Emanuela Cagnano

Here, we describe that microenvironmental IL-1 beta and, to a lesser extent, IL-1 alpha are required for in vivo angiogenesis and invasiveness of different tumor cells. In IL-1 beta knockout (KO) mice, local tumor or lung metastases of B16 melanoma cells were not observed compared with WT mice. Angiogenesis was assessed by the recruitment of blood vessel networks into Matrigel plugs containing B16 melanoma cells; vascularization of the plugs was present in WT mice, but was absent in IL-1 ...

In this study, we show that distinct compartmentalization patterns of the IL-1 molecules (IL-1alpha and IL-1beta), in the milieu of tumor cells that produce them, differentially affect the malignant process. Active forms of IL-1, namely precursor IL-1alpha (pIL-1alpha), mature IL-1beta (mIL-1beta), and mIL-1beta fused to a signal sequence (ssIL-1beta), were transfected into an established fibrosarcoma cell line, and tumorigenicity and antitumor immunity were assessed. Cell lines ...

Cell transplantation has been proposed as a future therapy for various myocardial diseases. It is unknown, however, whether the encouraging results obtained in animal models of ischemia and reperfusion, cryoinjury or cardiomyopathy can be reproduced in the setting of permanent coronary artery occlusion and extensive myocardial infarction (MI). Embryonic cardiac cells were isolated and cultured for 3 days to confirm viability, morphology and to label cells with BrdU or the reporter gene ...

Human melanoma cell lines were shown to express ligands for the natural cytotoxicity receptor, NKp46, expressed by natural killer (NK) cells. We aimed to examine the expression of ligands for NKp46 by various primary human melanocytic cells and melanocytic lesions. Sections from primary nevi and melanomas were tested for expression of NKp46 ligands employing chimeric NKp46-Fc for staining. The melanocytes present in the reticular dermis were negative for NKp46 ligands in common nevi; in ...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for incomplete excision of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 369 patients who underwent a primary excision of SCCs was performed within an outpatient and a hospital plastic surgery department setting.

RESULTS: Incomplete excision occurred in 25 of 369 primary excisions of SCC (6.8%). Location of the tumors on the forehead, temples, peri-auricular region, ears, cheeks, nose, lips ...

Malignant melanoma, a malignant neoplasm of epidermal melanocytes is the third most common skin cancer. In many cases, melanoma develops from nevus, which is considered as the nonmalignant stage. Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR-MSP), which is based on characteristic molecular vibrational spectra of cells, was used to investigate spectral differences between melanoma, nevus, and the corresponding normal epidermis. In the present work, FTIR-MSP was performed on ...

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a rare severe cutaneous adverse reaction caused mostly by drugs. Three of 22 AGEP cases (13.6%), recruited by us as part of two prospective multinational studies, occurred 24 to 48 hours after a spider bite. We suggest that a spider bite is a possible trigger for AGEP.

Infrared spectroscopy is widely perceived as a future technology for cancer detection and grading. Malignant melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer, is accessible to non-invasive IR radiation based surface probes for its identification and grading. The present work examines the differences in the IR spectra of melanoma tissues and the surrounding epidermis in skin biopsies with the objective of identifying diagnostic parameters and suitable computational/statistical methods of analysis. ...

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to develop a novel animal model of burns in rats and pigs.

METHODS: The model uses heat that is delivered via a radiant heater with an opening of 5 cm by 5 cm, set at 400 degrees C, for 20 seconds. An advantage of this model is that the heating source does not come into direct contact with the animal, and the heat dispersion surrounding its center is very constant. The device was evaluated in 40 rats and seven pigs. With rats, three to four burns were ...

OBJECTIVE: To report a rare case of collision sebaceous and basal cell carcinomas of the eyelid.

DESIGN: Interventional case report.

METHODS: An 80-year-old woman presented with a nodular lesion at the center of the left lower eyelid. Small ulceration and madarosis were also present.

RESULTS: The patient underwent excisional biopsy with frozen section control. Histopathology showed mixed sebaceous as well as basal cell carcinoma with uninvolved surgical margins. Oncologic survey did not ...

A 91-year-old patient presented with a nonfebrile, pruritic, widespread eruption that appeared 10 days after starting therapy with cefuroxime tablets, 1000 mg/day, due to stasis dermatitis with secondary infection. The patient was also treated with paracetamol tablets,

500–1000 mg/day, 10 days before the onset of the eruption. Previous diseases included congestive heart disease, hyperglycemia, and ectropion. There was no personal or family history of psoriasis. Additional medications, ...

A 44-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of subcutaneous nodules involving her face and shins. Her past history revealed myomatous uterus with menometrorrhagia, resulting in an iron deficiency anemia, treated by ferrum sulfate tablets. She also had diabetes mellitus type II treated by glibenclamide and metformin tablets. There was no evidence of bromide or iodide ingestion. On initial examination, several firm, tender, erythematous subcutaneous nodules, 2–4 cm in diameter, ...

BACKGROUND: The burn eschar serves as a medium for bacterial growth and a source of local and systemic infection. To prevent or minimize these complications, it is important to debride the eschar as early as possible.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the presence of viable skin within the excisions by examining tangentially excised burn eschars.

METHODS: A total of 146 samples of burned human tissue were removed during 54 routine sharp tangential excision procedures (using dermatomes). The samples ...

BACKGROUND: The breast is an unusual site for primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Carcinoma in the same breast after treatment for lymphoma poses therapeutic challenges, but there is only 1 case report in Japanese, which describes this occurrence.

PATIENT AND METHODS: A 59-year-old woman was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast after receiving doxorubicinand vincristine-based chemotherapy for ipsilateral primary large cell breast lymphoma. The cancer was of high grade ...