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Biomedical subjects

G Marini

Publications and source records attributed to G Marini.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Estrogen and progesterone receptor guideline for tamoxifen therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a pilot study.

We studied estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR) in 23 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and evaluated the results of this determination with other clinical and laboratory parameters. ER and PR activity was found respectively in 12 out of 23 (52%) and 6 out of 23 (26%) of the patients with a range between 2 and 23 fmol/mg protein (mean 10.3 fmol/mg) for ER and 18 and 92 fmol/mg (mean 41.8 fmol/mg) for PR. No correlations between ER/PR status and other parameters such as age, sex, stage, androgen and glucorticoid receptors (AR, GR), lymphocytic count or plasma estradiol and progesterone levels were noted. Seventeen consecutive patients out of 23 with a known receptor status and 1 with an unknown receptor status had been treated with tamoxifen 30 mg/day for 3 months. No objective response was achieved, despite some occasional reports of the literature.

Aged↗

Restoring abduction of paralyzed vocal cords in the cat using selective laryngeal reinnervation by phrenic motoneurons.

The aim of this work was to reestablish the respiratory function of the paralyzed larynx through reinnervation of the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle by phrenic motoneurons. In nine adult cats the adductor branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) of one side was cut and ligated, while the abductor branch was left intact. The whole RLN was then transected lower in the neck and its distal stump anastomosed to the upper branch of the phrenic nerve. Periodical laryngoscopies under ketamine anesthesia assessed that the inspiratory abduction of the paralyzed vocal cord recovered within 45 days to 60 days in all cats. Abduction was caused by reinnervation of the PCA muscle from phrenic motoneurons, as demonstrated by electrophysiological and anatomical (retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase) testings.

Animals↗

Cytoxan, epirubicin, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil with hormonal synchronization (tamoxifen/premarin) in advanced breast cancer. Preliminary results.

Thirty-three patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with combination chemotherapy and hormonal synchronization in an attempt to increase the overall response rate generally obtained with traditional modalities of treatment. Among the 31 evaluable patients 1 complete (3%), 7 partial (22%), 13 stable disease (42%) and 10 progression of disease (53%) were obtained. Side effects were quite manageable although there were two episodes of life-threatening hematological toxicity. Taking into account the poor prognostic characteristics of our patients (high percentage of dominant visceral disease, 21/31 previously treated patients), our preliminary results with this regimen are interesting and the treatment deserves further evaluation.

Adult↗

Estrogen and progesterone receptors in neoplastic cells of metastatic pleural effusion of breast carcinoma before and after tamoxifen therapy. Correlation with the clinical response.

We have investigated the activity of tamoxifen in 12 post-menopause patients affected by advanced breast carcinoma and, in this specific case, by metastatic pleural effusion. A receptor assay was carried out on all patients to assess the estrogen and progesterone receptor activity in pleural effusion tumor cells, cytologically confirmed. The assay was performed both at the moment of the diagnostic check and after a week of 30 mg/die of tamoxifen therapy. We obtained a temporary reduction of the pleural effusion in 5 patients out of 12 (42%). Four out of these 5 patients presented estrogen receptors (ER+) at the first assay. In the 4 patients with negative receptors (ER-) neither a decrease of the percentage of tumoral cells, nor a reduction of the effusion was ascertained. This study shows that also for pleural effusions tamoxifen's therapeutic benefit was obtainable only in those patients with estrogen receptors in the tumoral cells.

Adult↗

Treatment of advanced colorectal and gastric cancer with cisplatinum and 5-fluorouracil. A pilot study.

Eighteen patients with measurable advanced colorectal cancer and four with metastatic gastric cancer were treated with cisplatin 100 mg/m2 day 1 and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 1000 mg/m2 administered over 6 h i.v. infusion from days 2 to 5 every 21 to 28 days. Five out of 15 fully evaluable patients with colorectal cancer experienced a partial response (33%) while amongst the three evaluable patients with gastric cancer one complete and one partial remission were achieved. Both hematological and non-hematological side-effects were mild. Our preliminary results seem quite interesting and deserve further evaluation.

Adult↗

Single unit activity in lateral reticular nucleus during cortically evoked masticatory movements in rabbits.

The activity pattern of the lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) neurones was analyzed during cortically evoked masticatory movements in anesthetized rabbits. Antidromic activation from the cerebellum and histological reconstruction of recorded neurones location from electrode tracks and microdrive readings were the criteria for neuronal identification. Tonic changes as well as rhythmic modulation of neuronal activity were found in a subpopulation of LRN cells during mastication. The same results were observed also in curarized rabbits during fictive mastication. These data support the view that LRN neurones are involved in a central mechanism controlling the masticatory movements.

Animals↗

Decrease of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units during high dose medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment in advanced breast cancer.

We treated 18 post-menopausal women with advanced breast cancer with medroxyprogesterone-acetate 1000 mg p.o. daily. The study of granulocyte-macrophage colony forming units (GM-CFU) performed monthly, and peripheral white blood cell count showed an increase of granulocytes not statistically significant and a progressive decrease of GM-CFU that could protect marrow from chemotherapeutic agents or interfere with the myelosuppression of cytotoxic drugs.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Treatment of advanced breast cancer with 5-fluorouracil and high-dose folinic acid: preliminary results.

Twenty-eight patients with advanced breast cancer, all previously treated with hormonotherapy and/or chemotherapy, entered this study. Treatment was comprised of 5-day courses of folinic acid (200 mg/m2/day by i.v. bolus injection) and 5-fluorouracil, given immediately afterwards at a dose of 340-370-400 mg/m2/day according to toxicity. Cycles were repeated every 28 days. The remission rate was 60.7% (17/28): 10.7% CR (complete) (3/28), 50% PR (partial) (14/28), while 35% (1/28) had no change. Fourteen out of 23 patients previously treated with 5-FU also responded. The median duration of remission was about 6 months. Hematological toxicity was mild, while gastroenteric and ocular side-effects were important, even if not life-threatening. These data suggest that 5-FU combined with high-doses of folinic acid is effective in advanced breast cancer.

Adult↗

Sequential treatment of Paget's disease with human calcitonin and dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP).

Dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP), a powerful inhibitor of bone resorption, was given (daily dose: 500 mg i.v. for 2 months and then 1600 mg p.o.) to five patients with Paget's disease after 8 months treatment with 50-100 MRC u/day of human calcitonin (CT). During treatment with CT plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and urinary hydroxyproline (HOP) levels fell to about 60% of pretreatment values within the first 2 months in all the patients. Cl2MDP therapy resulted in a further drop of urinary HOP to 20% of baseline values, while serum ALP rose impressively during the first 2 weeks of therapy and then slowly fell to 25% of baseline values. We conclude that Cl2MDP can induce a further biochemical response after the so-called plateau phenomenon to CT and that it may represent the therapy of choice for severe Paget's disease.

Aged↗

Remission continuation therapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Preliminary results with a multidrug treatment protocol.

Twenty-four adolescent and adult patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were treated with the multidrug therapeutic program called IGG-74(9). Seventeen patients (71%) obtained a complete remission (CR) after induction therapy. They subsequently underwent a consolidation course with cytosine arabinoside and a seven drug maintenance regimen, lasting three years, with cyclophosphamide, 6 mercaptopurine, methotrexate, BCNU, adriamycin, vincristine and prednisone. The remission continuation treatment was well tolerated and produced an actuarial three-year disease-free survival rate of 57% and an overall median survival of 19 months. The efficacy of multidrug programs for the prevention of relapse in adults with ALL is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Intracellular study of presumed interneurons in the ventrobasal complex of cats with chronic cortical ablations.

In a ventrobasal neuronal population surviving chronic ablation of somatosensory and motor cortices, the input-output properties of cells activated by ML fibers and showing functional characteristics of interneurons (large peripheral receptive fields, convergence of different types of receptor afferents, repetitive discharge) were studied. Since intracellular recordings showed the presence of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, it is argued that inhibitory interneurons also receive inhibitory inputs, suggesting that data processing in VB is more complex than hitherto postulated.

Animals↗

Microsurgical anterior cervical disk removal without interbody infusion.

A series of 57 patients with root syndromes or compressive myelopathy were operated upon by a modified Cloward technique. No bone grafts were used. The patients were observed for 6 months to 5 years after surgery. Of the 47 patients with radiculopathy, 44 were cured and three complained of minor pains in their arms. Of the 10 patients with myelopathy, three were greatly improved, five were slightly improved, and two remained unchanged. In 100% of these cases, immobilization of the involved interspace occurred within a year. The surgical technique is discussed.

Humans↗

An HRP study in the cat of pathways which may interconnect the two ventrobasal complexes.

Possible direct or indirect connections between the two VB thalamic complexes were investigated using the HRP technique. Labelled cells were found ipsilaterally in the NCP and in NRT following injections n the VB complex and in the ipsilateral NRT and in contralateral NCP following injections in NCP. No labelling of contralateral VB complex was ever found. A pathway involving NRT and NCP is suggested to support the possibility of indirect connections between the two thalami and the functional implications of the described projections are discussed.

Animals↗