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1.
Int J Cancer ; 140(8): 1870-1880, 2017 04 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28120505

ABSTRACT

The role of progenitor/stem cells in pituitary tumorigenesis, resistance to pharmacological treatments and tumor recurrence is still unclear. This study investigated the presence of progenitor/stem cells in non-functioning pituitary tumors (NFPTs) and tested the efficacy of dopamine receptor type 2 (DRD2) and somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) agonists to inhibit in vitro proliferation. They found that 70% of 46 NFPTs formed spheres co-expressing stem cell markers, transcription factors (DAX1, SF1, ERG1) and gonadotropins. Analysis of tumor behavior showed that spheres formation was associated with tumor invasiveness (OR = 3,96; IC: 1.05-14.88, p = 0.036). The in vitro reduction of cell proliferation by DRD2 and SSTR2 agonists (31 ± 17% and 35 ± 13% inhibition, respectively, p < 0.01 vs. basal) occurring in about a half of NFPTs cells was conserved in the corresponding spheres. Accordingly, these drugs increased cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 and decreased cyclin D3 expression in spheres. In conclusion, they provided further evidence for the existence of cells with a progenitor/stem cells-like phenotype in the majority of NFPTs, particularly in those with invasive behavior, and demonstrated that the antiproliferative effects of dopaminergic and somatostatinergic drugs were maintained in progenitor/stem-like cells.


Subject(s)
Carcinogenesis/genetics , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy , Pituitary Neoplasms/drug therapy , Receptors, Dopamine D2/genetics , Receptors, Somatostatin/genetics , Adult , Carcinogenesis/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cyclin D3/biosynthesis , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27/biosynthesis , DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor/biosynthesis , Dopamine Agents/administration & dosage , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics , ERG1 Potassium Channel/biosynthesis , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects , Gonadotropins/biosynthesis , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology , Neoplastic Stem Cells/drug effects , Pituitary Neoplasms/genetics , Pituitary Neoplasms/pathology , RNA Splicing Factors/biosynthesis , Receptors, Dopamine D2/agonists , Receptors, Somatostatin/agonists , Spheroids, Cellular/drug effects , Spheroids, Cellular/pathology
2.
Zootaxa ; 3646: 501-15, 2013.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26213776

ABSTRACT

The new genus, Nama gen. n., and four new species, N. richtersveldiana sp. n., N. pentamera sp. n., N. iuliae sp. n. and N. erikae sp. n., are described from the Richtersveld National Park. The taxonomic position of the new genus is discussed, and it is compared with the other Trachyphloeini native to South Africa and with some genera of Trachyphloeini occurring in the Palaearctic region. A key to the species of Nama is provided.


Subject(s)
Weevils/classification , Animals , Biodiversity , Female , Male , Soil , South Africa , Weevils/anatomy & histology
3.
Cell Death Dis ; 1: e61, 2010 Aug 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21364666

ABSTRACT

Dysferlin deficiency leads to a peculiar form of muscular dystrophy due to a defect in sarcolemma repair and currently lacks a therapy. We developed a cell therapy protocol with wild-type adult murine mesoangioblasts. These cells differentiate with high efficiency into skeletal muscle in vitro but differ from satellite cells because they do not express Pax7. After intramuscular or intra-arterial administration to SCID/BlAJ mice, a novel model of dysferlinopathy, wild-type mesoangioblasts efficiently colonized dystrophic muscles and partially restored dysferlin expression. Nevertheless, functional assays performed on isolated single fibers from transplanted muscles showed a normal repairing ability of the membrane after laser-induced lesions; this result, which reflects gene correction of an enzymatic rather than a structural deficit, suggests that this myopathy may be easier to treat with cell or gene therapy than other forms of muscular dystrophies.


Subject(s)
Aging/pathology , Blood Vessels/metabolism , Blood Vessels/pathology , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle/physiopathology , Recovery of Function/physiology , Animals , Biological Assay , Blood Vessels/transplantation , Disease Models, Animal , Dysferlin , Inflammation/pathology , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, SCID , Muscle, Skeletal/pathology , Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle/metabolism , Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle/pathology
4.
Cell Mol Life Sci ; 66(4): 697-710, 2009 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19153665

ABSTRACT

Among the heterogeneous population of circulating hematopoietic and endothelial progenitors, we identified a subpopulation of CD133(+) cells displaying myogenic properties. Unexpectedly, we observed the expression of the B-cell marker CD20 in blood-derived CD133(+) stem cells. The CD20 antigen plays a role in the modulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis through signaling pathways activation. Several observations suggest that an increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) could be involved in the etiology of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Here, we show that a CD20-related signaling pathway able to induce an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) is differently activated after brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) stimulation of normal and dystrophic blood-derived CD133(+) stem cells, supporting the assumption of a "CD20-related calcium impairment" affecting dystrophic cells. Presented findings represent the starting point toward the expansion of knowledge on pathways involved in the pathology of DMD and in the behavior of dystrophic blood-derived CD133(+) stem cells.


Subject(s)
Antigens, CD20/metabolism , Antigens, CD/metabolism , Glycoproteins/metabolism , Peptides/metabolism , Signal Transduction/physiology , Stem Cells/physiology , AC133 Antigen , Animals , Antigens, CD/genetics , Antigens, CD20/genetics , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism , Calcium/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Cytokines/metabolism , Dystrophin/genetics , Dystrophin/metabolism , Glycoproteins/genetics , Homeostasis , Humans , Immunophenotyping , Mice , Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/metabolism , Peptides/genetics , Protein Isoforms/genetics , Protein Isoforms/metabolism , Stem Cells/cytology
5.
Minerva Med ; 99(6): 535-7, 2008 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19034252

ABSTRACT

AIM: The induction of sleep would depend on interaction between gabaergic system and the pineal gland through its main hormone melatonin. Until few years ago benzodiazepines were the only drugs effective in the treatment of insomnia. Recently, however, both melatonin and acupressure have appear to be active in sleep disorders. The aim of study was to evaluate the efficacy of HT 7 point acupressure in insomnia. METHODS: The study enrolled 25 patients affected by sleep disorders, 14 of whom had a neoplastic disease. They were treated by HT 7 stimulation for al least two consecutive weeks using a medical device named H7 Insomnia Control. RESULTS: An improvement in the quality of sleep was achieved in 15/25 (60%) patients, with a more evident efficacy in cancer patients (11/14 [79%]). CONCLUSION: This study confirms previous clinical data showing the efficacy of acupressure in the treatment of sleep disorders, particularly in cancer-related insomnia.


Subject(s)
Acupressure/methods , Acupuncture Points , Neoplasms/complications , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy , Acupressure/instrumentation , Aged , Chi-Square Distribution , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/etiology
6.
J Pathol ; 213(2): 229-38, 2007 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17668421

ABSTRACT

Abnormal connective tissue proliferation following muscle degeneration is a major pathological feature of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a genetic myopathy due to lack of the sarcolemmal dystrophin protein. Since this fibrotic proliferation is likely to be a major obstacle to the efficacy of future therapies, research is needed to understand and prevent the fibrotic process in order to develop an effective treatment. Murine muscular dystrophy (mdx) is genetically homologous to DMD, and histopatological alterations are comparable to those of the muscles of patients with DMD. To investigate the development of fibrosis, we bred the mdx mouse with the scid immunodepressed mouse and analysed fibrosis histologically; we used ELISA analysis to determine TGF-beta1 expression. Significant reduction of fibrosis and TGF-beta1 expression was found in the muscles of the scid/mdx mice. However, we observed similar centrally located nuclei, necrosis, muscle degeneration and muscle force compared to the mdx animals. These data demonstrate a correlation between the absence of B and T lymphocytes and loss of fibrosis accompanied by reduction of TGF-beta1, suggesting the importance of modulation of the immune system in DMD.


Subject(s)
B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Muscle, Skeletal/pathology , Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Animals , Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism , Crosses, Genetic , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Fibrosis/immunology , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred mdx , Mice, SCID , Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/metabolism , Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/pathology , Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism , Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology , Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/metabolism , Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/pathology , Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/physiopathology , Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/immunology , Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/metabolism , Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/pathology , Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/physiopathology , Pedigree
7.
Glia ; 55(4): 425-38, 2007 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17203471

ABSTRACT

The regeneration in the peripheral nervous system is often incomplete and the treatment of severe lesions with nerve tissue loss is primarily aimed at recreating nerve continuity. Guide tubes of various types, filled with Schwann cells, stem cells, or nerve growth factors are attractive as an alternative therapy to nerve grafts. In this study, we evaluated whether skin-derived stem cells (SDSCs) can improve peripheral nerve regeneration after transplantation into nerve guides. We compared peripheral nerve regeneration in adult rats with sciatic nerve gaps of 16 mm after autologous transplantation of GFP-labeled SDSCs into two different types of guides: a synthetic guide, obtained by dip coating with a L-lactide and trimethylene carbonate (PLA-TMC) copolymer and a collagen-based guide. The sciatic function index and the recovery rates of the compound muscle action potential were significantly higher in the animals that received SDSCs transplantation, in particular, into the collagen guide, compared to the control guides filled only with PBS. For these guides the morphological and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated an increased number of myelinated axons expressing S100 and Neurofilament 70, suggesting the presence of regenerating nerve fibers along the gap. GFP positive cells were found around regenerating nerve fibers and few of them were positive for the expression of glial markers as S-100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein. RT-PCR analysis confirmed the expression of S100 and myelin basic protein in the animals treated with the collagen guide filled with SDSCs. These data support the hypothesis that SDSCs could represent a tool for future cell therapy applications in peripheral nerve regeneration.


Subject(s)
Nerve Regeneration/physiology , Sciatic Nerve/injuries , Skin/cytology , Stem Cell Transplantation , Stem Cells/physiology , Action Potentials/physiology , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Axons/physiology , Biomarkers/analysis , Biomarkers/metabolism , Cell Differentiation/physiology , Collagen/metabolism , Dioxanes , Electrophysiology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Flow Cytometry , Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/biosynthesis , Immunohistochemistry , Male , Nerve Growth Factors/biosynthesis , Polyesters , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , S100 Proteins/metabolism
8.
Minerva Med ; 98(6): 665-8, 2007 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18299681

ABSTRACT

AIM: The recent rediscovery of the natural traditional medical sciences has contributed to improve the treatment of the human diseases and, in particular, it has been shown that the pharmacological approach is not the only possible strategy in the treatment of nausea and vomiting, since bioenergetic approaches, such as acupressure and acupuncture, may also counteract the onset of vomiting due to different causes. Previous preliminary clinical studies had already suggested a possible efficacy of acupressure also in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced vomiting resistant to the classical antiemetic drugs. The aim of this study was to confirm these preliminary data. METHODS: The study was performed in 100 consecutive metastatic solid tumour patients, who underwent chemotherapy for their advanced neoplastic disease, and who had no benefit from the standard antiemetic agents, including corticosteroids, antidopaminergics and 5-HT 3R-antagonists. Acupressure was made by a stimulation of PC6 acupoint. RESULTS: The emetic symptomatology was reduced by acupressure in 68/100 (68%) patients, without significant differences in relation to tumour histotype. The lowest efficacy was observed in patients treated by anthracycline-containing regimens, without, however, statistically significant differences with respect to the other chemotherapeutic combinations. CONCLUSION: This study confirms previous preliminary clinical results, which had already suggested the potential efficacy of acupressure in the treatment of vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy. Therefore, acupressure may be successfully included within the therapeutic strategies of cancer chemotherapy-induced vomiting.


Subject(s)
Acupressure , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Nausea/therapy , Vomiting/therapy , Acupuncture Points , Adult , Aged , Antiemetics/therapeutic use , Chi-Square Distribution , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nausea/chemically induced , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Treatment Failure , Vomiting/chemically induced , Vomiting, Anticipatory
9.
Minerva Med ; 98(6): 661-4, 2007 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18299680

ABSTRACT

AIM: Alopecia still remains one of the most untreatable side-effects induced by cancer chemotherapy. According to the phytotherapeutic tradition, Panicum Miliaceum has been proven to be effective in the prevention of hair loss for different reasons. At present, however, there are no data about its possible efficacy in the treatment of cancer chemotherapy-induce alopecia. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of Panicum Miliaceum in cancer patients treated with the most potent chemotherapeutic drugs in terms of hair loss, consisting of cisplatin (CDDP) and anthracyclines. METHODS: This case-control study included 28 cancer patients concomitantly treated with Panicum Miliaceum and 56 patients receiving the same combinations of chemotherapy alone as a control group. Panicum Miliaceum was given orally at 300 mg (daily dose) 3 times per day, every day until the end of chemotherapy. The grade of hair loss was assessed by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. RESULTS: The percentage of alopecia of third grade observed in patients concomitantly treated with Panicum Miliaceum in association with CDDP-containing regimens was significantly lower than that found in those who received the chemotherapy only. The percentage was also lower under anthracycline-containing schedules, without, however, statistically significant differences. Panicum Miliaceum therapy was substantially well tolerated in all patients. RESULTS: This preliminary study would suggest that the concomitant treatment with Panicum Miliaceum may be effective in preventing hair loss induced by CDDP-containing chemotherapies, whereas the benefit was lower in patients treated with anthracyclines. Future randomized studies will be necessary to confirm these preliminary


Subject(s)
Alopecia/drug therapy , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Cisplatin/adverse effects , Panicum , Phytotherapy/methods , Adult , Aged , Alopecia/chemically induced , Anthracyclines/adverse effects , Case-Control Studies , Chi-Square Distribution , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/drug therapy
10.
Minerva Med ; 97(5): 391-4, 2006 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17146420

ABSTRACT

AIM: Corticosteroids, antidopaminergig agents and 5-HT3 antagonists are the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced vomiting. Acupuncture and acupressure have also appeared to exert antiemetic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupressure in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced vomiting resistant to the standard antiemetic therapies. METHODS: The study included 40 consecutive advanced cancer patients with untreatable chemotherapy-induced vomiting. Colorectal cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer were the neoplasm most frequent in our patients. According to tumour histotype, patients received chemotherapeutic regimens containing the main emetic cytotoxic agents, including cisplatin and athracyclines. Acupressure was made by PC6 point stimulation for at least 6 h/day at the onset of chemotherapy. RESULTS: The therapeutic approach was well accepted by the overall patients. An evident improvement in the emetic symptomatology was achieved in 28/40 (70%) patients, without significant differences in relation to neither tumor histotype, nor type of chemotherapeutic agent. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study seems to suggest that a bioenergetic approach by acupressure on PC6 point may be effective in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced vomiting resistant to the conventional pharmacological strategies, as previously demonstrated for vomiting occurring during pregnancy.


Subject(s)
Acupressure/methods , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Nausea/therapy , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Vomiting/therapy , Acupuncture Points , Adult , Aged , Antiemetics/therapeutic use , Drug Resistance , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nausea/chemically induced , Vomiting/chemically induced
11.
Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol ; 18(1): 173-82, 2005.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15698522

ABSTRACT

The link between alcohol consumption and liver disease is not direct and several factors including autoimmunity to hepatocyte components have been implicated. We have previously identified alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) as an autoantigen in autoimmune liver disease and in a proportion of patients with alcoholic liver disease. The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between the presence of anti-ADH antibodies, alcohol consumption and severity of liver damage in alcoholic patients. The presence of antibodies to human ADH beta2 and horse ADH was investigated in 108 patients with documented history of alcohol consumption and alcohol related liver disease, 86 being active alcohol abusers and 22 on sustained alcohol withdrawal, 39 with non-alcohol related disease and 22 normal subjects. Antibodies to either ADH form were more frequently detected in active alcohol abusers (55/86, 64%) than in patients on sustained alcohol withdrawal longer than 6 months (1/8, 13 %, P < 0.005), HBV infection (2/8, 25 %, P=0.03), non-alcohol related disease (9/29, 23 %, P < 0.0001) and in normal controls (3/22, 14 %, P < 0.0001); were more frequent in patients with cirrhosis than in those with steatosis (26/34, 76 % vs 34/64, 53 %, P=0.02); and were associated with elevated levels of ALT (anti-ADH beta2, P < 0.05), immunoglobulin A (P < 0.05) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (P=0.01). Anti-ADH antibody positive serum samples were able to inhibit the enzymatic activity of ADH. These findings suggest that anti-ADH antibodies may be triggered by alcohol consumption and act as a disease activity marker in alcoholic liver disease.


Subject(s)
Alcohol Dehydrogenase/immunology , Autoantibodies/immunology , Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/immunology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Alcohol Dehydrogenase/antagonists & inhibitors , Alcohol Drinking , Animals , Antibody Specificity , Biomarkers , Female , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Horses , Humans , Immunoblotting , Isoenzymes/immunology , Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/enzymology , Liver Function Tests , Male , Middle Aged , Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
12.
In Vivo ; 17(6): 647-50, 2003.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-14758733

ABSTRACT

In addition to the occurrence of pain, the evidence of a diminished capacity to feel pleasure is one of the most common cancer-related symptoms. Recent advances in psychoneuroendocrinological knowledge has shown that the perception of pleasure is mainly mediated by the dopaminergic pathways in the brain. Moreover, it has also been demonstrated that the brain dopaminergic sensitivity may be clinically explored by evaluating the endocrine response to the administration of dopaminergic agents, such as apomorphine, which consists of a decline in PRL concentrations and an increase in GH and cortisol levels. The present study was performed to evaluate dopaminergic sensitivity by the administration of apomorphine in cancer patients in an attempt to document possible cancer-related neuroendocrine anomalies, which could explain the psychological status of the patients. The study included 24 cancer patients (breast cancer: 12; colorectal cancer: 7; non-small cell lung cancer: 5), 12 of whom showed distant organ metastases. Apomorphine was given orally at 0.01 mg/kg b.w., by collecting venous blood samples before and after 20 and 60 minutes. A normal decline in PRL levels was seen in both non-metastatic and metastatic cancer patients. No cortisol increase in response to apomorphine was achieved and the lack of cortisol response was particularly evident in metastatic patients. No GH rise occurred in either metastatic or non-metastatic cancer patients. Finally, no significant difference in the endocrine response to apomorphine was seen in relation to the histotype of tumor. The results of this study show that the neoplastic disease is characterized by neurochemical alterations involving pleasure-related dopaminergic pathways, which are more evident in the metastatic disease, without particular differences in relation to tumor histotype. Therefore, the psychological condition of cancer patients would not depend only on psychological factors, but it could be due at least in part to cancer-related neuroendocrine alterations involving the dopaminergic system.


Subject(s)
Brain Chemistry/physiology , Breast Neoplasms/physiopathology , Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Colorectal Neoplasms/physiopathology , Colorectal Neoplasms/psychology , Dopamine/physiology , Adult , Aged , Breast Neoplasms/secondary , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/physiopathology , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/psychology , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/secondary , Colorectal Neoplasms/secondary , Female , Happiness , Human Growth Hormone/blood , Humans , Hydrocortisone/blood , Lung Neoplasms/physiopathology , Lung Neoplasms/psychology , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Male , Middle Aged , Perception , Prolactin/blood
13.
Neurobiol Aging ; 22(4): 563-8, 2001.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11445256

ABSTRACT

In the present study we analysed the genotype of HFE, the gene involved in hemochromatosis, in 107 patients with sporadic late-onset AD and in 99 age-matched non-demented controls. We observed that patients carrying the mutant HFE-H63D allele had a mean age at onset of 71.7 +/- 6.0 years versus 76.6 +/- 5.8 years of those who were homozygous for the wild-type allele (p = 0.001). The frequency of the HFE-H63D mutation was highest (0.22) in the patients aged <70 years at the time of disease onset, whereas it was 0.12 in those with disease onset at an age of 70-80 years, and 0.04 in those aged more than 80 years. The APOE genotype did not significantly modify the effect of HFE on age at onset. We conclude that mild disturbances of iron homeostasis associated with a common genetic determinant may interact with other pathogenic mechanisms involved in AD. HFE mutations may anticipate AD clinical presentation in susceptible individuals.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/genetics , HLA Antigens/genetics , Hemochromatosis/genetics , Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/genetics , Membrane Proteins , Age of Onset , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Apolipoprotein E4 , Apolipoproteins E/genetics , Female , Gene Frequency , Genotype , Hemochromatosis Protein , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation , Risk Factors
17.
Cancer Detect Prev ; 23(2): 172-6, 1999.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10101599

ABSTRACT

Clinical data have supported the combination of subcutaneous r-interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and r-interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha) as a promising combination for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), with a reduced toxicity. We evaluated the activity and safety of this outpatient immunotherapy and report on the clinical results and the long-term survival analysis. Objective responses was observed in 9 of 50 (18%) patients, 6 of whom (12%) achieved a complete response. Overall median survival is 12 months, six patients were surviving at a median follow-up of 24 months, and three (6%) are still progression-free.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/drug therapy , Immunotherapy, Active , Interferon-alpha/administration & dosage , Interleukin-2/administration & dosage , Kidney Neoplasms/drug therapy , Adult , Aged , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/secondary , Female , Humans , Injections, Subcutaneous , Interferon alpha-2 , Interferon-alpha/therapeutic use , Interleukin-2/therapeutic use , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Recombinant Proteins , Remission Induction , Survival Analysis
18.
Recenti Prog Med ; 89(1): 18-20, 1998 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9549388

ABSTRACT

The authors describe a case of multiple myeloma in which a complete remission was obtained by treatment with high dose dexamethasone. This was the only therapy suitable for the patient because of heavy myelosuppression due to disease and to one course of conventional treatment with melphalan and prednisone. Further trials are needed to evaluate the usefulness and safety of this treatment as first line therapy, especially in the elderly, with pancytopenia and bad performance status.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/administration & dosage , Dexamethasone/administration & dosage , Multiple Myeloma/drug therapy , Aged , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Dexamethasone/therapeutic use , Doxorubicin/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Multiple Myeloma/diagnosis , Time Factors , Vincristine/therapeutic use
19.
Tumori ; 84(6): 662-5, 1998.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10080672

ABSTRACT

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Combined 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and folinic acid (FA) is the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. The aims of this study were to individualize the dose of 5FU in a weekly schedule in which the maximum tolerated dose of 5FU is administered to each patient, and to evaluate the impact of increasing 5FU doses on response and survival. METHODS: Thirty-two patients (30 evaluable for response) with metastatic colorectal cancer were treated with weekly intravenous doses of FA 150 mg/m2 and a fast infusion of 5FU, at an initial dose of 600 mg/m2 which was increased by 60 mg/m2 every week until the appearance of a side effect, in order to determine the maximum tolerated dose for the patient. RESULTS: We obtained 11 objective responses (36.7%, median survival 22 months) and 15 disease stabilizations (50%, median survival 15 months); there were four cases of progressive disease (13.3%, median survival 4 months). The overall survival was 15 months. Twenty-eight patients (87.5%) tolerated 5FU doses of 720 mg/m2 or more. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly 5FU with high-dose FA modulation can be individualized by dose escalation. A 5FU dose of 720 mg/m2 per week seems to be critical, as higher doses are no more effective and lead to severe side effects. This schedule gives good results in terms of response, even though the complete response rate remains low.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy , Adult , Aged , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , Disease Progression , Drug Administration Schedule , Female , Fluorouracil/administration & dosage , Humans , Leucovorin/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , Survival Analysis , Treatment Outcome
20.
Minerva Med ; 87(3): 105-8, 1996 Mar.
Article in Italian | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8668285

ABSTRACT

A case of temporal arteritis is described in a woman of 67, affected by non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, associated with polymyalgia rheumatica and complicated by angina pectoris. Angina, which appeared a few days after diagnosis, was coupled with electrocardiographic alterations, which did not seem sensitive to nitrates but went back when steroid at full dose was added. The patient was also affected by Basedow disease, which was present during the whole course of the vasculitis. Furthermore islet-cell antibodies (ICA) were present. HLA typing showed the presence of the B8, DR3 haplotype. The patient died after 22 months from the diagnosis of digestive hemorrhage, probably favoured by extended cortisone therapy, while signs of arteritis were still evident.


Subject(s)
Angina Pectoris/complications , Giant Cell Arteritis/complications , Hyperthyroidism/complications , Aged , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Cortisone/therapeutic use , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Electrocardiography , Female , Giant Cell Arteritis/drug therapy , Giant Cell Arteritis/pathology , Graves Disease/complications , Humans
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