A progress study of 100 cancer patients treated by acupressure for chemotherapy-induced vomiting after failure with the pharmacological approach.

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.

A case-control study of Panicum Miliaceum in the treatment of cancer chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

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

Effect of acupressure on nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy in cancer patients.

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.

[Long-term evaluation of immunosuppressive therapy in childhood idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis]. / Valutazione a lungo termine della terapia immunosoppressiva nella emosiderosi polmonare idiopatica dell'infanzia.

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPM) is a rare disease of unknown etiology, whose diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic approach is still open to discussion. In this paper the authors report a study regarding three cases of IPH initially detected in 13, 11 and 7 year-old children. The patients were treated with cyclophosphamide and prednisone according to different cycles depending on the clinical stage in the disease. All three patients are still alive after 10, 6 and 5 years since initial diagnosis. This therapeutic protocol therefore seems to be effective in preventing the progression of IPH and in maintaining the patients in an asymptomatic condition.

[Effectiveness of piperacillin in childhood infections]. / Efficacia della piperacillina nelle infezioni dell'età pediatrica.

Piperacillin is a semisynthetic penicillin with a broad-spectrum: in particular it is active against Gram positive, Gram negative, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria often resistant to other antibiotics of the same group. We report a trial carried out on 38 children with severe and moderate infections treated with piperacillin. We have considered ESR, all leucocytes count and body temperature. No severe side effects have been reported. Piperacillin must be used as a first choice in pediatric age, mostly in case of mixed bacterial infections and in immunocompromised patients.

[Clinico-therapeutic findings on diabetic complications in thalassemia]. / Considerazioni clinico-terapeutiche sulla complicanza diabetica nella talassemia.

We describe 6 patients with thalassaemia major who developed diabetes. Etiopathogenesis, poor metabolic control, previous transfusion and chelation regimens are discussed. Antiaggregant therapy with A.S.A. and Dipiridamole may play a role in these patients for preventing thrombotic risk.

[Chronic lead poisoning in childhood: clinical experience]. / L'intossicazione cronica da piombo in età pediatrica: esperienza clinica.

Since 1978, 818 children living near an industrial source of pollution have been screened for lead poisoning. Biochemical evidences of increased lead absorption have been found in 114 cases and in 62 of them it was of such degree to guarantee further investigations. Those 62 children received a thorough neuropsychologic evaluation revealing a significant reduction of IQ, learning difficulties, poor concentration and behavioral abnormalities. We also documented an increased rate of abnormal mathafases and breaks of chromatides in children with increased lead absorption compared with age and sex matched controls.

[Reference values of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid in children]. / Valori di riferimento dell'acido delta-aminolevulinico urinario in età pediatrica.

Delta-aminolaevulinic acid is well known to be an intermediate in the synthesis of haeme and small amounts are normally excreted in urine (ALA-U). An increased excretion of this substance occurs in porphyria and in lead poisoning. The urine specimens of 670 children (362 boys and 308 girls), aging from less than one to fifteen years and who had no evidence of abnormal exposure to lead, have been collected in order to find out the range of normal values of ALA-U expressed in mg/l for the different age and sex group. Our data can be usefull, together with zincprotoporphyrin (ZPP), for screening of anemias and for monitoring lead exposure.