Preoperative chemoimmunotherapy with Carboplatin, epidoxorubicin, 5-Fluorouracil and alpha-2b interferon in locally advanced inoperable gastric-cancer.

Twenty-six patients with locally advanced, inoperable gastric cancer were treated with carboplatin, epidoxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil (FEP) plus alpha 2b interferon. Total gastrectomy was performed in patients achieving clinical complete or partial response. The overall response rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 67%. In 13/15 patients undergoing surgery no residual tumor was evident after resection. After a median follow-up of 14 months, 4/13 disease-free patients have relapsed. The median survival time is 13 months for all patients, and 19 months for disease-free patients; in four patients survival time exceeds twenty-four months. Our multimodality program is effective in locally advanced gastric cancer and warrants further evaluation.

[Wounds of the heart. Diagnostic study and clinical case reports]. / Le ferite del cuore. Contributo diagnostico e casistica clinica.

Two cases of cardiac wounds in association with acute anaemia and acute cardiac tamponade respectively are presented. The statistical and, more particularly, the diagnostic factors involved are discussed. Stress is laid on the measurement of CVP along with pericardiocentesis. Correct interpretation of the data furnished by these two methods will lead to exact and immediate diagnosis in all cases, and so enable the correct therapeutic strategy to be chosen.