152 research outputs found
"Dynamic Canthopexy" Drill Hole Canthal Repositioning
Background: Canthopexies can be performed to modify the eye slant, both when the lateral canthus is lower than the medial one (congenital defect) or in case the patient asks for an almond-shaped eye (cosmetic indication).Objectives: This peculiar type of canthopexy can be defined as "dynamic canthopexy," meaning that the lateral canthus is released from its original insertion and raised to a higher position. The goal of this study is to demonstrate the differences and the efficacy of the dynamic cantoplasty.Methods: The authors reviewed 30 patients treated with a "dynamic canthopexy" between January 2005 and March 2015. Eighteen patients were affected by true downslanting palpebral fissure, and 12 patients had a normal eye shape but were wishing for a more "Asian" look. Dynamic canthopexy involves a total modification of the canthal suspension system and its careful reconstruction at a higher level inside the orbital rim. To obtain a permanent result, canthal ligament and tendon had to be anchored to drill holes in the orbital rim bone with nonabsorbable sutures. Symmetry was very carefully assessed. The average surgical time was 1 hour.Results: This surgery proved extremely effective in all cases. Patients must be warned, though, that an initial hypercorrection is necessary to achieve the desired canthal position. About 6 months after surgery the result of this operation can be considered permanent. Severe complications are rare.Conclusions: Dynamic canthopexy can provide stable correction of anti-Mongolian slant. It can also be effectively employed to obtain permanent slant eyes when required by purely cosmetic patients. If precisely carried out, this technique can yield very rewarding outcomes
Chlamydia psittaci in ocular adnexa MALT lymphoma: a possible role in lymphomagenesis and a different geographical distribution
Ocular adnexa MALT-lymphomas represent approximatively 5-15% of all extranodal lymphomas. Almost 75% of OAMLs are localized in orbital fat, while 25% of cases involves conjunctive. MALT-lymphomas often recognize specific environmental factors responsible of lymphoma development and progression. In particular as Helicobacter pylori in gastric MALT lymphomas, other bacterial infections have been recognized related to MALT lymphomas in specific site. Recently Chlamydia psittaci has been identified in Ocular Adnexa MALT lymphomas, with variable frequence dependently from geographic areas. Thus bacterial infection is responsible of clonal selection on induced MALT with subsequent lymphoma development. Moreover Chlamydia psittaci could promote chromosomal aberration either through genetic instability as a consequence of induced proliferation and probably through DNA oxidative damage. The most common translocation described in MALT lymphomas affects NF-kB pathway with a substantial antiapoptotic effect. Several therapeutic approaches are now available, but the use of antibiotic-therapy in specific cases, although with conflicting results, could improve the treatment of ocular adnexa MALT lymphomas. In this review we analyse the most relevant features of Ocular adnexa MALT lymphomas, underlining specific biological characteristics mainly related to the potential role of Chlamydia psittaci in lymphomagenesis
Sensitive Detection and Quantification of Anisakid Parasite Residues in Food Products
Anisakids are nematodes whose larval stages are often present in fish, molluscs, and crustaceans. Members of the family Anisakidae belonging to the genera Anisakis and Pseudoterranova are implicated in human infections caused by the consumption of raw or undercooked fish. Adequate cooking will kill anisakid larvae, however, killed or inactivated larvae can still cause sensitization and immunoglobulin E-dependent hypersensitivity in human. This work describes the development of DNA-based tests to detect and quantify the presence of Anisakis spp. and Pseudoterranova spp. larvae in fish and fish-derived products, including fish fillets, surimi, fish sticks, canned fish, and baby food. Primers and TaqMan MGB probes recognizing only Anisakis spp. and Pseudoterranova spp. were designed on the first internal transcribed spacer 1 regions of rDNA for a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. A commercial probe for 18S rDNA was used to detect and quantify the total eukaryotic DNA of the samples. The specificity and sensitivity of the assays were tested using reference samples prepared from mixtures made of Anisakis larvae in different quantity of codfish, and subsequent dilutions. Studies were performed to assess the ability of the test to detect and quantify anisakids in various products. Results showed that this test is able to detect anisakid DNA contained in a proportion of 1:10(5) in 1 ng of total DNA. The high prevalence of anisakids reported in main fishery species was confirmed by frequently detecting anisakids DNA in fish muscle and fish-derived products. A partial correlation was found between the number of larvae present in the viscera and the level of contamination of fish fillets. In conclusion, this molecular test is useful to detect the presence of Anisakis spp. and Pseudoterranova spp. in fish and fish-derived products and to quantify the level of contamination along the food chain, with potential applications for fish farms, fish markets, and food producers
Malignant Glomus Tumour: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Purpose: Glomus tumours are characteristically benign solitary tumours. At our knowledge, about 23 reports are present in
literature regarding the malignant counterpart, but only a minority developed metastases. We describe a locally aggressive
glomus tumour with lymphnode metastasis
Between Inner Strength and Fighting Prejudice : Psycho-Social Processes Implemented by Women with Leukemia Along the Illness Trajectory: A Grounded Theory Study
Background: Disease trajectories in leukemia are often unpredictable and recurrent, and
patients’ experiences can impact their quality of life. Studies in the literature often do not explore
gender-related illness experiences from an intersectional approach and throughout the illness trajectory. This comprehensive study aims to explore the full spectrum of experiences lived by women
with leukemia throughout the disease trajectory, from diagnosis to treatments and post-stem cell
transplant follow-up. Method: A grounded theory approach was meticulously developed to analyze
semi-structured interviews with 13 women with leukemia in the post-transplant follow-up phase
at a hospital in Northern Italy. The data analysis was an iterative process, conducted concurrently using a constant comparative method. Data collection concluded when data saturation was reached.
Results: The core category identified is women’s inner strength during the disease trajectory, which
was identified for its recurrence and cross-cutting nature, according to the women. This core category
interconnects with five main categories: 1. Facing the disease: Between resistance and surrender.
2. Living for today and moving forward. 3. Unexpected elements in relationships. 4. Changes
that shape women. 5. Demystifying the body and embracing ‘diminished beauty’. Conclusions:
An explanatory model of the disease trajectory of women with leukemia was defined as: ‘Women
with leukemia, between inner strength and fighting prejudice’. An in-depth analysis of the disease
experiences revealed aspects that are not easily understood through a purely biological perspective
of gender differences, often overlooking the psycho-social and relational peculiarities of women
Molecular characterization of a bladder pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in an adult patient
Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma (PRMS) is a rare but highly aggressive soft tissue tumor, accounting for 3% of soft tissue sarcomas. PRMS is the most frequent subtype of RMS in adulthood and it is mainly located in the large muscles of the extremities, particularly the lower limbs and the trunk, more rarely in other locations especially in the bladder. At our knowledge, only six cases of adult pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder have been reported in the literature. In this study, we report a case of PRMS of bladder with a very poor prognosis. In fact, the patient died a month after surgery. The tumor was characterized by poorly differentiated, medium-sized sometimes rhabdoid cells, mixed with large-sized and pleomorphic elements with evident anisonucleosis, and with large areas of necrosis. We used an extensive immunohistochemical panel to exclude other tumors much more frequently reported at this site. The positivity for myogenic markers such as actin, desmin, myogenin and MyoD1 allowed the correct diagnosis. Furthermore, since preliminary studies highlighted a series of specific molecular alterations in PMRS cell lines, we analyzed a panel of specific mutations and gene rearrangements by RT-PCR and FISH methods. We showed a copy gains of CCND1 and MALT genes in our samples, suggesting an accurate molecular characterization of PRMS to establish a better management of patients and new therapeutic opportunities
Leiomyosarcoma of the Oropharynx and Neurogenic Tumors in a Young Patient With Turner's Syndrome
Patient: A case of Turner's syndrome developing a leiomyosarcoma of the oropharynx and metachronous neurogenic
tumors (mediastinal ‘ganglioneuroblastoma intermixed’, subcutaneous neurilemoma) is described
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