Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Ferrazzi

Publications and source records attributed to E Ferrazzi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Phase II evaluation of vindesine in mycosis fungoides, extraosseous plasmacytoma and other hematologic malignancies.

We conducted a phase II trial of Vindesine in 24 patients, mostly pretreated (23/24 fully evaluable for therapeutic response) with advanced hematologic malignancies. The drug was administered at weekly bolus doses of 3 mg/m2 i.v. Overall, objective tumor regressions were seen in 9 of 23 patients. The drug appeared effective in extraosseous plasmacytoma (1 complete response, 1 partial response and 1 minor response in 6 patients). Further phase II trials in these 2 diseases are justified. In addition, 3 partial responses in 7 patients with advanced lymphoma were also obtained. Previous vinca-alkaloid exposure did not adversely affect the response rate: 8 of 9 responsive patients had previously received vincristine and/or vinblastine. Drug-related toxic effects were mainly represented by manageable and reversible neurotoxicity and by moderate leukopenia with apparent lack of thrombocytopenia. In heavily pretreated patients, leukopenia may be occasionally severe: in these conditions a starting dose of 2 mg/m2 seems more appropriate.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Effectiveness of routine ultrasound in screening congenital defects.

During one year 26 cases of fetal malformations were diagnosed by means of ultrasound alone at the 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Milano. Frequency of congenital defects first detected in the Centre was 5.6% which can be estimated to be approx. 25% of the anomalies detectable at birth in an unselected population. The total number of congenital defects detected was 31. A wrong diagnosis was done in two suspected cephaloceles resulted to be a cystic hygroma of the neck and a nuchal cephaloematoma while a pleural effusion was misdiagnosed as a thoracic cyst. On the other hand a precise evaluation of diagnostic errors (false negatives) has not been possible. Most malformations not detected by scanning involved splanchnic organs rather than central nervous system (Tab. V). Ultrasonic procedures for measurement of fetal head and trunk could partly account for this result. Termination of pregnancy was performed in 4 cases and post-partum surgical correction in 3 (Tab. I). Antenatal diagnosis of fetal malformations should be then considered as a major end-point of routine US.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1981

Perinatal management of exomphalos diagnosed in late pregnancy.

The intrauterine diagnosis of a huge exomphalos, which was aspirated by transuterine puncture 1 hour prior to caesarean section, is reported. The authors emphasize that this prenatal procedure is able to minimize the risk of rupturing the exomphalos sac.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Malformation of the fetal urinary system. A new obstetrical approach.

A case of prenatal diagnosis of prune belly syndrome is described. The ultrasound presumptive diagnosis was that of low urinary tract obstruction. Neonatal mortality with this defect is estimated to be approximately 50% and mainly arises from kidney damage. In order to achieve further information for obstetrical management, intrauterine bladder evacuation was performed and fetal urine production rate monitored by ultrasound. This approach is proposed as a new method of diagnosis and temporary therapy for those fetal malformations determining urinary stasis.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1980

Clinical significance of the quantitative assessment of estrogen receptors in advanced breast cancer.

The predictive value of the estrogen receptor (ER) assay with regard to the response to hormonal treatment was analyzed in women with advanced breast carcinoma. The significance of ten clinical variables of putative prognostic value was also investigated. A total of 49 courses of endocrine therapy were available for study. The respective merits of using the receptor information as a qualitative or a quantitative variable were compared. Linear logistic regression analysis showed that the quantitative information was significantly related to the therapeutic response (P < 0.0001) and proved to be superior to the qualitative information. Compared with the clinical variables tested with the logistic model, receptor concentration was by far the most important single predictor of response. Nevertheless, introduction of two of these clinical variables (i.e., age and menopausal status) into the model in addition to receptor concentration improved its predictive value. Presented in graphic form, the improved model provides a simple means to estimate the probability that a given patient will respond to endocrine therapy. Successive ER assays were available in a series of patients who had received no systemic treatment. In ER+ cases, there was a significant correlation between receptor concentrations in the consecutive assays. There was no influence of the time interval between tissue samplings. Data were also consistent in ER- patients. These results give support to the practice of routine receptor determination in the primary tumor at the time of mastectomy. It is concluded that the distinction between hormone-responsive and hormone-resistant tumors appears artificial. The therapeutic implications of a continuous gradient of hormone-dependency among breast cancers are discussed.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1980

Tamoxifen treatment for advanced renal cell cancer.

Twelve patients with metastatic clear cell renal cancer received a course of tamoxifen. Three showed stable disease for a period from 2 to 12 months and 1 a mixed response for a short time. It does not appear that tamoxifen may be a useful agent in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1980

[Toxicity of high-dose bleomycin administered by continuous infusion].

Fifteen patients with nonseminomatous testicular cancer underwent multidrug treatment which included cis platinum, Velban and bleomycin. The latter drug was administered in monthly 5 day courses of 100 mg/m2. No impairment of antitumor effect resulted since 12 of 15 patients had remissions (10 complete and 2 partial). Pulmonary toxicity was practically abolished: a median dose of 675 mg per patient (range 450 to 1050) was followed by normal lung X-ray and normal or near normal functional parameters after completing treatment. Median arterial oxygen pressure was 78 mm Hg (range 62 to 89), and median Tiffeneau index was 84 (range 64 to 87). Only 2 of 15 patients had skin marks from bleomycin toxicity at the end of treatment, so that cutaneous toxicity was also very low. Oral mucosa reversible damage was prominent in 2 patients. On the contrary, alopecia was a common finding.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Uterine Doppler velocimetry and placental hypoxic-ischemic lesion in pregnancies with fetal intrauterine growth restriction.

We tested the hypothesis that Doppler velocimetry of the ascending uterine arteries (Ut.DV) in cases of fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can reflect the presence of hypoxic-ischaemic lesions of the placenta, and whether this prediction is affected by the maternal blood pressure status.Ut.DV was obtained within 7 days of delivery in 90 consecutive pregnancies with IUGR and in 37 uneventful control pregnancies. Abnormal Ut.DV was defined as an average of a (left and right systolic)/diastolic ratio >2.6 and diastolic notching. After delivery, pathological studies were performed with attention paid to macroscopic and microscopic evidence of hypoxic or ischaemic placental lesions related to uteroplacental vascular pathological features. In patients with IUGR, the total rate of placental lesions was significantly higher in the presence of abnormal Ut.DV compared to the presence of normal Ut.DV (relative risk, 6.35; 95 per cent confidence interval=5.2-7.3). The rate and the severity of these lesions was not significantly different between normotensive and hypertensive pregnancies (87 versus 93 per cent;P =0.2). When Ut.DV was normal, the rate of placental lesions was similar between IUGR cases and control pregnancies (14 versus 8 per cent;P =0.69). The perinatal outcome was not significantly different in any of the normotensive and the hypertensive pregnancies with growth-restricted fetuses and abnormal Ut.DV.The presence of abnormal Doppler velocimetry of the uterine arteries in pregnancies with fetal intrauterine growth restriction is may be in fact an important indicator of hypoxic or ischaemic placental lesions. This abnormal Doppler velocimetry is independent of the maternal blood pressure status.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling: indication changes and procedure loss rate in a nine years' experience.

A 9 years' experience with percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) has been appraised. A total number of 1,272 procedures have been performed in our institution between 1986 and 1994; 861 before the 24th week of gestation and 411 after 24 weeks. The indications for PUBS changed throughout these years because of the rapid evolution of molecular biology and because of the fact that certain conditions can now be diagnosed at earlier stages of gestation by chorionic villi sampling and amniocentesis. Sampling at a later gestational age reflected changes in indications. PUBS loss rate has been calculated for 482 fetuses less than 24 weeks, retrospectively found to be negative for the suspected condition and has been related to gestational age, duration of the procedure and number of needle insertions. Total procedure-related loss rate was 2.3%: 1.6% intrauterine fetal deaths within 48 h of the procedure and 0.7% spontaneous abortions in the 2 weeks following the procedure. Gestational age at the time of the procedure and duration of the procedure were significantly related to fetal losses within 48 h.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tamoxifen in disseminated breast cancer.

86 postmenopausal women with disseminated breast cancer have been treated orally with 30 mg of Tamoxifen per day (ICI 46474, Nolvadex) for periods of 2 months or more. The overall responders were 28/86 (32.5%) with a median remission duration of 9 months. In 30 patients already shown to be resistant to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Tamoxifen was used as first hormonal agent; the remission rate in this group was 12/30 (40%), while it was 28.5% (16/56) in the others who had already received different hormonal treatments. In 6 early menopausal cases, the treatment had to be stopped for a dangerous "worsening syndrome". Other side effects were trivial. In 28/35 cases (80%), we have found the reappearance of a pattern of estrogenic activity in vaginal smears during treatment. Hence a "simil-estrogen", more than an "anti-estrogen" mechanism of action is postulated and a selection of patients for treatment in the "mid postmenopausal age" is recommended.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sampling fetal blood from the umbilical cord under echographic guidance].

The performance of 465 sonographically guided percutaneous umbilical blood samplings and its use in the management of diagnostic problems in the second and third trimester of pregnancy are described. The method has been employed in the prenatal assessment of 423 patients (357 procedures in the second trimester and 108 in the third trimester). Pure fetal blood was obtained in all third trimester samplings whilst in the second trimester in 4 cases (1.1%) fetal blood could not be obtained at the first procedure and in 9 cases (2.6%) contamination with maternal blood or amniotic fluid was observed. Data analysis confirm how this simple and rapid procedure offers access to the fetal circulation for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Blood Specimen Collection↗