PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Barbieri

Publications and source records attributed to F Barbieri.

125 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

POEMS syndrome: an Italian case with diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

A young Italian patient with a multisystem disorder and a solitary osteosclerotic bone lesion is described. His clinicopathological situation involved sensory-motor polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrine dysfunction, skin alterations, edema of the lower limbs and generalized lymphadenopathy. These features were consistent with the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome, reported primarily in Japanese patients. M components were not found in this patient's serum or urine. Bone marrow biopsy showed only a slight plasma cell infiltrate; histological study of the sural nerve evidenced a mixture of both axonal degeneration and segmental demyelinization. Lymph node biopsy revealed peculiar pathological changes resembling those of type II Castleman-like disease. A wide bone defect with osteosclerotic margins and trabeculation was evidenced in the right ilium. The relationship of these findings to plasma cell dyscrasias is discussed. After prednisone and local radiotherapy failed, the patient was treated with human recombinant interferon for 18 months. After three months of therapy he has experienced remarkable improvement of his neurological symptoms and almost complete recovery of organomegaly and lymphadenopathy. These improvements have continued to the present.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The International Centre for Pesticide Safety.

The International Centre for Pesticide Safety (ICPS) was inaugurated in March 1990. Coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and in collaboration with research and university institutions, the Centre operates in the following areas of activity: information and documentation on pesticide toxicity; epidemiological, toxicological and clinical research; training and education; laboratory research. ICPS is also a centre of meetings and courses on permanent education. This paper reports on the activities carried out so far and on the future programmes of ICPS.

Europe↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Manipulation of the growth rate of human breast cancer cells by antiandrogen followed by chemotherapy.

The effects induced by the antiandrogen Cyproterone Acetate (CPA) on the proliferation of EVSA-T human breast cancer cells endowed with androgen receptors were studied. Kinetic analyses were carried out by two autoradiographic techniques measuring the percentage of cells in S-phase and the growth fraction (GF). The exposure of the cultures to CPA for 24 h caused a marked inhibition on S-phase cells without significantly affecting the CF. The accumulation of cells in G1-phase, confirmed by cytometric analysis, was rescued to the S compartment by replacing the culture medium 24 h after CPA administration. Exposure of EVSA-T to Doxorubicin or Methotrexate after CPA and medium change at the time of maximal proliferative recruitment, led to an enhancement of cytotoxicity as demonstrated by colony survival assay.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship between prognostic factors and therapy in high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas over two decades.

We considered the prognostic factors in high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (HG-NHL) over the past two decades. In an effort to clarify the relationship between prognostic factors and therapy, we pooled the literature reports concerning 3,480 patients into four different periods according to the mean years of the clinical trials. The most important prognostic factors discovered in period A (mean year prior to 1970) were histology, symptoms and stage. In period B (1970 through 1975), in addition to the former indicators, two new factors were pointed out: bone marrow involvement and serum lactic dehydrogenase. In period C (1976 through 1980) the significance of stage was reduced, while bulk and measures of lymph nodal and extranodal involvement (LSI, ESI) were found to be better prognostic factors. In studies related to this period the prognostic role of albumin, hemoglobin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were also emphasized. Period D (1980 through 1985) was characterized by a decrease in the importance of the Kiel and Working Formulation (WF) classifications by virtue of the better outcome, in different reports, of HG-NHL with respect to low-grade NHL. The conclusion of our analysis is that symptoms, ESI, bulk, LDH, albumin and hemoglobin should be the most important factors used today in planning the therapy and management of patients with HG-NHL. In addition, an update of the WF is necessary.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Enclosed environments and health].

Problems related to Indoor Air Quality are subject of study since about twenty years. New architectural criteria, new building materials and increasing demands of energy saving have progressively changed residences, offices and all non-industrial indoor environments. This paper present a review of the IAQ-related issues from sources characterization, to pollutant assessment and definition of effects on human health.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Current role of chemotherapy in musculo-invasive transitional carcinoma of the bladder].

The results obtained with chemotherapy (CT) in the management of muscle-infiltrating transitional cell bladder carcinoma (TCBC) are compared with those of radiotherapy (RT) and surgery (S). Cisplatin and methotrexate are the most effective agents, with an overall response rate ranging from 20 to 45% when administered singly. Other chemotherapeutic drugs which proved of some antitumor activity in TCBC are doxorubicin and vinblastine, with an overall response rate of approximately 15% (range 4.28%). With each drug used singly, however, complete response (CR) is uncommon. Combination CT regimens (cisplatin + methotrexate, cisplatin + methotrexate + vinblastine, methotrexate + vinblastine + doxorubicin + cisplatin) are inducing a higher number of CR with an overall response rate between 40 and 70%. CT, previously used as adjuvant or salvage therapy in advanced TCBC, is now given in neo-adjuvant fashion in order to achieve tumor size reduction and control of micrometastases. With these multiagent regimens a significant down-staging can be obtained without major toxicity in over 50% of patients with muscle-infiltrating TCBC, thus increasing the number of patients which can be cured by surgery. These neo-adjuvant programs suggests potential benefit, yet randomized studies and prolonged observations are required to provide definitive results.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new case of Ullrich's disease.

A new case of congenital, hypotonic-sclerotic muscular dystrophy is presented. The patient showed congenital hyperlaxity and looseness of distal joints, muscle weakness, and spur-like protrusion of the calcaneus. Afterwards rapid progressive contractures of both knees and hip joints developed. Muscle biopsies revealed unequivocal dystrophic abnormalities and small atrophic fibers with numerous foldings of basal lamina suggestive of a neurogenic lesion. The disease presents clinical variability but the diagnosis is possible when a newborn shows: no dominant family history, slender body, marked distal joint laxity and hyperflexibility, proximal joint contractures and normal or slightly increased serum enzymes.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Feasibility of thymidine labelling index on fine needle aspirates from breast cancer: comparison with surgical samples.

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) provides a suitable diagnostic tool in the management of patients with breast cancer lesions. The current study reports on tumor proliferative activity, by 3H-Thymidine Labelling Index (TLI), assessed on 59 FNA (TLI1) and 28 surgical specimens (TLI2) from the same breast cancer patients. Median TLI values from FNA and surgical material were 1.0% and 0.7%, respectively. In the 28 patients, evaluable for the comparison between TLI1 and TLI2, the association was found to be highly significant (p = 0.000). Moreover, no change in tumor proliferative activity was observed in the majority (79%) of cases when evaluated preoperatively and at surgery. This study confirms the feasibility of TLI analysis on FNA from breast cancer and provides results superimposable on those obtained in a tissue sample from the same patient.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized, double-blind, cross-over study comparing a levosulpiride-based and a metoclopramide-based combination in the prevention of ProMECE-CytaBOM-induced emesis.

BACKGROUND: To test two different antiemetic regimens for preventing nausea and vomiting in patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) undergoing systemic chemotherapy (CT) with ProMECE-CytaBOM (P-C). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty consecutive untreated adult outpatients with histologically confirmed NHL and scheduled to receive P-C chemotherapy were registered in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study to compare the antiemetic efficacy of a levosulpiride (LS)-based and metoclopramide (MTC)-based regimen. RESULTS: Complete protection from vomiting was recorded in 93% (62/67) of courses with the LS-regimen and in 89% (62/70) with the MTC-regimen (p = 0.428). No nausea was observed in 84% (56/67) of courses with the LS-regimen and in 74% (52/70) with the MTC-regimen (p = 0.183). No differences in prevention of emesis were recorded when patients crossed to the other regimen. Both regimens were well tolerated; however, on day 8 of chemotherapy, when both antiemetic regimens were administered at a higher dose, the LS-based combination showed significantly lower toxicity (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: ProMECE-CytaBOM-induced emesis can be prevented in most cases with appropriate, specifically designed antiemetic therapy. Both the LS- and MTC-based combinations resulted in a high percentage of complete protection from emesis, but the higher incidence of side effects observed with MTC makes the LS-based regimen preferable for patients receiving P-C chemotherapy.

Adult↗