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Biomedical subjects

F Spreafico

Publications and source records attributed to F Spreafico.

124 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of bacterial purified antigenic fractions on natural defence mechanisms.

The in vitro ability of bacterial purified antigenic fractions to interfere with the immune system has been investigated on human mononuclear cells from peripheral blood. Exposure of purified monocytes to the drug at concentrations from 1 to 1000 micrograms/ml, for different periods from 0 to 18 h, significantly increased cell-mediated cytotoxicity against TU5 target cells. Moreover, monocytes exposed for 1 to 18 h to drug concentrations from 0.1 to 1000 micrograms/ml released significant amounts of tumor necrosis factor alpha in a dose-dependent manner in the culture supernatants. The drug was also tested on natural killer (NK) cell activity; mononuclear cells exposed to antigenic fractions for different periods showed a significant increase of NK cytotoxic activity against K562 target cells after 3 and 6, but not 0 and 18 h. Active concentrations were from 1 to 100 micrograms/ml, higher and lower doses being ineffective. Bacterial purified antigenic fractions thus have some ability to interfere in vitro with mechanisms of cytolysis mediated by cells and soluble factors.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Childhood liposarcoma: a single-institutional twenty-year experience.

A retrospective observational study was performed on a series of 12 consecutive pediatric patients treated over a 20-year period at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano. Conservative surgery was the treatment of choice in all patients; radical excision was obtained at diagnosis in 9 cases and after primary chemotherapy in 1 case. Five patients were subjected to surgery alone, and one to postoperative radiotherapy. After a median follow-up of 11 years (range 1-20), all the patients were alive without evidence of disease, 11 in first complete remission, and 1 after local relapse. In agreement with other reports, the authors underline the unquestionable pivotal role of radical surgery in the treatment of liposarcoma. The high proportion of resectable tumors accounts for the excellent survival of the patients in this study. The role of both adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy is uncertain and awaits multicentric cooperative prospective studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of phenobarbital on cyclophosphamide cytotoxic activity and pharmacokinetics in mice.

The interaction between cyclophosphamide (CPA) and phenobarbital (PB) was investigated in B6D2F1 mice, checking both the antileukemic and immunosuppressive activity together with the serum levels of CPA and its metabolites. A reduced cytotoxic activity of CPA has been observed when PB is given for 2 days before CPA and an interval of at least 6 hours elapses between the last treatment of PB and the administration of CPA. On the contrary, when PB is given simultaneously with CPA for 2 or 4 consecutive days, an increased antileukemic activity of CPA occurs. In the experimental condition where PB decreases the activity of CPA, serum levels of CPA, assayed by means of a new specific gas-chromatographic method, and of its NBP-alkylating metabolites, indicate that this effect may be explained on a pure pharmacokinetic basis. However, for the situation where an increased effect of CPA was observed under the influence of PB, pharmacokinetic data did not provide a clear explanation.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum and cerebrospinal fluid human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in intracranial germ cell tumors.

We report a retrospective study on serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (betahCG) determination in a series of 30 patients bearing intracranial germ cell tumors. At diagnosis five patients had high serum and CSF AFP levels. No patient had positive serum AFP and negative CSF AFP or vice versa. Twelve of 30 patients had serum betahCG levels above 5 mlU/mL, eight had high betahCG only in CSF, and ten were completely negative. During treatment and follow-up both markers were accurate indicators of the response to therapy, decreasing rapidly and often becoming normal already after the first phase of treatment. We conclude that these two markers, and mostly betahCG, may be useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of the response to therapy of patients with intracranial germ cell tumors.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors in children: a single-institution twenty-year experience.

A retrospective series of pediatric patients with localized malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) treated during a 20-year period at one institution is reported. Between 1976 and 1996, 24 consecutive children were treated by a multimodality approach. Conservative surgery was the treatment of choice: primary radical surgery was performed in 10. Postoperative radiotherapy was administered in 12 and adjuvant chemotherapy in 19. Eight patients were alive without evidence of disease, six in first complete remission and two in second complete remission, after a median follow-up of 230 months. The 10-year event-free survival (EFS) and survival were 29% and 41%, respectively. Survival was 80% for the patients who underwent radical surgery, and 14% for the others; 71% for patients with tumors smaller than 5 cm, and 29% for those with tumors 5 cm or larger. Local recurrence was the major cause for treatment failure (13 of 17; 76%); the rate of local relapse was 33% v 75% in patients who either received or did not receive radiotherapy. Complete surgical excision remains the most effective treatment for MPNST and represents the main prognostic factor along with tumor size. Radiotherapy seems to play a role in achieving local control, whereas the role of chemotherapy is uncertain.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The antineoplastic activity of hexaziridinocyclotriphosphazene (Myko 63) in murine tumors.

The antineoplastic activity of hexaziridinocyclotriphosphazene (Myko 63) has been investigated in a panel of murine ascitic and solid tumors. Myko 63 was found to significantly retard primary and secondary tumor growth and to prolong the survival rates in each of the nine models employed. These included the L1210 and P388 leukemias, P815 mastocytoma, the 3LL and Madison 109 carcinomas, M5076 reticulum cell sarcoma, the line 26 colon and line 16 mammary carcinomas, and an intracranially implanted ependymoblastoma. The possible modes of action of this compound and the potentials of cyclophosphazenes, a chemical class largely unexplored as antitumor agents are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The antineoplastic activity of 4'-deoxydoxorubicin in murine solid tumors.

The antineoplastic effectiveness of 4'-Deoxydoxorubicin (DeDXR), a novel anthracycline with reduced cardiotoxicity, has been compared with that of Doxorubicin (DXR) in a panel of murine solid tumors of different histo-type, growth rate, and metastatic behaviour. Using doses of comparable toxicity and optimal treatment schedules, DeDXR was more active in the RC2 renal carcinoma, mFS6 fibrosarcoma, and Madison 109 carcinoma models, as judged by effects on primary and secondary tumor growth inhibition, increase in survival and/or proportion of tumor-free animals. In the M5076 reticulosarcoma DeDXR was equally effective with DXR, whereas the latter was more active on the PRSCT-5 prostate tumor.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Esterase activity in the skeletal muscles of dystrophic and normal mice.

Esterasic activity was measured in several muscles of dystrophic and littermate control Re 129/J mice employing as substrates a series of alpha and beta naphthyl esters of different aliphatic chain length (C2 to C5). Different skeletal muscles of normal and dystrophic mice varied markedly in their esterase activity when tested not only with different, closely related substrates but also with the same substrate. Dystrophic skeletal muscles showed higher esterase activity than the corresponding muscles of controls. No increase in enzymatic levels was seen in the heart and parenchymatous organs of dystrophic hosts.

1-Naphthylamine↗