Acquired hemophilia in a patient affected by acute myeloid leukemia.
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
Biomedical subjects
A Porcu
Publications and source records attributed to A Porcu.
Safety of electronic molecular resonance adenoidectomy.
Adenoidectomy is one of the most frequent operations in children. In order to reduce hospital stay costs, today, this procedure is performed as day surgery. Even though adenoidectomy is not considered risky, some minor complications may occur, the most important being bleeding (0.5-8% incidence). The surgical technique used can influence considerably postoperative pain and time to recovery. This aspect is essential in the management of day surgery patients, for whom the need of safe and rapid maneuvers associated with early recovery determines the choice of the surgical procedure. Recently, we developed a surgical technique based on the use of an electronic molecular resonance tool associated with bendable suction electrocautery. This study was carried out on 600 patients, divided into two groups, the first undergoing ablation using the molecular resonance tool and the second undergoing curette adenoidectomy. The two groups were homogeneous for age, sex, surgical indications, and grade of adenoid hypertrophy. The following parameters were considered: duration of surgery, importance of intraoperative bleeding, time to cicatrization, incidence of bleeding complications. Duration of surgery and intra- and postoperative bleeding were much lower in the first group than in the group undergoing traditional adenoidectomy. In addition, rhinopharyngeal complete cicatrization, defined as absolute absence of pseudomembrane, was much quicker in the first group, as assessed by postoperative endoscopy. Another major advantage offered by the molecular resonance tool is the accuracy of surgery performed under visual control in a practically bloodless field. To sum up, this method, thanks to its technical features and safety, is particularly indicated in children and in patients with coagulation disorders.
Adenoidectomy↗
The role of (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin pinhole-SPECT in breast cancer non palpable axillary lymph node metastases detection.
AIM: We evaluated the usefulness of (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin axillary pinhole (P)-SPECT in breast cancer (BC) non palpable axillary lymph node metastasis detection compared with conventional planar and SPECT scintimammography. METHODS: We studied prospectively 188 consecutive patients with suspected primary BC, negative at axillary clinical examination. Ten minutes after 740 MBq (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin injection, planar and SPECT scintimammography were acquired, followed by axillary P-SPECT imaging. RESULTS: At histology, 12 patients had benign mammary lesions and 176 had BC. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was performed in all BC patients, bilaterally in 3 cases: 74/179 axillae had metastases. P-SPECT showed a significantly higher overall sensitivity than SPECT and planar (93.2% vs 85.1% and 36.5%, respectively; p<0.05 and p<0.0005, respectively) and was false negative in 5 patients with 1 metastatic node each, micrometastatic in 4/5 cases; SPECT and planar were also false negative in these 5 cases and in 6 and in 42 further cases, respectively. P-SPECT added important prognostic information by distinguishing single from multiple and pound 3 from >3 nodes; only P-SPECT defined the exact number of nodes in 15/25 patients with 2-4 nodes. P-SPECT showed the highest accuracy and NPV: 92.7% and 95%, respectively (SPECT 90.5% and 90%, respectively; planar 73.2% and 68.9%, respectively). CONCLUSION: (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin axillary P-SPECT appears highly accurate in BC non palpable axillary lymph node metastasis detection and significantly more sensitive than both planar and SPECT, its few false negative results predominantly concerning micrometastases; moreover, only P-SPECT gave additional important prognostic information. Given its very high NPV, P-SPECT could also be used to better select patients who might avoid ALND.
Adult↗
Acute mastoiditis: a 10 year retrospective study.
This retrospective study reviews our experience in the management of acute otomastoiditis over 10 years. During the study period we identified 40 cases in children aged 3 months-15 years with a peak incidence in the second year of life. Sixty per cent of them had a history of acute otitis media (AOM). All the children were already receiving oral antibiotic therapy. Otalgia, fever, poor feeding and vomiting were the most common symptoms, all the children had evidence of retroauricolar inflammation. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to support the diagnosis and to evaluate possible complications. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common isolated bacterium. All the patients received intravenous antibiotics, 65% of children received only medical treatment, 35% also underwent surgical intervention. Mean length of hospital stay was 12.3 days. Cholesteathoma was diagnosed in one child. We conclude from our study that acute otomastoiditis is a disease mainly affecting young children, that develops from AOM resistant to oral antibiotics. Adequate initial management always requires intravenous antibiotics, conservative surgical treatment with miryngotomy is appropriate in children not responding within 48 h from beginning of therapy. Mastoidectomy should be performed in all the patients with acute coalescent mastoiditis or in case of evidence of intracranial complications.
Acute Disease↗
(99)mTc-tetrofosmin SPET in the detection of both primary breast cancer and axillary lymph node metastasis.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin single-photon emission tomography (SPET) in the detection of both primary breast cancer and axillary lymph node metastasis. We studied 192 consecutive patients in whom primary breast cancer was suspected on the basis of mammography and/or physical examination. After intravenous injection of 740 MBq (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin, both planar and SPET scintimammography was performed in all patients using a rectangular dual-head gamma camera equipped with low-energy, high-resolution, parallel-hole collimators. In 175 patients with breast cancer at histology, the per-lesion overall sensitivity of SPET and planar imaging for the detection of breast cancer was 95.8% and 75.9% (P<0.0005), respectively. The sensitivity of SPET and planar imaging was, respectively, 96.5% and 79.5% in palpable (P<0.0005) and 90% and 45% in non-palpable lesions (P<0.01). With regard to lesion size, the sensitivity of SPET and planar imaging was, respectively, 90.5% and 45.2% in lesions < or =10 mm ( P<0.0005), 95.3% and 81.4% in lesions of 11-20 mm (P<0.005), 100% and 84.6% in lesions of 21-30 mm (P<0.05) and 100% and 95.8% in lesions >30 mm (P>0.05). In the remaining 17 patients with benign mammary lesions at histology, per-lesion overall specificity of SPET and planar imaging was 76.2% and 85.7% (P>0.05), respectively. Neither SPET nor planar imaging showed false-positive results in non-palpable lesions or in those < or =10 mm. In 173 breast cancer patients submitted to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), per-axilla overall sensitivity of SPET and planar imaging in the detection of axillary lymph node metastasis was 93% and 52.3% ( P<0.0005), respectively. The sensitivity of SPET and planar imaging was, respectively, 100% and 82.6% in palpable nodes (P>0.05), 90.5% and 41.3% in non-palpable nodes (P<0.0005), 92.8% and 35.7% in the presence of < or =3 nodes ( P<0.0005) and 93.2% and 68.2% in the presence of >3 nodes (P<0.005). The specificity of SPET and planar imaging was 91% and 100% (P<0.05), respectively. (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin SPET appears to be a reliable method for the detection of both primary BC and axillary lymph node metastasis, and its diagnostic accuracy exceeds that of (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin planar scintimammography. The use of SPET is particularly important in the identification of small non-palpable primary carcinomas and metastatic axillae with < or =3 non-palpable lymph nodes. More extensive use of SPET appears warranted in the management of breast cancer patients.
Axilla↗
99mTc-Tetrofosmin pinhole-SPECT (P-SPECT) and radioguided sentinel node (SN) biopsy and in breast cancer axillary lymph node staging.
We compared 99mTc-Tetrofosmin P-SPECT with radioguided SN biopsy in 101 T1/T2 BC pts to predict axillary lymph node status. The day before surgery all pts underwent lymphoscintigraphy (LS) to mark the SN, following subdermal injection of 99mTc-colloidal sulphur surrounding the breast lesion. LS was combined with pre and intraoperative gamma probe. Previously, all pts had also undergone P-SPECT. ALND was performed in all cases. The SN(s) was detected in 97/101 cases (96%) by LS and gamma probe; in the 4 missed cases P-SPECT predicted lymph node status. In the 97 comparable cases, radioguided SN biopsy showed a slightly higher accuracy than P-SPECT (94.8% vs 93.8%), but a higher false-negative rate (14.3% vs 8.6%); P-SPECT had a higher NPV (95.2% vs 92.5%). The two procedures when combined achieved 100% accuracy. Radioguided SN biopsy alone had 100% accuracy only in pts with BC < 15 mm. P-SPECT had 3 false negative cases, 2 of which were micrometastatic SNs, and 3 false positives. P-SPECT identified 81.2% of cases with a single node, determined the exact number of nodes in 82.6% of cases with 1 to 3 node and correctly classified 93.7% of pts as having < or = 3 or > 3 metastatic nodes. Radioguided SN biopsy seems indicated in selected, early stage, small BC pts, while P-SPECT shows a high sensitivity independent of primary tumor size, giving additional important preoperative prognostic information. The two procedures combined provided a better axillary lymph node status prediction in T1/T2 carcinomas, and could thus improve ALND pt selection.
Adult↗
The role of 99mTc-tetrofosmin Pinhole-SPECT in breast cancer axillary lymph node staging.
The number of metastatic axillary nodes represents one of the most important prognostic factors in preoperative breast cancer patients. 99mTc-Tetrofosmin high resolution Pinhole (P)-SPECT was employed in 112 patients, 100 with breast cancer and 12 with benign mammary lesions, to ascertain axillary lymph node involvement. Axillary P-SPECT images were acquired utilizing specific software connected to a circular high resolution, single-head gamma camera equipped with a pinhole collimator with aperture size of 4.45 mm, rotating 180 degrees around the involved axilla. At the same time, patients also underwent conventional SPECT and planar acquisitions. Per-patient sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 93.6% for P-SPECT, 96.2% and 93.6% for SPECT and 56.6% and 100% for planar imaging, respectively. Moreover, P-SPECT detected more than 51% of lesions ascertained by histology, whereas SPECT and planar detected 32.6% and 20.3%, respectively. Only P-SPECT succeeded in identifying the exact number of metastatic axillary lesions in patients with multiple nodes; this procedure was able to correctly differentiate 88.67% of patients with 3 or less nodes from those with more than 3, thus giving important prognostic information. These data suggest 99mTc-Tetrofosmin P-SPECT is a reliable imaging method both for staging and prognostic purposes in breast cancer, and its routine use is recommended.
Adult↗
Metabolic and ultrastructural effects of cyclosporin A on pancreatic islets.
We investigated the effect of different doses of cyclosporin A (CyA) on glucose and insulin levels, as well as its residual effects on pancreatic islets ultrastructure after discontinuation of the drug. We studied four groups of Wistar rats. One control- (n = 5) and three experimental groups, n = 10 each, were treated with different doses of CyA i.m. for 14 days: group I, 5 mg/Kg; group II, 15 mg/Kg; and group III, 25 mg/Kg. Five animals of each group were sacrificed after 14 days, and the remaining five after 21 days to assess residual CyA effects. On the day of sacrifice, the rats underwent maltose absorption test, and glucose and insulin levels were measured. Pancreatic biopsies were obtained on day 21 to evaluate islets ultrastructure by electron microscopy. As a result, statistically significant, dose dependent (P < 0.05) increases in glucose and insulin levels were observed in CyA-treated groups. Groups II and III showed insulin levels significantly higher after fasting (P < 0.05) on day 14 comparing to the controls, while in groups I and II values returned to normal after CyA discontinuation. Group III showed persistently increased insulin levels on day 21. Pancreatic ultrastructural changes were observed only in group III. We can conclude that CyA effects on glucose and insulin levels were temporary and reversible at low doses. Ultrastructural changes in the pancreatic islets may occur with high doses of CyA.
Animals↗
Correlation between allograft survival and chimeric state after bone marrow infusion in rat small bowel transplantation.
Methods to enhance natural microchimerism, which occurs after any successful organ transplant, are currently explored using unmodified donor bone marrow both in experimental and in clinical trials. Because of the potential immunomodulatory effects of donor bone marrow cells, we performed this study to evaluate the effect of single and multiple donor-specific bone marrow infusions (DSBMI) on chimerism and small bowel allograft survival in a fully histoincompatible rat model. Forty-five male DA rats and 45 female Lewis rats were used as donors and recipients, respectively, for a heterotopic small bowel transplant. Animals were separated into 10 groups according to the number of bone marrow infusions and immunosuppressive protocol used. Control groups (groups 1 and 2) did not receive any bone marrow infusion, groups 3 and 4 received one infusion at day 0 (150 x 10(6) cells), groups 5 and 6 received two infusions at days 0 and 4 (75 x 10(6) cells each), groups 7 and 8 received two infusions at days 4 and 10 (75 x 10(6) cells each), and groups 9 and 10 received five infusions at days 4, 10, 15, 20 and 25 (30 x 10(6) cells each). Animals in groups 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 were immunosuppressed with 0.5 mg/kg FK506 while the remaining groups were immunosuppressed with 1 mg/kg FK506, from day 0 to 4 after transplant. Every 15 days, the chimeric state was determined by flow cytometry in order to detect cells expressing DA rat class I antigen, and small bowel biopsies were obtained from ileostomies. Animals in all groups showed minimal to moderate acute rejection at day 15 after transplant, however, vascular rejection (vasculitis, arteritis) was observed in only bone marrow groups (100% in 0.5 mg/kg and 42.1% in 1 mg/kg FK506 groups). On day 30, 58.3% of bone-marrow-infused animals and 66.6% of controls showed severe acute and early chronic rejection. The chimeric levels varied from 0 to 12% after transplant and were significantly higher in bone-marrow-infused groups compared with controls (p < 0.05). We conclude that modulation of immune response with short-course immunosuppression and a single or multiple DSBMI did not improve allograft or recipient survival. The inability to achieve a stable chimeric state did not allow us to determine the effect of chimerism on graft and recipient survival after small bowel transplantation.
Animals↗
C-reactive protein levels for diagnosis of Salmonella gastroenteritis.
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Acute Disease↗
Asymptomatic gastric perforation by a toothpick. A case report.
BACKGROUND: Many cases of gastric perforation with peritonitis, pylephlebitis, hepatic abscesses, or lethal bleeding, caused by ingested long and sharp objects, are reported in the literature. METHODS: During a right hepatectomy for a giant hemangioma, a wooden toothpick was found between the two layers of the hepatogastric ligament. It was not possible to find the passage of the foreign body through the gastric wall. The patient did not report any correlated symptoms. RESULTS: There was no sign of inflammation around the toothpick, which was enveloped in thin scar tissue. The removal of the foreign body was performed without complications. CONCLUSIONS: The peculiarity of our case is the total absence of symptoms during and after the perforation. Despite the benign evolution of our case, toothpicks must be considered as potentially dangerous, like other pointed objects, and, therefore, removed immediately.
Female↗
Tardive presentation of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung.
Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of the lung is a neonatal disease not often found after the first year of life and extremely rare in adults. Three cases of CCAM, one in a ten-year-old girl and two in adults, are reported. An understanding of this disease is important because, although relatively rare, it is one of the most frequent causes of neonatal respiratory distress. Greater awareness of the condition and its early detection would also reduce the number of cases found at a later age.
Adolescent↗
Congenital carotid-jugular fistula in an elderly patient.
Carotid-jugular arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are extremely rare with only 20 cases reported in the literature up to December 1996. The case of a 74-year-old man (the oldest reported in the literature) with abnormal communications between the external carotid artery and the internal jugular vein is reported. The condition was treated by platinum coil embolization via catheterization and by repeated operations to ligate the branches of the external carotid artery, besides removal of the tissue containing the fistula and ligation of the external carotid at its origin. The result was incomplete because about 6 months after the last operation the patient showed the same symptoms, although in a milder form. Until standard treatment is established, the appropriate technique should be decided on a patient-to-patient basis.
Aged↗
Parathyroid carcinoma and primary autoimmune hypothyroidism in an elderly woman.
Severe hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid carcinoma and Hashimoto's thyroiditis was observed in a 69-yr-old Sardinian woman. To our knowledge, this association has not been reported so far. Given the high prevalence of autoimmune disease in elderly women, a random occurrence of the two conditions could represents the most probable explanation.
Aged↗
Biliary, anorectal and esophageal atresia: a new entity?
A unique case of newborn biliary atresia associated with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula, ano-rectal atresia, Reovirus type 3 infection and an early switch of fetal into adult hemoglobin is reported. At birth, the infant, who had only one umbilical artery, was operated on by primary anastomosis of the esophagous, and descending colostomy. At six weeks of age the baby underwent a "Kasai hepatic portoenterostomy-Type I" for a EHBA Type III, Subtype C2, Subgroup O ("aplasia" of all extrahepatic biliary ducts, including the gallbladder). The absence of an artery branch for the left lobe of the liver was observed. Histologically, the liver showed a hyperplasia of the intrahepatic bile ducts due to persistence of an excess of embryologic bile ducts in "ductal plate malformation" (DPM). Specific Reovirus type 3 antibodies were found in both the mother's and baby's sera. In the postoperative period the infant developed rapid and severe liver failure and underwent a successful liver transplantation. Although in most cases EHBA appears to be a perinatal event due to a necro-inflammatory process of unknown etiology, cases associated with complex extrahepatic anomalies, may be due to different pathogenetic mechanisms supported by different causative agents operating very early in the fetal period. Viral infection seems to be the most reliable etiology.
Anus Diseases↗
Videothoracoscopic removal of a mediastinal teratoma.
We describe a case of a mature mediastinal teratoma resected by videothoracoscopy. This new procedure, now widely adopted for many intrathoracic conditions, has proved to be easy, safe, and advantageous also in the treatment of rare tumors, such as mature mediastinal teratomas. We recommend its use in all cases like the one described.
Female↗
A new approach to the problem of surgical wound infections in clean operations.
A study was made of the risk factors causing a high incidence of surgical wound infections in clean operations. Identification of these factors in the preoperative stage allows the patients to be divided into two categories: a high risk (about 10% of patients for surgery) and low risk. By giving antibiotic prophylaxis only to patients at high risk, the incidence of postoperative infections can be reduced, decreasing the number of extra days in hospital and consequently lowering costs. This is a new approach to the problem of surgical wound infections since not only is it based on the usual classification of operations into clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated and dirty, but it also takes into account the defensive capacity of the target of the infection: the patient.
Humans↗
Labial mucosa and combined labial/bladder mucosa free graft for urethral reconstruction.
One-stage urethral reconstruction was performed using a free graft of labial mucosa and combined labial/bladder mucosa. We present the results of this technique in 12 cases that had a minimum follow-up period of 3 years. Eleven patients had medium penile or posterior hypospadias and one had chordee penis without hypospadias. Urethroplasty with labial mucosa was performed by two techniques: labial mucosa used alone or combined with bladder mucosa. The labial mucosa was harvested from the inner surface of the upper and/or lower lip, depending on which method was used. Seven patients, six with medium penile or posterior hypospadias and 1 with chordee without hypospadias, were given a labial mucosa graft alone; the urethral gap was 3.5 to 6 cm. The other five cases, all with posterior hypospadias, were treated by combined labial/bladder mucosa graft urethroplasty: the urethral gap was 6 to 13 cm. Follow-up (at 3 to 4 1/2 years) showed no complications apart from a urethral fistula in one patient and mild stenosis on the anastomosis in four cases, which required urethral dilatations in the first month after surgery.
Adolescent↗