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Biomedical subjects

D Donati

Publications and source records attributed to D Donati.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Follow-up protocols in orthopedic oncology.

Little has been written about the specific timing and elements Involved in the follow-up of orthopedic oncology patients. The experience with bone tumor treatment at the First Clinic of the Istituto Rizzoli started 30 years ago and more than 15,000 patients have been treated to date. The increment of limb salvage surgery is linked with the improvements in imaging and surgical skills and with the availability of new reconstructive techniques. For this purpose it is mandatory to carry out meticulous monitoring of the patients. A large number of patients are still followed up to evaluate the results in terms of oncological and functional status. Based on this experience we developed a time schedule to better respond to the need for adequate patient evaluation.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Nonmetastatic osteosarcoma of the extremity: results of a neoadjuvant chemotherapy protocol (IOR/OS-3) with high-dose methotrexate, intraarterial or intravenous cisplatin, doxorubicin, and salvage chemotherapy based on histologic tumor response.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: From 1986 to 1989, a study for the treatment of nonmetastatic osteosarcoma of the extremity (IOR/OS-2) was carried out at the Rizzoli Institute. The cumulative dose of doxorubicin delivered was 480 mg/m2, and severe heart failure developed in 5 (3%) of the 164 treated patients. The specific aim of the subsequent study was to assess the efficacy of a protocol, similar to IOR/OS-2, but with a reduced cumulative dose of doxorubicin (390 mg/m2). Additional aims were to assess the role of the route of infusion (intraarterial or intravenous) of cisplatin on histologic response of the primary tumor and the use of ifosfamide as salvage chemotherapy in poor responders. METHODS: The new chemotherapy regimen (IOR/OS-3) was comprised of a preoperative phase with methotrexate (10 g/m2), cisplatin (120 mg/m2 intraarterially or intravenously), and doxorubicin (60 mg/m2). After surgery, the same drugs were administered, with the addition of ifosfamide (10 g/m2) in patients who had a poor histologic response to primary chemotherapy. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients entered the study. The rate of good histologic response was 64% with intraarterial cisplatin and 43% with intravenous cisplatin (P = 0.05). The 8-year event-free survival and overall survival were 54% and 61%, respectively, with no significant difference according to the histologic response. No cases of clinical doxorubicin-induced cardiopathy were recorded. Event-free and overall survival did not significantly differ from those achieved with IOR/OS-2 (8-year disease-free and overall survival, respectively 63% and 72%). CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in the doxorubicin cumulative dose avoided episodes of cardiotoxicity, without consequences on the efficacy of treatment. The addition of ifosfamide was an effective "salvage" therapy for poor responders. A better histologic response with intraarterial cisplatin was observed, but owing to the availability of an effective salvage therapy for poor responders, the advantages in terms of histologic response did not compensate for the cost and discomfort for the patients of this modality of infusion of cisplatin.

Adolescent↗

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for osteosarcoma of the extremity in patients in the fourth and fifth decade of life.

From January 1986 to March 1993, 29 patients aged between 40 and 60 years with primary high grade osteosarcoma of the extremity were treated at Rizzoli Institute with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Before surgery patients received cisplatin and adriamycin. Postoperatively, patients with a good histologic response received the same two drugs preoperatively used, while in case of poor response ifosfamide and etoposide were added to cisplatin and adriamycin. Twenty-five patients (86%) were surgically treated with a limb salvage, whereas 4 patients (14%) were amputated. With a median follow-up of 8 years (5-12), the 8-year event-free survival was 57% and the 8-year overall survival was 62%. No chemotherapy-related deaths were recorded and toxicity was manageable. These results are significantly better than those achieved in 24 patients of the same age, treated at Rizzoli Institute between 1975 and 1985 only with surgery (87% of amputation and 17% of 8-year event-free and overall survival) and indicate an advantage for the use of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy also in patients with high grade osteosarcoma of the extremity older than 40 years.

Adult↗

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for osteosarcoma of the extremities with synchronous lung metastases: treatment with cisplatin, adriamycin and high dose of methotrexate and ifosfamide.

We report on the clinical course and outcome of 28 patients, treated at The Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli between 1995 and 1997 for osteosarcoma of the extremities metastatic to the lung at presentation. The treatment for these patients was the following: primary chemotherapy with cisplatin, adriamycin and high dose of methotrexate and ifosfamide followed by simultaneous resection of primary and metastatic lesions (when feasible), and further chemotherapy. After primary chemotherapy, lung metastases disappeared in 6 patients, whereas metastases in 3 remained surgically unresectable. These 9 patients received surgical treatment of the primary tumor only. In the remaining 19 patients, after chemotherapy, a simultaneous resection of the primary and metastatic tumor was performed. The resection of metastatic lesions was complete in 18 cases and incomplete in one. Three of the 4 patients who did not achieve a tumor-free status died in a few months and one is still alive with uncontrolled disease. With a median follow-up of 32 months (19-43) of the 24 patients who achieved remission, 12 (55%) remained continuously free of disease, 11 relapsed with new metastases and 1 died of chemotherapy-related toxicity. The 2-year DFS and OS were 36% and 53% respectively. These results are much worse than those achieved in 114 contemporary patients with localised disease (2-year DFS: 81%) treated in the same period and they are superimposible to the results achieved in 23 patients previously treated with the same protocol, but with standard dose of ifosfamide (2-year DFS: 32%). However, it must be underlined that, as regards prognosis, patients with metastatic disease at presentation are a hetero-geneous group. The DFS was significantly higher for patients with only one or two metastatic lesions than for patients with 3 or more lesions (2 year DFS: 78% vs. 28%). In 12 of the 19 patients who had a complete simultaneous resection of the primary and metastatic tumor, a strong correlation between the degree of necrosis of the primary and metastatic lesions was found. We conclude that in patients with osteosarcoma of the extremity with lung metastases at presentation: a) the combination of aggressive chemotherapy with simultaneous resection of primary and metastatic tumors works very well only for those patients who present with one or two metastatic nodules whereas for patients with 3 or more pulmonary metastases the prognosis is very poor; b) within the 4-drug regimen used in this study, the increment of ifosfamide dose from 10 g/m2 to 15 g/m2 for cycle does not improve prognosis; c) the strong correlation found between the histologic response of the primary tumor and metastases supports the strategy, largely used nowadays in the neoadjuvant treatment of osteosarcoma, of tailoring postoperative chemo-therapy on the basis of the primary tumor histologic response to preoperative chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗

Postoperative treatment of patients submitted to reconstruction with massive homoplastic grafting.

Over the last 10 years at the Ist Orthopaedic Clinic of the Rizzoli Institute more than 350 cases of massive bone homoplastic cadaver-retrieved reconstruction were carried out, after bone tumor resection. We reported the postoperative management indicated to the patient to prevent complications and to improve functional results. The indications protocol includes time required for immobilization, motion, and partial and total loading; functional and radiographic results expected. Finally, these indications are specified for site of reconstruction and fixation chosen.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Primary cysts of the spleen: apropos 3 cases with a review of the literature].

The splenic cyst occurs rarely, is benign and often asymptomatic. Surgery is the therapy of choice as soon as the size reaches 2 centimeters. Following the exclusion of an echinococcus infection, the cyst can be treated either by complete resection or by fenestration. Recently laparoscopy has been demonstrated to be a useful alternative to open surgery in the treatment of selected splenic cysts. We report 3 cases successfully operated with conventional surgical procedures and, based on the literature, we review the history, the physical signs, the investigations and the surgical procedures.

Adult↗

Evaluation of homoplastic bone graft in hip replacement revision surgery.

A total of 17 patients submitted to hip replacement revision surgery in our clinic between 1986 and 1994 were evaluated in order to analyze the effectiveness of homoplastic support grafting. Loss of substance involved the acetabulum and the femur. Four parameters were evaluated radiographically: fusion time, restructuring time, flattening or collapse of grafts, and, finally, graft resorption. The results showed that the homoplastic graft is characterized by excellent biological behavior, and that the success of the new implant depends mostly on surgical method used as the graft was always integrated quickly and completely. In cases with considerable loss of substance it is important to use means of support that allow for partial unloading of the forces between prosthesis and host bone, thus avoiding excessive loading in the grafts.

Acetabulum↗

[First aid for multiple trauma patients: investigative survey in the Firenze-Bologna area].

Overall mortality ascribable to multiple traumas, that in Italy is responsible for about 8,000 death/year, is strictly dependent on the function of the so called Trauma Care System. This study reports on an epidemiological survey conducted in the urban area of Florence along a 23-month period (from Jan 97 to Nov 99), with the aim to identify the typology of traumas and the first aid care delivered to the person until hospital admission. These data were compared to those collected in the urban area of Bologna because the composition of the first-aid team is different, being nurses, in Bologna, an integral component of the first aid system. On a total of 118 multiple traumas, 17% was represented by isolated head trauma, while in 72% involvement of other organs was present in addition to the head; 11% of cases were abdominal or thoracic traumas, 1% of lower extremities. In 46% the cause of trauma was a car accident. The complexity of care delivered to the person with trauma was less in the Florence survey, as indicated by the immobilization of patients, performed in only 11% of cases as compared to 47% in Bologna, by the application of the cervical collar, applied in 12% versus 62% of traumas. Although the two samples are not strictly comparable, these data suggest that the presence of nurses in the Trauma Care System can be one of the elements of improvement of the quality of delivered care.

Adolescent↗

Epiphyseal plate fracture-separation of the olecranon: description of one case.

A rare case of traumatic olecranal epiphyseal plate fracture-separation in a patient aged 14 years is described. Non-surgical treatment was not capable of guaranteeing fracture reduction. Thus, internal fixation with tension band wire method, like in fracture of the same type in the adult, was used.

Adolescent↗

The results of the surgical treatment of bone tumors using massive homoplastic grafts.

We reviewed our experience as concerns 588 patients treated by resection for bone tumor and reconstructed by massive bank bone implant. The period taken into consideration goes from 1984 to 2001. The mean age of the patients was 24 years with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 77 years: in 186 cases (31.6%) age was lower by 14 years. Most of the patients were referred for a diagnosis of malignancy (85%), and of these, 70% had undergone antiblastic therapy postoperatively according to the modalities of the protocols. Of the cases that were not treated by chemotherapy there are 16 that had a homoplastic graft after failure of a previous one. In a high number of cases (189) surgery included reconstruction of an intercalar segment of a long bone. Of these, 106 were in the femur, 69 in the tibia, and 14 in the humerus. One joint reconstruction was carried out in 128 cases of which 52 in the knee, 49 in the shoulder, 10 in the elbow, 11 in the wrist, 3 in the ankle, and 3 in the metatarsals. Fusion, which was one of the most frequent indications in the eighties, is used less today; overall it was carried out in 91 cases of which 65 in the knee, 14 in the hip, 9 in the ankle and 3 in the wrist. This type of implant may also be used in the pelves, and this took place in 56 cases using different procedures of reconstruction. The most current method of reconstruction for a joint is composite prosthesis, and this was used in 124 cases of which 67 around a knee, 53 in the hip, 4 in the shoulder. Finally, in 78 cases a vascularized fibula transplant was associated with an intercalar graft, fusion, or osteoarticular graft to increase the mechanical capacity of the implant together with a more rapid integration of the implant, particularly at the osteotomic lines. Despite the excellent results demonstrated in the first 3 years of follow-up, infection, resorption, delay in consolidation and fracture led to 18% failures of the implant. Massive homoplastic graft is still a good means of reconstruction that allows for excellent functional results, but despite this intense research activity is required to improve its mechanical hold in time together with better and complete integration.

Adolescent↗

Knee resection arthrodesis with allograft: a long-term follow-up study.

A consecutive series of 57 patients treated by knee resection arthrodesis for malignant or aggressive tumor around the knee was reviewed. Infection was present only after repeated surgery for other complications, delayed union or non-union occurred in 50% of the cases that could be evaluated, but were still easy to manage. Fracture incidence was higher than expected (32.6%) even occurring after 10 years; this was difficult to deal with and it often led to failure. The best possible method of fixation is still being debated, but locked nail and allograft cementation is often advised. Several satisfactory functional results were however achieved when surgery was performed in young patients; final results can be less satisfactory when there is leg length discrepancy and poor acceptance on the part of the patient. In recent years this type of surgery has been limited to younger male patients (10 to 14 years of age) in whom extra-articular knee resection was required or when most of the quadriceps muscle must be removed.

Adolescent↗

Long-term roentgenographic evaluation of proximal femur prosthesis after tumor resection.

The need for a better roentgenographic evaluation of implant behavior in long-term prosthetic replacement of the proximal femur was considered. The authors present the results of a group of 13 patients belonging to a wide range of ages, with more than ten-years follow-up after tumor resection, and replacement characterized by bipolar cup and non-cemented stem. A new X-ray film acquisition and evaluation method was devised. Results confirmed the good behavior of bipolar reconstructions in patients of different ages, whose sockets were still intact. In younger patients, the prevalent bipolar movement was in the outer bearing, thus limiting polyethylene particulate debris formation. However, debris formation did not significantly affect the bone/stem relationship as only one loose stem was observed in a bone submitted to radiotherapy.

Adolescent↗

In vivo study on critical defects using the sheep model.

Bone grafting procedures are widely used to repair large defects successfully in humans, but new surgical therapies can be designed to improve allograft integration. The objective of this study was to investigate the best surgical procedure to study bone graft integration in a large animal model. An osteoperiosteal defect of 3 cm in the tibia or in the metatarsal was made in 15 adult crossbreed sheep to investigate osteo-integration of a homologous bone graft in an intercalary critical defect. DCP plates, alone or in association with Scotchcast or external fixator were used as fixation devices. The Scotchcast as was applied after surgery and left for 2 months to avoid torsion stress of the limb during the stand up movement. Metatarsal defect fixed with 7-hole DCP plate and protected with Scotchcast was the best surgical approach to avoid early or late implant failures, and provided good radiographic results after 4 months.

Animals↗

Evidence of mononuclear cell activation by hemodialysis.

The acute effects of hemodialysis (HD) on activation and function of mononuclear cells (MC) were studied in a model of in vitro HD. During the HD session, both cuprophan (CU) and polysulfone (PS) induced transcription of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) mRNA. Expression of IL-2R on the cytoplasmic membrane, and release of soluble IL-2R (sIL-2R), however, did not change during HD, nor did responsiveness to IL-2. Polysulfone caused a slight reduction of the proliferative response to phypohemagglutinin, and of the release of sIL-2R. Hemodialysis did not induce IL-2 production, but induced IL-1 synthesis.

Humans↗

Interleukin-1 kinetics in hemodialysis.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) was measured in the plasma and in mononuclear cell (MC) lysates from patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) using either cuprophan (CU) or polysulfone (PS) membranes. Basal plasma levels of IL-1 in HD patients were significantly higher than those of uremic patients on conservative treatment or of healthy subjects. In 10 patients on conservative treatment, plasma levels of IL-1 increased significantly after 3 and 6 months of HD. During a single HD session, plasma IL-1 fell to 21% (CU) and 22% (PS) of pre-HD levels. Hemodialysis patients had a significantly higher intracellular IL-1 content than normal controls. During HD, a further increase was seen regardless of the membrane employed. A parallel in vitro study showed that IL-1 produced during HD requires at least 24 hours to be released, and that both CU and PS are able to bind and clear IL-1.

Adult↗

[Mood changes and premenstrual syndrome].

The Authors consider particularly significant the studies on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) which point out a relationship between affective disorders and premenstrual depression indicated by several Authors as useful pattern for studying depression. Considering this results, the Authors studied a sample of women suffering from PMS sharing it on the basis of subjective depressive feelings. The Authors obtained two groups which were submitted to a further clinical study in order to point out specific personality and psychopathologies. The Authors used the Premenstrual Assessment Form (PAF) and the Daily Ratings Form (DR). The results showed that premenstrual depression can be considered a marker of the seriousness of the syndrome and it is closely linked to anxiety symptomatology. In women with PMS the Authors did not point out important psychopathological aspects, therefore the PMS is not evidence for psychiatric illness.

Affect↗