PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Dini

Publications and source records attributed to G Dini.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Leukemic infiltration of the eye: results of therapy in a retrospective multicentric study.

A multicentric retrospective study on leukemic ophthalmopathy (LO) is reported, including 38 patients (21 males, 17 females) with acute leukemia (AL) observed from 1976 to 1985. LO developed in four patients at the time of diagnosis of AL; ten were in first complete remission (eight off therapy), 12 in second remission, and 12 in combined relapse. The children were treated according to different schedules of systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy (RT) of the affected eye. Ocular remission occurred in 32 of 38 patients, but with subsequent ocular relapse in six of the 32. Complete remission after LO treatment lasting for more than 24, 30, 40, and 78 months was observed in four of the ten children with isolated LO in first AL marrow remission. The authors concluded that systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy probably is associated with RT (at least 30 Gy to the affected eye). Aggressive treatment is justified because children with isolated ocular relapse can still be cured.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Culture of fibroblast-like cells derived from normal human liver. Identification by morphologic and immunologic criteria.

Fibroblast-like cells were isolated from liver biopsies of normal adult donors. The cells were grown in tissue culture first as a heterogeneous population, afterwards as homogeneous cultures of fibroblast-like cells. Phase contrast microscopy demonstrated that cultured human liver fibroblast-like cells grew as monolayers of slender, spindle-shaped cells in parallel arrays. By transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cultured human liver fibroblasts were seen to have morphological characteristics of in vitro fibroblasts. By immunoelectronmicroscopy, cultured fibroblast-like cells were seen to produce components of connective tissue, such as fibronectin, collagen type I, type III, and small amounts of collagen type IV. These studies demonstrate that it is possible to culture morphologically and immunologically identifiable human liver fibroblasts from normal human liver.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Positive direct antiglobulin test in a pediatric patient following high-dose cisplatin.

A positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) and hemolytic anemia are uncommon side effect of cisplatin (CDDP) therapy. A 9-year-old girl treated for extraosseus Ewing's sarcoma with a multiagent regimen, including 200 mg/m2 CDDP preceded by vincristine (VCR) and cyclophosphamide (CY), developed a positive DAT, followed by hemolytic anemia. When CDDP therapy was discontinued, the DAT became negative and no signs of anemia were observed during the maintenance treatment, which included VCR and actinomycin D.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗
PubMed1988

Role of Broviac catheters in infections in children with cancer.

In a 3-year period 157 single lumen Broviac catheters were inserted in 145 children with various neoplastic diseases. The overall duration of the catheter courses was 30,533 days (median, 171; range, 2 to 647). Sixty-five percent of the catheter courses (102 of 157) were complicated by at least 1 febrile episode, for a total of 157 episodes. According to European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer criteria, 79 febrile episodes (50%) were classified as microbiologically documented infections, 57 (36%) with and 22 (14%) without septicemia; 31 (20%) as clinically documented infections; and 47 (30%) as possible infections. Of the 79 microbiologically documented infections 21 were catheter-related infections (CRI), 32 were catheter-unrelated infections and 26 were infections of unknown source. Only 48% of CRI occurred during neutropenia (less than 1000 neutrophils/mm3), compared with 88% of catheter-unrelated infections and 96% of infections of unknown origin (P = 0.00007). Gram-positive microorganisms (56% staphylococci) accounted for 78% of all isolates in CRI, 47% in catheter-unrelated infections and 43% in infections of unknown origins (P = 0.03). Fungi represented 12% of all isolates. Clinical and microbiologic resolution without removal of the catheter was achieved in 12 of 21 CRI (57%) and no patient died from a CRI. This study indicates that over 3 of 4 of CRI are caused by Gram-positive bacteria, occur in neutropenic and non-neutropenic patients (approximately 50%) and can be successfully treated without removing the catheter.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA-positive hepatocellular carcinoma following hepatitis B virus infection in a child.

Integrated hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA sequences were found in neoplastic liver tissue of a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative child who had previously suffered from HBsAg-positive chronic active hepatitis and was anti-HBs and anti-hepatitis B core (HBc) positive at the time of tumor development. Reintegration pattern was consistent with the presence of a single integration site of the HBV genome into cellular DNA, and clonal proliferation of such infected cells. A normal liver, tested in the same experiment with the same amount of total DNA, was negative for viral DNA sequences. These findings support the possible oncogenic role of HBV in the development of liver cancer, not only in adults, but also in children, even in patients who are negative for HBsAg at the time of tumor diagnosis.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1987

Resistant and relapsing neuroblastoma: improved response rate with a new multiagent regimen (OC-HDP) including high-dose cisplatinum.

From September 1984 to July 1985, 11 children from 6 months to 6 years of age were treated with a three-drug regimen (OC-HDP), including vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and cisplatinum 200 mg/m2 given as five dose-fractions over 5 days. Nine had resistant and two relapsed neuroblastoma. Nine children had previously been treated with cisplatinum at conventional doses; nine had not received cyclophosphamide and ten had not received vincristine. Nine of eleven patients had a good response to treatment; six are presently alive in continuous complete remission 11-23 months (median 13 months) after diagnosis. Toxicity was moderate: no child showed either severe myelotoxicity or clinical or laboratory evidence of nephrotoxicity. No child had clinically significant ototoxicity. In six children audiometry showed hearing loss for high frequencies after the third cycle of treatment. It is concluded that OC-HDP regimen could be considered as a first-line treatment for advanced neuroblastoma.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1987

Interaction of urokinase with specific receptors abolishes the time of commitment to terminal differentiation of murine erythroleukaemia (Friend) cells.

We have shown the presence of specific receptors for human urokinase on the surface of mouse erythroleukaemic cells. The receptor number increases when undifferentiated cells undergo hexamethylene-bisacetamide induced differentiation, while affinity between receptor and ligand does not change. A monoclonal antibody against the 17,500 mol wt fragment of the non-catalytic chain of urokinase (A chain) inhibits the specific binding, as we have previously shown in A431 cells. We have found that, upon the simultaneous addition of both urokinase or the A chain and hexamethylenebisacetamide, commitment is initiated immediately without the lag shown by control cultures of undifferentiated cells treated with the low molecular weight inducer alone. A series of mechanisms possibly involved in the action of urokinase on mouse erythroleukaemic differentiation are also discussed.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1987

High-dose cisplatin and etoposide in advanced malignancies of childhood.

Thirty-two children with poor-prognosis solid tumors were treated with a combination of high-dose cisplatin (CDDP) (200 mg/m2 over 5 days) and VP16. In the 30 children evaluable for antitumor effect, there were 7 complete, 12 partial, and 3 minor tumor responses. Wilms' tumor and rhabdomyosarcoma responded best. There were no therapy-related deaths. Severe neutropenia (PMN less than 500/mmc) developed after 29 out of the 45 evaluable courses and lasted a median of 8 days; during periods of neutropenia 8 episodes of fever occurred, 1 of which was caused by streptococcal sepsis. Platelet levels were depressed to less than 50,000/mmc after 17/45 cycles and this thrombocytopenia lasted a median of 8 days. No neurological toxicity occurred. One case developed acute renal failure. A hearing deficit for high frequencies was documented in 14/22 patients evaluated after the first cycle and in all cases after the subsequent cycles; the deficits correlated with the total dose of CDDP administered. High-dose cisplatin and VP16 is an effective association in children with advanced cancer, but cumulative dosage is limited by ototoxicity.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1986

The Mr 17500 region of the A chain of urokinase is required for interaction with a specific receptor in A431 cells.

We have found the existence of specific receptors for the plasminogen activator, urokinase, in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells, cultures in plasminogen-free conditions. Two subsets of receptors have been recognized on the basis of 125I-labelled urokinase binding analysis: about 1 X 10(3) high-affinity (Kd = 5.0 X 10(-11) M) and 1 X 10(5) low-affinity (Kd = 9 X 10(-9) M) receptors per cell. The electron microscopic observation of a urokinase: ferritin conjugate has shown single and clustered receptors at the cell surface. Down-regulation of the receptors (T1/2 = 3.77 h) follows the binding of urokinase. The binding does not involve an intact catalytic site and is inhibited by a monoclonal antibody against the Mr 17500 proteolytic fragment of the A chain of urokinase.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗
PubMed1986

Effect of sodium selenite on guinea-pig cardiac isolated mitochondria.

The pre-incubation with sodium selenite reduces the respiratory index in guinea-pig cardiac mitochondria when alpha-ketoglutarate and glutamate are used as substrates. This decrease is dose-dependent. On the other hand, no modification in respiratory index is measured with malate or malate plus pyruvate. The effect on sodium selenite is prevented by CoA administration. Moreover, 25 microM sodium selenite reduces the Km and Vmax of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase measured at steady-state with variable amount of CoA.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

EBNA-negative polyclonal B cells derived from a long-term culture of unclassified acute lymphoblastic leukemia: IL-2-like activity of culture's supernatant.

A long-term culture of bone marrow lymphoblasts in a case of unclassified acute lymphoblastic leukemia is described. Cells lacking any lymphocytic marker in the early phase of the culture were gradually substituted by B cells showing a pattern of polyclonality. The culture supernatant contained high levels of immunoglobulins also showing interleukin 2 activity. Search for antigens related to the Epstein-Barr virus was negative. A clonal expansion of B cells versus spontaneous differentiation of unclassified leukemic cells is discussed; the long-term culture technique as a tool for a better evaluation of leukemic cells is suggested and discussed.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1986

Cardiac hypoxia and subsequent reoxygenation: sensitivity to L-arginine methylester.

The effect of L-arginine methylester (L-Arg-Me) was studied in the isolated heart of the guinea-pig perfused with hypoxic substrate-free medium for 30 min and subsequently reoxygenated with normal saline solution for 30 min. The administration of L-Arg-Me in basal conditions decreases dose-dependently heart rate without any changes in the myocardial structure. On the other hand, the administration of L-Arg-Me (5-10 mM) decreases ventricular arrhythmias, especially during reoxygenation; in fact ventricular fibrillation is abolished. L-Arg-Me treatment increases the recovery of normal electrical and mechanical activity at the end of reoxygenation and reduces the increase in basal tone. Treatment with 10 mM L-Arg-Me decreases lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in the effluent and lysosomal fragility in cardiac tissue, while it does not influence calcium gain. L-Arginine (L-Arg) does not mimic any of the effects of L-Arg-Me.

Animals↗