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Biomedical subjects

E Molinari

Publications and source records attributed to E Molinari.

138 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective randomized comparison of toxicity of two prophylactic regimens of cotrimoxazole in leukemic children.

Cotrimoxazole is currently used for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis in leukemic children. The former regimen of continuous administration was recently replaced by intermittent administration. The antifolic activity of cotrimoxazole could theoretically enhance that of methotrexate, also administered to leukemic children. We report on a prospective, randomized study to compare two different regimens--continuous vs. 3 days a week--of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the toxicity, assuming that both regimens are equally effective to prevent P. carinii pneumonia. Seventy-seven leukemic children were enrolled; 67 were evaluable, 35 from arm A (continuous), 32 from arm B (intermittent cotrimoxazole administration). The conclusion was that long-term maintenance chemotherapy with antimetabolites produced lower levels of folate but normal levels of vitamin B12 in leukemic children. This pattern did not vary between the continuous and the 3-days-a-week administration of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. Thus it seems hypothesizable that the antimetabolic activity of methotrexate alone exceeds that of cotrimoxazole.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hematological values from quantitative buffy coat analysis (QBC II) system: evaluation in a hematological/oncological outpatient section.

The quantitative analysis of the buffy coat (QBC II system) of centrifuged whole blood samples allows one to obtain hematocrit (Ht), platelet (PLT) and white blood cell (WBC) values. We have tested the QBC II system in a hematological/oncological Outpatient Section, where it is necessary to know patient's hematological condition immediately before administering chemotherapy. One hundred ten blood samples from 110 patients with solid or remission hematological tumors were measured in duplicate with the QBC II system and with the counter instrumentation (Sysmex TOA 800) of the Central Laboratory, where samples were sent for emergency determination. Reliable values for Ht and WBC were obtained in all samples, and for PLT in 101 samples. The QBC II System failed to furnish very low and very high PLT counts. The time needed for the QBC II system analysis was shorter than that required to obtain the Central Laboratory data. The QBC II system analysis is a useful means for rapidly evaluating the basis hematological condition in most chemotherapy patients.

Hematocrit↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The CRP-range latex test. A new method for the semiquantitative determination of C-reactive protein in serum.

A new CRP Range Latex Test is described which allows by testing two serum dilutions to classify the CRP content semiquantitatively into four concentration ranges (0 - 1 mg/dl, 1 - 4 mg/dl, 4 - 16 mg/dl and 16 - 64 mg/dl). Sera of 30 patients with rheumatic diseases and of 30 control persons without inflammatory or degenerative diseases were investigated in the CRP Range Latex Test and by radial immunodiffusion. The results were compared. A good agreement between the two methods could be demonstrated.

Arthritis, Infectious↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Refractory thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: successful treatment by plasmapheresis with plasma cryosupernatant.

BACKGROUND: Plasma exchange (PE) with reinfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is the therapy of choice for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in the acute phase. About 20% of patients do not respond fully to this treatment and can suffer relapse. The plasma cryosupernatant (PCS) fraction depleted of the largest von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers, considered to be among the possible causes of relapse, has recently been suggested as an alternative to FFP. METHODS: We submitted three patients in TTP relapse to plasma exchange with reinfusion of PCS. This treatment was associated with anti-platelet agents in two of the patients. RESULTS: Infusion of PCS led to a rapid improvement of the clinical picture in all three patients, with a return to normal of the reference parameters (platelet count' serum LDH). A few days after suspending PE, the patient not receiving anti-platelet treatment suffered another relapse which was definitively resolved with resumption of PE and administration of anti-platelet agents. CONCLUSIONS: We consider PCS to be a valid alternative treatment for TTP relapses, and we have found that the best results are obtained when it is associated with anti-platelet agents.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Long term therapy with recombinant interferon alpha 2 b in patients with chronic hepatitis C: effects on thyroid function and autoantibodies.

Twelve anti HCV-positive patients (8 males and 4 females; 37-62 yrs) suffering from chronic active viral hepatitis have been evaluated in order to determine serum thyroid hormones and autoantibody pattern during recombinant interferon alpha 2b (IFN-alpha 2b) therapy. The interferon was given subcutaneously three times per week for six months in a single standard dose of 3 MU. For a further six months 5 patients (Group A) received the same interferon at 1MU dose three times per week and 7 (Group B) had no treatment. Serum T3, T4, FT4, TBG, TSH, TGAb and TMAb were determined on serum collected before the start of the treatment and every month for 12 months thereafter. Except for one case, in which a transient reduction in thyroid hormone values and an increase in TSH levels was recorded, none of the patients studied showed a significant variation of serum hormonal parameters or appearance of pathological TGAb and/or TMAb levels. The data indicate that the administration of recombinant IFN-alpha 2b to HCV positive chronic active hepatitis patients at the dose and schedule employed in the present study may result in a reduction in the incidence of thyroid dysfunction related to the IFN therapy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cryoprecipitate-poor plasma fraction (cryosupernatant) in the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura at onset. A report of four cases.

Treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) with cryoprecipitate-poor plasma (cryosupernatant) as substitution liquid has brought a portion of the relapsing forms of this syndrome under control. We experimented the use of plasma exchange (PE) with CPP as plasma substitute in the initial treatment of four patients with TTP at onset, in an attempt to elicit a faster response to therapy. We observed a clinical response in the four patients treated; however, laboratory indices of complete and stable response (platelet count, serum lactate dehydrogenase level) did not normalize in concert with clinical improvement.

Adult↗