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Biomedical subjects

M Rinaldi

Publications and source records attributed to M Rinaldi.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Decrease in toxic potential of mixed tensides maintained below the critical micelle concentration: an in vitro study.

Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is an anionic tenside widely utilized in commercial topical preparations that may cause skin irritation. It has been shown that the barrier damage caused by SLS in vivo is lower when SLS is used in combination with other tensides which are able to reduce the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The aim of our study was to evaluate if the cytotoxic effect of SLS is reduced by the association with different tensides also at concentrations well below the CMC. Normal human keratinocytes from plastic surgery were grown in serum-free medium. At subconfluency, the cells were treated with SLS at a dose of 0.0025% in combination with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20 and Tween 80 at the minimum toxic dose. Following tenside treatment, the culture medium was changed, and after 24 h the cells were collected for (3)H-thymidine incorporation, the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and neutral red (NR) uptake. The cytotoxic effect on normal human keratinocytes, as evaluated by (3)H-thymidine incorporation, MTT assay and NR uptake, was significantly decreased by the combination with all the tested tensides. The correlation between cytotoxicity and physical properties was also studied by a conductimetric assay to investigate the mechanism involved in this toxicity reduction.

Betaine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Short-term results of combined radioimmunotherapy in inoperable lung cancer.

Fifty-three inoperable lung cancer patients were treated with radiotherapy combined with immunostimulation with BCG. A good response was obtained in 30 patients (56%); the results were not significantly different than those obtained with a control group of 50 lung cancer patients matched by age, sex and stage of the disease (24 out of 50 equals 46%). These short-term results were compared with the immunologic "status" of patients evaluated before treatment by the parameters monitoring in vivo and in vitro delayed type hypersensitivity. The good response to therapy was documented in a higher percentage of patients with positive skin tests to recall and standard antigens and with normal values of lymphocyte transformation with PHA and Rosette E-forming cells, in comparison with patients with low levels of immunocompetence. An impairment of the cell-mediated immune response was found after combined therapy, presumably due to radiotherapy. BCG was not able to restore the patient's immunocompetence, no effect on host's immune reactivity was demonstrated. As regards humoral immunity, the patients with low levels of IgG before treatment (12/14) showed a good response.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of vindesine and lonidamine in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a phase III randomized FONICAP trial. Italian Lung Cancer Task Force.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and treatment compliance in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of two chemotherapeutic agents with mild toxicity, 153 previously untreated patients aged over 70 years were randomized to receive lonidamine (450 mg daily p.o. until progression), vindesine (3 mg/m2/daily i.v. weekly for 4 weeks and then every 2 weeks until progression), the combination of the two drugs at the same dose and schedule, or supportive therapy only in a four-arm factorial randomized trial. METHODS: 126 patients were included in the final analysis. Their median age was 75 years. Forty percent had stage IV disease and 60% stage III. Most patients were males (85%) and the majority had squamous histology (68%). RESULTS: Among 104 patients evaluable for response there were only 3 PRs (1/30 in the lonidamine arm and 2/33 in the lonidamine + vindesine arm). Overall, 8.7% and 9.5% of the patients, respectively, progressed or died early, before response evaluation; another 9.4% refused treatment continuation because of poor compliance with the study protocol. Eighty-five patients were fully evaluable for toxicity, which was generally mild. Leukopenia grade 1-3 was found in less than 30% of patients treated with vindesine or vindesine + lonidamine. The most common complaints associated with lonidamine treatment were myalgia (70% of patients), fatigue (55% and 83% of patients treated with lonidamine or lonidamine + vindesine, respectively) and testicular pain in nearly 40% of cases. The overall median survival was 170 days, with no significant impact on survival of either lonidamine or vindesine. CONCLUSIONS: The low response rate and survival together with the poor treatment compliance, even in the presence of mild toxicity, do not support the usefulness of these "gentle" chemotherapies in elderly NSCLC patients. The standard management of advanced NSCLC in elderly patients remains to be defined. Specifically designed studies to address this issue are warranted.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical phenotype of an Italian family with a new mutation in the PRPF8 gene.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical and functional characteristics of an autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP) family with a novel point mutation (P2301S) in the PRPF8 gene. METHODS: PRPF8 gene analysis and complete ophthalmologic examination in an ADRP family. RESULTS: Clinical examination revealed the typical RP phenotype in all family members. Electroretinography showed preserved ERG photopic responses. Genetic analysis showed that the P2301S missense mutation segregated with the disease in all subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike previously reported families, the PRPF8 gene mutation in our family is associated with a mild phenotype in which cone function is partially preserved.

Carrier Proteins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation between refractive and corneal topographic changes after photorefractive keratectomy for myopia.

PURPOSE: To compare videokeratographic and refractive data obtained before and after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia. METHODS: Seventy-four eyes underwent PRK for myopia ranging from -2.50 to -17.00 D (mean, -7.76 +/- 3.17 D). All patients had videokeratography with the EyeSys instrument before, and 1 and 6 months after PRK, and the changes in three corneal power measurements (center of the ablation, apex, and effective refractive power) were compared with refractive changes. RESULTS: Changes obtained in the three corneal power measurements at 1 and 6 months were well correlated with manifest refraction (Pearson's coefficient ranged from 0.71 to 0.84). CONCLUSION: Power measurements obtained with corneal topography, as described above, are a reliable and objective method for the evaluation and follow-up of PRK, provided addition of an approximate 25% correcting factor.

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↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of 4-hydroxynonenal, a product of lipid peroxidation, on natural cell mediated cytotoxicity.

Lipid peroxidation of cell membrane yields a variety of final products whose a quantitatively important component is 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). Previous studies performed in our laboratory suggest that HNE may play a physiological role in the control of cellular proliferation and/or differentiation. This appears to be further supported by our recent findings showing that pre-treatment of K562 cells with a physiological concentration of HNE leads to a marked reduction of susceptibility of NK cells. The observed regulatory effects of HNE on tumor cell growth and susceptibility to natural immune resistance, led us to try to better understand the immunotoxicological properties of this aldehyde. The present study analyses the effects of HNE on NK-mediated cytotoxicity. Treatment of MNC as effector cells with concentrations of HNE ranging from 0.001 to 1 microM for 1 h, did not produce noticeable effects on NK activity. Therefore, this aldehyde at physiological concentrations is able to differentiate tumor cells and to down-regulate target susceptibility to NK effectors from one side. On the other side, it is not able to modify the efficiency of the NK function. Moreover, HNE concentrations higher than 1 microM showed significant and concentration-dependent inhibition of NK activity. However, this effect is reversible and can be antagonized, at least in part, by treatment of effector cells with HNE in combination with beta-interferon.

Aldehydes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Reconstruction with skin flaps of the posterior aspect of the thighs after total pelvic evisceration with removal of vulvo-perineal soft tissues in recurrent vulvar squamous carcinoma].

We report of a case of a fortythree years old women affected by squamous cell cancer of the vulva (T3N0M0). Despite curative treatment (radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal and femoral lymphadenectomy), after 41 months she had a local recurrence, retreated with surgery and radiotherapy; another recurrence, after 29 months was treated with chemotherapy, without results. Because of local diffusion with infiltration of the urethra and anus, the patient was submitted to demolitive operation (total pelvic evisceratio, excision of pelvic and perineal soft tissues and reconstruction with rotating skin flaps of the posterior face of the thighs). After two years of follow up, the patient is alive without evidence of disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis and biological activity of pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]thiazine, [1,3]thiazino[3,2-a]purine and [1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d][1,3]thiazino[3,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives and thiazole analogues.

Some series of thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine, pyrimido[2,1-b] [1,3]thiazine, thiazolo[3,2-a]purine, [1,3]thiazino[3,2-a]purine, thiazolo[3,2-a][1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine and [1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d][1,3]thiazino[3,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives, variously functionalized, were prepared. The compounds were tested for antimicrobial and antimycotic activity on a number of strains, namely: E. coli, Proteus vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, S. faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Sarcina lutea, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, Aspergillus sp., and for antiviral activity on Herpes simplex virus Type 1, Vesicular stomatitis virus and Coxsackievirus B5. The compounds proved to be devoid of activity against viruses and gram-negative bacteria, while some of them exhibited modest activity against gram-positive bacterial strains.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
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The effect of brain radiotherapy on the P3 component of ERP's.

Nine patients with lung cancer without brain metastasis were studied pre and post brain prophylactic radiotherapy (30 Gy) to verify the effect of radiation on the cognitive processes. The P3 component of event-related potentials was used in this study. The latencies pre and post-radiation were compared and a significant delay (p less than 0.01) was detected in patients after treatment. These results suggest that brain radiotherapy may produce a cognitive impairment, as reported by many Authors.

Adult↗
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Echo-controlled endomyocardial biopsy.

Endomyocardial biopsy is an essential procedure for the diagnosis and grading of rejection in heart transplant patients. Direct control of the bioptome positioning has classically been obtained by fluoroscopy. Starting in June 1988, at our institution an alternative approach involving the use of two-dimensional echocardiography was introduced in clinical practice. In 125 patients 1591 biopsies have been performed: 445 under echographic control and 1146 under fluoroscopic control with 3.6 and 4.5 samples/biopsy, respectively. The percentages of inadequate samples caused by biopsy site sampling were 0.4% and 1.3%, respectively, in the two groups. Cardiac perforation has occurred twice in the fluoroscopic group; it has not been observed in the echographic group. One case of iatrogenic tricuspid regurgitation was detected in each group. We now consider echocardiography the method of choice to guide the bioptome. We prefer it to fluoroscopy because it eliminates the risks of x-ray exposure, increases the number of sampling sites in cases of echocardiographic evidence of rejection, can be easily performed as a bedside procedure, allows choice and variation of sampling sites, and permits monitoring of cardiac complications during and after the procedure. A randomized clinical trial is probably needed to assess with statistical significance the superiority of the echographic-controlled biopsy.

Biopsy↗
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Emergency heart retransplantation with a positive donor crossmatch.

We report a case of one patient who underwent emergency retransplantation with a highly positive donor crossmatch. Standard immunosuppression was integrated by the addition of plasma exchange during extracorporeal circulation, polyclonal IgG, and cyclophosphamide for the first 30 days. After transplantation the clinical outcome was normal; immunosuppression induced a complete disappearance of the donor-specific antibody. In spite of the heavy immunosuppression, we did not observe any infectious complications. We suggest that a greater immunosuppression established soon after the transplant and adjusted on the basis of immunological monitoring may allow a heart transplant with a positive crossmatch.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Triploidy syndrome: a case report].

Triploidy is a complete extra set of chromosomes and results in a clinically recognizable lethal syndrome with hydatiform placental changes, severe intrauterine growth deficiency, cranial bone abnormalities, eye defects, malformed ears, syndactyly, genital anomalies, congenital heart defects and brain anomalies. Less severe are instances of diploid-tetraploid mixoploidy and patients are more likely to survive. The present report is another contribution to the knowledge of human triploidy: we describe a 69,XXY triploid male occurred to our observation.

Chromosome Aberrations↗
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Primary gastric lymphoma.

Primary gastric lymphoma is the most frequent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of extranodal origin (25%). It accounts for 5% of all NHL and 4% of primary gastric malignancies. Recent studies suggest its origin from B-cell immune system. The majority of these tumors are high-grade centroblastic and immunoblastic subtype. The extent of disease is by far the most important guide to prognosis. Patients with gastric lymphoma usually recur in the gastrointestinal tract, but one-half of those recurring in abdomen also have tumor spread to extra-abdominal sites. Gastrectomy as a single treatment modality cures about one-third of patients with gastric lymphoma. The role of adjuvant therapy both in terms of radiotherapy and chemotherapy is not sufficiently known. In advanced stage when chemotherapy is indicated, CHOP combination seems to be appropriate in favorable prognostic situation, whereas aggressive third-generation combinations should be used for unfavorable cases.

Humans↗