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C Gustavino

Publications and source records attributed to C Gustavino.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Activation measurement of the 3He(alpha,gamma)7Be cross section at low energy.

The nuclear physics input from the 3He(alpha,gamma)7Be cross section is a major uncertainty in the fluxes of 7Be and 8B neutrinos from the Sun predicted by solar models and in the 7Li abundance obtained in big-bang nucleosynthesis calculations. The present work reports on a new precision experiment using the activation technique at energies directly relevant to big-bang nucleosynthesis. Previously such low energies had been reached experimentally only by the prompt-gamma technique and with inferior precision. Using a windowless gas target, high beam intensity, and low background gamma-counting facilities, the 3He(alpha,gamma)7Be cross section has been determined at 127, 148, and 169 keV center-of-mass energy with a total uncertainty of 4%. The sources of systematic uncertainty are discussed in detail. The present data can be used in big-bang nucleosynthesis calculations and to constrain the extrapolation of the 3He(alpha,gamma)7Be astrophysical S factor to solar energies.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

The Italian multi-centre project on evaluation of MRI and other imaging modalities in early detection of breast cancer in subjects at high genetic risk.

This report presents the preliminary results of the first phase (21 months) of a multi-centre, non-randomised, prospective study, aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray mammography (XM) and ultrasound (US) in early diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) in subjects at high genetic risk. This Italian national trial (coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome) so far recruited 105 women (mean age 46.0 years; median age 51.0; age range 25-77 years), who were either proven BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers or had a 1 in 2 probability of being carriers (40/105 with a previous personal history of BC). Eight cases of breast carcinomas were detected in the trial (mean age 55.3 years, median age 52.5; age range 35-70 years; five with previous personal history of BC). All trial-detected BC cases (8/8) were identified by MRI, while XM and US correctly classified only one. MRI had one false positive case, XM and US none. Seven "MRI-only" detected cancers (4 invasive, 3 in situ) occurred in both pre- (n = 2) and post-menopausal (n = 5) women. With respect to the current XM screening programmes addressed to women in the age range 50-69 years, the global incidence of BC in the trial (7.6%) was over ten-fold higher. The cost per "MRI-only" detected cancer in this particular category of subjects at high genetic risk was substantially lower than that of an XM-detected cancer in the general women population. These preliminary results confirmed that MRI is a very useful tool to screen subjects at high genetic risk for breast carcinoma, not only in pre-, but also in post-menopausal age, with a low probability of false positive cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[The STF Project: Female Tumor Screening].

A pilot study has been carried out to evaluate women's compliance to a screening program for cervical cancer. The study, initiated in 1994, was performed in conjunction with the ACRO project of the CNR by the Italian National Health Institute, in collaboration with La Sapienza University of Rome and the National Institute for Cancer Research in Genoa. A preliminary telephone survey was carried out on a sample of 400 women (200 in Rome and 200 in Genoa) to assess, among other factors, their attitude towards the screening program. Afterwards, an ad hoc advertising campaign was launched and 21,827 women, randomly chosen from the register office's lists, were sent a personal invitation to participate in the screening. Most women showed interest in attending the screening program at the interview, but the percentages of participation were low (25.7% in Genoa and 27.3% in Rome). On the other hand, a high percentage of women who participated in the screening had already had a Pap test in the previous three years (Genoa, 73%; Rome, 76%). The recruiting techniques that were used in this study, and that are commonly used, do not seem to reach the core of the target population for cervical screening, i.e. women who have never had a Pap test or who had a Pap test more than 5 years earlier. New methods of recruiting aimed at categories at risk and based more on direct contacts need to be developed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Limited value of sonohysterography for endometrial screening in asymptomatic, postmenopausal patients treated with tamoxifen.

OBJECTIVES: Sonohysterography (SHG) has been proposed as a useful tool for the surveillance of the endometrium in patients receiving tamoxifen. This study aimed to assess the value of SHG in asymptomatic patients who would have been biopsy candidates because of abnormal transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) results. METHODS: The study population included postmenopausal breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen who had asymptomatic abnormalities at TVUS (endometrial thickness >/=8 mm or endometrial echo not adequately visualized). SHG was performed with an Aloka SSD 680 system using a 5-MHz vaginal probe, with sterile saline solution as contrast medium. RESULTS: Forty-one patients entered the study. A regular endometrial echo was identified by SHG in 9 patients (21.9%). Histology was obtained in the remaining 32 patients with positive (n = 27, 65.8%) or unsuccessful (n = 5, 12.2%) SHG. Benign polyps (n = 15, 36.6%) and endometrial atrophy (n = 14, 34.1%) were the most common findings; 3 patients (7.3%) had simple hyperplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer patients with asymptomatic, tamoxifen-associated TVUS abnormalities have little additional benefit from SHG. More than 23 remain candidates for biopsy, which usually yields benign or insignificant findings.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Tamoxifen and the endometrium: findings of pelvic ultrasound examination and endometrial biopsy in asymptomatic breast cancer patients.

The need for endometrial surveillance in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen is still controversial. In this study, 164 asymptomatic breast cancer patients (110 on treatment with tamoxifen, 20 mg/day, and 54 controls) were examined with pelvic ultrasound and endometrial biopsy. No differences in ultrasound and biopsy findings were observed in the pre- and perimenopausal group between patients treated with tamoxifen and controls. Postmenopausal patients on tamoxifen had a significantly thicker endometrium (mean+/-SD, 7.2+/-8.5 vs. 1.5+/-4.3 mm, p=0.00002) and significantly larger uterine volume (mean+/-SD, 63.2+/-39.9 vs. 43.7+/-38.8 cm3, p=0.0001) than controls. Fifty-four percent of patients on tamoxifen had an endometrial thickness > or = 5 mm, often with multiple irregular sonolucencies suggesting the presence of cysts. Ultrasound findings, however, did not correlate with the presence of endometrial abnormalities on biopsy, and no endometrial cancer or atypical hyperplasia were found. This lack of correlation makes questionable the use of routine sonography in asymptomatic breast cancer patients on tamoxifen. Obtaining routine endometrial samples, on the other hand, may be difficult in some patients because of cervical stenosis or refusal. Until the benefits of endometrial surveillance will be proved, asymptomatic patients should not be submitted routinely to ultrasound examination or biopsy, but encouraged to report promptly any abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effect of tamoxifen on endometrial proliferation.

PURPOSE: An increase in the incidence of endometrial cancer and a potential increase in related mortality has been associated with the administration of 20 mg tamoxifen, the dose adopted in breast cancer chemoprevention trials, thus urging studies on intermediate markers of risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three women who received 20 mg tamoxifen as adjuvant breast cancer treatment underwent endometrial biopsy. Samples were divided for histologic examination, including a quantitative analysis of stromal:epithelial ratio, and an assessment of DNA ploidy and proliferation by flow cytometry. Results were compared with 37 symptomatic subjects. RESULTS: All histograms were DNA diploid. Compared with controls, a significant increase in the risk of proliferation as measured by the hyperdiploid fraction was associated with tamoxifen duration (< or = 36 months: cumulative odds ratio = 16.5, 95% confidence interval, 1.85 to 146.5; > 36 months: cumulative odds ratio = 28.2, 95% confidence interval, 2.56 to 310.6, P for trend < .05). Tamoxifen-induced risk was significantly reduced by the extent of menopausal status. No cases of cancer or epithelial hyperplasia were observed in the tamoxifen group, whereas seven cases of epithelial hyperplasia without atypia were observed in the control group. The effect of tamoxifen on proliferation was associated with an increase in the stromal component. CONCLUSION: Tamoxifen at 20 mg/d exerts a time-dependent proliferative effect on the endometrium, particularly in premenopausal and early postmenopausal women. This effect appears to be mediated by the stromal component, which accounts for the discrepancy between flow cytometry and histology. Our study provides preliminary evidence that the DNA flow cytometric hyperdiploid fraction may be a useful tool for monitoring endometrial cell proliferation in women exposed to tamoxifen.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Planning of a screening programme for cervical cancer in Liguria and evaluation of the attitude of the female population towards cancer detection.

In 1990 an investigation aimed at evaluating the possibility of organizing a regional screening programme for the early detection of cervical cancer was carried out in Liguria. Information on resources available for early detection of cervical cancer was obtained from 12 of 20 Public Health Units; a screening programme was feasible in 8 of them. The number of Pap tests examined was evaluated for 6 of 20 cytology laboratories. Only one laboratory examined more than 20,000 Pap tests in 1989 and, according to the international guidelines, can be a referring centre for screening. However, no information was available concerning inter- and intralaboratory quality control programmes. In the same period a population-based survey was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire in order to evaluate the attitudes of women towards cervical cancer prevention. A total of 1,454 of 4,197 women (35%) participated in the study. Younger, well educated women employed in non non-manual work were more likely to participate in the study. About 65% of the respondents had satisfactory practices with regards to the Pap test, suggesting a strong self-selection that probably resulted in a sample of women more health-conscious than the general population. In conclusion, our results suggest that major interventions should be carried out in the Public Health Units to direct resources to the needs of the population. In addition, new educational methods should be adopted to reach selected population groups to encourage them to have a Pap test performed on a regular basis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of the sensitivity of cervicography in a consecutive colposcopic series.

Cervicography was performed in 606 women referred for colposcopy. Cervigrams were blindly reviewed by two independent readers. The positivity rate at cervicography was high (operator A = 50%, B = 58.8%). The sensitivity for papillomavirus infection (HPV)/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia I (CIN I) (n = 141) was 79.4% for operator A and 80.8% for operator B. The sensitivity for CIN II or more severe lesions (n = 22) was 95.2% and 90.5% for operators A and B, respectively. The positive predictive value for HPV/CIN I or CIN II, or more severe lesions was 36.9% and 6.9% for operator A and 32.1% and 5.3% for operator B, respectively. Interobserver variability was acceptable (kappa = 0.62). Cervicography suspected 27 HPV/CIN I, 1 CIN II and 1 CIN III which showed no cytologic abnormalities. This study confirms that cervicography has a good sensitivity for cervical lesions, but it is based on a selected series, not representative of a screening condition. The combination of cervicography and cytology in screening is presently under evaluation in a prospective study of screened women.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Smoking in a sample of nursing students in Genoa. Reflections on the role of professional educators].

Of all European Union member states, Italy has one of the highest rates of smokers among health care personnel. One important step towards the development of a "prevention-oriented culture" is the raising of the awareness of professional working in health care structures in order to involve them in preventive actions, this making these more effective. Before undertaking measures of this kind, it is imperative to first assess the extent of the smoking habit, even at the local level, so as to target actions as precisely as possible. We herein present the results of a study carried out in two professional nursing schools of the Province of Genoa (I). In all, 341 subjects, aged between 18 and 34, were interviewed. Findings show a high percentage of smokers among both sexes, with 50.0% of males and 40.0% of females claiming to be smokers. These figures are well above national averages (32% of males and 26% of females in the national population). The age at which most interviewees began smoking ranged from 15 to 18 years; however, a rather high percentage of respondents (25.1% for males and 26.1% for females) began after 18 years of age. Our results confirm the importance of school age oriented health education programs, but highlight as well the usefulness of similar awareness initiatives for future professionals. The Italian League for the Fight Against Cancer and the Italian Association of Cancer Nurses propose to vocational training schools a collaborative effort aiming to promote healthy lifestyles among nursing students and to re-assess the role of trainers.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Proposal for the treatment of cervix dysplasia with immunomodulators].

The study included 60 patients: 43 suffered from slight portio dysplasia (12 had HPV infection also), while 17 had moderate dysplasia (7 had HPV infections also). The treatment was carried out by self-administration in 3 stages: attack (50 mg of thymopentin by s.c. injection every day for two weeks); maintenance (50 mg of thymopentin by s.c. injection every other day for ten weeks); recall 6 months after (50 mg of thymopentin every day for 4 weeks). The drug was well tolerated by all of the patients and the recovery rate in a 9-months follow-up period was significantly higher versus an historical control group.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy of the association of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13cRA) and alpha-interferon 2a (alpha-IFN 2a) in moderate-severe cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN II-III): a pilot study.

Recent in vitro studies have suggested a possible therapeutic synergism between alpha-IFN 2a and 13cRA in certain neoplasias, while encouraging in vivo findings strongly support the enhanced effectiveness of the two agents when used in combination. The specific aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and the toxicity of the association of 13cRA and alpha-IFN 2a in patients with CIN II and CIN III who refused surgical treatment. Twenty-one patients (aged between 25 and 58 years), of which 14 were CIN II and 7 CIN III, entered the study. 13cRA (orally at 0.5-1 mg/Kg/day) and alpha-IFN 2a (intramuscular at 3x10(6) I.U./day for the first 15 days, then 3 times/week for the following four weeks) were administered simultaneously for eight consecutive weeks. 13/21 (62%) histologically verified objective responses (6 complete and 7 partial) were achieved. We also obtained 8 stable diseases. Compliance was generally good and no delays in therapy due to toxicity were recorded (except for two patients presenting WHO degree III cutaneous and mucosal toxicity which regressed one week after suspending treatment). Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) was initially detected in 16/21 (76%) patients, while HPV negativization after treatment was observed in 3/16 (19%). Although preliminary and requiring long-term assessment, the encouraging results of this study confirm the need for further investigation on the role of systemic medical therapy in the treatment of CINs.

Adult↗