bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Urinary Neopterin in Patients with Liver Tumors
Authors: Melichar Bohuslav , Solichová Dagmar , Svobodová Iveta , Urbánek Lubor , Veselý Pavel , Melicharová Karolina 
Published: April 2018

Aims and background Primary and secondary liver tumors are associated with poor prognosis. Neopterin is an indicator of systemic immune activation, and increased neopterin concentrations have been associated with poor prognosis in a wide range of malignant tumors. Methods Urinary neopterin was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography in 154 patients with primary and secondary liver tumors. The survival of different groups of patients was compared by log-rank test, and Cox regression was used for multivariate analysis. Results Urinary neopterin was significantly increased in patients compared to controls. A statistically significant correlation was observed between urinary neopterin and age of the patients, hemoglobin concentration, mean erythrocyte volume and peripheral blood leukocyte or platelet count. In univariate analysis, urinary neopterin below 214 μmol/mol creatinine, peripheral blood leukocytes below 8 x 109/L, hemoglobin equal to or above 125 g/L, no extrahepatic tumor, stage of liver involvement, and colorectal, breast or ovarian primary were significant prognostic factors for survival. In multivariate analysis, Bengtsson stage, presence of extrahepatic involvement, primary other than colorectal, breast or ovarian carcinoma, peripheral blood leukocyte count and urinary neopterin were independent prognostic factors. Increased urinary neopterin during and at the end of follow-up was also associated with poor prognosis. Conclusions Urinary neopterin is increased in patients with liver tumors. Neopterin is an independent prognostic indicator in patients with liver tumors along with Bengtsson stage, presence of extrahepatic disease, primary site and peripheral blood leukocyte count.
Self-Expanding Metal Stents in Gastrointestinal Interventional Radiology: Technical Problems
Authors: Cozzi Guido , Chiaraviglio Francesca , Civelli Enrico Maria , Fornari Simona , Milella Marco , Salvetti Monica , Severini Aldo 
Published: April 2018

Aims and background To analyze the procedural difficulties in the placement of metal stents in stenoses of the digestive tract and optimize the technique. Methods Twenty-nine patients with digestive tract stenoses were treated from January 1999 to December 2004. In 14 cases the stricture was anastomotic (9 colorectal, 3 esophageal, 1 gastroesophageal and 1 gastrojejunal), in 13 esophageal, in 1 gastric and in 1 duodenal. The stenosis was due to scarring in 5 patients and was malignant in 24 patients (primary in 17 cases and secondary in 7 cases). Results The procedure achieved technical success in all cases but 2. For each of the different segments the technical difficulties and the adopted procedural solutions were analyzed. Conclusions The interventional radiology approach yielded results comparable to those reported for the endoscopic method and was always well tolerated. The need to rely on materials mostly designed for endoscopic use can make radiological use difficult in some cases.
VALORE DELL'IMPIEGO DI ESTROGENI A DOSI ELEVATE COME TEST RIVELATORE DI METASTASI OSSEE DA CARCINOMA MAMMARIO
Authors: Barillà M. , Ciarpaglini L. , Loasses A. , Paleani-Vettori P. G. 
Published: April 2018

In women with breast cancer, estradiol administered in high doses is proposed for the detection of bone metastases roentgenologically unknown or undetectable owing to their small size. A comparative study of calciuria, calcemia and calcium balance will allow the evaluation of the test positivity or negativity.
L'ATTIVITA’ ESTROGENA, DOPO OVARO-SURRENECTOMIA, IN DONNE PORTATRICI DI CARCINOMA AVANZATO DELLA MAMMELLA
Authors: Bucalossi P. , Grattarola R. , Catania V. 
Published: April 2018

33 women, with advanced carcinoma of the breast, were treated with the ovaro-adrenalectomy, 20 cases were in menopause. After the ovaro-adrenalectomy, the estrogens were present in the urine, also when the results, after the surgery, were favourable. A cytologyc scheme according to estrogen activity is described. The scheme comprehends four cytologyc pictures; the last one of these (picture D) signifies the absence of the estrogenic activity (acidophilic basal cells in the vaginal smears). The first picture (A), for the presence of the superficial cells signifies an high estrogenic activity; the other two pictures (B and C), with the normal basal cells, signify a low but still present estrogenic activity. In the women in menopause with advanced carcinoma of the breast, before the ovaro-adrenalectomy, the vaginal smear had frequently the picture (A); on the contrary, in women in menopause without the cancer of the brest, the picture was (B) or (C). After the ovaro-adrenalectomy, in favourable cases, forward the picture (D), it is described a new picture in which particular cells of the intermediate type, with prominent nuclei, are present (picture E). In these cases the urinary estrogens are lower than before the surgery. In cases with an unfavourable course, after surgery, the cytologyc picture is (A) or (B) and the estrogenic valeues are growing up. The AA. observe that the best results are obtained by bilateral ovaro-adrenalectomy or by bilateral ovariectomy and monolateral adrenalectomy; with the bilateral ovariectomy alone or bilateral adrenalectomy alone, the course was always unfavourable, with cytologycal pictures (A) and (B) without any relation to the age of the patient and the date of their menopause.
OSSERVAZIONI SUL COMPORTAMENTO CHIMICO-FISICO DELLE PROTEINE SERICHE IN PRESENZA DI 3–4 BENZOPIRENE: PROVE DI LABILITA’ COLLOIDALE E MISURE DI VISCOSITA'
Authors: Lado P. 
Published: April 2018

In order to study the possible interferences of 3,4-benzpyrene with protein macro-molecules, the chemico-physical behaviour of the serum protein system (horse and rabbit serum) has been examined in the presence of the carcinogen. Two colloidal lability reactions and viscosimetric measurements were employed. 1. Kunkel and Weltmann's reactions of colloidal lability, performed both on pure serum and serum + benzpyrene did not show consistent and regular variations, On the other hand, an interference between 3,4-benzpyrene and proteins is revealed by the anomalous behaviour under the dissolving action of the urea of proteins denatured by the Weltmann's reaction, in the presence of the hydrocarbon. 2. The viscosimetric measurements have been carried out on the serum system before and after denaturation with urea. The results obtained suggest 3,4-benzpyrene to interfere in the denaturing action of urea, favouring its action.
Studio dei Recettori Vaginale ed Endometriale Nell'Adenocarcinoma Dell'Endometrio
Authors: Mossetti C. , Durando C. 
Published: April 2018

The hormonal condition of 42 women affected with endometrial adenocarcinoma was cytologically studied at the level of the vagina and of the mucous membrane surrounding the cancer lesion. A relatively low incidence of side symptoms of oestrogenic stimulation was observed (23.8 per cent in the endometrium, 14.2 per cent in the vagina). In still menstruated women gland hyperplasy was found in the 50 per cent and abnormal vaginal oestrogenic stimulation in the 20 per cent. In patients in menopause, in the 15.6 and in the 12.5 per cent respectively. To the endometrial folliculinic stimulation, vaginal changes correspond only in the 60 per cent of the cases, whereas in simple hyperplastic endometrial processes this correspondence is found in more than the 80 per cent. The persistence of hyperoestrogenic endometrial changes in the absence of similar vaginal modifications may reflect a greater sensitivity of uterine tissue to the hormonal stimulation. Results cannot give information on the conditions existing at the onset of the cancerization process.
Le Auxine in Biologia Animale: Parte I - Azione dell'Acido Indolacetico e delta Kinetina in vivo, su tessuti normali e tumorali
Authors: Volpe R. Della , Albertini E. 
Published: April 2018

The activity of some vegetal auxins in animal biology has been experimentally studied. A cyto- and mitokinetic action of Kinetine (6-furfurylaminopurine) was demonstrated on cells of sarcoma 180 of the rat, either by direct application or by action through the host organism. Another auxin, the indolacetic acid, was found to stimulate the proliferation of vegetal and animal cells, and to increment their mitokinetic activity. These phenomena seem to be enhanced by the association indolacetic acid-Kinetine. Researches carried out on normal albino mice parenterally treated with solutions of indolacetic acid alone, and associated with Kinetine, showed absence of acute and chronic toxicity, except for a certain degree of liver impairment due to the action of indolacetic acid. No influence was noted on the mitokinetic activity. on liver tissue, and on the cutaneous germinative layer. Similarly, the DNA synthesis in the liver tissue of animals treated with the tested auxins, appeared to be uninfluenced. In a series of albino mice inoculated with 180 ascites sarcoma, and contemporaneously treated with indolacetic acid, and indolacetic acid + Kinetine (endoperitoneal or subcutaneous route), a marked stimulation of the initial tumour development was observed, with increase of ascites and stimulation of cytokinetic and mitokinetic activity of tumour cells. This influence was more marked following endoperitoneal administration. The association of the auxins did not seem to enhance their natural activities.
Considerazioni Statistiche Ed Aspetti Radiologici Delle Localizzazioni Ossee Del Linfogranuloma Maligno
Authors: Felci U. , Salvini E. 
Published: April 2018

The present paper is concerned with 74 cases of bone involvement observed among 530 patients affected with Hodgkin's disease. Owing to the large number of cases, some significant statistical considerations were consented. Thus, it could be determined that the «radiologic frequency» of bone involvement in Hodgkin's disease is the 14 per cent. irrespective of age and sex. As concerns the time of occurrence of skeletal lesions compared to lymph node or visceral involvement, it could be observed that they developed in half cases within the first year of the disease, and in the three quarters of the cases within the first two years. This finding does not confirm, therefore, the view according to which bone changes are the expression of a late clinical stage of Hodgkin's disease. Bone manifestations have been therefore classified according to the type and site. The obtained statistical observations are in agreement with data by some authors, and diverge from other ones. Some suggestions derived from personal observations are also exposed. In the second part of the paper, an iconographic documentation of some unusual roentgenographic pictures observed in the large series of cases are presented.
Complement Dependent Inhibition of RNA Synthesis in Malignant Melanoma Cells
Authors: Ikonopisov R. L. 
Published: April 2018

The RNA synthesis of human melanoma cells in suspension is estimated by the uptake of tritiated uridine (3HU) after incubation with autologous, homologous serum from other patients with malignant melanoma and normal control serum with active and inactivated added complement. The total amount of labelled precursor incorporated is determined by extracting the acid/alcohol soluble material, dissolving the final precipitate in a solvent and mixing with scintillation fluid. Each pot is then counted in a Packard-3 liquid scintillation counter. The pulses recorded reveal the rate of RNA synthesis in the cells after incubation with the tested sera and inversely indicate the extent of the cytotoxic action exerted by serum antibodies upon the target cells in the presence of active complement. A test is positive when the uptake of 3HU in a pot containing the precipitate of autologous and/or homologous action is at least 20 per cent less than the average pulses for the control pots. Tumor cell suspensions from 44 melanoma patients were tested against their own sera, against the sera from other melanoma patients and against sera from normal healthy individuals. Autologous cytotoxic effect was recorded in 11 cases (approximately 30 per cent of the cases). Homologous positivity was displayed in 5 cases. Cytotoxic action, being quantitatively determined, diminished with the spread of the disease.
Relationship between Nutritional Status and Tumor Growth in Humans
Authors: Bozzetti Federico , Boracchi Patrizia , Costa Aurora , Cozzaglio Luca , Battista Antonello , Giori Alberto , La Monica Gaudenzio , Silvestrini Rosella 
Published: April 2018

Aims and background There is considerable evidence from studies on tumor-bearing animals that nutritional support aimed at maintaining a good nutritional status can indeed promote tumor growth. Experience in humans, however, is scanty and controversial, this issue never having been extensively investigated. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether there exists a relationship between nutritional status and tumor growth in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The hypothesis behind it was that if it is true than an abundant availability of substrates promotes tumoral growth, then the better the nutritional status the higher the tumor cell proliferation. Methods Two hundred and forty six adult patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were characterized according to nutritional status (percent of weight loss as compared to usual body weight, serum albumin, serum cholinesterase, number of lymphocytes) and rate of incorporation of 3H thymidine labelling index in the tumor tissue. The values of serum albumin, serum cholinesterase and lymphocytes were subdivided into three classes adopting as cut-off points the tertile values of their distribution, while weight loss was scored as a “no” and a “yes”. The association between nutritional parameters and labelling index was evaluated by a univariate analysis (X2 test and Mantel-Haenszel X2 test and the odds ratio) and by a logistic multiple regression model. Results Results of the univariate analysis show a statistically significant association between “poor” nutritional status (depressed nutritional indexes) and “high” labelling index (increased tumoural growth), while the multiple regression analysis found that the only significant association was that between low serum cholinesterase and high labelling index. Conclusions These data demonstrate for the first time in a large series of patients that maintenance of a good nutritional status does not have any deleterious effect on the tumor growth.
The Role of Intraoperative Therapy by Electron Beam and Combination of Adjuvant Chemotherapy and External Radiotherapy in Carcinoma of the Pancreas
Authors: Fossati Vittorio , Cattaneo Giovanni Mauro , Zerbi Alessandro , Galli Laura , Bordogna Gianni , Reni Michele , Parolini Danilo , Carlucci Michele , Bissi Amleto , Staudacher Carlo , Di Carlo Valerio , Calandrino Riccardo 
Published: April 2018

Aims and background In the treatment of pancreatic carcinomas, one modality is intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT). A study was carried out to assess the feasibility of IORT alone or in a multimodality approach with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and external radiotherapy and to compare local control and survival of patients. Another objective of this retrospective study was to verify prognostic factors in resected patients treated with IORT. Methods From January 1985 through September 1992, 54 adenocarcinomas of the pancreas (unresectable and resected patients) were treated with IORT by electron beam at the San Raffaele Hospital and then analyzed. Comparison was also carried out between IORT-treated resected patients and a non-randomized control group of resected patients treated without IORT in the same period. Results In unresectable patients treated by laparotomy bypass and IORT, overall median survival was 6 months and 8 months in non-metastatic patients. Relief of severe pain present in 14 patients was observed in 85% within 12 days of IORT. As regards resected patients, the most important finding was that significantly better local control resulted from IORT. In fact, overall, local relapses were 25% in the IORT group and 55.8% in the non-IORT group (control group); instead, survival of the IORT group was not significantly longer than that of the control group. From a statistical analysis of resected patients treated with IORT and performed on prognostic factors on the basis of available data, survival was significantly influenced by tumor pathologic grading and diameter; postoperative adjuvant therapy was not a significant prognosis factor. Conclusions IORT has a role in local control of unresectable pancreatic carcinomas and in control of resultant severe pain. In resected patients, IORT is effective in decreasing local recurrences but has little impact on survival. To obtain more satisfactory results, new and more effective adjuvant therapies and better abdominal prophylaxis should be tested.
Intensive Weekly Chemotherapy for Elderly Gastric Cancer Patients, Using 5-Fluorouracil, Cisplatin, Epi-Doxorubicin, 6S-Leucovorin and Glutathione with the Support of G-CSF
Authors: Cascinu Stefano , Catalano Giuseppina 
Published: April 2018

Aims and background Elderly patients constitute the largest group of advanced gastric cancer patients. Since there is a widespread misconception that the elderly are poorly tolerant of chemotherapy, most of them are untreated or receive a less aggressive but also less efficacious chemotherapy. However, because tolerance and response to cancer seem to vary more with physiologic age than chronologic age, we evaluated the feasibility and activity of an intensive weekly chemotherapy in elderly gastric cancer patients. Methods 23 advanced gastric cancer patients (13 males and 10 females), older than 70 years, received weekly: cisplatin, 40 mg/m2 iv; epi-doxorubicin, 35 mg/m2 iv; 6S-leucovorin, 250 mg/m2 iv; 5-fluorouracil, 500 mg/m2 iv; and glutathione, 1.5 g/m2 G-CSF, at the dose of 5 μg/kg, was administered daily from the day after to the day before each chemotherapy administration. Results Toxicity was mild. The most common adverse effects were leukopenia (grade 3 in 2 patients); thrombocytopenia (grade 3 in 1 patient) and anemia (grade 3 in 3 patients). Five patients (20%) achieved a complete response and 9 (39%) a partial response, resulting in an overall response rate of 59% (95% CI, 40% to 78%). The median survival time was 13 months for all the patients and 15 months for patients with objective responses. Conclusions This regimen appears feasible also in elderly gastric cancer patients and, because of its activity, suitable for further studies.
Carboplatin and Etoposide in Previously Treated Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Colucci Giuseppe , Maiello Evaristo , Giuliani Francesco , Cifarelli Rosaria Alba , Giotta Francesco 
Published: April 2018

Aims and background Salvage treatment of advanced colorectal cancer patients has not been well defined as yet, and new potentially active drugs or combinations should be evaluated for these situations. Methods From February 1993 to September 1993, the combination of carboplatin (CBDCA) and etoposide (VP-16), both as 100 mg/m2 for three consecutive days, was administered to 17 colorectal cancer patients who had been previously subjected to FA-FU combination chemotherapy. The CBDCA+VP-16 treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. A total of 58 cycles was administered, and 16 patients were evaluable for response. Results There was no objective response, but 2 stable diseases and 14 progressive diseases were observed. Toxicity was mild, with no WHO 3–4 grade toxicity. Conclusion this combination chemotherapy was judged ineffective for pretreated colorectal cancer patients.
Lonidamine plus Cyclophosphamide in the Treatment of Adanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Elderly: A Phase II Study
Authors: Salvati Franco , Antilli Antonio , Cruciani Anna Rita , Lombardi Alessandra , Mugnaini Luigi , Nunziati Francesco , Perrone Nicola , Portalone Luigi , Signora Mauro 
Published: April 2018

Aim and background The aim of this Phase II trial was to verify the therapeutic activity and tolerability of chemotherapy with lonidamine (LND) plus cyclophosphamide (CTX) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the elderly. The rationale of the combination is reported. CTX showed mild toxicity, with a 12% objective response (OR) in monochemotherapy; LND potentiated the in vitro antiproliferative activity of alkylating agents, mainly CTX, without increasing myelotoxicity, particularly important in the elderly. Methods The schedule consisted of CTX, 600 mg/m2/i.v. on day 1 every 21 days for 6 cycles; LND, 450 mg/die/p.o. from day 1 to progression. Results Between November 1990 and April 1991, 41 patients with stage III–IV NSCLC were enrolled; 35 were assessable for response. Median age was 73 years (range, 71–79 years); 13 patients (32%) presented stage III A, 20 (49%) stage III b, and 8 (19%) stage IV disease. Cardiovascular conditions and/or chronic respiratory failure contraindicated surgical treatment in stage III A patients. Of enrolled patients, 14.6% experienced PR, 48.8% SD and 14.6% dropped out of the study. Median time to progression was 4 months (range, 2–9 months) and median survival 9 months (range 3–45 months). No patient showed WHO grade IV LND-related toxicity. In 1 patient (2.5%), LND was discontinued after 5 therapy cycles due to WHO grade III myalgia; in 80% of patients, LND oral dosage was reduced to 300 mg/day due to WHO grade II myalgia, and 20% of patients completed treatment with the full dose. Conclusions CTX plus LND can be considered a well tolerated therapeutic approach in the elderly with NSCLC with good PS and good liver, renal and cardiac conditions, but 14.6% PR is a slightly better result as compared with 12% PR obtainable with CTX alone as reported in the literature, even though most patients presented with advanced disease and no specific toxic effect was observed. Therefore, a confirmatory randomized trial (CTX vs CTS plus LND) would hardly be useful.