PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Mingrino

Publications and source records attributed to S Mingrino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Predictive value of ANCA in atypical primary brain localization of Wegener's granulomatosis.

Wegener's Granulomatosis is a necrotizing vasculitis generally involving upper and lower respiratory tract and kidneys. The central nervous system is involved in less than 10% of the patients during the course of the disease and primary involvement is even rarer. We present and discuss the case of a patient with primitive cerebral localization of Wegener's Granulomatosis in which the diagnosis and the beginning of correct therapy were delayed, in spite of a rising c-ANCA titer, due to a misinterpretation of a bioptic specimen. This delay caused renal damage and pulmonary cavitations which needed a long time to recover. This case report suggests that the central nervous system can be the site of a primary localization of Wegener's Granulomatosis even without any other organ involvement. The diagnosis must be made as soon as possible in order to prevent spread to other sites since the disease is usually very aggressive and severe.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗
PubMed1996

Immune infiltrates and cytokines in gliomas.

Frozen sections of 21 gliomas were analysed to characterize inflammatory infiltrating cells, HLA-DR antigen expression and cytokine secretion. Mononuclear cells infiltrating the tumours were mostly macrophages, which were detected in 100% of cases, and expressed HLA-DR antigens. Lymphocytes were less frequently seen and expressed the CD8 phenotype. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6), two cytokines mainly produced by activated cells of the macrophage lineage, were demonstrated especially in neoplastic astrocytes. IL-1 beta immunoreactivity was detected in all tumours, and was prevalent in more anaplastic gliomas; IL-6 was found in anaplastic gliomas and in glioblastomas. IL-1 receptors were expressed by both infiltrating macrophages and neoplastic astrocytes in the gliomas analysed. These findings suggest that cytokine production in gliomas seems not related to immune reactions against the tumour and their synthesis by anaplastic astrocytes could follow an unregulated activation of many metabolic processes after neoplastic transformation.

Astrocytes↗
PubMed1994

Risk factors for cerebral glioma in adults: a case-control study in an Italian population.

A case-control study on risk factors for cerebral tumors was conducted on an adult Italian population by the four Neurosurgical Departments of the Veneto Region, i.e. Padua, Treviso, Verona and Vicenza. The study recruited 195 cases of histologically-confirmed cerebral glioma. One hospital control was selected for each case. Cases and controls were matched for age, sex, data of hospitalization and residence. Information on both cases and controls was obtained from a relative. Uninvolved interviewers administered a structured questionnaire including items on the subject's education, occupation, lifestyle, medical history, exposure to radiation for diagnosis or therapy, head trauma and blood group and the medical history of family members. The series of cerebral tumors was first considered as an indistinct set: none of the risk factors examined showed a statistically significant association. A positive association was found with blood group A (OR = 6) when low-grade astrocytomas (n = 41) were considered separately. As for the malignant astrocytomas (n = 132), there was a suggestive but not statistically significant association with the presence of CNS tumors among first- and second-degree relatives (OR = 7.0). On the whole, this study yielded no clear and meaningful association for the various risk factors analyzed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Growth factor (M-CSF) and antigenic properties of macrophages in meningioma.

In meningiomas, transformed meningeal cells can share morphological aspects (in hemangiopericytic meningioma) and antigenic properties (i.e.: HLA-DR antigens expression) with elements of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. In this report, we describe a case of a highly vascular meningioma where numerous tumor cells, studied with immunohistochemical methods, present phenotypic properties of macrophages. Moreover, the cerebrospinal fluid (CF) analysis disclosed, using a biological assay, a high level of a growth factor for monocytic elements, the Macrophages Colony Stimulating Factor (M-CSF). Our findings may confirm that transitional aspects between different mesenchymal cells could be present in meningiomas.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1991

Monosialoganglioside in subarachnoid hemorrhage.

We studied 119 patients with disturbance of consciousness following subarachnoid hemorrhage, due mostly to verified aneurysm rupture, admitted to five Italian neurosurgical departments over 18 months. Level of consciousness as assessed by score on the Glasgow coma Scale ranged from 8 to 14 before the beginning of treatment; level of consciousness was assessed again 7, 14, and 21 days later. Patients were randomly allocated to treatment with monosialoganglioside or placebo according to a double-blind experimental design. The two treatment groups were homogeneous at entry with regard to the main clinical parameters. Both groups improved, but the rate and degree of improvement were greater in the monosialoganglioside-treated group. The difference was significant on days 14 (p = 0.04) and 21 (p = 0.02). Our results seem to confirm the hypothesis that monosialoganglioside reduces brain edema and provides nonspecific neuronal membrane protection.

G(M1) Ganglioside↗
PubMed1989

Giant-cell granulomatous hypophysitis: a distinct clinicopathological entity.

Idiopathic giant-cell granulomatous hypophysitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pituitary gland. It presents clinically as a sellar mass lesion with pituitary insufficiency and/or hyperprolactinemia, and is radiologically indistinguishable from a pituitary tumor. In most of the previously reported cases the documentation of the disorder has been limited to autopsy tissue. Only a few cases documented by biopsy have been recorded. Four cases are presented here with radiological, endocrinological, and surgical findings. The appropriately documented cases collected from the literature and the present series are reviewed and the incidence, patterns of clinical and radiological presentation, and operative management of this disorder are discussed. This entity should be considered when evaluating patients with a pituitary mass and evidence of hypopituitarism and hyperprolactinemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Natural occurrence of ganglioside lactones. Isolation and characterization of GD1b inner ester from adult human brain.

A new ganglioside containing an inner ester linkage was extracted from adult brain specimens, obtained at the time of surgery on 51-70-year-old subjects, purified, and analyzed. It contains glucose, galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine, an N-acetylneuraminic acid in the molar ratio 1:2:1:2, but, on ion-exchange chromatography, behaves as a monosialoganglioside. Structural analyses showed its basic neutral glycosphingolipid core to be ganglio-N-tetraose ceramide, carrying a disialosyl residue on the 3-position of internal galactose. Sialidase degradation and chemical analysis of the products obtained after alkaline treatments suggested one sialic acid residue to be involved in an ester linkage. Fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry indicated the presence of an inner ester linkage between the carboxyl group of the external sialic acid residue and a hydroxyl group of the internal one. On these bases, the new ganglioside can be assumed to be a GD1b in lactonic form. This ganglioside is present only in trace amounts in the brain of infants, but its content increases with age, reaching a value of 3.5% of total sialic acid in 51-70-year-old subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Pituitary microadenomas: surgical results and morphological findings.

The results of transsphenoidal microsurgery in treating 22 patients with pituitary microadenomas are reported. Histological and ultrastructural comparative studies were performed in attempting to obtain a more accurate morphological classification of pituitary microadenomas.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1983

The acromegaly--gigantism syndrome. Report of four cases treated surgically.

Four cases of growth-hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma, with associated aspects of acromegaly and gigantism, are reported in patients aged 12-26. All of the patients had macroadenomas and were treated surgically, three by the transsphenoidal approach and one with a transfrontal craniotomy. Histologic examination revealed eosinophilic adenomas in three of the cases and a mixed eosinophilic--chromophobe adenoma in one, all with cellular irregularities (mitosis and cellular and nuclear polymorphism), local invasivity, or both. Because surgical treatment did not produce complete normalization of growth hormone levels, radiotherapy followed the operations in all four cases. In our opinion, the treatment of acromegalic gigantism poses more therapeutic problems than that of simple acromegaly, with combined treatment (surgical, radiation, and medical) often being necessary.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1983

Selective percutaneous thermolesions of the ninth cranial nerve by lateral cervical approach: report of eight cases.

Percutaneous radiofrequency thermolesion of the petrous ganglion at the jugular foramen was employed for the treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia in eight cases, three with essential and five with symptomatic pain from oropharyngeal cancer. Because of its technical simplicity, the lateral cervical approach was preferred to the anterior lateral approach. Immediate and subsequent surgical results were satisfactory. No neurological complication was noted, except for transitory bradycardia and hypotension during the procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Alterations of facial sensitivity induced by percutaneous thermocoagulation for trigeminal neuralgia.

Sixty patients with essential trigeminal neuralgia underwent selective percutaneous thermocoagulation of the gasserian ganglion. Immediate and long-term modifications of pain and tactile facila sensitivity, recurrences of pain, and occurrences of facial paresthesias were evaluated. Pin-prick and von Frey hair tests and somatosensory-evoked potentials were used to study facila sensitivity. Patients with mild alterations of sensitivity-treated with low temperatures of coagulation (60 degrees-70 degrees C)--had a lower incidence of paresthesias, although a higher risk of recurrence. Patients with severe alterations of sensitivity--a consequence of a temperature of coagulation above 70 degrees C--had a high incidence of paresthesias and a low risk of recurrence. In our opinion, the first kind of results are better.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Posttraumatic intraventricular haemorrhages.

Of a series of 350 patients studied for blunt head trauma by CT scan 10 were found to have an intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH); in 8 cases we could find concomitant CT abnormalities as well as intracerebral contusion or haemorrhage, and in two cases no other CT abnormality was noted. CT scan represents the first reliable and non-surgical tool for identifying this process. Two possible mechanisms that govern the formation of an IVH are postulated: a) an erosion of the ventricular wall by an intracerebral haemorrhage; b) the rupture of subependymal veins deformed by the negative pressure following dilatation of the ventricular wall. The prognosis in our cases is severe.

Adolescent↗