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Caldarelli C, Iacconi C, Della Giovampaola C, Iacconi P, Beatrice F. Vagal paragangliomas: two case reports. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 2007; 27:139-43. [PMID: 17883192 PMCID: PMC2640040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Two uncommon cases of paragangliomas arising from the vagus nerve are described. The first patient underwent surgery for suspected carotid body tumour. In the second patient, computed tomography scan and digital angiography allowed a correct pre-operative diagnosis to be made. These cases confirm the prevalence of vagal paragangliomas in female sex and middle age, and the possibility of multiple similar tumours in the same patient. Histological benign features, absence of neurological symptoms, of local invasion or intracranial extension confirm the frequent benign behaviour of these neoplasms. Lack of catecholamine secretion confirms the low incidence of functioning tumours. Contrast computed tomography and digital angiography still remain the gold standard reliable instruments for diagnosis despite the success of magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography and octreotide scintigraphy to detect head and neck paragangliomas. A transcervical approach, without mandibulotomy, is suitable too for large tumours but complete removal, with sparing of involved segments of the vagus nerve, is rarely possible. Post-operative neurological morbidity is still an unsolved issue and, therefore, rehabilitation of deglutition and phonation is an integral part of management.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Caldarelli
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, ASL 4, Turin, Italy.
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2
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Della Giovampaola C, Conte M, Caldarelli C, Zampieri F, Battaglia N, Spisni R, Parente B, Caldarelli G. Retroperitoneoscopic lumbar sympathectomy for nonreconstructable arterial occlusive disease. MINERVA CHIR 2006; 61:409-15. [PMID: 17159749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
AIM The aim of this study was to present our experience with video-assisted lumbar sympathectomy for non-reconstructive arterial occlusive disease in a series of 23 consecutive patients whose predominant symptoms were unilateral rest pain, limited skin ulcerations or gangrene of the toes. METHODS All the procedures were performed with retroperitoneal approach, dorsal position of the patient and simple digital dissection of the retroperitoneal space. RESULTS The operations were successfully performed in all patients except for 2, who immediately underwent open conversion. A urinoma caused by ureteral lesion was the only severe complication in this series. The mean operative time of the procedure was 55 min and the hospital stay was 2 or 3 days. No parenteral analgesics were administered postoperatively. At 1 month from operation, 20 patients out of 23 had significant relief of rest pain and improvement of ischemic lesions. After a median follow-up of 36 months, 2 patients had died, 4 underwent some type of distal amputation, 1 had recurrent rest pain and the other 16 reported persistent improvement of pain or dystrophic changes. CONCLUSIONS Retro-peritoneoscopic technique appears the modern and less invasive version of the lumbar surgical sympathectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Della Giovampaola
- Department of Surgery, University School of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy
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Flori F, Giovampaola CD, Focarelli R, Secciani F, La Sala GB, Nicoli A, Hale G, Rosati F. Epitope analysis of immunoglobulins against gp20, a GPI-anchored protein of the human sperm surface homologous to leukocyte antigen CD52. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 66:209-16. [PMID: 16101832 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2005.00463.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Gp20 is a sialylglycoprotein of the human sperm surface related to maturation and capacitation and is homologous to CD52, a glycosyl- phosphatidyl-inositol (GPI)-anchored protein highly expressed in lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and epididymal cells, described by the monoclonal antibody family CAMPATH. The CAMPATH antigen is characterized by a very short peptide (12 amino acids) and an N-linked oligosaccharide chain bound to the asparagine located in the third position and a GPI anchor bound to the C-terminal serine. The CAMPATH epitope includes three amino acids at the C-terminus and part of the GPI anchor. It has been suggested that anti-gp20 interacts with the same peptide recognized by CAMPATH antibodies but with a different epitope, since it describes the corresponding antigen in a different way. For example, it localizes the corresponding antigen in the equatorial region of the sperm head when sperm are capacitated, whereas CAMPATH antibodies bind all over the sperm surface. Our results indicate that the anti-gp20 epitope does not include the peptide backbone, the GPI anchor, or the N-glycans but consists of O-linked oligosaccharide chains bound to a unique CD52 glycoform present both in sperm and leukocytes. This is suggested by results obtained using many different approaches, such as immunoblot analysis of gp20 after removal of N- and O-glycans and after jacalin (Artocarpus integrifolia agglutinin)-affinity chromatography.
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MESH Headings
- Alemtuzumab
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/chemistry
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
- Antibodies, Neoplasm
- Antigens/chemistry
- Antigens, CD/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Asparagine/chemistry
- Blotting, Western
- CD52 Antigen
- Cell Membrane/immunology
- Chromatography, Affinity
- Chromatography, Ion Exchange
- Chromosome Mapping
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- Epitopes/chemistry
- Glycoproteins/immunology
- Glycosylphosphatidylinositols/immunology
- Humans
- Immunoblotting
- Immunoglobulins/chemistry
- Lymphocytes/immunology
- Male
- Microscopy, Fluorescence
- Oligosaccharides/chemistry
- Polysaccharides/chemistry
- Protein Binding
- Protein Isoforms
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Serine/chemistry
- Sialoglycoproteins/chemistry
- Spermatozoa/metabolism
- Temperature
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Affiliation(s)
- F Flori
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Giuliani V, Pandolfi C, Santucci R, Pelliccione F, Macerola B, Focarelli R, Rosati F, Della Giovampaola C, Francavilla F, Francavilla S. Expression of gp20, a human sperm antigen of epididymal origin, is reduced in spermatozoa from subfertile men. Mol Reprod Dev 2004; 69:235-40. [PMID: 15293226 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
gp20, a sialylglycoprotein of human sperm homologous to CD52, is present everywhere on the surface of the freshly ejaculated sperm but is prevalently localized in the equatorial region of the head of capacitated sperm. In the present study, we confirmed this feature on large scale and correlated equatorial exposure of the antigen to the presence of serum albumin (SA) in the capacitation medium. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationship between the presence of the antigen and its equatorial exposure after capacitation and fertility, by comparing immunostaining for gp20 in the motile fraction of spermatozoa from fertile and subfertile men. A significantly higher percentage of nonimmunostained spermatozoa before capacitation (38.5% +/- 23 vs. 12% +/- 7, P < 0.0001) and a lower increase in the percentage of sperm with equatorial localization after capacitation (19.3% +/- 25 vs. 34.6% +/- 22, P = 0.039) were observed in subfertile men (n = 60) compared to fertile men (n = 15). In the whole study group, a positive correlation was also found between the percentage of spermatozoa exhibiting equatorial localization in capacitated samples and normal head forms (R = 0.50; P < 0.0001).
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Affiliation(s)
- V Giuliani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Andrology Unit, University of L'Aquila, Italy
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Delle Monache S, Flori F, Della Giovampaola C, Capone A, La Sala GB, Rosati F, Colonna R, Tatone C, Focarelli R. Gp273, the ligand molecule for sperm-egg interaction in the bivalve mollusk, Unio elongatulus, binds to and induces acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa through a protein kinase C-dependent pathway. Biol Reprod 2003; 69:1779-84. [PMID: 12890719 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.103.019976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In a previous article, we suggested that gp273, the ligand molecule for sperm-egg interaction in the bivalve mollusk Unio elongatulus has functional carbohydrate epitopes in common with a human zona pellucida glycoprotein, probably ZP3. We demonstrated that: 1) anti-gp273-purified immunoglobulin G (IgG), which recognizes a carbohydrate gp273 epitope including a Lewisa-like structure, interacts with a zona pellucida protein; 2) human sperm specifically bind to gp273; and 3) binding is reversed by anti-gp273 IgG. In the present study, we confirm this suggestion by demonstrating that heat-solubilized zonae pellucidae reverse gp273-human sperm binding, that gp273-binding sites are restricted to the acrosomal region, and that gp273 induces the acrosome reaction in human sperm. We also demonstrated that gp273-binding sites on human sperm function as signaling receptors because exposure of spermatozoa to this glycoprotein results in significant stimulation of protein kinase C (PKC) activity. Because the PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide I, reverses both PKC activation and the acrosome reaction, this kinase is a key component of the signal transduction pathway activated by gp273 and leading to the exocytotic event.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Delle Monache
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
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Della Giovampaola C, Flori F, Sabatini L, Incerti L, La Sala GB, Rosati F, Focarelli R. Surface of human sperm bears three differently charged CD52 forms, two of which remain stably bound to sperm after capacitation. Mol Reprod Dev 2001; 60:89-96. [PMID: 11550272 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.1065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
gp20 is a sialoglycoprotein of the human sperm surface with a core peptide homologous to the leukocyte antigen CD52, a GPI-anchored glycosylated protein which is described by the monoclonal antibody CAMPATH-1. Comparative analyses, by means of CAMPATH and anti-gp20, indicated that they describe it in morphologically and functionally different ways, suggesting that the respective epitopes are different but also casting doubt on the immunological identity of the antigen. In the present study, we used immunodepletion to demonstrate that CAMPATH and anti-gp20 interact with the same antigen, but that anti-gp20 has a much higher avidity for the antigen than CAMPATH. Anion exchange fractionation analysis of the antigen revealed three differently charged gp20-CD52 forms, the least charged of which, was largely without a GPI-anchor. All three forms were associated with freshly ejaculated sperm, whereas capacitated sperm only contained the two GPI-anchored, more charged forms, which were also the ones found in the prostasome fraction of seminal plasma and in leukocytes. The two charged, GPI-anchored forms were described as homogeneous by anti-gp20, since they ran as a singlet; the third form ran as a doublet. When tested for insertion into Jurkat T cells, the medium charged form inserted the most readily and the less charged one could not be inserted at all.
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Rosati F, Capone A, Giovampaola CD, Brettoni C, Focarelli R. Sperm-egg interaction at fertilization: glycans as recognition signals. Int J Dev Biol 2001; 44:609-18. [PMID: 11061424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
This article first examines the events occurring in male and female genital tracts, which prepare human sperm to encounter the egg. Central is a glycoprotein, gp20, homologous to the leukocyte antigen CD52. This protein is secreted in the epididymal cells, inserted in the sperm plasma membrane and exposed in the equatorial region of the head at the end of the capacitation process. The mechanisms and molecules of the first interaction event between gametes in the mollusk bivalve Unio elongatulus and the current state of our knowledge of the same interaction in other species is then considered. The egg of Unio is very peculiar because it is highly polarized. Similar to other well-known egg models, the ligand for recognition is located on the egg coat which is a sort of fibrous network made up of very few glycoproteins, while the receptor is on the sperm surface. The difference is that in this egg, the ligand molecules are not uniformly distributed but are restricted to an area of the egg coat at the vegetal pole, the crater area. The role of carbohydrates in ligand function and of a specific type of oligosaccharide chain in particular, is discussed in the wider context of glycans acting as recognition signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Rosati
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, Italy.
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Focarelli R, Della Giovampaola C, Seraglia R, Brettoni C, Sabatini L, Pescaglini M, Rosati F. Biochemical and MALDI analysis of the human sperm antigen gp20, homologue of leukocyte CD52. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1999; 258:639-43. [PMID: 10329437 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1999.0554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In previous work we demonstrated that gp20, a sialoglycoprotein of human sperm is homologous to the leukocyte antigen CD52 and that anti-gp20 recognizes an antigen of the same molecular weight as that recognized by CAMPATH-1 (anti CD52) in leukocytes and sperm, but with some differences. In this study we used anti-gp20 to perform immunoblot analysis of many different sperm, seminal plasma and leukocyte samples. The sperm and seminal plasma antigens were similar and appeared to consist of two components, whereas the leukocyte antigen is unique. Evidence of the presence of two components of the sperm antigen, running respectively at about 19 and 21 kDa, was obtained by analyzing the purified antigen stained with Coomassie brilliant blue and by immunoblot analysis of the antigen after two-dimensional electrophoresis. Both components had an isoelectric point (pI) between 3 and 6. MALDI analysis of the purified antigen confirmed the presence of two components and indicated masses (Mr) of 8243 and 10908. The possible relationship between these findings and the presence of two forms of the CD52 gene differing at two aminoacids C-terminal to the GPI-anchor site has been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Focarelli
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Focarelli R, Francavilla S, Francavilla F, Della Giovampaola C, Santucci A, Rosati F. A sialoglycoprotein, gp20, of the human capacitated sperm surface is a homologue of the leukocyte CD52 antigen: analysis of the effect of anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody (CAMPATH-1) on capacitated spermatozoa. Mol Hum Reprod 1999; 5:46-51. [PMID: 10050661 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/5.1.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study we performed N-terminal sequence analysis of gp20, a 20 kDa sialoglycoprotein on the human sperm surface previously identified by radiolabelling of the sialic acid residues of sperm surface. We found 100% identity with the N-terminus of CD52, an antigen expressed on almost all human leukocytes. We also show that, like CD52, gp20 behaves as a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein and that anti-gp20 antiserum reacts with an antigen on leukocytes of the same molecular weight as CD52. Using CAMPATH-1, the monoclonal antibody against CD52, in fluorescent staining of capacitated spermatozoa, Western blot analysis and the zona-free hamster egg penetration test, we found that the effect of this antibody was different from that of our anti-gp20. Western blot analysis revealed a well-defined 20 kDa band with anti-gp20, whereas a 14-20 kDa band was detected with CAMPATH-1. Anti-gp20 stained the equatorial region of the sperm head, whereas CAMPATH-1 stained the tail in immunofluorescence analysis of capacitated spermatozoa. A dose-dependent inhibitory effect was seen with CAMPATH-1, similar to that previously detected with anti-gp20, in a zona-free hamster egg penetration test. However, with CAMPATH-1 agglutination of motile spermatozoa was detected, and this was not present with anti-gp20. This suggests that the epitopes recognized by the two antibodies are different.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Focarelli
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, Italy
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Focarelli R, Giuffrida A, Capparelli S, Scibona M, Menchini Fabris F, Francavilla F, Francavilla S, Giovampaola CD, Rosati F. Specific localization in the equatorial region of gp20, a 20 kDa sialylglycoprotein of the capacitated human spermatozoon acquired during epididymal transit which is necessary to penetrate zona-free hamster eggs. Mol Hum Reprod 1998; 4:119-25. [PMID: 9542968 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/4.2.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study we set out to characterize gp20, a 20 kDa glycoprotein of the human sperm surface, first identified by us by radiolabelling the sialic acid residues of the sperm surface [R. Focarelli et al. (1995), Mol. Hum. Reprod., 2, 2755-2759]. The protein was partially purified from pooled sperm samples of several healthy donors and used to raise a specific antiserum to study its localization in the reproductive system. When tested with freshly ejaculated spermatozoa, the anti-gp20 antibody intensely stained the head and midpiece. However, on capacitated spermatozoa the antigen was restricted to a sharp zone in the equatorial region. The antibody did not bind to differentiating germ cells but the antigen was present in epididymal epithelial cells and also in seminal plasma. Anti-gp20 exerted a blocking effect in a test for sperm penetration of zona-free hamster eggs, thus suggesting that gp20 is involved in the early stages of fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Focarelli
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, Italy
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Della Giovampaola C, Matronola M, Camerini E, Nervi M, Caldarelli GF. [Post-traumatic arterio-venous popliteal aneurysm]. MINERVA CHIR 1989; 44:2281-3. [PMID: 2626191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A case of artero-venous pseudo-aneurysm caused by traumatic aetiology is reported. After a description of the case and a review of the literature, the pathogenesis, clinical aspects and therapy of acquired artero-venous fistulas are discussed.
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Spisni R, Nervi M, Lijoi C, Matronola M, Della Giovampaola C, Caldarelli GF. [Primary carcinoma of the gallbladder]. MINERVA CHIR 1989; 44:991-3. [PMID: 2733845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
A series of 4 patients with gallbladder cancer encountered in 1977-86 is presented. Carcinoma accounted for 2.5% of all biliary surgery with a higher incidence among female (F = 22, M = 12). Most of the tumours had reached an advanced by the time they reached the operating theatre. Given the difficulty in diagnosing tumours at an early stage, prophylactic cholecystectomy is highly recommended in patients with gallstones whether they are symptomatic or not.
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Mosca F, Della Giovampaola C, Parra PF, D'Elia F, Cei A. [Granulomatous enterocolitis and colo-duodenal fistula]. MINERVA CHIR 1984; 39:1745-9. [PMID: 6531126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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D'Elia F, Della Giovampaola C, Giulianotti PC, Miccoli P, Mosca F. [Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in the adult]. MINERVA CHIR 1984; 39:489-95. [PMID: 6472659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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