Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Castello

Publications and source records attributed to G Castello.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

[Use of althesin as a drug to induce and maintain anesthesia for cesarean section].

Results with CT 1341 as the main anaesthetic agent in balanced anaesthesia in 90 cases of caesarean section are presented. It was found that this form of steroid anaesthesia had no effect on the Apgar score uterine tone, maternofoetal metabolism, or cardiocirculatory and respiratory stability. Reference is made to the possible injury of theatre staff owing to chronic exposure to volatile anaesthetics, and it is asserted that the use of althesin is a positive step forward in the solution of this problem.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of interferons in the therapy of melanoma.

The increased incidence of disease, the relative unresponsiveness of advanced tumour to conventional therapies, and high socioeconomic costs make the malignant melanoma an aggressive cancer. During the last decade, several new biological agents have been developed, some of which have shown significant activity in the treatment of disease. However, the impact on the management of melanoma patients is still far from being conclusive. Among biological response modifiers (BRMs), interferons (IFNs) have generated a great deal of interest and have been extensively employed, although incorrectly. IFNs have been used without a specific rationale and at antiproliferative rather than biologically active doses; no extensive laboratory monitoring has been performed. In this paper data available in the current literature are reviewed and the efficacies of the different IFNs, used alone or in combination and in various treatment regimens, are compared in order to understand what is the place of IFNs in the management of patients with metastatic melanoma. Results are encouraging but still disappointing with the most effective treatment, with an overall response rate of 28.5% (10.5% complete responses). However, these results need confirmation. In conclusion, IFN is effective in the therapy of advanced melanoma, but improved response rates are necessary before it may be suitable for general, rather than investigative, use. Alternative biotherapeutical approaches and strategies are suggested.

Cimetidine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro toxicity of taxol based anticancer drug combinations on human hemopoietic progenitors.

The sequence dependency of the interaction of taxol with other anticancer drugs is of clinical importance, and may be due to pharmacokinetic changes and/or to inherent differences in the sensitivity of target normal or cancer cells. This study presents results on the in vitro interaction of taxol with doxorubicin, cisplatin, etoposide and vinorelbine in alternate sequences on human hemopoietic progenitors (CFU-GM). Peripheral blood mononuclear non adherent cells were exposed to IC50 of Taxol for 24 hours and then, for 1 hour to IC50 of each of the other drugs. In a second set of experiments the reverse sequence was applied. The cell suspension was subsequently cultured to assay the growth of CFU-GM. A strong sequence dependency characterizes the combination taxol-vinorelbine, while for the other combinations the order of sequence appears to have little impact on in vitro toxicity on CFU-GM. Comparing results on CFU-GM with that obtained in vitro with the same combination sequences on cancer cell lines some remarkable differences show up. Studies on a normal human myeloid line may therefore have a place in preclinical evaluation of sequence of anticancer drug combinations.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A case of tetanus: the problem of differential diagnosis].

A clinical case concerning differential diagnosis between tetanus, atropine poisoning and acute hypocalcemia is reported. A 51 year-old man has been hospitalized in ICU, coming from the emergency service of another hospital, with a diagnosis of suspected atropine poisoning (he had been under treatment with atropine collyrium 1% for same days). The patient at the moment of hospitalization presented: preserved coscience with good orientation in time and space, thrismus, slight nuchal rigidity, hypertonia to the inferior limbs, accentuated osteotendinous reflex to the four limbs, asthenia, intense perspiration, tachycardia, apyrexia and not appreciable ocular signs for previus pathology. At observation the patient showed to have had a thyroidectomy (presence of surgical scar), and he didn't remember to have been vaccinated against tetanus. Several small scars to the hands were observed (particularly a recent felon to the first finger of the rigth hand) all referable to his activity as agriculture laborer. The hematochemical examinations were performed and the slight hypocalcemia slightly laver than normal, the leukocytosis neutrophilia, apyrexia, abundant perspiration and preserved conscience in presence of thrismus and hypertonia to the inferior limbs led to the diagnosis of a possible case of tetanus.

Atropine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Levobupivacaina, bupivacaina racemica e ropivacaina nel blocco del plesso brachiale.

BACKGROUND: To compare clinical profiles of levobupivacaine, racemic bupivacaine and ropivacaine at equipotent doses in axillary brachial plexus block in the orthopaedic surgery of wrist and hand. METHODS: For this prospective, open randomised study we took on 45 patients of both sexes, ASA I-III, subdivided into three groups in which, respectively, axillary brachial plexus block was performed, with ENS, using levobupivacaine 0.50% (1 mg/kg), racemic bupivacaine 0.50% (1 mg/kg) and ropivacaine 0.75% (1.4 mg/kg). The onset of sensory and motor block, their duration, onset of surgical block, anaesthetic plane and possible adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: The duration of sensory block was longer in group of patients treated with levobupivacaine than in two other groups. Surgical onset was similar for levobupivacaine and ropivacaine, but it was delayed for racemic bupivacaine. In group of patients who received racemic bupivacaine, two episodes of reduction in heart rate without significant hypotension have been observed. The anaesthetic plan was satisfactory in the all three groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience levobupivacaine has been demonstrated to be a good substitute for racemic bupivacaine. Compared to ropivacaine, levobupivacaine induces a longer duration of postsurgery analgesia and, in our opinion, this datum seems to be the most significant.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Suppressive activity of acivicin on murine bone marrow hemopoietic progenitors.

Acivicin (AVC), a L-glutamine antagonist, is an intriguing antimetabolite coupling cell growth inhibition activity with differentiating effects. In this in vivo study the influence of acivicin on mice bone marrow hemopoietic progenitors was tested. 10 mg/kg b.w./day of acivicin were i.p. injected in B6D2F1 mice for nine days. Leucocyte and reticulocyte level (in peripheral blood), CFU-S (multipotent stem cells) and GM-CFU (granulocyte-macrophage committed progenitors) content in bone marrow were determined during drug administration and for 14 days thereafter. All tested populations decreased severely during the first days of treatment. The drop was particularly striking for bone marrow CFU-S. The recovery of hemopoietic progenitors, however, began while AVC was still administered. These results suggest that the effects of acivicin on normal mouse hemopoietic system are mainly inhibitory, causing considerable myelosuppression.

Animals↗