Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Piano

Publications and source records attributed to A Piano.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Combination of paclitaxel and etoposide in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a phase I-II study.

Thirty-six patients (pts) with unpretreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) stages IIIB and IV were enrolled in this two-stage phase I-II study aimed to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of paclitaxel and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel combined with etoposide every 3 weeks for a maximum of 6 courses, increasing the dose of paclitaxel according to a modified Fibonacci scheme. Nineteen pts were enrolled in the first stage and 17 pts in the second stage. The characteristics of the pts were as follows: median age 56 years (40-70), median Karnofsky's Performance Status 80% (70-80), 11 pts were stage IIIB and 25 pts stage IV. The doses of etoposide administered were 50 mg/m2 for 15 pts and 100 mg/m2 for 21 pts. MTD has not been reached and the study proceeded with the dose of paclitaxel 250 mg/m2. We obtained 9 (25%) partial remissions (PR) and 11 (31%) stable disease (SD) in 33 objectively evaluable pts. Median time to progression (TTP) was 4 months (0.3-21), median survival was 9.3 months (0.3-27). The main toxicity was neutropenia and neurotoxicity, while the gastrointestinal toxicity was mild. Two pts deceased after the first course. The causes of death were necrotizing enteritis in the first pt and congestive heart failure in the second pt. A total of 156 courses were administered at 7 dose levels, with a median of 4 courses per patient (1-6). The results seem to support the use of this combination in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Adult↗

[TC-99m-pertechnetate scintigraphy in the diagnosis of abdominal diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To show the possible role of abdominal scintigraphy in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal pathology and its accuracy in detecting ectopic gastric mucosa in pts with intestinal bleeding and/or abdominal pain. METHOD: 99m-Tc-pertechnetate scintigraphy was performed on 54 pts with a history of intestinal bleeding and/or abdominal pain with the following results: 11 true positive pts (9 with Meckel's D; 2 with enteric duplication) all of whom were confirmed at surgery; 14 false positive pts in whom the presence and location of entero-colic (12 pts), renal (2 pts), and uterine (1 pt) pathology were determined; 28 true negative pts; an arca of persistent low activity was found in the bladder of 1 pt which later proved to be a ureterocele at ultrasound; 1 false negative pt who was found to have Meckel's D at surgery. CONCLUSION: In this case series abdominal scintigraphy was effective in diagnosing 26/54 pts and, in particular, in diagnosis, 23/28 pts in recurrent intestinal bleeding. Given that its sensitivity is not negligible and that it is an exam which is scarcely invasive, easy to perform and interpret and requires low irradiation (definitely lower than barium enemas, digestive tract radiography and CT), abdominal scintigraphy should be the first examination to be performed in all pts with intestinal bleeding and/or abdominal pain, especially children, whose diagnosis cannot be simply or rapidly determined.

Adolescent↗