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Biomedical subjects

B Stefanon

Publications and source records attributed to B Stefanon.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Effect of maturity on digestion kinetics of water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions of alfalfa and brome hay.

Alfalfa and bromegrass, each harvested at five different stages of maturity, were separated into water-insoluble and -soluble fractions. The NDF concentrations ranged from 19 to 43% for alfalfa and from 42 to 58% for brome. The rates of digestion, by mixed ruminal microflora, of the unfractionated forage and of the water-insoluble and -soluble fractions were measured in vitro using pressure sensors to monitor gas production. Both forages showed the expected decline in fiber digestibility with increasing maturity. A dual-pool logistic model gave pool sizes, specific rates, and a single lag time for both the faster- and slower-digesting fractions. The main difference between alfalfa and brome was in the soluble pool. This pool produced approximately 40% of the total gas in alfalfa, 25% in brome. The specific digestion rates of the brome soluble pool were approximately 50% higher than those for alfalfa. Net VFA production showed a somewhat higher acetate: propionate ratio for brome (3.2) compared with alfalfa (2.2), but there was little change with increasing maturity within a given forage. Gas production curves for the unfractionated forage showed a 0 to 10% positive deviation from curves created by adding data from separate digestion of the insoluble and soluble forage fractions. Gas measurements offer a promising approach to the study of the water-soluble extracts of forages and the interaction of the soluble- and insoluble-fractions during fermentation.

Acetates↗
PubMed1995

Beta-interferon treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a multicenter clinical trial.

Forty-nine women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade II were treated with systemic and/or local beta-interferon (beta-IFN) applications. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of different routes for the administration of beta-IFN, evaluate local and systemic beta-IFN tolerance, and determine whether disappearance of neoplastic lesions was related to the resolution of the concomitant human papillomavirus infection. The patients were randomized to receive intramuscular, intralesional or a combination of intramuscular and intralesional administration, or conventional treatment. Significant differences in the rate of lesion regression were observed between treated and untreated women. The highest frequency of complete response was observed with the therapy combining intramuscular and intralesional treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Psychological aspects of genital human papillomavirus infection: a preliminary report.

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can lead to self-inflicted blame and hypochondriac fears as well as to problems with sexuality. The aim of this study was to assess the psychological and psychodynamic aspects of patients with widespread genital HPV infection entering into a clinical trial in which they were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: CO2 laser ablation, intramuscular interferon-alpha, CO2 laser ablation plus intramuscular interferon-alpha. Fifty-one patients were studied. Patients were asked to take a series of questionnaires which included a self-rating questionnaire for gathering information on sexuality, emotional relationship with the partner and social life. A visual analog scale was used to rate intensity of pain during sexual intercourse. Each patient went also through an in-depth interview with a clinical psychologist and filled out two personality tests to measure depression (CDQ = IPAT depression test) and anxiety (ASQ = IPAT anxiety test). Results indicated a high percentage of sexual impairments after therapy (28 cases), presence of fear of cancer (14 cases) and worsenings in the emotional relationship with the partner. No difference was found among groups of treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Nondysgerminomatous tumors of the ovary treated with cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin: long-term results.

Twenty-four consecutive patients with nondysgerminomatous germ cell tumor of the ovary were treated after surgery with cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin (PVB regimen). The cycle was repeated every 3 weeks for three to five courses. Fourteen patients had endodermal sinus tumor, and 10 had mixed germ cell tumors. Stage of disease (FIGO, 1986) was as follows: stage I, 6; stage IIc-IV, 17; and recurrence, 1 patient. All patients were monitored by alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin. Only 1 patient had received previous chemotherapy. All 5 patients without residual disease and with negative marker levels in which PVB was used as adjuvant treatment were free of disease for a median duration of 59 months from the start of PVB. Of the 19 patients with measurable disease (evident disease or positive marker levels), complete remission was obtained in 16 (84%), but 5 of these relapsed. Therefore, treatment with PVB failed in 8 out of 19 patients (42%) with measurable disease. Toxicity was evident, but no patient died of it. Menses were regular in 11 patients whose initial surgery was conservative. PVB regimen is an effective but not a satisfactory treatment. The considerable failure rate of PVB treatment suggests the investigation of other regimens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Genital human papilloma virus infection in males. A clinico-pathologic study.

From March 1987 to December 1988, 402 male sexual partners of 317 women with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection of the lower genital tract and 85 with HPV-associated cervical and/or vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN and/or VIN) were submitted to clinical examination and peniscopy. The latter was performed at a 6-15 X magnification after a 3 min exposure to 5% acetic acid solution. Visible lesions were biopsied. Thirty-one patients had clinical evidence of HPV infection in the glans, penile shaft or urethra, and 222 had peniscopic evidence of subclinical aceto-white lesions. Of 31 patients with clinical lesions, 11 showed also aceto-white subclinical lesions. Of 253 peniscopically positive males, 237 were biopsied and 191 of these were histologically ascertained. Three patients had penile intraepithelial neoplasia, one with clinical appearance of a Buschke-Löwenstein tumor. The incidence of HPV infection in male sexual partners of women affected by HPV infection of the lower genital tract associated or not with intraepithelial neoplasia is lower than expected. However, clinically negative males should not be considered disease free; in fact, 12 patients, negative at the first examination, showed histological evidence of HPV infection at subsequent controls. Therefore, follow-up of at least 6 months should be allowed to identify HPV bearing males. The reported low frequency of HPV infection may be due to the fact that the males may harbour the virus in the urethra, prostate or seminal vesicles or penis without any clinical evidence of disease. Although research for HPV-DNA in intraurethral and penile scraping material might be useful for diagnosis, peniscopy with a 5% acetic acid application remains the clinical test for evaluating HPV infection in males. The importance of peniscopy should be viewed with respect to the prevention of infection or reinfection of the female sexual partners, in addition to the specific diagnostic purpose in male patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Problems after hysterectomy. A comparative content analysis of 60 interviews with cancer and non-cancer hysterectomized women.

Sixty patients who had undergone hysterectomy for neoplastic pathologies (30 cases) and benign pathologies (30 cases) were interviewed with the aim of understanding the relationship they had with the disease, the loss of the uterus and sexuality. Out of the cancer group 21 cases showed fear of recurrence of the disease, 19 cases showed sexual dysfunctions, while only 9 patients referred to having experienced the loss of the uterus as a traumatic event for their femininity. Non-cancer patients revealed reactive sexual difficulties. Out of this sample, 17 cases described their sexual life as unsatisfying.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Reference values for some fundamental haemostatic factors in the dog.

The study is a methodological survey to define the reference values for some basic haemostatic parameters in healthy dogs. Reference values for PT, APTT and factors VIII:C and IX:C were studied in 34 dogs. The reference values were (minimum-maximum) 6.5-9.5 and 17.5-26.3 seconds for PT and APTT, 58-260% and 67-163% for VIII:C and IX:C respectively and 185.8-354.4 x 10/1 for platelets. These reference values were applied to 130 other dogs which were presented to the clinic for various treatments or health checks. The results show how haemostatic analysis can be used to resolve delicate interpretation of laboratory results.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Human fibroblast interferon adjuvant to CO2 laser in the treatment of recurrent juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis: experience with 7 cases.

Preliminary results of adjuvant human fibroblasts interferon (IFN beta) given after CO2 laser excision in recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis in 7 adult patients are reported. Diagnostic procedure included histologic and immunohistochemical investigations to demonstrate the presence of viral cytopathic effect and for characterization of the virus. All patients underwent CO2 laser excision under general anesthesia followed by administration of IFN beta intramuscularly at the dose of 4 x 10(6) IU/day for 10 consecutive days. In the presence of complete remission, patients were followed without further therapy; in the presence of partial remission, a new combined treatment was established. All patients had a complete remission after combined treatment, but 4 subsequently developed recurrences. Treatments were always well tolerated; even cirrhotic patients showed no side effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Study of multiple human papillomavirus-related lesions of the lower female genital tract by in situ hybridization.

Twenty-six women with multiple human papillomavirus (HPV)-related lesions of the lower genital tract were investigated by immunohistochemistry for the internal genus-specific capsid antigen of HPV and by DNA-DNA in situ hybridization with 35S-radiolabeled probes for sequences of HPV-6/11, HPV-16, and HPV-18. The vulva was the most frequently affected site in all of these cases; the cervix was the second most frequently affected site. The lesions displayed the features of papillomavirus infection in 14 patients, and there was also histologic evidence of early neoplasia in 12 patients. The mean age of patients with and without neoplasia was 40 and 30 years, respectively. Evidence of HPV association was found in 73% of the vulvar lesions and in 40% of the other synchronous lesions by one or both methods. Viral DNA was found in 67% of patients with neoplasia and in 71% of patients without neoplasia. Eleven of 12 HPV-positive patients with neoplasia revealed the presence of HPV-16 in their tissues by in situ hybridization. On the other hand, 50% of those without neoplasia had HPV-16 DNA, whereas the presence of HPV-6/11 was found in the other 50%. The clinical course of the disease, the distribution of HPV type, and the type of antigen in patients with and without neoplasia suggest that progression to neoplasia was associated with HPV-16. These results stress the practical value of the in situ hybridization method for the identification of those patients with HPV infection who are at risk for progression to malignancy.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1986

Human papillomavirus type 16 DNA in genital tumours: a pathological and molecular analysis.

The presence of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) DNA in 34 genital tract tumours of Italian female patients was investigated by Southern blot hybridization in high stringency conditions. HPV16 DNA was detected in 16 neoplasias, including cervical invasive and intraepithelial lesions as well as vulvar intraepithelial neoplasias and, to a lesser extent, vulvar invasive carcinomas. Appropriate control tissues included in the study were negative. The data suggest that integration of viral DNA had occurred in most tumours, both in invasive and in intraepithelial lesions. HPV16 variants or defective genomes, lacking the BamHI restriction site, were detected in three tumours.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1985

Human fibroblast interferon in cervical and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia associated with viral cytopathic effects. A pilot study.

Sixteen patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), grades 2 and 3, and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), grade 3, associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection were treated with human fibroblast interferon (HFI). Treatment consisted of 2-3 X 10(6) IU/day injected intra- and perilesionally for five days per week for two to three weeks with or without topically applied cream (1.2 X 10(6) IU/day for five days). Eight complete and two partial regressions occurred. The duration of the response ranged from 4 to 20 months. Fever, chills and fatigue with or without headache were the side effects. Our preliminary results indicate that HFI was active against CIN and VIN associated with HPV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Human fibroblast interferon in cervical and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia associated with papilloma virus infection.

The follow-up is presented for 13 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade II-III and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) grade III associated with papilloma virus infection, treated with human fibroblast interferon. Treatment consisted of 2-3 X 10(6) IU interferon per day injected intra- and peri-lesionally for five days per week for 2-3 weeks, with or without a cream topically applied at the dose of 1.2 X 10(6) IU/day X five days. Among the 13 patients with CIN and VIN, 7 complete (54%) and 2 partial regressions were observed. The duration of response appeared to be between 2 and 14 months. Fever, chills and fatigue were the tolerable side-effects. Our results indicate that treatment with interferon is active against CIN and VIN associated with papilloma virus infection.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adult granulosa cell tumor of the ovary: a clinico pathologic study of 35 cases.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Adult granulosa cell tumor has a low malignant potential but requires an extensive follow-up of more than 5 years to accurately assess tumor activity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, the treatment and the outcome of this rare ovarian tumor. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of 35 cases treated at primary onset of disease during a 23-year period from 1971 to 1993. RESULTS: The disease-free survival rate for stages IA-B-C at 5 and 10 years was 90% and 84%, respectively; for stages III-IV the 5-year freedom from progression rate was 16%. CONCLUSIONS: The most important prognostic factor appears to be the extent of tumor involvement outside of the ovary.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cancer of the uterine cervix: clinical value of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) measurements.

The clinical value of SCC levels has been evaluated in four groups of women affected by cervical carcinoma. Among the 116 newly diagnosed patients, the SCC pretreatment level was elevated in 57% of cases and was strictly correlated with clinical stage (Ib to IV: p = < 0.01) and histotype (squamous cell carcinoma versus others: p = 0.0005). No significant difference was found in relation to nodal status. For the 28 patients submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy clinical response was correlated with the change in serum SCC level: stable or rising serum level indicated that the disease was unchanged or progressive, respectively. In the group of 48 patients affected by recurrent carcinoma, a raised SCC level was found in 71% of cases, with a lead time ranging from 0 to 12 months. No identification of the site of recurrence could be extrapolated from the value of SCC. As to the 108 regularly monitored patients, no significant difference in the risk to develop recurrence was shown for patients with a raised SCC level at the time of primary diagnosis (NED) versus relapsed: p = > 0.05).

Adult↗