest that the term 'overdose' is relative and does not sufficiently characterize death associated with heroin addiction. Our study confirms that elevated concentrations of serum tryptase are associated with many heroin-related deaths. At this moment to attribute the cause of these deaths to 'heroin overdose' ignores the likely causal contribution of other possible systemic reactions to the mechanism of death.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed2001

A review of suicides by burning in Rome between 1947-1997 examined by the Pathology Department of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Rome 'La Sapienza'.

The 34 cases of suicide by self-immolation admitted to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', during a 50-year period (1947-1997) were investigated. The nature of this phenomenon in relation to sex, age of the victims, location of the suicides and combination of methods used is discussed. Finally the distribution and extent and characteristics of the lesions are considered from a forensic point of view.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Palpable purpura at the site of previous herpes zoster in association with mixed cryoglobulinemia and hepatitis C virus infection.

A 70-year-old woman affected with chronic active hepatitis C and mixed cryoglobulinemia presented a palpable purpura on her abdominal skin in a metameric configuration, fourteen months after a herpes zoster in the same site. Histopathology showed a small vessel leukocytoclastic vasculitis in the superficial dermis. Post-zoster eruptions are variable, and their spectrum is still expanding, although the pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. Perhaps our case represents an isomorphic reaction, because this palpable purpura, probably related to HCV infection, occurred several months after herpes zoster.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2000

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the effectiveness of a mechanical method for the isolation of preantral follicles from ovine ovaries.

The preantral follicles are the major source of oocytes and its utilization has been investigated as an important tool to store large numbers of female gametes for further utilization in reproductive programs. The aim of the present study was to perform quantitative and qualitative analyses of the efficacy of a mechanical method for isolating of preantral follicles from the ovaries of fetuses and from nonpregnant and pregnant ewes, using as reference the population of preantral follicles in situ. In the isolation method the ovaries were cut into fragments in the tissue chopper. Then, the suspension was filtered through nylon mesh filters. The number of isolated follicles per ovary was 1655, 4735 and 4770, respectively, for the fetus, nonpregnant ewe and pregnant ewe. The number of in situ preantral follicles per ovary was 32961, 16627 and 17794, respectively, for the fetus, nonpregnant ewe and pregnant ewe. The follicle recovery rate (number of isolated preantral follicles/number of in situ preantral follicles x 100) was higher in adult ewes (26 and 28%, respectively, for nonpregnant and pregnant ewes) than in fetuses (5%). Histological analysis showed that very few preantral follicles (less than 0.26% in situ and 0.46% after the isolation procedure) were degenerated. In conclusion, this study showed that a mechanical method could be used effectively to isolate a large number of intact ovine preantral follicles. In the future, with improvements in culture systems, the isolation of a great number of oocytes enclosed in preantral follicles will make a valuable contribution to the rare breeds and endangered species, agricultural efficiency and basic research in folliculogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Annular vasculitis in association with sarcoidosis.

We report a case of cutaneous vasculitis with annular features in association with sarcoidosis. A 36-year-old woman presented with fever, polyarthralgias, erythema nodosum, bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, and induration of a long-standing scar on the face. In addition, she developed annular, erythematous, and purpuric patches over her thighs and buttocks that were histologically characterized by a small vessel leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The presence of circulating immune complexes in the early stages of sarcoidosis might be related to the occurrence of the vascular damage.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Incorrect identification of a military pilot with international implications.

The case is reported of a military pilot shot down in 1986 during a mission whose body was recovered in an advanced state of decomposition and delivered to Italian police in 1989. The first autopsy led to an incorrect identification of the corpse. Because of the advanced decomposed state of the corpse, a correct identification was made only through evaluation of the dental status and radiological examination. The correct evaluation of the specific shape of the amalgam restorations, particularly of those of the first and second inferior right molars, showed agreement with those of the pilot of the plane and not of the co-pilot as was initially stated.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed1996

Detection and significance of adenoviruses in cases of sudden infant death.

Respiratory tract infections have been thought to act as a trigger mechanism in sudden infant death. In 118 autopsy cases of infant death, paraffin-embedded or frozen lung tissues were investigated by means of a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect adenovirus (AV) DNA. The primers used are general primers and allow the detection of most pathogenic adenoviruses with high specificity and sensitivity and independently of devitalization of viruses or degradation of viral DNA. For the investigation three groups were established: there were 13 cases of unnatural death, 78 cases of natural death without histological signs of interstitial pneumonia, and 27 cases with interstitial pneumonia. The first group was AV negative. In the group without interstitial pneumonia AV was detected in 10.2% of the cases. In the group with interstitial pneumonia the frequency of AV detection was almost 26%. The results obtained demonstrate an association between interstitial pneumonia and detection of AV DNA, indicating that AV may play an important part in pulmonary infection in infants. Histological evidence of interstitial pneumonia was not observed in all AV-positive cases, perhaps because nonspecific virus-related changes occurred only in early stages of viral infection. Comparison of the AV frequency in SIDS (25%) and non-SIDS cases (4%) indicates an association between pulmonary AV infections and sudden death. These results support the working hypothesis of respiratory infections acting as a trigger mechanism in sudden infant death.

Adenoviridae↗