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Biomedical subjects

A Morabito

Publications and source records attributed to A Morabito.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Multifactorial analysis of NOC lung carcinoma radiotherapy.

In order to evaluate survival of non-oat-cell lung carcinoma patients treated exclusively with radiotherapy, the authors analyzed a series of 791 cases irradiated at the Istituto del Radio "O. Alberti" from 1978 to 1982. The authors selected a homogeneous group of 131 patients, treated with high energy photons and with a fractionation course of a dose ranging from 1.75 to 2.00 Gy per fraction, 5 fractions per week, total dose ranging from 40 to 65 Gy within 4 to 8 weeks and with a time dose factor (TDF) ranging from 60 to 108. The survival curve was computed according to several prognostic factors by means of the Kaplan and Meier approach; a multifactorial analysis was carried out according to Cox's model. No factor significantly affected survival at the level P less than 0.05, except complications: anyway, TDF and tumor size seem to play a particular role. The non-oat-cell lung carcinoma patient who can profit from radiotherapy may be only partially featured: an improved survival and quality of life may be achieved if there are correct criteria to include the patient in the radiotherapy program, if the tumor is small, heavy complications are absent and treatment TDF ranges from 82 to 92.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Prognosis of breast cancer patients after mastectomy and dissection of internal mammary nodes.

The results of the analysis carried out on data on 1119 patients with operable breast cancer treated at the National Cancer Institute of Milan from 1965 to 1979 with enlarged mastectomy are reported. Metastases to internal mammary chain were found to be significantly associated with the maximum diameter of primary (16.1% for tumors less than 2 cm and 24.5% for larger tumors, p = 0.007), the age of the patients (27.6% in patients younger than 40 years, 19.7% in patients between 41-50 years, and 15.6% in patients older than 50 years, p = 0.01). The site of origin of the cancer had no impact on internal mammary node metastases. Patients with positive axillary nodes showed metastases to internal mammary nodes in 29.1% of the cases, while 9.1% of patients with axillary negative nodes had positive retrosternal nodes. Survival was significantly affected by the presence of positive internal mammary nodes: the percentage of 10-year survival varied from 80.4% in patients with axillary and internal mammary negative nodes to 30.0% in patients with both nodal basins involved. Intermediate survival rates (54.6% and 53.0%) were found when one or the other of the nodal stations (axillary and internal mammary) was separately affected. Maximum diameter of the primary significantly affected the survival of each group identified by the status of both axillary and internal mammary nodes. In conclusion, the information on the presence or absence of internal mammary node metastases would be of great importance in formulating the prognosis of breast cancer patients. To obtain this information, a biopsy at the first intercostal space may be reasonable in selected patients (age, maximum diameter, and axillary node involvement being the basis for selection) as long as noninvasive methods of diagnosis are available.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Reversible ischemic attacks with normal angiogram: risk factors, clinical findings, and prognosis.

One hundred seventeen patients with reversible ischemic attacks were divided into two groups according to the presence of atheromatous lesions on angiography. Female sex, vertebrobasilar territory involvement, and younger age were related to normal angiograms. Among risk factors, only hypertension was associated with atheroma. However, the number of risk factors in each patient was related linearly to angiographic abnormality. Later stroke and myocardial infarction were significantly more common in patients with atheromatous lesions.

Adolescent↗

Prognosis of skin melanoma with regional node metastases (stage II).

566 stage-II melanoma patients treated at the National Cancer Institute of Milan, Italy, were analyzed to evaluate the prognosis. Among the criteria considered, four were significantly associated with survival when considered as single factors: growth pattern, levels of invasion, the number of involved lymph nodes, and the extent of metastatic growth. As regards growth pattern, the observed 5-year survival rates were 41.9% for superficial spreading melanoma and 20.5% for nodular melanoma (P = 10(-3)). As regards levels, the 5-year survival rates were as follows: level II, 20.9%; level III, 33.1%; level IV, 43.2%; level V, 10.2% (P = 10(-3)). Patients with a partial node metastasis had 64.5% 10-year survival, while those with extension beyond the capsule had 32.6% 10-year survival (P = 10(-9). Patients with one metastatic node had 43.4% 10-year survival, and patients with three or more positive nodes had 26.0% 10-year survival (P = 10(-9)). Multifactorial analysis shows that growth pattern and extent of node metastases significantly affect survival (P = 10(-2) and P = 10(-4), respectively) while the number of involved nodes turns to borderline P-value (0.051) and the levels are no longer significant (P = 0.4).

Adolescent↗

Prognostic value of exercise EKG testing in asymptomatic normotensive subjects. A prospective matched study.

We prospectively studied 135 asymptomatic normotensive subjects with exercise-induced ST ischemic depression of 1 mm or more and compared them with 379 controls. At least two controls with negative responses on the exercise electrocardiographic (EKG) test were selected for each case and were matched for age, sex, work, community, and coronary-risk-factors index. The end points considered were the following coronary events: angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and sudden death. After a median follow-up period of 6.0 years for the cases and 6.4 years for the controls, the relative risk was 5.55 (95 per cent confidence limits, 2.75 to 11.22). Coronary events occurred significantly earlier in the cases than in the controls. Our data also suggest that the exercise EKG response is a particularly good prognostic indicator for myocardial infarction. In addition, our analysis has confirmed the predictive roles of age, smoking, blood pressure, and the coronary-risk-factors index and suggests that the exercise EKG response is an additional independent risk indicator for coronary events.

Adult↗

[Behavior of serum immunoglobulins in boutonneuse fever].

The behaviour of serum immunoglobulins in 35 patients suffering from Mediterranean exanthematous has been studied. No particular quantitative or qualitative change lieve noted. Supported by the scanty and contrasting data in existing literature, it is maintained that aspecific immunological serum doses are of little use, but research is urged into specific antibodies by means of indirect immunofluorescence and the Elisa method.

Adult↗

Risk of internal mammary lymph node metastases and its relevance on prognosis of breast cancer patients.

The risk of internal mammary chain metastases according to some parameters and its prognostic relevance was evaluated on the basis of the experience collected at the National Cancer Institute of Milan where, from January 1965 to December 1980, 1085 patients were submitted to Halsted mastectomy plus internal mammary chain dissection. A multivariate analysis was carried out, resorting to a multiple linear regression with logistic transformation of the dependent variable. The selection of prognostic factors has been performed with a step-down approach. The frequency of metastases to internal mammary chain nodes was evaluated according to four criteria: age, site and size of primary tumor, and presence of axillary metastases. Data of this series indicate that the frequency of internal mammary node metastases is significantly associated with the age of the patients (younger patients have a higher risk) (p = 0.006) with the size of primary tumor (p = 0.006) with the presence of axillary node metastases (p = 10(-9). Patients with both axillary and internal mammary positive nodes have a very poor prognosis (10-year survival 37.3%) while patients with either axillary metastases only or internal mammary metastases only have an intermediate less grave prognosis (59.6% and 62.4%, respectively). As regards the risk of internal mammary nodes involvement, it appears that knowing the age, the size, and the axillary nodes status, it is possible to calculate with good approximation the probability of their invasion.

Adult↗

A randomized trial of adjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy in cutaneous melanoma.

In a randomized trial of adjuvant chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or immunochemotherapy, 761 evaluable patients with pathological Stage II cutaneous melanoma anywhere on the body or with pathological Stage I melanoma of the trunk (Clark's level 3 to 5) were studied by the World Health Organization International Melanoma Group. Wide local excision and excisional regional lymphadenectomy alone were performed in 185 patients and the results were compared with those of surgery plus chemotherapy with dacarbazine (in 192 patients), surgery plus immunotherapy with bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine (in 203), and surgery plus chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy (in 181). The rates of disease-free survival and overall survival at 36 months were 30.4 +/- 8.3 per cent (mean +/- S.E.) and 41.6 +/- 10.0 per cent, respectively, after surgical treatment alone; 37.2 +/- 7.9 per cent and 46.5 +/- 8.3 per cent after surgery plus chemotherapy; 34.8 +/- 7.9 per cent and 48.7 +/- 8.7 per cent after surgery plus immunotherapy; and 33.6 +/- 7.9 per cent and 50.0 +/- 8.8 per cent after surgery plus a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. None of the differences between groups was significant, and thus no effect of adjuvant therapy could be demonstrated in this study.

BCG Vaccine↗

Delayed regional lymph node dissection in stage I melanoma of the skin of the lower extremities.

Results of a prospective randomized clinical trial conducted by the WHO Collaborating Centers for the Evaluation of Methods of Diagnosis and Treatment of Melanoma are reported. Five-hundred-fifty-three Stage I patients whose limbs were affected entered the study; 267 were submitted to wide excision and immediate node dissection and 286 had wide excision and node dissection at the time clinically positive nodes were detected. Survival curves of the two treatment groups could be superimposed. No subsets of patients benefitted from immediate node dissection. The authors conclude that delayed node dissection is as effective as the immediate dissection in Stage I melanoma of the extremities if the patient can be checked every three months. If the quarterly follow-up is not guaranteed, immediate node dissection is advisable, at least for melanomas thicker than 2 mm.

Adolescent↗

Breast cancer: primary tumor characteristics related to lymph node involvement.

From November 1st 1977 to August 31st 1978, 842 consecutive patients with operable breast cancer were observed at the National Cancer Institute of Milan. Characteristics of the primary tumor and the status of regional lymph nodes were evaluated at clinical and postsurgical examination: it was found that qualitative characteristics of the primary were properly defined by clinicians, who usually overestimated maximum diameter of the primary. The status of regional lymph nodes is not reliable at clinical examination: 34.5% of clinically uninvolved nodes were found to contain metastatic growth at histologic examination. Age of patients, maximum diameter of the primary, histologic type and quadrant of origin of the primary tumor were significantly related to the frequency of regional node metastases. Multifactorial analysis showed that the last three factors were independent variables, while age, which is significant by itself, loses importance when adjusted by at least one of the other three factors. Frequently of extension of node metastases beyond the lymph node capsule was found to be related to the number of involved nodes: maximum diameter, histologic type and site of origin are significantly related to the frequency of extracapsular invasion. This study confirms that the evaluation of the status of regional lymph nodes is not reliable at clinical examination and indicates that characteristics of the primary may be useful in predicting regional lymph node involvement. The direct correlation between the number of involved nodes and the frequency of infiltration beyond the capsule suggests that prognosis of patients with positive nodes depends more on this factor than on the number of involved nodes.

Adult↗

Stage I melanoma of the limbs. Immediate versus delayed node dissection.

553 patients with stage I malignant melanoma of the limbs entered a prospective randomized clinical trial carried out by the W.H.O. Collaborating Centres for Evaluation of Methods of Diagnosis and Treatment of Melanoma from September 1967 to January 1974. 286 patients were submitted to wide excision of primary and node dissection at the time as appearance of regional lymph node metastases and 267 to wide excision and immediate node dissection. Survival was identical in the 2 groups. Different subsets of patients were evaluated to assess whether some groups of patients may benefit from immediate node dissection. As regards sex, females and a significantly higher survival rate than males (p < 0.05), but results were not improved by immediate node dissection. Maximum diameter and elevation of primary melanoma were significantly related to survival but also in these cases immediate node dissection did not achieve better results. 63 patients had an excisional biopsy of their melanoma within 4 weeks before final treatment. This procedure did not worsen survival and also in this case immediate node dissection did not improve survival. 273 cases were classified according to histologic type: survival of superficial spreading and nodular melanoma was not different at a statistically significant level after the 2 treatment modalities. 325 cases were considered classifiable according to Clark's levels, out of these 165 were submitted to immediate node dissection. Neither level III nor level IV cases showed higher survival rate after immediate node dissection. Maximum tumor thickness according to Breslow was evaluated in 338 cases: 188 were submitted to wide excision and immediate node dissection. In no clusters of thickness did the enlarged surgical procedure achieve better results. The authors conclude that there is good evidence that in stage I melanoma of the extremities delayed dissection.

Adolescent↗

[1st Stage I melanoma of the limbs. Prognosis on the basis of the depth of invasion and maximum thickness].

The prognostic significance of 2 histological parameters, the level of invasion and maximum thickness is evaluated in 248 cases of malignant melanoma of the limbs staged T 1-3 N0M0 which were collected for Trial No. 1 of the W.H.O. Collaborating Centres for the Evaluation of Methods of Diagnosis and Treatment of Melanoma between September 1967 and December 1974. There is a linear relation of tumor thickness to mortality with a high statistical significance (P = 0.0002). Mortality also increases with progression of the level of invasion. The incidence of occult metastases to the regional lymph nodes increases with increasing thickness or level of invasion. Moreover, the age and sex adjusted survival curves are also dependent on both parameters. The comparison of the two methods revealed that the maximal tumor thickness is a more reliable prognostic factor than is the determination of the level of invasion.

Arm↗

Stage I melanoma of the limbs: assessment of prognosis by levels of invasion and maximum thickness.

The prognostic significance of 2 histological parameters, level of invasion and maximum thickness is evaluated in 248 cases of malignant melanoma of the limbs staged T1-3NoMo which were collected for Trial No. 1 of the W.H.O. Collaborating Centres for the Evaluation of Methods of Diagnosis and Treatment of Melanoma between September 1967 and December 1974. There is a linear relation of tumor thickness to mortality with a high statistical significance (P = 0.0002). Mortality also increases with progression of the level of invasion. The incidence of occult metastases to the regional lymph nodes increases with increasing thickness or level of invasion. Moreover the age and sex corrected survival curves are also dependent on both parameters. The comparison of the 2 methods revealed that maximal tumor thickness is a more powerful measure of prognosis than is the determination of the level of invasion.

Extremities↗