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Biomedical subjects

M Stella

Publications and source records attributed to M Stella.

126 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cryosurgery with transpleurodiaphragmatic approach in the treatment of non-resectable and recurrent hepatic metastasis from the colorectum].

Cryotherapy allows the destruction of unresectable liver malignancies. The abdominal approach is uneasy for recurrent colorectal metastases located in the upper part of the liver and close to the inferior vena cava, the hepatic veins and the diaphragm. A transpleurodiaphragmatic access was employed. From 1999 to 2003, ten patients with recurrent colorectal liver metastases underwent transdiaphragmatic cryotherapy via a right thoracotomy. Median diameter was 30 mm. One to 4 cryoprobes were used, depending on the size and location of the metastasis. There were no operative deaths, and only 3 patients developed minor complications. Computerized tomography examination of the liver performed one week, three months after cryotherapy, assessed treatment completeness in all patients. At 14 months, 9 patients were alive and 6 were disease-free. Two patients had liver recurrences outside the cryolesion. A transthoracic access may represent the safest and easiest surgical approach for liver tumor cryoablation in selected patients with non resectable recurrent metastases of the upper liver.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Surgical resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumor after treatment with imatinib: clinical case].

The stromal tumor is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. Surgical resection is the first-line therapy for operable lesions, however for inoperable imatinib is an effective therapy. In this setting a patient has been operated after a remarkable response to imatinib, used as both neoadjuvant and adjuvant. This approach led to a disease-free condition without toxicity and complications.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acute renal failure secondary to retroperitoneal fibrosis as first manifestation of lupus nephritis].

Retroperitoneal fibrotic is a fibrous process of the retroperitoneum and can result in ureteral obstruction. Although the pathogenesis is unknown, it is suggested that an immunological mechanism plays a role. It can occur as an isolated finding or be associated with several conditions such as malignancies, infections, connective tissue disease and the action of drugs. However, a few cases of retroperitoneal fibrosis, associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been reported. We describe a case of a 23-year-old female with lupus nephritis who presented with bilateral obstructive nephropathy due to retroperitoneal fibrosis. Treatment with steroids improved both conditions. Our case and previously reported cases of SLE and retroperitoneal fibrosis support the hypothesis that this association is not fortuitous, but reflects a common immunological mechanism.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unusual leukemic presentation of rhabdomyosarcoma: report of two cases with immunological, ultrastructural and cytogenetical studies.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow infiltration occurs rarely at presentation of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) or other childhood solid tumors. This possibility leads to misdiagnosis of leukemia and incorrect therapies might be administered. METHODS: We report two patients presenting with diffuse bone marrows involvement by neoplastic cells. Initial studies were not consistent with a diagnosis of leukemia and the cases were further studied extensively by indirect immunofluorescence, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy and cytogenetics. RESULTS: In both cases blast cells were large, poorly differentiated, with immunological reactivity to the anti-desmin antibody. Ultrastructural findings of muscular features and chromosomal translocation t(2;13) (q37;q14) further confirmed the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma of the alveolar subtype. This was then confirmed histologically in one patient. CONCLUSION: This study stresses the utility of analyzing cases of morphologically undifferentiated marrow blast cells by various techniques, as well as investigating for different types of both hematological and solid neoplasms.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new method for faster blood clearance in radioimmuno-guided surgery.

A major inconvenience of intraoperative tumor detection with radiolabeled monoclonal antibody (MoAb) by means of a probe is the long interval needed between the injection of MoAb and surgery (at least 20 days). We describe a new method which entails injection of 125I-labeled biotinylated monoclonal antibodies and cold avidin in order to obtain a rapid blood clearance of the radiotracer. The first clinical application of this protocol has been carried out in a colon cancer patient operated on six days after the administration of 125I-labeled biotinylated MoAb and cold avidin, with an optimal tumor-to-normal tissue ratio and with 90% of the circulating radioactivity cleared in two days.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute myelogenous leukemia in pregnancy.

We report on a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia diagnosed at the 22nd week of pregnancy. She received chemotherapeutic treatment and reached a complete remission. At the 28th week of gestation the patient delivered, by cesarean section, a normal male infant. At present the mother is still disease-free 27 months after diagnosis. The child, too, is in good health. We point out the possibility of producing live babies with current chemotherapy regimens without exposing either the mother or the fetus to excessive risks.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Computerized interactive morphometry as a potentially useful tool for the study of human placenta.

Two hundred human term placentas underwent morphometric study by means of semiautomated computerized method. Outer villous perimeter per cent parenchymal area and mean chord length were the investigated parameters. The mean value of outer villous perimeter, mean chord length and per cent area were respectively 46.9 mu (X 1000 mu 2) with a standard deviation of 4.6, 57.7 mu (standard deviation 9.3) and 66.1% (standard deviation 7.4). The relative distribution of these various parameters can constitute a valid basis for a comparison in cases of placental insufficiency.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Neurogenic hypernatremia with adipsia and cerebral malformations in a child with ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft lip-palate syndrome].

An infant with E.E.C. Syndrome (a genetic condition characterized by: Ectrodactyly, Ectodermal dysplasia, Cleft Lip-Palate) and delayed psychomotor development was found to have chronic hypernatremia and absence of thirst. Computerized brain tomography revealed abnormal lateral ventricles, agenesis of corpus callosum, calcified cortex. His plasma Anti Diuretic Hormone (ADH) levels were inappropriately low relative to his high values of plasma osmolality, whereas ADH responsiveness to nonosmotic stimuli was normal. E.E.C. Syndrome in this baby is characterized by: ectrodactyly of the feet, syndactyly of the 3rd and 4th finger of the hands, bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate, bilateral microtia, lacrimal ductular stenosis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of chronic hypernatremia in conjunction with normal ADH stores, congenital abnormalities of brain structures, and E.E.C. syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radioimmunoguided surgery: clinical experience with different monoclonal antibodies and methods.

The intraoperative detection of tumors by means of a gamma-ray detector that recognized radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) on tumour cell surfaces has been shown to be feasible and clinically useful. The technology is called the Radioimmunoguided Surgery (RIGS) system. We have been working with this system for five years and in this paper we report our experience using different radiolabelled MoAbs and methods in terms of clinical utility in patients with primary or recurrent colorectal cancer. In the first part of the experience we injected with the MoAb B72.3 a group of 66 patients with primary (36) or recurrent (30) cancer introducing for 7 out of 66 a variation of the method to try to overcome some limits of the original procedure. With the new method, based on the avidin-biotin binding, it is possible to use anti-Cea MoAbs and to reduce the preoperative waiting time, injecting biotinylated MoAbs and avidin. In the second part of the experience, a second group of 15 patients with primary (12) and recurrent (3) cancer was injected with biotinylated MoAbs FO23C5 (anti-Cea) while in a third group of 16 patients, 6 with primary and 10 with recurrent cancer a cocktail of antibodies was used. During surgery a probe (NEOPROBE) was used to count obvious tumor, surrounding normal tissue and to scan the abdomen for areas of increased radioactivity. In the first group of patients tumour was localized by probe in 18/36 (50%) cases of primary cancer and in 24 out of 30 recurrences (80%). In the second group tumour was localized in 8/12 (67%) primary cancers and in 2 out of 3 (67%) recurrences. In the last group primary tumours were localized in 5/6 (83%) patients and recurrent cancer in 7/10 (70%). The method altered the surgical procedure in 2 out of 36 primary tumours (6%) and in 8 out of 30 recurrences (27%) injected with the B72.3. In the group of 15 patients injected with the anti-Cea the method changed the surgical strategy in 2/12 (16%) primaries and in 1 out of 3 recurrences. We had no real clinical utility in the primary cancers injected with cocktails but in 4 out of 10 (40%) patients with recurrent cancer it was possible to localize occult metastatic tissue. In conclusion, the sensitivity of the different MoAbs is similar in the groups even though it is noted that B72.3 seems to be more indicated in recurrent cancers and the FO23C5 in primary tumors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hematologic and cytogenetic analyses of 99 cases of de novo myelodysplastic syndromes.

BACKGROUND. The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by peripheral pancytopenia, abnormal bone marrow differentiation and a high risk of leukemic transformation. The role of karyotypic abnormalities in the pathogenesis of MDS is still unclear. In this paper we present the hematologic and cytogenetic findings in 99 patients with de novo MDS. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. Fifty-three cases had chromosomal abnormalities nor complex karyotypes were associated with the morphologic subsets described by the FAB criteria. Nevertheless, the karyotypic profile is prognostically important, as indicated by the fact that patients with complex karyotype abnormalities have very short survival.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Centralized cytogenetic analysis of pediatric acute leukemia: results of an Italian collaborative experience.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cytogenetic analysis of acute leukemia yields important information which has been demonstrated to be correlated to patient survival. A reference laboratory was created in order to perform karyotype analysis on all cases of acute leukemia enrolled in the AIEOP (Associazione Italiana Emato-Oncologia Pediatrica) protocols. METHODS: From January 1990 to December 1995, 1115 samples of children with ALL or AML were sent in for cytogenetic analysis. The results of cell cultures were screened in the Reference Laboratory and then the fixed metaphases were sent to one of the six cytogenetic laboratories for analysis. RESULTS: The leukemic karyotypes of 556 patients were successfully analyzed. An abnormal clone was detected in 49% of cases of ALL and in 66% of AML. In ALL the most frequent abnormality was 9p rearrangement. Other recurrent abnormalities were t(9;22), t(4;11) and t(1;19). In AML t(8;21), t(15;17) and 11q23 rearrangement were the most frequent structural abnormalities. These findings are similar to the results obtained in other multicenter studies using a similar approach. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm the feasibility of performing cytogenetic analysis in a centralized laboratory on mailed samples of bone marrow and/or peripheral blood; this is very important considering that cytogenetic analysis of neoplastic tissue requires a special laboratory and expert staff.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Repeated hepatectomy for colorectal metastasis.

Between January 1981 and December 1995, 12 patients, who previously underwent hepatic resection for colorectal metastases, were selected for a second liver resection for isolated liver recurrence. Mean interval between first and second resection was 16 months. Eight patients had solitary and 4 multiple metastasis. Two major hepatectomies and 11 wedge resections were performed. Mean follow-up was 37 months. No mortality and 33% morbidity was observed. Three and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 71% and 42%, while disease-free survival was 30%. No patient, primary tumour, or metastases' characteristics were significantly associated to survival. Surgical resection is the only therapy that could offer reasonable chance of long term survival and, in selected case, of cure. A careful patients' selection as well as an accurate surgical technique are essential to reduce post operative mortality and morbidity.

Adult↗