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Biomedical subjects

M Vaglini

Publications and source records attributed to M Vaglini.

59 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of hyperthermia on the formation and removal of DNA interstrand cross-links induced by melphalan in primary cultures of human malignant melanoma.

In an attempt to elucidate possible mechanisms responsible for the synergistic interaction between hyperthermia and melphalan observed in melanoma cells, we investigated the effect of heat on the formation and removal of melphalan-induced DNA interstrand cross-links (DNA ISC). Cells obtained from melanoma nodal metastases of 15 patients were grown as monolayer primary cultures and their malignant nature was confirmed by specific monoclonal antibodies. Cultures were treated with melphalan for 1 h at 37 or 42 degrees C and DNA ISC were determined by alkaline elution after proteinase K digestion. Results showed an enhanced induction of DNA ISC at hyperthermic conditions. Median number of DNA lesions 6 h after treatment was significantly higher for samples treated at 42 degrees C than for those treated at 37 degrees C (185 compared with 95 rad equivalents, p = 0.01). Moreover, the concomitant hyperthermic treatment prevented the long-term removal of DNA ISC produced by melphalan in most of the tumours considered.

Cell Survival↗
PubMedDate not supplied

N-nitroso compounds and Helicobacter pylori in the gastric remnant.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to investigate the role of N-nitroso compounds (NOC) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in gastric stump carcinogenesis. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Analyses of biochemical parameters such as pH and NOC concentration were carried out on 65 fasting gastric juice samples obtained at endoscopy from 45 patients previously submitted to partial gastrectomy for benign peptic ulcer disease (23 Billroth I, 22 Billroth II/Reichel-Polya) and 20 normal controls. Biopsy specimens were taken to determine histology and H. pylori status. RESULTS: Significantly higher mean pH values and NOC concentrations were found in partial gastrectomies compared to normal controls. In relation to surgical methods, higher mean pH values and NOC concentrations were observed in the gastric juice of patients with Billroth II compared to Billroth I gastrectomies. Independently of the type of surgical reconstruction, higher mean NOC levels were recorded in patients with more severe histological changes and H. pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS: All these data suggest that high levels of NOC in gastric juice and H. pylori infection could be cofactors in gastric stump carcinogenesis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Topical ampicilin and local infectious complications in oncological surgery].

420 consecutive patients having clean surgical operations were studied: 210 of them, selected at random, received 0.5-1 g of ampicillin into the wound before closure, the remainder being controls. Patients were examined for wound infection during the first postoperative week, in line with the opinion that topical antibiotic treatment can afford significant protection against wound infection caused by peroperative contamination. Wound infection has been defined as a local inflammation (redness and hyperthermia), usually with fever and/or discharge of pus. In some doubtful cases, a longer observation period was necessary to obtain a correct interpretation. Four out of 210 clean wounds (1.9%) became infected in the patients receiving ampicillin compared with 12 out of 210 (5.7%) in the control group. The difference could have arisen by chance less that one in a hundred times (p less than 0.01). It is our opinion therefore that after clean operations, the higher the risk of local infection, the more effective the topical use of antibiotics.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Combined effects of lonidamine and hyperthermia on malignant melanoma and lung carcinoma surgical specimens.

The in vitro cytotoxic activity of a 1 hr-treatment with lonidamine alone or combined with hyperthermia was investigated on primary cultures obtained from 12 human malignant melanomas and 9 lung carcinomas. The study was carried out by an antiproliferative assay based upon the inhibition of incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA of cells grown in agarose for 4 days. Under normothermic conditions the drug did not have any cytotoxic effect on either tumor type. Hyperthermia alone also failed to influence proliferation of melanoma and lung carcinoma cells. When the same tumors were exposed to lonidamine at 42 degrees C, there was significant enhancement of drug activity in both tumor types. There was also a synergistic interaction in a percentage of tumors, which increased as a function of drug concentration.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗