Biomedical subjects

G Romano

Publications and source records attributed to G Romano.

263 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Transanal excision and postoperative radiation therapy in selected patients with cancer of the low rectum.

Preliminary results of 24 patients (15 males, 9 females; age range 30-81 years) with localized low rectal cancer treated with transanal excision and postoperative radiation therapy are reported. Preoperative endosonographic staging was T1 (10), T2a (12) and T2b (2). All had negative resection margins, except one patient who underwent salvage major resection (no tumor found in the specimen). The mean follow-up was 33 months (range 29-61 months). Twenty patients (83.3%) are alive with no sign of local or distant failure. Two patients (9%) developed a local recurrence and were both salvaged with major surgery. Operative and radiotherapy-related morbidity was minor, with diarrhoea and perianal discomfort occurring in most patients following irradiation. Long-term sphincter function was satisfactory in 90% of cases. Rectal endosonography provided a reliable preoperative staging of T (100% correlation with histology) and, indirectly, N parameter, appearing as the key investigation in selecting candidates for conservative treatment. Postoperative radiotherapy might also be proposed after excision of T1 cancers as it produced few side effects and has the potential to control any residual disease. Additional experience is needed to determine long-term results of this combined radiosurgical approach.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pelvic recurrence following resection of rectal cancer: a multivariate predictive model.

Local recurrence of rectal cancer (LR) after "curative" surgery is a major clinical problem, with a low resectability rate and a dismal prognosis. Prediction of LR might permit more targeted postoperative surveillance with earlier diagnosis of recurrent disease and might help in selecting the patients to be assigned to the most suitable adjuvant treatment protocol. To evaluate if a simple multivariate model could predict the LR and survival probability in the single case, we retrospectively evaluated 118 consecutive patients (63 males, 55 females; mean age 62 +/- 12 years) operated on for rectal cancer and followed up for a minimum of 4 years (range 51-111 months). Local recurrence rate was 28%, with a 6% of local + distant failure. Age and sex of patients, type of surgery, location of tumour in the rectum, size, morphology and grading of the tumour were all unrelated to the event under investigation. At Cox regression, the Dukes' stage and the postoperative radiotherapy were the only independent prognostic factors for LR (p < 0.001). The multivariate model was able to correctly reclassify the patients and predict local recurrence in 86.2% of the cases. Prevention of LR by adequate surgery and adjuvant therapy as well as its early detection offer the best prospect of improving the results of surgery for rectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunohistochemical analysis of 4-aminobiphenyl-DNA adducts in oral mucosal cells of smokers and nonsmokers.

BACKGROUND: The "biologically effective dose markers", DNA and protein adducts, are a direct index of carcinogen induced cell damage and an indirect one of genetic susceptibility. This study aimed to examine the dose-response relationship for 4-Aminobiphenyl-DNA adducts in oral cells of smokers and non smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An immunoperoxidase method with the monoclonal 3C8 antibody, which recognizes 4-Aminobiphenyl-DNA, has been used for detecting DNA damage in oral cells of 12 smokers and 12 non smokers. RESULTS: Higher staining for 4-Aminobiphenyl-DNA was detected in the cells of smokers (187 +/- 42) vs. non smokers (135 +/- 35) (p = 0.004), with a twofold range in relative staining for both groups, suggesting individual differences relevance in metabolizing carcinogens and/or repairing DNA damage. CONCLUSIONS: This non invasive method requiring small cell amounts is a tool for monitoring large groups of subjects at risk in primary prevention programs.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Paget's disease of the breast].

Paget's disease of the nipple is a rare lesion that is not always associated with underlying breast cancer. The authors report three cases of Paget's disease; in two of the three patients examined, the disease became evident following the appearance of an erythematous and erosive lesion on the nipple and areola, but no clinical evidence of an underlying nodule. In both cases diagnosis was made by integrating cytological tests by apposition of the nipple with mammography. In the third case the disease became manifest following the onset of a lesion on the nipple and areola with the characteristics of chronic eczema in association with a retroareolar nodule, measuring 3 cm, with the mammographic characteristics of an infiltrating carcinoma. All three patients were treated by radical mastectomy modified according to Madden.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The evaluation of the thermal threshold in those exposed to vibrations].

The results of a study carried out on 90 subjects exposed to vibratory trauma of the hand-arm compared to a non-risk control group of 54 subjects are reported. All subjects underwent a medical and neurological examination and Doppler ultrasound of the upper limbs, plethysmography of the hands, electromyography of the bilateral median nerve area and T.T.T. (Thermal Threshold Tester) evaluation of the thermal threshold, were performed. Workers exposed to risks show a higher threshold for hot/cold sensitivity compared to those not exposed. This increase is earlier compared to the onset of vascular and neurophysiological changes detected by plethysmography, Doppler ultrasound and electromyography. Thermal threshold evaluation by T.T.T. would seem to be a useful test for monitoring workers exposed to vibrations.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Recent advances, prospects and problems in designing new strategies for oligonucleotide and gene delivery in therapy.

The field of gene therapy has been in rapid expansion since the first submissions of gene therapy trials in the early 1990s which provided encouraging results. Since then, many gene therapy protocols have been approved for phase I clinical trials for the treatment of inherited genetic diseases and cancer. The possibility of employing gene transfer technology to treat AIDS and neurologic diseases is currently under evaluation. Many gene delivery systems have been developed for in vivo studies and therapy. The efficiency of in vivo gene transfer, however, still needs to be optimized, even though significant advances have recently been achieved in improving gene delivery, gene regulation and avoidance of immune responses. This review provides a general outline focusing on the description of the most common gene delivery systems and on their current applications in therapeutics.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Strain-gauge plethysmography in angiopathies caused by vibrant tools].

The authors compare the results obtained from the strain gauge plethysmography on 79 patients affected by vibrating machines angiopathology with a group of 20 others non exposed to vibrations. The results, analyzed according to the microcirculation vision, lead the authors to suppose that the damage caused by vibrating instruments is revealed at the capillary bed trophic exchange level.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Measurement of nephron filtration from distal and proximal tubules.

Nephron filtration rate (SNGFR), measured proximally by micropuncture using the technique of total collection of tubular fluid, may be spuriously high as the fall in intratubular pressure during collection may increase the net filtration pressure. Alternatively, the interrupted distal delivery of tubular fluid during proximal collection may up-regulate SNGFR by activating the tubulo-glomerular feedback. The accuracy of nephron filtration measurements was tested in 65 rats, by sampling from the distal and then from the proximal tubule of the same nephrons. Collections were also made in the presence of high concentrations of furosemide at the dose of 10 mg/kg i.v. In 290 nephrons, distal SNGFR was not significantly different from the paired measurements obtained from the proximal tubule (39+/-1 vs 39+/-1 nl/min, p > 0.83). During furosemide, the paired data were 42+/-2 vs 41+/-2 nl/min, p > 0.82, n=92. Different hydration conditions did not influence the results. The correlation between distally and proximally measured filtration rates held for the whole range of measurements (R=0.56; p < 0.0001). Under the present experimental conditions, SNGFR is not spuriously high when measured by total blockade of the proximal tubule. The accuracy of measurements and their reproducibility is not influenced by the site of sampling.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Human T cells transduced by a retroviral vector to express Herpesvirus saimiri proteins TIP and STPC.

Herpesvirus saimiri is a virus capable of inducing oncogenic transformation of T lymphocytes of New World primates and immortalizing human T cells in vitro. T lymphocytes immortalized by H. saimiri demonstrate functional biological responses to their antigens. Therefore, H. saimiri-induced transformation of T cells emerges as a very powerful tool of T-cell biology. Although the mechanism of this transformation remains to be understood, it is thought that H. saimiri proteins Tip and StpC play important roles. To facilitate functional studies of Tip and StpC, we retrovirally transduced human MOLT4, Jurkat and JCaM1 T-cell lines to express these H. saimiri proteins, using a three-plasmid system allowing for rapid and efficient production of high-titer retroviral stocks. Several cell lines expressing Tip and/or StpC in a stable fashion were obtained and characterized.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The standpoint of AIDS research and therapy programs.

Considerable progress has recently been achieved in understanding the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and in improving the efficacy of antiretroviral therapies for the treatment of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The pharmacological properties of new drugs are very effective in establishing a long-term suppression of HIV-1 replication, and have remarkably increased the survival period of patients with AIDS. However, current antiretroviral therapies are still far from eradicating HIV-1 from patients, and do not prevent the development of AIDS-related malignancies, which affect 40% of individuals infected by HIV-1. The malignancies that are considered AIDS-related are: Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, intraepithelial cervical carcinoma and anal neoplasia. Their incidence is expected to increase as the survival period of patients with AIDS lengthens. Also, the cost of antiretroviral therapies poses a limit to the development of successful global intervention to tackle the worldwide spreading of AIDS, that, by the year 2000, will affect 40 million individuals. Some 90% of these new infections are occurring in developing countries, which can not afford the cost of antiretroviral therapies, and are not able to ensure a proper follow up of patients with AIDS. In addition, cultural and ethical problems make difficult the achievement of an adequate education of how to prevent the spreading of AIDS among populations of poorer countries. On these grounds, the field of AIDS research is evaluating alternative therapeutic approaches for the treatment and prevention of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In situ RT-PCR detection of Epstein-Barr virus immediate-early transcripts in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes.

AIDS-related Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated T cell lymphomas are emerging as a new, distinct histopathological entity. The pathway whereby EBV infects T cells as well as the initial EBV transcriptional program in T cells has not been established. In order to shed light on the early events of the EBV infection of T cells, we have used in situ reverse transcription based polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to study the initial EBV transcriptional program in homogeneous CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Following EBV infection, Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) expression could be detected in T rosetting CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Only a few cells showed viral capsid antigen (VCA). EBV immediate-early gene transcripts (BZLF1, BRLF1, and BMLF1) encoded in the BamHI Z, R, and M fragments could be detected by in situ RT-PCR in the EBV producer cell line B95.8. Both BZLF1 and BRLF1 immediate-early transcripts, but not BMLF1 transcript, could be detected in individual CD4+ and CD8+ T cells infected with EBV. Demonstration of EBV mRNA transcripts encoding immediate-early transcriptional transactivators in EBV-infected T cells provides the first evidence for a possible mechanism whereby EBV could contribute to T cell proliferation and EBV-associated T cell malignancies.

Antigens, Viral↗