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Biomedical subjects

A Curti

Publications and source records attributed to A Curti.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Negative selection of autologous peripheral blood stem cells.

The use of chemotherapy and/or haematopoietic growth factor-mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) has been shown to induce a more rapid haematopoietic recovery than the reinfusion of bone marrow (BM)-derived haematopoietic cells, thus reducing the morbidity and mortality of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). PBSC collections were initially believed to have a lower incidence of tumour cells involvement than BM harvests. However, recent studies have shown that mobilized blood cell products of cancer patients eligible for autografting are frequently contaminated with tumour cells. Whereas positive selection of haematopoietic CD34+ stem cells has been largely used as a means of indirect purging of circulating CD34+ neoplastic cells, few groups have addressed the issue of tumour cell removal by direct targeting of cancer cells using physical or pharmacological strategies. In this chapter we review the available data concerning the contamination of tumour cells in PBSC collections from cancer patients, the functional and kinetic characteristics of primed CD34+ cells which may affect the haematopoietic toxicity of purging procedures developed to eliminate the minimal residual disease (MRD) from BM samples, and the preclinical and clinical results of the selective killing of residual tumour cells from leukaphereses. The limited amount of data published so far do not allow any firm conclusion on the clinical usefulness of purging protocols. Nonetheless, the successful extension of ex vivo purging to PBSC collections may improve the feasibility of randomized studies aimed at determining the importance of tumour-free autografts.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Isolated muscular sarcoidosis mimicking a tumoral lesion].

We report a case of a woman with a palpable painful nodule on her left leg. MR and CT showed a lesion that could be described as a neoplasm. Excisonal biopsy revealed a noncaseating granuloma. The woman presented the nodular type of muscular isolated sarcoidosis. Further the disease involved the lungs; this confirmed the accurate diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is a chronic, multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Muscle involvement is frequent, but often asymptomatic. There are three forms of muscular sarcoidosis: only the nodular type can be recognized by technical imaging. MR and ultrasound are the best methods to attempt the diagnosis of nodular muscular sarcoidosis; nevertheless, the lesion must have a standardized behaviour because it can mimic a malignant neoform. In this case, biopsy is the only tool to identify the disease.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ultrasonic monitoring as a method of preventing risks of ovarian hyperstimulation during drug therapy].

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ultrasonographic monitoring represents the most immediate method for an early confirmation of the onset of the worst complication of the pharmacological induction of ovulation: ovarian hyperstimulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of this complication in a sample group of anovulatory patients receiving pharmacological treatment and undergoing repeated ultrasonographic monitoring. METHODS: The authors analysed the controls performed during 1996-1997 in which a total of 413 cycles were stimulated. The patients included in the study group (mean age 28.5 years) were treated using clomiphene, oestradiol, FSH, LH and GnRH, and in 5 cases stimulation was preceded by suppression of the menstrual cycle using tryptorelin. Each patient was monitored with 3 scans, except for those treated with tryptorelin or GnRH who were more closely monitored. RESULTS: In 413 patients included in this study the authors noted the onset of slight hyperstimulation in 6 cases (1.45%) which then resolved spontaneously without the need for hospitalisation. CONCLUSIONS: The authors affirm that ultrasonographic monitoring represents a valid means of controlling and preventing the risks of ovarian hyperstimulation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Treatment of benign uterine hemorrhage and simple endometrial hyperplasia by endometrial ablation].

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The technique of endometrial resection by resectoscope represents a valid alternative to hysterectomy in patients with a high operating risk suffering from benign uterine bleeding and simple endometrial hyperplasia refractory to medical treatment or uterine curettage. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the validity of the resectoscopic technique of endometrial ablation. METHODS: The authors performed endometrial ablation using a loop and roller resectoscope in a group of 24 women with refractory menorrhagia which failed to respond to other techniques of first choice. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained show the good tolerability of resectoscopic surgery by the patients who, for medical reasons, represented a high operating risk if subject to laparohysterectomy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dendritic cell differentiation from hematopoietic CD34+ progenitor cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) are the most powerful antigen presenting cells (APC) and play a pivotal role in initiating the immune response. In light of their unique properties, DC have been proposed as a tool to enhance immunity against infectious agents and in anticancer vaccine strategies. In the last few years, the development of DC has been extensively investigated. The present paper summarizes the most recent findings on the differentiation of myeloid DC from hematopoietic CD34+ progenitors and methods for DC generation in vitro. A better understanding of DC function has important implications for their use in clinical settings.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Abdominal ultrasonography in inheredited diseases of carbohydrate metabolism.

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of abdominal sonography in inherited diseases of carbohydrate metabolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients (age range, 4 months to 27 years) with glycogen storage diseases, galactosemia, disorders of fructose metabolism were studied with sonography. Echogenicity of the liver, sonographic dimensions of liver, kidneys and spleen were evaluated. Plasma blood parameters (ALT, AST, total cholesterol, triglycerides) were determined. RESULTS: Liver was enlarged in 21/22 patients (95.4%) with glycogen storage diseases, in both subjects with disorders of fructose metabolism, and in 2/6 patients (33.3%) with galactosemia. Hepatic echogenicity was increased in 20/22 patients (90.9%) with glycogen storage diseases, and in the subject with hereditary fructose intolerance. Patients with galactosemia did not show increased liver echogenicity. Both kidneys were enlarged in 8/17 patients (47.0%) with glycogen storage disease type I. Subjects with increased hepatic echogenicity exhibited higher plasma concentrations of any blood parameter than the others with normal echogenicity (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sonography can be useful in identification of inherited diseases of carbohydrate metabolism even if further examinations are necessary for an ultimate diagnosis.

Adolescent↗