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Biomedical subjects

D Rossi

Publications and source records attributed to D Rossi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Brown jaw tumors: today's unusual presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) has changed its clinical features in the last decade becoming a mild biochemical disease, in which the classical fibrous cystic osteitis is a rare complication. The more frequent bone involvement in primary hyperparathyroidism is observed at the distal 1/3 of the radius, where the cortical bone is primarily represented. However, lumbar and femoral osteopenia or osteoporosis prevalently affect hyperparathyroid post-menopausal women. We report two, otherwise healthy, young male patients, who presented a painful jaw swelling. In both patients standard radiographic imaging revealed a low-density well-defined lesion, which caused jaw bone destruction. High levels of serum calcium (14.1-16.6 mg/dl, n.v. 8.1-10.4) and PTH (1172-1928 pg/ml, n.v. 10-65) indicated the presence of pHPT associated with hypertension, asymptomatic renal involvement and osteoporosis with normal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in both patients. A single huge parathyroid adenoma was successfully removed and within 2 months jaw lesions were almost completely re-mineralized without any other therapeutic intervention in both patients. In conclusion, although brown jaw tumors are a rare complication of the hyperparathyroidism, they should be considered and identified in young patients with severe pHPT. Moreover, such a complication seems to be independent from vitamin D deficiency, suggesting the involvement of other pathogenetic factors.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of the mutagenic, antimutagenic and antiproliferative potential of Croton lechleri (Muell. Arg.) latex.

Sangre de Drago is a red viscous latex extracted from Croton lechleri (Euphorbiaceae) cortex, renowned in South American popular medicine for its wound-healing properties. The in vitro antiproliferative effects were determined on the human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells line (IC50 = 2.5 +/- 0.3 microg ml(-1)). The mutagenic and antimutagenic activity of C. lechleri sap was examined by means of the Ames/Salmonella test. No mutagenic activity was found on the Salmonella typhimurium strains T98 and T100, either with or without S9 activation. On the other hand, the sap showed an inhibitory effect against the mutagenic activity of the indirectly acting mutagen 2-Aminoanthracene in presence of S9 and a moderate protective activity against directly acting mutagens Sodium Azide and 2-Nitrofluorene. Therefore we suggest that C. lechleri sap interacts with the enzymes of the S9 mix, thereby inhibiting the transformation of 2-Aminoantracene into its active forms.

Anthracenes↗
PubMed2003

Ceftriaxone (1 g intravenously) penetration into abdominal tissues when administered as antibiotic prophylaxis during nephrectomy.

A pharmacokinetics study was conducted to determine the effects of ceftriaxone administered before nephrectomy on the occurrence of postoperative wound infection. Ceftriaxone was administered as antibiotic prophylaxis in 11 consecutive patients undergoing nephrectomy who received 1,000 mg intravenously 30 min before surgery. Simultaneous blood and tissue samples were collected at three stages of the surgical procedure: opening of the abdominal cavity, nephrectomy, and closure of the abdominal cavity. Samples of following tissues were assayed: abdominal-wall fat, perirenal fat, kidney cortex and medulla, and urine. During the different stages of surgical procedures, ceftriaxone concentrations remained higher than the MIC90 of the potential pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacteriaceae). In selected patients undergoing nephrectomy and requiring antimicrobial prophylaxis such as malnourished, debilitated, diabetic or immunosuppressed patients, the use of a single dose of ceftriaxone (1,000 mg) makes it possible to offer an optimal bacterial coverage for the prevention of postoperative infection. According to our kinetic evaluation, ceftriaxone is potentially a good antibiotic for prophylaxis in urological surgery.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2003

Significance of selective carotid angiography during complete cardiac catheterization in patients candidates to combined aortic valve and carotid surgery.

AIM: Association of aortic valve stenosis (AVS) with carotid artery disease (CD) constitutes a high risk clinical setting for combined surgery. Carotid angiography is still considered the gold standard for carotid artery imaging, but its use is confined in cases of dubious or inconclusive sonographic examination. Despite the widespread use of ultrasonography, selective angiography may be practical in patients undergoing complete routine cardiac catheterization for AVS due to characteristic abnormalities in flow velocity pattern due to aortic valve stenosis. The present retrospective study aims to estimate the feasibility and role of carotid angiography during complete routine cardiac catheterization in the assessment of CD associated with AVS in patients candidates for combined surgery, in whom Doppler ultrasonography was inconclusive. METHODS: In agreement with cardiac and vascular surgeons, patients aged >60 years, presence of risk factors, and inconclusive Doppler ultrasonographic examination underwent selective carotid artery angiography during complete cardiac catheterization. The angiographic and clinical records of these patients were reviewed. RESULTS: Sixty patients (male/female 28/32, mean age 64.5+/-10.6 years) underwent carotid angiography during left and right catheterization. Optimal visualization of carotid trunk anatomy and morphology was achieved in all patients. Forty-one patients (68.3%) had no carotid artery atherosclerotic involvement, whereas 4 (6.6%) had low grade CD. Fifteen patients (8.3%, male/female: 7/8, mean age 70+/-10.4 years) were diagnosed with critical stenosis of one (14 patients) or both (1 patients) internal carotid arteries. The mean lesion degree was 77.1+/-2.1%. Culprit plaques, bifurcation lesion and occlusion have been discovered in 6.6%, 20%, and 26.6% of patients, respectively. Two arterial spasms (3.3%), and no intrahospital complications were observed. CONCLUSION: In highly selected patients with combined CD and AVS and inconclusive Doppler ultrasonographic examination, selective carotid angiography during heart catheterization is safe, acceptably time-consuming and it may give an optimal anatomical picture of CD.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Transmission of prions.

The "protein only" hypothesis holds that the infectious agent causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is a conformational isomer of PrP, a host protein that is predominantly expressed in the brain. This hypothesis is strongly supported by many lines of evidence. To date, prion diseases are unique among conformational diseases in that they are transmissible-experimentally and by natural routes (mainly by ingestion). The pathway of prions to the brain has been elucidated in outline. A striking feature of prions is their extraordinary resistance to conventional sterilization procedures and their capacity to bind to surfaces of metal and plastic without losing infectivity. This property, first observed in a clinical setting, is now being investigated in experimental settings, both in animals and in cell culture.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed2002

Transmission of prions.

The "protein only" hypothesis states that the infectious agent causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is a conformational isomer of PrP, a host protein predominantly expressed in brain, and is strongly supported by many lines of evidence. Prion diseases are so far unique among conformational diseases in that they are transmissible, not only experimentally but also by natural routes, mainly by ingestion. A striking feature of prions is their extraordinary resistance to conventional sterilization procedures, and their capacity to bind to surfaces of metal and plastic without losing infectivity. This property, first observed in a clinical setting, is now being investigated in experimental settings, both in animals and in cell culture.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Standards, options, and recommendation for external radiotherapy of prostatic cancer: evaluation of the effect of dosage].

CONTEXT: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) collaborative project was initiated in 1993 by the Federation of the French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), with the 20 French Regional Cancer Centres, several French public university and general hospitals, as well as private clinics and medical speciality societies. Its main objective is the development of serviceable clinical practice guidelines in order to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients. The methodology is based on a literature review, followed by critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts. Draft guidelines are produced, then validated by specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES: Produce clinical practice guidelines for the radiotherapy of prostate cancer using the methodology developed by the Standards, Options and Recommendations project. METHODS: The FNCLCC and the French Urology Association (AFU) designated the multidisciplinary group of experts. Available data were collected by a search of Medline and lists selected by experts in the group. A first draft of the guidelines was written, they validated by independent reviewers. RESULTS: The main recommendations are: 1/ a minimal dose of 70 Gy must be used, whatever the prognostic factors; 2/ it appeared that patients with favourable prognostic indicators (stage T1-2, PSA < or = 10 micrograms/L and Gleason score < or = 6) do not benefit from a dose escalation effect for doses over 70-74 Gy; 3/ patients with intermediate prognosis are the ones who benefit most from the dose escalation effect over 74 Gy, provided they receive exclusive radiation therapy; 4/ whenever possible, patients should be included in controlled trials designed to assess the effects of dose escalation and hormonotherapy.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Efficacy of anthracyclines and paclitaxel as first line chemotherapy in patients with visceral metastases of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Anthracyclines combined with paclitaxel are one of the most active schedules in patients with advanced breast cancer: response rates range from 40 to 80%, considering all metastatic sites (visceral and soft tissues). We performed a non-randomized phase II trial with anthracyclines/paclitaxel combination to evaluate response and toxicity only in patients with visceral metastases. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (median age 50 years; range 30-72) with visceral metastases of breast cancer were enrolled in this study. Overall, 11 patients had lung metastases (41%), 10 liver (37%), 4 liver-lung metastases (15%) and 2 peritoneal carcinosis (7%). 7 patients had received adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy (26%) and 10 patients adjuvant CMF combination chemotherapy (37%); 10 patients (37%) received hormonal therapy for advanced disease. Treatment schedules were: group A) 17 patients, Adriamicyn 50 mg/m2 on day 1 i.v. bolus and Paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 on day 2 i.v. 3 hours infusion, every 3 weeks; group B) 10 patients, epirubicin 90 mg/m2 on day 1 i.v. bolus and paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 on day 2 i.v., 3 hours infusion, every 3 weeks. The number of cycles administered was 141 with a median of 5 (range 3-9). RESULTS: All patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. The objective response rate was 59% - 16 patients - (15% complete and 44% partial remission), 95% C.I. 40.7-77%; 10/17 in group A and 7/10 in group B. Stable disease 30% (8 patients) and progressive disease 11% (3 patients). The median duration of response was 5 months (range 1-16); median time to progression 13 months (range 3-18) and median survival 17 months (range 4-24). The main toxicity was neutropenia, occurred in 16 patients (59%; grade IV in 7 patients, of whom 2 febrile neutropenia, and grade III in 9 patients); grade III gastrointestinal toxicity in 2 patients; grade III neurological toxicity in 1 patient; grade III stomatitis in 2 patients. No congestive hearth failure or treatment death related was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These schedules of anthracyclines and paclitaxel confirmed their efficacy in metastatic breast cancer even in patients with visceral disease. Neutropenia was the main toxicity; grade IV neutropenia was more frequently observed in epirubicin/paclitaxel arm.

Adult↗