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Biomedical subjects

M Lopez

Publications and source records attributed to M Lopez.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Lettuce and carrot allergy: are they related?

Lettuce is commonly included in many elimination diets of subjects with either food allergy or atopic dermatitis since IgE-mediated allergic reactions have not been reported. We have observed a positive carrot skin test and/or RAST in two clinically lettuce sensitive, ragweed allergic subjects and positive lettuce skin test and/or RAST in two ragweed allergic patients with oral allergy syndrome to carrot. In this study lettuce allergy and the allergenic relationship between iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), a member of the Asteraceae and carrot, a member of the Apiaceae, were investigated using sera from those four individuals. SDS-PAGE immunoblotting results indicated that iceberg lettuce can induce an IgE-mediated response. Fourteen allergens were detected between 13 and > 113 kD. RAST inhibition demonstrated that carrot does share common allergens with lettuce, although carrot allergens are more potent than those of lettuce. These findings may have some importance in patients with food-related symptoms, such as atopic dermatitis, because lettuce, when included in their diets, may aggravate the underlying disease.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Individual variations of total and percent free serum prostatic specific antigen: could they change the indication of prostatic biopsy?

The aim of this study was to analyse the individual variations of total and percent free serum prostatic specific antigen (PSA) and to evaluate whether they could change the indication for prostatic biopsy. Prostatic needle biopsy was indicated in 63 patients with serum PSA between 4.0 and 10 ng/ml. A new determination of total and free PSA was done before the biopsy procedure. The time between the determinations ranged from 29 to 59 days. The total and free serum PSA determinations were performed by a double monoclonal antibody radioimmunoassay Tandem and Tandem free PSA. The median coefficient of variation for serum PSA was 12.9 in cancer free patients and 18.8 when cancer was detected, it was 32.6 and 42.2 respectively for percent free serum PSA. A 22.8% rate of discrepancy between the determinations was found when prostatic biopsy was indicated only by percent free PSA lower than 25. Sensitivity ranged from 93.3% to 100, and reduction of unnecessary biopsies between 15.2 and 21.8%. We conclude that individual variations in total and percent free serum PSA could have clinical implications because of the possibility that it changes the indication for a prostatic biopsy.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Single-agent ifosfamide in the treatment of anthracycline-refractory adult sarcomas.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this trial was to assess the therapeutic activity and toxicity of ifosfamide (IFO) with mesna uroprotection as salvage therapy in patients (pts) with soft tissue sarcomas (STS) who had failed high-dose epirubicin treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: IFO was administered at a dose of 2.0 g/m2 daily for 5 consecutive days by a 2-h i.v. infusion every 3 weeks. RESULTS: Partial responses were observed in 5/31 (16%) evaluable patients, whereas in other 5 pts the disease remained stable. The median duration of response was 8 months. The median overall survival was 6.5 months. The most common toxicity was hematologic with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurring in 47% of the pts. Neurologic toxicity was infrequent, but in 1 patient treatment discontinuation was needed because of severe mental confusion and disorientation. CONCLUSIONS: Although IFO can be of value in a minority of pts with anthracycline-refractory STS, more active agents and new salvage cytotoxic regimens should be investigated in this disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Gemcitabine in peritoneal mesothelioma: a case report].

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare tumor whose prognosis is poor. We report a case history of a 57-year old woman with large peritoneal masses and ascites refractory to several chemotherapeutic regimens. The patient benefited of a dramatic regression of disease with symptomatic improvement during chemotherapy with gemcitabine. Serum CA-125 values declined consensually to tumor regression. The duration of response was 12 months. The activity of gemcitabine in malignant mesothelioma has been already confirmed in phase II studies. Data are also available suggesting that better results can be obtained combining this agent with cisplatin, and a multicenter phase II study is now exploring the activity of this combination.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Gemcitabine in advanced stage soft tissue sarcoma: a phase II study].

PURPOSE: To assess the activity and toxicity of gemcitabine in locally advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma patients (pts). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Gemcitabine was administered on days 1, 8, 15 every 4 weeks at a dose of 1.000/1.250 mg/m2, respectively, in pretreated or not pretreated pts. RESULTS: Eighteen pts entered this phase II trial; sixteen had been previously treated with anthracyclines and ifosfamide. A partial response was observed in a woman with fibrous malignant istocytoma, whereas in 7 pts the disease remained stable. Median time to progression was 4 months. The treatment was well tolerated. Grade 4 toxicity was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results do not suggest that gemcitabine, in the dose and schedule used in this trial, may be of value in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Dexrazoxane. Current status and prospectives of cardiotoxicity of chemotherapy].

PURPOSE: To evaluate efficacy of dexrazoxane (Cardioxane) in amelioration of chemotherapy induced cardiotoxicity. DESIGN: The most important experimental and clinical studies have been reviewed. RESULTS: Dexrazoxane has been shown to reduce anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. The drug is thought to reduce cardiac toxicity by binding to free and bound iron, thus reducing the formation of anthracycline-iron complexes and the generation of free radicals which are toxic to cardiac tissue. The majority of clinical studies has been performed in patients with metastatic breast cancer. It has been shown that dexrazoxane: 1) significantly reduces the overall incidence of cardiac events, irrespective of pre-existing cardiac risk factors; 2) does not seem to affect anthracycline activity; 3) does not increase the incidence of chemotherapy induced non-cardiac toxic effects; 4) reduces cardiac toxicity in pediatric patients given anthracyclines; 5) is cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS: Dexrazoxane is a valuable drug in amelioration of chemotherapy induced cardiotoxicity, both in adult and pediatric patients. Wether it offers protection against late-onset cardiac toxicity in this latter group of patients, remains to be demonstrated. Dexrazoxane should be always used, preferably from the onset of chemotherapy, when it is believed that cumulative doses of doxorubicin > or = 300 mg/m2 or of epirubicin > or = 480 mg/m2 will be reached.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Chemotherapy of advanced stage melanoma using cisplatin, epirubicin and alpha-interferon].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the activity and toxicity of cisplatin (DDP), epirubicin (EPI) and interferon alfa-2a (a-IFN) in patients (pts) with metastatic melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven pts with histologically-proven metastatic melanoma were treated with DDP 75 mg/m2 e.v. and EPI 90 mg/m2 e.v. on day 1 + alpha-IFN 9 MUI/die s.c. on days 4 to 8 and 18 to 22. Cycles were repeated every 4 weeks. RESULTS: Characteristics of the patients were the following: median age 55 years (range, 24-75), median WHO performance status 1 (range, 0-2), prior chemotherapy 9, prior immunotherapy 16 (adjuvant/advanced 11/5), sites of disease: soft tissue only 10, lung 22, liver 11, bone 1, brain 3. In 35 evaluable patients we have obtained 3 complete and 10 partial responses, for an overall response rate of 37%. Dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression with grade (G) 4 neutropenia in 59.5% of patients and G4 thrombocytopenia in 11% of patients. Other toxicities were generally mild to moderate with nausea and vomiting in 67.5% of patients, flu-like syndrome in 78.5% and fatigue in 48.5% of the patients. Median time to response, median time to progression and survival were 3 (range, 2-6), 7 (range, 2-45+) and 10 months (range, 4-45+), respectively. CONCLUSION: This combination is active and well tolerated in metastatic melanoma. Toxicity was manageable and has enabled us to conduct this trial on an outpatient basis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[IL-6, p53 and proto-oncogene c-myc play different roles as biological markers of plasma cell dyscrasias].

PURPOSE: To determine the role of serum levels of IL-6 and p53 mutant protein as well as of c-myc proto-oncogene alterations: a) in discriminating between benign (MGUS) and malignant Plasma cell dyscrasias (Multiple and Microsecreting Myeloma, Plasmocytoma); b) in monitoring the clinical course of malignant forms of this disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight patients affected by Plasma cell dyscrasias (58 MGUS, 24 MM and 6 PLC) entered this study. Using commercially available ELISA kits, serum levels of IL-6 and p53 have been determined in all the patients. In addition, a selected group of patients (n = 30) was also analyzed for structural c-myc gene alterations by Southern blot technique. RESULTS: The results show that, conversely from p53 protein, IL-6 and c-myc gene may represent useful diagnostic markers for discriminating benign from malignant forms of Plasma cell dyscrasia. On the contrary, preliminary findings of the same work indicate a potential role for the mutant p53 protein in monitoring the response to chemotherapy of patients affected by MM or PLM. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these data suggest that the combined use of IL-6, p53 and c-myc may provide a new approach for a more rational management of Plasma cell dyscrasia patients.

Adult↗