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Biomedical subjects

S Guercilena

Publications and source records attributed to S Guercilena.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Mortality of a young population after accidental exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin.

The mortality experience of 19,637 people aged 1-19 years living in an area around Seveso, Italy, contaminated by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) after an accidental explosion in a chemical plant was examined for the period 1976-1986. For comparison, the mortality of the population of nearly 100,000 people living in the surrounding districts was examined. People who left the study area were followed up. Vital status ascertainment was successful in over 99% of the cases. A group of 186 children who contracted chloracne, a reversible marker of TCDD intoxication, shortly after the accident were in the study: none of them died during the observation period. Among the exposed, mortality owing to all causes, to all accidents and to all cancers failed to show major departure from expectations. Five leukaemia deaths were observed, four among males and one among females; the corresponding relative risks were 2.1 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.7-6.9), and 2.5 (95% CI: 0.2-27.0), respectively. Two lymphatic leukaemias among males yielded a RR = 9.6 (95% CI: 0.9-106.0). Mortality owing to congenital anomalies showed a nearly twofold increase in the contaminated area; however, five out of seven observed cases were born before the accident. Interpretation is limited by the small number of deaths, short latency period and low validity of death certificate information for certain causes, and by the definition of exposure which was based merely on residence. The follow-up is continuing. A cancer morbidity study is in progress.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Computerized slow-staged freezing of semen from men with testicular tumors or Hodgkin's disease preserves sperm better than standard vapor freezing.

Two methods of freezing semen taken from patients with testicular tumors or Hodgkin's disease before treatment were compared. Many patients already have semen abnormalities, so an optimal method is extremely important. Ejaculates from 8 patients with testicular tumors and 20 with Hodgkin's disease were frozen by fast-freezing or by slow-staged freezing. Effects of motility, viability, and swelling after thawing were significantly impaired with both methods. However, cryosurvival was better after slow- than fast-freezing: motility 24% +/- 12.4% versus 15% +/- 11.2%; viability 24.1% +/- 11.4% versus 17.3% +/- 10.4%, swelling 33.3% +/- 11% versus 27.6% +/- 12.8%. The effects were equal for normal and abnormal sperm. Sperm from tumor patients should be frozen by slow-staged freezing method in spite of the higher cost and longer time.

Computers↗
PubMed1989

Ten-year mortality study of the population involved in the Seveso incident in 1976.

In 1976, an accidental explosion in a plant near Seveso, Italy, caused the contamination of a populated area by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). The area was subdivided into three zones (A, B, and R) having decreasing mean levels of TCDD soil contamination. This study examines the mortality between 1976 and 1986 among the subjects, aged 20-74 years, who were resident in the area since the accident (n = 556 in zone A, n = 3,920 in zone B, n = 26,227 in zone R). Subjects' exposure was classified by residence. A referent cohort of 167,391 subjects who lived in the immediate surroundings was concurrently examined. Vital status ascertainment was successful for over 99% of the subjects. Increased mortality from cardiovascular causes was found; incident-related stressors were considered more relevant to increased mortality than was TCDD exposure. Mortality from several cancers was elevated. The increases in biliary cancer (females), brain cancer, and lymphatic and hemopoietic neoplasms (particularly leukemia in males) did not appear to result from chance, confounding, or information/comparison bias. However, no definite patterns related to exposure classification were apparent. Merely suggestive increases in soft tissue tumors and melanoma were also noted. Liver and breast cancer mortality tended to be below expectations. Interpretation is hampered by the short observation period, small number of deaths from certain causes, and poor exposure definition. Further research is in progress.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1989

Mediastinal malignant carcinoid with Cushing's syndrome: immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

A case of thymic atypical carcinoid with Cushing's syndrome and unfavorable clinical course is reported. Immunohistochemical analysis reveals distinct staining of tumor cells for ACTH, neuron-specific enolase, chromogranins (CG) and S-100 protein and with PHE-5 monoclonal antibody. At an ultrastructural level, the cells are undifferentiated with only a few neurosecretory granules. In the present case, immunohistochemical stainings for CG and with PHE-5 antibody seem reliable diagnostic tools, easily demonstrating the neuroendocrine nature of the neoplasm. NSE immunoreactivity can be an additional criterion. S-100-positive cells, which are present throughout the tumor, recall 'sustentacular cells', described in other neuroendocrine tumors.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1986

Feto-maternal transfusion after chorionic villus sampling: clinical implications.

Feto-maternal transfusion following chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in the first trimester of pregnancy was evaluated by alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level determination in maternal serum before and after sampling. Some fetal haemorrhage was suggested in 72% of 283 continuing pregnancies by a significant increase of maternal AFP level. Fetal bleeding appeared to stop a short time after CVS, and did not complicate detection of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the second trimester. The change in the maternal serum AFP level was correlated with the size of the chorionic tissue specimen, but no association was observed between fetal and neonatal outcome. The risk of maternal rhesus (Rh) iso-immunization must be taken into account, and anti-D immunoglobulin administrated after CVS. Maternal Rh immunization should be considered as a contraindication to CVS.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Morphological selection of human spermatozoa in cervical mucus "in vivo".

Spermatozoa morphology at two levels in the cervical canal was compared, at the external and internal uterine orifices, in samples taken "in vivo" during 21 postcoital tests (P.C.T.s). P.C.T.s with cervical mucus, with Moghissi scores lower than 10 and exo- and endocervical pH less than 7 were excluded. At the upper level of the cervical canal, 12 of the 21 P.C.T. showed more than 5% more normal spermatozoa than at the lower level of the canal (in 5 of these P.C.T. the increase was greater than 10%). Selection for normal heads was seen in 2 and for normal tails in 4. The P.C.T. that selected for normal tails all had greater than 10% abnormal tails at the external orifice. These results confirm that there is some selection of spermatozoa during passage through the cervical canal. Above all, the selection appears to exclude those spermatozoa with defective locomotive mechanisms (abnormal tails), which indicates that the mucus acts as a "passive filter" with selection depending on the spermatozoa themselves in relation to motility.

Cervix Mucus↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mortality in an area contaminated by TCDD following an industrial incident.

The mortality experience of the population, aged 20-74 years, living in an area contaminated by TCDD after an industrial accident in 1976, was examined in the period 1976-1986 and compared with the mortality of the population of the surrounding noncontaminated territory. People who left the area during the study period were followed up, and vital status was successfully ascertained for over 99% of the cohort members. An increased mortality, from chronic ischemic heart disease (males) and hypertensive disease (females), which could not be explained in terms of chance, confounding, or bias, was noted in the exposed population. The stressful experience of the population in the aftermath of the disaster was deemed relevant to the interpretation of these findings. Overall, cancer mortality was not increased. Suggestive increases, however, were seen for melanoma, brain cancer, soft tissue sarcomas and certain hematologic neoplasms, whereas mortality from breast cancer and cancer of the liver was noticeably decreased. Further research is in progress in order to thoroughly investigate the association, if any, of cancer occurrence with TCDD contamination.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Mortality: various measurements compared].

SMR (Standardized Mortality Ratio) is a useful epidemiological measure but it cannot be computed when person-years distributions (denominators) are not available. In this situation PMR (Proportionate Mortality Ratio) and MOR (Mortality Odds Ratio) represent possible alternatives. Definitions of PMR and MOR are presented, and properties and drawbacks of these measures are discussed in relation to SMR's estimates. Fictitious data representing factual situations are used as working examples.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A follow-up study of 304 cases of suspected pathology caused by benzene seen in 1950-71].

A group of 304 subjects admitted to the Institutes of Occupational Health of Milan and Pavia (Italy) between 1951 and 1970 for suspected benzene intoxication were retrieved from hospital records and their mortality experience was examined up to 31 December, 1986. The aims of the study were: 1) to estimate, in quantitative terms, the risk associated with benzene exposure in that area in the time period considered (these risks had already been reported, but merely as case reports); 2) to investigate the possibility of an increased frequency of neoplasms other than leukaemia; and 3) to further investigate the exposure history of these subjects. In the absence of data on the population at risk, mortality was analysed via the mortality odds ratio (MOR) method. A local population mortality experience was used as reference. Twenty-eight malignant neoplasms were observed (MOR = 2.2; 95% confidence interval = 1.3-3.7), 15 of which were haematologic neoplasms (MOR = 13.3; 95% confidence interval = 8.0-22.2). No odds ratio increases were observed for any of the other tumour sites or types. Eleven observed blood diseases represented a large numerical increase in the odds ratio. For all the haematologic neoplasms there had been an estimated exposure to airborne benzene concentrations above 20 ppm. However, no conclusions on dose-response relationships can be drawn from these data because of the approximate evaluation of individual exposure and, especially, because the study group most probably consisted of a highly selected sample of the exposed population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Benzene↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Carcinogenic risk for resin producers exposed to formaldehyde: extension of follow-up].

A significant increase in lung cancer was observed in a previous study on the mortality experience of a cohort of 1332 male workers employed between 1959 and 1980 in a resin manufacturing plant. Due to the limited exposure and an inadequate follow-up, it was not possible to make a thorough analysis of the potential association of this elevated risk with exposure to formaldehyde. The study was therefore continued and extended for a further six years (1980-1986), in order to overcome the limitations. Despite these attempts, however, there were still 219 workers whose specific exposure could not be identified. Lung cancer risk in the whole cohort (27,202 person-years) was equal to that of the local population (observed = 24; expected = 23.9). Among those definitely exposed to formaldehyde, 6 lung cancer cases were observed and 8.7 were expected, while those with non-specified exposure exhibited an increase risk (observed = 9; SMR = 211); they were mainly short-term workers employed at the beginning of operations. The previously suggested increase in haematologic neoplasms was confirmed (observed = 7; SMR = 143); the risk was highest among formaldehyde-exposed workers (observed = 3; SMR = 173). Five deaths due to primary liver cancer were observed, while 2.0 would have been expected from the local population rates (SMR = 244); the increased risk was fairly evenly distributed across the exposure categories (exposed to formaldehyde, SMR = 244; non-exposed to formaldehyde, SMR = 227; non-specified exposure = 287); however, all cases were first exposed at the age of 45 years or older. A noteworthy finding was a 50% increase in mortality from respiratory diseases. The increase was mainly apparent among those with longest and earliest exposure, employed in operations classified as involving exposures other than formaldehyde (observed = 9; SMR = 224). Overall, the results of this extended study do not provide sufficient grounds for associating work in formaldehyde resin production in this plant with increased carcinogenic risk; however, limitations in the individual exposure classification and suggestions of an increased risk for certain tumours preclude considering the study as negative. The numerous airborne irritative agents present in the plant environment appeared to have increased the risk of respiratory disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in cervical mucus after diathermocoagulation of the cervix.

We have studied the principal chemophysical properties of cervical mucus obtained before and after diathermocoagulation (DTC) in 35 patients participating in a program for prevention of cervical carcinoma. Two months after DTC there were significant decreases in the cervical scores for both exo- and endo-cervical mucus (Moghissi scale). Twelve patients with favorable pre-DTC scores, whose condition had deteriorated 2 months subsequent to treatment, again displayed normal scores in both sites 1 year after DTC. We feel, therefore, that DTC does not cause any permanent change in the chemophysical properties of the cervical mucus, but instead only temporary deterioration during the repair phase.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Semiautomatic procedure for determining urine iron in subjects treated with deferoxamine B].

A semiautomatic method for the determination of urine iron during treatment with deferoxamine B has been evaluated: samples were diluted 1:10 with a TCA 10% and thioglycolic acid 1.1% solution and processed after centrifugation by the aca III discrete clinical analyzer Du Pont. In this way an overestimation of values depending on the turbidity caused by proteins is avoided and the bad smell is limited thanks to the very low concentration of the thioglycolic acid solution. A good correlation with the atomic absorption spectrophotometry, specially for values less than or equal to 20 mg/l, was observed examining urine samples of 150 patients treated with deferoxamine B.

Deferoxamine↗