Search results for "Tonsil"
showing 10 items of 59 documents
Extinct type of human parvovirus B19 persists in tonsillar B cells
2017
Parvovirus B19 (B19V) DNA persists lifelong in human tissues, but the cell type harbouring it remains unclear. We here explore B19V DNA distribution in B, T and monocyte cell lineages of recently excised tonsillar tissues from 77 individuals with an age range of 2–69 years. We show that B19V DNA is most frequent and abundant among B cells, and within them we find a B19V genotype that vanished from circulation >40 years ago. Since re-infection or re-activation are unlikely with this virus type, this finding supports the maintenance of pathogen-specific humoral immune responses as a consequence of B-cell long-term survival rather than continuous replenishment of the memory pool. Moreover, we …
Upregulation of the netrin receptor (DCC) gene during activation of b lymphocytes and modulation by interleukins.
2001
The DCC (deleted in colon cancer) gene has a brain restricted high expression pattern. It encodes a transmembrane protein of the immunoglobulin superfamily identified as the netrin-1 receptor. It might be a member of the so called "brain-lymphoid" molecules, which control key cell surface events. To test this hypothesis we have assessed the DCC mRNA level in human normal and malignant myeloid and lymphoid cells. A high mRNA content has been observed only in mature B cells at the secreting or presecreting stage. Expression of DCC was also assessed in the anti-CD40 model of immunopoiesis. Activation of purified tonsillar B cells by anti-CD 40 antibody strongly increased the DCC mRNA level and…
A risk-adapted approach to treating respiratory syncytial virus and human parainfluenza virus in allogeneic stem cell transplantation recipients with…
2017
Here we report the applicability of a protocol based on clinical conditions and risk factors (RFs) for managing 35 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients who developed a total of 52 episodes of respiratory viral infections (RVIs) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV; n=19), human parainfluenza virus (HPIV; n=29), or both (n=4) over a 2-year study period. Risk categories were classified as high risk (cat-1) when the immunodeficiency scoring index was >= 3 and/or >= 3 RFs and/or >= 1 co-infective virus(es) were present; the remaining cases were classified as low risk (cat-0). The presence of two or more signs or symptoms including fever (T>38 degrees C…
Surgical Treatment in Symptomatic Chiari Malformation Type I: A Series of 25 Adult Patients Treated with Cerebellar Tonsil Shrinkage
2019
Background: The variety of symptoms and radiological findings in patients with Chiari malformation type I makes both the indication for surgery and the technical modality controversial. We report our 5-year experience, describing our technique and critically evaluating the clinical results. Methods: Between 2012 and 2016, 25 patients (15 female and 10 male; mean age 39.2 years) underwent posterior fossa decompression for Chiari malformation type I. Their clinical complaints included headache, nuchalgia, upper limb weakness or numbness, instability, dizziness and diplopia. Syringomyelia was present in 12 patients (48%). Suboccipital craniectomy was completed in all cases with C1 laminectomy …
Monosymptomatic presentation of type I Arnold-Chiari malformation: report of two cases.
1994
Two cases of type I ACM are described, one of which presented with dizziness in late childhood (case 1), the other with mild intention tremor in adulthood (case 2). Cerebellar ectopia should be considered in monosymptomatic patients even in the absence of other symptoms and signs of C.N.S. dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging of the craniocervical junction should be performed because it may be diagnostic for type I ACM.
Transoral, retromolar, para-tonsillar approach to the styloid process in 6 patients with Eagle’s syndrome
2013
Objectives: Eagle’s syndrome is caused by an elongated or mineralised styloid process and characterised by facial and pharyngeal pain, odynophagia and dysphagia. Diagnosis is based on clinical findings. However radiologic imaging, like panoramic radiograph, helps to confirm the diagnosis. There are different treatments of the Eagle’s syndrome. Anti-inflammatory medication (carbamazepime, corticosteroids) and/or surgical interventions are established. The aim of the different surgical techniques is to resect the elongated styloid process near the skull base. Study Design: A transoral, retromolar, para-tonsillar approach was performed to expose and resect the elongated calcified styloid proce…
Multilevel temperature-controlled radiofrequency therapy of soft palate, base of tongue, and tonsils in adults with obstructive sleep apnea.
2003
Objectives/hypothesis The concept of two-level pharyngeal collapse in patients with obstructive sleep apnea is too simplified. Aggressive multilevel surgeries addressing several airway segments, including skeletal surgery, demonstrate improved success rates. Study design The study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of multilevel radiofrequency application to soft palate, tonsils, and base of tongue in 16 white patients (mean age, 56.9 +/- 11.1 y; mean body mass index, 27.3 +/- 2.6 kg/m2) with obstructive sleep apnea. There was one dropout. Therapeutic effects after one treatment session were assessed 20.6 +/- 12.6 weeks postoperatively. Treatment outcome measurements were based on Ep…
Lemierre Syndrome: Clinical Update and Protocol for a Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis.
2018
Lemierre syndrome usually affects otherwise healthy adolescents or young adults and occurs at an overall rate of 1 to 10 cases per million person-years with an estimated fatality rate of 4 to 9%. Diagnostic criteria remain debated and include acute neck/head bacterial infection (often tonsillitis caused by anaerobes at high potential for sepsis and vascular invasion, notably Fusobacterium necrophorum) complicated by local vein thrombosis, usually involving the internal jugular vein, and systemic septic embolism. Medical treatment is based on antibiotic therapy with anaerobic coverage, anticoagulant drugs and supportive care in case of sepsis. Surgical procedures can be required, including d…
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in an Italian woman.
2002
Summary As of May, 2002, 128 cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob (vCJD) disease have been identified in the UK, France, and Ireland. We report the first case of vCJD in Italy. The patient was a young Italian woman who had never travelled to a country with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). She was diagnosed by cerebral MRI and western blot analysis of tonsil biopsy samples. The results of these analyses suggest that vCJD in continental Europe and the UK share genetic, clinical, and neuroimaging features, with similar western blot patterns. The identification of vCJD in Italy could have important implications for public-health policy decisions and clinical surveillance in Italy and other…
Obstructive sleep apnoea in adult patients post-tonsillectomy
2021
Background: The impact of removing the upper airway lymphoid tissue and in particular, tonsillectomy, in adults with OSA has not been demonstrated in large populations. Aims: To compare the severity of OSA and the prevalence of cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory co-morbidities between patients with OSA who had undergone previous tonsillectomy and those who had not. Methods: The 19,711 participants in this study came from the European sleep apnea database (ESADA) which comprises data from unselected adult patients aged 18–80 years with a history of symptoms suggestive of OSA referred to sleep centers throughout Europe. Results: There were no differences between the two groups in terms…