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Biomedical subjects

G Masera

Publications and source records attributed to G Masera.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Pancreatic endocrine function in leukemic children treated with L-asparaginase.

The effect of arginine infusion on blood glucose and plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide and glucagon has been studied in leukemic children before and after treatment with L-asparaginase (10,000 U/m2/day for 10 days). Therapy induced a significant reduction in basal and peak blood glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels, while glucagon was unmodified. The conserved C-peptide-insulin molar ratio suggests the interference of L-asparaginase with proinsulin synthesis. In conclusion our results prove a decreased insulin reserve with a preserved, although reduced, beta-cell function.

Asparaginase↗
PubMed1981

Atypical acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3 variant): description of two cases.

A variant form of acute promyelocytic leukemia has been recently described, characterized by a particular morphological picture associated with severe disseminated intravascular coagulation, with hyperleukocytosis at onset in most cases, and often a rapidly fatal outcome. Reviewing our case series of the past 3 years, we have identified 2 cases which presented with this typical clinical and hematological picture, in which diagnoses have been made retrospectively. The possibility of diagnosing this variant at onset even only on the basis of cytomorphology is discussed as well as the advisability of studying a new therapeutic approach for cases of this type in a attempt to improve its otherwise very unfavorable prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Prophylactic treatment of the central nervous system in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. CT findings in 45 children off therapy.

45 children with ALL treated with intrathecal Methotrexate and radiation therapy, all in hematologic remission, have been examined with brain CT at intervals varying from 3 to 6 years after completion of CNS prophylaxis. Abnormalities were detected in 20% of the children; the main findings were: calcifications within the brain parenchyma in 3 patients; enlargement of the ventricular system and/or sulci in 8. The 3 patients with calcifications had seizures during or after treatment whereas those with dilatation of the ventricular system or sulci presented no neurological signs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Discontinuing therapy in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia. A multicentric survey in Italy.

The results of discontinuing therapy in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia observed at four associated institutions are presented. Of the 247 patients who achieved complete remission, 122 (49.3%) reached the point of discontinuing therapy after 2-4 years of continuous remission. The median period off therapy was 13 months with a range of 1-69 months. Of the 122 children removed from therapy, 27 (22.1%) relapsed, mainly in the bone marrow; relapses occurred 1-32 months after cessation of therapy (median ten months) with only two relapses occurring later than two years. By actuarial analysis, 57% of the patients are projected in continuous remission after five years from cessation of therapy. Neither selected features at diagnosis nor single modalities of treatment were found to predict whether relapse would occur after discontinuing therapy. Long-term remission and possibly cure can be expected in over one-third of newly diagnosed children with ALL after 2-4 years of antileukemic treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Sequential study of liver biopsy in thalassaemia.

Liver biopsies were performed in 47 thalassaemic children. 33 of them had laboratory findings that suggested chronic hepatitis; the other 14 patients, without such signs, underwent liver biopsies during splenectomy. Nine patients showed a more or less pronounced fibrosis, 26 showed chronic persistent hepatitis, and 12 had histological evidence of chronic aggressive hepatitis. The last 12 patients who had been treated with corticosteroids, and 9 other patients who showed a worsening of their liver function tests, underwent sequential biopsy. We suggest that chronic liver disease in thalassaemic children can produce inflammatory infiltration even without biochemical or clinical sign of chronic hepatitis, that it can progress towards cirrhosis even in patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, and that there appears to be no benefit in giving corticosteroids.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Transient aplastic crisis in hereditary spherocytosis.

In this study the case of a child affected with hereditary spherocytosis, who presented with a presumably viral infection induced transient aplastic crisis, is described. The bone marrow aspirate showed phagocytosis of erythrocytes and nucleated cells by reticular cells. The possible pathogenetic role of bone marrow phagocytosis in aplastic crises in patients with haemolytic anaemias is discussed.

Anemia, Aplastic↗
PubMed1979

Leukaemic hypopyon in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after interruption of treatment.

A 7-year-old girl was successfully treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and remained in remission after treatment had been completed in 3 years. Four months after cessation of treatment, iridocyclitis with hypopyon developed in one eye. Exudate from the anterior chamber contained numerous lymphoblasts. Local radiotherapy led to complete resolution of the ocular lesions, and the patient remains well 22 months later.

Anterior Chamber↗
PubMed1978

Occurrence of circulating immune complexes in beta-thalassaemia major.

The presence of circulating soluble immune complexes and the level of complement were investigated in sera from 21 patients with beta-thalassaemia major, including both splenectomised and nonsplenectomised patients. A high level of immune complexes was found in half of these cases. Reduced complement levels were seen less frequently. There was no correlation between the presence of circulating immune complexes, decreased complement levels, and thpresence or absence of the spleen. The level of immune complexes increased with the age ofthe individual, i.e. with the duration of the disease.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1978

Sequential therapy with daunorubicin and L-asparaginase in relapses of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

13 children affected by acute lymphoblastic leukemia in advanced stage of illness received a sequential therapy with daunorubicin and L-asparaginase. During daunorubicin therapy a significant decrease of bone hypercellularity as well as circulating cells occurred, a further cycle with a scarcely myelotoxic drug, L-asparaginase, was administered: a 10/13 (76.9%) remission of the disease was then achieved. This therapeutic trial was well accepted and could be more extensively used in the patients in relapse. A remission lasting between 4 and 28 weeks was observed.

Asparaginase↗
PubMed1978

Immune status in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Observations in 67 cases.

67 children affected with acute lympocytic leukemia were immunologically evaluated for lymphocytic markers, serum immunoglobulins and delayed hypersensitivity skin tests at the onset, in remission and after cessation of therapy. E, EA rosettes and surface Ig assayed significantly lower in leukemic children than in matched controls, except for three cases of T-cell leukemia in which E rosettes were very high. After cessation of therapy almost normal results were obtained. As for serum Ig, the only abnormal finding was that of low IgM during therapy. The skin tests with Varidase, Candidine, Mumps antigen and DNCB were not significantly different at onset and in remission. As for DNCB test, the negative responses at onset often became positive in remission, but only when the test was performed before any treatment (anamnestic-like response?). One of the three patients with T-cell leukemia relapsed after 8 months: strangely enough, no surface marker could be detected on that occasion. We could not find any relationship between various immunological tests, or between these tests and prognosis; chemotherapy proved active in suppressing cellular immunity, especially the primary cellular response.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Current problems in diagnosis and screening of thalassemia (author's transl)].

The diagnosis of different forms of thalassemia, considering the genetic variant giving different hematological pattern, is discussed. The laboratory tests useful for this diagnosis and mainly the most recent techniques are particularly considered for their specificity and convenience. The problems of screening with special consideration for health education, laboratory tests and different social and psychological aspects are treated.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗