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Publications (15)19.55 Total impact

  • Article: The Veneto Region's Barrett's Oesophagus Registry: aims, methods, preliminary results.
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    ABSTRACT: The natural history of Barrett's Oeosphagus is not completely clarified and Barrett's Oeosphagus Registries are considered useful tools to expand our knowledge on this disease. A Barrett's Oeosphagus Registry has been therefore established in the Veneto Region and neighbouring provinces. The aims of the Registry are to assess the demographical, endoscopical and histological characteristics of Barrett's Oeosphagus patients; the prevalence of non-invasive neoplasia and Barrett's Adenocarcinoma and the timing and incidence of Barrett's Oeosphagus progression to malignancy. An interdisciplinary committee of endoscopists, pathologists and information technology experts was established in 2004 to design a website-based Barrett's Oesophagus Registry for the Veneto Region and neighbouring north-eastern Italian provinces. Protocols for endoscopies and biopsies and standard reports were carefully defined. In the first 18 months, 397 patients with endoscopically visible and histologically proven Barrett's Oeosphagus were enrolled in the Registry; the median age of these patients was 66 years (male:female=3:1). Most patients (75%) had a Short Segment of Barrett's Oesophagus (<or=3 cm) and only 1 in 4 had a Long Segment of Barrett's Oesophagus (>3 cm). Long Segment of Barrett's Oesophagus patients were 5 years older than the Short Segment of Barrett's Oesophagus patients (p<0.05), suggesting a progression from Short Segment of Barrett's Oesophagus to Long Segment of Barrett's Oesophagus. Though no data are available on the incidence of non-invasive neoplasia or Barrett's Adenocarcinoma (i.e., progression to cancer at least 12 months after enrolment), the prevalence of neoplastic lesions (found within 12 months of enrolment) was 5% for Short Segment of Barrett's Oesophagus and 19% for Long Segment of Barrett's Oesophagus, indicating that a careful multiple-biopsy endoscopic protocol is needed, especially when Long Segment of Barrett's Oesophagus are suspected at endoscopy. The prevalence of Barrett's Adenocarcinoma among patients with non-invasive neoplasia was 1/17 cases of low-grade non-invasive neoplasia and 2/3 cases of high-grade non-invasive neoplasia, indicating that these patients require strict endoscopic and bioptic follow-up. A regional Barrett's Oeosphagus Registry is feasible at a relatively low cost and enables significant data to be collected in a relatively short time. The use of a standardised endoscopic nomenclature and report form, a strict biopsy protocol, a standard report for pathologists improves the quality of endoscopic and histological diagnoses.
    Digestive and Liver Disease 02/2007; 39(1):18-25. · 3.05 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Tissue microarrays in oncology].
    Pathologica 11/2003; 95(5):265-6.
  • Article: Detection of nodal micrometastases using immunohistochemistry and PCR in melanoma of the arm and trunk.
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    ABSTRACT: Sentinel node (SN) mapping and biopsy seems at present the best way to assess the nodal status in cutaneous melanoma without removing the lymphatic chain. The procedure is minimally invasive, safe and low cost, and allows selection of patients who can benefit from elective node dissection. From March 1997 up to July 1999 we examined 112 SNs excised after lymphatic mapping from 95 patients (48 males and 47 females) with stage I cutaneous melanoma affecting the trunk or limbs. Of these, 88 SNs from 74 patients were submitted to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in order to detect tyrosinase mRNA. A new antibody (anti-tyrosinase, Clone T311, IgG2a type, Lab Vision Corporation) was used to detect nodal micrometastases. The search for micrometastases was histologically positive in 15 SNs and negative in 97. The 88 SNs examined using molecular biology were positive in 40 cases and negative in 48. In 28 only the PCR was positive. The new antibody used to detect micrometastases was shown to be very useful. Cases positive on both conventional histology and PCR were Clark level II or more and were thicker than 0.6 mm. No difference with regard to site or sex was observed. Lymphoedema and hypersensitivity reactions, nor the inability to work, did not occur. Only patients with histologically proven micrometastases underwent elective node dissection. Cases positive only on molecular biology were submitted to close follow-up.
    Melanoma Research 05/2002; 12(2):147-53. · 2.19 Impact Factor
  • Article: Prevalence of intestinal metaplasia in the distal oesophagus, oesophagogastric junction and gastric cardia in symptomatic patients in north-east Italy: a prospective, descriptive survey. The Italian Ulcer Study Group "GISU".
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    ABSTRACT: Incidence of adenocarcinoma of distal oesophagus and gastric cardia, probably arising from areas of intestinal metaplasia, has been increasing rapidly. To define prevalence of intestinal metaplasia of distal oesophagus, oesophagogastric junction and gastric cardia and to evaluate potential associated factors, by means of a prospective multicentre study including University and teaching hospitals, and primary and tertiary care centres. Each of 24 institutions involved in study enrolled 10 consecutive patients undergoing first-time routine endoscopy for dyspeptic symptoms. Patients answered symptom questionnaires and underwent gastroscopy Three biopsies were taken from distal oesophagus, oesophago-gastric junction and gastric cardia, and were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Specimens were also evaluated for Helicobacter pylori infection. A total of 240 patients (124 male, 116 female; median age 56 years, range 20-90) were enrolled in study. Intestinal metaplasia affected distal oesophagus in 5, oesophago-gastric junction in 19 and gastric cardia in 10 patients. Low-grade dysplasia was found at distal oesophagus and/or oesophago-gastric junction of 3/24 patients with intestinal metaplasia vs 2/216 without intestinal metaplasia (p<0.05). A significant association was found between symptoms and presence of intestinal metaplasia, regardless of location, and between Helicobacter pylori infection and intestinal metaplasia at oesophago-gastric junction. Intestinal metaplasia of distal oesophagus, oesophagogastric-junction and gastric cardia is found in a significant proportion of symptomatic patients undergoing gastroscopy and is associated with dysplasia in many cases. Although prevalence of dysplasia seems to decrease when specialized columnar epithelium is found in short segment, or even focally in oesophago-gastric junction, these small foci of intestinal metaplastic cells may represent source of most adenocarcinomas of cardia.
    Digestive and Liver Disease 05/2001; 33(4):316-21. · 3.05 Impact Factor
  • Article: p21 expression in colorectal carcinomas: a study on 103 cases with analysis of p53 gene mutation/expression and clinic-pathological correlations.
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    ABSTRACT: The WAF1/CIP1 gene product, p21, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, is a critical downstream effector in the p53 pathway. The expression of p21 in human neoplasms is heterogeneous, and may be related to p53 functional status. We evaluated p21 immunoreactivity in 103 colorectal carcinomas (CC) in relation to the p53 gene and protein alterations and clinico-pathologic parameters. High p21 expression (more than 10% reactive cells) was seen in 39% of cases. p21 staining was heterogeneous and often detected in clusters of tumour cells; in some tumours p21 staining was more pronounced in superficial areas. No relation was seen between p21 immunoreactivity and site of the tumours (right vs left), TNM stage and grade. p21 expression was related to p53 status as evaluated with IHC or with SSCP analyses, low p21 expression usually being associated with p53 protein overexpression (P=0.048) and p53 gene alteration (P=0.005). The strongest associations were seen when the combined p53/p21 immunophenotype was compared with p53 gene alterations (P=0.0002). These data support the hypothesis that p21 expression in CC is mainly related to p53 functional status, suggesting that p21 expression could be an interesting adjunct in the evaluation of the functional status of the p53 pathway in CC.
    Archiv für Pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für Klinische Medicin 01/2000; 435(6):559-65. · 2.49 Impact Factor
  • Article: Fine needle aspiration of myofibroblastoma of the breast. Case report.
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    ABSTRACT: The cytologic and histologic findings of myofibroblastoma of a man's breast are reported. Cytologic specimens showed many scarcely cohesive clusters of bipolar or stellate cells. The cytoplasm was moderately eosinophilic and had clearly-defined edges. The nucleus was characterized by round or coffee-bean shape, regular chromatin and small nucleolus. Atypical features were absent. Immunocytochemical tests confirmed the mesenchymal nature of the lesion showing negativity for CAM 5.2 and positivity for vimentin. We stress the value of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in association with clinical- examination, mammography and/or echography in establishing the preoperative diagnosis of this benign tumor.
    Pathologica 01/1996; 87(6):719-22.
  • Article: [A giant-cell tumor of the mandibular condyle. A report of a clinical case].
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    ABSTRACT: The authors present a case of a giant cell tumor of the mandibular condyle, which is a very rare condition. Problems relating to diagnosis and treatment are examined. Specifically non neoplastic and neoplastic lesions in which giant cells are identified have been evaluated.
    Minerva stomatologica 01/1995; 43(12):611-4.
  • Article: Quantitative growth fraction evaluation with MIB1 and Ki67 antibodies in breast carcinomas.
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    ABSTRACT: Ki67 and MIB1 monoclonal antibodies are directed against different epitopes of the same proliferation-related antigen. Whereas Ki67 works only on frozen sections, MIB1 may be used also on fixed sections. The authors immunostained a series of 40 breast carcinomas with MIB1 and Ki67 antibodies on serial frozen sections and on fixed material. The Ki67 labeling index (LI) was 12.9 +/- 8.9 and 12 (mean +/- SD and median, respectively). MIB1 LI was 21.2 +/- 11.9 and 19.5 on frozen sections and 24 +/- 15.2 and 21.5 on fixed sections (mean +/- SD and median, respectively). Ki67 LI and MIB1 LI on frozen and fixed sections were strictly correlated (P < .001). The results are in keeping with the reported coincidental nuclear staining pattern of Ki67 and MIB1, but the mean and median values of MIB1 LI are almost twice the values of Ki67 LI. The cut-off values to define high and low proliferative activity with the two antibodies are therefore different. The differences in immunolabeling may be due to better survival of the MIB1 epitope in freezing and acetone fixation or to differing accessibilities of the MIB1 and Ki67 epitopes during the cell cycle due to molecular conformational modifications. The MIB1 monoclonal antibody is a reasonable substitute for the Ki67 monoclonal antibody. The advantages of MIB1 immunostaining on paraffin sections include the feasibility of retrospective studies and of obtaining clear morphologic specimens that are optimal for use with computer-assisted image analysis systems. Our image-processing system allows automatic nuclear counting, detects positive nuclei and measures their staining intensity.
    American Journal of Clinical Pathology 08/1994; 102(2):171-5. · 2.60 Impact Factor
  • Article: p53 protein expression in basal cell carcinomas.
    Histopathology 01/1993; 21(6):579-81. · 3.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Primary Kaposi's sarcoma of intraparotid lymph node.
    Histopathology 12/1992; 21(5):489-91. · 3.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Primary malignant mixed mesodermal tumor of the gallbladder. Report of a case and critical review of diagnostic criteria.
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    ABSTRACT: A rare case of primary malignant mixed mesodermal tumor of the gallbladder arising in a 75 year old woman is reported. The previously published cases of similar tumors were reviewed in order to outline the histological features and the histogenesis. In diagnosing a malignant mixed mesodermal tumor of the gallbladder it was imperative that we excluded malignant neoplasms with multiple histological patterns. The diffuse and close intermingling of the epithelial and mesenchymal component ruled out a collision tumor. The high mitotic rate, the typical reticulin pattern and the obviously malignant osteoblasts excluded a spindle cell carcinoma with osseous metaplasia. The authors conclude that this is the first case of malignant mixed mesodermal tumor with evident osteosarcomatous areas, described in the gallbladder.
    Virchows Archiv A Pathological Anatomy and Histology 02/1982; 396(2):225-30.
  • Article: [Mixed mesodermal tumor of the ovary].
    Minerva ginecologica 12/1980; 32(11):975-8.
  • Article: [Cytological diagnostic criteria for gastric carcinoma].
    Minerva dietologica e gastroenterologica 27(1):7-10.
  • Article: Cerebral metastases in pheochromocytoma.
    Pathologica 71(1015):703-10.
  • Article: Brenner tumors: histologic types and associated lesions in the genital tract.
    Pathologica 72(1020):567-72.