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Biomedical subjects

A Santini

Publications and source records attributed to A Santini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Synthesis and biological activity of tripeptide FR113680 analogues containing unconventional amino acids.

In order to further develop structure-activity relationships and to get information about the biological active conformations we synthetized analogues tripeptide to the FR 113680 [Ac-Thr-D-Trp(CHO)-PheNMeBzl; Ac: acethyl], in which the phenylalanine residue was replaced by unconventional amino acids [1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (Tic); (3aS, 7aS)-octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid (Oic); (S,S,S)-2-azabiciclo[3.3.0]octane-3-carboxylic acid (Aoc); 3-(1'-naphthyl)alanine (Nap); phenylglicine (Phg); thienylalanine (Thi)]. The biological activity of the peptides was performed on guinea pig ileum for neurokinin 1 (NK-1) and on rat colon for neurokinin 2 (NK-2). In particular, the replacement of the Phe3 by the Oic (8a) gave an higher antagonist activity in both NK-1 and NK-2 receptors, but no improvement in selectivity with respect to reference tripeptide (FR113680). The compound (8a) represent the first example of highly potent peptides that do not contain an aromatic amino acid of the third position as had been previously considered essential.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Superiority of three-drug combination chemotherapy versus cisplatin-etoposide in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized trial by the Italian Oncology Group for Clinical Research.

To evaluate the efficacy of a three-drug regimen vs. a two-drug CDDP based combination in the treatment of NSCLC, we conducted a three-arm randomized parallel trial comparing (a) CDDP (120 mg/m2 day 1) + etoposide (100 mg/m2 days 1-3) every 3 weeks (PE--arm A); (b) CDDP (120 mg/m2 every 4 weeks) + mitomycin (8 mg/m2 days 1, 29, 71) + vindesine (3 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15, 22 every 2 weeks) (MVP--arm B); and (c) CDDP (120 mg/m2 day 1) + mitomycin (6 mg/m2 day 1) + ifosfamide (3 g/m2 day 2) every 3 weeks (MIC--arm C). From May 1989 to April 1992, 393 consecutive previously untreated patients with NSCLC Stage IIIB and IV entered the trial; 373 were evaluable for survival and 360 for response. The response rate was significantly better for both the three-drug regimens compared with PE (Table 3). Logistic regression model showed a significantly better response in patients with a good P.S. and in Stage IIIB. Main toxicity consisted of myelosuppression: neutropenia Grade III-IV was recorded in 14% (arm A), 15% (arm B) and 21% (arm C). Thrombocytopenia Grade III-IV was worst in arm C: 10% vs. 5% (arm A) and 3% (arm B). Nephrotoxicity Grade III-IV was more common in arm C: 3.5%. Toxic deaths were 11 (3%: three in arm A, five in arm B, three in arm C). From our data, the three-drug containing regimens, MVP and MIC, appear more active than the two-drug combination PE in treatment of advanced NSCLC.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Chemotherapy of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a comparison of three active regimens. A randomized trial of the Italian Oncology Group for Clinical Research (G.O.I.R.C.).

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is generally considered the most active treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The combination of cisplatin and etoposide had for some time been the standard treatment at our center. Of the other active regimens, cisplatin in combination with mitomycin-C, vindesine or ifosfamide (MVP or MIC) showed the highest response rates. We decided to perform a comparative trial of the three 'best' regimens in order to define a possible standard regimen in advanced NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 1989 to April 1992, 393 consecutive, previously untreated NSCLC patients, stages IIIB and IV, were randomized to receive either cisplatin (120 mg/sqm day 1) + etoposide (100 mg/sqm days 1-3) every 3 weeks (PE) or cisplatin (120 mg/sqm every 4 weeks) + mitomycin-C (8 mg/sqm days 1-29-71) + vindesine (3 mg/sqm days 1-8-15-22) (MVP) or cisplatin (120 mg/sqm day 1) + mitomycin-C (6 mg/sqm day 1) + ifosfamide (3 mg/sqm day 2) every 3 weeks (MIC). Of these, 382 were evaluable for survival and 360 for response. RESULTS: Response rates were statistically higher for both MIC (40%) and MVP (36%) than for the PE arm (23%). Survival estimates analyzed by the log-rank test showed a significant benefit (p < 0.04) for patients treated with three-drug regimens (MVP; MIC) as compared to those in the PE arm. The main toxicity was myelosuppression; thrombocytopenia WHO grade 3-4 was worse in the MIC arm; nephrotoxicity grade 3-4 was also more frequent in the MIC arm. CONCLUSIONS: A three-drug cisplatin-based regimen (MVP; MIC) should be considered as reference treatment in NSCLC.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Henoch-Schönlein syndrome associated with breast cancer. A case report.

The association of the Henoch-Schönlein syndrome with leukemias and lymphomas, though rare, is well known, but this type of pathology appears to be exceptional in the case of solid tumors. The authors report a case of malignant breast tumor wherein cutaneous vasculitis appeared at the moment of the disease's progression.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Flow cytometric study of lymphocyte subsets in patients at different stages of colorectal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The evaluation of lymphocyte subsets by using monoclonal antibodies in neoplastic patients has provided different results, partly in relation to the stage of the disease. Therefore, as a preliminary study of cancer patients treated with immunomodulating drugs, an analysis of lymphocyte subsets was performed in colorectal carcinoma patients. METHODS: In this study, a flow cytometric evaluation of lymphocyte subsets was performed in 33 patients affected by colorectal carcinoma, with or without metastases. RESULTS: A significant reduction of hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrit was observed in all of these subjects, associated with an evident increase of white blood cells, platelets, and HLA DR-positive T lymphocytes, whereas CD 3-CD 4-positive and CD 20-positive lymphocyte concentrations were decreased. Subjects without metastases showed an evident decrease of hemoglobin concentrations and an increase of white blood cells, platelets and CD 3-HLA DR-positive lymphocytes, while patients with disseminated disease also had reduced mean values of hematocrit, red blood cells, CD 3-CD 4-positive, and CD 20-positive lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The main differences between colorectal carcinoma patients with or without metastases were represented by a decrease of red blood cells, CD 3-CD 4-positive, and CD 20-positive lymphocyte concentrations in the latter group.

Blood Cell Count↗
PubMed1994

[Primary lymphoma of the breast. Clinico-pathologic description of a case].

Primary malignant lymphomas of the breast are extremely rare, accounting for only 0.04% to 0.53% of all breast malignancies. Recently a connection between some primary breast lymphomas and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) has been reported identifying an extranodal lymphoma as MALT-type bears some biologic relevance, especially in terms of its spread to other mucosal sites, which sometimes occurs before disseminating into peripheral lymphoid tissue. The Authors report a case of primary breast lymphoma associated with a possible connective disease. Nevertheless the case reported cannot confirm a precise time relationship between malignant lymphomas and autoimmunity, we think that it can be possible.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Preoperative ultrasonographic measurement of melanoma thickness with 20 MHz probe].

The authors report on the preoperative evaluation of melanoma thickness with very high frequency US probes (20 MHz). Thirty patients with clinical suspicion of melanoma were examined preoperatively with US. The high quality of the images obtained with 20-MHz US probes allowed the lesions involving the superficial derma or, in more advanced cases, all derma, to be demonstrated and tumor thickness to be measured accurately. The latter is a major prognostic factor and indeed Breslow's classification is based on tumor thickness. The preoperative US study of melanoma thickness allows the surgeon to plan excision depth, which is necessary for accurate and safe tumor resection, that is, whose margins are proportionate to melanoma thickness. In the 30 patients submitted to preoperative US measurements of tumor thickness, US and histologic findings were in agreement. US overestimated melanoma thickness by 7 to 11%, which however had no impact on prognosis and surgical planning. While US can differentiate melanomas from other types of benign or malignant pigmented skin lesions such as blue nevus, pigmented basalioma or pigmented seborroic cheraosis, no unquestionable US signs have been found yet to differentiate melanoma from nevus, which makes US useless for the differential diagnosis. Nonetheless, surgeons can use preoperative US to adapt the exeresis of melanoma to its actual severity and to reduce scars to a minimum. Possible skin metastases can also be detected by US and thus removed.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

Immunoscintigraphy in malignant melanoma: a five-year clinical experience.

Immunoscintigraphy (IS) with 99Tcm-labelled anti-melanoma monoclonal antibody F(ab')2 fragments was performed in 135 melanoma patients, 64 males and 71 females, aged 19-82 years (mean 52.3 years) between December 1987 and December 1991. The first group of IS was performed in 50 patients before surgery to assess optimal management: seven true positive and one true negative were obtained in ocular and visceral melanomas, while in cutaneous MM sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in assessing lymph node involvement were, respectively, 61.5, 93.3 and 83.7%. The second group of 128 IS is relative to 85 patients in follow-up: excluding 13 cases with known metastatic disease and 12 inconclusive tests, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were, respectively, 83.3, 98.8 and 96.1%. Immunoscintigraphy is free of side effects even after repeated administrations and is a useful adjunct to standard diagnostic techniques as a basis for treatment decisions.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The predictiveness of the duplex scan method in monitoring a venous femoro-distal bypass].

The medium-term failure of femoro-distal revascularization using venous bypass is often preceded by the onset of intrinsic intraprosthetic lesions which, if not diagnosed, may develop and cause thrombosis in the venous prosthesis. The authors report their experience relating to the monitoring of these bypass operations using an echo-Doppler test which was found to be a sensitive and reliable method. In their opinion, frequent instrumental control may significantly reduce the number of occlusions in the venous prosthesis if a rapid surgical therapeutic approach is adopted towards those intraluminal lesions considered to represent a risk.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1991

Extraforaminal lumbar disk herniation. Clinical features and computerized tomography.

Disk herniation lateral to the intervertebral foramen is defined as extraforaminal. Its particular anatomical site makes its clinical and neurologic features completely different from those of posteromedial and posterolateral disk herniations. Prior to the advent of computerized tomography, only diskography was capable of preoperatively identifying this rare disease. We present 5 cases of extraforaminal disk herniation, the clinical and tomographic diagnosis of which was confirmed at surgery. All patients had severe motor deficit and reported sciatica as prevalent over low back pain. The herniated disk was L4-5 in 2 cases and L5-S1 in 3 cases. The CT scan suggested disk protrusion in 2 cases, extrusion in 2 cases, and sequestration in 1 case. Four of these findings were confirmed intraoperatively. Diskectomy was done after hemilaminectomy and partial or total facetectomy. The clinical result was excellent in 2 cases and good in 3 cases after an average follow-up of 10 months. The use of CT scan as part of the routine diagnostic procedure in patients with radicular pain has lowered the number of cases which the surgical findings were inexplicably negative for disk herniation without having to resort to more complex and invasive diagnostic techniques such as myelo-CT and disk-CT. Moreover, preliminary tomographic localization of the extraforaminal disk herniation makes it possible to operate on the affected level using more conservative techniques. In any case, thorough clinical examination is essential for both correct interpretation of the CT scan and appropriate choice of treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The longest, regular polypeptide 3(10) helix at atomic resolution.

A synthetic, terminally blocked homodecapeptide from the C alpha, alpha-dimethylated glycyl residue alpha-aminoisobutyric acid has been analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and the structure refined to R = 0.073. The compound crystallizes as a perfect 3(10) helix, stabilized by eight consecutive intramolecular N-H . . . O = C hydrogen bonds. This is the first observation at atomic resolution of a regular polypeptide 3(10) helix as long as three complete turns.

Aminoisobutyric Acids↗
PubMed1990

The accuracy of simple ordinal scoring of tooth attrition in age assessment.

Tooth wear is frequently used as a method of ageing skeletal remains. Fundamental to this method is the ability to measure the amount of tooth wear. The Brothwell chart based on the Miles method of ageing, uses simple ordinal scoring and is frequently used by archeologists. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the accuracy of simple ordinal scoring in recording tooth wear and ageing skulls. A group of Chinese skulls of known age at death was used. The age range was from 16 to 60 years. A single score per molar tooth was used to record occlusal wear. The data were analysed by regression methods using BMDP statistical software. The results showed that molar tooth wear continues throughout the life of the individual. The first molar teeth wear significantly more quickly than do second molar teeth. Use of a simple ordinal score method for recording wear gives an inaccurate estimate of an individual skull's age at death with a very wide 95% confidence interval.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

A comparison of the position of the mental foramen in Chinese and British mandibles.

The antero-posterior position of the mental foramen was studied in 68 Chinese and 44 British skulls of known or calculated age at death. All skulls showed low pre-mortem tooth loss and had a good occlusion. The position of the foramen was related to the body of the mandible as well as to the standing mandibular teeth using two previously published methods. There was no significant difference in the size of the Chinese and British mandibles. There was a significant difference between the two groups when measurements relating the foramen to the body of the mandible (symphysis menti) were considered, the foraminal position being more distal in the Chinese group. The modal position of the foramen in the Chinese sample was along the long axis of the second premolar, whereas in the British sample it lay between the apices of the first and second premolar. The foraminal position apparently moved distally in both groups with age and this was likely to be associated with mesial tooth drift and age-related attrition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Auditory evoked potentials of the brain stem in brain injury. Prognostic value].

The study of brain stem auditory way in severe head trauma patients with auditory evoked potentials is very important for giving elements about functional and anatomic situation of analyzed neuronal substratum; ABR will be normal or altered in conformity with the level and/or the gravity of the damage. Authors have examined 20 post-traumatic comatose patients pointing out the existence of a strict relation between auditory brain stem responses and prognosis. Authors, in accordance with the ample literature in existence, agree to point out the auditory brain stem responses such as a very effective instrument for the prognostic valuation of post-traumatic comatose patients.

Adolescent↗