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G Dardanoni

Publications and source records attributed to G Dardanoni.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

A case-control study on breast cancer risk factors in a southern European population.

A case-control study has been carried out among women attending a screening service in Palermo (Sicily) from 1974 through 1983 to ascertain the distribution of the most frequently investigated risk factors for breast cancer in a southern European population. Information has been obtained from the archives of the screening service. The analysis was separately conducted for pre- and post-menopausal cases and non-cases. Risk factors for pre-menopausal women are: nulliparity (nulliparous versus parous: OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.41-3.32); age at first birth (25-29 versus less than 20: OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.17-4.00); interval between menarche and first birth (greater than 20 years versus less than 6: OR 5.34, 95% CI 2.08-13.66); number of births (greater than 4 versus 1-2: OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.10-3.50). Risk factors for post-menopausal women are: nulliparity (nulliparous versus parous: OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.59-2.99); age at first birth (greater than 29 versus less than 20: OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.13-2.99); interval between menarche and first birth (16-20 years versus less than 6: OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.20-3.85). Age at menarche, age at menopause, breast feeding and family history were not found to be risk factors for breast cancer in the investigated population. The existence of influencing differences between northern and southern populations has been postulated.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

HBV infection risk in hospital workers.

Prevalence of HBV infection markers and its association with some risk factors has been studied on hospital staff of the University Polyclinic of Palermo. The results show that male sex, job category (technicians, nurses, cleaners) and age are significantly associated with a higher prevalence of HBV infection markers; length of service and working in departments with a presumably higher exposure to blood did not result as a risk factor of higher prevalence of HBV infection when submitted to multiple regression logistic analysis. It is suggested that results of this study may be affected by the elevated spread of HBV infection in this area, and extra risk associated to hospital exposure is too small to be demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Prevalence and incidence of hospital infections at the University Polyclinic of Palermo].

Hospital infections (H.I.) were studied in the University Polyclinic of Palermo, a 1270 beds General Hospital. A prevalence study was carried out in four periods (December, February, June, October) on a sample of 590 patients from randomly chosen from medical and surgical departments. All patients present in the departments were investigated. Data were obtained from hospital records, using a form prepared according to the Italian Study Project of Hospital Infections (SIPIO), and through interview of the patients and/or of the medical staff. After excluding community infections, point prevalence was calculated; moreover, the day in which sign or symptoms of infections appeared was assessed. Cumulative incidence of H.I. and some risk factors associated were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox model for multivariate analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Predictive value of ultrasonography in the screening of non-ascitic cirrhotic patients with large varices.

To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography in the screening of cirrhotic patients with large varices, the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves of the portal, mesenteric, and splenic veins of 215 consecutive non-ascitic patients were plotted in order to select the most indicative optimal threshold. The contribution of respiratory variations of splenic and mesenteric veins was also evaluated. Taking 13 mm as the limit for the normal diameter of the portal vein, 10 and 9 mm for the upper limits of the mesenteric and splenic veins, respectively, and respiratory variations being absent, the positive rates were 91, 88, and 92 per cent and the false-positive rates were 44, 38, and 42 per cent, respectively. The predictive values of a positive test were 0.34, 0.33, and 0.34, respectively, and the predictive values of a negative test were 0.96 for the portal and mesenteric veins and 0.97 for the splenic vein. Because the portal vein is always visible, the portal diameter may be employed in the screening through the presence of large varices in association with the assessment of respiratory variation in the splenic or mesenteric diameter. A cut-off point of 13 mm and the absence of respiratory variations precludes the need for endoscopy in 47 per cent of patients.

Endoscopy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Is the acidity of ascitic fluid a reliable index in making the presumptive diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis?

Ascitic fluid pH and arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient were compared to ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear cell count in 84 patients with cirrhotic ascites and in 12 with malignant ascites to assess their role as diagnostic tests for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and to clarify the relationship between ascitic fluid pH and lactate. Ascitic fluid pH was significantly lower (pH 7.30) in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (n = 18) and probable spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (n = 12) than in sterile ascites (pH 7.41; n = 54). Since blood pH levels were not different in the presence of infection, arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient was significantly higher in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and probable spontaneous bacterial peritonitis than in sterile ascites (0.12 vs. 0.02). The close correlations between arterial-ascitic pH gradient and lactate (r = 0.77, p less than 0.0001), lactate and bicarbonate gradient (r = 0.64, p = 0.003) and arterial-ascitic pH gradient and pCO2 gradient (r = -0.90, p less than 0.0001) suggest that the low ascitic fluid pH may be due to an increase in lactate and CO2. Patients with Escherichia coli-induced spontaneous bacterial peritonitis had significantly lower ascitic fluid pH and higher lactate than those with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis by other organisms. Values of ascitic fluid pH, lactate and arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient in malignant ascites were similar to those of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and probable spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Cutoff points, selected by receiver operating characteristic curves analysis, of 450 per mm3 for polymorphonuclear cells and of 0.07 for arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient, allow high positive and negative predictive values for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of some risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma: a case control study.

A case-control study of risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was carried out in our Department from December 1980 to December 1983. One hundred and twenty consecutive inpatients with HCC were compared with 360 controls pair-matched by sex and age (within years). For each case three different controls were selected from inpatients at the same hospital: one patient with liver cirrhosis; one patient with solid tumor and one patient with chronic illness other than neoplasm or liver disease. We report here the results on alcohol consumption, smoking habit and hepatitis B virus infection. The risk factors investigated are distributed similarly in HCC and cirrhosis. The prevalence of alcohol abuse in HCC is similar to that in cirrhosis and is significantly higher than in other neoplastic or otherwise chronically ill patients (odds ratio 2 X 3 and 3 X 2 respectively). Thus alcohol abuse is probably a risk factor for HCC as a cause of cirrhosis. Smoking habits were similar among the various disease groups and independent of alcohol consumption. The prevalence of heavy smoking was comparable in cases and controls. HbsAg negative-HCC with an ultrasonographic pattern of 'diffuse' alteration was more frequent in heavy smokers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differential expression levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and cathepsin D in locally advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: clinical implications.

The expression levels and the prognostic impact of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and cathepsin D (CD) were evaluated in patients with locally advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). uPA and CD protein levels were determined by immunoluminometric or immunoenzymatic assays in the cytosol of paired sets of tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent normal mucosa (NLM) from 57 patients with stage III/IV LSCC and were correlated with a number of clinicobiological parameters of this tumor including anatomical site, tumor grade, nodal status, clinical stage, DNA ploidy, proliferation rate, and patient outcome. Median uPA levels were significantly higher in LSCC than in NLM (1.8 ng/mg of protein vs 0.3 ng/mg; p<0.001) whereas median CD levels were not significantly increased in tumor tissue compared to NLM (24 pmol/mg vs 19 pmol/mg, p=0.063). No significant correlation was observed between uPA and CD concentrations in tumor tissues (r=-0.1; p=0.4). Furthermore, the distribution analysis of uPA and CD in tumors showed no correlation between expression levels of these proteinases and the parameters mentioned above including patient outcome. However, when data were matched according to each parameter examined it was observed that the differences in uPA content between LSCC and NLM, expressed as uPA tumor/normal tissue ratio (T/M), were more marked in clinically advanced and/or aggressive forms of LSCC (i.e., node positive, stage IV, poorly and moderately differentated, aneuploid multiclonal, low S-phase, subglottis tumors). These data suggest that in such tumors altered regulation of uPA may occur to a greater extent than in less aggressive and less advanced forms of LSCC. This phenomenon was not observed for CD. However, in tumors with a high proliferation rate, in stage IV tumors as well as in those located in the supraglottis, CD levels were significantly higher than those found in the corresponding NLM (p=0.008, p=0.02 and p=0.03, respectively). In conclusion, uPA is highly expressed in locally advanced LSCC and appears to be implicated in some key events of progression of this tumor such as local invasion and/or nodal involvement, whereas CD does not seem to have a role in promoting these processes. Nevetheless, neither of these proteinases seem to be prognostically useful in patients with stage III/IV tumors.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Thymidylate synthase gene promoter polymorphisms are associated with TSmRNA expressions but not with microsatellite instability in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a biological characteristic of most tumours, being involved in 85% of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). It also occurs in 10-15% of sporadic colorectal cancers (CRC). HNPCC appears to be caused by germline mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes, which are responsible for repairing single base-pair mismatches. MSI is also associated with a better response of CRC to adjuvant chemotherapy with fluoropyrimidines. We investigated any relationship between the MSI status and the TSmRNA expression, the polymorphisms of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU cellular target, the enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS) and TS expression evaluated by means of immunohistochemistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 80 colorectal cancers was evaluated for MSI and polymorphisms in the 3'UTR and the 5'UTR of the TS gene by a PCR assay. TSmRNA was quantified by real-time PCR and the TS expression by immunohistochemical assay. RESULTS: There was no significant association between the polymorphisms in the TS gene and the MSI or between the TSmRNA expression and the MSI status. CRC with a 3R/3R or 2R/3R genotype showed a significantly higher TSmRNA expression than those with the 2R/2R genotype (p = 0.001 and p = 0.028, respectively). Another significant association was found between the TSmRNA expression and the TS immunohistochemical determination (p = < 0.05). No association was found between the polymorphism of the 3'UTR and the TSmRNA expression. CONCLUSION: Our data show that there is no association between MSI status and the polymorphisms in the 3' and 5' UTRs and the TS expression. Tumour samples displaying the 3R/3R or 2R/3R genotype of TS have higher TSmRNA levels than the 2R/2R genotype. Polymorphic variant of the 3'UTR does not influence the TSmRNA level. We found a relationship between the TSmRNA expression, evaluated by real-time PCR, and with the TS level determined by immunohistochemical assay. Thus, genotyping of the 5'UTR and quantification of the TSmRNA expression in human CRC could be considered as predictors for response to SFU-based chemotherapy. The evaluation of the TS expression by means of immunohistochemistry assay remains a safe and reliable assay in CRC.

5' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Thymidylate synthase level and DNA-ploidy pattern as possible prognostic factors in human colorectal cancer: a preliminary study.

5-Fluorouracil is the drug chosen for the treatment of patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma; its major site of action is thymidylate synthase (TS), resulting in pronounced and prolonged inhibition of DNA synthesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of considering TS level in human colorectal carcinomas of previously untreated patients (pts) as a prognostic factor. Our data demonstrate that there is no association with age, sex, tumor site and tumor size; however, there is a relationship between TS levels and staging: in fact, the TS values are higher (P < 0.05) in Dukes-A tumors than in the others. A significant association was also found between the TS levels and survival parameters: in fact, pts with longer disease-free and overall survivals had a significantly increased TS level compared to pts with a poorer outcome (P < 0.05). Moreover, pts with DNA-aneuploid tumors had lower TS level (median = 0.044 pmol/mg protein) than diploid pts who had higher TS level (median = 0.093 pmol/mg protein); however the difference is not significant. Our result are based on preliminary data; however, they seem to support the hypothesis that a high TS level is a favourable prognostic factor in human colorectal carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic significance of proliferative activity, DNA-ploidy, p53 and Ki-ras point mutations in colorectal liver metastases.

Paired colorectal liver metastases (CLM) and normal tissue samples from a consecutive series of 36 patients were studied prospectively. MIB-1 expression was studied by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections. DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) measurements were performed by flow cytometry on frozen tissues. Mutations within the p53 (exons 5-8) and c-Ki-ras (codons 12 and 13) genes were detected by PCR single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis followed by sequencing. A high correlation was observed between the MIB-1 LI and SPF value (rho=0.81; P<0.01). Moreover, p53 gene mutations were associated with either high MIB-1 LI and high SPF. In univariate analysis, SPF and MIB-1 levels were related to risk of death. The association between overall survival and DNA-ploidy or p53 mutations did not reach statistical significance, but a slightly better survival was observed for patients either with DNA-diploid tumours or without mutations (P=0.05 and P=0.06, respectively). SPF was shown by multivariate Cox model analysis to be an independent prognostic variable and thus it might be a useful prognostic factor in patients with CLM.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nm23-H1 protein, DNA-ploidy and S-phase fraction in relation to overall survival and disease free survival in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

OBJECTIVES: To explain the overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) in relation to nm23-H1 protein, DNA-ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-four samples were obtained from patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder examined between 1994 and 1996. The patients were underwent cistectomy or surgical biopsy and the material was histologically evaluated according to World Health Organization classification. Nm23-H1 protein expression in immunohistological staining and DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction by flow cytometric were performed. RESULTS: The correlation between OS and staging, grading, DNA-ploidy and S-phase was significant; whereas the overall survival and nm23-H1 protein, was not significant. The relationship between DFS and stage, DNA-ploidy and S-phase had a significant value. The correlation between DFS and age, sex, grading and nm23-H1 protein was not significant. There was no significant difference in age, sex, stage, grading, DNA-ploidy and SPF distribution between patients with nm23-H1 positive bladder cancer and those with nm23-H1 negative tumours. CONCLUSION: In our study, multivariate analysis showed that stage, ploidy and SPF were the strongest prognostic factors in predicting disease-free survival and prolonged survival, while nm23-H1 expression was not related to disease progression and/or prolonged survival. This expression, therefore, does not appear to be an independent prognostic factor in bladder cancer, although a still larger number of patients and a longer follow-up period are now needed for a definitive assessment of the prognostic significance of nm23-H1 expression.

Adult↗