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A Molino

Publications and source records attributed to A Molino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Removal of chromium ions from [corrected] aqueous solutions by adsorption on activated carbon and char.

Adsorption isotherms of chromium ions in aqueous solution have been experimentally measured on a granular activated carbon (GAC) and on a char of South African coal (CSAC). Experimental results show that the adsorption capacity for the GAC strongly depends on solution pH and salinity, with maximum values around 7mg/g at neutral pH and low salinity levels. On the contrary, the CSAC shows a smaller adsorption capacity, near 0.3mg/g, which slightly decreases by increasing pH and salinity levels. Chromium adsorption mainly depends on the availability of chromium ions in solution and on the occurrence of redox reactions between the surface groups and the Cr(VI) which lead to the formation of Cr(III). The reduction of Cr(VI) and the following sorption of Cr(III) cations appears as the leading mechanism for chromium uptake on the CSAC. A similar behaviour can be observed for the GAC at pH below 3. On the contrary, at pH>7, the multicomponent competitive adsorption of Cr(VI), OH(-) and Cl(-) has to be considered.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2005

Capture of mercury ions by natural and industrial materials.

In this paper the technical feasibility of various adsorbents for mercury removal from contaminated waters has been studied. Adsorption isotherms of mercury ions in aqueous solution have been experimentally measured on a granular activated carbon (Aquacarb 207EA), a char, a pozzolana and a yellow tuff. The experimental evidences show that the mercury capture capacity of yellow tuff and char is of few tenths of milligrams per gram of sorbent while for the pozzolana and the activated carbon this value is of the order of 1mg/g of sorbent. Moreover, for a mercury concentration as high as 3000 microg/l the pozzolana shows the highest adsorption capacity. This result seems to be quite interesting, especially in consideration of the extremely low cost of this natural sorbent.

Carbon↗
PubMed2004

Multicentric phase II trial of gemcitabine plus epirubicin plus paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer.

In this phase II, multicentre trial, patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) were treated with a combination of gemcitabine, epirubicin and paclitaxel (GET). The primary objective of this study was to determine the tolerability and activity in terms of complete responce (CR) and overall response rate of the GET combination in this patient population. Patients with no prior treatment for MBC, and at least one bidimensionally measurable lesion received gemcitabine 1000 mg m(-2) intravenously (i.v.) over 30 min on days 1 and 4, followed by epirubicin i.v. at 90 mg m(-2) on day 1, and paclitaxel 175 mg m(-2) over 3 h on day 1, every 21 days, up to eight courses. From May 1999 to June 2000, 48 patients were enrolled from seven Italian institutions. A total of 297 chemotherapy courses were administered with a median of six cycles patient(-1) (range 1-8). Seven patients (15%) obtained CR and 27 patients (56%) had partial responce, for an overall response rate of 71% (95% CI: 58.3-83.7). After a median follow-up of 23.7 months (range 7.0-34.4), median progression-free survival was 10.5 months (95% CI: 9.2-11.7), and median overall survival 25.9 months. The main haematological toxicity consisted of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia that occurred in 62% of cycles (22% grade 4 and 40% grade 3). The GET combination is active and well tolerated as first-line chemotherapy for MBC.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Long nocturnal dialysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The continuous growth of the dialysis pool in our unit induced us to organize a third long nocturnal dialysis (LND) session, considering the excellent survival and rehabilitation results reported with this method. This paper analyzes the results and assesses the role of LND among the different dialytic treatment options. METHODS: Out of 18 patients on LND, 13 (12 males and 1 female, mean age 52 +/- 13 years, time on dialysis 21.8 +/- 23.8 months) with >6 months' experience were studied, and 9 underwent a further metabolic evaluation. LND was performed using 1- to 1.4-m(2) Hemophan membranes, bicarbonate buffer, 200-250 ml/min blood flow, and 300-500 ml/min dialysate flow, 8 h three times a week. Kt/V and protein catabolic rate (3-point classic urea kinetics), postdialytic weight, serum albumin, total protein, hemoglobin, Ca(2+), phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone, bioimpedance body water, blood pressure, and drug use (antihypertensives, phosphate binders, erythropoietin, vitamin D, hypnotics) were evaluated in each patient during hemodialysis and LND. In the metabolic study (done twice), sodium (compared with the Kimura model), potassium, phosphate, and urea were analyzed in blood and inlet and outlet dialysate after 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h. RESULTS: The mortality was low (1 death every 247 patient-months). After 19 +/- 8.1 months of LND, the postdialytic weight rose from 68.5 +/- 9.6 to 70.8 +/- 10.7 kg (p < or = 0.01), and the hemoglobin concentration rose from 10.8 +/- 2.2 to 11.8 +/- 1.8 g/dl (p < or = 0.05); phosphate dropped from 5.6 +/- 2.0 to 4.4 +/- 1.3 mg/ dl (p < or = 0.01) and the systolic blood pressure from 152 +/- 15 to 143 +/- 19 mm Hg (p < or = 0.05). In the metabolic study, the sodium profile was significantly lower during the last 4 h than in the Kimura model. The potassium concentration, stable between 4 and 6 h, rose against the gradient during the last 2-hour period. The behavior of sodium and potassium during the last part of the dialysis session can be taken to indicate exhaustion of the sodium/potassium pump. Phosphate showed a gradual reduction with no intradialytic and only a moderate postdialytic rebound. The postdialytic urea rebound was 23.4%. CONCLUSIONS: LND is a useful additional tool for nephrologists in treating chronic renal failure, it is easy to organize, and it shows overall good results. Together with other dialysis methods, this schedule permits individualized treatment for each uremic patient.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

A phase II study of induction chemotherapy with gemcitabine (G) and cisplatin (P) in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: interim analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gemcitabine-cisplatin (GP) combination is one of the most active and well tolerated regimens in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the activity and toxicity of the GP regimen as a 21-day schedule in patients (pts) with stage IIIAN2-IIIB NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From October 1997 to July 2000, 47 pts entered the study: 43 were eligible (40 men and three women); median age was 61 years (range 45-73); ECOG PS 0-1; histology was squamous (20 pts), adenocarcinoma (12 pts), large cell (five pts), and undifferentiated (six pts); stage was IIIAN2 (14 pts, 32.56%), and IIIB (29 pts, 67.44%). Malignant pleural effusion or superior vena cava syndrome was criteria of exclusion. Induction treatment consisted of three cycles of GP (G 1250 mg/m(2) i.v. on days 1 and 8, and P 100 mg/m(2) on day 8 every 3 weeks). Responding and stable pts underwent surgery (S) and/or radiotherapy (RT). RESULTS: Following a minimum of two cycles, 39 pts were evaluable for response and 42 for toxicity. Two pts had complete responses (CR; 5.2%), 24 had partial response (PR; 61.5%), eight had stable disease (SD; 20.5%), and five had progressive disease (PRO; 12.8%). WHO grades 3 and 4 anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in two, four and two pts, respectively; non-haematological toxicity was moderate. After induction, stable and responding pts received either RT (18 pts) or S+RT (13 pts). Among the 16 resected pts, a radical complete resection was possible in 13 cases (81.3%), whereas tumour down-staging was observed in nine pts (56.2%). CONCLUSION: GP, as a 3-week neoadjuvant schedule, appears a safe and active regimen.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

The gemcitabine/epirubicin/paclitaxel trials in advanced breast cancer.

Numerous trials have shown that the pharmacokinetic interferences of epirubicin (Ellence)/paclitaxel (Taxol) combinations produce less pharmacodynamic effect than doxorubicin/paclitaxel regimens. Paclitaxel is more easily combined when infused over 3 (as compared to 24) hours; the administration of optimal doses of both agents is important. Based on these findings, a phase II study was performed to evaluate the feasibility and activity of the combination of gemcitabine (Gemzar), epirubicin, and paclitaxel as first-line therapy in advanced breast cancer. Patients received gemcitabine at 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 4, plus epirubicin at 90 mg/m2 on day 1, plus paclitaxel at 175 mg/m2/d on day 1 every 21 days. After six courses, patients less than 60 years old and in complete or partial remission or stable disease were treated with high-dose chemotherapy as consolidation treatment. The overall response rate was 92%, with 31% complete responses; 25 patients received high-dose chemotherapy, achieving a final overall response rate of 97%, with 47% complete responses. At a median follow-up of 25 months, median progression-free survival is 21 months. Grade 4 neutropenia was observed in 64% of patients. Other hematologic toxicities were mild. Mild to moderate peripheral neuropathy was experienced by 39% of patients; grade 2 or 3 mucositis occurred in 25% and 17% of patients, respectively. Based on these results, a multicenter trial has been started in seven Italian centers to confirm the feasibility of this regimen.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2001

Familial outbreak of disseminated multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and meningitis.

Rapidly progressive multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is well documented in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive subjects, but it is not fully recognised in HIV-negative subjects in the familial environment. We report three cases of MDR-TB in three young HIV-negative subjects from the same family. All the patients showed signs of meningitis during the course of their disease, and in two cases a resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated in cerebrospinal fluid. Two of the three subjects died from neurological complications; the other was successful treated utilising both systemic and intrathecal therapy for tuberculous meningitis. By a retrospective analysis of DNA obtained from Lowenstein-Jensen cultures, the strains were confirmed as M. tuberculosis resistant to rifampicin and isoniazid, and were closely related in the two cases where specimens were available for analysis. The resistance was acquired in two patients initially infected with a susceptible strain; in the other patient, the resistance was present on the first sensitivity test for which results were available. This report demonstrates the high risk of fatality from MDR-TB for HIV-negative subjects in the absence of reliable early diagnostic and preventive tools. It also reinforces the concept that genetic susceptibility to M. tuberculosis may be an important factor in the clinical presentation and outcome of MDR-TB.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Neoadjuvant high dose chemotherapy plus peripheral blood progenitor cells in inflammatory breast cancer: a multicenter phase II pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With the introduction of combined modality therapy, approximately 30% of patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) are alive and free of disease at 5 years, but the lack of control of systemic disease continues to be the main reason for treatment failure. The importance of the response to primary chemotherapy and, in particular, complete tumor regression after primary chemotherapy have previously been described to be among the most reliable prognostic factors along with the dose intensity of doxorubicin. DESIGN AND METHODS: To evaluate pathologic response rate and toxicity of neoadjuvant high dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) support in patients affected by IBC, 21 patients were enrolled in a study in which it was planned that they would receive 4 courses of epirubicin 150 mg/m(2) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) as induction and mobilizing chemotherapy. Patients with non-progressive disease were intended to receive 2 consecutive courses of a combination of high doses of mitoxantrone 40 mg/m(2) , thiotepa 500 mg/m(2) and cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg as a conditioning regimen. RESULTS: PBPC collection was successful in 20/21 patients. Twelve patients received a single course of HDCT, whereas 7/20 patients underwent a double procedure. At a median follow up of 48 months, 20/21 patients were evaluable for toxicity and 19/21 for response. At surgery 4/19 patients (21%) had no evidence of viable tumor cells in the breast and in axillary nodes, while 4 (21%) and 11 patients (58%) had microscopic and macroscopic disease, respectively. Eight patients have relapsed (35%) so far at a median of 16 months (9-54) from diagnosis. Eleven patients remain alive without evidence of disease. Five out of 20 patients experienced severe cardiotoxicity with congestive heart failure (CHF) which was responsible for the only treatment-related death. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: This neoadjuvant HDCT regimen seems to be very effective in terms of objective responses, but we observed a high rate of cardiotoxicity and only a few patients were able to receive the two planned courses of high dose chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Data from the Aosta Valley dialysis and transplant regional registry].

BACKGROUND: The need of collecting data concerning uremic local population requested by EDTA registry and, more recently, by the Italian dialysis and transplant registry (RIDT) has led different Italian regions to organize structures able to give such clinical and epidemiological informations. METHODS: In Aosta Valley (where live nearly 120.000 people) a data collection has been activated since 1981 on paper support and since 1995 (with data from December 1994) on computer registry. If compared to more experienced Italian structures, such as Piedmont and Lombardy regional registries, RDTVA has the advantage of receiving data from a unique Dialysis centre (composed by a hospital area and a limited care centre). RESULTS: During these years, according to what happened in the rest of Italy, in Aosta Valley the uremic population increased with a per million population (pmp) rate prevalence from 125 patients in 1981 to almost 1000 in 1998. Also the incidence showed a similar trend, with 110 patients/pmp in 1981-82 and 160 in 1997. The gross mortality rate concerning years 1995-98 was about 12%, the main death causes being cardiovascular events (60%), similarly to national data. CONCLUSIONS: Even with the limits deriving from small numbers, RDTVA, because of its favourable position, can play the role of epidemiological observatory for uremic diseases and contribute to future health policy.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Framing of outcome and probability of recurrence: breast cancer patients' choice of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in hypothetical patient scenarios.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of framing of outcome and probabilities of cancer occurrence on the treatment preference which breast cancer patients indicate for hypothetical patient scenarios. METHODS: A modified version of the Decision Board Instrument (Levine et al. 1992) was administered to 35 breast cancer patients with past ACT experience. Patients expressed their choice regarding ACT for six scenarios which were characterized by either negative or positive framing of outcome and by one of the three levels of probability of recurrence (high, medium, low). RESULTS: The framing had no influence on ACT choices over all three probability levels. The majority chose ACT for high and medium risk and one third switched from ACT to No ACT in the low-risk condition. This switch was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Hypothetical treatment decisions against ACT occur only when the probability of recurrence is low and the benefit of ACT is small. This finding for patients with past experience of ACT is similar to those reported for other oncological patient groups still in treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Comparative study of clinical, pathological and biological characteristics of symptomatic versus asymptomatic breast cancers.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that mammographic screening reduces breast cancer mortality. One possible explanation for this effect is that screening makes it possible to detect smaller breast cancers with fewer involved nodes, but another hypothesis is that some screening-detected tumors are in a pathologically and biologically different phase of evolution from those that are detected clinically. The aim of the present study was to compare the biological, pathological and clinical characteristics of symptomatic vs. asymptomatic breast cancers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study considers a series of 1916 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for stage I and II infiltrating breast cancer at Verona hospitals after having undergone ultrasound and mammography (at least one of which was positive). They were divided into two groups on the basis of why they decided to undergo the imaging examinations: group A refers to the 1247 patients with a palpable lump, and group B to the 616 who were asymptomatic. RESULTS: The patients in group A were older, and had larger tumors and a higher percentage of positive nodes than those in group B; they also had significantly higher grade tumors, higher Ki-67 levels, and a higher percentage of ER and PgR negative and c-erbB-2 positive tumors (all of the P-values were significant). A logistic regression analysis adjusted for tumor diameter and age showed a reduction in the significance of each of the considered variables, but all of them remained significantly associated with the modality of diagnosis except ER, PgR and c-erbB-2. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that asymptomatic tumors are biologically different from their clinically presenting counterparts, thus confirming the hypothesis that progression towards greater malignancy may occur during the natural history of breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Isolated acute renal failure secondary to sarcoidosis. Apropos of a case].

A 59-years-old male patient was admitted to our Service because of acute renal failure with maintained diuresis (creatinine at admittance 6.2 mg/dl), preceded by malaise and weight loss. Clinical examination was normal and no investigation lead to a sure differential diagnosis of acute renal failure. The only abnormal laboratory investigations were: marked hypercalcaemia (12.7 mg/dl), slightly depressed parathormone (10 pg/ml) and anemia (Hb 11.2 g/dl). Also instrumental investigations performed were inexpressive. The abrupt appearance of an unilateral 7th cranial nerve paralysis lead to start a steroid therapy followed, in some days, by the normalization of calcium level and by a partial improvement of renal function. A renal biopsy was finally performed which permitted the diagnosis of interstitial granulomatous nephritis according to a sarcoidosis disease. Steroid therapy was continued allowing to a progressive, although not complete, recovery of renal function. The case peculiarity consists of isolated renal lesions with a severe expression of renal disease. The absence of classical disease criteria (pulmonary involvement firstly), in our case total body Gallium-67 scintigraphy was normal, should not exclude the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The authors underline the importance of renal biopsy in detecting interstitial renal lesions potentially leading to uremia.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1999

Bone marrow micrometastases in breast cancer patients.

The presence of epithelial cells in bone marrow may be a prognostic factor in breast cancer, and so we evaluated their evolution in treated and untreated patients. A first bone marrow aspirate was obtained from 125 stage I/II breast cancer patients at diagnosis and repeated every 6-8 months; the samples were processed for leukocyte separation, used to prepare cytospin slides, stained with a pool of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) recognising epithelial antigens, and immunocytochemically processed. The median follow-up was 48 months (range 15-82); 23 patients relapsed, and 14 died. MoAb positive cells were observed in 31.2% of first, 24.3% of second, and 27.8% of third aspirates. In 68/100 pairs of successive aspirates, bone marrow status remained unchanged; in 20 it became negative, and in 12 positive (not statistically significant even after adjusting for adjuvant therapy). An analysis based on Mantel and Byar's approach to time-dependent covariates using all 225 aspirates found no statistically significant prognostic difference between the patients with negative and positive bone marrow. Bone marrow status changed over time in about 1/3 of the patients; adjuvant therapy did not affect the probability of its becoming negative or positive. No significant association was found between bone marrow evolution and relapse or death, but the relatively high probability of a change in status over time cannot exclude the possibility that a positive aspirate during the course of breast cancer may be a negative prognostic factor.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1999

Measurement of vascular access recirculation unaffected by cardiopulmonary recirculation: evaluation of an ultrasound method.

Recently developed devices provide detection of access recirculation (AR) and cardiopulmonary recirculation (CPR) by optical, thermal, conducimetrical, and ultrasound methods (USM). We evaluated the last one both in vitro reproducing AR by a bypass pump and in vivo. In vitro, the USM sensitivity was about 5%. In vivo, the USM was compared with the traditional urea method (UM) in 69 patients. 8.7% of the cases resulted positive by both UM and USM. One case was USM positive and UM negative. The UM sensitivity threshold was 6-10%. The accuracy (in vitro) and the repeatability (in vivo) of the USM were satisfactory. USM clearly distinguished AR from CPR. In conclusion, AR determination by USM, avoiding misleading interferences with CPR, is a rapid, easy, and noninvasive method to routinely exclude a potential cause of reduced dialytic efficiency.

Blood Vessels↗
PubMed1999

Prospective randomized trial of docetaxel versus mitomycin plus vinblastine in patients with metastatic breast cancer progressing despite previous anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. 304 Study Group.

PURPOSE: This phase III study compared docetaxel with mitomycin plus vinblastine (MV) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) progressing despite previous anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (n=392) were randomized to receive either docetaxel 100 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) every 3 weeks (n=203) or mitomycin 12 mg/m2 i.v. every 6 weeks plus vinblastine 6 mg/m2 i.v. every 3 weeks (n=189), for a maximum of 10 3-week cycles. RESULTS: In an intention-to-treat analysis, docetaxel produced significantly higher response rates than MV overall (30.0% v 11.6%; P < .0001), as well as in patients with visceral involvement (30% v 11%), liver metastases (33% v 7%), or resistance to previous anthracycline agents (30% v 7%). Median time to progression (TTP) and overall survival were significantly longer with docetaxel than MV (19 v 1 weeks, P=.001, and 1 1.4 v 8.7 months, P=.0097, respectively). Neutropenia grade 3/4 was more frequent with docetaxel (93.1 % v62.5%; P < .05); thrombocytopenia grade 3/4 was more frequent with MV (12.0% v 4.1%; P < .05). Severe acute or chronic nonhematologic adverse events were infrequent in both groups. Withdrawal rates because of adverse events (MV, 10.1%; docetaxel, 13.8%) or toxic death (MV, 1.6%; docetaxel, 2.0%) were similar in both groups. Quality-of-life analysis was limited by a number of factors, but results were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Docetaxel is significantly superior to MV in terms of response, TTP, and survival. The safety profiles of both therapies are manageable and tolerable. Docetaxel represents a clear treatment option for patients with MBC progressing despite previous anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Emergency and temporary vascular access].

The vascular access in emergency represents a basic need for every nephrologist in order to realize an extracorporeal circuit necessary to perform hemodialysis and many other derived therapies. In the eighties a progressive abandonment of the external shunt was noted with a concomitant increase of vena cava catheterization simpler to perform, especially under echographic control, and made increasingly possible by continuous technological improvements. The femoral access is utilized in about 30% of cases, especially in critically ill patients, due to easy performing procedures and few complications. Subclavian vein is abandoned as a first choice in favour of the jugular vein due to frequent and severe early complications and to thrombo-stenotic lesions observed in about 50% of catheterizations. Prevention and rapid treatment of the complications and careful management have an important role in obtaining a prolonged catheter survival. Even if, when possible, the classical arterio-venous fistula remains the ideal solution, at least in particular patient categories a jugular vein utilization as permanent access is justified.

Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical↗