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L Melillo

Publications and source records attributed to L Melillo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Functional imaging of visuospatial processing in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known to cause a variety of disturbances of higher visual functions that are closely related to the neuropathological changes. Visual association areas are more affected than primary visual cortex. Additionally, there is evidence from neuropsychological and imaging studies during rest or passive visual stimulation that the occipitotemporal pathway is less affected than the parietal pathway. Our goal was to investigate functional activation patterns during active visuospatial processing in AD patients and the impact of local cerebral atrophy on the strength of functional activation. Fourteen AD patients and fourteen age-matched controls were measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while they performed an angle discrimination task. Both groups revealed overlapping networks engaged in angle discrimination including the superior parietal lobule (SPL), frontal and occipitotemporal (OTC) cortical regions, primary visual cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus. The most pronounced differences between the two groups were found in the SPL (more activity in controls) and OTC (more activity in patients). The differences in functional activation between the AD patients and controls were partly explained by the differences in individual SPL atrophy. These results indicate that parietal dysfunction in mild to moderate AD is compensated by recruitment of the ventral visual pathway. We furthermore suggest that local cerebral atrophy should be considered as a covariate in functional imaging studies of neurodegenerative disorders.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Acute myeloid leukemia in patients previously diagnosed with breast cancer: experience of the GIMEMA group.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in a multicenter retrospective study, the clinical and laboratory characteristics and the outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) previously diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) among an adult acute leukemia population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 1992 and July 1996, 3934 new cases of adults with acute leukemia were recorded in GIMEMA Archive of Adult Acute Leukemia (2964 AML, 901 ALL, 69 acute leukemia expressing both myeloid and lymphoid surface markers). RESULTS: Two hundred patients (5.1%) presented with a history of previous malignancy (21 of them were affected by ALL and 179 by AML). Among sAML, 37 patients (29%) had a previous breast cancer. They consisted of 36 females and 1 male, median age 56 years, range 34-87. The median latency between the 2 malignancies was 54 months (range 5-379). Twenty-seven patients received chemo- and/or radiotherapy for breast cancer (7 only chemotherapy, 6 only radiotherapy, and 14 combined treatment). All patients were surgically treated but in 10 patients surgical debridement was the sole therapy for breast cancer. The drugs most frequently employed were alkylating agents (18 patients), topoisomerase II inhibitors (9 patients), antimetabolites (20 patients) (CMF, CEF and MMM combinations). At onset of sAML the median WBC count was 7.7 x 10(9)/l (0.8-153) and the median platelet count was 33.5 x 10(9)/l (3-305). Considering morphological features, FAB subtypes were 4 M0, 5 M1, 11 M2, 5 M3, 8 M4, 3 M5, and 1 M6. Cytogenetic study was performed on 28 patients and 12 of them presented abnormalities. It is noteworthy that chromosome 5 or 7 abnormalities (typically observed in those patients treated with alkylating agents) were present only in three cases. Thirty-four patients received chemotherapy for sAML, and twenty-five of them achieved a CR (74%), with a median duration of twenty-eight weeks (5-280+). The overall survival was 8 months (1-80+). DISCUSSION: The high number of sAML we observed in patients with a previous breast cancer, may be due to the fact that this malignancy is the most frequent neoplasm in women and by the high probability of cure with a consequent long disease-free survival. Our results suggest that the risk of sAML after recovery from breast cancer is increasing due to the rise in the number of patients cured from breast cancer, and in the future could be a relevant problem for haematologists.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Clinical and biological features of acute myeloid leukaemia occurring as second malignancy: GIMEMA archive of adult acute leukaemia.

Between July 1992 and June 1996, 3934 new cases of acute leukaemia were registered in the Gruppo Italiano Malattie Ematologiche Maligne dell'Adulto (GIMEMA) Archive of Adult Acute Leukaemia. Two hundred cases (5.1%) presented with a history of primary malignancy (PM), 179 of which were acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The median age of these cases was significantly higher than that of other primitive AML (63 years vs. 57 years; P < 0.001). The number of men was significantly lower than the number of women [74/1544 (4.8%) vs. 105/1420 (7.4%); odds ratio (OR) 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46-0.87; P < 0.002], as was the number of patients aged <65 years [104/1963 (5.3%) vs. 75/1001 (7.5%); OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50-0.95; P < 0.01]. An increased incidence of cancer was observed among first-degree relatives of patients with AML occurring after a PM (secondary AML; sAML) [66/179 (36.9%) sAML vs. 757/2785 (27.2%) de novo AML, age adjusted; OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.07-6.42; P < 0.005]. Prevalent types of PM were breast cancer, lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease. sAML occurred after a median latency of 52 months (range 2-379). Of the 122 patients who received chemotherapy for sAML, 67 patients (55%) achieved a complete remission (CR), three a partial remission, 15 (12%) died in induction and 37 (30%) were unresponsive. The median duration of CR was 30 weeks (range 4-250). The median overall survival was 7 months (range 1-196). Comparing acute promyelocytic leukaemia with all other French-American-British (FAB) groups, a significant increase in CR achievement was observed [14/18 (77.7%) vs. 53/101 (52.4%), P < 0.046] as well as in median CR duration (55 vs. 24 months, P < 0.02). The analysis of our data suggests that not only previous chemotherapy but also genetic predisposition could play a role in the pathogenesis of sAML.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Treatment of "poor risk" acute myeloid leukemia with fludarabine, cytarabine and G-CSF (flag regimen): a single center study.

We describe a single center experience of 41 consecutive patients with poor prognosis acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who received a single course of FLAG regimen consisting of Fludarabine 30 mg/m2/day plus Cytarabine 2 gr/m2/day (days 1-5) and G-CSF 5 mg/Kg/day (from day 0 to polymorphonuclear recovery) as salvage therapy. Eleven patients were primarily refractory to previous chemotherapy, 10 patients were in first relapse, 2 patients in second relapse and 7 patients in relapse after transplants. Eleven cases were defined as secondary AML (diagnosis of AML made after a preexisting diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome). The median age was 52.6 years (range 16-72); 29 patients were males and 12 females. Overall, 23 (56%) patients reached complete remission (CR), 3 patients died of infection (2) or hemorrhage (1) during induction, and 15 (36%) patients had resistant disease. The highest CR rates (80%) were obtained in relapsed cases; de novo and secondary AML registered 60% and 45% of CR rates, respectively. Patients achieving CR received a second FLAG course as consolidation and were submitted to an individualized program post-remission therapy, depending on the age and performance status. Hematological and non hematological toxicities were acceptable. In conclusion, our data confirm that FLAG is a an high effective treatment for poor prognosis AML and in young patients allows intensive post remissional therapy including allogeneic BMT.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Infections caused by filamentous fungi in patients with hematologic malignancies. A report of 391 cases by GIMEMA Infection Program.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with hematologic malignancies developing a filamentous fungi infection (FFI) and to define the prognostic factors for their outcome. DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective study, conducted on patients admitted to 14 Hematology divisions of tertiary care or university hospitals, participating in the GIMEMA Infection Program, over a ten-year period (1988-1997). The study included patients with hematological malignancies and a histologically and/or microbiologically proven or probable FFI. RESULTS: We included 391 patients (male/female: 262/129, median age 49 years) with hematologic malignancies (225 acute myeloid leukemia, 67 acute lymphocytic leukemia, 30 chronic myeloid leukemia, 22 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 12 myelodysplastic syndrome, 10 aplastic anemia, 7 Hodgkin's disease, 8 chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 5 multiple myeloma, and 5 hairy cell leukemia) who developed a proven FFI. Eighty percent of the patients had been neutropenic for an average of 14 days before the infection, and 71% had an absolute neutrophil count lower than 0.5 x 10(9)/L at the time of FFI diagnosis. The primary sites of infection were: lungs (85%), nose and paranasal sinus (10%), and other sites (5%). The diagnosis was made while still alive in 310 patients (79%), and at autopsy in the remaining 81 patients (21%). Chest X-ray was diagnostic in 77% of patients with pulmonary FFI, while computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax was positive in 95% of cases. A significant diagnostic advantage for CT scan was observed in 145 patients who had both a chest X-ray and CT scan. Aspergillus was identified as the cause of FFI in 296 patients, Mucorales in 45 patients, Fusarium in 6 patients and other filamentous fungi species in 4 patients, while in a further 40 patients no agent was identifiable. The overall mortality rate three months after the diagnosis of FFI was 74%, and fungal infection had been the cause of death in 51% of patients. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective study shows that FFI still remains a life-threatening complication in neutropenic patients. Despite appropriate treatment, half of the patients die due to this complication. The use of glucocorticoids and recovery from neutropenia are the most important prognostic factors. Mucorales infections are associated with a significantly poorer prognosis than those due to Aspergillus spp.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Feasibility of peripheral blood stem cell rescue as intensification in elderly patients with acute myelocytic leukaemia: a pilot study from the Gimema Group. Gruppo Italiano Malattie Ematologiche Maligne Dell'Adulto.

Elderly patients with untreated acute myeloid leukaemia (AML, n = 47) tested the feasibility of out-patient consolidation therapy and post-consolidation treatment (for patients aged < 71 years) with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT). Overall, 13 patients out of 24 (51%) who achieved complete remission (CR) were eligible for further treatment after consolidation. Five patients were primed with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF); a suitable number of CD34+ cells were harvested in three patients and were actually autotransplanted. The toxicity of APBSCT was negligible. Psychosocial problems impaired treatment of some patients on an out-patient basis. Resistant disease, toxicity and logistic problems reduced the number of patients to whom this procedure could actually be applied.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia (AML M0): clinico-biological findings of 29 cases.

Twenty-nine cases of minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia or AML M0 identified among 441 AML diagnosed in the last 12 years are reported. In all cases, flow cytometric analysis using a large panel of monoclonal antibodies and cytogenetic and molecular studies (IgH, TcRbeta, BCR/ABL, AML1/ETO and CBFB-MYH11 rearrangements) were performed. Of the 29 patients, 27 were treated with intensive chemotherapy based on GIMEMA protocols. We noted a greater incidence of older (over 60 years) and male patients (52% and 65%, respectively). CD33, CD13, CD7 and TdT were expressed in 79.3%, 82.7%, 58.6% and 42.8% of cases, respectively. Antigenic MPO was present in 17 of 22 cases (77.3%). Most cases expressed CD34 (93.1%), HLA-DR (93.1%), CD117 (80%) and CD45RA (87%). CD45RO and CD90 were consistently negative. In all cases, we observed an up-expression of bcl-2 and a down-expression of CD95 with an inverse trend between the two markers (r -5253; p 0.03). Karyotypic abnormalities were demonstrated in 53.6% of cases. Of these, 6 involved chromosomes 5, 7 and 8, t(9;22), confirmed by the BCR/ABL transcript, was detected in one case. Rearrangements of the TcRbeta and IgH chains were observed in 3 and 2 cases, respectively. No AML1/ETO and CBFB-MYH11 transcripts were found. Twelve out of 27 patients (44%) achieved a complete remission (CR) (in 2 cases after rescue therapy). Seven early (range 1-9 months) and one late (32 months) relapses were observed. Five patients are alive, but only the 4 who underwent bone marrow transplantation are in persistent first CR. In conclusion, AML M0 is a subtype of AML antigenically well detectable, endowed with many adverse parameters (older age, TdT and CD34 expression, resistance to apoptosis, unfavorable cytogenetic abnormalities) and poor prognosis. A very aggressive consolidation treatment can be useful to improve the outcome.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Fludarabine, cytarabine, and G-CSF (FLAG) for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia relapsing after autologous stem cell transplantation.

Twenty-six patients affected by acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who relapsed after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) were treated with the FLAG regimen (fludarabine, cytarabine, and G-CSF). Their median age was 39 years (range 14-59). The median interval from achievement of CR to ASCT was 4 months (2-8). The conditioning regimen was BAVC (BCNU, amsacrine, VP-16, cytarabine) in eight patients, BuCy (busulfan, cyclophosphamide) in 13, and TBI-Cy (total body irradiation, cyclophosphamide) in five. Relapse occurred after a median of 7 months (2-18). ASCT had been performed in CR1 for 23 patients and in CR2 for three. Nineteen patients had been given bone marrow, seven peripheral blood stem cells collected following consolidation plus G-CSF. Overall, CR was obtained by 13 patients (50%), all remitters requiring a single course. The median time for hematological recovery of neutrophils >500/microl and platelets >20,000/microl was 24 and 30 days, respectively. The median duration of G-CSF administration was 25 days, while the median hospitalization was 31 days. There were four deaths in induction (15%), while nine patients (35%) were resistant. After achieving CR, two patients received allogeneic BMT, five a second ASCT, and four were consolidated with HD-ARA-C. Only two patients were judged unable to receive any further therapy. There were 14 documented infections, while nine patients experienced fever of unknown origin. WHO >2 nonhematological toxicity consisted of stomatitis (50%), hepatic dysfunction (11%), diarrhea (11%), and lethargy (4%). Median overall survival and disease-free survival were 6 and 13 months, respectively. Six patients are in CCR at present. We conclude that FLAG is effective in patients with AML who are relapsing after ASCT. The toxicity is acceptable, enabling most patients to receive further treatment, including second transplantation procedures.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Retrospective study of candidemia in patients with hematological malignancies. Clinical features, risk factors and outcome of 76 episodes.

A retrospective study of 76 episodes of candidemia in 73 patients with underlying hematological malignancy, from 1988 until 1997, has been conducted to evaluate the clinical characteristics and to ascertain the variables related to the onset and the outcome of candidemia. The most frequent malignancy was acute myeloid leukemia (29 episodes). Candidemia developed mainly during aplasia in patients refractory to chemotherapy (42%). In 65 episodes (86%) the patients were neutropenic (ANC <1 x 10(9)/l) before the candidemia diagnosis for a median time of 13 d, and in 53 episodes (70%) at microbiological diagnosis of candidemia ANC was <1 x 10(9)/l. Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated etiologic agent (31 episodes), but C. non-albicans species sustained the majority of candidemia. Seventeen candidemias developed during azoles prophylaxis. One month after the diagnosis of candidemia, 26 patients died. In 19 cases, death was attributable to candidemia. The case-control study demonstrated, at univariate analysis, that the colonization with Candida. spp. (p=0.004), antimycotic prophylaxis (p=0.01), presence of central venous catheter (p=0.01), neutropenia (p=0.002), and the use of glycopeptide (p=0.0001) increased the risk of candidemia. Using multivariate regression analysis only colonization with Candida spp. and the previous therapy with glycopeptide were associated with a significantly increased risk. Acute mortality, expressed by a cumulative probability of survival at 30 d from diagnosis of candidemia, was 0.67 (95% C.I. 0.55-0.77) and was significantly reduced in patients with neutrophils <1 x 10(9)/l when compared to those with neutrophils >1 x 10(9)/l (p at Mantel-Cox=0.029). Overall cumulative probability of survival at 1 yr was 0.38 (95% C.I. 0.27-0.49) and only the treatment with Amfotericin B significantly reduced the risk of death.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

CD117 (c-kit) is a restricted antigen of acute myeloid leukemia and characterizes early differentiative levels of M5 FAB subtype.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The CD117 molecule is an antigen more frequently found on early normal and leukemic hematopoietic cells, but its correlation with the FAB subtypes and with other lineage and stage associated antigens is still not well established. In this study we investigated the surface expression of CD117 antigen in 135 patients with acute leukemia in relationship to de novo or secondary origin of AML, subtypes of FAB classification, expression of other antigens such as CD34, HLA-DR, CD15, CD14, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD11b, CD11c, CD4, CD7, mixed antigen co-expression (LyAg + AML and MyAg + ALL) and features of leukemic mass. DESIGN AND METHODS: The CD117 antigen expression (clone 95C3) was determined by flow cytometry in a series of 135 patients with acute leukemia at diagnosis consecutively observed during the years 1995-1997: 82 AML (including 51 cases of de novo AML, 22 cases of AML following myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), 9 cases of myeloid blastic crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia (BC-CML) and 53 ALL. All cases were stratified in CD117+ and CD117- groups and the differences were analyzed by using appropriate statistical analyses. RESULTS: CD117 antigen was found over 10% in 74% of AML without significant differences of positivity between AML after MDS or BC-CML and de novo AML. We did not note a significant correlation between FAB classification and CD117 which was expressed in 100% of M1 and M7 cases, in 80% of M0 cases, in 75% of M2 cases, in 70% of M3 cases and in 82% of M4 cases. Instead, in M5 subtype CD117 was strictly restricted to earlier stages: ten of the eleven M5b (91%) cases completely lacked CD117 antigen expression, whereas 100% of M5a cases were positive. The results of Pearson's coefficient showed: 1) a significant inverse relationship between CD117 and CD15, CD4 and CD14 (only in M5 subtypes) and CD11b, CD11c and CD45RO (in all cases); 2) a significant direct correlation between CD117 and CD34 and CD45RA (in all cases); and 3) an independent expression between CD117 and CD15 associated with a low correlation between CD117 and HLA-DR antigen (only in non-monocytic cases). In ALL, whether of B or T lineages, surface expression of CD117 was never observed. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the CD117 antigen shows a high specificity for AML, independently upon FAB classification, and represents a reliable marker in characterizing the differentiative degree of the monocytic blasts.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Localization of aspergillosis to the central nervous system among patients with acute leukemia: report of 14 cases. Gruppo Italiano Malattie Ematologiche dell'Adulto Infection Program.

We retrospectively studied a consecutive series of 100 patients with acute leukemia and aspergillosis to evaluate the clinical findings and risk factors for colonization of the central nervous system (CNS) by Aspergillus species. The diagnosis of CNS aspergillosis was made in 14 patients on the basis of the following criteria: neurological signs of CNS involvement (13 of 14 patients); cerebral CT scan findings (9 of 12); microbiological findings (6 of 12); and histological findings at autopsy (11 of 11). The majority of patients had severe neurological complications (i.e., hemiparesis or seizures), due mainly to brain abscesses or mycetomas. Autopsies were performed on 11 of 14 patients and provided evidence that CNS localization was secondary to invasive aspergillosis; in each case, the most likely primary focus of infection was the lung. Although all patients had received oral antimycotic prophylaxis and had received timely empirical antifungal treatment, they all died within a median time of 5 days from the onset of neurological symptoms. Analysis of the characteristics of patients with invasive aspergillosis did not reveal any difference between those with CNS localization and those without CNS localization.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Are "early" and "late" T-acute lymphoblastic leukemias different diseases? A single center study of 34 patients.

Clinical and biological parameters were retrospectively reviewed in 34 cases of T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), classified as "early" (20 cases) or "late" (14 cases) subgroups, according to the degree of blast cell differentiation, assessed by immunophenotyping. In "early" T-ALL, age, co-expression of "immature" (CD34 and HLA-Dr) or myeloid (My+) antigens, proliferative activity (as evaluated by Ki67 monoclonal antibody), and expression of the "multidrug-resistance" (MDR) phenotype (as determined by C-219 monoclonal antibody) were significantly higher, while WBC count and expression of CDl0 were significantly lower, than in "late" T-ALL. Furthermore, although no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups, "late" T-ALL more frequently displayed a greater extramedullary tumor mass ("lymphoma-like" syndrome), LI FAB morphology and a normal karyotype. A single patient, with "late" T-ALL, also showed positivity for TCR gamma/delta chains, specific monoclonal antibodies. On the whole, 30 patients (88.2%) achieved complete remission: 16(80%) were "early" and 14(100%) "late" T-ALL. No statistical difference was found between the two groups with respect to disease free survival (42% vs 54% at six years), whereas median overall survival was significantly shorter in "early" T-ALL (23 months vs median not yet reached at six years for "late" T-ALL, p < 0.05). We conclude that "early" and "late" T-ALL show clinical and biological differences, that could perhaps justify differential therapeutic approaches.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Effective autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in plasma cell leukemia followed by T-large granular lymphocyte expansion: a case report.

We report a case of de novo plasma cell leukemia, resistant to standard VMD (vincristine, mitoxantrone, dexamethasone) and CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone) protocols, treated with a chemotherapy intensification regimen (high-dose cyclophosphamide, modified EDAP, Dexa-BEAM) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, performed using fractionated total body irradiation and high dose melphalan. The patient is currently alive and well, in very good partial remission 12 months after transplant and 22 months after diagnosis, disclosing a significant proportion of bone marrow and peripheral blood CD3+, CD8+, CD57+, HLA-Dr+ large granular lymphocytes with cytotoxic activity against neoplastic plasma cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Fatal haemoptysis in pulmonary filamentous mycosis: an underevaluated cause of death in patients with acute leukaemia in haematological complete remission. A retrospective study and review of the literature. Gimema Infection Program (Gruppo Italiano Malattie Ematologiche dell'Adulto)

A retrospective study on a consecutive series of 116 patients affected by acute leukaemia with documented pulmonary filamentous mycosis (FM) admitted between 1987 and 1992 to 14 tertiary-care hospitals in Italy was made in order to evaluate the characteristics of those patients who developed fatal massive haemoptysis. In 59/116 cases of pulmonary FM the infection was the principal cause of death and in 12 of these patients a massive haemoptysis was responsible for death. The diagnosis of FM infection was made ante-mortem in only four out of these 12 patients. The autopsy was performed in 11/12 patients and documented a FM infection. The mycetes isolated were: Hyphomycetes spp. (three patients), Mucorales spp. (two patients), Aspergillus spp. (seven patients). At the time of the massive haemoptysis the mean neutrophil count was 7.2 x 10(9)/l, and no patient had relevant thrombocytopenia (mean 184 x 10(9)/l, range 28-350) or coagulative abnormalities. The mean time which elapsed between resolution of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (WBC < 10(9)/l) and occurrence of haemoptysis was 7 d. No signs or symptoms predictive of this fatal complication were identified. Massive haemoptysis can be the cause of death in patients with acute leukaemia and pulmonary FM which in the majority of patients was not diagnosed in vivo. This complication occurs most frequently shortly after the recovery from chemotherapy-induced aplasia. The mechanism of lesion is unknown, but it may involve the vascular tropism of FM and the release of leucocyte enzymes. Better preventive and therapeutic antifungal treatments are needed to avoid this serious, albeit rare, complication.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

NERDS syndrome: an additional case report.

NERDS is an eosinophilic disorder recently described by Butterfield and characterized by an association of nodules, eosinophilia, rheumatism, dermatitis and swelling. We describe an additional case, the third, of this new eosinophilic syndrome. The cardinal features included joint and cutaneous manifestations with prominent para-articular nodules and rheumatism, xerosis, recurrent urticarial eruption with angioedema associated with tissue and peripheral blood eosinophilia. A drug-induced (diclofenac) allergic rash and lymphadenopathy appeared during the course of the illness. Persistent leukocytosis with a maximum of 65% of eosinophils, mostly exhibiting the hypodense phenotype (activation index), was always present. During the acute phase of the disease, flow-cytometric analysis of blood and bone marrow revealed proliferation of activated CD4+/OKDR+ T helper cells and CD25+/OKDR+ eosinophils.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

[Thermalism in ancient world].

The importance of water was well known in Prehistory and in ancient World. There are, in Homeric poems, several descriptions of cold and warm baths, a witness of their utilization in ancient Greek civilization. But the sources of water were always linked with the divinities of the Earth, and the temples dedicated to Asklepios had also thermal baths. The Romans, heirs of Etruscan culture, made the baths a social and public matter, and in Rome the Thermate reached a high degree of perfection.

Baths↗
PubMed1994

Diuretic plants in the paintings of Pompeii.

The plants that appear in the paintings and mosaics of Pompeii are chiefly edible and medicinal, though flowers with purely esthetic appeal are also shown. An important example is one of the floor mosaics from the House of the Faun, in which it is possible to identify lemon, cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, grape and olive, leaves of grape, fig, apple and olive, and flowers of corn cockle. The diuretic properties of some of these plants are mentioned in the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder. A silver cup from the House of Menandro, one of the most refined examples of plant decoration in antiquity, shows olive branches and fruits. The presence of plants in such artefacts confirms that people of classical times were conscious that plants were important producers of food, oils, fibers, woods and medicines.

Diuretics↗