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Biomedical subjects

P Russo

Publications and source records attributed to P Russo.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Raynaud's phenomenon and calcium blocking agents. A preliminary open study with flunarizine].

Raynaud's phenomenon (Raynaud's disease), an accessual vascular acrosyndrome characterised by an important constriction of distal arterioles, has still no specific pharmacological therapy. In the last years, the use of calcium-entry-blockers (nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, nicardipine), drugs able to control the contractility of the vessels, showed some positive results. Considering this data, we appraised the efficacy of flunarizine, another calcium-entry-blocker, in a preliminary study of 28 patients (23 females, 5 males, aged between 15 and 48 years) suffering from Raynaud's disease. Apart from a statistically insignificant improvement of subjective symptoms (i.e. acroparesthesias, cold extremities) flunarizine (10 mg/day for 1 month) did not have positive results. Finally, this drug caused some side-effects: drowsiness, increase of weight and appetite, but without a real necessity for withdrawal of therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Salvage chemotherapy for patients with germ cell tumors. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center experience (1979-1989).

Twenty-eight of 124 (23%) advanced germ cell tumor (GCT) patients who were treated on four successive platin-based induction regimens and who failed to achieve a durable complete response (CR) remain alive (median follow-up, 50 months). An analysis of prognostic factors for response and survival was conducted on the 94 patients who received salvage chemotherapy. Survival and/or response to salvage therapy were significantly enhanced for patients with a prior CR to induction chemotherapy, treatment with a cisplatin-based salvage regimen, a testis primary site, a normal serum human chorionic gonadotropin level, a normal serum lactate dehydrogenase level, one site of metastasis, and an Indiana Class of 6 or less. Patients with a prior incomplete response (IR) had a particularly poor prognosis (P = 0.00007) with only 4 of 52 (9%) patients alive (median follow-up, 37 months) compared with 15 of 42 (36%) patients with a prior best response of a CR (median follow-up, 35 months). The poor survival of patients who fail to achieve a durable CR to induction chemotherapy warrants the continued investigation of new salvage therapy. The identification of prognostic features may direct salvage therapy and aid in the interpretation of clinical trials of salvage regimens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Distinct cis-acting signals enhance 3' endpoint formation of CYC1 mRNA in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The cyc1-512 mutant of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains a 38 bp deletion in the 3' untranslated region of the CYC1 gene, resulting in CYC1 mRNAs that are elongated, presumably labile, and reduced to 10% of the normal level. Analysis with S1 nuclease and a novel PCR procedure revealed that the low amount of cyc1-512 mRNA contained many discrete 3' termini at certain sites, ranging from the wild-type position to over 2000 nucleotides (nt) downstream. The cyc1-512 mRNA deficiency was completely or almost completely restored in eight intragenic revertants that contained six different single and multiple base-pair changes within a 300 bp region downstream from the translation terminator codon. Two of the six different reversions formed the sequence TAG...TATGTA, whereas the other four reversions created the sequences TATATA or TACATA. The positions of these revertant sequences varied, even though they caused an increased use of specific major downstream mRNA 3' endpoints, apparently identical to those seen in the cyc1-512 mRNA. However, several revertants contained minor end points not corresponding to any of the cyc1-512 mRNAs. The capacity of these three signals to form 3' ends was confirmed with sequences constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. We therefore suggest that the production of 3' termini of yeast mRNA may involve at least two functionally distinct elements working in concert. One type of element determines the sites of preferred 3' mRNA termini, as represented by the cyc1-512 termini. The second type of element, which includes TAG...TATGTA and TATATA motifs, operates at a distance to enhance the use of the downstream 3' preferred sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Effect of clentiazem on lipid profile, lipoprotein composition and aortic fatty streaks in cholesterol-fed rabbits.

Numerous experimental studies have reported that common antihypertensive drugs such as diuretics, beta-blockers, and methyldopa have adverse effects on plasma lipids and lipoproteins. The present study was designed to define the effect of clentiazem (10 mg/kg/day) an antihypertensive drug, on hyperlipidemia in rabbits on a cholesterol-rich diet (1%) for 12 weeks. Compared with controls, clentiazem treated rabbits had lower plasma concentrations of triglycerides (55%), total cholesterol (24%), free cholesterol (27%), esterified cholesterol (23%) and phospholipids (24%). The decrease in cholesterol was accounted for by a reduction of VLDL-cholesterol (13%), IDL-cholesterol (24%) and primarily LDL-cholesterol (45%). Neither HDL-cholesterol nor chemical composition of VLDL, IDL, LDL and HDL was altered. When the aortic atherosclerotic involvement was evaluated by computerized planimetry, a 24% reduction of lesions was noted in clentiazem treated animals (P less than 0.05). Similarly, cholesterol content extracted from aortic wall was decreased. Our data therefore demonstrated that clentiazem is a potential antiatherosclerotic agent capable of decreasing plasma lipids and atherogenic lipoproteins as well as aortic fatty streaks.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Congenital adenomatoid malformation of the lung: current management and prognosis.

A retrospective 10-year review of congenital adenomatoid malformation (CAM) included 10 cases diagnosed in utero by ultrasound and 13 cases that presented postnatally. Two prenatally diagnosed cases were aborted because of associated lethal anomalies. All remaining patients underwent resection. Up to one third of all cases, whether diagnosed prenatally or postnatally, were asymptomatic. Resection is recommended to avoid respiratory distress, infection, or associated malignancy. There were 5 nonsurvivors, including 2 therapeutic abortions and 3 who died postoperatively. All had either polyhydramnios or ascites. All patients who died postoperatively had a respiratory arrest at birth and underwent immediate lobectomy. All died on the first day of life after a brief period and were found to have associated pulmonary hypoplasia. One had undergone a prenatal transthoracic cyst aspiration at 34 weeks gestation in an attempt to allow lung growth and prevent premature labor. Prenatal ultrasound findings suggestive of poor prognosis included polyhydramnios, ascites, mediastinal shift, and noncystic type III CAM. However, there is a spectrum of severity of CAM. The lesion can either regress and be asymptomatic at birth, or it can progress to cause either fetal death from hydrops or neonatal death caused by associated pulmonary hypoplasia. These findings should be considered in prenatal counseling for CAM.

Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenita↗
PubMed1991

Effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor on A2774 human ovarian cancer cell line: potentiation of mitoxantrone cytotoxicity.

Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rHuTNF) is a macrophage-secretory protein with antitumor activity. In vivo and in vitro cytotoxicity studies have been carried out to test the effectiveness of rHuTNF alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents. We have evaluated the direct cytotoxic effect of rHuTNF on a human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line in vitro (A2774), alone, or in combination with mitoxantrone (Mit), a topoisomerase II (Topo II) targeted drug. Our results not only suggest that rHuTNF is directly cytotoxic, but also that it is able to induce a very strong potentiation of Mit cytotoxicity.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMed1991

An improved method for computerized tomography-planned transperineal 125iodine prostate implants.

Transperineal 125iodine implants of the prostate can be performed with ultrasound guidance, a simple technique that has met with widespread acceptance. However, ultrasound does not allow good visualization of the pubic bones in relation to the pelvic outlet, and the pubic bones may interfere with needle placement in the anterior peripheral aspect of the prostate. Adequate irradiation of the entire periphery of the prostate is important to assure tumor control, since most tumors are multicentric and may involve the anterior aspect of the prostate. A computerized tomography-based treatment planning procedure that allows for angulation of transperineal needles to avoid the pubic bones and still reaches the most peripheral aspects of the gland is described. The technique also allows for the use of transrectal ultrasound and fluoroscopy to verify correct needle placement in the prostate at the procedure. Early treatment results, based on prostate specific antigen and regression of palpable tumors, are encouraging.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1991

Relationship between plasma atrial natriuretic factor and urinary kallikrein excretion in essential hypertensives.

In order to seek possible relationships between renal kallikrein and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), we measured urinary kallikrein (UK) and ANF in 84 normal subjects (NS) and in 104 uncomplicated essential hypertensives (HP). Atrial natriuretic factor was significantly higher in HP than in NS (38.5 +/- 1.3 vs 29.0 +/- 1.3 pg/mL, P less than .01), whereas UK was significantly lower in HP than in NS (11.1 +/- 0.9 v 15.3 +/- 0.6 nkatal/24 h, P less than .01). Calculating the 95% of the percentile distribution of the single values of UK in the group of NS we were able to show that 24 out of 104 HP had a UK which fell below the lowest limit (4.5 nkat/24 h) of the normal range. We therefore divided our HP into two subgroups: patients with normal kallikrein excretion (NK) (n = 80; mean UK 13.8 +/- 0.8 nkat/24 h) and patients with low kallikrein excretion (LK) (n = 24; mean UK 2.3 +/- 0.3 nkat/24 h). Normal kallikrein patients had a mean plasma ANF value of 31.9 +/- 1.2 pg/mL which was almost superimposable to that found in NS; on the contrary, the mean plasma level of ANF in LK patients (50.7 +/- 2.2 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that measured in NK patients and in NS (P less than .01 v NK patients and NS, respectively). Since a low urinary kallikrein excretion may represent a marker of an impaired production of renal kallikrein, the high levels of ANF found in the LK subgroup could be the result of a compensatory response of the atrium attempting to maintain sodium and volume homeostasis.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗
PubMed1991

Production of protein-associated DNA breaks by 8-methoxycaffeine, caffeine and 8-chlorocaffeine in isolated nuclei from L1210 cells: comparison with those produced by topoisomerase II inhibitors.

8-Methoxycaffeine (8-MOC) is a caffeine derivative, more potent than the parent compound, but very similar to caffeine in terms of induction of DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs), DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs). We have studied the capability of 8-MOC, caffeine and 8-chlorocaffeine (8-CC) of inducing SSBs, DSBs and DPCs, and we have compared 8-MOC with ellipticine, a typical inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase II. The DNA effects of 8-MOC appeared similar to those of ellipticine. In both cases SSBs, DSBs and DPCs were present in a similar ratio, and they were rapidly reversible after removal of the drug. The dose-response curve was bell-shaped for both compounds. In addition, 8-MOC, caffeine and 8-CC were capable of inhibiting DSBs induced by ellipticine. These results were obtained at the level of L1210 cell nuclei. In spite of these functional similarities, 8-MOC, caffeine and 8-CC were unable to stimulate the formation of a cleavable complex by purified L1210 topoisomerase II (p170 form) when SV40 DNA and human c-myc DNA were used as substrate. These methylated oxypurines could be active on a different form of topoisomerase II, or, alternatively, they could be active only in the natural chromatin 'milieu' within the nucleus.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is a growth factor active on human ovarian cancer cells.

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a regulatory glycoprotein that stimulates the production of granulocytes and macrophages from committed hematopoietic progenitor cells both in vitro and in vivo. In this report, we show that recombinant human GM-CSF enhances colony formation by nonhematopoietic human ovarian cancer cell lines, IGROV-1, A2774, ME-180, Pa-1 and A2780. GM-CSF also enhanced the colony formation by cells obtained from fresh ascites of a patient with ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and a patient with serous papillary ovarian carcinoma. Our observations were made with GM-CSF concentrations between 0.1 to 1 ng/ml; these concentrations are equivalent to the dosages generally used for bone marrow recovery after chemotherapy.

Ascites↗
PubMed1991

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (Ofuji disease) in childhood: a review of four cases.

Four children under 2 years of age were treated at our hospital in the last three years with a recurrent vesiculopustular eruption of the scalp, variably extending to the face and limbs. All cases followed a cyclical pattern. Three of the children had a moderate response to topical steroids, and one went into remission after a two-month course of erythromycin. Ethnic origin may be an important predisposing factor. Histologically, all patients showed a moderate mixed inflammatory infiltrate with numerous eosinophils centered around hair follicles. Peripheral white blood cell count showing leukocytosis with eosinophilia was observed in those cases measured, but no consistent immunologic abnormalities could be identified.

Eosinophilia↗
PubMed1991

Decreased hospitalization and increased height velocity in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis responsive to ciclosporin A.

Eleven pediatric patients with nephrosis and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis were treated with long-term (8-38 months) ciclosporin A in combination with steroids. All had abnormal height-velocity curves and multiple hospitalizations for complications of nephrosis. Eight patients attained remission with a dramatic improvement in growth and decrease in necessity for hospitalization for therapy of nephrosis complications, while maintaining adequate renal function. Three nonresponders developed end-stage renal disease. Long-term ciclosporin A therapy may be of benefit in steroid-resistant nephrosis in childhood.

Child↗
PubMed1991

Urologic sarcoma in adults. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center experience based on a prospective database between 1982 and 1989.

Urologic sarcoma is a group of rare tumors with a generally poor prognosis. These sarcomas share prognostic characteristics with soft-tissue sarcomas arising from other sites. A staging system that incorporates tumor grade and size is valuable in identifying patients at high risk of dying of disease. Patients with sarcomas that are high-grade, greater than 5 cm in diameter, or metastatic at the time of presentation (MSKCC stages 3 and 4) have a combined 3-year relapse-free survival rate of 26%. Complete surgical resection, preferably with negative margins, still offers the best chance of cure. For reasons that are not clear, multimodality therapy in rhabdomyosarcoma is less effective in adult than in pediatric disease. Present-day chemotherapeutic regimens are ineffective in controlling disseminated sarcoma. The adoption of a uniform staging system coupled with multi-institutional collaboration may allow progress to be made in this otherwise deadly form of genitourinary cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The role of ifosfamide plus cisplatin-based chemotherapy as salvage therapy for patients with refractory germ cell tumors.

A prospective study of four cycles of etoposide with ifosfamide and cisplatin (VIP) chemotherapy was conducted in 42 germ cell tumor (GCT) patients who were refractory to cisplatin with etoposide/vinblastine-based therapy. Forty patients were evaluable for response. Ten patients (25%) had a complete response: seven to chemotherapy alone and an additional three patients after surgical resection of viable GCT. With a median follow-up of 15 months, four complete responders relapsed, and six patients (15%) remain in remission. Hematologic and nephrotoxicity were moderately severe. Durable complete responses with VIP as second salvage were achieved and suggests that ifosfamide adds efficacy to standard first-salvage therapy. The observed nephrotoxicity and myelotoxicity are considerations in the design of ifosfamide-cisplatin-based regimens. Hematopoietic growth factors may be useful in ameliorating myelotoxicity. The early use of ifosfamide-based chemotherapy may reduce the nephrotoxicity exacerbated by prior cisplatin. A trial of VIP as first salvage after a relapse from a complete response to platinum-based induction therapy is warranted. The modest proportion of patients who achieve a durable remission to VIP as second salvage emphasizes the need for more efficacious salvage therapy for patients who do not achieve a durable complete response.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Malignant thymoma in children: a 20-year review.

Malignant thymomas are extremely rare in children, with only 27 cases reported thus far in the pediatric surgical literature. We report four additional cases diagnosed at this institution over the past 20 years (ages 3 to 14 years). Clinical presentations included superior vena cava syndrome, cough, dyspnea, cyanosis, enlarging mediastinal mass, spontaneous pneumothorax, and pleuropericardial effusion. Three patients underwent incomplete resection of the mass or biopsy because of "unresectability" and were treated with radiotherapy and adjunctive chemotherapy. One patient underwent near complete macroscopic resection as well as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. All patients died at intervals ranging from 6 months to 2 1/2 years after diagnosis. Three patients were found to have metastatic disease prior to death or at autopsy. In one case, the initial pathological diagnosis was lymphocytic thymoma. After ultrastructural studies were performed, the diagnosis was changed to thymic T-cell lymphoma. This patient subsequently developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia 3 months after surgical resection followed by radiotherapy. Malignant thymomas are highly aggressive tumors in children. A radical surgical approach with complete excision of the tumor and contiguous structures in continuity, with adjunctive radiotherapy and chemotherapy remains the only hope for survival in children with these rare lesions.

Adolescent↗