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Biomedical subjects

I De Torres

Publications and source records attributed to I De Torres.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Renal hydatidic cyst simulating hypernephroma].

OBJECTIVE: To present a new case of hydatid cyst of the kidney with a difficult radiographic diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We describe the clinical, diagnosis and treatment of a complex renal mass and its histological confirmation after surgery. Review of the literature. CONCLUSIONS: kidney's hydatidose is an unusual placement of this pathology. It is important to take care in the differential diagnosis in the context of complexes renal masses. There are some diagnosis procedures which can help us to establish it. Surgery is the treatment of choice in the majority of the cases.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Gains of the relative genomic content of erbB-1 and erbB-2 in prostate carcinoma and their association with metastasis.

Prostate carcinoma (PC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the western world. Although the role of oncogenes and growth factors in prostate carcinoma is still unclear, overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (erbB-1) and the proto-oncogene erbB-2 have been reported in prostate tumors, and erbB-2 related to poor prognosis and distant metastasis. Recent allelotyping studies in prostate cancer have shown chromosomal gains in 7p and 17q, regions where erbB-1 and erbB-2 are localized respectively, although no direct evidence of an increased gene copy number of either erbB-1 or erbB-2 has been reported. To address this question, we analyzed 20 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) samples and 36 samples of metastatic and non-metastatic PC by means of semiquantitative PCR. Thus, 64% (11/17) and 52% (10/19) of metastatic and non-metastatic tumors respectively showed gains of the relative genomic content of erbB-1 and an association of erbB-1 with prostate cancer but not with metastasis. Additionally, 41% (7/17) of metastatic samples showed gains of erbB-2 genomic content, suggesting an association of erbB-2 with metastasis and poor prognosis (p<0.005). No gains of erbB-1 or erbB-2 genomic content were detected in the BPH samples.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Over-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and c-erbB2/neu but not of int-2 genes in benign prostatic hyperplasia by means of semi-quantitative PCR.

It is well established that activation of cellular genes may trigger uncontrolled cell growth and cancer development. Previous reports suggest that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr), c-erbB2/neu and int-2, fibroblast growth factor-3, may be implicated in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Using the polymerase chain reaction technique, we have assessed the amplification and expression of these molecular markers in 30 prostate samples from patients with BPH as well as from 5 normal donors. We detected mRNA over-expression of EGFr and c-erbB2/neu in 36% and 63%, respectively, of the BPH samples, but no gene amplification was found. No amplification or over-expression of int-2 was detected in any of the samples analyzed, suggesting that int-2 is not involved in BPH. Our results thus suggest a role for EGFr and c-erbB2/neu but not for int-2 in the development of BPH.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Androgen-independent basal cell re-epithelialization, c-erbB-2 mRNA expression and androgen-dependent EGFr mRNA expression in benign prostatic hyperplasia explant cultures treated with finasteride.

We have analyzed the effects of the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride (MK906), on the mRNA expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor and c-erbB-2 genes, in benign prostatic hyperplasia explant cultures treated with testosterone and with testosterone plus finasteride. A decrease of the epithelial cell content and an androgen-independent basal cell re-epithelialization was observed during the first 10 days of culture, suggesting a role of basal cells as stem cells involved in androgen-independent epithelial regeneration. Using a semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique, we observed a significant decrease in expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor in the cultures treated with finasteride whereas no effect of finasteride on c-erbB-2 transcription was detected, although the expression of both genes was increased by dihydrotestosterone.

Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase↗
PubMed1996

Follow-up of celiac disease with D-xylose breath test.

Hydrogen breath tests (H2-BT) are commonly used to diagnose carbohydrate malabsorption. Specifically, the H2-BT with D-xylose has been shown to be as valid as the traditional urinary test for the recognition of intestinal malabsorption. We have now investigated the H2-BT with D-xylose in the follow-up of patients with celiac disease. Seventeen patients with celiac disease established clinically and confirmed by jejunal biopsy were studied. H2-BT was performed before and after treatment with a gluten-free diet for at least five months. Alveolar breath samples were obtained before administering orally 25 g of D-xylose and thereafter at 30 min intervals for 5 hr. Samples were analyzed for H2 by chromatography. Simultaneously, the 5-hr urinary excretion of D-xylose was determined by colorimetry. Gluten removal significantly decreased the H2 delta change (from 56.5 +/- 5.9 ppm to 32.2 +/- 8.8, P < 0.05). A similar decrease was observed in the area under the curve (P < 0.05). Conversely, urinary D-xylose excretion increased significantly (P < 0.05). Eleven of the 17 celiacs clinically improved after treatment. The H2-BT normalized in every patient who entered remission on the gluten-free diet, whereas the urinary D-xylose excretion remained abnormal in six of them. In the six nonresponder patients the H2-BT remained high in five, whereas urinary D-xylose excretion paradoxically normalized in 2. We conclude that H2-BT with D-xylose is a useful and practical test for the follow-up of celiac disease and is simpler and more reliable than the urinary D-xylose test.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Plasma-cell tumours of the condyle.

Plasma cell tumours are a group of disorders which are characterized by neoplastic proliferation of atypical plasma cells involved in the production of monoclonal immunoglobulins. Bone pain, renal insufficiency and normocytic-normochromic anaemia are suggestive data for diagnosis. In 12-15% of cases of multiple myeloma, the first manifestation of the disease appears in the jaw bones and oral cavity. Two cases of multiple myeloma affecting the mandibular condyle are presented, and the incidence of oral and maxillofacial lesions is briefly reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early results of the value of p53 in predicting survival in a homogeneous cohort of patients with invasive bladder cancer treated with a neoadjuvant carboplatin-based regimen (M-CAVI).

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Several reports on prognostic factors for infiltrating-bladder cancer have given controversial results. We assessed the prognostic value of p53 nuclear overexpression together with known prognostic factors for survival in patients with invasive T2-4 N0 M0 bladder cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-five paraffinized tumor samples from initial transurethral resection of patients with bladder cancer were analyzed immunohistochemically to detect overexpression of p53 protein. Patients were treated with 3 to 4 cycles of neoadjuvant methotrexate, carboplatin, and vinblastine (M-CAVI) and then underwent radical cystectomy. Prechemotherapy, treatment, and postchemotherapy factors were analyzed for correlation with survival by univariate and multivariate analysis. Fifty-seven percent of tumors were positive for p53 protein, 71.5% had grade III-IV tumors, and 72% had organ-confined disease. The median follow-up was 20 months (range 5-71+). RESULTS: By univariate analysis, the significant pretreatment factors were initial tumor (T) stage (P < 0.0001) and the male sex (P = 0.03). Five postchemotherapy variables were found significant: surgery performed according to protocol (P = 0.003), overall clinical (P = 0.004), and overall pathologic (P = 0.02) response to therapy, postchemotherapy pathologic stage (P = 0.0002), and tumor status after surgery (P = 0.0006). By multivariate analysis, the initial prechemotherapy T stage was the only factor that demonstrated independent significance. CONCLUSIONS: Although the median follow-up of the study is still too short, in this group of patients treated with a neoadjuvant carboplatin-based regimen, a classical variable (prechemotherapy T stage) rather than p53 nuclear overexpression was an independent prognostic factor for survival. Further follow-up will be required to assess the value of p53 overexpression as a prognostic factor in invasive bladder cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant carboplatin-based chemotherapy.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of finasteride on the percentage of free PSA: implications in the early diagnosis of prostatic cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the behaviour of free PSA percentage in finasteride-treated patients and to evaluate whether this ratio allows an increased PSA specificity in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Evaluation of PSA serum levels and free PSA ratio in 336 patients initially diagnosed with prostate benign hyperplasia (PBH). A group of 82 patients were treated with finasteride for 14 to 58 months. A second group of 254 patients received no treatment. All patients were within the same age range and had similar PSA serum levels. In total, 141 prostate biopsies were performed: 19.5 (16/82) and 49.1 (125/254) respectively. RESULTS: Median PSA level in PBH patients was 1.6 ng/mL for the finasteride-treated group and 3.5 for the untreated group, p < 0.0001. Free PSA ratio was 18.6 and 18.8%, respectively, p > 0.05. Carcinoma detection rate was 25% (4/16) for the finasteride group and 27.2% (34/125) for the untreated group. If biopsy had been requested when PSA percentage was below 25%, 17.7 and 19.8% respectively would have been prevented and all carcinoma detected. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with finasteride reduces PSA serum concentration about 50% without changing the free PSA ratio. Carcinoma detection rate was similar in finasteride-treated and untreated patients. Free PSA ratio allows to increase PSA specificity and avoid unnecessary biopsied also in finasteride-treated patients.

Aged↗