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Biomedical subjects

E Aiello

Publications and source records attributed to E Aiello.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Immunotherapy of metastatic kidney cancer.

From April 1986 to September 2000, 122 MRCC patients were treated by monthly intralymphatic injections (containing a mean of 573 IL-2 U and 26 x 10(6) LAK cells) and i.m. administration of IFN and TF; 71 patients also received a 3-day cycle of monthly IL-2 inhalations with a mean of 998 daily U. MRCC cases not treated by immunotherapy (n = 89) represent our historical controls. Adverse clinical side effects related to treatment were negligible. CR (n = 11) and PR (n = 13) were noticed in 24/122 patients. Of 24 responding patients, 17 resumed progression, whereas 7 remain in remission 11-69 months later. The overall median survival of treated patients (28 months) was 3.5-fold higher than the median survival of historical controls (7.5 months), and a Kaplan-Meier curve showed 25% survival 11 years after the beginning of immunotherapy. Apparently, the addition of IL-2 by inhalation improved survival. The present immunotherapy protocol appears to be efficacious, safe, devoid of adverse side effects, far less costly than others and able to offer a good quality of life to MRCC patients; if confirmed in a multicenter trial, it could set the basis for developing low-dose immunomodulatory treatments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of new 3-(1-R-3(5)-methyl-4-nitroso-1H-5(3)-pyrazolyl)-5-methylisoxazoles.

A number of new 3-(1-R-3(5)-methyl-4-nitroso-1H-5(3)-pyrazolyl)-5-methylisoxazoles 6a-g (7b-f) were synthesized and tested for antibacterial and antifungal activity. Some of these compounds displayed antifungal activity at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Derivative 6c was 9 times more potent in vitro than miconazole and 20 times more selective against C. neoformans. 6c was also 8- and 125-fold more potent than amphotericin B and fluconazole, respectively. None of the compounds was active against bacteria. Preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies showed that the NO group at position 4 of the pyrazole ring is essential for the activity. Lipophilicity of the pyrazole moiety, N-alkyl chain length and planarity of the two heterocyclic rings appear to play a decisive role in modulating cytotoxicity and antifungal activity.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the liver.

The clinicopathological features of a rare case of primary non-Hodgkin's hepatic lymphoma (PHL) are described and compared to those of the other 76 cases reported in the world literature. PHL is mainly a disease of Caucasian, middle-aged males and, in approximately half of the reported cases, was associated with other diseases involving depression or chronic stimulation of the immune system. Right upper abdominal and epigastric pain with loss of weight are the most common presenting symptoms. The tumour is usually a single large mass involving both hepatic lobes and is almost invariably composed of lymphocytes reacting with B-cell markers. Most tumours are of intermediate or high grade according to the classification of the Working Formulation for Clinical Usage. No correlation is apparent between gross appearance of PHL (massive or nodular) and grade of severity. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy alone appears to be ineffective, while relatively good results can be obtained with combination modalities.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A preliminary report on the use of transfer factor for treating stage D3 hormone-unresponsive metastatic prostate cancer.

As conventional treatments are unsuccessful, the survival rate of stage D3 prostate cancer patients is poor. Reports have suggested the existence of humoral and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) against prostate cancer tumour-associated antigens (TAA). These observations prompted us to treat stage D3 prostate cancer patients with an in vitro produced transfer factor (TF) able to transfer, in vitro and in vivo, CMI against bladder and prostate TAA. Fifty patients entered this study and received one intramuscular injection of 2-5 units of specific TF monthly. Follow-up, ranging from 1 to 9 years, showed that complete remission was achieved in 2 patients, partial remission in 6, and no progression of metastatic disease in 14. The median survival was 126 weeks, higher than the survival rates reported in the literature for patients of the same stage.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Use of transfer factor for the treatment of recurrent non-bacterial female cystitis (NBRC): a preliminary report.

Results of conventional treatment of female non-bacterial recurrent cystitis (NBRC) are discouraging. Most patients show an unexpected high incidence of vaginal candidiasis, while their cell mediated immunity to Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) and Candida antigens seems impaired, and it is known that the persistence of mucocutaneous chronic candidiasis is mainly due to a selective defect of CMI to Candida antigens. Twenty nine women suffering of NBRC, and in whom previous treatment with antibiotics and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs was unsuccessful, underwent oral transfer factor (TF) therapy. TF specific to Candida and/or to HSV was administered bi-weekly for the first 2 weeks, and then once a week for the following 6 months. No side effects were observed during treatment. The total observation period of our cohort was 24379 days with 353 episodes of cystitis recorded and a cumulative relapse index (RI) of 43. The observation period during and after treatment was 13920 days with 108 relapses and a cumulative RI of 23 (P < 0.0001). It, thus, seems that specific TF may be capable of controlling NBRC and alleviate the symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

2-Diazopyrroles: synthesis and antileukemic activity.

The title compounds were synthesised in preparative yields by diazotization of the corresponding 2-aminopyrroles. In preliminary screening tests as antileukemic agents they showed modest activity against the murine and human leukemic cell lines FLC and K562S and their multidrug-resistant daunorubicin selected sublines.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Azolophenanthridines as antineoplastic agents.

Pyrrolo-, pyrazolo- and triazolo-phenanthridines were synthetized by using a Pschorrtype cyclization reaction or an intramolecular cyclization of arylnitrenium ions. By using these synthetic methods several azolo-phenanthridines, variously functionalized either in the azolo ring and in the phenanthridine moiety, were prepared. The title compounds, tested against murine leukemia cell lines, sensible and multidrug resistant, showed moderate activity with IC50 in the range 5-50 microM.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Clear cell hepatocellular carcinoma treated with liver transplantation.

We report a case of a 35-year-old female who underwent total hepatectomy and liver transplantation for a diffuse clear cell variant of hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic liver. Preoperative clinical evaluation showed no extrahepatic metastatic involvement. However, scheletal metastases of the tumour were detected five months later. Although clear cell variant is generally considered to run a relatively favorable course, this case proved rapidly progressive and seems therefore to be a debatable candidate for liver transplantation among primary hepatic cancers.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗
PubMed1993

[Anomalies of coagulation and fibrinolytic activity in patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism].

INTRODUCTION: Haemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters were evaluated in patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension following pulmonary embolism (CPE). The diagnosis of CPE was based on lobar or segmental defects on perfusion lung scans and by pulmonary angiograms which showed complete or partial obstruction of main or segmentary lobar arteries. METHODS: Antithrombin III (AT III), protein C, protein S, and lupus anticoagulant (LA) were assayed in 8 patients with CPE; in 6 out of 8 patients plasma fibrinolytic activity was assessed both under basal conditions and after venous stasis. The control group consisted of 4 normal subjects. Protein C and protein S antigens were assayed by an electrophoretic method. Protein C and protein S biological activities were assayed by a manual clotting system. AT III was assayed by chromogenic method. Fibrinolytic total activity was studied on fibrin plates, tPA and PAI-1 activities by chromogenic method; tPA and PAI-1 antigens by ELISA technique. RESULTS: One patient out of 8 showed a protein C deficiency and 3 patients out of 8 were positive for a LA. All patients had a statistically significant reduction of plasma fibrinolytic activity (p < 0.001) and of tPA activity (p < 0.0005) after venous stasis as compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that significant haemostatic abnormalities may underlie this disease. In particular, a) an impairment of fibrinolytic plasma activity and low levels of plasminogen activator may be found, and b) the undiagnosed presence of a LA may be the cause of these thrombotic events. The meaning of these results needs further assessment.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Substance P in the regulation of mucociliary transport in the frog palate.

1. Mucociliary transport of carbon particles across the palate of anesthetized Rana pipiens was accelerated by electrical stimulation of the palatine nerve. 2. Transport was also accelerated by intracardiac injection of acetylcholine and of substance P in a dose-dependent manner. 3. Acceleration of transport by acetylcholine and by substance P was selectively blocked by atropine and by the substance P antagonist Spantide, respectively. 4. Acceleration of transport by nerve stimulation was blocked partially by atropine and by Spantide, and completely by the two administered concurrently. 5. It is concluded that nerve stimulation releases both acetylcholine and substance P or a similar neuropeptide. 6. Taken in conjunction with the literature, the data suggest that these substances are involved in the normal mechanism for stimulating mucociliary clearance of the palate in response to the presence of particles.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1992

3-Diazopyrroles. Part 5 (1). Antibacterial activity of 3-diazo-2-phenylpyrroles.

3-Diazo-2-phenylpyrroles 3a-g showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, whereas against Gram-negative strains the inhibitory activity is limited to derivatives 3a and 3c. The substituents at 4 and 5 positions strongly influence the inhibitory activity, but the presence of the diazo group is crucial for appearance of activity.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1991

Stimulation of frog ciliated cells in culture by acetylcholine and substance P.

1. Ciliary beat frequency in epithelial outgrowths from cultured explants of Rana pipiens palate changed markedly from second to second. 2. Acetylcholine (10(-8) to 10(-3) M) and substance P (1.35 x 10(-7) to 1.35 x 10(-5) M) increased and stabilized ciliary beat frequency. The effect of acetylcholine and part of the effect of substance P were blocked by atropine (10(-4) M). 3. Acetylcholine appears to act directly and substance P both directly and indirectly through the release of acetylcholine.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1991

[Thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension].

Pulmonary hypertension due to recurrent thromboembolism is a rare disease but life-threatening. We evaluated 18 patients (11 female, 7 male) with this pathology between 1973 and 1991. We compared clinical features and evolution of our patients with the ones of the literature. The mean interval between beginning of symptoms and diagnosis was 5 years (range 1-10 years) and the most frequent symptom was increasing dyspnoea. In 2 of our patients there were well definite predisposing causes for thromboembolism (intracardiac catheters), 6 of the others had a previous episode of acute pulmonary embolism. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 50 mmHg and low output was present in 8 of these. Lung perfusion scintigraphy was diagnostic in 98% of cases showing segmental defects and pulmonary angiography confirms diagnosis revealing abrupt cut-off of cases showing segmental defects and pulmonary angiography confirms diagnosis revealing abrupt cut-off a major pulmonary artery. Angiographic evaluation of thrombus extent and location was difficult. In a small number of patients was found lupus anticoagulant, deficiency of protein C, of protein S and of antithrombin III. Mortality in medical treatment was 39% at a mean follow-up of 4-5 years. Progression of pulmonary hypertension was due to recurrent pulmonary embolism only in 30-40% of cases. The role of caval filter is not well established. Thromboendarterectomy shows immediate good results at short time but the long-term results are not known.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Reemergence of Shigella dysenteriae type 2 in Sicily: an epidemiological evaluation.

Three strains of Shigella dysenteriae type 2 were isolated from a small household outbreak which occurred in Palermo, Sicily, during summer 1990. Two isolates were recovered from hospitalized patients and one from an asymptomatic carrier. The infection could not be associated with travel to foreign countries or contact with travellers returned from abroad. Since 1953 S. dysenteriae has been never isolated in Southern Italy. The isolates from dysentery cases were susceptible to antibiotics and carried a plasmid of 120 MDa associated with a small cryptic plasmid; in contrast, the strain isolated from the healthy carrier contained an additional plasmid of approximately 40 MDa, which codified for resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. All strains showed some atypical biochemical properties, but their rRNA-DNA patterns of hybridization were closely similar to that of the reference strains of type 2 and easily distinguishable from those of the other types of non-Shiga bacillus reference strains. Epidemiological isolation features of these strains suggest a possible circulation of this Shigella species in Sicily. Genetic characterization of these strains may be useful for surveillance of infections by this organism.

Adult↗