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Biomedical subjects

F Cellini

Publications and source records attributed to F Cellini.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Induction cisplatin-gemcitabine-paclitaxel plus concurrent radiotherapy and gemcitabine in the multimodality treatment of unresectable stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate feasibility and safety of induction three-drugs combination chemotherapy and concurrent radio-chemotherapy in stage IIIB NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with stage IIIB NSCLC were treated with three courses of induction chemotherapy, cisplatin 50 mg/m(2), paclitaxel 125 mg/m(2) and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) on days 1,8 of every 21 day cycle. Patients without distant progressive disease were then treated with radiotherapy and concurrent weekly gemcitabine (250 mg/m(2)). Toxicity and response of radio-chemotherapy treatment have been assessed. RESULTS: Between Jan 01 and Nov 02, 46 patients were enrolled. Grade 3+ hematological and non-hematological toxicity during the induction phase were 41.3% and 13.1%, respectively. In 38 patients a Clinical Response or Stable Disease was recorded and these patients underwent to concurrent radio-chemotherapy. Grade 3+ hematological and non-hematological toxicities were 8.2% in this group. Further response was observed in 66% of patients. Overall median survival time was 17.8 months, with a 3-year survival rates of 23%. CONCLUSION: Three-drugs induction chemotherapy and concurrent radio-chemotherapy with weekly gemcitabine in locally advanced stage IIIB NSCLC is feasible and safe.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Chemo-radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer: the role of gemcitabine.

Gemcitabine (2'-2'-difluorodeoxycytidine) is a well-known cytotoxic drug and a potent radio-enhancer. We herein report the in vitro evidence of its activity, and the clinical experiences when this drug is administered concurrently with radiation. The phase I-II trials are analyzed, focusing on the recent ability to deliver irradiation with low incidence of side effects.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2004

Unintended effects and their detection in genetically modified crops.

The commercialisation of GM crops in Europe is practically non-existent at the present time. The European Commission has instigated changes to the regulatory process to address the concerns of consumers and member states and to pave the way for removing the current moratorium. With regard to the safety of GM crops and products, the current risk assessment process pays particular attention to potential adverse effects on human and animal health and the environment. This document deals with the concept of unintended effects in GM crops and products, i.e. effects that go beyond that of the original modification and that might impact primarily on health. The document first deals with the potential for unintended effects caused by the processes of transgene insertion (DNA rearrangements) and makes comparisons with genetic recombination events and DNA rearrangements in traditional breeding. The document then focuses on the potential value of evolving "profiling" or "omics" technologies as non-targeted, unbiased approaches, to detect unintended effects. These technologies include metabolomics (parallel analysis of a range of primary and secondary metabolites), proteomics (analysis of polypeptide complement) and transcriptomics (parallel analysis of gene expression). The technologies are described, together with their current limitations. Importantly, the significance of unintended effects on consumer health are discussed and conclusions and recommendations presented on the various approaches outlined.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Plant low-molecular-weight phospholipase A2S (PLA2s) are structurally related to the animal secretory PLA2s and are present as a family of isoforms in rice (Oryza sativa).

Recently, we purified to homogeneity and characterized a low-molecular-weight calcium-dependent phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from developing elm seed endosperm. This represented the first purified and characterized PLA2 from a plant tissue. The full sequences of two distinct but homologous rice (Oryza sativa) cDNAs are given here. These encode mature proteins of 1 19 amino acids (PLA2-I, preceded by a 19 amino acid signal peptide) and 128 amino acids (PLA2-II. preceded by a 25 amino acid signal peptide), and were derived from four expressed sequence tag (EST) clones. Both proteins were homologous to the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the elm PLA2. They contained twelve conserved cysteine residues and sequences that are likely to represent the Ca(2+)-binding loop and active-site motif, which are characteristic of animal secretory PLA2s. A soluble PLA2s activity was purified 145 000-fold from green rice shoots. This had the same biochemical characteristics as the elm and animal secretory PLA2s. The purified rice PLA2 consisted of two proteins, with a molecular weight of 12 440 and 12 920, that had identical N-terminal amino acid sequences. This sequence was different from but homologous to the PLA2-I and PLA2-II sequences. Taken together, the results suggest that at least three different low-molecular-weight PLA2s are expressed in green rice shoots. Southern blot analysis suggested that multiple copies of such genes are likely to occur in the rice and in other plant genomes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Specific sequence modifications of a cry3B endotoxin gene result in high levels of expression and insect resistance.

Solanum melongena (eggplant) cv. Picentia and the wild species Solanum integrifolium were transformed with both a wild type (wt) and four mutagenized versions of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene Bt43 belonging to the cry3 class. The Bt gene was partly modified in its nucleotide sequence by replacing four target regions (W: +1 to +170; X: +592 to +1057; Y: +1203 to +1376; Z: +1376 to +1984) with synthetic fragments obtained by polymerase chain reaction amplification of crude oligonucleotides. The synthetic Bt genes were designed to avoid, in their modified regions, sequences such as ATTTA sequence, polyadenylation sequences and splicing sites, which might destabilize the messenger RNA. Furthermore, the codon usage was improved for a better expression in the plant system. The amino acid composition was not altered. Four versions of the modified Bt gene were obtained, BtE, BtF, BtH and BtI, with a nucleotide subtitution percentage of 8.2, 8.6, 14, and 16%, respectively, in comparison to the wt gene Bt43. Modified versions contained different subsets of substituted regions: BtE-W + Z, BtF - Y + Z, BtH-X + Y + Z, BtI - W + X + Y + Z. In the final modified version (BtI), overall guanine+cytosine was increased from the 34.1% of the wt gene to 45.5%, and most of the destabilizing sequences were eliminated. Transgenic plants obtained with the more modified versions, BtH and BtI, were fully resistant to Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say first- and third-instar larvae, while Bt43 wt, BtE and BtF genotypes did not cause mortality and did not affect larval development.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The complete sequence of a cucumber mosaic virus from Ixora that is deficient in the replication of satellite RNAs.

A cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-Ix) from Ixora is unusual in that it does not support the accumulation of some well-characterized CMV satellite RNAs in plants. CMV-Ix can support a particular satellite RNA variant which causes lethal tomato necrosis when inoculated with other CMV strains but not when inoculated with CMV-Ix. This difference in ability to support accumulation of specific satellite variants is apparent even when their sequences differ by only 10 nucleotides. Electroporation of tomato protoplasts with combinations of CMV-Ix or CMV-1 RNA plus the same satellite variants showed similar differences in accumulation, indicating a defect in satellite RNA replication and not movement or encapsidation. Pseudorecombinant virus infections between CMV-1 and CMV-Ix indicated that the genomic determinants responsible for this phenotype reside on RNA 1 since only combinations with CMV-Ix RNA 1 failed to replicate satellite RNA. The complete genome of CMV-Ix was cloned, sequenced and compared with the genomes of other cucumoviruses. CMV-Ix is most similar in RNA and protein sequence to subgroup 1 CMV-Fny and CMV-Y but slightly less similar than they are to each other. CMV-Ix and all cucumovirus strains sequenced thus far share a domain in the 3' untranslated portion of their genomic RNAs in which 39 of 40 bases are completely conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Alpha-5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate-independent salvage of purines in cultured Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts.

A variant clone of cultured chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79), selected for resistance to 8-azaguanine (V79 azagrst), although lacking hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8), is able to convert hypoxanthine into IMP via purine-nucleoside phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.1) and nucleoside kinase. In addition to the phosphoribosylation pathway, we also present evidence for the occurrence of a kinase-mediated pathway of recovery of hypoxanthine in the wild-type cells. The lower rate of formation of IMP in the V79 azagrst cells, apparently correlated with the phosphorylation of the nucleoside, suggests possible differences in the catalytic and/or regulatory properties of nucleoside kinase in the two cell lines. This fact might be of particular relevance in evaluating the mechanisms of resistance to purine analogs displayed by several cell types.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quality handbook in radiotherapy: personal experience.

The Quality Handbook includes the description of the activities carried out in Radiotherapy and the methodology used to ensure the Quality Assurance according to the principles indicated in national and international documents of reference and the recommendations of accreditation agencies. The structure of the Quality Handbook, the main aspects of single chapters, the selected quality indicators undergoing inspections are analysed and procedures to be followed for changes and updating of the Quality Handbook are described. The Quality Assurance program is illustrated in another article of this issue.

Humans↗