Mauro Alderisio

Human papillomavirus in virgins and behaviour at risk

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexual transmitted diseases (STDs). We compared two groups of virgins with genital HPV lesions to evaluate the behaviour at risk in the transmission of HPV infection. Partners were also examined. HPV lesions were detected in 88 virgins, who have never had sexual intercourse. This can be due to vertical transmission, fomities and skin-to-skin contact. Many other hypothesis can be proposed to explain HPV genital infection, however, further studies are required.

Oncosuppressor proteins of fragile sites are reduced in cervical cancer

FHIT and WWOX are tumor suppressor genes that span the common fragile sites FRA3B and FRA16D, respectively. To analyze possible synergisms among these genes in cervical cancer progression, we considered 159 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias, and 58 invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix. All cases were previously selected as high risk HPV. FHIT and WWOX proteins were examined by immunohistochemistry and their expression was inversely correlated with precancerous vs. invasive lesions. Statistics among biological markers indicated an association between FHIT and WWOX. Protein expression of these two genes was also absent or reduced in cancer cell lines. Thus, WWOX may be considered as a novel important genetic marker in cervical cancer and the association between the altered expression of FHIT and WWOX may be a critical event in the progression of this neoplasia.

Carbon and Hemosiderin-Laden Macrophages in Sputum of Traffic Policemen Exposed to Air Pollution

In this study, we evaluated (a) quantitative modifications of dust cells and siderocytes and (b) qualitative modifications (i.e., cellular changes and inflammatory infiltrate) in sputum of 164 traffic policemen occupationally exposed to environmental pollution in an urban area. Such modifications were correlated with time of exposure and smoking habits. Seventy-three (45%) of the policemen were smokers, and a control group of 119 nonexposed individuals (24% smokers) who resided in a rural district near Perugia, Italy, were examined. The sputa, which was collected for 3 d, were smeared on glass slides stained according to Papanicolaous and Perls methods. The mean numbers of dust cells in the sputa policemen and the rural population were 103.8 and 12.48, respectively (p < .0001). The numbers of dust cells were highest in policemen who smoked (relative risk = 3.95; p < .006). The mean numbers of siderocytes in policemen and the rural population were 0.99 and 5.31, respectively (not statistically significant, Mann-Whitney test). The difference between the number of subjects with hemosiderin-laden macrophages in traffic policemen and in the control group was small, but it was significant statistically (p < .004). In traffic policemen, it was related to smoking and time of exposure to air pollution, whereas in the control population it was related to heart-pulmonary diseases. In this study, we observed a synergistic effect between smoking and environmental pollution. In addition, less than 5 y of exposure can caused significantly increased (a) numbers of macrophages and (b) inflammatory infiltrate in sputa. The results of the cytological diagnosis revealed a statistically significant difference between policemen and the rural population (p < .001). The cytological exam of sputa and correlations with smoking within each population were not statistically significant. In conclusion, macrophage count in sputum is a sensitive and reproducible method for investigators to verify pulmonary changes that may be observed before they can be measured by functional tests.

Variation in the assessment of adequacy in cervical smears

Variation in the assessment of adequacy in cervical smears

Curschmann's spirals in sputum of subjects exposed daily to urban environmental pollution.

Curschmanns spirals have been observed for more than 100 yr in the sputum of patients affected by lung cancer, asthma, chronic bronchitis, or in asymptomatic smokers. However, to date, their clinical significance and pathogenesis have not been completely explained.