Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Cecere

Publications and source records attributed to F Cecere.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes modulate survival in cisplatin/gemcitabine-treated non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Impaired DNA repair capacity may favorably affect survival in cisplatin/gemcitabine-treated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We investigated the association of survival with genetic polymorphisms in X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 and group 3 (XRCC3), xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD), excision repair cross-complementing group 1, ligase IV, ribonucleotide reductase, TP53, cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, epidermal growth factor, methylene-tetra-hydrofolate reductase and methionine synthase. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty-five stage IV or IIIB (with malignant pleural effusion) NSCLC patients treated with cisplatin/gemcitabine from different hospitals of the Spanish Lung Cancer Group were genotyped for 14 different polymorphisms in 13 genes. Polymorphisms were detected by the TaqMan method, using genomic DNA extracted from baseline blood samples. RESULTS: Median survival was significantly increased in patients harboring XRCC3 241 MetMet: 16 months versus 10 months for patients with ThrMet and 14 months for those with ThrThr (P = 0.01). The risk of death ratio was significantly lower for MetMet than for ThrMet patients (hazard ratio, 0.43; P = 0.01). In the multivariate Cox model, XRCC3 241 remained an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio: XRCC3 241 MetMet, 0.44; P = 0.01), and XPD 751 and XRCC1 399 also emerged as significant prognostic factors (hazard ratios: XPD 751 LysGln, 0.46, P = 0.03; XRCC1 399 ArgGln, 0.61, P = 0.04). No other association was observed between genotype and survival. CONCLUSION: XRCC3 241 MetMet is an independent determinant of favorable survival in NSCLC patients treated with cisplatin/gemcitabine. A simple molecular assay to determine the XRCC3 241 genotype can be useful for customizing chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2006

Usefulness of predictive tests for cancer treatment.

This review highlights the numerous molecular biology findings in the field of lung cancer with potential therapeutic impact in both the near and distant future. At least six lines of research have recently emerged as potential contributors to changes in clinical practice. Abundant pre-clinical and clinical data indicate that BRCA1 mRNA expression is a differential modulator of chemotherapy sensitivity. Low levels predict cisplatin sensitivity and antimicrotubule drug resistance, and the opposite occurs with high levels. Secondly, single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ERCC1 gene influence survival and toxicity with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The main core of recent research has centered on EGFR mutations and gene copy numbers. For the first time, EGFR mutations have been shown to predict dramatic responses in metastatic lung adenocarcinomas, with a threefold increase in time to progression and survival in patients receiving EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In contrast, K-ras mutations confer a negative effect in these patients. Evidence has also been accumulated on the crosstalk between estrogen and EGFR receptor pathways, paving the way for clinical trials of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors plus aromatase inhibitors. microRNAs control the expression of cognate target genes, and downregulation of Dicer has been shown to be a strong predictor of relapse in surgically resected non-small-cell lung cancer patients. Finally, overexpression of the Wingless-type (Wnt) genes and methylation of Wnt antagonists like WIF and secreted frizzled related proteins have been documented in non-small-cell lung cancer and are believed to be an important mechanism of cancer stem cell maintenance.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2005

Femoral and sciatic nerves block (BiBlock) in orthopedic traumatologic lower limbs surgery in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive demyelinating disease which affects large areas of the brain and of the spinal cord. Stressful events, surgical procedures, general anaesthesia and central blocks seem to be responsible for relapses, with worsening of the disease. So, when we scheduled 2 patients with multiple sclerosis for lower limbs orthopedic traumatologic surgery, we decided to use a peripheral block, and in particular a BiBlock. The patients' evaluation in the immediate postoperative course and 30 days after surgery has shown no relapses of the disease. In the literature, however, data about anaesthesia and multiple sclerosis are few and controversial, sometimes in contrast. Anyway, the use of peripheral blocks has neither anatomic, nor metabolic interferences with the lesion sites of multiple sclerosis. In conclusion, peripheral block is safe and it is the technique of choice for this type of patients, when surgery allows it.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2001

[Meigs' syndrome and "Meigs' pseudo-syndrome." Report of 2 cases].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate similitudis and differences between the Meigs' syndrome and Meigs' pseudosyndrom. The Meigs' syndrome is an uncommon disease that is characterized by benign ovarian tumor, ascites and pleural effusion. The Meigs' pseudosyndrom is a serious disease that is characterized by malignant ovarian tumor, ascites, pleural effusion. METHODS: We have examined two cases: a case of Meigs' syndrome that is characterized by vomit, abdominal pain, ascites, height serum Ca 125 level; a case of Meigs' pseudosyndrom that is characterized by ovarian adenocarcinoma that is diagnosticated owing to ascites and pleural effusion. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggest that the surgical therapy have a very important role for the complete remission of the disease in the Meigs' syndrome and for the remission of ascites and pleural effusion in the Meigs' pseudosyndrom.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[HPV infection. Clinical features and treatment].

The aspecific and exiguous symptoms and the lacking information are among the reasons of the diffusion of the vulvo-vaginal papillomatosis. We carried out the present study between 1995 and 1999 in the outpatient clinic of cervico-vaginal pathology of the Second University of Naples. 680 patients (aged between 18 and 56 years) underwent vulvoscopic and colposcopic examination. The did not show any relevant symptoms specific for HPV infection. Among the viral strains, HPV-16 and HPV 18 are able to induce a cervical cancer. To eliminate the pathology the primary prevention is necessary: it consist of both an adequate information about the micro-condilomatosis, the role of the activator agent, the modality of the infection, and the annual screening examinations such as pap-test and colposcopy. As first line treatment during secondary prevention, we utilize Roferon A, and perform diathermocoagulation according with the local diffusion and the degree of the disease (mild, moderate, severe). At the end of the therapy with Roferon A we observed that the infective focus was eliminated in about 60% of the cases and, only for moderate and severe micro-condilomatosis a diathermocoagulation was necessary.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Second-look in ovarian cancer: laparoscopy or laparotomy?].

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the laparoscopic second-look with laparotomic second-look as regards the consistency of diagnosis of residual tumoral disease after first step treatment in patients affected by ovarian cancer, and to evaluate the feasibility of the laparoscopic second-look. METHODS: Twenty-one patients affected by ovarian cancer underwent laparoscopic second-look followed by laparotomic second-look. Six months after the first surgical intervention all the patients showed no contraindications to laparoscopic second-look. All the surgeries were performed with the same procedure: after the introduction of the trocars the lysis of adherences was carried out, the whole abdominal cavity was explored, 18 abdominal-pelvic sites were examined, direct biopsies were performed and samples for the cyto- and histological analysis were obtained. RESULTS: Positive predictive value for laparoscopy was 100% (6 out of 6 cases), while negative predictive value was 84% (2 false negative cases out of 12). The complete abdominal-pelvic examination was possible in 95% of cases with laparotomy while in 41% of cases with laparoscopy, because of post-operative severe adherences. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic second-look has a good consistency as regards the diagnosis of residual tumoral disease, but its feasibility is lower than laparotomy owing to the presence of severe adherences and the high risk of intra- and post-operative compliances.

Female↗
PubMed2000

Initial development of a system-wide maternal-fetal outcomes assessment program.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to develop a comprehensive risk-assessment approach capable of evaluating maternal and fetal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Data from 10,984 women and 11,066 infants delivered at 79 military treatment facilities in the United States from 1995 to 1997 were used to develop two individual but complementary risk-adjustment models for maternal and, separately, fetal outcomes. A range of maternal and delivery-related risk variables and clinically important outcomes were identified by expert opinion and selected and weighted with ordinal logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves for the maternal and fetal models were determined. Variation across the facilities in risk-adjusted performance was also evaluated. RESULTS: Risk factors and poor outcomes were rare for both mothers and infants, with 96.9% of infants and 97.7% of mothers having good or excellent outcomes (0.7% mortality and 0.01% mortality, respectively). Despite the low frequency of poor outcomes both models performed well, with receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.75 for maternal outcomes and 0.78 for infant outcomes. When the models were applied to the military treatment facilities, there were significant differences among facilities in risk-adjusted outcomes. Twenty-four of the facilities in the study (30%) had outcomes odds ratios that were significantly >1 or significantly <1 (P <.05). There did not appear to be any relationship between the performance of a military treatment facility for maternal outcome and that for infant outcome. CONCLUSION: Complementary risk models for maternal and infant outcomes were developed that had satisfactory discriminatory power across a variety of facilities within a large health system. With further development and refinement this approach holds promise of being able to detect variations in risk-adjusted performance that could be used to identify best practices. The results might also be used to help coordinate and improve the quality of care for the entire conception-to-delivery process.

Female↗
PubMed1997

Stress-induced changes in the functional electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles.

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of a non-experimental emotional stress situation on the functional electromyographic (EMG) activity of the masticatory muscles. The material comprised 15 dental students without signs and symptoms of disorders from the temporomandibular system. The activity of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles was recorded bilaterally by means of surface EMG. The subjective degree of helplessness of the subjects was assessed and related to the EMG activity response, to assess a possible interrelation. The EMG activity during the stress situation was significantly greater than for the non-stress situation. This shift in EMG activity was seen for all the muscles and all the functions analyzed. No significant gender differences were found. When the subjective degree of helplessness is taken into consideration, women showed significantly higher ratings than male subjects. The Helplessness Scale ratings correlated with the changes in EMG activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Is quantitative electromyography reliable?

The reliability of quantitative electromyography (EMG) of the masticatory muscles was investigated in 14 subjects without any signs or symptoms of temporomandibular disorders. Integrated EMG activity from the anterior temporalis and masseter muscles was recorded bilaterally by means of bipolar surface electrodes during chewing and biting activities. In the first experiment, the influence of electrode relocation was investigated. No influence of electrode relocation on the recorded EMG signal could be detected. In a second experiment, three sessions of EMG recordings during five different chewing and biting activities were performed in the morning (I); 1 hour later without intermediate removal of the electrodes (II); and in the afternoon, using new electrodes (III). The method errors for different time intervals (I-II and I-III errors) for each muscle and each function were calculated. Depending on the time interval between the EMG recordings, the muscles considered, and the function performed, the individual errors ranged from 5% to 63%. The method error increased significantly (P < .05 to P < .01) with the time interval between recordings. The error for the masseter (mean 27.2%) was higher than for the temporalis (mean 20.0%). The largest function error was found during maximal biting in intercuspal position (mean 23.1%). Based on the findings, quantitative electromyography of the masticatory muscles seems to have a limited value in diagnostics and in the evaluation of individual treatment results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Mortality rates among psychiatric patients, during and after the "psychiatric reform", in the area of Rome (Italy).

The issue of supposedly high mortality rates among psychiatric patients discharged from mental hospitals after the implementation in Italy of Law 180 is controversial. We have studied a cohort of 1858 long-term psychiatric inpatients of Public Mental Hospitals in the area of Rome (Italy), followed up for 9 years during and after the implementation of Law 180. As expected, age adjusted mortality rates were higher than those observed in the general population living in the study area, and death rates among patients with "organic mental disorders" were higher than those among patients with "functional disorders". No difference in death rates was observed between the group of discharged patients and that of patients not yet discharged.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1985

Psychiatric hospitalization in Italy before and after 1978.

The available information system in Italy does not allow to adequately evaluate the change in patterns of hospitalization that have taken place after the 1978 Mental Health Act came into force. There are huge differences among Northern and Southern Italy and inside these areas. On average, the reduction of public psychiatric hospitals activity had begun around 70's. People living in these hospitals at the census day January 1st were about 75,000 in the first years of the 70's, were 58,000 in 1977 and further decreased to 38,000 in 1981 (67.6 per 100,000 total population). This decrease was not counterbalanced either by private psychiatric hospitals, or by the newly opened Psychiatric Departments in general hospitals. Scant or no information is available on intermediate facilities, and on follow-up of discharged inpatients.

Affective Disorders, Psychotic↗
PubMed1983

Relationship between the articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis and circulating immune complexes detected by three methods and specific classes of rheumatoid factors.

Although detected in most patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the relationship of the concentration of circulating immune complexes and specific classes of rheumatoid factors (RF) to the activity of the articular manifestations is uncertain. Therefore, 57 patients were evaluated in a prospective fashion. Combining all data, the concentration of IgG RF and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) correlated most strongly with the articular index (Pc less than 10(-4], while the concentrations of IgM RF and IgA RF did not correlate. The quantity of immune complexes detected by the C1q-SP and the mRF-SP assays correlated significantly with articular manifestations (Pc less than 0.02 and less than 0.002) while those detected by the C1q-BA did not. Strong associations between the change of the articular index and both the change of ESR (r = 0.76, Pc less than 0.007) and the change of IgG RF (r = 0.72, Pc less than 0.014) were noted in those begun on remittive agents during the course of this investigation. Of the assays for immune complexes, changes of those detected by the C1q-SP correlated most closely with the articular index (r = 0.63) in this group. These observations support a potential role for the selective use of certain laboratory parameters, in addition to the ESR, in monitoring the articular activity of certain patients with RA.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Evidence for the local production and utilization of immune reactants in rheumatoid arthritis.

Immunoglobulins, including rheumatoid factors, are produced by the rheumatoid synovial membrane. A significant contribution of the synovial membrane to the total IgG and IgM detected in the synovial fluid has been documented. The present study was designed to examine the contribution of the synovial membrane to the rheumatoid factors detected in the synovial fluid. Analysis of the data demonstrated that the synovial membrane was the source of a significant component of the total synovial fluid IgA rheumatoid factor and IgM rheumatoid factor. While some fluids possessed extremely elevated concentrations of the IgG rheumatoid factor, the data suggested that IgG rheumatoid factor was preferentially reduced, relative to total IgG, by the rheumatoid inflammatory process. These observations suggest a potentially important role for IgG rheumatoid factor in rheumatoid synovitis.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗