The molecular characterization by SSRs reveals a new South Italian kinship and the origin of the cultivar Uva di Troia.

Vitis vinifera L. varieties were spread through cuttings following historic migrations of people, trades, or after biological crises due to pests outbreaks. Some today's varieties could be more than a 1000 years old and, although over the centuries these varieties generated most of the remaining cultivars, their origin could be impossible to track back. The Italian grapevine biodiversity is one of most important, most likely due to its strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean sea. Unravelling of its structure is challenging because of its complexity and the lack of historical documentation. In this paper molecular data are compared with historical documentations. Simple Sequence Repeats fingerprinting are molecular markers best suited to investigate genetic relationships and identify pedigrees. South-Italian germplasm was studied with 54 nuclear microsatellites. A family was identified, consisting of two parents and three siblings and further genetically characterized with six nuclear and five chloroplast microsatellites and described with ampelographic and phylometric analysis. Although these latter were not informative for the kinship identification. The common Bombino bianco was the female parent and the previously unknown Uva rosa antica was the male parent. Bombino nero, Impigno and the popular Uva di Troia, all typical of the south-east Italy, were the offspring. Further research showed that the Uva rosa antica was a synonym of Quagliano and Bouteillan noir, both minor varieties. Quagliano was considered to be autochthonous of some alpine valleys in the north-west of Italy and Bouteillan noir is a neglected variety of Vancluse in France. This finding uncovers the intricate nature of Italian grape cultivars, considered peculiar of an area, but possibly being the remains of ancient latin founding varieties. Consequently, intriguing new hypotheses are discussed and some conclusions are drawn, based on the peculiar geographical origin of the parents, on the distribution of the offspring, on the chance of a single, and perhaps intentional, crossing event.

Prevalence of coronary artery intramyocardial course in a large population of clinical patients detected by multislice computed tomography coronary angiography.

BACKGROUND: Intramyocardial course, an inborn coronary anomaly, is defined as a segment of a major epicardial coronary artery that runs intramurally through the myocardium; in particular, we distinguish myocardial bridging, in which the vessel returns to an epicardial position after the muscle bridge, and intramyocardial course, which is described as a vessel running and ending in the myocardium. PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of myocardial bridging and intramyocardial course of coronary arteries as defined by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 242 consecutive patients (211 men, 31 women; mean age 59+/-6 years) with atypical chest pain admitted to our hospital between December 2004 and September 2006. All MDCT examinations were performed using a 16-detector-row scanner (Aquilion 16 CFX; Toshiba Medical System, Tokyo, Japan). Patients with heart rate above 65 bpm received 50 mg atenolol orally for 3 days prior to the MDCT scan, or they increased their usual therapy with beta-blockers, in order to obtain a prescan heart rate <60 bpm. Curved multiplanar and 3D volume reconstructions were performed to explore coronary anatomy. RESULTS: In 235 patients, the CT scan was successful and images were appropriate for evaluation. The prevalence of myocardial bridging and intramyocardial course of coronary arteries was 18.7% (47 cases) in our patient population. In 30 segments (63.8%), the vessels ran and ended in the myocardium. In the remaining 17 segments (36.2%), the vessels returned to an epicardial position after the muscle bridge. We found no difference in the prevalence of this inborn coronary anomaly when comparing different clinical characteristics of the study population (sex, age, body-mass index [BMI], etc.). The mean length of the subepicardial artery was 7 mm (range 5-12 mm), and the mean depth in the diastolic phase was 1.9 mm (range 1.2-2.3 mm). There was no significant difference of diameter in these segments between the different R-R phases examined. CONCLUSION: Our study is in agreement with major angiographic literature reporting a prevalence of myocardial bridging and intramyocardial course between 0.5% and 33%. MDCT technology represents a useful, noninvasive imaging method to assess and evaluate the location, depth, and length of this anatomical variation.

Pueden los efectos estroprogesénicos y de la terapia de reemplazo hormonal sobre la hemostasia incrementar realmente el riesgo de tromboembolismo venoso? / Can the effects of oestroprogestinici and hormone replacement therapy on haemostasis really increase the risk of venous thromboembolism?

El propósito de este trabajo es sugerir algunas consideraciones clínicas sobre el riesgo real de tromboembolismo venoso (TEV) resultante de combinaciones de antioconceptivos orales (CAO) y de terapia de reemplazo hormonal (TRH). El énfasis ha sido puesto en ekl rol real de las modificaciones hemostáticas y en los posibles diferentes riesgos derivados de variadas preparaciones. El debate queda abierto sobre el más alto efecto protrombótico de los llamados anticonceptivos de 3a generación y la explicación biológica de este efecto. La atención está puesta principalmente en el impacto real de TEV comparado con los beneficios indiscutibles de la CAO y de la TRH

Pueden los efectos estroprogesénicos y de la terapia de reemplazo hormonal sobre la hemostasia incrementar realmente el riesgo de tromboembolismo venoso? / Can the effects of oestroprogestinici and hormone replacement therapy on haemostasis really increase the risk of venous thromboembolism?

El propósito de este trabajo es sugerir algunas consideraciones clínicas sobre el riesgo real de tromboembolismo venoso (TEV) resultante de combinaciones de antioconceptivos orales (CAO) y de terapia de reemplazo hormonal (TRH). El énfasis ha sido puesto en ekl rol real de las modificaciones hemostáticas y en los posibles diferentes riesgos derivados de variadas preparaciones. El debate queda abierto sobre el más alto efecto protrombótico de los llamados anticonceptivos de 3a generación y la explicación biológica de este efecto. La atención está puesta principalmente en el impacto real de TEV comparado con los beneficios indiscutibles de la CAO y de la TRH

Femoral catheters: safety and efficacy in peripheral blood stem cell collection.

Central venous access is necessary in patients candidate for peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection. We report our experience with a dual lumen femoral catheter (Gamcath, 11 french), initially designed for hemodialysis. We studied 147 patients and performed 488 collections after mobilization with either G-CSF alone or chemotherapy + G-CSF, when the white blood cell count exceeded 1 x 10(9)/L, or when a measurable population of CD34+ cells (20/microL) was detected in peripheral blood. All patients received systemic anticoagulation with a low weight heparin and ultrasound examination was performed after the removal of the catheter. Seven patients developed thrombosis (4.7%), ten experienced hematomas at the site of catheter placement (6.8%) despite prophylactic platelet transfusions, while only one patient (0.6%) had a catheter-related infection. In conclusion, the short-term use of large bore femoral catheters in setting up PBSC collection seems to be associated with minimal risk of infection and low thrombotic incidence.

Phase I study of chemotherapy with carboplatin, epirubicin, and escalating dose of VP-16 with G-CSF support in extensive small cell lung cancer.

In attempt to develop a new chemotherapeutic regimen including carboplatin (CBDCA), epirubicin (EPI), and VP-16 in extensive small cell lung cancer, with a higher dose intensity compared with previous experience of our group, we determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of VP-16 when administered in association with CBDCA (300 mg/ m2, i.v., day 1) and EPI (75 mg/m2, i.v., day 1), recycling chemotherapy every 3 weeks, with the support of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). A total of 15 patients received three dose levels of VP-16 (mg/m2, i.v., daily on days 1-3): 100 (three patients), 120 (six), and 140 (six). G-CSF was administered subcutaneously at the dose of 5 micrograms/kg/day on days 6-15 of each chemotherapy course. The MTD was established at 140 mg/m2 and myelotoxicity, grade 4 neutropenia with death for sepsis in one case and grade 3 thrombocytopenia in three cases, was dose limiting. The recommended dose of VP-16 for a phase II study is 140 mg/m2.

Mitomycin C plus vindesine plus etoposide (MEV) versus mitomycin C plus vindesine plus cisplatin (MVP) in stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer: A phase III multicentre randomised trial. The "Gruppo Oncologico Centro-Sud-Isole' (G.O.C.S.I.).

PURPOSE: To compare mitomycin C plus vindesine plus etoposide (MEV) vs. mitomycin C plus vindesine plus cisplatin (MVP) in the treatment of stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 204 patients were entered in a phase III multicentre randomised trial from June 1990 to December 1994 and stratified according to the ECOG performance status (0-1 vs. 2). MVP was given in the following dosages: mitomycin C 8 mg/m2+vindesine 3 mg/m2+cisplatin 100 mg/m2 i.v. day 1 and vindesine 3 mg/m2 i.v. day 8 with cycles repeated every 4 weeks. MEV was given in the following dosages: mitomycin C 8 mg/m2+vindesine 3 mg/ m2 i.v. day 1 and etoposide 100 mg/m2 i.v. days 1 to 3 with cycles repeated every 3 weeks. For both treatments a maximum of 6 cycles was planned. Response and toxicity were evaluated according to WHO. Subjective responses were assessed by numerical scales. Analyses were made on the basis of intent to treat. RESULTS: The objective response rate was 21.4% (1 CR + 21 PR among 103 patients) in the MEV and 28.7% (1 CR + 28 PR among 101 patients) in the MVP arm (P = 0.48). Symptoms were similar in the two arms. 196 patients progressed and 182 died. The median times to progression were 10 weeks (95% CI 9-12) and 12 weeks (95% CI 10-15) and median survivals were 29 weeks (95% CI 25-36) and 28 weeks (95% CI 25-35) in the MEV and MVP arms, respectively. The relative risks of progressing and of dying were 0.89 (95% CL 0.66-1.20) and 0.96 (95% CL 0.71-1.30), respectively, for patients receiving MVP as compared with those receiving MEV at multivariate analysis adjusted by sex, age, histologic type, number of metastatic sites, performance status at entry, and centre. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, no significant differences were observed in response rate, survival or palliation of symptoms between the MEV and MVP regimens, while toxicity was significantly more frequent and severe with MVP. Thus, MEV should be considered a reasonable alternative to the MVP regimen in the treatment of stage IV NSCLC.

Mitomycin C etoposide and vinorelbine (MEV II) in the treatment of metastatic stage IV non small cell lung cancer.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: In a prior study with a new non-cisplatin-based regimen including mytomycin C, etoposide and vindesine (MEV I) we observed a 37% response rate and very low toxicity in stage IV non small cell lung cancer. In an attempt to improve the activity of MEV I we evaluated a new regimen, MEV II, a modification of MEV I in which vinorelbine replaced vindesine. METHODS: 21 patients with metastatic stage IV non small cell lung cancer entered the phase II trial and were treated with the MEV II regimen (mitomycin C 8 mg/m2, i.v., d 1, etoposide 100 mg/m2, i.v., d 1-3, vinorelbine 30 mg/m2, i.v., d 1, every 4 weeks. RESULTS: We observed a partial response rate of 30% (95% confidence limits 10-50) with a median survival of 6 months. The worst reported toxicity was leukopenia grade 4 in 10% of patients including one who died of sepsis and grade 3 in 20%. CONCLUSIONS: The MEV II regimen showed a similar activity but greater toxicity than MEV I.

Phase I study of epirubicin plus vinorelbine with or without G-CSF in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

The present phase I study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of epirubicin, administered every 3 weeks to patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and combined with a conventional dose of vinorelbine [25 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) days 1 and 8] with or without the support of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). 18 patients entered the study. The patients received the following four dose levels of epirubicin (i.v., day 1): 50 mg/m2 (3 patients) and 60 mg/m2 (6 patients) without G-CSF, 75 mg/m2 (3 patients) and 90 mg/m2 (6 patients) with G-CSF (5 micrograms/kg days 4-6 and 9-15). In the patients treated without G-CSF the MTD of epirubicin was 60 mg/m2 and leukopenia was the dose-limiting toxicity. In the patients treated with G-CSF the MTD was 90 mg/m2, myelotoxicity being the dose-limiting toxicity. We observed 1/3 partial response (PR) with epirubicin at the dose of 75 mg/m2 and 2/6 PR at 90 mg/m2. These results would indicate the usefulness of a phase II study with epirubicin at the dose of 90 mg/m2 in association with conventional dose of vinorelbine with the support of G-CSF in advanced NSCLC.

Mitomycin C and vindesine: an ineffective combination chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Twelve patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were subjected to mitomycin C (MMC) and vindesine (VDS) chemotherapy (MMC 10 mg/m2, i.v., d 1; VDS, 3 mg/m2, i.v., d 1-8, every 4 weeks). No objective response was obtained; 3 (25%) patients had stable disease and 9 (75%) progression of disease. We conclude that MMC plus VDS is an ineffective combination chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

[The first isolation of Torulopsis glabrata (Anderson) Lodder from dental granulomas]. / Primo isolamento di Torulopsis glabrata (Anderson) Lodder da granulomi dentali.

Three Torulopsis have been isolated from two hundred or so dental granulomas. Torulopsis glabrata has been observed in cases of ophthalmopathy, infections of the oral cavity, lung infections, endocarditis and septicaemia. Apical lesions due to Torulopsis glabrata are not typical of mycosis but are generic of dental granulomas. The histological granulomatous character prevails. Experimental infections have been obtained from this fungus. Human infections by Torulopsis glabrata have been described. These infections are induced particularly in subjects with their immunity systems depressed by prolonged cortisone therapy. Their systematic position and morphology in optical microscopy have been examined in accordance with current views.

Mitomycin C plus vindesine or cisplatin plus epirubicin in previously treated patients with symptomatic advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

A total of 40 previously treated patients with symptomatic advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were subjected to second-line chemotherapy with mitomycin C plus vindesine (MV) or cisplatin plus epirubicin (PE). The 12 patients treated with the MV regimen showed no objective response (OR) or symptom palliation. In the 28 patients who received the PE regimen, we obtained a 25% partial response rate, with amelioration of tumor-related symptoms occurring in 35.7% of cases and improvement in the performance status being noted in 25% of subjects. Both regimens were well tolerated. These data show that the administration of cisplatin-based second-line chemotherapy to patients with symptomatic advanced NSCLC may be useful.

[The first isolation of Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) de Vries from dental granulomas]. / Primo isolamento di Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) de Vries da granulomi dentali.

Thirteen Cladosporium have been isolated from 221 dental granulomas. Cases have been observed of cerebral lesions both in man and cats. Also various types of lesions, encapsulated abscesses, etc. to be classified under the group of pheoifomycoses. Cutaneous allergies and cases of keratitis and chromoblastomycosis have been observed, too Cladosporium cladosporioides is very resistant to mercuric and phenolic compounds and radiations. The systematic position and morphology of Cladosporium have been fully examined in accordance to the latest scientific views.

Seven-pathogen tricuspid endocarditis in an intravenous drug abuser. Pitfalls in laboratory diagnosis.

Polymicrobial endocarditis is being reported with increasing frequency in drug abusers. However, the full extent of infection may be unrecognized with routine blood culture techniques because of the overgrowth of more fastidious organisms by other pathogens. This report documents an intravenous drug abuser with the first reported case of tricuspid valve endocarditis involving seven pathogens, discusses pitfalls of routine blood cultures and examines the role of the laboratory in microbiologic diagnosis.

Second-line chemotherapy of advanced colorectal cancer with sequential high-dose methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil.

Twenty-five patients with pretreated advanced colorectal carcinoma were subjected to second-line chemotherapy with sequential high-dose methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil. In 20 evaluable patients 2 (10%) partial responses, 12 (60%) stable disease and 6 (30%) progressions were observed. Partial responses were maintained for 3 and 4 months respectively; stable disease had a median duration of 4 months. The overall median survival after progression was 7 months. From our results sequential high-dose methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil cannot be recommended as second-line chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer.

Phase II study of mitomycin C, etoposide and vindesine in metastatic stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

A total of 72 patients with metastatic stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated with combination chemotherapy comprising the MEV regimen (mitomycin C, 8 mg/m2 given i.v. on day 1; etoposide, 100 mg/m2 given i.v. on days 1-3; and vindesine, 3 mg/m2 given i.v. on day 1; treatment repeated every 3 weeks). In 65 evaluable patients, the objective response rate was 37% (complete responses, 4.7%; partial responses, 32.3%). The median survival was 7.6 months for all patients. The treatment was very well tolerated. MEV proved to be an active and non-toxic regimen for the treatment of metastatic NSCLC.