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Biomedical subjects

A Tubaro

Publications and source records attributed to A Tubaro.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Pressure-flow study analyses in patients treated with high energy thermotherapy.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the urodynamic changes after high energy microwave thermotherapy in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic enlargement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 patients was available for analysis with urodynamic investigation and pressure-flow studies before and 6 months after treatment. Several obstruction parameters were used to evaluate treatment outcome. RESULTS: A significant decrease (p < 0.001) in all obstruction parameters was noted. Mean detrusor pressure at maximum flow decreased from 64.7 to 39.1 cm. water, urethral resistance factor from 41.8 to 23.5 cm. water and linear passive urethral resistance relation from 3.0 to 1.4. Analysis of subgroups showed better results in patients with greater degrees of obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: High energy thermotherapy results in a significant and substantial decrease in bladder outlet obstruction.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

High energy thermotherapy in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: results of the European Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Study Group.

PURPOSE: We documented the results of high energy transurethral microwave thermotherapy in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 116 patients following transurethral microwave thermotherapy according to symptom scores, transrectal ultrasound, free voiding and pressure-flow study parameters. RESULTS: Significant improvement was noted in all objective and subjective parameters. Moreover, cavities in the prostatic urethra were observed in almost 40% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: High energy transurethral microwave thermotherapy is an effective therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Patients with larger prostates and moderate to severe bladder outlet obstruction seem to be the best candidates for this higher energy thermotherapy protocol, although morbidity is increased.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Changes in pressure-flow parameters in patients treated with transurethral microwave thermotherapy.

PURPOSE: We document changes in pressure-flow study parameters in patients treated by transurethral microwave thermotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pressure-flow study tracings before and after therapy from 75 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were analyzed. Patients were stratified according to the predominant type of obstruction at screening (constrictive or obstructive). RESULTS: An improvement in Madsen score and flow rates was noted at 6 months in both groups. In contrast to compressive obstruction patients, however, those with constrictive obstruction also showed significant changes in pressure-flow study parameters, including detrusor pressure at maximum flow, maximum flow rate and urethral resistance factor. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with predominantly constrictive obstruction are the best candidates for microwave thermotherapy.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

Responders and nonresponders to transurethral microwave thermotherapy: a multicenter retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: We attempted to identify any parameter that could possibly lead to a successful treatment outcome after transurethral microwave thermotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical parameters and treatment profiles of 292 patients were analyzed in a retrospective multicenter manner. Responder and nonresponder groups were identified according to a given definition. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics were found. Responders showed a 76% symptomatic improvement rate compared to 27% in nonresponders, and an 82% improvement rate in peak flow compared to a 5% decrease in nonresponders. Responders also showed a significantly greater increase in posttreatment PSA level and a significantly greater amount of energy released during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: No baseline clinical parameter is capable of predicting treatment outcome.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Local immunotherapy of superficial bladder cancer by intravesical instillation of recombinant interleukin-2.

Local immunotherapy of superficial bladder cancer by endovesical administration of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) was investigated in a phase I-II study. Twenty-five patients with Ta-T1, N0, M0, G1-G2 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder received an induction course of rIL-2 (10 daily instillations) with the tumor in place using an interpatient dose escalation scheme from 3 to 18 x 10(6) IU/day. Seven to fourteen days after the end of the induction course, the objective clinical response was evaluated and transurethral resection of the bladder tumor was carried out. Four maintenance courses (10 daily instillations) were started 1 month after surgery and carried out every 4 months at a dose of 6 x 10(6) IU/day in all patients. Follow-up visits were scheduled bimonthly during treatment and then every 6 months. No evidence of laboratory, local or systemic toxicity was observed even at the highest rIL-2 dosages. Induction of a local inflammatory response could be demonstrated at the tumor site after intravesical rIL-2 treatment. The significant reduction in tumor diameters observed in some patients may be interpreted as a sign of the biological activity of this rIL-2 regimen. Further exploratory work is required to evaluate the clinical efficacy of this immunotherapeutic approach.

Administration, Intravesical↗
PubMed1995

The prediction of clinical outcome from transurethral microwave thermotherapy by pressure-flow analysis: a European multicenter study.

A total of 100 patients treated with a single session of microwave thermotherapy at 4 European centers was stratified according to 2 different types of obstruction (constrictive and compressive) and compared to clinical outcome at 6 months. Patients had a Madsen-Iversen score of 8 or more, maximum flow rate of 15 ml. per second or less and residual urine volume of 300 ml. or less at entry. The change in Madsen-Iversen score was the same in the 2 groups. Maximum flow rate increased from 8.71 +/- 2.62 to 14.73 +/- 4.04 ml. per second in the constrictive group, and from 8.54 +/- 2.26 to 10.41 +/- 4.52 in the compressive group (p < or = 0.0001). Residual urine decreased from 96.00 +/- 72.85 to 40.34 +/- 56.33 ml. in the constrictive group and from 109.86 +/- 67.09 to 84.65 +/- 81.45 ml. in the compressive group (p < or = 0.0001). Success, as defined by an increase of 50% or more in maximum flow rate and Madsen-Iversen score, was noted in 68% of the constrictive but only 15% of the compressive groups (p < or = 0.0001 chi-square test for trend). Selection by pressure-flow criteria for patients being considered for thermotherapy should improve the overall clinical results.

Diathermy↗
PubMed1994

A comparison of methods for diarrhoeic shellfish poison detection.

Samples of diarrhoeic shellfish poison (DSP) mussels from several parts of the Italian Adriatic coastline were extracted and tested according to a number of different methods presently available, i.e. Yasumoto's mouse biotest, Kat's biotest, the ELISA test and the HPLC method. Results were compared for toxic levels detected in each sample. While a common qualitative result (toxic/non-toxic) was given by all the methods, no clear quantitative agreement was found. The differences between methods and consequent lack of agreement in results are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The role of triterpenoids in the topical anti-inflammatory activity of Calendula officinalis flowers.

By means of a bioassay-oriented fractionation of the CO2 extract of Calendula flowers, the triterpenoids are shown as the most important anti-inflammatory principles of the drug. Among them, the faradiol monoester appears to be the most relevant principle for the activity of the drug, due to its quantitative prevalence. The unesterified faradiol, not present in the extract, is the most active of the tested compounds and equals indomethacin in activity, whereas the monools psi-taraxasterol, lupeol, taraxasterol, and beta-amyrin are less active than the free diol. The anti-inflammatory activity of different CO2 extracts is proportional to their content of faradiol monoester, which can be taken as a suitable parameter for the quality control of Calendula preparations.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Early diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma may be achieved through in vitro culture of tumor cells harvested by prostatic massage.

As a new method for early diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma we succeeded in growing in vitro the epithelial cells which can be collected from prostatic fluid after rectal prostatic massage. We report here the updated and statistically analyzed series of data (174 patients) on this new approach, which allows all the harvested cells to express their biological features. The method reaches a sensitivity of 72-86% and a specificity of 88-100%. This noninvasive test, which is also suitable for mass screening, may be very useful for an early diagnosis of the neoplasm.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Transurethral microwave thermotherapy in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.

One hundred and forty-four patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated by transurethral microwave thermotherapy between January and December 1991. Before entering the study, all patients had a Boyarsky symptom score > or = 8, peak flow rate < or = 15 ml/s and postvoiding residual urine < or = 200 ml. Transurethral thermotherapy with the Prostatron (Technomed) was carried out as a single session (60 min) without any analgesia or sedation. Acute urinary retention occurred in 19.4% of the patients after treatment requiring catheterization for 2-3 weeks; morbidity rate was 5.5%. Six months after treatment, Boyarsky symptom score decreased from 11.73 +/- 4.97 to 4.40 +/- 3.21 (mean values +/- SD); peak flow rate increased on average from 8.97 +/- 4.18 to 13.07 +/- 4.87 ml/s and postvoiding residual urine decreased from 135 +/- 17.9 to 63 +/- 34.7 ml. Slight further improvement was shown, in a few patients, at the 1-year follow-up visit.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1993

[Transurethral thermotherapy by microwaves in patients with benign obstructive prostatic hypertrophy].

The effect of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) with Prostatron in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy was investigated. Two hundred and one patients were treated between January 1991 and June 1992 after informed consent was signed. The following examinations were carried out at screening: interview (including symptoms score evaluation), physical examination (including digital rectal examination), haematology and blood chemistry (including prostate specific antigen), ECG, chest Xray, kidney, bladder and prostate (transrectal) ultrasound sonography (USS) and uroflowmetry; pressure-flow study was performed in a selected group of patients. All enrolled patients had Madsen symptom score > or = 8; peak flow rate < or = 15 ml/s and post void residual urine < or = 200 ml. Patients with obstructive middle lobe of the prostate, any BPH complication or any suspicion of prostatic carcinoma were excluded from the study. Microwave thermotherapy with Prostatron was carried out according to software generation 2.0 (Prostasoft 2.0), the c10 (black) catheter was used in all patients. Follow-up visits were scheduled at 1 week, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 months after microwave thermotherapy. Overall short- and long-term morbidity rates were 6.09 and 2.73 per cent, respectively. At 12 months, Madsen score was found to be reduced from 11.7 +/- 4.78 to 4.43 +/- 3.30; maximum flow rate (Qmax) was increased from 8.91 +/- 4.20 to 13.20 +/- 4.86; post void residual urine (PVRU) was reduced from 131 +/- 17.6 to 67.40 +/- 34.50.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1992

Chrysaora hysoscella in the Gulf of Trieste: presence, evolution and cutaneous toxicity in man.

In the past few years important changes in the occurrence of scyphomedusae have been observed in the North Adriatic Sea and in particular in the Gulf of Trieste, often reaching alarming proportions. Spring coastal blooms of C. hysoscella were observed in 1989. Until 1989, this jellyfish was considered to be innocuous but the data presented show its cutaneous toxicity in man.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Continuous intra-arterial administration of recombinant interleukin-2 in low-stage bladder cancer. A phase IB study.

Toxicity and clinical effects of intra-arterial (IA) continuous infusion of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) were evaluated in twelve patients with low-stage transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder (T1NOMO; G1 to G2). rIL-2 dosages were escalated from 18 x 10(3) to 18 x 10(6) IU/m2/d in four groups of three patients. After two 5-day courses, separated by a 48-hour interval, evaluation of clinical response and transurethral resection (TUR) were carried out. World Health Organization (WHO) Grade 3 toxicity occurred in 2 of 12 patients (hypotension/mental confusion and fever, respectively); all side effects rapidly disappeared after infusion was abandoned. No laboratory toxicity developed in any patient. Two pathologically proven complete responses (CR) were achieved using 18 x 10(4) IU/m2/d, and three partial responses (PR) were achieved using 18 x 10(5) IU/m2/d in two patients and 18 x 10(6) IU/m2/d in one patient, giving an overall response rate of 42%. All objective responses are still ongoing after a mean follow-up time of 23 months (range, 12 to 32 months). Local relapses occurred 3 months after TUR only in two nonresponders.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Local activation of immune response in bladder cancer patients treated with intraarterial infusion of recombinant interleukin-2.

Tumor regression induced in cancer patients by i.v. infusion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) is often accompanied by severe side effects. To investigate whether local administration would affect immune response without the side effects, two 5-day cycles of continuous intraarterial [internal iliac artery] infusion of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) were performed in 12 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (tumor stage 1, node stage 0, metastasis stage 0, and grade 1-2) of the bladder. Four groups of 3 patients were treated at each of 4 escalating doses of rIL-2 (18 x 10(3), 18 x 10(4), 18 x 10(5), and 18 x 10(6) IU/m2/day) throughout the course of the two IL-2 cycles. This treatment was effective in inducing a marked intratumor inflammatory response, consisting mainly of T-lymphocytes and macrophages. A remarkable dose-dependent increase in the levels of soluble CD25 was observed in the urine of all patients, which was associated constantly with an enhanced number of intratumor CD25+ cells. Intratumor macrophages were often immunoreactive for interleukin-1 and/or tumor necrosis factor, suggesting an activated status. Increased levels of soluble CD25 and CD25+ lymphocytes were observed in peripheral blood only at the two highest doses of rIL-2, while increased percentages of circulating HLA-DR+ and CD71+ lymphoid cells and enhancement of CD3+/CD16+ T-lymphocytes were found at lower doses. Peripheral blood eosinophils were augmented in almost all patients but were rarely increased in situ. We provide evidence that continuous intraarterial infusion of rIL-2 activates host immune response, acting preferentially at the tissue level.

Antigens, CD↗