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Biomedical subjects

V Rizzi

Publications and source records attributed to V Rizzi.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

DNA index shift with disease progression in colorectal adenocarcinoma: a morphological and flow cytometric study.

DNA index (DI) values seen in 86 sporadic colorectal adenocarcinomas were related to clinical, morphological, and disease progression features. DI, whose overall distribution was bimodal with peaks in the diploid and from hypotriploid to tetraploid ranges, was related to pathological lymph node staging (pN), staging, lymphoid reaction, and tubular configuration. With increasing severity in pathological features, an irregular shift in DI class prevalence was seen, with no steady increase from diploidy to higher degrees of aneuploidy. All UICC stage I tumors (13% of total) were aneuploid, 50% being hypertriploid; diploidy (35%) and hypertriploidy (22%) prevailed in stage II carcinomas (41% of total), diploidy (35%) and hypotriploidy (30%) in stage III (30% of total), and triploidy (33%) in stage IV (15% of total). Amongst features related to stage (lymphoid reaction, depth of neoplastic embolization, grading, tubular configuration, and polymorphism), few were associated with DI, and none influenced DI shift and class prevalence through the stages. The biological capabilities of colorectal adenocarcinoma in relation to stage are expressed by certain aneuploid DI classes (hypertriploidy: absence of extracolonic spread; hypotriploidy: lymph node metastases; triploidy: distant metastases). Diploidy is unrelated to criteria defining stage above I and predicts 50% of cases with development of metachronous metastases. Irregular DI class shift through the stages may be attributable to different pathways of cancerogenesis and disease progression in diploid versus aneuploid carcinomas. Alternatively, assuming that the diploid fraction in aneuploid tumors contains neoplastic cells, pure diploid carcinomas represent the selection of a vital clone that may give rise to a further mixed population whose aneuploid DI is different and best fitted to express the biological capabilities of that given stage.

Adenocarcinoma

Behaviour of vaginal epithelial maturation and sex hormone binding globulin in post-menopausal breast cancer patients during the first year of tamoxifen therapy.

To evaluate the effect of tamoxifen on vaginal epithelial maturation and on oestrogen-related hepatic synthesis, we prospectively studied the karyopyknotic index (KPI), the maturation index (MI), expressed as a percentage of parabasal (MI-1), intermediate (MI-2) and superficial (MI-3) cells, as well as the serum levels of the oestrogen-dependent sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Tests were performed at baseline, after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of therapy in 64 post-menopausal breast cancer patients. Basal KPI ranged from 0 to 9 (mean 1.5 +/- 0.3) and rose 13.5-fold to 21 +/- 2.5 (P = 0.000) after the first 30 days of tamoxifen. Absence of KPI rise was observed in 23% of patients. Pretreatment MI figures 1, 2 and 3 were 56.9 +/- 5.6, 41.7 +/- 5.4 and 1.4 +/- 0.3, respectively, and sharply shifted to the right (P = 0.000) after 1 month of therapy, indicating an increase of vaginal epithelial maturation. At baselines the SHBG mean value was 62.1 +/- 3.3 nmol/l and underwent an increase of 44% (P = 0.000) after 30 days of tamoxifen. All of these observed 1-month modifications remained stable up to the studied 12 months of therapy. Present findings indicate an early and persistent oestrogenic effect of tamoxifen on the vaginal epithelium and the hepatic synthesis of SHBG.

Adult

Liver function tests and lidocaine metabolism (MEGX test) during i.v. CMF therapy in breast cancer.

The measurement of monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX test) is considered a sensitive method for the evaluation of hepatic metabolic capacity. The multidrug chemotherapy CMF (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2, methotrexate 40 mg/ m2, 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m2) is widely used in breast cancer patients but very few clinical studies have investigated its possible liver toxicity. We have prospectively evaluated the possible acute liver toxicity after a cycle (i.e. two courses) of CMF by means of the measurement of standard liver function tests and of MEGX, i.e. the main lidocaine (Lid) metabolite after the i.v. injection of Lid. Consecutive patients (n = 15), aged 43-68 years, were radically operated on because of M0 primary breast cancer and candidates for adjuvant CMF because of nodal axillary involvement (pN1) were studied. Tests were performed before the first (given at day 1) and 48 h after the second course (given at day 8) of an i.v. CMF regimen to be repeated every 28 days. Full blood count, serum ALT, AST, gamma-GT, alkaline phosphatase and albumin were measured with standard methods. To investigate the appearance of MEGX, blood samples were taken before, and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 60 min after i.v. Lid injection. MEGX serum concentration was measured by means of a fluorescent polarization immunoassay. We found no significant variation between pre- and post-CMF standard liver function tests with the exception of ALT levels, which, however, decreased (mean 48%, p < 0.05). The MEGX serum concentration was significantly increased over the sampling time period and the 42% mean rise was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Moreover, the post-CMF increase of circulating MEGX was steeper than the basal pre-CMF values. The slopes relating to the curves of MEGX formation over the first 20 min were 3.30 and 2.24, respectively (p < 0.001). In conclusion, no hepatic acute toxicity was observed during the CMF chemotherapy. Further studies are required to understand the meaning of the unexpected MEGX rise.

Adult

DNA flow cytometry and glial fibrillary acidic protein reactivity in pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary glands.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and correlate morphologic features, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) reactivity and DNA content parameters in 32 pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary glands. STUDY DESIGN: The adenomas were subclassified according to the proportion of stroma and type of stromal differentiation. DNA flow cytometry was carried out on paraffin-embedded material. GFAP reactivity was determined immunohistochemically and evaluated as the percentage of positive cells. Follow-up ranged from 17 to 71 months; no recurrences were observed. RESULTS: Seven cases were aneuploid, 10 peridiploid and 15 diploid. Nondiploid tumors had a significantly higher S-phase fraction. Nondiploid adenomas were significantly associated with a greater percentage of stroma, while S-phase fraction showed only a trend toward being higher in tumors with a greater quota of stroma. Ploidy type and S-phase fraction were unrelated to sex, age, tumor diameter or site. GFAP reactivity was unrelated to subtype or S-phase fraction; a higher frequency of diploid tumors was seen among cases with a greater number of reactive cells. CONCLUSION: Aneuploidy is present in a significant percentage of typical cases. It is unrelated to tumor bulk and appears to have no effect on recurrence as long as surgical excision is complete.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic

Effects of cis-platinum and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogues on rat spermatogenesis. A morphologic and flow cytometric study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate morphologically and flow cytometrically the effects of cis-platinum (cis-diaminedichloroplatinum [CDDP]) administered acutely and chronically with and without gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (LRA) pretreatment on adult rats to verify the feasibility of protecting the spermatic epithelium before chemotherapy. STUDY DESIGN: Six groups of adult Wistar rats were studied: 2 were treated with an LD50 dose of CDDP in single and 2 in multiple administrations, 1 of each was pretreated with LRA and 1 LRA control and one untreated group were also evaluated. Relative frequency of spermatogenic phases, qualitative alterations, Johnsen's score and percentage of cells in each DNA region were determined. RESULTS: Acute CDDP treatment reduced spermatids, spermatozoa and haploid cells. Chronic CDDP treatment induced in some rats a reduction in tetraploid cells and in others an increase associated with morphologically abnormal spermatids and cells showing aberrant hypodiploid content in analogy to all chronic CDDP LRA-pretreated animals. CONCLUSION: Single-dose CDDP reduces spermatids by killing rapidly cycling spermatogonia and inducing alterations in maturation; in repeated doses, more marked reductions in spermatogonia are seen, followed by a compensatory proliferation of residual stem cells with generation of cells with an aberrant DNA content. These alterations are not prevented by LRA treatment sufficient to determine inhibition of serum testosterone levels.

Animals

Non-small cell lung cancer. Morphology and DNA flow cytometry.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate stage-related and histologic features of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with DNA flow cytometric parameters. STUDY DESIGN: The clinicopathologic features, DNA flow cytometric parameters (ploidy type, S-phase fraction and DNA index [DI]) of 72 surgically resected NSCLC were reviewed. RESULTS: NSCLC were classified on the basis of their DI in diploid, peridiploid, hypotriploid, triploid, hypertriploid, tetraploid, hypertetraploid and multiploid tumors. DI was significantly related to pleural infiltration, pT, histologic type and evidence of necrosis. Tumors infiltrating the pleura were mostly triploid or hypertriploid; high pT stages were also hypertetraploid. Adenocarcinomas showed a wide DI distribution, squamous carcinomas were mostly diploid, triploid or hypertriploid and large cell carcinomas were mostly triploid, hypertriploid and hypertetraploid. The best combination of features able to predict disease relapse was pT plus pN plus grading and divergent differentiation. CONCLUSION: Many stage-related and histologic features are associated with particular DI classes, which vary in relation to the feature itself and, in some cases, regardless of classical methods of grading and histologic typing. DNA content analysis highlights greater biologic heterogeneity in NSCLC than evidenced morphologically.

Adult

Molecular epidemiology of bovine rotaviruses. Characterization of rotaviruses isolated from diarrhoeic calves by genome profile analysis.

Fifteen bovine rotavirus group A strains were isolated in several Italian regions over the period 1981-1989 from calves in ten neonatal diarrhoea outbreaks. The electrophoretical analysis of the genoma showed genomic variations and five different profiles were observed, including one with thirteen dsRNA segments. The finding of extra RNA fragments, with respect to the regular eleven genome segments, suggests the possibility of simultaneous or sequential infection by more than one electropherotype or a modification in the length of RNA segments during infection.

Animals

Cyclosporin A increases somatomedin C insulin-like growth factor I levels in chronic rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether anabolic hormones that affect the musculoskeletal system and active on the immune cells changed during cyclosporin A (CysA) therapy. METHODS: We carried out a randomized study of patients with rheumatic disease attending the outpatient clinic for rheumatic diseases. Twenty-four patients with chronic arthritis [20 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 4 with psoriatic arthritis (PsA)] were divided into 2 groups (10 RA, 2 PsA) and randomly given CysA 5 mg/kg daily or hydroxychloroquine (OH-Chlor) 6 mg/kg daily in divided doses. RESULTS: A significant increase of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) (somatomedin C) levels and of bone Gla protein was shown after 2 months in the CysA treated group, but not in the OH-Chlor group. A statistically significant correlation was observed between changes of IGF-I levels and of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS). This finding was confirmed in a further series of 39 patients. No changes were seen in 25 OH-D, 1-25(OH)2-D3 or parathyroid hormone after CysA. CONCLUSION: The effects of CysA on IGF-I may explain some of the clinical, immunologic, and metabolic results during CysA treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Arthritis, Psoriatic

Somatomedin C (insulin-like growth factor 1) levels decrease during acute changes of stress related hormones. Relevance for fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of stress hormones on insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). METHODS: Insulin induced hypoglycemia (< 3 mmol/l) and clonidine induced depression of noradrenergic tone were used to assess the acute effects of cortisol, human growth hormone (hGH), and norepinephrine (NE). RESULTS: Despite the increase of hGH during hypoglycemia, a statistically significant decrease of IGF-1 was observed along with the expected rise of cortisol and NE. To eliminate the role played by NE, NE tone was depressed by administering clonidine. A statistically significant decrease of IGF-1 was also observed. CONCLUSION: Acute cortisol release or a NE decrease induce low IGF-1 levels.

Clonidine

Isolation and identification of rotaviruses as aetiological agents of neonatal diarrhoea in kids. Electrophoretical characterization by PAGE.

Six strains of cytopathogenic enteric virus for the continuous cell line MA-104 were isolated from samples of the diarrhoeic stools of kids (Capra hyrcus) with acute enteritis. The samples were obtained from two stock farms (RM and SI) in central Italy. Four viruses from the RM stock were identified as rotaviruses of the antigenic group A by the Elisa test performed with SA-11 antirotavirus monoclonal antibodies and the direct immunofluorescence test with IgG bovine antirotavirus. Electrophoretical analysis of the viral dsRNA in these strains showed a pattern of eleven bands arranged in the typical "long pattern" of rotavirus group A. Two electrophoretical variants were identified in two separate cases of neonatal diarrhoea in the RM stock over a period of one year. The other two strains, one isolated in the RM stock and the other in the SI stock, gave negative results in serological tests for antigenic group A rotavirus and showed a double chain RNA consisting of 9-10 segments, unrelated to rotavirus or pararotavirus.

Animals